The days of peace in the Tianyuan Realm passed for another several decades. After these decades of recuperation, the Tianyuan Realm had regained some of its vitality.
In this grand environment of rebuilding and renewal, a large number of outstanding newcomers emerged.
For instance, in the Xing clan, Xing Wuming, who was previously under a cloud of guilt, performed exceptionally on the battlefield, thus redeeming himself through his merits.
After the war, his extraordinary aptitude earned him the attention of the clan, and they invested substantial resources into his development. In a short period, he broke through from the Deity Transformation stage to the Void Refining realm.
Xing Wuming thus became a rising star in Tianyuan City.
It was rumored that this Young Master Xing had encountered a special destiny, consuming heavenly treasures that could enhance one's aptitude, making his cultivation potential even more astonishing than that of ordinary geniuses.
Several peerless experts in the Integration stage had once predicted that this young man would surely achieve greatness in the future, with boundless potential for advancement.
Faced with such a promising new star, it was natural for many factions to want to recruit him.
However, Xing Wuming was a member of the Xing clan, and it was impossible for him to betray his family and join another sect.
These major powers, wanting to recruit him, could only adopt another method: marriage alliances.
Instantly, suitors flocked to his door, each wanting to marry their daughters to Xing Wuming.
With such a relationship, they would all become relatives, and in times of need, they could lend a hand.
Logically, Xing Wuming should have seized this opportunity to cast a wide net, marry several women, and bring them home. Few would have objected.
Yet, Xing Wuming seemed to be rather stubborn; he married none of them.
Several families sent their beautiful daughters, willing even to be concubines, but he foolishly refused them all.
This caused many cultivators to grit their teeth in frustration at his perceived ineptitude.
Recently, news spread that Xing Wuming, after rejecting so many women with powerful backgrounds and stunning beauty, had done so because of a female ghost cultivator.
Many who were unaware of the truth believed he had been bewitched.
Only a few high-level cultivators who knew the truth envied Xing Wuming's good fortune.
That female ghost cultivator was a powerful figure in the Integration stage – a formidable connection to cling to.
Moreover, this ghost cultivator was the elder sister of the now famous Xiao Fei.
As for the notion of the divide between humans and ghosts, it was merely because the benefits were not apparent.
Subsequently, under the auspices of numerous Integration stage powerhouses, Xing Wuming and Xiao Lan held their grand wedding.
This wedding ceremony nearly shook the entire cultivation world.
Whether it was out of respect for the Xing clan, or for the Integration stage powerhouses Xiao Fei or Xiao Lan themselves, anyone who was qualified would come to attend.
For those who were genuinely unable to attend due to unavoidable circumstances, they would send their gifts through others.
Regarding his second sister's wedding, Xiao Fei naturally sent many generous gifts.
With only the two of them left in their family, Xiao Fei, as the maternal family, was obligated to prepare a substantial dowry.
There were ten-thousand-year-old spirit herbs, high-grade spirit pills, spirit wines aged for tens of thousands of years, and the legendary Marrow Cleansing Pill.
There was also a large box of high-grade Qi Nurturing Pills, specifically for treating infertility in high-level cultivators.
Mid to high-grade Qi Nurturing Pills could also enhance the cultivation aptitude of an infant in the womb, ensuring they started ahead of the curve.
...
While Xiao Lan's wedding was being celebrated with great fanfare, Ji Wudi, who should have been there to offer congratulations, or at least send gifts if he couldn't attend, was trapped within an ancient ruin.
He had been trapped there for over a hundred years, trying every possible method to escape, but to no avail.
This ruin was vast, containing many perilous areas, and some sections were protected by formations.
In these hundred years, he had still not managed to explore it all.
In the past few days, he had navigated a passage filled with traps and slain seven ferocious beasts, losing several chunks of flesh to their bites.
He had finally succeeded in reaching the end of the passage, which led to a special space resembling a mine shaft. Its depth was unknown, and the cave walls were covered with white ore.
Ji Wudi even spotted several pieces of Taibai Golden Essence ore.
The ground was littered with the remnants of various swords and other magical artifacts. Over the long passage of time, these artifacts had become incredibly decayed.
Ji Wudi took a step forward, his foot landing on the broken artifacts, producing a crunching sound.
A faint breeze stirred within the cave. Ji Wudi felt a stinging sensation on his face. He touched it and found that the slight breeze had caused several small cuts.
Having cultivated his body since childhood, his physical strength was formidable, and magical artifacts rarely harmed him. To think that he would be injured by such a gentle breeze.
He cast a defensive divine ability upon himself before proceeding along the cave wall to excavate the pieces of Taibai Golden Essence.
This type of ore, when added in even a small amount to a magical artifact, could significantly enhance its sharpness, making it very rare throughout the cultivation world.
After excavating several pieces of ore, Ji Wudi continued deeper into the mine.
Along the way, he continued to spot various rare ores on the cave walls, which he collected casually.
"Crunch! Crunch..."
Stepping on the broken artifacts scattered on the ground, he wondered how many fragments of magical items were laid out here.
Continuing his journey for over ten li, he finally saw a strong golden light emanating from ahead, so bright it blinded him, causing blood to flow from his eyes.
Ji Wudi could only close his eyes tightly, relying solely on his divine sense to probe forward.
The source of the light ahead was a small tree, about nine feet tall. To be precise, all the golden light originated from a single fruit on the tree.
This fruit was cast entirely in what appeared to be metal, about the size of a fist, emitting a blinding golden radiance.
"What kind of treasure is this?"
Ji Wudi did not possess Xiao Fei's extensive knowledge and did not recognize the tree or the fruit.
However, even a blind person could tell at this moment that this fruit was an absolute supreme treasure.
Ji Wudi's surprise was beyond words, and he immediately quickened his pace towards the small tree.
As he approached, the light emanating from the fruit grew stronger, becoming almost tangible, like thousands of steel needles pricking his skin.
When he reached the small tree, he plucked the fruit with one hand.
An intense stinging sensation shot through his palm, causing numerous bloody cuts, with blood streaming down.
Ji Wudi, always a resolute individual, showed no fear. He brought it to his mouth and took a large bite with a "crunch."
This thing, with its golden radiance and metallic appearance, had a surprisingly crisp texture when bitten.
"As long as I don't die, this is bound to be a great fortune! It means I shall be invincible under heaven!"
With this bite, countless golden lights pierced his mouth, making it bleed profusely, and his tongue was riddled with holes.
Ji Wudi paid it no mind, continuing to chew vigorously before swallowing it in one gulp.
"Crunch! Crunch..."
In just a moment, this fist-sized fruit was completely devoured by Ji Wudi.
"Hahaha..."
"Spicy enough!"
"Refreshing enough!"
...
"Ouch! My stomach hurts so much! My whole body aches!"
Ji Wudi now felt excruciating pain throughout his body, as if undergoing a thousand cuts. The agony caused him to curl into a ball on the ground...