That day, all the senior members of the Qin family who were present made a solemn vow not to reveal anything about the Earth Spirit to anyone outside.

The Earth Spirit and the valuable herbs were carefully placed in the deepest part of the back mountain’s herb garden, which was declared a forbidden area of the Qin family.

Only elders and higher-ranking members were allowed to enter.

When everything was settled in the herb garden, an amusing incident occurred.

The Second Elder and Third Elder refused to leave the garden, looking like they wanted to sleep there for a few days to calm their overwhelming excitement.

The Second Elder’s behavior was expected because he was known to be playful.

But surprisingly, the Third Elder also stayed.

She didn’t say anything, but squatted in the field, staring intently at the herbs, as if she planned to guard them forever.

This sight left Qin Ruqing and the younger members stunned.

Ancestor Wenxuan was the calmest.

Seeing this, he let them be and waved his sleeve, signaling others to return to their seats.

They then smoothly finished the welcoming banquet.

After the banquet, everyone left except for the ancestor and Qin Ruqing, who had a private conversation.

Even though the senior members were present earlier, there were some matters too significant to casually mention.

For instance, one elder asked if all those valuable items were found in the Small Floating Island because they seemed too precious to be just simple resources from a secret realm.

Qin Ruqing only nodded and vaguely said they were discovered in the Small Floating Island.

This was true, but she left out the crucial detail that these items were collected by an Celestial family and were the essence of thousands of years gathered in the Small Floating Island.

The book without words… Qin Ruqing believed that the ancestor wouldn’t casually disclose it to others.

So, Qin Ruqing and the ancestor reached an unspoken agreement to discuss the most important matters privately.

The two of them sat by the fire, drinking tea.

The ancestor originally had many questions to ask, but seeing Qin Ruqing so calm and composed made her feel that those questions weren’t that important anymore.

The fact that Qin Ruqing, Qi Rong, and Lu Wei returned safely with so many valuable items already spoke volumes.

In the end, the ancestor didn’t ask any questions, which puzzled Qin Ruqing.

She laughed and said, “Doesn’t the ancestor want to know why I sent you that urgent message that day?”

The ancestor shook her head and playfully scolded, “You girl, keeping secrets from your ancestor. Seeing you all return safely, I knew nothing serious could have happened.”

Qin Ruqing chuckled and then began to recount the events.

“It all started when I unexpectedly obtained a Heaven Fire Seed…”

When Qin Ruqing explained how she drained the entire Earth Fire Pool and took the final Earth Fire Heart to use as pill fire for Lu Wei, the ancestor’s eyelid twitched.

Then, hearing about how she and a few others forged a special “key” to open doors and wreaked havoc in the Celestial Bureau’s domain, taking everything like locusts, the ancestor lightly patted the back of Qin Ruqing’s hand in shock.

“You child, you are too daring!”

The ancestor wasn’t scolding Qin Ruqing, just reacting normally to such shocking news.

However, being an extraordinary person, the ancestor quickly adjusted and even nodded in approval:

“You did the right thing. Although the risk was high, the reward was equally high. In the end, the Celestial Family was in the wrong and couldn’t afford to be exposed…” The ancestor sighed, “No wonder you asked me to issue the family order, intending to use it to threaten the Celestial Bureau.”

From the ancestor’s perspective, Qin Ruqing had done nothing wrong.

If it were her, she would have done the same.

Cultivators should strive for such rare resources.

Even with only a twenty percent chance, the ancestor would have taken the risk.

But from what Qin Ruqing said, it was clear she had more than a twenty percent chance.

“So, how did you manage to calm the Celestial Bureau’s anger afterward?”

This question was crucial.

The ancestor needed to know how Qin Ruqing had handled the aftermath.

If the Celestial Bureau was truly upset, the Qin family would need to lay low for a while.

Qin Ruqing replied seriously, “Don’t worry, ancestor. Not only did we not offend the Celestial Bureau, but we also established a formal partnership with them.” She paused, her expression turning a bit strange and puzzled. “They seem to value my talent greatly. The West Ridge Director said I could take those things, but in return, I would need to represent the Fifth Celestial Family and go to a certain place in the future.”

“Isn’t that basically risking my life to test if I’m a genius?”

After speaking, Qin Ruqing looked up, “Ancestor, do you know where this place is?”

The ancestor’s brows furrowed from the moment Qin Ruqing started speaking.

She hadn’t expected Qin Ruqing to make such a perilous deal with the Celestial Family.

The requirement to be recognized by the Heavenly Dao as a genius meant entering that place was almost a sure path to death.

While the ancestor was deep in thought, Qin Ruqing added more crucial information, “Oh, Fifth Lingyu, the West Ridge Director, also mentioned that if I fight my way up from the Hundred Clans Tournament, I might come across related information.”

The ancestor sighed, having a suspicion.

She spoke with utmost seriousness, “What you’re dealing with now might be related to the opportunity to ascend to immortality.”

Ascend to immortality?!

Qin Ruqing knew this place was extraordinary but didn’t expect it to be this significant.

“Legend has it that this continent doesn’t just have five regions but also a sixth region, beyond the sea, in the deepest part of the sea fog. Initially, no one knew about this place until a rogue cultivator with incredible luck passed through the sea fog. After being missing for three years, he suddenly returned as a Transcending Realm, just one step away from becoming an immortal. Indeed, within a year, he successfully ascended without any family support.”

Qin Ruqing’s heart skipped a beat hearing this.

A rogue cultivator ascending to immortality was a common trope in cultivation novels but extremely difficult in her real cultivation world.

Most resources were monopolized by the powerful families.

Moreover, the external environment is perilous.

Just like the rogue cultivators in Yuanshan Town, they live a life of constant danger, fighting for survival.

Advancing even one level is extremely difficult, let alone ascending to immortality.

From what Qin Ruqing knew, the highest level a rogue cultivator had reached was Nascent Soul.

This was documented.

Anything beyond that was just a legend.

Qin Ruqing leaned forward and couldn’t help but ask, “Rogue cultivators ascending? Is that a legend or true?”

The ancestor shook her head and sighed, “It’s a legend. The entire Sixth Region is a legend, and not a modern one, but a legend from the Ancient times.”

That long ago?!

Most legends have some embellishments.

Modern legends are already unreliable, and those from ancient times have likely been altered many times.

The original author might not even recognize the story now.

“If it’s such a vague legend, why did the ancestor say the place the West Ridge Celestial Family wants me to go is the Sixth Region?”

“Because some legends are false, while others are true. When the Qin family was still part of the Eastern Region’s Yingzhou, we heard such rumors. The upper-level families agree that the Sixth Region probably exists, a land of immortals related to the opportunity to ascend. Hence, the prestigious families secretly seek to enter it.”

The ancestor looked at Qin Ruqing with intent. “Given what you’ve said, it matches perfectly. What other place but the legendary Sixth Region, the supposed homeland of immortals, would require recognition as a genius by the Heavenly Dao just to enter?”

Qin Ruqing pondered the ancestor’s words, her heartbeat quickening.

She had suspected this matter might not be bad.

Fifth Lingyu being a direct descendant of an Celestial Family was likely true.

His emphasis on her representing the Fifth Celestial Family showed its importance.

Ignoring the eccentric Fifth Feather, the West Ridge recorder was a stickler for rules.

For him to overlook her actions in the Small Floating Island suggested a significant hidden agenda.

Qin Ruqing steadied herself, not losing her composure at the mention of immortality.

After a moment, she said, “It seems we need to take this matter slowly. The greater the connection to immortality, the greater the danger. This isn’t something I can handle at my current level. I must intensify my cultivation and improve myself!”

The ancestor nodded appreciatively. “You’re wise not to be arrogant or impatient. It’s good that you think this way.”

Qin Ruqing touched her chin, recalling Fifth Lingyu’s words.

The more she thought about it, the more she felt that he was hinting at something—that the value of what she had brought back far exceeded her imagination.

Suddenly, Qin Ruqing slapped her forehead and took out a cloud of purple misty gas. “Ancestor, look at this. Do you know what it is?”

Previously, during the banquet, Qin Ruqing had revealed many valuable items, but she hadn’t mentioned this one.

She felt that its value might rival that of the Earth Spirit and perhaps be even more mysterious.

The ancestor’s gaze fell on the mist in her palm, showing a look of curiosity.

She reached out and took the gas, examining it closely.

The gas felt substantial despite appearing ethereal.

It had temperature and slight movement, as if it were alive.

Qin Ruqing had hoped the ancestor would have answers, but after a while, the ancestor shook her head.

“What? You don’t know either?”

“I truly don’t. This thing feels mystical, almost like a living creature, yet it lacks the intelligence of one.”