Chapter 68: Ruins Washed Open

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Ruins Washed Open

He channeled Spiritual Power into the Jade Talisman, opening the connection.

Sure enough, the old beggar on the other end explained that the middle-aged Daoist Nun from before had come, seeking an audience with ’Elder Wang’.

After telling the old beggar to have her wait, Su Han changed his clothes and left Prince Jing’s Residence.

Before long, he appeared at the Beggar Gang’s Lingzhou Sub-Branch.

"Elder."

The middle-aged Daoist Nun wasn’t surprised that Su Han could appear before the door so silently, his presence only becoming known when she laid eyes on him.

As Su Han entered the main hall, the Daoist Nun rose and bowed with clasped hands.

Su Han waved a dismissive hand and naturally took the seat of honor.

"Sit."

Pointing to a chair below, Su Han looked at the Daoist Nun and asked, "Have you come to find me this time with good news?"

The Daoist Nun didn’t sit down. She remained standing with her head lowered to report to Su Han, "I have indeed come with new information for you, Elder."

Su Han watched her without speaking, waiting for her to continue.

The Daoist Nun gathered her thoughts.

"Over the past two months, the disciples from the major powers who arrived early in Lingzhou have completed the construction of the Intercontinental Teleportation Array.

"In the next few days, ancestors from the various major sects and powers—at the Immortal Platform and even Celestial Human Realms—will arrive in Lingzhou.

"Although these people cannot stay in Lingzhou for long, they will be the main force contending for the fortune this time." ℯℯ𝘭.

Su Han nodded to show he understood and gestured for her to continue.

"Elder..."

The Daoist Nun hesitated for a moment before revealing the most important piece of news.

"Just last night, a disciple from the Taiyin Sect and a Little Nun from the Sumeru Sect were having a secret rendezvous in a grove outside the city.

"As it happened, the Taiyin Sect disciple felt nature’s call. While he was relieving himself, an Odd Stone was washed out.

"The Taiyin Sect disciple saw the stone was peculiar and reached out to pick it up. But before his hand even touched it, all his flesh and blood disappeared in an instant, leaving only a skeleton."

"Oh?"

Su Han sat up a little straighter, his interest now thoroughly piqued.

"That Odd Stone... is it related to the fortune of this Secret Realm?"

The Daoist Nun nodded. "The Taiyin Sect disciple was reduced to a skeleton in an instant, which terrified the Little Nun from the Sumeru Sect.

"The Little Nun fled in a panic, trying to keep the matter a secret.

"However, that Taiyin Sect disciple was an elite of the Inner Sect. The moment his Soul Lamp went out, the servant disciples guarding the Soul Hall discovered it and reported it.

"Less than fifteen minutes passed between the disciple’s bizarre death and the news reaching us here in Lingzhou.

"The Taiyin Sect disciples who received the news went out to investigate the circumstances of their brother disciple’s death, and something like this could naturally not be hidden from the other major powers.

"Once the Taiyin Sect disciples found their brother’s skeleton, which the Little Nun had hastily buried in the grove, there was no hiding what had happened."

"And?"

Su Han looked at the Daoist Nun. "Have you determined the stone’s purpose?"

The Daoist Nun nodded. "After hearing the news, I went to investigate personally. I discovered that the Odd Stone carries a Curse Power that even I cannot resist. I didn’t dare to touch it.

"However, besides the Curse Power, I also discovered that the Odd Stone is also the core of an Array.

"One only needs to channel enough Spiritual Power into it to trigger the Array and open the ruins."

Su Han nodded.

’Although the process of discovering this Array core was too ridiculous for words... first a secret tryst with a Little Nun, then a stone washed out by a stream of piss.’

’But the final result was a welcome one.’

"So, I assume all the major sects know about this by now?"

The Daoist Nun nodded, her expression tinged with resignation.

"There were too many people. It was impossible to keep it a secret."

Su Han pursed his lips but said nothing more.

’This Daoist Nun must know that the news can’t be contained,’ he thought. ’If she hadn’t told me, the Beggar Gang would have found out soon enough. She came to inform me ahead of time to curry favor.’

’Still, I have to accept the favor. After all, I know perfectly well what state the Beggar Gang is currently in.’

’By the time my Beggar Gang got wind of this kind of news, it would likely be common knowledge, and the ruins might have already been opened.’

’If I waited until then to prepare, I probably wouldn’t even get the scraps.’

After a moment of thought, Su Han looked at the Daoist Nun. "What does the Supreme Sect intend to do?"

"After the Array Stone was discovered, the major sects agreed to open the ruins together in three days. Any fortunes found inside will be won by one’s own ability.

"I may be at the mid-stage of the Celestial Human Realm, but I hold no real advantage in a contest for such a great fortune."

Su Han looked at the Daoist Nun. "So, what you’re saying is...?"

"I wish to form an alliance with the Beggar Gang. Inside the ruins, we would help each other, but any fortunes we find will be fought for based on our own abilities."

Su Han looked at her with a half-smile. "Based on our own abilities?"

A rare look of embarrassment crossed the Daoist Nun’s face. She was clearly aware that for a mere Celestial Being like herself, saying such a thing in front of a Creation Realm master sounded rather boastful.

But with the entire Supreme Sect at her back, she couldn’t afford to lose her nerve.

Her expression instantly returned to normal. The Daoist Nun looked at Su Han and said, "The Intercontinental Teleportation Array is now complete. Although the quality is low, it can withstand a Creation Realm expert teleporting one time.

"If it truly becomes necessary, my Supreme Dao will not rule out dispatching a Creation Realm Ancestor."

Su Han remained silent, watching her calmly, his fingers tapping gently on the table.

After a long moment, he finally spoke again.

"I will not lift a finger. I will only intervene when you encounter trouble you cannot resolve on your own."

The Daoist Nun agreed immediately, without a second thought.

"Deal!"

Her objective achieved, the Daoist Nun prepared to take her leave. The ruins would soon be opened, and she had much to do.

However, just as she began to say her farewells, Su Han stopped her.

"Not so fast."

The Daoist Nun turned back and looked at Su Han in confusion, wondering what else he needed.

Su Han smiled, a sagacious glint in his eyes.

’She left in such a hurry last time that he’d overlooked it.’

’This time... he wouldn’t forget.’

"Since we’ve formed an alliance, let me show a little sincerity first."

The Daoist Nun looked at Su Han, her eyes still full of puzzlement.

"You’ve been stuck at the mid-stage of the Celestial Human Realm for a long time, haven’t you?"

The Daoist Nun’s expression changed slightly. She had indeed reached the mid-stage of the Celestial Human Realm long ago; among her peers, a junior martial sister who had reached the mid-stage after her was already in the late stage.

Only she remained stuck. This was precisely why she had come to Lingzhou early with the advance group—to see if she could find a fortunate opportunity to break through her bottleneck.

’But... why is Elder Wang bringing this up now?’

A guess began to form in her mind. Just as she was wavering between suspicion and excitement, Su Han spoke again.

"If my ally is a little stronger, things will be easier for me inside the ruins."

Lifting his head to meet the middle-aged Daoist Nun’s eyes, Su Han gave a smile as warm as a spring breeze. "Do you... want to break through?"

’I do!’

’More than anything!’

’I’ve wanted this for hundreds of years!’

Nodding without hesitation, the Daoist Nun thought... ’This must be what the Taoist School calls following one’s heart.’

Seeing the Daoist Nun nod, the smile on Su Han’s face deepened.

He raised a hand and pointed to a large willow tree in the courtyard outside.

"Go and cultivate under that tree. I will guide you to your breakthrough."

The Daoist Nun: "..."

She looked at Su Han, then at the meditation cushion beside her, and then at the very thick, very large, very tall tree in the courtyard.

The Daoist Nun... was completely baffled.

PS: New day, still asking for recommendation votes and for you to add this to your collection!