Zhan Huantai's face changed dramatically when he heard Duan Gujin talk about the horrors of the Ghostly Desolate Land. It was only then he realized that Duan Gujin and Qing Lian knew so many things he didn't.

Duan Gujin, on the other hand, was pondering a question: how did Zhan Huantai rise to power in his previous life?

"It's unlikely that Zhan Huantai could enter the Ghostly Desolate Land and find the treasures inside unless Qing Lian and I can quickly break through in cultivation. Otherwise, even if the two of us go together, it's still impossible to breach the Ghostly Desolate Land. It's very likely that Zhan Huantai did not get the treasure from the Ancient God Ruins, but rather from the Ziwei Divine Palace. It seems it was possible that Qing Lian and I made the Ziwei Divine Palace appear prematurely, causing many unforeseen changes. It could also be that Zhan Huantai had another Immortal Destiny that he just didn't mention!"

Duan Gujin rubbed his temples, feeling overwhelmed.

He and Qing Lian couldn't return to the Jiuzhou Continent, and they had thoroughly offended the largest sect on the Yuanzhen Continent, the Taihuang Immortal Sect. Now they were caught in a dilemma.

"It seems there's no way to unravel the mysteries of the Ancient God Ruins in a short time!"

He pondered that there must be many stories behind the Ancient God Ruins, and he and Qing Lian couldn't decipher the mysteries of the Ghostly Desolate Land anytime soon.

Left with no choice, Duan Gujin and Qing Lian sought out Zhan Pingta, asking him to gather more intelligence on the Taihuang Immortal Sect and those sea demons.

Zhan Pingta replied, "My people can gather some information on the Taihuang Immortal Sect, but they can't gather accurate intelligence on those sea demons!"

Duan Gujin thought for a moment and realized Zhan Pingta wasn't lying.

"Alright, your people will focus solely on the Taihuang Immortal Sect's information! Don't bother with the sea demons!"

"Got it!"

Zhan Pingta breathed a sigh of relief. Even if he went himself, he couldn't sneak into the sea demons' midst.

Moreover, the highest cultivation level among his subordinates was only the Martial Emperor Realm, and even he couldn't do it, so he knew his subordinates certainly couldn't.

Days passed by.

Three days later, Duan Gujin received Zhan Pingta's report, and he learned that the Taihuang Immortal Sect had recaptured the Ancient God Ruins.

"Did those sea demons give up on the Ancient God Ruins? Otherwise, why would they let the Taihuang Immortal Sect people take it so easily?"

Receiving this information, he found it unfathomable.

He knew the sea demon army was right near the Ancient God Ruins, and clearly, if they wanted to reclaim it, it would be a matter of moments.

However, Zhan Pingta told him that after the Taihuang Immortal Sect recaptured the Ancient God Ruins, they discovered that all the defensive magic arrays confining the gates had disappeared. After the Taihuang Immortal Sect disciples entered, they found themselves in a desolate land full of tombs.

The Sect Leader of the Taihuang Immortal Sect and a group of elders initially intended to break into this desolate land, but they failed. They found that within the tombs lay many terrifyingly powerful white bones that not only weakened their combat power but also launched Divine Soul attacks against them.

Fortunately, those white bones moved slowly, allowing the Taihuang Immortal Sect elders who fought them to escape.

The Taihuang Immortal Sect elders eventually had to retreat to the entrance of the Ancient God Ruins to devise a plan.

Zhan Pingta, after receiving this report, felt even more admiration for Duan Gujin and Qing Lian.

Through his subordinate's report, he learned that the Taihuang Immortal Sect was entering the Ancient God Ruins for the first time, but were stymied by the Ghostly Desolate Land within.

Previously, Duan Gujin and Qing Lian had forcefully entered the Ghostly Desolate Land.

From then on, Zhan Pingta held an admiration for Duan Gujin and Qing Lian's strength and experience.

Another half-day later, Zhan Pingta gathered another piece of intelligence.

"The Taihuang Immortal Sect is now recruiting experts who can unravel the mysteries of the desolate land full of tombs!"

After Zhan Pingta reported this information to Duan Gujin, he shook his head slightly, saying, "To unravel the mysteries of the Ghostly Desolate Land, one's cultivation level must at least reach the Shattering Void Realm! Have your people continue gathering intelligence!"

Duan Gujin knew in his heart that the Ghostly Desolate Land within the Ancient God Ruins wasn't the true Ghostly Desolate Land, but its horrors were similar to the Ghostly Desolate power of the Divine World.

To forcefully break through the Ghostly Desolate Land within the Ancient God Ruins, one's cultivation might need to break through to the Shattering Void Realm.

Another three days passed, and Zhan Pingta gathered another report.

"The Taihuang Immortal Sect has ordered most of its people to pull back. Now, only a small group of Taihuang Immortal Sect disciples are stationed at the Ancient God Ruins. Do you think we should take action?"

Zhan Pingta felt it was their opportunity.

"Take action? What kind of action are you thinking?"

Duan Gujin showed interest upon hearing this.

"Should we send some people to seize the Ancient God Ruins?"

Zhan Pingta thought about seizing the Ancient God Ruins and suddenly became excited.

"And then?"

Duan Gujin smiled faintly.

"And then?"

Zhan Pingta thought about this, his eyes flickering. He realized that he had been too reckless and foolish just now.

"I was wrong. I just misspoke!"

Zhan Pingta's old face turned red, and he replied.

"The Taihuang Immortal Sect is mimicking those sea demons, following their example. They both think that the other might be able to unravel the Ghostly Desolate Land of the Ancient God Ruins while they can't themselves. They're both hoping the other can unravel it for them, so they can profit afterward! You think you can unravel the Ghostly Desolate Land just because you haven't seen it with your own eyes! Let me tell you, unraveling the Ghostly Desolate Land is really difficult! Previously, those from the Taihuang Immortal Sect spent a lot of time trying to unravel the defensive magic arrays outside the Ancient God Ruins, but in the end, they couldn't decipher the mysteries!"

Duan Gujin said.

"Yes, your teaching is right!"

Zhan Pingta's old face turned red. Just as Duan Gujin said, he had only heard Duan Gujin describe how terrifying the Ghostly Desolate Land was. But having not seen it himself, he was thinking possibly he could unravel the mysteries once he got lucky.

If he could truly unravel the mysteries within the Ancient God Ruins, he would strike it big!

The challenger's cultivation must at least reach the Shattering Void Realm; that was just an important requirement he thought of to unravel the Ghostly Desolate Land's mysteries.

Moreover, the challenger also needed very strong spiritual power to resist the terrifying Divine Soul attacks of the Ghostly Desolate Land.

"Keep a close watch on the Ancient God Ruins with your people!"

Duan Gujin instructed, knowing that unless a Shattering Void Realm expert took action, unraveling the mysteries of the Ghostly Desolate Land was unlikely.

This was merely his guess. In fact, he wasn't sure if a Shattering Void Realm expert could even solve the problems of the Ghostly Desolate Land.