Chapter 61: The Great Rift Ruins

Supporting his chin with one hand and a full smile curving the corners of his mouth, Li Xuan watched Yan Yingluo depart.

Jiang Qingyue scoffed, "What? Want to cling to this elder sister's coattails again? Let me tell you, she is no simple person!"

Far from feeling insulted, Li Xuan looked at Jiang Qingyue with deep, affectionate eyes and asked, "How were you captured by Xiao Ning?"

Jiang Qingyue raised a slender, scallion-like finger, made a "shh" sound, and said, "Want to know? Go ask that assassin!"

From the very beginning, Li Xuan felt there must be more to this than met the eye. Given Jiang Qingyue's cultivation level, it was impossible for her to have been swapped by Xiao Ning without leaving a single trace, unless the two of them were in cahoots.

Thinking of this, Li Xuan could not help feeling a chill run through his entire body. Once this conjecture became reality, it meant there were two ticking time bombs right beside him, and no one knew when they might detonate.

Jiang Qingyue smiled faintly and said, "Considering that you defended your master valiantly, I will let go of your private misconduct this time. And stay away from my cousin!"

Jiang Qingyue gave Li Xuan's forehead a fierce poke and reminded him once more, "Don't get sold and still end up helping people count their money!"

Not taking it to heart, Li Xuan replied, "Gong Jinglin is your cousin after all. I understand your reluctance to call me your cousin-in-law, but you shouldn't try to undermine our steadfast love like this!"

Jiang Qingyue stuck out her delicate red tongue and retorted, "Steadfast love?! I can't be bothered to argue with you anymore. This young lady has things to do today, so you can return to the academy on your own!"

When Li Xuan wanted to ask further questions, he saw a wisp of immortal mist wrap around Jiang Qingyue as she soared into the air, rapidly vanishing into the horizon.

Jiang Qingyue's sudden departure only deepened Li Xuan's confusion. Everything had happened far too bizarrely, completely transforming Jiang Qingyue in the span of a few short hours.

Li Xuan felt a lingering sense of paranoia, unsure whether it was merely an illusion or the result of his nerves being stretched too taut over these past few days.

Yet, coincidentally, even the Kong family had gotten involved, which meant the matter was far from simple.

The Kong family's objective was extremely clear: to obtain the Origin Crystal of the Golden-Feathered Roc King so that Kong Linghui could live a second life. However, that Origin Crystal had been left behind in the Primeval Sacred Palace by Xu Luobing, who bore a striking resemblance to the Holy Maiden.

Li Xuan mused to himself, "Everything seems completely unrelated on the surface, yet they all revolve around me. Bizarre events are happening one after another."

He clearly remembered that Xu Luobing's mastery over the profound principles of Origin Rune arrays was unfathomable; otherwise, she could never have retreated completely unscathed from the Primeval Sacred Palace.

"Perhaps the current Qingye Tribe is no longer an absolute safe haven either. I only hope Old Hei and Yuezhi can grow up quickly to protect the tribe!"

Li Xuan's worries were not unfounded. Old Hei had previously uttered some seemingly baseless remarks that had aroused his suspicions.

"Sigh!"

Li Xuan sighed to himself, muttering, "How on earth am I supposed to break this deadlocked game?"

Suddenly, a series of urgent bell chimes echoed across the sky. Nine consecutive rings signaled an emergency of the highest order.

In an instant, countless beams of origin light soared into the sky, accompanied by terrifying fluctuations of energy spreading outward. Those beings hiding within immortal sources began to peer out into the outside world.

Li Xuan quickly located the source of the bell chimes and immediately transformed into a streak of origin light, hurtling toward the Sacred Dao Academy.

The Comprehensive Council Hall of the Sacred Dao Academy!

At the head sat Mo Qianqiu, Dean of the Sacred Dao Academy, flanked by the elders and deacons of the various academies.

The titans of all the major families had arrived in full force. Even Jiang Haifeng, the revered elder of the Jiang family who had rarely shown his face in public, had personally descended upon the scene. A glance at the revered elders of the other three great families revealed that every single one of them wore a grave expression.

A solemn atmosphere filled the grand hall, as if some momentous catastrophe had occurred.

Meanwhile, Gong Jinglin, as the future empress of the Sacred Moon Imperial Court, had also arrived in person. This gathering truly brought together the winds and clouds, with titans mobilizing from all directions.

Suddenly, an aged voice resounded, "Qianqiu, let us begin the meeting! Xingxiu has already rushed to the East China Sea coast. Let everyone discuss a countermeasure together."

Mo Qianqiu bowed and replied, "Understood!"

With his palm glowing with origin light, his fair hand swept across the air like flowing water. The surging origin force rippled outward, and a light curtain slowly materialized.

As Mo Qianqiu traced circles with his hand, the images within the light curtain gradually grew clear.

Even across the light curtain, one could still feel that heavy, ancient aura, delivering an immense sense of shock and oppression to everyone present.

With a pale face and a solemn tone, Mo Qianqiu said, "Honored elders and seniors, please look. This is the bizarre realm discovered by Wang Teng, the top prodigy of the previous generation of our Sacred Dao Academy, when he was exploring the East China Sea coast!"

Within the light curtain, along the East China Sea coast where it connected to the continental shelf, the sea area had directly contracted, revealing a massive fissure.

This fissure was bottomless, and so ancient that no historical record contained any information about it.

Because of this, it had attracted countless cultivators to flock there.

However, the unauthorized intrusion of cultivators had also provoked the ancient taboos sleeping deep within the great fissure.

Following that, the imagery in the light curtain became exceptionally blurred. Everywhere one looked, crimson eyes were darting about rapidly, trampling one another, while terrifying roars ruthlessly devoured lives.

With a shift in the scene, a beam of light refracted outward from the great fissure, projecting a mirage-like spectacle: an ancient, pagoda-shaped palace emerging after weathering countless trials of time.

The entire palace was forged from Heavenly Tear Green Essence Gold, radiating an immortal brilliance and wreathed in mysterious starlight, resembling a miniature universe.

Li Xuan's pupils constricted slightly as he muttered inwardly, "This looks so similar to the scene inside the Goddess of Qingye's ruin!"

Suddenly, the aged voice drifted through the grand hall once more, "The hidden treasury within the great fissure rivals the Primeval Sacred Palace in the Misty Shadow Mountains. It is not something the younger generation can casually explore, therefore..."

The elderly voice trailed off right there, and the atmosphere in the hall grew heavy once again.

Everyone present was a titan among their respective families. If they rushed blindly into danger, it would inevitably cause a massive shockwave for their clans.

What the old voice was about to broach next was precisely how to explore that hidden treasury.

"If we are to excavate and develop that hidden treasury, we old fellows must take the vanguard and pave a bloody path for our younger generations. This old man believes they will undoubtedly receive unprecedented training through it."

Long after the voice faded, the grand hall fell into an extraordinary silence.

No one was willing to sacrifice their family's foundation for the sake of others. Even though the hidden treasury in the great fissure was profoundly shocking, no family was eager to take the risk.

Even within the Wang family, Wang Youming did not immediately give an answer. No matter how prodigious Wang Teng was, the Wang family would not disregard their own heritage to rescue him.

As the head of the Sacred Dao Academy, Mo Qianqiu felt equally unconfident. Who could guarantee that this wasn't a trap set by ancient gods, luring young prodigies inward merely to harvest their lives?

At that moment, a clear and resonant voice rang out, "Elder sir, this student is willing to follow you to the great fissure to explore the hidden treasury!"

A commotion swept through the crowd as everyone turned their heads to look at the speaker.

Li Xuan slowly stood up and said, "If I meet an untimely demise, I only hope the academy will continue to shelter my Li family!"

Li Xuan's resolve was absolute. Embracing death to find a path to survival was often the shortcut for a family to truly rise.

"Good!"

The elderly voice sounded exceptionally excited as it praised, "Like master, like disciple. Xingxiu has indeed taken in a fine pupil!"

At this moment, two anxious voices rang out simultaneously, "Li Xuan, stop messing around!"

As the crowd looked up and saw Jiang Qingyue and Gong Jinglin, they cast sidelong glances, thinking to themselves, "This brat actually has some tricks up his sleeve, managing to bag both phoenixes of the Jiang family, whether directly or indirectly!"

However, a voice like an oriole chiming in spring sounded out next, "Elder sir, Tang Ruoxian is also willing to follow you to explore the great fissure ruins!"

Presenting the image of an icy beauty, Tang Ruoxian slowly rose to her feet and said, "If even a good-for-nothing like Li Xuan dares to go, naturally my Tang family will not lag behind!"

Though Tang Ruoxian's words seemingly belittled Li Xuan, they sparked a massive uproar. Who didn't know that the two of them were already living together? Naturally, it was a case of the wife following the husband's lead as they jointly set out to explore the ruins of the great fissure.

"Xian'er..."

Tang Mingchen was practically bursting with anger, his fierce eyes wide open, but Tang Ruoxian stopped him with a shake of her head. "Once this succeeds, will my Tang family hold a decisive voice in the distribution of rewards?"

"Hehe,"

The elderly voice chuckled and replied, "What an interesting little girl. Naturally, that goes without saying!"

Following that, Jiang Qingyue representing the Jiang family, Wang Zifan representing the Wang family, and Kong Sheng representing the Kong family all stepped forward one after another, declaring that as the pride of the younger generation, it was their unshirkable duty.

Especially the Wang family, who had originally intended to opt out, seized the banner of rescuing their family prodigy Wang Teng and gained widespread support.

Gong Jinglin originally intended to represent the imperial court, but was stopped by a voice: "Lin'er, the court's affairs are heavy. You should remain in the palace and prepare for the enthronement ceremony. Leave this kind of business to your father."

Gong Shanyin silently materialized in the hall and remarked, "I was delayed by some matters, so I arrived a bit late."

At this, Jiang Haifeng's pupils contracted as he looked at Gong Shanyin and said, "At your age, you're still as completely idle and unaccomplished as ever!"

Gong Shanyin bowed and said, "Has my father-in-law been well lately?"

Jiang Haifeng looked away, refusing to dignify him with a response.

The elderly voice rang out once more, "Since it has been decided, Mo Qianqiu will take charge of arranging the subsequent matters. Gong Shanyin and the rest will accompany this old man to the great fissure ruins!"

Dozens of figures gradually flickered into existence, their tyrannical origin force fluctuations surging into the upper atmosphere like a tidal wave.

Mo Qianqiu stated solemnly, "To ensure that all our young prodigies can return safely, this academy has decided to form four major exploration teams led respectively by Tang Ruoxian, Jiang Qingyue, Kong Sheng, and Wang Zifan. They will lead the disciples of various clans toward the great fissure ruins. Everyone else may freely choose to join them, but once you join, you must obey orders!"

The First, Second, and Third Academies naturally looked to the four leaders as their figureheads and joined up accordingly. Even many second- and third-tier families enlisted, with Li Xuan remaining the sole exception, refusing to join any faction.

"Li Xuan, come over and join me. Elder Sister will protect you!"

Naturally, Jiang Qingyue would not let him wander into the great fissure ruins alone, and she issued a sincere invitation.

Just as Li Xuan was about to lift his foot, he caught sight of Tang Ruoxian's venomous gaze and hurriedly explained, "Yueyue sister, I..."

At that moment, Gong Jinglin declared, "Li Xuan, since you are my future husband, you are naturally a part of the Jiang family!"

However, Li Xuan's retort was, "Dean, now that my Li family ranks among the first-tier aristocratic families, we naturally ought to raise our own banner. Therefore..."

Dean Mo Qianqiu interrupted him, "Do as you please!"

Even though Li Xuan was Elder Xingxiu's closing disciple, Mo Qianqiu held little fondness for him. The disciplinary actions against Li Xuan had not yet been scheduled, which meant he had managed to dodge a bullet for now.