The Heart Of The Ancient Sancutary

Chapter 186: The Heart of the Ancient Sanctuary

The Ancient Bloodline Nourishment Art remained suspended before Aether as lines of translated inscriptions shifted across the System's display.

He had already spent considerable time studying it, but the more he understood, the more he realized how carefully its creators had designed the technique.

It wasn't a simple method of strengthening a bloodline. It examined the condition of the bloodline first, identified weaknesses in its inherited energy circulation, and then used controlled Origin Energy to nourish and gradually restore it.

Aether focused on one particular section.

"So the technique can strengthen an existing bloodline without forcibly changing its nature."

The Ancient Origin Earth Dragon, standing beside him, glanced at the inscriptions.

"Correct. But that is only its first purpose. The more advanced stages appear to prepare a bloodline for changes it might not naturally achieve."

"Evolution?"

"Potentially. Although the surviving records aren't complete enough to confirm the final process."

Aether nodded and returned his attention to the System.

[Ancient Bloodline Nourishment Art]

[Analysis Progress: 68%]

[Identified Principles: Bloodline Purification, Origin Energy Circulation, Ancestral Characteristic Stimulation.]

[Missing Information: Final Nourishment Cycle, Advanced Compatibility Method.]

[Comprehension Assistance Available.]

He activated the assistance function.

The System reorganized the complicated inscriptions into smaller sections, displaying the energy pathways and explaining how the different principles interacted. It also highlighted several places where the original technique depended on information that was no longer available.

Aether studied the first two stages until he understood their basic structure.

He didn't attempt to practice the incomplete art. Understanding a technique and safely cultivating it were two different matters.

"Preserve everything we've recovered," he instructed.

[Ancient Bloodline Nourishment Art stored in System Archive.]

[Recovered information categorized and preserved.]

Aether closed the display.

"Let's see what else this place is hiding."

The dragon gave a slight nod.

"Agreed. We have spent enough time in this facility."

Several minutes later, Aether received a report through his Shadow Authority.

One of his shadows had discovered a large structure beneath the eastern section of the Preservation Facility. Unlike the smaller formations scattered throughout the sanctuary, this structure was connected to several major spatial pillars.

Aether examined the information.

"That might be important."

The dragon looked at the projected formation diagram.

"It is. The energy pathways are too extensive for an ordinary facility."

"Can you identify its purpose?"

"Not from this information alone. We should inspect it."

They followed the route provided by the shadow.

The passage descended through several levels before opening into a vast underground chamber.

Twelve stone pillars surrounded a circular platform. Ancient symbols covered their surfaces, and streams of Origin Energy flowed between them in carefully arranged patterns.

Aether immediately noticed something unusual.

The energy wasn't circulating evenly.

Most of it flowed toward the center, but a portion was being redirected through several channels leading into the distance.

He studied the arrangement.

"Why would a formation distribute energy unevenly?"

The dragon examined the pillars before answering.

"Because its different sections don't have identical requirements. A preservation chamber needs stable energy. A research facility might require a different flow. Specialized environments could demand considerably more."

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"So this structure supplies the entire sanctuary."

"At least its major facilities."

Aether walked around the platform, observing the energy channels. One of them was noticeably weaker than the others.

He stopped.

"That section isn't functioning properly."

The dragon turned toward the same channel.

"Good observation. Its energy flow is being restricted."

"Damage?"

"Possibly. But look at the pattern."

Aether followed the channel with his eyes. The surrounding symbols weren't broken. Instead, several of them had been deliberately deactivated.

He considered the arrangement for a moment.

"Someone shut down this section."

The dragon's expression became more serious.

"That is my suspicion as well. It appears intentional."

Before Aether could investigate further, the central platform suddenly emitted a faint pulse.

The twelve pillars responded one after another.

The energy channels brightened, and a series of symbols appeared above the platform.

Aether immediately stepped back.

The dragon moved beside him, watching the formation closely.

"Don't approach it yet."

"I wasn't planning to."

The symbols rearranged themselves, revealing a partially preserved diagram of the sanctuary.

Several sections were marked with faint light. Others remained completely dark.

Aether recognized the Preservation Facility and the Ancient Spirit Garden among the illuminated locations.

However, there were several additional regions he hadn't encountered.

One of them was connected directly to the weakened energy channel.

The diagram flickered.

A moment later, the entire formation returned to its previous state.

Aether remained silent for a moment.

"That wasn't a random fluctuation."

"No," the dragon replied. "The formation responded to something. Whether it was your presence or the energy signature you carry remains uncertain."

Aether looked at the central platform.

His Infinite Origin Physique had already triggered unusual reactions within the sanctuary. It wouldn't be surprising if the formation had detected something.

But he wasn't going to assume the entire structure recognized him.

"System. Analyze the formation and preserve the diagram."

[Ancient Formation Network Detected.]

[Primary Functions: Spatial Stabilization, Energy Distribution, Regional Concealment Regulation.]

[Additional Functions: Partially Damaged.]

[Central Structure Identified.]

[Analysis of available energy pathways beginning...]

The System continued scanning the structure.

Aether waited until the analysis had progressed sufficiently before asking another question.

"Can you determine the destination of the weakened channel?"

[Incomplete Analysis.]

[The channel leads toward a sealed section of the Ancient Sanctuary.]

[Further identification requires additional data.]

Aether's eyes narrowed slightly.

A sealed section.

That was more interesting than another ordinary cultivation chamber.

The dragon examined the diagram again.

"Whatever lies there, the creators deliberately restricted its access. I would avoid forcing the formation open without understanding its safeguards."

Aether agreed.

"Then we'll find the other connected structures first."

He had no reason to risk damaging something valuable.

[Mission Objective Completed: Trace the Ancient Formation Network.]

[Reward: 25,000 System Points.]

[Current System Points: 60,000.]

Aether briefly checked the notification.

He was still short of the amount required to purchase the Favorability System, but the reward was substantial.

He dismissed the display.

"Let's move."

While Aether investigated the central formation, other participants were making their own discoveries.

On one of the floating mountains, a group of young cultivators had successfully activated an ancient cultivation chamber.

The room drew Origin Energy from the surrounding environment, but its distribution was uneven. After a disagreement over who deserved the most favorable positions, the group eventually divided the available places according to their individual contributions.

Several of them had already begun cultivating.

Elsewhere, a group exploring an ancient library discovered preserved cultivation manuals and historical records. Although much of the collection had deteriorated, the surviving materials were valuable enough to attract the attention of several influential young cultivators.

Near an ancient lake, another group found a sealed resource chamber. They hadn't managed to open it yet, but the energy leaking from within suggested that its contents were worth competing over.

The sanctuary was becoming increasingly crowded.

And with every valuable discovery, competition between the participants grew stronger.

Meanwhile, Mu Qingxue had reached a different section of the sanctuary.

Ancient stone walls surrounded a quiet area filled with unusual plants. Unlike the Ancient Spirit Garden, this place contained no obvious cultivation resources.

Instead, the plants were growing around a network of faint green markings.

Mu Qingxue carefully examined them.

Her Verdant Binding Physique allowed her to sense subtle changes in vegetation and natural energy circulation. Through that perception, she noticed that the plants weren't growing randomly.

Their roots were following specific paths.

She crouched beside one of the markings and examined the energy flowing beneath the ground.

"These markings are connected."

She followed the pattern with her eyes.

The formation was guiding the surrounding natural energy, maintaining conditions suitable for the plants growing in this area.

Mu Qingxue continued investigating until she discovered a partially buried stone tablet.

Its surface contained several faded inscriptions.

She couldn't understand all of them, but a few preserved symbols were familiar.

Bloodline.

Nourishment.

Preservation.

Her expression changed slightly.

"This place is connected to the sanctuary's bloodline research."

She carefully recorded the symbols before continuing her exploration.

She had found something meaningful, and she intended to understand it herself.

Aether and the dragon eventually left the underground chamber.

As they walked through the corridor, another shadow returned with information about the surrounding structures.

Aether reviewed the report.

The formation network had several major connections, but one remained inaccessible. Its energy channels were still active, although their output was restricted.

He glanced at the dragon.

"That sealed section might contain something important."

"Quite likely. But we shouldn't assume its contents are treasures. Ancient civilizations sometimes sealed away failed experiments and dangerous research."

"That's another reason to investigate carefully."

The dragon gave a faint approving nod.

"You're learning to be cautious."

Aether glanced at him.

"I was cautious before meeting you."

"Of course, Young Master."

The dragon's perfectly serious expression made it difficult to determine whether he was joking.

Aether let out a quiet laugh before looking toward the deeper passage.

The sanctuary had revealed a much larger structure than he had initially expected.

Its facilities weren't independent buildings. They were parts of a coordinated research system, supported by an extensive formation network.

And somewhere behind the sealed section, information about the civilization's most important research might still exist.

Aether had no intention of leaving without discovering it.

"Let's find the remaining connections first."

The dragon followed him deeper into the sanctuary.

Neither of them noticed the faint light returning to one of the symbols behind them.

For a brief moment, the ancient diagram appeared again.

The sealed section remained dark.

But a small symbol beside it had begun to glow.