Outside Kunlun Ruins, Avoiding Queen Mother of the West's Edge

Around the outskirts of Kunlun Ruins, clouds and mist coiled thickly through the air. Chaotic currents intertwined with innate spiritual energy, forming a natural barrier that blocked prying eyes from beyond. The mountains stood towering and precipitous, piercing the clouds, their slopes covered in strange patterns that exuded an ancient, sacred aura. It truly deserved to be called one of the three great ancestral veins of the Primordial World.

Xuan Chen brought Nüwa into concealment within a dense forest, his gaze vigilantly surveying the Kunlun Ruins ahead. He could clearly sense the exceedingly rich innate spiritual energy within the ruins, where spiritual veins crisscrossed in every direction, several degrees purer than those of Mount Buzhou. Yet at the same time, a powerful aura of an innate sacred being hung over the core region of Kunlun Ruins like invisible pressure, inspiring reverence in all who felt it.

"Master, this aura is so powerful!" Nüwa said softly, a trace of gravity flashing through her eyes. She could sense that the owner of this aura was far stronger than both her and her master, having at least reached the Primordial Unity Golden Immortal realm, perhaps even higher.

Xuan Chen nodded, his expression solemn. "This is Queen Mother of the West's aura. Legends say that Queen Mother of the West was born from the essence of innate metal. She cultivates the Dao of Su Nu and commands the core region of Kunlun Ruins. She is the native overlord of these ruins. Her strength is unfathomable. We are not her match yet, and we absolutely cannot come into conflict with her."

The reason he feared Queen Mother of the West so greatly was not merely because of her formidable strength. It was also because she had already begun to occupy the core region of Kunlun Ruins, establishing deep roots there, and perhaps even had many followers beneath her command. Master and disciple had only just arrived and had yet to gain a foothold. If they clashed with Queen Mother of the West too early, it would be no different from striking a stone with an egg.

"Then what should we do? The Kunlun Snow Lotus lies deep within Kunlun Ruins, close to the core region," Nüwa asked worriedly. She knew that the Kunlun Snow Lotus was her master's primary goal in bringing her here. If they could not approach the core region, obtaining the snow lotus would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

Xuan Chen pondered for a moment, his gaze sweeping over the terrain of Kunlun Ruins as an idea formed in his mind. "Kunlun Ruins covers a vast territory. Opportunities do not exist only in the core region. Though Queen Mother of the West occupies the core, there must still be many hidden valleys and spiritual veins in the outer regions. We can avoid the core and infiltrate from the outskirts, searching for other Innate Spiritual Roots."

He paused, then continued, "Besides, the system mission only requires us to find three mid-grade Innate Spiritual Roots or one top-grade Innate Spiritual Root. We do not necessarily need to cling to the Kunlun Snow Lotus. As a land of ancestral veins, Kunlun Ruins must contain other Innate Spiritual Roots. This is the perfect chance to seek out more opportunities."

Upon hearing this, a flash of understanding appeared in Nüwa's eyes. "Master intends for us to explore the outskirts first, build up our strength, and only then seek the opportunities in the core region?"

"Precisely." Xuan Chen nodded approvingly. "Our foremost goal now is to complete the system mission and improve your innate foundation. As for the Kunlun Snow Lotus, it will not be too late to seize it once we are strong enough, or once we find the right opportunity. Clashing with Queen Mother of the West too soon will bring us no benefit whatsoever."

After saying this, Xuan Chen released his divine sense once more and carefully investigated the outskirts of Kunlun Ruins. His divine sense was like invisible threads, avoiding the range covered by Queen Mother of the West's aura as it slowly extended through the outer regions. Before long, he discovered a hidden trail. It lay in a valley on the western side of Kunlun Ruins, concealed by dense chaotic currents and lush vegetation, making it difficult to detect. It led deep into the ruins and could conveniently bypass the core region.

"Follow me," Xuan Chen said softly to Nüwa. Then his figure flashed, and he darted toward that hidden trail like a ghost.

Nüwa followed close behind. The two activated the Chaos Breath Concealment Art, hiding their auras to the utmost limit as they silently slipped into the outskirts of Kunlun Ruins like two shadows.

Along the way, they encountered quite a few patrolling lesser demons and low-level cultivators. They were all followers under Queen Mother of the West, responsible for guarding the outskirts of Kunlun Ruins. Xuan Chen led Nüwa around those patrols with great skill, drawing no attention whatsoever.

Following behind Xuan Chen, Nüwa felt her admiration for her master deepen even further. She could sense that not only was he powerful, but he was also meticulous in thought. His grasp of timing and avoidance of danger were perfectly measured, teaching her many survival skills that she could never have learned within the cave abode.

"Master, how vast is Queen Mother of the West's sphere of influence?" Nüwa asked softly, her eyes alertly examining the surroundings.

"Queen Mother of the West's core sphere of influence is mainly concentrated in the central and eastern regions of Kunlun Ruins, where she occupies the most fertile spiritual veins and the most precious secret realms," Xuan Chen explained as they traveled. "The western and northern outer regions are also under her control, but their defenses are comparatively weaker. There are also many natural perilous lands and forbidden zones there, places her influence finds difficult to cover. Those are precisely the areas we should focus on exploring." He paused slightly before adding, "However, we still cannot let down our guard. Though these perilous lands and forbidden zones are not directly controlled by Queen Mother of the West, they may conceal powerful ferocious beasts or other innate lifeforms. They are equally dangerous."

Nüwa nodded and committed Xuan Chen's words firmly to heart. She understood that the more hidden a place was, the greater the opportunity it might conceal—but at the same time, the greater the risks that accompanied it.

The two proceeded cautiously, avoiding several powerful patrols as they ventured dozens of li into the outskirts of Kunlun Ruins. By then, the chaotic currents around them had grown denser, the spiritual energy purer, and the vegetation stranger. Many plants contained faint spiritual energy, and some were even spiritual herbs more than a century old.

Xuan Chen occasionally stopped to pick some valuable spiritual herbs. Though these herbs were not Innate Spiritual Roots, they still contained considerable spiritual energy and would be of great benefit to Nüwa's cultivation, as well as future artifact refinement and alchemy. Nüwa assisted at his side, carefully storing the harvested herbs within the Primal Chaos Pearl.

Just as the two were gathering spiritual herbs, faint footsteps suddenly sounded ahead, accompanied by several voices in conversation.

"Captain, what do you think the Great King is searching for by sending us to investigate West Foothill Valley this time?" a rough voice asked.

"Who knows? How could we possibly fathom the Great King's thoughts?" another steady voice replied. "But I heard that foreign cultivators recently infiltrated Kunlun Ruins. The Great King fears they may covet Kunlun's opportunities, so she ordered us to strengthen our patrols. The moment we discover any foreign cultivator, we must report it at once and must not act on our own."

"Foreign cultivators? Hmph! In these Kunlun Ruins, who would dare refuse to give the Great King face? If I run into them, I'll make sure they come but never return!" The rough voice carried a trace of arrogance.

"Do not spout nonsense!" the steady voice rebuked. "The Great King has ordered that we must not rashly conflict with foreign cultivators. We need only report them. Since those foreign cultivators dared infiltrate Kunlun Ruins, they must possess some strength. Let us not bring trouble upon ourselves."

Xuan Chen and Nüwa exchanged a glance, wariness flashing through their eyes. They had not expected Queen Mother of the West's patrols to have extended this far. Xuan Chen immediately pulled Nüwa behind an enormous ancient tree, while pushing the Chaos Breath Concealment Art to its utmost limit and completely hiding their auras.

Soon, several figures entered their field of vision. At their head was a tall middle-aged cultivator at the Mid-Stage Golden Immortal realm. His aura was steady, and he was likely the captain who had spoken just now. Four cultivators followed behind him, all at the Early-Stage Golden Immortal realm. They were the members of the patrol that had been conversing earlier.

These cultivators were all followers of Queen Mother of the West, dressed in identical robes embroidered with her emblem—a holy snow lotus. They held dharma treasures in hand, their eyes vigilantly sweeping over the surroundings as they approached the direction where Xuan Chen and Nüwa were hiding, step by step.

Nüwa felt somewhat tense. She could sense that none of these cultivators was weak, especially the captain at their head, whose cultivation was even somewhat higher than her own. She instinctively clenched Xuan Chen's hand, her body tightening slightly.

Xuan Chen patted the back of her hand, signaling for her not to be nervous, while his sharp gaze remained fixed on those cultivators. He had already prepared for battle. If they were discovered, he would strike immediately and deal with them at the fastest possible speed, avoiding the arrival of more patrols.

Fortunately, Xuan Chen's Chaos Breath Concealment Art was incomparably exquisite. Coupled with the assistance of the Chaos Veil, those cultivators failed to detect their presence. The patrol searched around the ancient tree once without finding anything unusual. The captain frowned and said, "Strange. I clearly sensed weak fluctuations of spiritual energy here. Why is there nothing at all?"

"Captain, could we have been mistaken? This is only an ordinary valley. Foreign cultivators should not have infiltrated here, right?" one of the patrol members said.

The captain pondered for a moment before shaking his head. "Only caution can bring lasting peace. The Great King has ordered that there must not be the slightest negligence. Search carefully once more. If we find nothing, we will leave."

After saying this, the cultivators began searching again, even walking beside the ancient tree where Xuan Chen and Nüwa hid. Nüwa's heartbeat involuntarily accelerated, and she did not dare take even a single deep breath. Xuan Chen, however, remained calm, his eyes tightly locked on the captain. So long as the other man sensed the slightest thing, he would attack at once.

Fortunately, those cultivators did not discover them. After searching fruitlessly, the captain said helplessly, "It seems my senses were mistaken. Let us go and take a look at the valley ahead."

With that, the cultivators turned and departed, heading deeper into the valley.

Only once the patrol's figures had completely vanished from sight did Nüwa let out a breath of relief and say softly, "That was close!"

Xuan Chen also relaxed. He nodded lightly and said, "Queen Mother of the West's forces truly cannot be underestimated. Even the patrols on the outskirts possess such strength. We must be even more cautious from here on and avoid conflicts with them whenever possible."

With that, he led Nüwa onward, silently infiltrating deeper into Kunlun Ruins. After circling past this valley, the road ahead became increasingly concealed, and the spiritual energy grew even denser. They had clearly drawn close to the deep regions of Kunlun Ruins. Xuan Chen understood that true opportunities and dangers alike awaited them ahead.