Chapter 254
: The Plan!
Zhou Ding walked out of the quiet room, through a long corridor, and arrived at a side hall of the cave.
The side hall was decorated in a simple and tidy manner, with several landscape paintings with profound artistic conception hanging on the wall, and a few freshly picked bamboo stalks inserted in a celadon vase in the corner.
Xin Ruyin was sitting on a futon on one side of the side hall, holding a light blue ancient book in her hand, and looking down as she read it.
Today she wore a moon-white long dress, her black hair tied back with a jade hairpin, and she looked like a white lotus by the autumn water, pure and elegant.
Hearing footsteps, she looked up and saw Zhou Ding. A gentle smile appeared in her eyes: "Zhou Lang, you've emerged from seclusion? Did your seclusion go smoothly?"
Zhou Ding did not answer immediately. He walked to sit opposite Xin Ruyin, remained silent for a moment, and then spoke, his voice calm but carrying undeniable weight: "Ruyin, the Void Heaven Palace is about to open."
Xin Ruyin paused slightly in the hand holding the book.
She slowly put down the ancient scroll in her hand, raised her eyes to look at Zhou Ding, and said with a hint of solemnity in her gaze: "The Void Heaven Palace... is that the ancient ruin you mentioned before? The one that appears only once every three hundred years?"
Zhou Ding nodded: "Just now I sensed something unusual about the Void Heaven Remnant Map; a golden sword appeared, pointing directly to the northwest. The true opening of the Void Heaven Palace is probably not far off. I've been waiting for this relic for a long time, and I must go inside this time."
Xin Ruyin frowned slightly, remained silent for a moment, and her voice was filled with undisguised worry: "The Void Heaven Palace is a cave dwelling left behind by an ancient powerful being. While it offers countless opportunities, it is also extremely dangerous. Every time it opens, countless Nascent Soul cultivators perish inside. Although Zhou Lang is powerful, he is, after all, alone..."
She raised her head, looking at Zhou Ding with a determined gaze, "I'll go with you."
Looking at Xin Ruyin's resolute gaze, Zhou Ding felt a slight warmth in his heart, but still slowly shook his head: "Ruyin, your cultivation has already reached the Nascent Soul stage. If I take you into the Void Heaven Palace, given the sharp eyes and ears of those old monsters, your strength will probably be exposed in no time. You are my most important trump card, and I cannot easily reveal it unless it is absolutely necessary. If those forces know that you are already a Nascent Soul cultivator, they will inevitably mobilize more and stronger forces to target us, which would only make things worse."
Xin Ruyin opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but after hesitating for a moment, she ultimately did not refute.
She had to admit that Zhou Ding was right. Her cultivation level had always been one of their biggest trump cards, and if it were revealed too early, it would be tantamount to handing over all the advantages they had secretly cultivated over the past decade to others.
However, as a wife, knowing that Zhou Lang was going into that dangerous place and that she could not accompany him, she could not feel at ease.
Zhou Ding noticed her unease, smiled slightly, gently took her hand, and reassured her in a gentle tone, "Don't worry, I'm not going in alone. I plan to bring Xiao Jin with me."
"Xiao Jin?" Xin Ruyin was slightly taken aback.
"Xiao Jin is my clone, and its strength is now comparable to that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. With it around, it's like having an extra mid-stage Nascent Soul bodyguard by my side. If an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator attacks, I don't even need to lift a finger." Zhou Ding's eyes held a hint of confidence. "Although the Void Heaven Palace is fraught with danger, since I dared to go in, I naturally have ways to protect myself. You don't need to worry about my safety."
Xin Ruyin listened to Zhou Ding's words, her gaze lingering on his face for a long time.
She naturally trusted Zhou Ding's judgment and believed he wouldn't take risks without being certain of success. But as his partner, knowing that her Daoist companion was going to enter such a dangerous place alone, the worry that tugged at her heart was something she couldn't suppress.
She remained silent for a long while, then finally sighed softly, her eyelashes drooping slightly, her voice tinged with helplessness: "Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you. But you must promise me that you will always prioritize your own safety and never take unnecessary risks for the sake of treasure. If things become unbearable, leave as soon as possible, and I'll be waiting for you to return on Biling Island."
Zhou Ding nodded solemnly: "Of course. No treasure is more important than life. I promise you, I will definitely come back safely."
Xin Ruyin felt slightly relieved, but then remembered something and asked, "So...where do you plan to send me?"
"Azure Spirit Island," Zhou Ding said calmly.
"The spirit stone mines there have been operating smoothly for the past ten years, but I've always felt that they lack someone to keep things under control. You're a Nascent Soul cultivator; a mere wisp of your aura is enough to make those restless forces around you retreat. During my absence, you'll go to Biling Island to oversee the spirit stone mines and ensure that the industry and foundation here remain intact. With you there, I can enter the Void Heaven Palace with peace of mind."
After listening, Xin Ruyin pondered for a moment. She understood Zhou Ding's intention.
With the opening of the Void Heaven Palace, chaos is bound to erupt in the Chaotic Star Sea.
While various forces are busy vying for the opportunities within the Void Heaven Palace, it's inevitable that some will try to undermine the foundations behind it.
If an industry like the spirit stone mine were to be plundered or even stolen during the chaos, the losses would be substantial. Her presence on Biling Island acts as a stabilizing force, enough to deter those with ulterior motives and ensure stability in the rear.
"Alright, I'll pack up right away and take Xiaomei with me." Xin Ruyin didn't hesitate any longer, nodding gently, her tone soft yet earnest, "Take good care of yourself in the Void Heaven Palace."
"Don't worry." Zhou Ding's simple two words were more powerful than any lengthy promise.
That evening, the three of them set off.
The teleportation array hall of Tianxing City is located in the southeast corner of the inner city. It is a circular stone platform building covered with countless runes. Zhou Ding led Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei into the hall. The cultivator on duty immediately stood up and bowed upon seeing them, greeting them solicitously, "Are the three seniors going to use the teleportation array? Where are you headed?"
Zhou Ding didn't say much, casually tossing out a few mid-grade spirit stones: "Silver Shark Island."
The guard took the spirit stone with a beaming smile and quickly led the three to the center of the teleportation array. He then activated the array by changing the hand seals in his hands.
As a dazzling white light shot into the sky, the figures of Zhou Ding and the other two quickly blurred and disappeared within the pillar of light, leaving only the lingering breeze swirling around the teleportation array.
After a brief period of dizziness, the three found themselves in a grand hall with a completely different style. This was the teleportation hall of Silver Shark Island.
Silver Shark Island is an important transit island in the Chaotic Star Sea, with a large number of cultivators coming and going, and the teleportation array is used very frequently. The scale and popularity of the entire hall are much more lively than those in Tianxing City.
Without pausing, Zhou Ding led Xin Ruyin and Xiao Mei past crowds and headed straight for the hidden teleportation array on the island.
Another flash of white light appeared.
When the three opened their eyes again, a refreshing breeze carrying a faint scent of the sea wafted towards them, carrying with it the spiritual energy of the plants and trees in the distant Spirit Wood Forest, which invigorated them.
What comes into view is the unique, verdant, pearl-like forest of spirit trees that is characteristic of Biling Island.
It really was Biling Island. Zhou Ding took a deep breath of the spiritually rich air and looked at the overseas spiritual island he had cultivated for decades, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.