Chapter 119

Chapter 119: Return to the Ruins

The Chaos Sea.

Amidst the surging chaotic tides, Lian Jiuyou and Ning Wudao sailed southward aboard a dragon boat.

Crafted from the backbone of a quasi-emperor level divine dragon, this vessel stood unyielding and impervious, resisting even the corrosive power of chaos with remarkable resilience.

"Brother Lian, how much longer before we reach Return to the Ruins?" Ning Wudao inquired calmly.

Even knowing he faced the Western Realm’s ruler, the demon emperor, Ning Wudao remained neither servile nor overbearing.

Entrenched within him lay an unbreakable streak of stubbornness and indomitable resolve.

Beyond that, Ning Wudao bore an aura of rebellion.

This was one of the traits that particularly earned Ye Xu’s favor.

Lian Jiuyou smiled. "Should be about another day."

Half a day had already passed since they departed the Yuan Realm. Having left Xuan Gui Island behind, they now had the Three Thousand Immortal Islands in distant view.

Clearly, this wasn’t Lian Jiuyou’s first voyage through the Sea of All Realms.

Channeling his magical power, he concealed the dragon boat’s presence, avoiding detection by chaotic beings within the sea and preventing any unnecessary attacks or complications.

"Brother Ning, as one of the demon clan possessing Celestial Demon bloodline, have you ever considered joining my Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom?" Lian Jiuyou offered lightly. "I’d ensure you’re well treated."

Ning Wudao chuckled. "Had it been the past, I wouldn’t have hesitated to accept."

"However, burdened as I am by Elder’s grace, how could I pledge myself elsewhere instead? I must decline."

"Hahaha…"

Lian Jiuyou’s eyes gleamed slightly; Ning Wudao’s refusal was expected. He eyed Ning Wudao contemplatively. "This brother was merely teasing. Please don’t consider it seriously."

"I wouldn’t dare try to snatch Elder’s disciple even with a hundred lives to spare."

Ning Wudao offered neither agreement nor denial in response.

"Elder mentioned something in the Emperor’s Tomb calls to you?" Lian Jiuyou shifted the subject.

"Yes."

Ning Wudao answered plainly. "The techniques I cultivate came by Elder’s providence. They are known as the Celestial Demon treasure roll. Currently, I only possess its first volume, sufficient only to cultivate to the saint level."

"The second volume lies within the demon emperor’s tomb."

"Since you, Brother Lian, were set to enter the tomb, Elder instructed me to accompany you."

"I see."

Lian Jiuyou’s gaze flickered thoughtfully.

The Celestial Demon treasure roll was entirely unfamiliar to him. Yet for Ye Xu to personally select and grant these techniques to Ning Wudao meant they couldn’t possibly be ordinary.

Silence settled between the two.

Riding wind and breaking waves, the dragon boat navigated through the expanse of the Three Thousand Immortal Islands. Lian Jiuyou cast one profound glance towards the islands before altering their course, sailing instead toward Return to the Ruins as guided by their map.

Night fell, draping the Sea of All Realms in darkness, where countless floating lamplights dotted the waters.

The waters surged turbulently, and low roars echoed between heaven and earth.

Lian Jiuyou’s expression became tense as he suppressed his aura completely, not daring to reveal it.

Even him was deeply afraid of the monsters in the sea.

"Brother Lian, just how vast is the Sea of All Realms?" Ning Wudao asked in confusion. "I’ve only heard of it from my master, but even she never dared to set foot here."

The master he spoke of was naturally the Demon Sage Fire Phoenix.

"The Sea of All Realms connects all the realms, and in its depths live many ancient creatures from the Primordial Era, even earlier, with vast divine abilities and supernatural powers," Lian Jiuyou solemnly explained.

"With the slightest carelessness, even I could die right here."

"Connects all the realms?" Ning Wudao murmured to himself. "Is this universe truly home to a million worlds?"

Lian Jiuyou was stunned for a moment, as if stumped by Ning Wudao’s question.

"Young brother Ning’s way of thinking is truly unique."

Lian Jiuyou chuckled wryly and said, "In my view, ‘all realms’ is just a concept; the entire universe probably doesn’t even have ten thousand worlds."

"Near the Yuan Realm, there are only the Star Realm, the Spirit Realm, the Mysterious Realm, and the Shadow Realm, several worlds at most; beyond that, I don’t know what others exist."

"However, throughout time, the ultimate goal of cultivators has been to ascend to the Immortal Realm and achieve immortality."

Lian Jiuyou gazed up at the starry sky, where another realm lay beyond the firmament.

One night passed, and a ray of morning light shone on the Sea of All Realms.

The dragon boat drifted along with the currents; the waters suddenly churned violently, and a massive vortex appeared before their eyes.

It resembled an abyss, swallowing everything whole.

"We’ve arrived," Lian Jiuyou said with a stern gaze.

In legend, it was the end of all realms—Return to the Ruins.

Those entering Return to the Ruins were not just the two of them; under their watch, fleets of lofty ships and streaks of sword light also plunged into the chaotic vortex.

Return to the Ruins was a perilous land, but also a treasure land.

Many believed it was the relic of an ancient world, concealing buried secrets and supreme treasures, drawing masters from all realms like moths to a flame, never ceasing to descend.

Lian Jiuyou steered the dragon boat cautiously as it dropped into the vortex.

The world spun around them.

They seemed to fall from the sky, landing on a vast, boundless continent; miraculously, the waters of the Sea of All Realms did not flood back in to inundate the land.

Moreover, the heaven and earth of the Return to the Ruins continent seemed completely inverted.

The two were completely upside-down on the ground, unable to adjust quickly.

"This continent has no gravity…" Ning Wudao floated in mid-air; he could not yet control his bodily movements, slowly exploring the rules of Return to the Ruins.

Lian Jiuyou looked far into the distance, watching streaks of sword light darting through Return to the Ruins; powerful auras lingered in the air, some even bearing traces of Great Emperors.

"Return to the Ruins is gradually revolving…"

Lian Jiuyou remarked in astonishment.

The world within the Return to the Ruins rotated slowly like a globe.

Having entered the Return to the Ruins for the first time, he was equally amazed.

"This place has neither sun nor moon—endlessly dark and gloomy," Ning Wudao added.

This continent appeared wondrous, as if enveloped by an immense barrier preventing the chaotic waters of the Sea of All Realms from flooding in. Through its surface, they could even glimpse bizarre creatures lurking about the Return to the Ruins continent.

"Brother Lian, do you sense suppression on your power?" Ning Wudao suddenly asked, eyes flashing with perturbation as he frowned.

Lian Jiuyou nodded.

The moment he entered the Return to the Ruins, he’d felt the oppressive force of its rules.

His cultivation at the peak of quasi-emperor level could unleash no more than seventy percent here.

No, fifty percent.

Still, it troubled him little, for all cultivators entering the Return to the Ruins faced identical restrictions.

"Save your wonder," Lian Jiuyou curtly shook off distractions. He drew Ning Wudao into his Purple Palace and soared toward the burial site of the Green Lotus Demon Emperor’s tomb, guided by a map.

Blades of sword light and sabre radiance pierced the heavens.

Deafening booms resounded as though the sky shattered and the earth quaked.

A clash between cultivators, seemingly.

Yet Lian Jiuyou cared not to linger. Shrinking his body to a speck of dust and concealing all traces of his presence, he streaked southeastward.

After two incense sticks’ time, Lian Jiuyou halted.

He stood before a fathomless chasm—sinister and shrouded in mystery.

"The Deep Abyss of the Return to the Ruins?"

Lian Jiuyou shuddered.

He’d heard terrifying tales of the Deep Abyss of the Return to the Ruins.

As the core of this realm, it harbored dreadful energies, resembling a black hole that consumed all.

"Why on earth would Father’s tomb lie within the Deep Abyss of the Return to the Ruins?"

His expression soured. Known as the most perilous zone within the Return to the Ruins, this was no trifling matter.

The slightest misstep could prove fatal.

"Brother, dare you brave the Deep Abyss?"

Suddenly, a wisp of cyan light descended beside Lian Jiuyou, coalescing into a white-robed youth holding a paper fan, radiating noble bearing—clearly no ordinary person.

Though young, his cultivation had reached the peak of quasi-emperor level, matching Lian Jiuyou’s prowess.

"I too venture into the Deep Abyss. Shall we join forces?" The youth proposed when met with silence.

"No interest," Lian Jiuyou answered coldly. "I walk alone. Be on your way."

A flicker of disappointment crossed the youth’s face.

"Now is the time of the Return to the Ruins tidal surge—supremely hazardous, yet promising boundless fortunes. Since you decline cooperation, brother, I shan’t insist."

"Farewell for now."

His parting words still hung in the air as the youth plunged into the Deep Abyss.

"Return to the Ruins tidal surge?"

Lian Jiuyou murmured to himself.

He truly had no idea what it entailed.

Yet according to the youth’s words, peril and opportunity walked hand in hand.