Translator: AnubisTL
Tainted by misfortune!
The moment those words were uttered, Li Qing's pupils contracted slightly.
To be honest, he knew very little about the specific situation in the Great Wilderness West. He only knew that the region contained a forbidden land called Moonlit Ridge and an immortal dao faction known as Moonchase Palace.
Beyond that, he had no further understanding of either place.
Especially regarding Moonlit Ridge, this forbidden land. He had heard its name before, but he never knew why it was considered forbidden.
"Misfortune? What do you mean by that?" Li Qing asked, his expression growing more serious.
Originally somewhat looking forward to the Moonchase Grand Assembly, his heart now sank with dread, fearing he might be in grave danger.
"It seems Fellow Daoist Limitless has truly been secluded in cultivation for too long, if you haven't even heard of this," the speaker remarked.
"To be honest, I don't know the specifics either. No one can truly understand it."
"But some say Moonlit Ridge is actually an ancient burial ground from a primordial era. Over countless years, bathed in moonlight, it has accumulated vast amounts of Great Yin Power."
"In short, this forbidden land is exceptionally malevolent. Once you venture deep within, even core formation realm cultivators risk losing their lives."
At that moment, Li Qing finally gained a tangible sense of the true nature of this so-called Moonlit Ridge.
The ancient burial pit, its contents unknown, had been bathed in moonlight year-round, accumulating Great Yin Power.
The moon, after all, is the embodiment of Great Yin.
Upon reflection, the place truly felt eerie.
Throughout history, this malevolent forbidden land had claimed the lives of countless cultivators.
Despite knowing it was a death trap, many still risked their lives to enter, driven by a singular reason:
Moonlit Ridge harbored precious spiritual objects and opportunities.
Legend had it that the rise of the Moonchase Palace's founding palace master was directly linked to this place.
Since then, this powerful immortal dao faction had maintained its inheritance, strictly adhering to the founder's ancestral teachings.
These included never interfering in external conflicts and only accepting female cultivators as disciples.
These peculiar customs were likely rooted in the mysteries of Moonlit Ridge.
After hearing True Bone Immortal's explanation, Li Qing fell silent, his mind churning with thoughts about whether to compete for the spiritual objects distributed at the upcoming Moonchase Grand Assembly.
Sensing Li Qing's hesitation, True Bone Immortal chuckled softly:
"Fellow Daoist Limitless, there's no need for such apprehension. In truth, as long as you avoid excessive greed and claim only one or two spiritual objects at the Moonchase Grand Assembly, it shouldn't pose any significant risk."
"The Moonchase Palace has maintained its inheritance for countless years and held numerous Moonchase Grand Assemblies. Yet, only a handful of incidents have ever occurred."
Li Qing finally felt a slight sense of relief, resolving to proceed cautiously and adapt to the situation as it unfolded.
As the two continued their conversation, they finally arrived at the venue for the Moonchase Grand Assembly.
This was the rear mountain of Moonchase Palace, where row upon row of peculiar spirit trees had been planted.
"These must be the Mooncrown Trees, right? A type of spirit wood that can only thrive in such unique environments."
Someone spoke up, identifying the trees.
"Indeed. The Moonchase Palace and Moonlit Ridge are likely the only places in the Great Wilderness Domain suitable for these rare trees to grow."
"I've heard that the Pure Moon Pills and Moon Palace Brew are made primarily from the fruits and flower buds of these spirit trees. I wonder if it's true."
"Hiss! Look at those ancient trees! They must be nearly ten thousand years old!"
This exclamation instantly drew the attention of countless cultivators present, their gazes following the speaker's voice.
Li Qing was no exception. His eyes burned with intensity as he stared into the deepest part of the rear mountain, where three ancient Mooncrown Trees had taken root.
These three Mooncrown Trees stood apart from the other trees. Their trunks were covered in layers of ancient bark, and their leaves were a deeper, more vibrant green.
Moreover, these ancient trees radiated a pure, concentrated aura of spiritual energy.
Most remarkably, each leaf seemed to breathe in and exhale moonlight.
Nearly ten thousand years old!
This was undoubtedly the most precious material for refining Wood dao artifacts!
Among the crowd were cultivators who practiced Wood dao cultivation manuals, such as True Lord Wood Dragon.
Upon seeing the ancient Mooncrown Trees, his breathing grew heavy, his eyes fixed on the trees as if he were about to be drawn into them.
It was no wonder. Not only was he a Wood dao cultivator, but he also had a deep passion for cultivating spirit plants.
He had once traded a rare Soul Return Grass with Li Qing, revealing the location of a yin-yang spirit liquid spring in exchange.
Now, seeing these Mooncrown Trees, his heart naturally couldn't remain calm.
Soon, as the crowd marveled, a radiant full moon slowly rose behind the mountain.
True Monarch Yue Xuan had arrived!
At the sight of the Moon Disc, even those who had been burning with desire for the Mooncrown Trees had to restrain their fervent gazes.
Only True Lord Wood Dragon's eyes still held a hint of reluctance. It was rare to find someone as passionately devoted to plants as he was.
Sensing the visitors' skepticism, True Monarch Yue Xuan chuckled softly.
"You misunderstand. These ancient trees may appear venerable, but their true age is just over five thousand years."
"These three Moon Crowns represent the absolute limit of what the Moonchase Palace can cultivate."
True Lord Wood Dragon was the first to doubt this claim. However, facing a Nascent Soul True Monarch, he could only ask politely:
"Palace Master Yue Xuan, the Moon Crowns' trunks are covered in a remarkably thick layer of ancient bark, and their verdant foliage suggests they're at least nine thousand years old, wouldn't you say?"
The others nodded in agreement, sharing his assessment.
They simply couldn't believe that trees only five thousand years old could exhibit such grandeur.
Yet True Monarch Yue Xuan replied calmly:
"You'll understand when this palace begins drawing Moon Energy from Moonlit Ridge."
"Mooncrown Trees nearly ten thousand years old can only be found on Moonlit Ridge," True Monarch Yue Xuan explained. "At least, we at Moonchase Palace haven't been able to cultivate them."
Hearing her explanation, the others nodded with lingering skepticism, refraining from further questioning.
The assembled cultivators dispersed across the night sky, core formation realm experts levitating effortlessly while foundation establishment realm cultivators rode magic artifacts through the air.
No one descended to the ground. After all, they would soon be competing for spiritual objects brought from Moonlit Ridge, so securing a favorable position early was only prudent.
As anticipation reached its peak, the Moonchase Grand Assembly finally began.
A gentle voice echoed from a palace:
"Summon the moonstone!"
As the words faded, ethereal figures resembling moon palace fairies drifted in from all directions.
These female cultivators from Moonchase Palace formed an intricate formation and began channeling their mana.
Boom!
The ground behind the mountain trembled. Leaves cascaded from the Mooncrown Tree, mingling with the moonlight filtering through the night sky like a shimmering veil, creating a scene of profound beauty.
Soon, a milky-white, strangely shaped stone emerged, immediately drawing in and concentrating the scattered moonlight around it.
In the next instant, all the female cultivators of Moonchase Palace cried out in unison:
"Welcome, Holy Maiden!"
Buzz!
Within the main hall of Moonchase Palace, a slender figure rose into the air. She stepped lightly across the void, each step as gentle as a dragonfly skimming the water's surface, gliding forward at a measured pace.
Nearly every invited cultivator couldn't resist turning to gaze at her, eager to catch a glimpse of the current Moonchase Palace Saintess's radiant beauty.
Her face was exquisitely refined, her brows and eyes like a poem or painting, her skin as pure as snow—as if an immortal had descended to the mortal realm.
A pristine white silk ribbon danced in the wind behind her, further enhancing her ethereal aura.
This otherworldly woman effortlessly captured everyone's attention, causing most cultivators to hold their breath involuntarily.
Amidst the crowd, Li Qing's eyes widened in shock.
It wasn't the Saintess's beauty that stunned him, but the fact that he recognized her!
"It's her..."
(End of the Chapter)
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