Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 258 The Mystery of the Ruins
Seeing Qu Heng's shock, Chen Ye asked with some confusion, "Grandmaster, why are you so surprised? There's a complete version of the 'Eight-Nine Arcane Arts' in the Burning Incense Sect's collection. Didn't I tell you about this?"

Chen Ye replied that what surprised Qu Heng was that Chen Ye was practicing the "incomplete version," but Qu Heng said, "I know we have the complete 'Eight-Nine Arcane Arts,' but how did you manage to master it in less than a month? Even if you had the help of the ginseng fruit, how did you manage to overcome the first level so quickly?"

Qu Heng had also read "The Eight-Nine Mysterious Techniques" and had considered cultivating it.

However, he is now at the Void Returning Realm, and it has been too long since he last tempered his body. The first step is to transform his physical body into a Primordial Realm, which is not a simple process. So he let Chen Ye practice on his own first.

But this isn't just a matter of physical strength. Even with ample resources, the "Eight-Nine Arcane Technique" is an extremely difficult technique. How could Chen Ye treat it as easily as drinking water?
Qu Heng couldn't help but press further, "The first level of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts requires you to refine your entire physical body into runes, and your will will shatter into millions of pieces. How did you get through this level?"

Chen Ye thought for a moment, then said, "No matter how many or hundreds of millions of my incarnations I have, I am still me. I may have a million different forms, but I am still just one person."

These words were ambiguous and sounded like a perfunctory remark, but Qu Heng said enviously, "This is talent. You're not only blessed with good fortune, but your talent for cultivation is even better than mine. Even your grandmaster, who has cultivated for so many years, wouldn't dare say that he has attained enlightenment. For an ordinary person to have such a firm heart for the Dao is truly one in ten thousand. You might even achieve Dao and ascend to immortality before me."

Qu Heng's words were tinged with sarcasm, revealing a genuine sense of resentment.

However, the thought that Chen Ye was his grand-disciple brought Qu Heng comfort. It seemed that forcing this kid to inherit his lineage was a worthwhile deal.

Upon hearing the word "talent," Chen Ye recalled Zhang Qi's own words that he had no talent for learning swordsmanship.

Cultivating immortality without practicing swordsmanship is like missing half the experience.

From then on, Chen Ye lost all interest in the word "talent".

Qu Heng was still sighing when Chen Ye cut to the chase, saying, "Grandmaster, I've come here to ask you for a favor."

Upon hearing this, Qu Heng immediately laughed and said, "I knew you wouldn't come here without a reason, you're not here to show off your cultivation achievements. Tell me, what is it that you can't do yourself and need my help?"

"I need a magic weapon."

Chen Ye stretched out his right hand, and half of his arm instantly transformed into golden runes that scattered.

Chen Ye casually pointed to the drooping sleeve and said, "Grandmaster, my clothes can't change with my body. If I use the Eight-Nine Arcane Technique when fighting, I'll be naked. The dignified Sect Master of the Yellow Springs Sect can't afford to lose face like that. I need a magic weapon that can change with my body shape."

This time, Qu Heng didn't mock Chen Ye. Instead, he nodded and said, "That's true. The Yellow Springs Sect is now a major sect in the world. Your position as sect leader is indeed a bit stingy. The only magic weapon you can offer is the Myriad Soul Banner. However, I'm not good at refining magic weapons, let alone a magic robe that matches the Eight-Nine Arcane Technique. This is not something that ordinary magic weapons can do. You might not even find one among the five major sects."

Chen Ye quickly said, "Grandmaster, you are knowledgeable and experienced, you must have a solution."

Qu Heng rolled his eyes at Chen Ye, but since his grand-disciple was flattering him, he could only accept it. After thinking for a moment, Qu Heng suddenly thought of something and said to Chen Ye, "Didn't you take in a group of mirage demons? Go ask them, maybe they can help you get a suitable magic weapon."

"Mirage demons? They can also refine treasures?"

Chen Ye remembered that the mirage demons, including Chen Guang, only knew how to use illusion magic. Even Chen Guang's face and body were "created" by Chen Ye.

Relying solely on illusions to conceal one's body is insufficient; those with higher cultivation levels will see through it at a glance.

Especially Su Chunyi, whose cultivation level is higher than Chen Ye's, and whose cultivation of the Qinghe Sword Technique has made Su Chunyi's sword heart clear, so that ordinary illusions cannot escape her perception.

Chen Ye didn't want to be naked when he saw Su Chunyi next time; that would be too embarrassing.
"I'm not having the mirage demons refine treasures for you; I'm having them take you treasure hunting," Qu Heng said earnestly. "Didn't you promise those mirage demons you'd help them explore the Deep Sea Ruins and let those expelled mirage demons return to their homeland? This place is definitely an ancient grotto-heaven, and it must contain many magical treasures. The 'Eight-Nine Arcane Technique' is an ancient cultivation method, and only by exploring these ancient grotto-heavens can we possibly find matching magical treasures. While there's still some time, go to the Ruins and see if you can dig up some ancient treasures to bolster the Yellow Springs Sect's reputation."

There were still two months until July 14th, so a round trip was definitely possible.

However, Guixu is a place that even the Mirage Sect dares not venture into, and Chen Ye cannot guarantee that he can escape unscathed.

Chen Ye frankly said, "Grandmaster, this Guixu is a place that even the Mirage Sect cannot explore. If I, a cultivator at the Tongxuan Realm, go there, wouldn't I be courting death?"

"You've mastered the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, your physical body can gather and disperse at will, you don't need to breathe, and the pressure of the deep sea can't harm you. You're the most suitable candidate to investigate the Void. Moreover, you underestimate the power of the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts. With your current abilities, plus the blessing of that Golden Body of Merit, even I can't do anything to you. Do you think everyone is Zhang Qi?"

In Qu Heng's view, Chen Ye could no longer be treated as a Transcendent Realm cultivator.

In terms of survival skills, Qu Heng is no match for Chen Ye.

If he's still afraid of dying in this situation, then Chen Ye might as well hide in the Yellow Springs Sect for the rest of his life and never go out.

Hearing Qu Heng say this, Chen Ye felt more confident.

With the Golden Body of Merit and the Eight-Nine Arcane Arts, it does indeed have a bit of an "indestructible" feel to it.

Since that's the case, let's go explore this Ruins of Return.

Chen Ye bid farewell to Qu Heng and turned to head towards the City God Pavilion.

The former Lingguang Fairy is now one of the City Gods of the Northern Frontier, and is known as the Morning Light Fairy.

However, unlike other city gods, this Morning Light Fairy has several sisters who share incense and receive the same worship.

There were quite a few of these mirage demons, yet they only occupied one position as city god, giving them a sense of being detached from worldly affairs.

As Chenguang said, the Mirage Demon clan does not like fighting; they prefer to live a leisurely life in a quiet corner.

When Chen Ye called out the name of the Morning Light Fairy, a white figure landed in front of him and respectfully said, "May I ask what your orders are, Sect Master?"

"No need for formalities. I've come today to discuss exploring the Ruins of Return with you. I promised you before that if I had the time, I would explore the Ruins of Return with you to help the other Mirage Demons return to their homeland and avoid being enslaved by the Mirage Sect again. Now, I'd like to explore the Ruins of Return, so I'd like to ask you to lead the way."

Upon hearing Chen Ye's words, Chen Guang showed a surprised expression and quickly advised, "Sect Master, there is no need to rush. The Ruins of Return are fraught with danger. If we go now, it is difficult to guarantee our safety."

Chen Ye did not refute, but patiently asked, "I have never asked in detail before, and I do not know what dangers are in the Ruins of Return, or why you escaped from the Ruins of Return. Why don't you tell me in detail today, and then we can discuss when to go to the Ruins of Return."

Chen Guang had no choice but to explain, "The Ruins of Return are located a hundred miles deep in the seabed. Ordinary cultivators simply cannot withstand this immense pressure. But this is only the least of the problems. The real danger is the omnipresent poison within the Ruins of Return."

(End of this chapter)