Chapter 453 451: Ancestral Stream

"The Ancestral Stream—" Hearing Li Qiye, Qiu Rong Wanxue said, "Impossible. The Ancestral Stream never allows outsiders to enter. I've heard that not even other Ghost Envoys can get in. It's closed off to everyone."

Li Qiye smiled. "It's true, the Ancestral Stream doesn't let outsiders in. But that depends on who it is. The right person can definitely get in."

Qiu Rong Wanxue glanced at Li Qiye. In the end, she said nothing and followed him to the Ancestral Stream.

The Ancestral Stream was the most powerful lineage in Fengdu City. One legend claimed it was the true ruler of the city, but this was only a rumor. Few had ever seen a Ghost Envoy from the Ancestral Stream, and as for the Ancestor Flow Master, no one had ever laid eyes on him.

Rumor had it that it wasn't just visiting Cultivators—even the local Ghost Envoys of Fengdu City had never met the Ancestor Flow Master. The man was a complete mystery and had never shown his face.

In Fengdu City, all the other lineages and sects occupied a specific territory. Moreover, they would open these territories to visiting Cultivators. As long as you could afford the Night Sun Fish, you could go anywhere within their domains.

But the Ancestral Stream was different. Its territory was not open to anyone. It wasn't just closed to visiting Cultivators; even Fengdu City's own local Ghost Envoys were barred from entry!

It was once rumored that the Ancestral Stream occupied the best land in Fengdu City. Some even believed its territory was the location of the city's legendary treasure, and that it hid Fengdu City's most incredible prize—the Mountain Treasure.

Because of these legends, many visiting Cultivators had tried to enter the Ancestral Stream. They tried every method imaginable to sneak in, but no one ever succeeded.

Geniuses of the younger generation and powerful, dying old Cultivators alike had tried to force their way into the Ancestral Stream, relying on their own invincible might. The consequences were predictable: they all died gruesome deaths, their bodies hung outside the Ancestral Stream's gates as a warning to the world.

As Qiu Rong Wanxue followed Li Qiye to the gates of the Ancestral Stream, she saw an old tree outside, hung with corpse after corpse. Some were nothing but skeletons, others had been desiccated by the wind, and a few were still perfectly preserved…

The clothing on many of the bodies was still recognizable. As Qiu Rong Wanxue looked them over, she identified the attire and thus the origins of several of the corpses.

"The Yin Yang Sect, Mingdu Marsh, Ju Que Holy Land, Qianli River, the Insect Emperor Dynasty, the Ten Thousand Ancient Country, the Yu Shan Old Immortal Kingdom, the Ten Thousand Bones Throne…" Qiu Rong Wanxue could tell where these people came from by their attire. As she recognized their origins, her heart leaped into her throat.

These were all the most powerful Emperor Immortal Gates in the Ghost Sacred Realm, sects that could sway the fate of the entire realm. And yet, experts from every one of them had died here.

Emperor Immortal Gates like the Yin Yang Sect and Mingdu Marsh were already shocking enough, but lineages like the Ten Thousand Ancient Country and the Yu Shan Old Immortal Kingdom were downright terrifying. These were powers with Twin Emperors! To Qiu Rong Wanxue and her Snow Shadow Ghost Clan, such an Emperor Immortal Gate was an absolute behemoth. A minor clan like hers could only ever gaze up at them in awe.

If a lineage with Twin Emperors was an elephant, then her Snow Shadow Ghost Clan was nothing more than an ant.

Even more shocking was an Emperor Immortal Gate like the Ten Thousand Bones Throne—a lineage with Three Emperors! That was practically invincible. They stood at the very pinnacle of the Ghost Sacred Realm; few powers in the realm dared to oppose them.

And yet, here was an expert from the Ten Thousand Bones Throne, dead and strung up as a warning to the world.

Such an act was truly tyrannical. To hang the corpse of an expert from the Ten Thousand Bones Throne as a warning—what an outrageous display of dominance! It was a blatant humiliation of the Ten Thousand Bones Throne. Probably no other lineage in the entire Ghost Sacred Realm would dare do such a thing.

But the Ancestral Stream clearly wasn't afraid of offending any Emperor Immortal Gate. No matter an intruder's background, anyone who dared force their way even half a step inside would end up as another corpse hanging in warning.

As Li Qiye stood before the gate, a Ghost Envoy appeared and blocked their path. The envoy was as ethereal as mist, its form seeming not quite real.

"The Ancestral Stream is not open to anyone. Go no further," the Ghost Envoy said, blocking Li Qiye and Qiu Rong Wanxue's path, its voice devoid of all expression.

Compared to this Ghost Envoy, the ones elsewhere in Fengdu City were far friendlier and much more expressive. The other envoys seemed more like people—or at least, living people. The Ghost Envoy of the Ancestral Stream, on the other hand, seemed more like an actual ghost.

Li Qiye replied calmly, "Announce me. I wish to see your master. Or, you can have him get up and see me. That works too."

The Ghost Envoy remained in their path, its expression blank. "Our master never sees visitors. Please leave."

Li Qiye took out a piece of paper and, with a series of extremely complex folds, fashioned it into a very strange hat. He then placed the hat on the Ghost Envoy's head. "Take this to your master," he said. "Tell him I have arrived."

The Ghost Envoy's lifeless eyes stared at Li Qiye as if he were already a dead man. Then, it turned and vanished through the gate.

Some time passed, but the Ghost Envoy did not return. Qiu Rong Wanxue grew worried. "Will the Ancestor Flow Master agree to see us?" she asked.

In contrast to Qiu Rong Wanxue's anxiety, Li Qiye was perfectly at ease. He gave a relaxed smile. "Don't worry. He'll see us."

And just as Li Qiye had predicted, after a long wait, the Ghost Envoy finally returned. The paper hat, however, was gone.

"My master invites you," the Ghost Envoy said, still completely expressionless and devoid of any vitality. It seemed more like a corpse, or perhaps a true ghost. The envoys elsewhere in Fengdu City were so expressive; this one was the complete opposite.

The Ghost Envoy led the way, and Li Qiye followed leisurely behind. In sharp contrast to his casual demeanor, Qiu Rong Wanxue was far more cautious.

The moment she stepped into the Ancestral Stream, Qiu Rong Wanxue couldn't believe her eyes. She could hardly believe she was still in Fengdu City.

Before them lay a magnificent landscape of mountains and rivers, thick with Heaven and Earth Essence Qi. This place was like the Ancestral Land of an Emperor Immortal Gate. Brilliant Medicine Kings grew in abundance, spirit grasses formed dense thickets, Treasure Trees swayed in the breeze, and Holy Springs gurgled. It was the very picture of a Holy Land Divine Soil, a sight that would leave anyone breathless. Even the Ancestral Lands of Emperor Immortal Gates were likely no better than this.

Gazing at the scene, Qiu Rong Wanxue was beyond amazed. She never would have dreamed that a place like this existed inside Fengdu City. For a Cultivator, it was a paradise for Cultivation. Any Cultivator would be overjoyed to practice here.

Unlike Qiu Rong Wanxue, who was awestruck, Li Qiye remained calm and composed. He simply looked at the scenery with a faint smile.

The Ghost Envoy led the two of them onward. Strangely, despite this land being a veritable Holy Land, they walked for a long time without seeing a single other person—or a single other ghost, for that matter.

The landscape was serene, with no signs of inhabitants. It was a captivating land, but to walk here and see no trace of another soul was somewhat unnerving.

At this point, Qiu Rong Wanxue would have preferred to see another ghost rather than remain in this silent place. The entire world was utterly still, without a single sound. The thought alone was frightening.

"Why isn't there anyone else?" Qiu Rong Wanxue couldn't help but whisper in Li Qiye's ear.

"They are all slumbering," Li Qiye said, glancing at the beautiful woman beside him. "They won't wake up so easily unless something major happens."

Qiu Rong Wanxue was taken aback. Fengdu City was full of Ghost Envoys. Aside from not having flesh and blood like the living, they weren't all that different from Cultivators and didn't need to sleep. And yet, the Ghost Envoys of the Ancestral Stream actually needed to slumber—and all of them were asleep. It was all too bizarre.

Of course, the complete silence of the Ancestral Stream did, in a way, remind Qiu Rong Wanxue of Fengdu City. At least it was a sign they were still there. Without this silence, she would think she was in the Ancestral Land of an Emperor Immortal Gate, not Fengdu City.

Eventually, the Ghost Envoy led the two of them into an Ancient Hall. The hall was so grand and magnificent that one might mistake it for the dwelling of a Divine Being.

After leading them into the Ancient Hall, the Ghost Envoy silently withdrew.

The Ancient Hall was vast and empty. Qiu Rong Wanxue scanned her surroundings; there wasn't a single person inside, nor even a single ghost.

Finally, Qiu Rong Wanxue's gaze fell upon the head of the hall. A large stone chair was set there, and on it sat a figure made of stone. It was impossible to tell what kind of stone it was carved from, as the figure and the chair seemed to be a single, seamless entity.

The stone figure wore a Divine Crown, from which beaded tassels hung, obscuring its face. It was impossible to make out its features, or even to tell if it was male or female.

The stone figure was dressed in a Divine Robe, so vast it seemed capable of shrouding the entire heavens and earth. With its body hidden within the robe, the figure looked all the more mysterious.

What caught Qiu Rong Wanxue's eye was the paper hat Li Qiye had folded. It was now in the stone figure's hand.

"You still haven't changed one bit," Li Qiye said, looking at the stone figure on the throne. He smiled, his expression calm and serene.