As disciples from various factions appeared one by one outside the ruins, some had expressions of joy on their faces, while others were sad. ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ NoveI★Fire.net
Many sects had sent in hundreds of disciples, yet less than half emerged alive.
It must be known that in this secret realm expedition, the sects had sent out their elite disciples. Such losses had already damaged the foundations of the sects, and it would be difficult for them to cultivate such outstanding disciples again in the short term.
"Jianfei, did you obtain the inheritance?"
An elder of the Sword Qi Sect rushed to Hu Jianfei’s side as soon as he appeared, full of anticipation as he asked.
Hu Jianfei shook his head in dejection, immediately causing the elders of the Sword Qi Sect to let out a collective sigh, feeling it was a pity.
Other sects were more or less in the same situation as the Sword Qi Sect.
This time, they had sent out so many of their best, each sect calling in the strongest of their younger generation, all believing their disciples could gain an inheritance. However, the outcome was something none of them had anticipated.
Zhao Yijing and Xu Lianyu, among others, also gradually appeared. Yang Yuemin quickly flew to their side, with Xu Ma’an and others following closely behind. Seeing Zhao Yijing and the rest unharmed, they inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
However, after sweeping her gaze around, Yang Yuemin couldn’t find the junior disciple she was concerned about.
"Where is your junior brother?"
Zhao Yijing’s first question upon opening her mouth was not whether they had received the inheritance but about the whereabouts of Lin Chen.
Xu Ma’an and Zhao Rushi also cast inquiring looks, as Lin Chen was, after all, an Ancient Divine Body. As long as he didn’t fall, he was sure to be a pillar of the Jade Cauldron Sect in the future.
"Our junior brother passed the three challenges and entered the inheritance hall of the ruins. He should be coming out later than us, I guess."
Zhao Yijing and the others also turned to look towards the direction of the ruins, hoping in their hearts that nothing had befallen Lin Chen.
Upon hearing Zhao Yijing’s answer, Yang Yuemin and Xu Ma’an, among others, were taken aback, and then joy spread across their faces.
"Lin Chen actually entered the inheritance hall. Truly, the heavens bless our Jade Cauldron Sect!"
Xu Ma’an said happily.
Xu San stood at a distance, watching the sect leader and the various peak masters waiting for Lin Chen, feeling a surge of resentment in his heart. His fists tightened involuntarily, as his hatred for Lin Chen intensified. He was supposed to be the Jade Cauldron Sect’s number one genius, yet Lin Chen received far better treatment than he did.
"Why have all of your cultivations broken through? Even Lianyu has reached the Peak of the Melding Earth Realm? What is going on!"
Yang Yuemin suddenly noticed the cultivation levels of Zhao Yijing and the others. Zhao Yijing had broken through to the Third Layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm, while Xu Lianyu, Liang Rou, and Mu Shuier had reached the Peak of the Melding Earth Realm—a rise of two to three levels from when they had entered the ruins.
It should be noted that only two months had passed, and Xu Lianyu, this girl who disliked cultivating the most, had also made such rapid progress.
"It seems that this ruin is truly extraordinary, worthy of being a relic left over from ancient times. One just wonders when it will open next."
Yang Yuemin and the others murmured.
Through the account of Zhao Yijing and others, Yang Yuemin and her party also learned that besides Lin Chen, Ma Yuan of the Black Cloud Sect was another who had entered the relic’s Transmission Hall.
When the leaders and elders of the various sects received this news from their disciples, their expressions immediately became grave, and even those from the distant Tianyu Empire furrowed their brows.
There was no need to elaborate on the attitudes of the major sects towards the Black Cloud Sect. Although within the Great Flame Dynasty, it was only the Jade Cauldron Sect that had always openly clashed head-on with the Black Cloud Sect. However, other sects had also suffered attacks from the Black Cloud Sect and viewed them with great enmity.
If the Black Cloud Sect were to grow stronger, it would undoubtedly be a nightmare for all the orthodox sects of the Great Flame Dynasty.
The ambition of the Black Cloud Sect was well known to all.
The reason the people of the Tianyu Empire were apprehensive was that although they had always been the overt supporters of the Black Cloud Sect, who knew the hardships their empire had endured.
The background of the Black Cloud Sect was far from as simple as it appeared on the surface. If they did not offer support, they might have already faced the fate of being annihilated and annexed by the Black Cloud Sect.
In terms of strength, even they were no match for the Great Flame Dynasty.
At this moment, everyone’s gaze turned towards the members of the Black Cloud Sect.
The faces of those from the Black Cloud Sect showed joy as they looked towards the people from the Jade Cauldron Sect. Many of the Black Cloud Sect’s elders gestured across their throats with their hands, flaunting their arrogance, which was quite audacious, given that they were in the territory of the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Seeing this, Peak Master Zhang Dachu of the Seventh Peak moved as if he was about to start a fight with the people of the Black Cloud Sect, but Xu Ma’an halted him with a shout.
The three cloaked figures beside the elders of the Black Cloud Sect emitted an ominous aura that made Xu Ma’an cautious. The Black Cloud Sect’s members dared to come here, assuredly not without preparation.
As for the people of the Great Flame Dynasty’s Royal Family, they remained expressionless, and it was impossible to discern their attitude.
The Royal Family of the Great Flame Dynasty had always maintained a path of balanced diplomacy, endeavoring to resolve issues through rational negotiation with various sects, the Black Cloud Sect, and even the Tianyu Empire, rather than resorting to war.
Indeed, because of this, the Great Flame Dynasty seldom engaged in conflict, allowing its strength to be nurtured over time, even making the Black Cloud Sect deeply wary of them.
At that moment, as two figures appeared, everyone turned to look.
Before them now were Lin Chen and Ma Yuan.
At this time, although Ma Yuan was elated to have obtained the Blazing Fire Divine Decree, Lin Chen’s performance far surpassed his, and he had even snatched away Ma Yuan’s Blue Lotus Divine Flame.
The Blazing Fire Divine Decree was a technique of Fire Control, perfectly suited to his previously cultivated skill attributes. With the Blue Lotus Divine Flame, his power would have been even greater.
Yet it had been taken by Lin Chen, how could he not harbor resentment.
However, since they were within the territory of the Jade Cauldron Sect, and with the Sect Leader and elders of the Jade Cauldron Sect nearby, he naturally didn’t dare to act rashly. Otherwise, even the elders of the Black Cloud Sect might not be able to protect him.
"Lin Chen, don’t think that just because you outperformed me slightly this time and obtained the highest inheritance of the Descending Heaven Hall, I will fear you. One day, I will certainly leave you with no place to be buried," Ma Yuan thought to himself, then loudly proclaimed Lin Chen’s achievements in the Descending Heaven Hall.