After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 64

The exploration of the Ice Torrent Realm concluded in a subtle manner. The blue ice crystal that served as the core of the formation ultimately shattered due to energy depletion, but the residual primordial cold energy that dispersed was partially absorbed by both Ye Li and Qin Yixuan, greatly benefiting their cultivation. The three Profound Ice Jade Lotuses, after a brief standoff, were allocated remotely by the elders of the two sects via transmission talismans: the Profound Cloud Sect received two, and the Azure Water Pavilion received one. This was considered an acknowledgement of Ye Li and the others’ key role in breaking the formation. Though neither side was completely satisfied, the result was acceptable. After this experience, the complex relationship between Ye Li and Qin Yixuan—that of being both rivals and friends, mutually wary yet forced to recognize the other’s strength—became even more entrenched.

Upon returning to the sect, Ye Li submitted one Profound Ice Jade Lotus to the sect in exchange for a large number of contribution points, keeping the other for her own use. Utilizing this lotus and the primordial cold energy absorbed from the Ice Torrent Realm, she finally broke through her bottleneck in one go, successfully advancing to the Coagulation Meridian Realm Mid-Stage and elevating her strength to a new level.

Soon after she had stabilized her realm, an even more sensational piece of news spread throughout the Profound Cloud Sect: deep within the “Meteorite Mountain Range,” located on the periphery of the sect’s influence, an ancient, long-sealed ruin—the “Meteorite Ruins”—had its entrance revealed due to recent shifts in the earth’s meridians!

According to scattered records in ancient texts, the Meteorite Ruins were a special area formed in antiquity when a celestial meteorite fell to earth and its fragments merged with the local spiritual脈 (veins/meridians). The interior was said to not only possibly contain rare treasures for artifact refinement, such as extraterrestrial metals and Star Stones, but also perhaps preserve unknown legacies or secret arts brought by the meteorite. Each time it opened, it would attract countless cultivators to explore.

The opening of the Ruins this time caused a significant stir, not only among the Profound Cloud Sect but also attracting several nearby sects and a large number of rogue cultivators. After discussion, the sect’s high-level decided to treat this as a major experience opportunity for their disciples, allowing Inner Gate and higher-level disciples to voluntarily form teams to go. However, they strictly forbade infighting among fellow disciples, and all personal gains would belong to the individual.

The news immediately caused an uproar throughout the Profound Cloud Sect. Countless disciples eagerly prepared, queuing up at the Mission Hall to register their teams. The True Inheritance disciples, in particular, would not miss such a rare opportunity and mobilized one after another.

Ye Li naturally would not be absent. The potential existence of Star Stones or extraterrestrial metals in the Meteorite Ruins was crucial for her future refinement of her destined artifact. Moreover, this large-scale, high-risk ruin exploration was the perfect chance to temper the members of the Nether Pavilion and test their capabilities.

She immediately used the Nether Pavilion Command Token to summon Lin Feng, Xia Zhihe, Sun Xiaohou, and Zhao Xiaoyi.

“You are all aware of the matter of the Meteorite Ruins,” Ye Li’s gaze swept over the four. “This exploration involves both risk and opportunity. I intend to lead the team; this will be the first collective action since the establishment of the Nether Pavilion.”

The four were instantly invigorated by the news. Lin Feng remained composed, Xia Zhihe’s eyes sparkled, Sun Xiaohou was eager to try his hand, and Zhao Xiaoyi was a mix of nervousness and excitement.

“Pavilion Master, how should we proceed?” Lin Feng asked.

Ye Li was already prepared: “The five of us will form a team, focusing primarily on gaining experience and collecting specific resources, trying to avoid conflict with teams from the major sects. Lin Feng, you’ll be responsible for overall coordination and intelligence analysis. Zhihe, you specialize in alchemy and spiritual plants, so you’ll identify herbs and provide medicinal support. Xiaohou, you have keen senses, so you’ll be responsible for scouting and vigilance, especially noting the movements of other forces. Xiaoyi, you handle logistics and communication. I will act as the main force, dealing with the primary dangers.”

She paused, her tone serious: “Remember, safety is paramount in this operation! The Nether Pavilion has just been established, and every member is vital. If you encounter irresistible danger, preserving yourselves is the top priority. All gains will be distributed based on contribution.”

“Yes, Pavilion Master!” The four responded in unison, feeling Ye Li’s regard, which warmed their hearts and strengthened their sense of belonging.

Ye Li made thorough preparations for this operation. She used her recent gains from alchemy and talisman crafting to equip everyone with sufficient healing and Qi-restoring pills, as well as several improved versions of speed-boosting and defensive talismans. She herself also drew two new Ice Soul Sealing Talismans and re-tempered her Profound Ice Sword.

Three days later, Ye Li led the four members of the Nether Pavilion, along with many other sect teams, aboard a large flying boat towards the Meteorite Mountain Range. The atmosphere on the flying boat was lively yet tense. Ye Li saw Gao Sheng leading the elite team from Battle Maniac Peak, familiar faces like Leng Ning and Huo Rong, and even a few True Inheritance disciples who usually kept to themselves. Qin Yixuan’s Azure Water Pavilion team was naturally also present.

Gao Sheng, seeing Ye Li and the four members beside her, whose strength was obviously uneven (Lin Feng and Xia Zhihe were Coagulation Meridian Mid-Stage, while Sun Xiaohou and Zhao Xiaoyi were only Enlightenment Stage Late-Stage), let out a cold, disdainful sneer, clearly thinking this team would be insignificant.

Ye Li ignored his gaze and calmly closed her eyes to rest.

A few days later, the flying boat arrived at the outskirts of the Meteorite Mountain Range. In the distance, where heaven and earth met, the gigantic outline of a ruined area, shrouded in distorted light, was faintly visible. The air was filled with chaotic stellar energy and a sense of ancient decay. Many teams from other sects and rogue cultivators had already gathered near the entrance.

The sect’s flying boat landed, and the teams, according to prior arrangements, sequentially entered the constantly spinning entrance to the ruins, which was composed of starlight and spatial fissures.

The moment Ye Li entered the ruins, she felt a chaotic spatial tearing force, and the group was randomly teleported to different areas of the ruins.

Ye Li’s vision blurred, and when she could see her surroundings again, she found herself standing in the ruins of a broken palace. All around her were broken giant stone pillars and collapsed walls. The sky was a strange dark red, and the air was filled with dense stellar spiritual energy and an unsettling sense of decay. Fortunately, the four members of the Nether Pavilion were not far from her, and they had not been separated.

“Is everyone alright?” Ye Li asked.

“We’re fine!”

“Good thing we were teleported close by.”

Seeing that everyone was safe, Ye Li slightly relaxed. “According to the plan, Xiaohou, scout ahead, and maintain stealth. Lin Feng, coordinate from the center. Zhihe and Xiaoyi, follow closely and remain vigilant.”

“Understood!”

Sun Xiaohou’s figure flickered, and like an agile ape, he climbed the broken wall and disappeared into the depths of the ruins after a few leaps. Lin Feng released a few small mechanical bees to scout the surroundings from the air. Xia Zhihe cautiously observed the traces of vegetation on the ground, while Zhao Xiaoyi nervously clutched a newly bought artifact long saber, following closely behind Ye Li.

The Nether Pavilion’s first collective action had officially begun.

The interior of the ruins was more dangerous than expected. In addition to the ubiquitous spatial fissures and unstable residual formations, there were also various demonic beasts that had been corrupted and mutated by stellar energy, such as scorpions covered in star patterns and strange birds that could shoot stellar flames. Most of them were at the Coagulation Meridian Realm level of strength.

Ye Li, as the main combatant, bore the brunt of most fights. After advancing to Coagulation Meridian Mid-Stage, her strength had significantly increased. The Universe Without Trace Steps became even more elusive, and the Ice Soul Sealing Finger was more potent, often allowing her to resolve battles quickly. Lin Feng’s calm command, Xia Zhihe’s timely medicinal support, Sun Xiaohou’s accurate warnings, and Zhao Xiaoyi’s logistical support also ensured the team operated quite smoothly.

They explored cautiously, collecting some scattered Star Iron and a few mutated spiritual herbs, but had not yet found treasures of particularly high value.

A day later, Sun Xiaohou reported that in a relatively intact square ruin ahead, he had found the wreckage of a huge ancient automaton, next to which appeared to be an intact control core, possibly containing the legacy of a high-grade automaton art! However, two other teams had also discovered the location and were in a standoff: one team from the Profound Cloud Sect’s Artifact Hall and a group of rogue cultivators in mixed attire.

“Automaton legacy?” Ye Li’s heart stirred. High-grade automaton art was immensely valuable, whether for combat or auxiliary use. “Let’s go take a look, and act according to the situation.”

When Ye Li led her team to the location, the standoff in the square had already escalated. The Artifact Hall team consisted of five disciples, led by a burly man at Coagulation Meridian Late-Stage, an expert in artifact refinement who was determined to claim the automaton core. On the rogue cultivator side, there were seven or eight people. Though individually slightly weaker, they had a numerical advantage, and all had fierce eyes, clearly desperate individuals.

“We, the Artifact Hall, found this automaton core first! Get lost if you know what’s good for you!” the Artifact Hall leader roared.

“Bullshit! These ruins are ownerless, whoever gets it, gets it!” the rogue cultivator leader, a man with a scarred face, sneered in response.

Swords were drawn, and a fight seemed imminent.

The arrival of Ye Li’s group broke the balance. The Artifact Hall disciples’ expressions softened when they saw fellow sect members, but seeing the strength of Ye Li’s team (on the surface, only one Coagulation Meridian Mid-Stage), they were slightly disappointed. The rogue cultivators became even more wary.

Ye Li’s gaze swept across the scene, finally resting on the intact automaton core, covered in dust yet still emitting a faint spiritual light. She did not immediately take a stance, but calmly observed the situation.

Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, another sudden change occurred! From behind a broken wall at the edge of the square, several poisoned crossbow bolts suddenly shot out, aiming straight for the vital points of the Artifact Hall disciples and the rogue cultivator leader!

“Watch out for the ambush!”

Amidst the cries of alarm, a third force—a group of black-clad, masked cultivators—rushed out from the darkness, clearly intending to be the fisherman who profited from the conflict!

The scene instantly plunged into chaos! The Artifact Hall disciples and rogue cultivators hastily engaged, mixing in battle with the black-clad figures.

Ye Li’s eyes turned cold: “Form a defensive formation!”

Lin Feng immediately directed everyone to stand with their backs against a massive stone pillar, forming a simple defensive structure. Xia Zhihe sprinkled medicinal powder to repel approaching poisonous insects, and Zhao Xiaoyi nervously gripped his saber. Ye Li stood at the forefront, Profound Ice Sword in hand, coldly watching the chaotic battleground.

She did not intervene immediately, waiting for an opportunity. The clam fights, but the fisherman profits—but that fisherman must also possess sufficient strength.

The melee was fiercely brutal. Although the Artifact Hall disciples and rogue cultivators had superior numbers, they were ambushed first and distrusted each other, quickly falling into a disadvantage. Casualties mounted. The black-clad figures were ruthless and highly coordinated, clearly well-prepared.

The Artifact Hall and the rogue cultivators were on the verge of collapse, and the automaton core was about to fall into the hands of the black-clad figures.

It was at this moment that Ye Li moved!

Universe Without Trace Steps—Star Flash! Her figure cut into the battlefield like a ghost, aiming directly for the black-clad leader who was attempting to collect the automaton core!

“Seeking death!” The black-clad leader sensed the danger and brought his saber around, his cultivation surprisingly also at Coagulation Meridian Late-Stage!

Ye Li did not evade, her Profound Ice Sword meeting his attack with bone-chilling coldness!

Clang!

When the saber and sword clashed, the black-clad leader felt a massive force, and his saber was instantly covered in a layer of frost, the coldness penetrating directly into his meridians! He was inwardly horrified—how could this woman’s strength be so terrifying?

Before he could change his move, Ye Li’s left hand pointed like a sword, Ice Soul Sealing Finger—Ice Trace! Straight towards his wrist!

Puff! The finger-wind pierced his protective spiritual light, and the black-clad leader screamed, his long saber slipping from his grasp!

Ye Li pressed her advantage, a flash of sword light intent on taking his life!

“Retreat!” The black-clad leader was terrified for his life. Ignoring the automaton core, he crushed a遁 (escape/teleportation) talisman and vanished in a puff of black smoke. The other black-clad figures, seeing their leader flee, scattered like birds.

In an instant, the situation was reversed!

Ye Li did not pursue. With a gesture, she snatched the intact automaton core into her hand. Then, her cold gaze swept over the surviving, stunned Artifact Hall disciples and rogue cultivators.

“This item is mine. Do you have any objections?”

Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority, coupled with the formidable strength she had just demonstrated by instantly repelling a Coagulation Meridian Late-Stage leader, leaving no one present daring to speak out against her.

The Artifact Hall leader opened his mouth, but finally bowed his head dejectedly: “Thank you, Senior Sister Ye, for your timely intervention.” If not for Ye Li, they would likely have been completely wiped out.

The rogue cultivators were even more silent with fear, quickly gathering their fallen comrades and retreating in disarray.

Ye Li pocketed the automaton core and swiftly led the members of the Nether Pavilion away from the chaotic area.

Through this battle, the members of the Nether Pavilion gained a deeper understanding of Ye Li’s strength and decisiveness, and their teamwork improved. News of “Ye Li easily defeating a Coagulation Meridian Late-Stage cultivator to seize the treasure in the Meteorite Ruins” also began to circulate in small circles among the survivors.

The Nether Pavilion’s first collective appearance, though low-key, had already shown its sharp edge. The exploration of the Meteorite Ruins had just begun, and greater opportunities and challenges awaited them ahead.