The First Marquis of Daxuan

Ning Hongchen said he would be right back, but a full half hour passed before he returned to Su Mu's side.

Ning Hongchen returned to Su Mu with a strong smell of blood on him. Although everything seemed the same as before, Su Mu still noticed Ning Hongchen's disheveled state.

Ning Hongchen's breathing was somewhat rapid, and traces of blood could be faintly seen on his body.

This clearly indicates that he had just gone through a battle that was not easy.

The fact that the Void Beast could injure Ning Hongchen shows that its strength is extraordinary.

Su Mu thought to himself, he also had some doubts.

Based on his understanding of Ning Hongchen, Ning Hongchen was not the kind of hero who served the country and its people.

Ning Hongchen was in the outer realms before, and there were so many conflicts there, but he never got involved.

When demons wreaked havoc on the world, Ning Hongchen simply stood by and did nothing.

Why is he suddenly so concerned about the Void Beast?
Moreover, it was a Void Beast that appeared in the Taixu Sacred Realm.

Willing to injure themselves, they must eliminate the invading Void Beasts?

When did he become so selfless?

Su Mu now felt that Ning Hongchen was full of mysteries.

Like the Seventy-Two Thieves, they are always shrouded in mystery, making it impossible for people to see their true faces.

"Su Mu, I'll get straight to the point."

Ning Hongchen said in a deep voice, "In the Void Realm, there is a Five Elements Mountain, which was made by a great supernatural being in the past using the essence of the five elements."

Beneath the Five Elements Mountain lies an incomparably powerful Void Beast.

"If you want to cultivate the Eight-Nine Mysterious Technique to its highest level, you must go to the Void Realm and retrieve the Five Elements Mountain."

"Five Elements Mountain?"

Su Mu frowned.

"People from the Yang Realm will be affected by the ink-wash aura of the Void Realm when they go there. However, the Heavenly Medicine Compendium records a spiritual medicine that can allow you to enter the Void Realm without any hindrance."

Ning Hongchen continued, "Whether you want to go or not is up to you. I have important matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first!"

After saying that, Ning Hongchen strode away, his back view revealing a sense of loneliness and desolation.

Su Mu only came to his senses after Ning Hongchen disappeared.

"Ning Hongchen sent me to Yin Ruins, that must be his real purpose."

Su Mu thought to himself, "From sending me to Yin Ruins, to the Heaven and Earth Pharmacopoeia, and then to the Five Elements Mountain, this is a line."

Yin Ruins has a passage to the Ruins Realm. The Heavenly Medicine Classic records a method for allowing beings from the Yang Realm to enter the Ruins Realm. The Five Elements Mountain can help him achieve the Great Perfection of the Eight-Nine Mysterious Techniques.

If Ning Hongchen didn't do it on purpose, then Su Mu should start writing his name backwards from now on!

but--

Although he knew this might be Ning Hongchen's scheme, Su Mu was still tempted.

He really couldn't bear to give up the opportunity to perfect the Eight-Nine Mysterious Technique.

Since Su Mu perfected the Eight-Nine Mysterious Technique, his system panel has become useless.

The system panel can only raise the Eight-Nine Mysterious Technique to the Perfected state. To reach the Great Perfection state, one must cultivate it independently.

Su Mu has been diligently cultivating himself all these years.

However, the Eight-Nine Mysterious Techniques are still somewhat lacking from the Great Perfection realm.

Judging from Ning Hongchen's words, it seems that one must obtain the Five Elements Mountain to reach that realm.

And this Five Elements Mountain happens to be located in the Ruins Realm.

To go or not to go, that is the question.

"Ning Hongchen is really generous. In order to get me to go to the Void Realm, he not only released the secret of the Five Elements Mountain, but also sent the Heaven and Earth Medicine Scripture to me."

Su Mu thought to himself, "If I don't go, wouldn't they have gotten away with their scheme for nothing?"

The current situation gave Su Mu a sense of familiarity.

Previously, the demonic cat set up a fake treasure trove to provoke the Martial Sect and the Azure Sky Sect, and at that time, it was to send Su Mu to find certain treasures.

At that time, Su Mu realized that the monster cat was doing it on purpose.

Later, the demon cat gave him the identity of Wu Jiutong so that he could attend the Martial Ancestor's birthday banquet.

This feeling—

How should I put it? It's as if they're deliberately giving themselves certain opportunities.

It's one thing for the demonic cat to be bad, but now Ning Hongchen is actually doing the same thing.

"If what I think is true, they may really want to do something big."

Su Mu thought to himself, "Something is definitely amiss if things are going wrong."

The way they "cultivated" themselves must have had a purpose.

They probably wanted to reach a certain level of cultivation before using it to accomplish something.

Just thinking about it makes you realize how dangerous this kind of thing is.

They must have felt that even with their current strength, they couldn't do it, which is why they added another "trial" for themselves.

"Seventy-two thieves, or seventy-two sages? This world is full of secrets."

Su Mu sneered inwardly.

He disliked being led by the nose, but he was determined to obtain the Five Elements Mountain.

"I can go to the Void Realm, but no one says I have to go alone."

Su Mu thought to himself, "The Five Elements Mountain, I imagine the Martial Ancestor would also be very interested in it."

Su Mu's lips curled up slightly.

…………

Emperor Wuzong.

The Martial Ancestor sat cross-legged in a secret room. Suddenly, he opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of turbid air.

puff!
The wisp of turbid air disappeared into the ground and vanished instantly, leaving only a deep, unfathomable pit.

The Martial Ancestor's muscles rippled, and a sound like frying soybeans echoed in the secret chamber.

Several breaths passed before the commotion subsided.

The expression on Wu Zu's face returned to normal.

"Now that we're here, why hide?"

The Martial Ancestor suddenly spoke calmly.

Before he could finish speaking, a figure suddenly appeared inside the secret room.

"The Martial Ancestor is indeed powerful."

The newcomer smiled, cupped his hands, and said, "My whereabouts cannot be hidden from Lord Martial Ancestor."

"who are you?"

Martial Ancestor raised his eyelids, glanced at the newcomer, and asked indifferently.

"My name is Xu Xian. I have been entrusted to deliver a letter to you, Lord Martial Ancestor."

The person came said.

"Xu Xian?"

A hint of doubt surfaced in the mind of the Martial Ancestor.

The name was somewhat unfamiliar to him.

Xu Xian's cultivation was quite good, and he was considered one of the best among the younger generation, but he still didn't catch the eye of the Martial Ancestor.

After glancing at the letter in Xu Xian's hand, Wu Zu reached out and snatched it away.

With the strength of the Martial Ancestor, he was not afraid of any tampering with the letter.

He opened the envelope, pulled out the letter, and read the contents in one glance.

"Do you know what this is?"

Martial Ancestor raised his head and looked at Xu Xian.

"do not know."

Xu Xian shook his head and said, "The other party only gave me a benefit and asked me to make this trip."

I still have that much professional ethics; I didn't even open that letter.

"This is a challenge."

Wu Zu said, staring at Xu Xian.

Xu Xian's face showed a surprised expression.

"A challenge? Someone actually dares to challenge the Martial Ancestor? Does he have a death wish?"

Xu Xian said in surprise.

Wu Zu stared at Xu Xian and saw that the expression on Xu Xian's face did not seem to be fake.

"The letter was written by Wu Jiutong, who challenged me to a battle at Wuxing Mountain."

Martial Ancestor continued, his tone calm and collected.

"That person was actually Wu Jiutong?"

Xu Xian asked in surprise, "Where is Five Elements Mountain? I've traveled all over the country, why have I never heard of a place called Five Elements Mountain?"

Seeing that Xu Xian had no flaws, the Martial Ancestor stopped testing him.

With a tremor of his hand, the letter instantly turned to ashes.

"I've received the letter. You can go now."

Martial Ancestor Dao.

"Does Lord Martial Ancestor need a reply? I can deliver it for you."

Xu Xian said, "My price is not high, and the service will definitely satisfy the Martial Ancestor."

"No need, go down."

Martial Ancestor Dao.

Xu Xian left with a regretful expression, shaking his head.

No sooner had he left than a disciple of the Martial Sect came before the Martial Ancestor.

"Follow him, but don't let him find out, and see who he's been in contact with."

"This is what the Martial Ancestor instructed."

The Martial Sect disciple bowed and agreed, then vanished into thin air.

"The Void Realm, Five Elements Mountain, is this a provocation?"

The Martial Ancestor chuckled coldly twice.

"You think I wouldn't dare to go? What if I did go?"

"I'd like to see who you really are!"

…………

Almost at the same time.

Inside the main hall of the Azure Sky Sect.

A letter is being passed around among several elders.

"Tell me your thoughts, everyone."

The sect leader of the Azure Sky Sect, Fu Canglan, spoke slowly.

"Sect Master, this Wu Jiutong is a fake!"

"An elder of the Azure Sky Sect said."

"There's no need to repeat what everyone already knows. This Wu Jiutong is not that Wu Jiutong, but we all know that he is the person who appeared at the Martial Ancestor's birthday banquet."

Fu Canglan waved his hand and said.

"There seems to be a conspiracy behind this."

Another elder of the Azure Sky Sect said, "The Five Elements Mountain is in the Void Realm. It is extremely dangerous for us people of the Yang Realm to enter the Void Realm. Even with the strength of the sect master, our strength will be greatly reduced when we enter the Void Realm."

“Wu Jiutong stole the Guixu Yin technique and even mastered the Xinggui Bu technique. I even suspect that he deliberately showed up in front of you last time in order to steal the Big Dipper Formation.”

Fu Canglan said slowly, "This matter must be resolved."

"Stealing the Big Dipper formation? How is that possible?"

The elders all spoke up.

"Nothing is impossible in the face of absolute genius."

Fu Canglan said.

"Sect Master, do you mean you're going to keep the appointment and kill Wu Jiutong during the duel?"

The elders of the Azure Sky Sect also understood what Fu Canglan meant.

Wu Jiutong, who stole the secret techniques of the Cangqiong Sect, must die. Otherwise, if the secret techniques of the Cangqiong Sect are leaked, it will shake the foundation of the Cangqiong Sect.

Even if Wu Jiutong helped their Cangqiong Sect back in the Martial Sect, it doesn't change this fact.

Wu Jiutong must die.

“Although killing Wu Jiutong is important, Sect Master, Five Elements Mountain is in the Void Realm. Given your status, if you are discovered by the Void Beasts, I'm afraid—”

A seasoned and prudent elder of the Azure Sky Sect said, "Moreover, if Wu Jiutong is colluding with the Void Beast, then this is a trap."

"Yes, Sect Master, it's possible that Wu Jiutong, Cha Haishan, and Beigong Ye are all in cahoots. Otherwise, how do you explain how Wu Jiutong would have had the antidote in the first place?"

Another elder from the Azure Sky Sect said, "It's possible that what happened at the Martial Sect was just a ruse on their part!"

"That's right, this is definitely a ruse. He wants to lure you, Sect Master, to the Void Realm. If anything happens to you, the martial arts world will be leaderless. When those Void Beasts launch a massive invasion, who will lead us to fight them?"

Everyone said in unison.

Although they were trying to flatter Fu Canglan, after all, Fu Canglan was only the sect leader of the Cangqiong Sect, not the ruler of the world.

However, even Fu Canglan felt somewhat pleased after hearing these words.

"Whether it's a ruse or not, I must go to Five Elements Mountain."

Fu Canglan said slowly.

"metropolitan!"

The elders exclaimed in surprise.

"The Five Elements Mountain is a valuable object, and our sect intends to bring it back."

Fu Canglan laughed heartily, "No need to worry. I have experienced all kinds of storms in my life. It's not that easy to take my life."

Fu Canglan flicked his sleeves, exuding a powerful sense of confidence.

…………

When Wu Zu and Fu Canglan received the challenge letter.

Su Mu has already quietly returned to the outer realms.

Since mastering the Yin-Yang Cauldron, Su Mu has been able to travel freely between the outer realms and the Taixu Sacred Realm.

On this return journey, Su Mu first went to the Taiping Division to pass down the Big Dipper Seven Stars Formation, and left the Heavenly Fate Pill for everyone before setting off to search for the spiritual medicine recorded in the Heavenly Medicine Codex that could allow mortals to enter the Void Realm.

According to the Pharmacopoeia of Heaven and Earth, there is a wondrous substance in the world called the Fire-Red Date. After consumption, it will form an extremely thin film of Yang Flame on the surface of the human body, which can resist the invasion of Yin Qi from the Void Realm.

These cinnabar dates grow in the weakest point of the barrier between the Yang Realm and the Ruins Realm, absorbing the power of both realms to grow. Once ripe, they must be harvested within an hour, otherwise their power will go out of control and they will explode and be annihilated.

In theory, Yinxu is the most likely place to find jujubes made from flint.

However, Su Mu searched for several days in Yin Ruins but did not find any trace of the Fire Dates.

That's why he turned back to the outer realms.

Aside from Yin Ruins, Su Mu only knew of one other place where the barrier between the two worlds was weak.

That's the East China Sea Eye, the place where he personally sealed the passage.

When he reappeared on the East China Sea, looking at the calm and waveless sea, Su Mu couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The strange appearance of the East China Sea Eye was something Ning Hongchen had foreseen before it appeared, and he had prepared in advance to refine the Thousand Machine Staff, which could seal the passage.

At that time, Ning Hongchen stole more than ten divine weapons of destiny.

"Everyone says that the Seventy-Two Thieves once left behind a treasure that was richer than a country, but no one has ever found it over the years."

Su Mu thought to himself, a sudden idea popping into his mind. Perhaps the treasure hidden by the Seventy-Two Thieves wasn't in the outer realms, but rather—

Ruins!

The seventy-two divine weapons of destiny not only separated the outer realms from the Great Void Sacred Realm, but also enabled them to connect the outer realms with the Ruins Realm...

Once the idea appeared, it grew wildly like weeds.

This was not a wild idea of ​​Su Mu's, but a reasonable deduction he made based on various signs.

If Ning Hongchen deliberately opened the passage in the East China Sea Eye, then everything can be reasonably explained.

Ning Hongchen snatched the Heavenly Fate Divine Weapons from him and then used them to open a passage to the Void Realm. To prevent the passage from causing too much damage, he had himself forge the Thousand Machine Staff in advance.

All of this was to tell himself that the eye of the East Sea was a weak point in the barrier between the Yang Realm and the Ruins Realm, where the Fire-Sparkling Dates might exist.

"You guys really know how to handle things thoroughly."

Su Mu muttered to himself.

If his deduction is true, then what exactly is Ning Hongchen and the demonic cat's true purpose?

"If you think you can control me, you're mistaken."

Su Mu thought to himself.

So far, he has not sensed any obvious malice from the demonic cat or Ning Hongchen, which is why Su Mu is willing to cooperate with them.

Although the demonic cat and Ning Hongchen may have other motives, their actions, on the whole, were more beneficial than harmful to Su Mu.

All their schemes were aimed at giving Su Mu benefits.

Otherwise, Su Mu wouldn't have tolerated it until now.

"No matter what, strength is the most fundamental thing. As long as I am strong enough, I don't need to be afraid of any of their schemes."

Su Mu thought to himself.

The more he thought about it, the more he felt that he had to get his hands on the Five Elements Mountain.

After acquiring the Five Elements Mountain, his Eight-Nine Mysterious Skill is expected to reach its full potential.

With the Eight-Nine Mysterious Techniques at its peak, even if he encountered a Celestial Venerable, he would still have the strength to fight him.

At that time, even powerful figures like Martial Ancestor and Fu Canglan, the sect master of the Azure Sky Sect, will be unable to do anything to him.

With these thoughts in mind, Su Mu's power surged, and he leaped into the East Sea.

Swish!
Su Mu's body surged with power, keeping the seawater several inches away from his body.

Even in the deep sea, they can remain dry.

After the Thousand Machine Staff sealed the passage, the vortex that originally had a diameter of a hundred miles disappeared.

When ordinary people come to this sea area, they will find that it is no different from other places and they will have no idea that there is a passage leading to the Ruins Realm hidden here.

However, for Su Mu, the Thousand Machine Staff was, after all, made by him. He could sense that the Thousand Machine Staff stood there, blocking the passage between the two realms.

A moment later, Su Mu was already standing on the seabed.

He closed his eyes and carefully sensed the location of the Thousand Machine Staff.

A strange feeling welled up inside me.

Su Mu even felt as if he were seeing a wall, and on the other side of the wall was a landscape of ink wash.

That place is the other side of the world, also known as the Ruins Realm.

The barrier between the two worlds was as thin as a cicada's wing. Observing with divine sense, the ink-colored aura was even constantly penetrating the barrier and seeping into their world.

The ink-like color blended into the seawater, becoming almost imperceptible.

This infiltration occurs deep in the ocean, and because the seawater is dark, it goes undetected.

But over the years, an area on the seabed has turned almost like ink.

Su Mu knew that once this place turned completely into an ink-wash color, it would no longer be the Yang Realm.

The invasion of the mortal realm by the Void Realm already reveals some clues.

"The Outer Realm and the Great Void Sacred Realm are just fighting amongst themselves. No matter which side wins, it won't have a big impact on the ordinary people on either side."

But the Void Realm is different. If the Void Realm succeeds in invading the Yang Realm, all living beings in the Yang Realm will face annihilation…

Su Mu thought to himself.

These things were not Su Mu's concern. He searched for the traces of the Fire Dates along the weak points of the barrier between the two worlds.

Su Mu searched thoroughly, one zhang, two zhang...

The deep sea is empty, and when fish and shrimp occasionally swim by, they all keep their distance, as if they can sense the danger here.

"Although the Fire Date grows in places where the barrier between the two worlds is weak, can the Fire Date really grow in the depths of the sea?"

Su Mu searched for a long time but still couldn't find any trace of the jujube.

He himself was starting to have some doubts. Could it be that he had misjudged the situation?
Was all of this a coincidence, or something Ning Hongchen deliberately arranged?
Otherwise, why can't we find any trace of jujubes near the East China Sea eye?

Just as Su Mu began to have doubts, suddenly...

A faint red light shone through the seawater ahead.

The idea of ​​starting a fire in the sea is itself a strange occurrence.

Moreover, Su Mu is currently searching for the jujube tree.

He swayed, and the surging seawater pushed him in front of that glimmer of fire.

The flickering light turned out to be thumb-sized dates, fiery red in color, like burning flames.

The jujube grew on a vine that stretched into the void, making it impossible to see where it took root.

All of this is exactly the same as what is recorded in the Pharmacopoeia of Heaven and Earth.

So, fire dates!
There really are jujube trees growing near the East China Sea eye!
Judging from the appearance of those jujubes, they are not far from ripening, and I have come at the perfect time.

Su Mu stared at the jujubes, his resolve growing stronger.

Ning Hongchen, there's a ghost!

However, now is not the time to consider Ning Hongchen.

The task at hand now is to wait for the jujubes to ripen and then harvest them.

With these Fire Dates, he was able to infiltrate the Void Realm, search for the Five Elements Mountain, and bring it back.

The jujube is a rare and precious thing. To harvest it, you must do so within one hour of it ripening; too early or too late is not acceptable.

Su Mu dared not stray far, nor dared to be distracted, and just kept staring at those jujubes.

As the dates grew redder and redder, a cluster of flames suddenly ignited in the seawater, causing the surrounding water to boil.

This incredible sight is so real that if you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, who would believe it was real?

While admiring the spectacular scenery, Su Mu prepared to pick the jujubes.

Just at this time.

suddenly.

The seawater churned violently, and towering waves rose on the surface.

The birth of a wondrous object will inevitably bring about extraordinary phenomena.

This strange phenomenon will attract powerful demons.

Therefore, for ordinary people to pick natural wonders is often fraught with danger, and may even lead to life-threatening situations.

The thought had barely crossed Su Mu's mind when a dark shadow appeared in the seawater.

The dark figure was none other than a whale-like monster.

It opened its mouth wide, about to swallow the jujube.

But with Su Mu by its side, how could it allow the jujube to be swallowed up?

With a cold snort, Su Mu swung his sword.

Swish!
The seawater parted, and the sixth-rank demon beast was cut in two before it could even let out a scream.

The seawater was instantly stained red with blood.

The pungent smell of blood will only attract more monsters.

Su Mu frowned slightly, and his aura suddenly burst forth.

With an aura as powerful as the heavens, the seawater surged outwards, instantly carrying away the stench of blood and the monster severed in two into the distance.

Its powerful aura caused the demons that had sensed the aura of the Fire Date to stop in the distance, filled with doubt and uncertainty, and dared not approach.

After things calmed down, the jujubes had ripened.

Each bright red date is crystal clear, with flames burning on top.

Even deep in the ocean, the flames remain unaffected.

Water and fire have always been incompatible, but here, fire and seawater do not interfere with each other.

Su Mu waved his hands and carefully picked the jujubes one by one.

So, once the jujubes are picked, they can be preserved for three days.

If it is not taken within three days, it will turn into ashes and disappear into the world.

After taking the Suihuozao (a type of jujube), the medicinal effect can also last for three days.

Within three days, the medicinal power covered the entire body, enough to resist the invasion of the Yin energy of the Void Realm.

However, the medicine's effectiveness will greatly decrease after three days.

In other words, even if Su Mu picked a lot of Fire Dates, he could only stay in the Void Realm for three days.

Three days is definitely not enough.

Ning Hongchen made it clear that a powerful Void Beast was being suppressed beneath Five Elements Mountain, and taking Five Elements Mountain away would not be so easy.

Let alone three days, even three months or three years might not be enough time.

Moreover, Su Mu also lured Martial Ancestor and Fu Canglan, the sect leader of the Azure Sky Sect, over there.

"I wonder what method Wu Zu and Fu Canglan will use to enter the Void Realm."

Su Mu thought to himself.

Although he didn't know, Su Mu believed that this matter would definitely not be difficult for the two of them.

Su Mu certainly wouldn't believe that the Martial Sect and the Azure Sky Sect had no way to enter the Void Realm.

"For others, jujubes can only be preserved for three days, but for me, that may not be the case."

Su Mu held the jujubes he had picked, and waved his other hand.

A three-legged medicine cauldron instantly appeared in front of him.

Without hesitation, Su Mu put the jujubes into it.

The fire date can only be preserved for three days, but once it is refined into an elixir, it can be preserved for as long as desired.

When refining elixirs with jujubes, it is also necessary to preserve their medicinal properties.

An ordinary alchemist certainly couldn't do it, but it was no challenge for Su Mu.

Su Mu's Qiankun Creation Technique had already reached the perfect level. Now, having obtained the Heaven and Earth Medicine Classic by Shi Zhen, the alchemy master of the Yin Dynasty, Su Mu's Qiankun Creation Technique has been further enhanced.

For him, refining elixirs with jujubes was not difficult.

Even so, in order to ensure the efficacy of the Suihuo Jujube, Su Mu did not dare to delay and immediately began to use it to refine pills.

boom!
Su Mu unleashed his power, creating a waterless area deep within the ocean.

Then a ball of flame enveloped the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

Su Mu sat cross-legged, suspended in that waterless area, his hands constantly changing hand seals.

Every now and then, he would also add some spiritual herbs into the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

time flies.

I don’t know how long it took.

Suddenly, a clear and melodious sound emanated from within the Yin-Yang Cauldron.

Then several pills flew out with a whoosh.

Before they could escape, Su Mu had already moved with lightning speed, grabbing the pills in his hand.

Upon careful counting, there were exactly thirty-six.

"A single jujube can only maintain its medicinal effects for three days, but after I refine it into an elixir using the Qiankun Creation Method, its medicinal effects can be increased tenfold."

One dose of the Fire-Sucking Pill can maintain its effects for thirty days.

Thirty-six Fire-Sucking Pills are enough for me to stay in the Void Realm for three years.

Su Mu calculated in his mind.

This Fire-Sucking Pill wasn't just made from Fire-Sucking Dates; Su Mu also used over a hundred kinds of rare spiritual herbs for it.

The Fire-Sucking Jujube itself is already priceless, but the Fire-Sucking Pill is even more valuable.

It's reasonable that they have this kind of medicinal effect.

"If I can't find the Five Elements Mountain in three years, it can only prove that I am not destined to be with the Five Elements Mountain. Giving up will be the best choice then."

Su Mu thought to himself.

Ning Hongchen only said that the Five Elements Mountain was in the Void Realm, but he kept the exact location a secret.

Therefore, to obtain the Five Elements Mountain, entering the Void Realm is only the first step; finding the Five Elements Mountain is the second step.

“Ning Hongchen is a man of deep thought and foresight. He even planned for the Fire Dates. It’s impossible that he overlooked the location of the Five Elements Mountain.”

Su Mu thought to himself, and suddenly he remembered Shi Zhen's Compendium of Materia Medica.

"When we were at Yin Ruins, Ning Hongchen tried to provoke me with words, wanting me to follow the path once taken by Shi Zhen, the alchemy master of the Yin Dynasty."

Could it be that this Five Elements Mountain is located on the very path that Shizhen once walked?

A thought popped into Su Mu's mind.

"The Yin Dynasty has been destroyed for a long time, and Shizhen has been gone for countless years. Now there are probably no records of the path he took back then."

Su Mu's face showed a thoughtful expression, "However—"

There's no point in relying on historical records, since even historical records about the Yin Dynasty have disappeared into the annals of time, let alone records about Shizhen.

However, there is a way to deal with this.

If there are no history books, there are others.

For example, the Pharmacopoeia of Heaven and Earth!
This Compendium of Medicinal Herbs records Shizhen's research on the world's rare and precious medicines.

To achieve this, Shizhen traveled all over the world, collecting every kind of medicinal herb and recording them.

Since Shizhen traveled all over the world in search of the Compendium of Materia Medica, then the route he took back then must be hidden in the Compendium of Materia Medica.

"Once I thoroughly study the spiritual herbs recorded in the Void Realm chapter of the Heavenly Medicine Encyclopedia, I will be able to trace the route that Shizhen took after entering the Void Realm based on their growing environment."

A glint of light flashed in Su Mu's eyes.

This was a clue that Ning Hongchen deliberately left for him.

However, if it comes to cracking this clue, probably only Su Mu in the whole world could do it.

Ning Hongchen really went to great lengths.

"I have thoroughly memorized the Compendium of Medicinal Herbs, and I also understand the spiritual herbs recorded in the Void Realm Chapter."

But I know nothing about the terrain and environment of the Ruins Realm.

To map out the route Shizhen took, I first need to understand the geography of the ruins.

Su Mu began to think seriously.

"If I want to understand the geography of the Ruins Realm, I either have to travel all over the Ruins Realm and explore it myself, which is obviously impossible."

Alternatively, one could find someone familiar with the Void Realm to inquire, and obtaining a map of the Void Realm would be even better. But that seems impossible.

Su Mu thought to himself, "Then, there's only one last option left."

Capture a Void Beast alive and use the Soul Searching Technique on it!

Su Mu cultivated the Great Evolution Technique, which contains a secret technique called Soul Searching.

Su Mu used the Soul Searching Technique to look through Ji Yu'an's memories, thereby learning a lot about the Taixu Sacred Realm.

Since the Void Beast is also a living being, the Soul Searching Technique of the Great Evolution Manual should be effective against it as well.

So now only one question remains.

How to capture a Void Beast alive.

Perhaps, he needs more than just a Void Beast! (End of Chapter)