Ancient Ruins Mountain

Biodata

Background / History

Ancient Origins

Legend describes Ancient Ruins Mountain as a dwelling place of the gods during the Primordial Epoch and the site from which they ascended to the Divine Realm. These accounts place it before the creation of the Douluo Continent, following an ancient age of warring Hundred Clans 115.

Its later-revealed function is less benevolent: Xiao Lu identifies it as a cage that suppresses the remnant souls of dead gods, who continue searching for suitable successors 154.

The Previous Opening

A century before Zhao Su’s expedition, Tang Chen, Qian Daoliu, and Jian Feng entered Ancient Ruins Mountain together. Jian Feng discovered the Ancient Barbarian God’s remnant soul, sealed it rather than accepting its inheritance, and hid the Barbarian King Hammer on Barbarian King Mountain. Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu subsequently ambushed him, forcing him to break through the boundary back to the Douluo Continent at the cost of severe injuries 157.

Jian Feng also found the Ancient Sword God’s remnant soul. His discoveries eventually provided Chen Xin with an inheritance opportunity during the next opening 154 157.

Zi Zhenzhu entered during the same century-old opening with her teacher, Qian Daoliu. He sacrificed her soul to obtain the Angel God’s inheritance. When the Angel God came under attack, Zi Zhenzhu escaped with part of her soul and remained dormant on Pearl Island until ten years before Zhao Su’s arrival 131.

Geography and Notable Locations

Despite its name, Ancient Ruins Mountain contains primeval forests, cities, mountains, valleys, and extensive sea territories. It is smaller than the Douluo Continent, but travel from its northern region to its eastern region still takes approximately a month on a swift horse 136 158.

Entrances and Travel

Opening Cycle

• Ordinary interval: Ancient Ruins Mountain is said to open once every hundred years. Its announced opening draws disciples, unaffiliated cultivators, and secluded Titled Douluos seeking opportunities 116 127.
• Changing entrance: Each opening appears at a different location, and searches of former entrance sites yield no clues. Zi Zhenzhu explains that this shifting location is intended to mislead people rather than indicate that the realm itself moves 116 132.
• Alternative entry: According to Zi Zhenzhu, sufficiently powerful individuals can open a gateway at the Douluo Continent’s edge because the two realms are fully connected 132.
• Unreliable directions: Spirit Hall initially reports that entry requires passing through Sea God Island. Zhao Su later questions this intelligence, and his party prepares an entrance on Pearl Island instead 116 129 132.

Gateway Mechanics

Cultivation Rules and Divine Control

Soul Power Suppression

Hunting and Soul Harvesting

Zi Zhenzhu’s account identifies several purposes behind the openings:

• Sustaining the gods: Gods weakened by depleted vitality absorb Soul Masters’ souls to preserve their power and prolong their existence 132.
• Training divine descendants: Visiting Soul Masters serve as prey against whom the gods’ descendants test themselves 132.
• Creating puppets: Exceptional survivors may receive tremendous power while becoming vessels through which the gods manipulate the Douluo Continent 132.
• Producing escapees: Some descendants of earlier visitors escape as Evil Soul Masters. These descendants are themselves hunted within Ancient Ruins Mountain 132.

Law and Enforcement

• Cities have no general law-enforcement system. Powerful resident sects or families establish rules in some settlements, but most places operate through force alone 136.
• Divine Enforcers seal unauthorized breaches, while the Six Divine Sons are described as guardians who kill those who disobey the realm’s rules 132 171.
• Hostility toward outsiders is widespread but not universal. The Divine Hall rarely participates in hunting them unless attacked 138.

Major Powers

Ancient Ruins Mountain has seven great sects, divided into the Upper Three Sects and Lower Four Sects, alongside the maritime Myriad Sacred Dragon Palace 136.

The Six Divine Sons are descendants left in Ancient Ruins Mountain by Divine Realm gods. Their placement is not always an honor: some are abandoned or exiled, while Li Zheng comes voluntarily to train. After Shen Fan’s death, the remaining five are Qian Yao’er, Li Zheng, A Xing, and the unnamed descendants of the Fire God and God of Forging 171.

Story Role / Major Events