Cultivation Starts with Rejuvenation

Chapter 85: Chapter 51: Ancient Cataclysm

There are many legends about the Red Stone Wanderer.

Besides being a role model and hope for Desert Wanders, his past prior to Foundation Establishment remains undefined.

It seems as though he suddenly appeared over sixty years ago.

Some say he came from the Northern Immortal City and is a scorned offspring of an Immortal Race family, vowing not to return until he made a name for himself, determined to cleanse the shame of his past.

Others say he was a distinguished disciple of a Sect, who committed a grave mistake and was expelled to the desert.

However, what Desert Wanderers admire most is that he was originally an ordinary Loose Cultivator from a small gathering in the area, living a destitute life in the first half of his life, and only through a chance encounter did he successfully establish his Foundation, becoming a model for Loose Cultivators.

The Red Stone Wanderer never responded directly to these rumors, and given his cultivation level, no one in the desert could question him.

Yet, there are rumors that he was once apprehended and interrogated by a Core Formation True Man suspected to be from Biyun Sect, but ultimately, nothing special was found, reinforcing rumors of his chance encounter.

”Strange! Very strange!” said the Red Stone Wanderer as he followed the compass to the depression, extending his Divine Sense for a long time, clicking his tongue in wonder.

”Master, what’s so strange about it?” asked Chen Qingling, glancing around without noticing anything amiss.

The Red Stone Wanderer suddenly became excited: ”No wonder my Divine Sense probing has failed multiple times; there’s a method here that absorbs Divine Souls!”

With that, he patted his Spirit Beast Bag, releasing the Treasure-Seeking Brocade Rat previously gifted to him by Chen Zhaohu.

”Dear little one, quickly, find treasures for me. If you find treasures, you won’t be shortchanged,” the Red Stone Wanderer gently stroked the rat’s head, his eyes filled with excitement.

”Hiss~” Though controlled with a Beast Taming Token, the Brocade Rat, having been captured as a wild Demon Beast, still showed its wild nature, baring its teeth at the Red Stone Wanderer.

”Oh, little sweetheart, good, good, I’ll give you nice things. Be obedient and go find for me,” the old Taoist appeared exceptionally amiable, showing no threat but rather humble coaxing toward the Spirit Pet.

Chen Qingling sighed helplessly beside him, seemingly accustomed to the scene.

”Master, why don’t you directly command it using the Beast Taming Token? It’s just a beast, you are its owner; no need for such trouble,” protested Chen Qingling.

The Red Stone Wanderer shook his head frantically: ”No, I can’t, exactly because I’m its owner, I must treat it well. If the owner doesn’t treat it well, who will? Only then can there be a mutual understanding, exchanging hearts for hearts.”

Chen Qingling felt speechless but refrained from speaking further.

”Good boy~” The old Taoist patiently coaxed and fed high-grade Beast Pills, causing the Brocade Rat to reluctantly burrow underground...

”Gugu~” Witnessing this scene, Gugu felt moved.

Li Ji’an hurriedly communicated through Divine Soul, explaining to Gugu not to look at things superficially; perhaps the old Taoist abuses the Brocade Rat secretly, or might even consume it once it has no use.

It took quite a while to calm Gugu down.

”Three mountains encircle Five Peaks, facing the Celestial Spirit, retreating with Mountain Rain, embracing prosperity... What a Feng Shui treasure land, how could the old Taoist fail to notice for a century... What Divine Soul Restriction is here?” The old Taoist, atop the Divine Rainbow, observed the depression inside and out, up and down, for several hours, finally sighing deeply.

Li Ji’an watched throughout without doubting his professionalism, but grew slightly wary.

According to Red Stone’s words, this place might indeed be extraordinary.

But the Soul-Holding Ants here might have been deliberately placed.

For others, it might be a huge opportunity, but for Li Ji’an, it’s an unnecessary risk.

Now that he’s in the Cultivation Realm, having Rejuvenation, he’s already got the greatest opportunity. Anything can restart a lifetime, no need to take risks.

He would never undertake anything with uncontrollable risks.

He immediately braced himself, clutching a Small Shifting Talisman bought for fifty Spirit Stones, ready to flee at any time.

As for the Ant Queen that he spent six years raising and was close to taming, he felt no regret.

If the Ant Queen is not fully domesticated to adapt to his energy, once it leaves the nest, it won’t survive for three days.

”Master, is there really a big opportunity? Is it a tomb or ancient ruins?” Chen Qingling immediately rejoiced.

The old Taoist took a deep breath: ”Such a Feng Shui treasure must be a tomb. Whoever is buried here is skilled in Feng Shui arts. Qingling, we’re hitting the jackpot.”

After speaking, he hurriedly recalled the Brocade Rat using the Beast Taming Token.

He took it directly to the southernmost part of the depression, near the backside of the mountain.

”This must be the entrance to the great tomb. Good little one, try harder, if there are divine elixirs, half will be yours.”

”Master, when do you think this tomb is from? Ancient Times or later?”

”Of course, it’s from the Ancient Times! After the Ancient Times, this place has been a wilderness, scarcely visited, who buries themselves here?” Red Stone confidently declared.

”An ancient tomb!” Chen Qingling became even more excited.

”Master, what exactly happened during the Ancient Times? Is it really like the rumors say, where six thousand years ago, the Celestial Dao crumbled, the prosperous Cultivation Realm faced a heaven-shattering disaster, starting all over?”

Seeing them move southward, away from his vicinity, Li Ji’an relaxed slightly, hearing Chen Qingling’s question yet again focused.

Since arriving in the Cultivation Realm for thirty-six years, he’s always actively tried to understand the broader environment and context, yet found information barriers more severe than imagined, with much still unclear.

Whether from rumors or ancient books in the market, compiled together, it seems the Cultivation Realm has only developed since six thousand years ago, and everything from six thousand years ago appears buried in history, with no deliberate legacy, no records of cultivators from the past era.

But ancient ruins occasionally emerge, ancient tombs unearthed, confirming cultivators existed six thousand years ago, it was a cultivation golden age, yet now many powerful sects and families gained ancient inheritances by fortuitous encounters.

The history of this realm gives Li Ji’an the impression that six thousand years ago, the Cultivation Realm flourished remarkably; overnight, cultivators vanished, the environment drastically changed, leaving only some mundane survivors to gradually develop to where it’s today.

”Six thousand years ago... six thousand years ago...” Facing Chen Qingling’s inquiry, the Red Stone Wanderer’s face slowly stiffened without any emotion.

”I... I can’t remember, the old Taoist truly can’t remember!” Suddenly, the Red Stone Wanderer held his head, trembling all over like a leaf.

”Master, master, no more questions, I won’t ask anymore.” Chen Qingling hastily comforted him, already accustomed to this, many suggested the master had his Divine Soul eroded in a former tomb.

”Boom~” Just then, there was a loud noise from where the Brocade Rat had burrowed.

This sound instantly brought the Red Stone Wanderer to his senses: ”Dragon-Breaking Stone! The tomb has been found!”