Chapter 77

The Su family is a typical aristocratic family, with sufficient internal strength, extensive connections, wealth, land, and a sufficient number of clan members to ensure the size of their family. Such aristocratic families exist in every country, numbering around seven or eight. It is precisely because of these aristocratic families that the upper echelons of a country are formed.

In other words, the Su family is an aristocratic family that understands the technology, politics, and power dynamics of the current era, as well as the wealth and interpersonal relationships of the aristocracy. What the Su family has slightly more than other aristocratic families is, at most, a few pitiful pieces of information about the ruins of ancient sects.

After the core crystal was destroyed, the day after the battle at the ruins ended, they applied to the Sutuka tribe to begin exploring the ruins. The chief of the Sutuka tribe, Sutuka, who is an Inner Qi Realm expert, did not stop them but did warn them about some precautions. The most important one was that they could not enter certain areas, which stored ultra-powerful weapons, even weapons of mass destruction.

"Once you enter, the ruins' own program will record the number of people and the duration of your stay... You might think that since the core crystal has been destroyed, everything will be fine, but that's not the case. In our Sutuka history, there were once two Inner Qi Realm experts who destroyed the core crystal. There was even a time when a True Qi Realm expert from the Lan family personally destroyed the core crystal, but it was all in vain. The core crystal is made of unknown materials. Even if it is completely destroyed, along with the most basic energy circulation system, it will reappear in a few years. The core systems of the ruins will gradually heal themselves. This is a super-civilization far beyond our current era, and it is not as easy to destroy as you might think."

Sutuka's face was bitter as he continued to speak to the Su family members: "If not for this, why would the Sutuka tribe have lived here for generations? Because the ruins are almost indestructible, we need to guard them. This is also why our guardian clan has always sought the truth of history. It is said that if we find the truth about the destruction of the ancient mechanical technology civilization, the ancient Inner Qi technology civilization, and the ancient sects, we can permanently destroy such ruins or regain control of them. That would benefit this era, and it is the future that our descendants, the guardians, have always looked forward to. We hope to lead our people, the new people of this era, and all of humanity back to the former glory, greatness, and miracles. This is our destiny!"

"Enough talk." Sutuka's gaze had always somewhat ignored four of the Inner Qi Realm experts from the Su family, instead looking at Su Shiyun with a more formal expression: "In short, remember that there are certain areas in the ruins that you must not enter. This is a strict prohibition and a warning to you. If you enter, I will have no choice but to take action against you, and you will become enemies of the Sutuka tribe. So, you must decide for yourselves. Finally, thank you for everything you have done for the Sutuka tribe. We will always be good friends. In the future, I will help your Su family once. Go now."

The Su family members were overjoyed. A promise from an Inner Qi Realm expert is the greatest trump card for the Su family. No one expected such a gain, which was beyond their wildest dreams. This promise from an Inner Qi Realm expert was even more valuable to them than the ruins themselves.

Afterward, the Su family entered the ruins with great joy. However, after a week of exploration, they found nothing special, and they did not even see any elixir formulas. Later, Su Shiyun privately asked Lan Ling'er and learned that each ancient sect's ruins had different research directions. For example, some ruins focused on weapons and metal materials, some on bioengineering and artificial organs, and some on medicines and elixirs, each with its own unique focus.

As for the Yuji Pill, it was an elixir used by ancient sects to mass-produce Inner Qi Realm core guards. Although it was valuable, it was widely circulated and not very secret. However, it had significant side effects and was generally given to those with no talent, whether in martial arts or research, but who were important figures, such as the children of the wealthy and powerful. Once taken, it would prevent further progress, but it would at least allow them to reach the Inner Qi Realm.

The Jingu Pill, on the other hand, was much more advanced. It was a high-level elixir that could counteract the side effects of the Yuji Pill and further enhance some basic human qualities. Most importantly, after taking it, there would be no barrier to further progress, and one could gradually accumulate and refine Inner Qi, eventually having the potential to reach the Inner Qi Realm. However, this elixir was extremely rare, and it was said that the formula had been lost. It was unknown whether it still existed in some specialized third-level ruins, but if one were to search for it, it would likely only be possible to find the finished product, not the formula.

Thus, after a week, the Su family's gains were minimal. They mainly took many metal fragments from the ruins, discarding most of them according to Lan Ling'er's guidance and taking some special metal materials. These metals were far superior to those outside, but they were more difficult to forge, requiring Inner Qi Realm experts to use their Inner Qi to heat the flames to melt them. However, weapons forged from these metals could all be considered masterpieces, each one far superior to the weapons Su Shiyun currently used. The metals alone were worth a fortune.

Despite this, the Su family was still disappointed, as they did not obtain the Jingu Pill they had longed for. This trip to the ruins was half a failure and half a success, with the success not due to the ruins but to the promise of an Inner Qi Realm expert.

Regardless, the ruins yielded no significant gains. After another week, both Hao Qi and Lan Ling'er had fully recovered. After discussing with Hao Qi, the Su family decided to leave in two days. After all, the five Inner Qi Realm experts of the Su family, including Su Shiyun, represented more than half of the family's overall strength. It was not good to linger outside for too long. Additionally, they had heard that they had encountered an attack by a man in the core area of the ruins, who claimed to want to kill them. After hearing a detailed description of the man's appearance and martial arts, the Su family members knew that he was from the Qianshan Empire's royal family, and possibly the strongest among them, Mingzhen.

These various factors made the Su family eager to return home. Since the ruins had yielded no gains, they decided to return as soon as possible.

Hao Qi, of course, had no objections. He had a two-month deadline, and although more than a month had passed, he did not need to search slowly on the way back; he just needed to hurry back, which would not delay his time.

Thus, Sutuka ordered the tribe to hold a grand banquet to bid farewell to their most honored guests. At the banquet, Hao Qi was the closest to Sutuka in the past few days.

From his appearance, Sutuka had the standard look of a desert dweller, with dark, slightly yellow skin, a muscular build, and a middle-aged appearance, around fifty years old. However, as Lan Ling'er knew, Sutuka was at least three hundred years old, and his exact age was unknown.

As one of the greatest contributors to the Sutuka tribe's survival through this crisis, Hao Qi was toasted by Sutuka at the banquet. Sutuka did not beat around the bush and directly said to Hao Qi: "You are a friend of our Sutuka tribe, but I can see that you are not the type to ask for a promise of help. So, I will repay your kindness to our tribe in a different way. I will answer two questions about martial arts and one general question you have. As long as I can answer them, I will definitely do so and tell you the truth."

When Sutuka said this, everyone around them left, as this was a common practice in the world. It was a way for strong individuals to repay their debts of gratitude, which could be in the form of martial arts, techniques, or answers to martial arts questions. In the Blue Shadow Republic, Li Ming from the Li family had received such an opportunity, obtaining a highly advanced martial arts technique from an Inner Qi Realm expert. Some speculated that this Inner Qi Realm expert was the emperor of the largest empire in the northern part of the Blue Sea. In any case, the surrounding people were not qualified to listen in, and if they were caught eavesdropping, they would be hunted down and would not receive any sympathy, even from their families.

Hao Qi was momentarily stunned but then felt delighted. He did not like to ask for favors or to receive promises of help, as it felt like he was using his kindness to coerce others. This direct exchange of answers to questions made him feel more at ease. He thought carefully and then asked: "I want to ask about the secrets of the Inner Qi Realm. There are many questions, and I'm not sure how to phrase them. Senior, could you just tell me what you think is important based on two questions?"

Sutuka looked at Hao Qi with a hint of approval, then picked up a cup of milk wine from the table, took a sip, and pondered for a moment before saying: "This is indeed a broad question, but I will not let you down. Let me ask you first, what do you think the Inner Qi Realm is, and how can one achieve it?"