Chapter 24: Dragon Pearl, Divine Ruins

"After devouring so many serpents, the dragon pearl within it should be close to forming!"

By the side of the pool, the four men each harbored their own intentions—some assisting, some indulging, all urging on the evolution of the sea dragon ginseng. Once the serpent corpses around the pool had all been swept in, Ma Buti suddenly spoke.

"The dragon pearl! So that's what the Ma brothers are after! But what do they want with the dragon pearl?"

Hearing Ma Buti's words, both Lu Sheng and Wan Guxiao had this thought flash through their minds. The dragon pearl contained immense power that could be directly absorbed by a person. Yet the Ma brothers were merely at the level of Martial Grandmasters; they had no need to absorb such vast strength.

Moreover, with their abilities, they could not directly absorb the dragon pearl at all.

"Could it be that Ma Qianli's cultivation has advanced and he urgently needs to replenish his power?"

Wan Guxiao wondered. Ma Qianli was the current Grandmaster of the Ma family, and he had just turned two hundred this year. At such an age, breakthroughs in cultivation were indeed possible; many grandmasters achieved new heights around this time.

Though pondering these things, Wan Guxiao did not ask directly. Instead, he said, "It may be soon, or perhaps it needs a little more. If you throw in the serpent corpses from the surrounding tunnels as well, it will surely be quicker!"

He made the suggestion, but had no intention of moving himself, instead keeping his gaze fixed on the pool, closely watching for any movement within.

As for Lu Sheng, he still pressed his hand tightly to the formation, as if gathering energy for it.

Hearing Wan Guxiao's words and seeing the two men’s lack of action, Ma Buti immediately understood their intentions. His anger flared, and he was about to seize the opportunity to lash out, when Ma Buting interjected, "Second Brother, those two can't leave their posts—go fetch the serpent corpses from the other side, and I'll throw them in."

Of the four, only the Ma brothers were two in number. Since the other two parties were unwilling to leave the pool, only the Ma brothers could spare a man to fetch the corpses.

Ma Buti, of course, understood this. His earlier words had been more of a test of the other two. However, Wan Guxiao was cunning and Lu Sheng silent, so he had gleaned nothing.

"Boy, mind yourself this time. Don't activate the formation until the dragon pearl is fully formed. If you ruin the dragon pearl, you'll pay with your life!"

With a cold snort, Ma Buti spoke. That they needed the dragon pearl was now revealed, but it could not be helped—if Lu Sheng activated the formation before the pearl was complete, they would lose their chance. And missing this rare opportunity, who could say when another would come? With their strength, it was likely they would never again obtain a fourth-rank dragon pearl in their lifetimes.

After speaking, Ma Buti stared at Lu Sheng and Wan Guxiao for a while. Seeing they had no objection, he finally moved to the back, pushing the serpent corpses from the tunnel and piling them in front of Ma Buting.

Fixing his gaze on the pool, Ma Buting threw the corpses in, one by one, patiently awaiting the birth of the dragon pearl.

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"The dragon pearl!"

Reflecting on Ma Buti's words, Lu Sheng, with his mental strength magnified threefold to 21.78, pondered why the Ma brothers desired the pearl.

"The power of a fourth-rank dragon pearl can only be directly absorbed by a grandmaster. Those below that level must refine it by special methods before they can harness its power.

The Ma brothers are not alchemists—they likely don't know how to refine it, and so can't make use of the pearl.

As for grandmasters, the Ma family does have Ma Qianli, but as far as I know, the Ma brothers have stayed on Longsang Island these past years, with no contact with the Ma clan of Xiliang.

This pearl doesn't seem to be for Ma Qianli, either," Lu Sheng mused. Longsang Island was close to Blackstone Island, and there was frequent interaction between them. Not to mention, the fourth aunt of his current body, Sang Si-niang, had been forcibly taken as a concubine by Ma Buti.

Thus, he knew even more about the Ma brothers' affairs.

"According to Sang Si-niang, the Ma brothers seem to possess a treasure, seized from a ranking expert during an expedition in the Divine Ruins.

Ma Buting's injuries are related to this.

It was also because of this treasure that the Ma brothers left the Divine Ruins and came to Longsang Island.

Some even say the two appeared out of nowhere—the time they surfaced almost exactly matched the opening of the Ruins."

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The Divine Ruins was a most mysterious place, filled with all manner of marvelous artifacts.

There were even rumors it was once the abode of divine beings, and that the relics within were left behind when those beings abandoned the place.

Though unproven, no one refuted the tale. Over time, the place became known as the Divine Ruins.

"The Ruins lie near Leimen Island in the South Sea, and entrance is only possible through the Thunder Gate.

Every sixty years, the Thunder Gate's power wanes to its lowest. At this time, the combined strength of five grandmasters can open the gate, allowing entry to the Ruins.

Roughly half a year later, the Thunder Gate's power surges again. Before that, the five grandmasters will open it once more, letting those inside escape.

The last opening of the Ruins was in the 920th year of the Great Jing calendar—now, it's been five... no, six years!"

Having dwelled in the Serpent Pit for more than two months, the new year had already passed unnoticed, and time had come to the year 926 of the Great Jing—Lu Sheng was now sixteen years old.

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"When the Ma brothers first appeared on Longsang Island, it was shortly after the Ruins opened.

Given the timing, it was impossible for two martial grandmasters to travel from Leimen Island to Longsang Island so quickly.

Rumor has it they used some treasure to arrive directly on Longsang Island.

Perhaps, relying on that treasure to escape after seizing the dragon pearl is exactly what gives them the confidence to take this risk!"

Lu Sheng thought to himself. As far as he knew, the Ma brothers were extremely cautious with their lives. Even if the Ma family's grandmaster needed the dragon pearl, they would hardly risk everything to obtain it.

Only with a sure means of escape would they dare to brave such danger and remain here for the pearl.

"Perhaps, that treasure is related to the dragon pearl itself.

Maybe it allows them to seize the pearl easily, or perhaps harness its power—

That would explain why they haven't used the treasure yet;

And why they must obtain the dragon pearl!"

Lu Sheng reasoned. As a native, he knew much more about the Ma brothers than Wan Guxiao. Only by leveraging his formidable mind could he infer some of their motives.

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"But what exactly is that treasure?

The Divine Ruins truly are a wondrous place!"

Whether it was the Ma brothers' rumored treasure, or the inheritance stone Lu Sheng recently received, both came from the Divine Ruins.

Even the Hunyuan Technique he practiced had been derived by Emperor Jing from comprehending a furnace found within the Ruins.

And his great-grandfather, Lu Quan, had likewise entered the Ruins, never to return after leaving Blackstone Island...

These legends only deepened Lu Sheng's longing for the Divine Ruins:

"How I wish I could see it for myself!"

Lu Sheng sighed inwardly. But with fifty-four years until the next opening of the Ruins, all he could do was wait.