In the forests outside the Tianxuan Domain on the Ancient Spirit Continent, Ling Luoyi arrived here after reporting to the Domain Lord.
It had been over a year since she last left, but with time being of the essence, she had no time for pleasantries. She needed to find the fragments. Even though she knew she couldn't obtain all six fragments anymore, she only needed to ensure she got this one fragment, as collecting all six was necessary to isolate the Heavenly Dao.
But where could this fragment be? The Asura and Demonic races had searched for over three years without success, suggesting it wasn't in the open but likely within a secret realm.
Ling Luoyi activated her Divine Spirit Eye to scan the surrounding spatial spiritual energy for any anomalies, but found none.
At this moment, Gu Yuncheng's divine consciousness avatar emerged from the bone jade bracelet on Ling Luoyi's wrist. Possessing the unique invisibility spell of the Demon Realm, and being merely a divine consciousness avatar, only Ling Luoyi could see him.
"Luoluo, don't rush. Calm down and analyze carefully."
"Okay." Ling Luoyi tried to calm herself, but the thought of the Ling family also being on the Ancient Spirit Continent, and potentially getting caught up in the events, made it impossible to remain composed. Fortunately, Gu Yuncheng was by her side.
"Luoluo, the Heavenly Star Cauldron shattered ten thousand years ago. Over the years, fragments could have appeared anywhere. How did the Asura and Demonic races confirm that it must be on the Ancient Spirit Continent? Have you figured that out?"
"Asu, each race has its own secrets. I haven't seen the records of the Asura and Demonic races, so how could I know how they confirmed it?"
"Luoluo, it concerns the Ancient Spirit Continent, perhaps..."
Gu Yuncheng didn't finish his sentence, but Ling Luoyi understood.
"I understand."
With that, Ling Luoyi headed deeper into the Tianxuan Domain.
Gu Yuncheng watched her retreating figure and smiled helplessly. Luoluo's current panic stemmed from the fact that the Ling family's ancestral home was on this continent. He wondered if her deep concern for the Ling family was a good or bad thing.
Shaking off his thoughts, Gu Yuncheng hurried to catch up with Ling Luoyi, following behind her.
Upon entering the Tianxuan Domain, Ling Luoyi also applied an invisibility talisman to herself and entered the Tianxuan Domain's library to peruse its books. She wasn't looking for information about the Heavenly Star Cauldron, but rather about the Ancient Spirit Continent and foreign races.
The Asura and Demonic races' certainty that the Heavenly Star Cauldron fragments were on the Ancient Spirit Continent likely stemmed from records within the Demon Realm concerning the Ancient Spirit Continent, as they wouldn't be able to access records from other realms. By the same logic, records of the Ancient Spirit Continent should also contain information about the Demon Realm.
However, after reading for several days, Ling Luoyi found no mention of the Demon Realm, let alone the Asura or Demonic races.
One day, as Ling Luoyi was picking up a few books to read, she suddenly remembered something and said to the invisible Gu Yuncheng opposite her, "Asu, neither the historical records nor any unofficial histories of the Ancient Spirit Continent mention invasions by foreign races. This means that what first appeared in the Demon Realm's records wasn't the Ancient Spirit Continent, but rather its upper realm – the Ancient Profound Continent."
"Ancient Profound Continent?" Gu Yuncheng also recalled something, his eyes lighting up. "I remember now. The Ancient Profound Continent lost many places, which were later pieced together into secret realms by powerful human cultivators. If that's the case, it would explain why the Asura and Demonic races couldn't find anything on the Ancient Spirit Continent after three years. Luoluo, I'll have people investigate whether the Asura or Demonic races also searched for something on the Ancient Profound Continent."
"Mm. Asu, since the outside has been thoroughly searched, our focus should shift to the secret realms. I do know of a secret realm on the Ancient Spirit Continent related to the Ancient Profound Continent, but I've been inside and found nothing."
Hearing this, Gu Yuncheng knew which secret realm Ling Luoyi was referring to. "Then what we need to investigate is whether there are other secret realms on the Ancient Spirit Continent related to the Ancient Profound Continent."
A figure suddenly appeared in Ling Luoyi's mind. "Perhaps there is someone who can provide us with an answer."
"Who?"
Ling Luoyi didn't answer the question but instead said, "Asu, have your people investigate the matter of the Ancient Profound Continent first. I'll see if I need to go find her."
If she were to go find her, she might have to return to Yunyuan City. Returning to Yunyuan City would inevitably mean returning to the Ling Manor, but in her current state, it wasn't suitable to go back to the Ling Manor.
Seeing her silence, Gu Yuncheng didn't press further and instead instructed Xing Yu to relay the orders.
While waiting for the news, Ling Luoyi and Gu Yuncheng remained in the library in invisibility, continuing to examine the books for any records of foreign races.
A few days later, news arrived from the Liuying Water Pavilion.
"Luoluo, you guessed correctly. Fifteen years ago, the Asura race went to the Ancient Profound Continent, also searching for something, likely the Heavenly Star Cauldron fragments. Ten years later, they returned to the Asura race with nothing. After that, Chao Yan collaborated with the Demonic King and came to the Ancient Spirit Continent."
"So, it's just as I suspected." Ling Luoyi took out a book from the Fengxi Realm and began to read it, though in Gu Yuncheng's eyes, she was retrieving it from her storage ring.
After flipping through more than half of it, Ling Luoyi spread the book out before Gu Yuncheng and pointed to a passage, saying, "The Heavenly Star Cauldron fragments are likely this item."
Gu Yuncheng looked closely. It read: 'Foreign races suddenly appeared, and humanity was in danger. On the brink of extinction, a treasure from beyond the heavens saved our tribe, allowing us to counterattack. Months later, we achieved a bitter victory. In this battle, ninety percent of our tribe died, and all were injured. We leave this message, hoping future generations will remember: it is said to be in the Sinking Star Forest. The foreign races have fearful faces, red eyes, fangs, black wings, and are covered in mist. Their weakness is between their eyebrows; a single strike is fatal.' Ling Luoyi's finger was pointing at the words 'treasure from beyond the heavens.'
This book was something Ling Luoyi had casually thrown into the Fengxi Realm when she was on the Ancient Profound Continent. However, when the Asura race and the Ancient Profound Continent were mentioned, Ling Luoyi remembered this. For some reason, Ling Luoyi felt that this treasure from beyond the heavens might be the Heavenly Star Cauldron fragment they were searching for.
"Asu, the Heavenly Star Cauldron is divided into six pieces, each with a different function. One of the functions is to suppress dark power. The Asura race cultivates dark power, which is why it could help humanity turn the tide."
"Luoluo, since we have a clue, let's go meet the person you mentioned."
Ling Luoyi hesitated. Gu Yuncheng suddenly took her hand. Ling Luoyi instinctively looked at him and saw him smiling as he said, "Luoluo, don't be afraid. We'll just avoid the Ling family."
Ling Luoyi was stunned and nodded. "Okay."
They both knew, but they had a tacit understanding not to acknowledge it. Gu Yuncheng pretended not to know, and Ling Luoyi pretended not to know that Gu Yuncheng knew.
Ling Luoyi did not use the teleportation network because upon arriving in the Tianwu Kingdom, she would need to verify her identity. To avoid trouble, Ling Luoyi and Gu Yuncheng used their own teleportation arrays.
At the Alchemist Guild in Yunyuan City, Ling Luoyi, with her appearance concealed, stood in the hall and said to the attendant, "Hello, I would like to see Guild Master Lin Weilan. Please inform her."
Hearing Ling Luoyi's words, the attendant was taken aback and apologetically replied, "Miss, I'm sorry, Guild Master Lin Weilan is in seclusion and is not receiving visitors."
Ling Luoyi took out a medicinal bottle and a piece of paper, saying to the attendant, "Please help me inform her and give this paper to Guild Master Lin. She will know who I am when she sees this paper. Regardless of whether she sees me or not, this pill is a reward for your assistance in informing her."