When Qin Yuan spoke, Ye Xingwen's eyes widened, his heart in utter disarray.
His junior sister fancied Jiang Li, the one who nearly killed her? How could that be? Absolutely impossible.
"I... I don't! Who would like that guy..." Tang Yu Ning said, her face blushing, her voice soft.
Ye Xingwen let out a soft sigh of relief. It was good that his junior sister didn't like him.
Seeing Tang Yu Ning's bashful expression, Qin Yuan knew his guess was likely spot on.
Qin Yuan had heard a little about Jiang Li, the rising Primal Sacred Body from the Central Continent, knowing him to be a peerless prodigy of the Eternal Demon Sect.
Moreover, not long ago, he had forcefully defeated Lin Mo, who possessed the demeanor of an Great Emperor.
"Alright, you two rest for a bit. Let me perform a divination with my Star Gazing Technique!" Qin Yuan took a deep breath, then sighed.
Tang Yu Ning and Ye Xingwen stood aside with different expressions, the cave falling into silence.
Following that, Qin Yuan left the cave and activated the spiritual energy within his body.
The spiritual energy appeared within Qin Yuan's body, transforming into a rainbow light that formed a magic array around him.
Standing at the center of the array, Qin Yuan formed the hand seals for the Star Gazing Technique, his eyes growing increasingly bright.
In a short while, his eyes flickered with endless starlight.
Qin Yuan slowly looked up, the starlight in his eyes seeming to draw power from the stars in the sky.
As the Star Gazing Technique operated, Qin Yuan's entire being was filled with an unfathomably profound aura.
"Boom!!!"
After a long pause, a terrifying aura emanated from Qin Yuan.
The surrounding magic array shattered, Qin Yuan's aura suddenly became weak, his face pale, and he collapsed onto the ground.
"Old Ancestor, are you alright!"
Seeing this, Ye Xingwen in the cave immediately rushed to Qin Yuan's side, helped his ancestor up, and gave him a healing elixir.
Tang Yu Ning also rushed out in a panic, her eyes filled with worry.
"I'm... I'm fine!"
After Qin Yuan took a deep breath, his injuries slowly recovered with the help of the elixir.
"Did Old Ancestor see anything?" Soon after, once Qin Yuan's injuries had recovered, Ye Xingwen asked curiously.
Tang Yu Ning also stared at their Old Ancestor with curious eyes.
Their Old Ancestor's Star Gazing Technique had reached the pinnacle of mastery, an terrifying level they had witnessed many times.
However, this was the first time they had seen their Old Ancestor so severely affected by a backlash after using the Star Gazing Technique.
"It cannot be said, it cannot be said. The heavenly secrets have changed!" Qin Yuan sighed, then said meaningfully.
The heavenly secrets have changed?????
Ye Xingwen and Tang Yu Ning exchanged glances, their faces filled with confusion and shock.
The opening lines of the Star Gazing Technique of their Qiankun Sacred Land stated: "Heavenly secrets are set; all is destiny..."
How could their Old Ancestor now say that the heavenly secrets have changed?
"Tang girl, don't you like that Jiang Li from the Eternal Demon Sect? Go find him!"
After a long while, Qin Yuan looked at Tang Yu Ning beside him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
...
Sun Moon Pool.
Deep within a secluded forest, the surroundings were filled with a dark aura.
Under the influence of the blazing sun and the radiant moon in the sky, the dark aura seemed to gain a chilling presence.
"Boom boom boom!!!"
Suddenly, fierce rumbling sounds echoed from the forest, mingled with the roars of ferocious beasts.
Soon, the beastly roars disappeared, and a strong smell of blood filled the forest.
"I didn't expect there to be so many ferocious beasts here!" Jiang Li said as he casually dealt with the surrounding sharp-toothed beasts.
"The Sun Moon Pool continuously releases that bone-penetrating ethereal energy. For us, this ethereal energy is harmful, but these native ferocious beasts can absorb it and grow stronger!" the Nightmare Beast floated beside Jiang Li, explaining.
The scorching and freezing energies emanating from the sun and moon in the sky were the ethereal energies the Nightmare Beast spoke of.
Jiang Li had tried. His Devouring Heaven Sacred Body could absorb this ethereal energy, but its effect on improving his cultivation speed was far less than that of spiritual herbs and resources. Therefore, Jiang Li did not absorb it excessively.
He figured he might as well spend this time absorbing more spiritual energy from other resources for better results.
"However, how can there be immortal spiritual energy in a place like this!" Jiang Li continued.
The Nightmare Beast beside him was also full of doubt.
He had accompanied Quasi-Emperor Mo Yun to the Sun Moon Pool before, exploring many areas, and had never heard of any immortal spiritual energy existing there.
"Perhaps it's from an ancient ruin or a blessed abode," the Nightmare Beast slowly continued.
Jiang Li nodded, not thinking too much about it. His primary goal was the Spirit Fusion Divine Crystal and the hidden treasure of Quasi-Emperor Tian Ji.
It would be great if he could find immortal spiritual energy, but even if not, Jiang Li wouldn't be too insistent.
Following that, Jiang Li continued to speed towards the depths of the forest.
According to the coordinates provided by the system, the location of the Spirit Fusion Divine Crystal was not far ahead.
As Jiang Li ventured deeper, more and more ferocious beasts were killed by him, and a fierce killing intent began to emanate from his body.
After half an hour, Jiang Li finally reached the depths of the forest.
The depths of the forest were shrouded in deep darkness, with faint black mist swirling around.
The surrounding vegetation seemed to carry a strange scent, and the space was eerily silent, like a gloomy graveyard.
Jiang Li cautiously moved forward, scanning his surroundings.
Soon, Jiang Li reached the very heart of the forest, where a massive peak towered into the clouds, seemingly reaching the heavens.
The stone walls of the peak were covered with moss and patterns left by the ages.
The Spirit Fusion Divine Crystal was here. Jiang Li's eyes narrowed slightly as he examined the stone wall before him.
This ancient stone wall exuded a gentle aura that could encompass all things.
Jiang Li unleashed his soul power and simultaneously activated his Nine Palaces Eye Technique.
A profound power flowed through Jiang Li's eyes, making them seem capable of seeing through everything. He completely saw through the patterns and coverings of the stone wall.
Jiang Li clearly saw that deep within this peak lay a colossal crystal emitting golden light.
It was this crystal that exuded the gentle, all-encompassing aura.
The Spirit Fusion Divine Crystal, it was indeed inside! Jiang Li's eyes lit up.
"Swish swish swish!!!"
Immediately, Jiang Li activated his Taiyi Sword Art, and a supreme Taiyi sword intent struck the stone wall ahead.
"Bang!!!"
With an incredibly violent collision, the entire stone wall was shattered by Jiang Li's Taiyi sword intent.
The Spirit Fusion Divine Crystal within bloomed with brilliant spiritual light.
"Scum, you will not steal our Divine Stone!"
Just as Jiang Li was about to retrieve the Spirit Fusion Divine Crystal from within, a hoarse voice rang out.
Following the voice came several terrifying surges of spiritual energy, aimed directly at Jiang Li.
...