Hearing Han Yu's tone, Wu Shuan grinned knowingly. "You're thinking we should try our luck, aren't you?"

Han Yu did not deny it. "We might not find something as rare as that, but it is worth exploring. The elders marked several ruins within safe range. The one near the eastern ridge, about eighty kilometers from here, was noted by the scouts as relatively calm. The strongest beasts there were only Core Condensation realm, which we can handle easily."

"That's the hill site, right?" Yuan Ping asked, already pulling out his jade slip map.

Han Yu nodded. "Yes, that one. From what I remember, there were remnants of stone foundations there, possibly an ancient courtyard or small temple complex. The energy readings were faint, which means it hasn't been fully excavated yet."

The group exchanged eager looks.

"I'm in," Yuan Ping said immediately. "If there's even a chance of finding a relic, it's worth the trip."

"Same here," another disciple added. "We have the supplies, and the Qi in our bodies feels steady after the herb. I say we move while we still have daylight."

Wu Shuan chuckled. "Seems everyone's eager for adventure today."

Han Yu allowed a faint smile. "Then it's decided. We'll head out within the next ten minutes. Make sure all your supplies are secured and your talismans are replenished. We'll take the same route east for thirty kilometers before veering north toward the hill."

The disciples moved quickly. Their packs were still mostly full from yesterday since they had not used much food or water, and their defensive talismans remained intact. Within minutes, the small team was assembled and ready.

Before departing, Han Yu double-checked the terrain map on his communication jade slip.

The illusionary distortions of the inner realm could sometimes warp perception, so relying purely on sight was unreliable. Instead, the jade map reacted to the ambient Qi flow, creating a shifting projection of landmarks and safe paths.

"Maintain formation as before," Han Yu instructed once everyone was gathered. "Yuan Ping and Wu Shuan will take the front. I'll watch the rear. Keep your spiritual sense extended but restrained. We do not want to alert any beasts prematurely."

"Understood," they replied in unison.

With that, the group set off once more.

Their footsteps were silent upon the faintly rustling grass.

The inner realm's terrain was deceptively tranquil; even the wind that brushed against their robes felt conjured, as though the world itself mimicked reality rather than being part of it. Occasionally, faint ripples shimmered in the air, and Han Yu could feel the the qi adjusting itself around them.

The journey was easier this time. The group had learned to recognize false paths that looped endlessly, beast trails that could very well lead one to their nests and how to anchor their sense of direction using Qi fluctuations.

A few low-level beasts crossed their path, but they either quickly retreated upon sensing the group's strength or were dispatched by them in a few moves.

As they approached the eighty-kilometer mark, the faint outline of a hill rose from the mist ahead.

It was not particularly tall, being only three hundred meters tall, but it exuded an ancient stillness, as though it had been watching over this strange realm for centuries. Scattered around its base were fragments of stone pillars, eroded by time but still carrying faint carvings of unfamiliar runes.

Han Yu slowed his pace and studied the terrain carefully. "This should be the place. The ruins are likely beneath that ridge."

The disciples gathered around, gazing at the hill with anticipation. The air here felt slightly heavier, saturated with lingering spiritual energy that hinted at ancient formations long since broken.

"Let's take it slow," Han Yu said calmly. "If this site truly belonged to an ancient cultivator, there may still be traps or defensive remnants left behind."

As the others nodded and prepared to ascend, Han Yu's hand unconsciously brushed the shaft of his Hybrid Halberd. He could not help but wonder, if a damaged High Grade Spirit weapon had been found in one of the ruins, perhaps something even greater waited to be unearthed here.

Whatever the case, he intended to find out before the false sun dimmed once again.

They moved forward with renewed determination, the illusionary sky above them shimmering faintly, as if watching their every step.

The journey to the ruins took several hours, but compared to the previous day's expedition, it was smoother and less eventful. The forest paths that once seemed endless were easier to navigate now that they were more accustomed to the illusionary distortions of the inner realm.

Han Yu led from the front once he was sure there was no danger tailing behind them. His senses were keen and steady, occasionally using his Soul cultivation enhanced perception to check for hidden dangers that might have slipped past normal spiritual sense.

'This is really nice...' Han Yu thought as he started to become accustomed to his new soul cultivation benefits.

The faint shimmer of the false sunlight hung above the canopy, casting long streaks of golden light that filtered through the trees. It was neither warm nor cool... an illusion made to mimic reality, yet carrying an emptiness that none of them could ignore.

After three hours, the terrain began to shift.

The thick forest gave way to a clearing that stretched uphill. Old stone pillars jutted out of the soil like jagged teeth, covered in moss and vines that clung to them like the grasping hands of time. The air grew still, quieter than before, the distant hum of insects fading into silence.

Yuan Ping stopped beside Han Yu, squinting ahead. "We've reached the place, I think. The energy here feels... old."

Han Yu nodded slowly. The Qi in the air was stagnant, like it had not been disturbed for centuries. "It should be the ruins marked on the map. Everyone, stay sharp. We don't know if this place has been explored before or if beasts have made it their lair."

They advanced carefully, weapons half drawn, their footsteps muffled against the carpet of fallen leaves.

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