TL: Etude
“Who?”
Several Half-Step True Ancestors and many True Monarchs were utterly shocked. Each one prepared for battle, even Ye Tian grew solemn, his spiritual sense continuously probing the surroundings, yet he found nothing.
Everyone knew very well that before they entered this Dao Field, no one else should have entered.
Yet now, someone transmitted a message to them—what did this imply?
“Could it be that a powerful figure from the Domain Realm survived until now?”
This was the thought in everyone’s mind.
It wasn’t impossible! At their level of cultivation, lifespans were nearly infinite. While they did have a limit to their longevity, it was so vast that few beings ever reached the day of their natural end.
This universe, formed from a fragment of a Domain Realm, was relatively young. Judging by the condition of the ruins, the realm’s destruction wasn’t too distant in the past. Therefore, if someone had managed to escape pursuit and arrived alongside the fragment, it was entirely possible they could have survived all this time.
However—Since the birth of these ruins, even after the Domain Realm evolved into a universe, no powerful entities had ever appeared.
Thus, many of the True Monarchs believed that all the living beings connected to the Domain Realm’s ruins had been exterminated.
But now, with a voice echoing from the ruins, it seemed their earlier assumptions had been mistaken.
Ye Tian, however, considered more possibilities.
If someone truly survived until now, evading the disaster of the Domain Realm’s fall, it could mean that terrifying beings might still be hidden within the ruins—perhaps even a Dao Ancestor.
“The woman inside the cold jade coffin I found before… Is she alive or dead? What if she’s still alive?”
This thought struck Ye Tian suddenly.
Yet he didn’t dwell on it for too long, as the matter at hand took priority.
None of the True Monarchs dared to advance; instead, they cautiously retreated. If something dangerous truly emerged, they would flee at the first sign of trouble.
Boom!!!
The force of heaven and earth trembled! In an instant, vast amounts of this force coalesced into the shape of a figure. The silhouette gradually became clearer, forming into the appearance of an old man.
Seeing this elder, everyone’s guard rose to the highest level. But soon, they discerned the truth behind the old man’s form.
“A spirit!”
Ye Tian recognized it immediately.
This elder wasn’t a real living being, but a spirit—similar to an artifact spirit or formation spirit.
“Let me introduce myself,” the old man said. “I am the spirit of this Dao Field! You may call me Jiong.” Jiong introduced himself with a smile.
“Jiong, why didn’t you appear in the herb garden earlier, but only now, after we entered?” asked True Monarch Seafall.
Jiong chuckled and explained, “Strictly speaking, the herb garden is no longer part of the Dao Field. Though I am the spirit of this place, I have no control over it.
Moreover, there are areas within the Dao Field where even I cannot enter or exert control!”
Seeing that Jiong showed no hostility, many True Monarchs began to relax, and they started asking him questions. Jiong, patient and unbothered, answered each of them seriously.
At this moment, Ye Tian posed a rather crucial question:
“Elder Jiong, do you know if anyone survived within the Dao Field?”
This question immediately caught the attention of the others.
They were equally concerned about the answer, though they had hesitated to ask it earlier, fearing they might learn something unfavorable.
They had been debating whether or not to bring it up, but to their surprise, Ye Tian asked without hesitation.
Jiong hesitated for several seconds, and the atmosphere froze. Everyone grew tense.
Suddenly, Jiong let out a sigh and said:
“To be honest, even I don’t know. There was a great battle that day. The master of the Dao Field led many disciples and experts to confront the enemy. Shortly after, news arrived that the master had fallen. Then, more enemies descended, and the remaining people fled the Dao Fields. As for whether they survived or not… I have no idea!”
Ye Tian couldn’t be sure whether Jiong was telling the truth. But even if he lied, they had no way to verify it.
At the very least, one thing became clear: the ruins of the Dao Field did not pose a significant threat. Otherwise, Jiong wouldn’t have spent so much time talking to them.
If he had ill intentions, and their strength disparity was significant, Jiong could have easily attacked them without the need for explanations.
“Elder Jiong,” True Monarch Seafall spoke with slightly more respect this time. “Since this Dao Field no longer has a master, may we take the treasures and opportunities here for ourselves?”
Jiong nodded and said, “Naturally, you may. Back then, the disciples fled in a hurry. While they managed to take some things with them, much was left behind. You are free to take these opportunities and treasures.
However, I hope you refrain from damaging the buildings and structures here. After all, this is my home.”
“We promise not to destroy anything!” the True Monarchs responded in unison.
With Jiong’s guidance, the group gradually learned about the opportunities within the Dao Field.
The Crimson Dragon Dao Field were once overseen by a Dao Ancestor known as Dao Ancestor Crimson Dragon. The grounds contained four major treasure sites under Jiong’s control, where they could seek their fortunes:
1. The Martial Practice Grounds
2. The Dao Technique Pavilion
3. The Crimson Dragon Pool
4. The Heavenly Soul Tree
These were accessible areas where Jiong could oversee and guide them. However, beyond these four locations, there were many secret realms originally connected to the Dao Field. With the fragmentation of the Domain Realm, many of these realms had severed their connection, leaving only one still under the Dao Field’s control.
Even Jiong wasn’t certain about what lay within that remaining secret realm, as it wasn’t physically located within the Dao Field but merely linked to it.
There were two forbidden areas they could not access:
1. The Crimson Dragon Tower – This tower was the personal residence of the Dao Ancestor. It contained the greatest opportunities, but even Jiong couldn’t enter it. The prohibitions guarding it were powerful enough to resist weaker Dao Ancestors. For the True Monarchs, who hadn’t even reached the level of True Ancestors, breaking through these prohibitions was impossible.
2. The Crimson Dragon Valley – This was the dwelling place of a crimson dragon, the Dao Ancestor’s personal mount. The dragon had accompanied Dao Ancestor Crimson Dragon since the latter’s earliest days of weakness, helping him rise to power. Over time, the dragon also advanced to the level of a Dao Ancestor.
Dao Ancestor Crimson Dragon thus possessed not only his own power but also that of his dragon companion. As a result, the Crimson Dragon Valley was another forbidden zone, inaccessible even to Jiong.
Everyone knew very well that both the Crimson Dragon Tower and Crimson Dragon Valley held the greatest opportunities within the Dao Field. Yet, since they couldn’t enter these places, they had no choice but to accept it.
In fact, if Jiong hadn’t offered to assist them, they wouldn’t have even been able to enter many of the other buildings.
While the True Monarchs eagerly prepared to explore the structures to claim their opportunities, Ye Tian remained deep in thought.
Strange…
Even though Jiong’s strength was limited, he should still have control over the prohibitions in the Dao Field. If he didn’t want them to enter, even with True Monarch Seafall’s pass token, they likely wouldn’t have made it inside.
Why would he help these True Monarchs so willingly? What’s his goal?
Ye Tian wasn’t someone prone to unnecessary suspicion, but Jiong’s behavior seemed too generous without any apparent benefit to himself.
Doesn’t he fear that these True Monarchs might inform other powerful beings, who could ultimately dismantle the entire Dao Field?
Ye Tian concluded that Jiong probably had some hidden agenda. It just wasn’t obvious for the moment.