Chapter 77 The Secret of the Primordial Ruin

Chapter 77: Chapter 77 The Secret of the Primordial Ruin

Breakthroughs in the Time Tower

Inside the Time Tower, 10 figures sat in cultivation.

Spiritual Qi surged continuously through the cultivation chamber, forming whirlpools around their bodies. Under the tower’s extraordinary time acceleration, every moment they spent cultivating was far more valuable than ordinary cultivation time.

They had entered the tower with a single objective.

Reach Peak Void Refining Realm before departing for the ancient ruin in the Eternal Dawn Continent.

None of them wanted to waste this opportunity.

As the hours passed outside, weeks and months of cultivation gradually unfolded within the tower.

The 10 youngsters remained focused, absorbing Spiritual Qi, refining their foundations, and strengthening their understanding of their respective cultivation realms.

Eventually, the first breakthrough arrived.

BOOM!

A powerful aura erupted from Lin Chen’s body.

The Spiritual Qi surrounding him surged violently before pouring into his meridians.

His cultivation rose steadily until it finally reached its limit.

Peak Void Refining Realm!

Lin Chen slowly opened his eyes.

He could feel the tremendous difference between his previous strength and his current cultivation. His spiritual energy had become considerably more powerful, and his control over it had improved through the prolonged period of cultivation.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

He had done it.

Without wasting time, Lin Chen spent a little longer stabilizing his breakthrough.

Once he was certain his cultivation had settled, he rose to his feet and left the Time Tower ahead of the others.

He wanted to familiarize himself with his new strength, but he also understood that his companions were still cultivating.

There was no reason to disturb them.

Inside the tower, the remaining 9 youngsters continued their efforts.

Soon, another powerful aura erupted.

BOOM!

Lin Mo broke through to Peak Void Refining Realm.

Not long afterward, Lin Yu achieved the same breakthrough.

Then came Lin Xuan.

Lin Yuexin.

Lin Jue.

Lin Lian.

Lin Haochen.

Lin Zhen.

One after another, the 8 youngsters completed their breakthroughs.

All that remained was Lin Qing.

She sat motionless in her cultivation area, her eyes firmly closed.

Unlike the others, she showed no signs of ending her cultivation.

The Spiritual Qi around her continued gathering at an astonishing rate. Waves of energy flowed into her body, were refined, and then circulated through her meridians again.

Her cultivation had already reached Peak Void Refining Realm.

Yet she showed no intention of stopping.

She was attempting to push beyond the limits of her current realm.

The threshold separating Void Refining Realm from Body Integration Realm was not something that could be crossed through brute force alone. It required sufficient accumulation, comprehension, and control over one’s spiritual energy.

Lin Qing understood this.

She carefully compressed the Spiritual Qi within her body, refining it repeatedly until it became increasingly dense.

The pressure surrounding her gradually intensified.

Then—

BOOM!

A terrifying aura erupted from her body.

The entire cultivation chamber trembled.

Lin Qing’s spiritual energy surged outward before rapidly returning to her body.

Her eyes opened.

A faint gleam passed through them.

Half-Step Body Integration Realm!

She had successfully crossed beyond Peak Void Refining Realm and reached the threshold of the next major realm.

Although she had not fully entered Body Integration Realm, her strength had increased substantially.

Lin Qing slowly rose to her feet and clenched her fist.

The Spiritual Qi surrounding her responded almost instantly.

A bright smile appeared on her face.

"I finally made it."

She had achieved more than the original objective.

And she knew that the opportunity provided by the Time Tower had played an enormous role in her progress.

However, she also understood that reaching a higher realm was only the beginning. She would still need to familiarize herself with her new strength and learn how to use it effectively.

At that moment, a familiar voice sounded throughout the cultivation area.

"Everyone, come out."

It was Lin Hao.

The 9 youngsters who remained inside the tower immediately ended their cultivation.

After making sure their breakthroughs were stable, they headed outside.

Lin Qing followed them, her expression still carrying the satisfaction of her recent advancement.

When they emerged, Lin Chen was already waiting nearby.

The moment he noticed Lin Qing’s aura, his expression changed.

"Wait a minute."

He stared at her.

Then he examined her cultivation again.

His eyes widened.

"Half-Step Body Integration Realm?!"

Lin Qing smiled.

"Yes."

Lin Chen looked as though someone had just delivered terrible news.

"Nooooooooo!"

His anguished cry echoed across the surrounding mountains.

Lin Qing blinked.

"What are you shouting for?"

Lin Chen pointed at her.

"How did you reach Half-Step Body Integration Realm?!"

"I cultivated."

"I cultivated too!"

Lin Chen clutched his chest dramatically.

"We entered the Time Tower with the same objective! I was the first to reach Peak Void Refining Realm, and I even left the tower before everyone else! How did you manage to overtake me?!"

Lin Qing couldn’t help laughing.

"Perhaps you should cultivate harder."

Lin Chen froze.

The other youngsters immediately burst into laughter.

"She’s right!"

"Lin Chen, you reached Peak Void Refining Realm first. What more do you want?"

"Exactly! You should be celebrating instead of complaining!"

Lin Chen looked at them with an expression of betrayal.

"You’re all supposed to be on my side!"

Lin Yu patted his shoulder.

"We are on your side. We just happen to be enjoying this."

Lin Chen stared at him.

"You’re enjoying my suffering?"

"Very much."

The laughter grew louder.

Lin Qing smiled and continued toward Lin Hao.

Lin Chen hurried after her.

"Wait! Don’t get too comfortable! I’ll catch up!"

Lin Qing glanced back.

"I’ll be waiting."

Lin Chen nearly stumbled.

"Nooooooooo!"

His second cry echoed across the Lin Clan’s territory.

Lin Hao watched the youngsters with an amused smile.

"Young people."

He shook his head before turning toward the Main Peak.

The youngsters had achieved their immediate cultivation objective, but there was still something important they needed to do before departing.

They had to learn how to use their newfound strength.

The Ancestor’s Decision

Lin Hao stood with his hands behind his back, examining the 10 youngsters.

The results were satisfactory.

9 Peak Void Refining Realm cultivators.

And 1 Half-Step Body Integration Realm cultivator.

Lin Hao’s gaze settled on Lin Qing.

"Half-Step Body Integration Realm?"

Lin Qing bowed respectfully.

"Yes, Ancestor."

Lin Hao nodded.

"Good. You’ve made solid progress."

A bright smile appeared on Lin Qing’s face.

"Thank you, Ancestor!"

Lin Hao then looked at the other 9 youngsters.

"Peak Void Refining Realm. All of you have completed the goal I gave you."

The youngsters immediately bowed.

"We won’t disappoint you, Ancestor!"

Lin Hao waved his hand.

"Don’t make promises so easily. Your next task is to learn how to use your new strength properly."

He turned toward the distant Battle Tower.

"Go there and familiarize yourselves with your current realms. Cultivation isn’t just about breaking through. You need to understand your strength, control your spiritual energy, and learn how to use your abilities in actual combat."

The youngsters immediately understood.

"Yes, Ancestor!"

Lin Hao nodded.

"Go on, then."

They bowed once more before heading toward the Battle Tower.

Lin Chen was among the first to leave, although he made sure to walk a little faster than Lin Qing.

He clearly intended to recover some of his lost pride.

Lin Qing simply smiled and followed the others.

Lin Hao watched their departing figures.

The Time Tower had helped them make significant progress, but he had no intention of sending them into an ancient ruin merely because their cultivation had improved.

They needed experience.

They needed control.

And they needed to understand that a higher cultivation realm did not automatically guarantee victory against every opponent.

The Battle Tower would give them an opportunity to test their abilities before the journey.

Once they were properly prepared, they could depart for the Eternal Dawn Continent.

However, Lin Hao had another matter to attend to first.

He wanted to learn more about the ancient ruin awaiting his descendants.

After all, the invitation had come from the Forbidden Lands.

And something about the entire arrangement had caught his attention.

Naming the Ancient Ruin

Inside the Main Hall, Lin Hao settled comfortably into his seat.

A cup of tea appeared on the table beside him.

He took a leisurely sip before calling out.

"System."

[Yes, Host.]

"Before my youngsters head to the Eternal Dawn Continent, there’s something I want to know."

[Please ask, Host.]

Lin Hao placed his teacup on the table.

"First, we need to give that ancient ruin a proper name."

The System immediately responded.

[The ruin is currently recorded as the Primordial Sealing Ruin.]

Lin Hao raised an eyebrow.

"The Primordial Sealing Ruin?"

[Correct, Host.]

Lin Hao nodded thoughtfully.

"That’s a decent name. It sounds ancient, mysterious, and important."

[The name reflects the ruin’s origin and its connection to an ancient seal.]

Lin Hao leaned back.

"Then tell me about it. What exactly is the Primordial Sealing Ruin?"

For a moment, the golden screen remained unchanged.

Then new information appeared.

[The Primordial Sealing Ruin originated during the Primordial Era.]

Lin Hao’s expression became thoughtful.

"The Primordial Era?"

[Correct. It existed long before the current age and was connected to an event that threatened the survival of this world.]

Lin Hao’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"What kind of event?"

The System answered without delay.

[During the Primordial Era, a powerful seal was established within the ruin to prevent an ancient race from entering this world.]

Lin Hao slowly put down his teacup.

An ancient race?

He had expected treasures, lost inheritances, or perhaps powerful cultivation techniques.

He hadn’t expected an ancient seal designed to prevent an entire race from entering the world.

"Which race are we talking about?"

The System responded.

[The Demon Race.]

Lin Hao’s expression changed slightly.

"The Demon Race?"

[Correct, Host.]

The golden screen changed again.

Ancient images appeared across its surface.

They depicted a world engulfed in darkness.

Countless strange silhouettes stood beneath a crimson sky.

Some had horns.

Some possessed enormous wings.

Others had bodies that barely resembled humans.

Their eyes glowed with sinister light, and their auras seemed to distort the surrounding Spiritual Qi.

Lin Hao examined the images carefully.

"These are the Demons?"

[Yes, Host. These images are incomplete reconstructions based on surviving records from the Primordial Era.]

Lin Hao’s expression grew serious.

"Tell me what you know about them."

The System began explaining.

[The Demon Race originated beyond the boundaries of this world. According to the surviving records, they possess an unusual desire for human life force and can consume it to sustain their existence and growth.]

Lin Hao’s fingers stopped tapping against the table.

"They feed on humans?"

[Correct.]

The System continued.

[During the Primordial Era, the Demon Race invaded this world. Their arrival caused an unprecedented catastrophe. Countless human settlements were destroyed, and entire regions fell under their control.]

[The strongest experts of that era eventually united to resist the invasion. After a prolonged war, they managed to force the Demon Race back beyond the world’s boundaries.]

Lin Hao listened without interrupting.

[However, the Demon Race could not be permanently eliminated. The surviving Primordial experts therefore established a powerful seal to prevent them from entering this world again.]

Lin Hao stared at the golden screen.

"So the Primordial Sealing Ruin is connected to that seal."

[Correct, Host.]

Lin Hao’s expression grew more serious.

"Then what happened to the experts who established it?"

[Their final circumstances are unknown. Many records from that era were lost, and the surviving information is incomplete.]

Lin Hao nodded slowly.

That wasn’t particularly surprising.

The Primordial Era was separated from the present by an immense stretch of time. Even the greatest experts could disappear into history, leaving behind only fragments of their achievements.

Still, one question remained.

Lin Hao looked directly at the System’s screen.

"Why are you telling me about this now?"

The System’s next response was immediate.

[Because the seal is weakening.]

Silence filled the Main Hall.

Lin Hao’s expression changed.

"Weakening?"

[Yes, Host.]

The golden screen displayed another line of information.

[Based on the surviving records and the seal’s current condition, the Demon Race may begin entering this world within the next few months.]

Lin Hao stared at the screen.

A few months.

An ancient race that fed on humans might soon return.

And the seal that had kept them away since the Primordial Era was gradually losing its power.

For several seconds, Lin Hao said nothing.

Then he slowly leaned back in his chair.

"System."

[Yes, Host?]

Lin Hao narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you sounding so relaxed about this?"

The System replied immediately.

[Host, this world has you.]

Lin Hao blinked.

[With you here, the Demon Race will not pose a threat to your existence.]

The Main Hall fell silent.

Lin Hao looked at the screen.

Then a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"That’s true."

He lifted his chin slightly.

"After all, with an existence as magnificent, handsome, wise, and powerful as me protecting this world, those Demons should consider themselves fortunate if they get to see my shadow."

The System paused.

[Host, you have successfully unlocked another attitude.]

Lin Hao raised an eyebrow.

"What attitude?"

[Narcissist.]

Lin Hao’s smile disappeared.

"...You really are becoming increasingly disrespectful."

[This System merely reports the facts, Host.]

Lin Hao shook his head.

"One day, I’ll have to teach you what respect means."

[This System looks forward to that lesson.]

Lin Hao was about to respond when his expression suddenly changed.

He sat upright.

"Wait."

[Yes, Host?]

Lin Hao’s voice became serious.

"The 10 youngsters I’m sending to the Primordial Sealing Ruin..."

He paused.

"Will they encounter the Demon Race when they arrive?"

The System responded.

[Based on the current condition of the seal, the Demon Race is not expected to begin entering this world within the next 5 months.]

Lin Hao’s expression relaxed slightly, but he wasn’t finished asking questions.

"So they should be able to explore the ruin before the Demons return?"

[That is the current projection, Host. However, the condition of the seal may change, and the System cannot guarantee that every danger within the ruin has been accounted for.]

Lin Hao narrowed his eyes.

"Explain."

[The Primordial Sealing Ruin has existed since the Primordial Era. Its internal environment, surviving formations, and remaining defensive mechanisms may present dangers unrelated to the Demon Race. Other cultivators who enter the ruin may also become sources of conflict.]

Lin Hao nodded slowly.

That made sense.

An ancient ruin that had existed since the Primordial Era was unlikely to be a completely safe place.

Even without the Demon Race, it could contain dangerous formations, ancient beasts, hidden traps, or treasures protected by powerful mechanisms.

And if other forces were sending their younger generations, competition was inevitable.

"Very well."

Lin Hao picked up his teacup.

"As long as the youngsters have time to explore the ruin before the Demon Race begins entering this world, they can proceed with their preparations. I’ll make sure they understand that they must remain cautious."

[Understood, Host.]

Lin Hao took a leisurely sip of tea.

The Demon Race.

The Primordial Era.

A seal that had endured for countless years.

And an ancient ruin that might hold the key to understanding the coming catastrophe.

There were still many unanswered questions.

Who were the experts responsible for creating the seal?

What had happened to them after the Primordial War?

Why had the seal begun weakening now?

And what secrets remained hidden inside the Primordial Sealing Ruin?

Lin Hao had no intention of rushing to conclusions.

For now, his descendants had their own task to complete.

They would explore the ruin, seek opportunities, and gain experience in the wider cultivation world.

Meanwhile, he would continue learning about the situation and prepare for whatever might come afterward.

Lin Hao’s expression returned to its usual calmness.

He wasn’t worried.

Not because the threat was insignificant, nor because the ancient seal could be ignored.

But because, as the System had said—

This world had him.

And no matter what emerged from beyond its boundaries, Lin Hao had no intention of allowing anything to happen to his family.

End of Chapter 77