Kunlun

One month after Ji Yun returned from No. 9 Ruins.

Inside Jiangnan Base City, the university semester was just ending, and Luo Yue's school life was extremely busy.

Every day, she not only had to diligently complete her coursework but also deal with the attentions of various leaders. After all, many of these leaders were well-informed people; the matter of Ji Yun accompanying her to Luo Feng's Supervisor inauguration ceremony had spread somewhat within the martial artist circles.

Although the War God Palace strictly forbade such incidents, as long as it didn't spread widely, it wouldn't be discovered.

***

Ji Yun toyed with the Blue Bird Statue he had obtained earlier.

After about half a month of speculation, deduction, and checking records, Ji Yun believed that this blue bird was a token or a symbol.

According to Ji Yun's guess.

In ancient Chinese mythology, perhaps ancient people accidentally consumed Vegetation Spirits or other treasures, which greatly enhanced human physical fitness. This might be the origin of the ancient warriors who could match ten thousand foes.

In ancient historical romances and novels, it was also written that ginseng or other plants greatly improved a person's blood and qi. In modern scientific terms, blood and qi equate to physical fitness.

As for the ability to fly through the air recorded in Taoist texts or the Classic of Mountains and Seas, perhaps it meant that some martial artists had broken through to the Planetary Level and mastered the power of flight.

Or perhaps some exotic beasts had also mastered this power. However, since the environment hadn't undergone major changes, this was also why not all animals had mutated in ancient times.

If one thought this way, ancient people could fly because they had reached the Planetary Level. And in legends, ancient sages and extraordinary individuals possessed the ability to summon flames or lightning—this was the manifestation of the special abilities of the Planetary Level. A few who could summon wind and rain over a large area likely possessed a domain.

These treasures, then, should be artifacts that flowed out from the Ancient Civilization Ruins or the ruins of extraterrestrial visitors.

Thus, Kunlun, as the foremost sacred mountain of China, might be the location of these ruins. More than one classic mentions that Kunlun is the ancestor of dragon veins. The locations of these dragon veins have been identified by most people, and many of them contain Ancient Civilization Ruins. So Kunlun might be the largest Ancient Civilization Ruin by area so far.

With the strength of a Councilor-level powerhouse, one could go anywhere on Earth except the Ancient Civilization Ruins. Only the vast territory of Kunlun could not be freely traversed, perhaps also due to the ruins.

Thus, Kunlun, this mysterious place, might hold the reason why ordinary people could cultivate and even break through their limits.

Ji Yun had previously discovered that the white crystals he used for his breakthrough were a type of treasure in the universe called Wood Bud Crystals. These crystals contained vast energy and were considered treasures even in the vast cosmos.

Perhaps ancient humans possessed abilities that seemed incredible by modern standards because they had used accidentally discovered Wood Bud Crystals.

Xi'an Base City.

This was located near the northwest of the Chinese mainland, only a short distance from the end of the Kunlun Mountain range, which was originally Qinghai Province.

A Councilor had been stationed here for years, cultivating in seclusion and guarding against the King Rank monsters deep in the northwest. Hearing that Ji Yun planned to head west out of Qinchuan and venture into the elusive Void of Kunlun, this Councilor came specifically to see him.

At the start of the mountain range.

This Councilor pointed at the gradually stretching mountains in the distance and said in a grave tone, "Are you really going in?"

"A few years ago, I ventured into the central part of Kunlun, but under some unknown guidance, I involuntarily ended up in Chuanyu Base City. Strangely enough, my satellite navigation showed no problems at all."

"Inside, it's unfathomable and treacherous. The danger isn't just the unpredictable environment, but also the many King Rank monsters."

This Councilor tried to dissuade him: "Although Hong and Thor have agreements with these King Rank monsters, if we intrude into their territory, they will attack without any hesitation. Beasts are beasts; they cannot change their nature."

Ji Yun also gazed into the distance at the start of this mountain range. It was indeed majestic and imposing. Deep within, white snow-capped peaks were faintly visible, and eagles soared in the sky. These flying monsters that lived in the high mountains were at least Lord Rank when fully grown.

"My mind is made up." Ji Yun nodded and said, "I have also obtained some information about the Ancient Civilization Ruins. Combined with my deductions and judgments, I believe that this place might hold my destined opportunity."

With that, Ji Yun took out the Blue Bird Statue he had acquired at the auction.

"I've seen this statue before. It's nothing special—just that the material is a bit tougher," the Councilor said, examining the statue. "This statue did indeed come from the mountains, but according to the ancient records I've looked into, such statues can be found across the Guanzhong region and even the Central Plains. There's nothing remarkable about them."

"The Void of Kunlun is not just something from the Classic of Mountains and Seas." After leaving this remark, Ji Yun's body rose into the air, transformed into a streak of cyan light, and instantly plunged into the Kunlun Mountains.

***

Lying in silence, listening to the cold current, the snowy mountains gleamed white.

The Kunlun Mountains were covered in snow all year round, with only dark, low shrubs, grass, and moss plants, making the scene appear extremely desolate.

Ji Yun had been charging into Kunlun for three days now.

Given Ji Yun's flight speed, three days would have been enough to cross this mountain range countless times. Yet, over these three days, Ji Yun felt as if he had made no progress at all.

He felt that every time he tried to leave, he was going in circles, and he sensed some force diminishing his domain.

Yes, Ji Yun felt that something was suppressing his domain.

He took out the Blue Bird Statue and carefully examined and pondered it again.

Suddenly, the Blue Bird Statue faintly reflected some light. Under the sunlight, it brightened a few degrees.

Ji Yun was startled and quickly examined the change closely.

The head of the blue bird seemed to react differently to the sun. Gradually, under the sunlight, a fine and complex pattern emerged.

These patterns looked somewhat like scales, and somewhat like—a map.

Ji Yun opened his auxiliary optical computer and compared it to determine his position.

The Councilor had previously mentioned that following the satellite would lead one astray unknowingly, but the satellite was still very accurate for positioning. Using this, Ji Yun seemed to find the way.

"Over here?" Ji Yun carefully compared the clues that seemed like a map in the pattern.

Slowly following and groping his way, Ji Yun arrived at a snowy mountain.

The snowy mountain wound down into a river, growing more and more turbulent the further it went, and as far as the eye could see, it should be the Yellow River.

At the source of the snowy mountain, there was a hazy feeling, fantastical and unreal, difficult to make out clearly. This haziness was somewhat similar to the swirling vortex of black tree roots Ji Yun had encountered in Ruins No. 9.

"This is... a barrier?" Ji Yun soared into the air, flying toward the source snowy mountain, feeling as if he had entered an illusory formation.

The Blue Bird in Ji Yun's hand suddenly emitted light, and as Ji Yun went deeper, the light grew brighter and brighter. Before long, Ji Yun found a valley beneath a towering snow peak.

"Hm?" Ji Yun abruptly stopped.

At the bottom of the valley lived an Ice Field Bear King.

This Ice Field Bear was entirely silver-white, its fur clean without a single spot of dirt. But the sharp fangs protruding from its mouth served as a reminder of its terror.

Ji Yun opened his auxiliary optical computer and slowly turned the dial, scanning toward the Ice Field Bear.

A line of text appeared on the optical computer: "Planetary Level, Fourth Stage."

"Fourth Stage?" Ji Yun frowned.

Planetary Level Fourth Stage was no longer at the level of a beginner in the Planetary realm. Relying solely on his domain, Ji Yun wasn't confident he could take it down instantly. Moreover, within these sprawling mountains, King Rank monsters were not few in number. If he got bogged down in a drawn-out fight, while his life wouldn't be in danger, exploring Kunlun would become very troublesome.

"Can I go around it?" Ji Yun cautiously held the Blue Bird Statue, constantly observing the brightness. Unfortunately—

Ji Yun discovered that the closer he got to the Ice Field Bear, the brighter the Blue Bird became. In other words, the next step forward was very likely right where the Ice Field Bear stood!

"Take the risk or not?" Although this couldn't really be called a risk—with his domain, Ji Yun was confident enough to retreat unscathed—this clearly seemed to be an Ancient Civilization Ruins, and one that hadn't been discovered yet. To lose this opportunity would be such a waste.

"Sniff sniff."

The Ice Field Bear suddenly stood up, its body over fifty meters tall rising upright, its height even reaching half of this valley.

Holding his breath, Ji Yun released his domain to conceal his aura.

After the Ice Field Bear called out a few times, it walked toward the valley entrance. The entrance was very large with an open view, and below were some small snow peaks, but to the Ice Field Bear's massive body, these snow peaks were like small hills.

However, the Ice Field Bear didn't leave the valley; it stopped right at the entrance.

"Good opportunity!"

Ji Yun's gaze sharpened.

Holding the Blue Bird Statue, Ji Yun released his domain to conceal his aura, flew up from the side outside the valley, directly over the mountain ridge, and watched the Blue Bird Statue's brightness continuously increase as he advanced deeper into the valley.

As the Blue Bird Statue drew closer, the light deep in the valley began to twist and warp, and space itself seemed to ripple. The entire scene was very similar to the mirror-like entrance in Ruins No. 9.

"Roar." The Ice Field Bear only reacted when the changes occurred inside the valley. It saw a tiny human figure suddenly vanish within the valley, and enraged, it turned and pounced, covering several hundred meters in an instant.

But by then, the twisted light had already calmed, and the human had disappeared.

The twisted light concealed the entrance. Behind the entrance was a crystalline, translucent hall.

This hall was very spacious, with not a single figure in sight. Yet even after years of disuse, there was no smell of neglect.

Suddenly, a voice came from within the hall.

"The intruder holds a Falling Ink Star token. Verification complete, token is valid."

Ji Yun's auxiliary optical computer suddenly lit up, and the one he had obtained from Ruins No. 9 emitted a sweet voice.

"Hello, Falling Ink Star member. I am the intelligence of this base. I have now connected to your auxiliary optical computer."

"Intelligence?" Ji Yun was startled.

"You mean, similar to the intelligence in Ruins No. 9?"

The auxiliary optical computer lit up, displaying the image of a sweet young girl. Then the hall itself lit up as well, and flowing light converged from the air, forming a girl identical to the one on the optical computer.

"You mean, this base also belongs to Falling Ink Star?" Ji Yun was astonished.

"Yes," the sweet girl replied. "This base is a storage base used by Falling Ink Star on Earth Star for storing supplies. There are some treasures inside."

"But the real treasures are all kept on Falling Ink Star. The treasures here, while considered valuable, are not the kind of things that would drive powerful experts mad."

"Treasures?" A flicker of heat passed through Ji Yun's heart.

"What level of expert are you talking about? Universe Level?"

The sweet girl smiled gently. "On Falling Ink Star, Universe Level can hardly be called an expert. The experts I speak of are those above Universe Level. However, in the vast universe, Universe Level can still be considered strong."

"Can you take me to see them?" Ji Yun slowly exhaled, calming his emotions.

"You are the first person in fifty thousand years to enter this base using a Falling Ink Star token. You rightfully deserve ownership of this place."

The sweet girl smiled gently. "Please follow me."

Then, a passageway appeared in the middle of the hall, blue in color, with what seemed to be a path to walk through.

"Alright." Ji Yun nodded, suppressing the excitement in his heart.