Chapter 405: Rock Demon Hunt, Xun'er Arrives
In the ancient realm, Xun'er had just finished chatting with Xiao Ze, and her face still bore a smile. Although she couldn't meet Xiao Ze in person, listening to his voice through the golden tree soothed her longing.
"The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit… Ancient Dragon Island… The Void Ancient Dragon clan has always been extremely mysterious. It's great that Brother Xiao Ze can maintain good relations with them," Xun'er thought with a smile.
Given the rarity of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, if Xiao Ze needed help in the future, the Void Ancient Dragon clan would undoubtedly support him. Xun'er was pleased that Xiao Ze had gained such a powerful ally.
Xun'er's hands moved swiftly, forming seals like a butterfly flitting through flowers. If Xiao Ze were present, he would have recognized these as the hand seals for the first four marks of the Emperor Seal Technique.
A brilliant golden crystal handprint appeared from Xun'er's palm. "Go."
The golden crystal handprint, trailing a golden tail flame, landed in the mountains. With a deafening roar, an entire mountain range vanished. If this power were unleashed outside, the convergence of the four marks alone would be enough to tear open space, leaving pitch-black cracks.
However, within the ancient realm, not even a spatial crack appeared, and the power was somewhat diminished. The ancient realm had been reinforced over thousands of years by countless Dou Saint powerhouses, making its space incredibly firm. In the original story, even the immense energy tides from the battle between Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi, both nine-star Dou Saints, didn't tear the space of the ancient realm.
Xun'er's current strength was far from reaching that level. "I've managed to reach the level where I can combine the four marks. I wonder when Brother Xiao Ze achieved this."
Although Xiao Ze and Xun'er often chatted, they didn't share every battle detail. Therefore, Xun'er didn't know when Xiao Ze mastered the combination of the four marks.
At this moment, a shadow appeared, transforming into an old figure who knelt on one knee. "Miss." Ling Ying greeted respectfully.
"Ling Ying, what is it?" Xun'er asked.
"The Shi Clan sent an invitation for the Rock Demon Hunt. The elders want to see which young talents from our clan are interested in going," Ling Ying reported.
Hearing this, Xun'er's smile faded, replaced by a contemplative look. "Rock Demon Hunt? How many spots did the Shi Clan allocate this time?"
"It seems there are no limits," Ling Ying replied.
A smile reappeared on Xun'er's face. "I'll go too, and I'll bring a few friends."
Ling Ying was taken aback, quickly understanding whom Xun'er referred to as friends. "Miss, should I ask the elders for their opinion?"
"No need. I'll appoint them as guest elders of the Gu Clan, and they can participate that way," Xun'er said, shaking her head. As the Gu Clan's young mistress, she had the authority to appoint guest elders, a decision that even the elders couldn't contest. Guest elders were part of Xun'er's personal force, not under the elders' jurisdiction.
"Inform the elders that I'll temporarily leave the ancient realm to gather my friends for the Rock Demon Hunt," Xun'er instructed. Then, she hesitated briefly before saying, "I'll go myself, Ling Ying."
With that, Xun'er's figure, like a golden butterfly, flitted through the mountains and disappeared in an instant. Ling Ying, still on one knee, stood up, feeling a bit uneasy. "Miss's cultivation is becoming increasingly frightening. I wonder if she can catch up to Young Master Xiao Ze?"
"It's a good thing Miss didn't ask me to tell the elders about this," Ling Ying sighed in relief. Those stubborn old men could injure him just with a wisp of their aura.
"But Miss can hold her patience, using the Rock Demon Hunt as a legitimate reason to leave the ancient realm…" Ling Ying's tone was odd, concluding that Miss's determination to catch up with Young Master Xiao Ze was strong.
The ancient realm was vast. Though Xun'er's training grounds were at its center, reaching the elders' hall still required time. Since she got the golden tree from Xiao Ze, Xun'er had been able to focus on her cultivation.
However, the opportunity to leave the ancient realm legitimately, participate in the Rock Demon Hunt, and meet Xiao Ze was too good to pass up. Soon, Xun'er walked out of the elders' hall with a relaxed expression.
While the Rock Demon Hunt had certain risks, it was a good training opportunity for the younger generation. The elders wouldn't stop Xun'er from going and would likely send a Dou Saint to protect her.
Since her return to the ancient realm, Xun'er had only left once for an underwater ruins exploration, so no rumors about Xiao Ze had spread within the Gu Clan. Only the higher-ups knew about Xun'er's visit to the Xiao family, and they wouldn't spread such news.
With the golden tree, Xun'er no longer needed the Gu Clan's power to track Xiao Ze. Therefore, her request to leave the ancient realm this time went smoothly.
"Hmm, I'll keep this from Brother Xiao Ze for now and give him a surprise," Xun'er thought, her smile widening. She planned to head directly to Elder Tongxuan's residence.
Elder Tongxuan was the one chosen by the elders to protect Xun'er this time. Afterward, she would head straight to the endless void to find Xiao Ze on Ancient Dragon Island!
…
"Lord Xiao Ze, is there something you need help with?" Elder Zhu Li asked, surprised by Xiao Ze's sudden visit.
"Elder Zhu Li, I've already learned all the Ancient Dragon prescriptions I needed," Xiao Ze explained, handing the prescriptions back to the elder. Only then did Elder Zhu Li, who wasn't an alchemist, understand.
"I see. I'll take them back then. Are you sure you don't need to keep these prescriptions?"
"No need. I'm not taking any disciples. Even if I want to teach someone, I can use my soul power to write new copies," Xiao Ze replied, shaking his head. "By the way, Elder Zhu Li, I need a place with a lot of lightning to further practice my lightning techniques. Is there such a place near Ancient Dragon Island?"
Elder Zhu Li scrutinized Xiao Ze, considering his impressive strength shown during alchemy. After some hesitation, he decided to inform Xiao Ze about the Void Lightning Pool.
"The coordinates in the endless void are hard to pinpoint. I'll have Hei Qing take you to the Void Lightning Pool. It's a dangerous place in the void. If it becomes too perilous, please don't take unnecessary risks."
"I understand, Elder Zhu Li. Thank you for the information," Xiao Ze said gratefully.
(End of the Chapter)