The sky split open, and a terrifying crack stretched across where the blazing sun had evaporated.
The towering portal standing there was also crumbling, large fragments falling away.
Faintly, a vast, glowing world filled with mysterious energy began to reveal itself before everyone's eyes.
The multiple Ancestral Dao experts from the Imperial Immortal Palace had struck with overwhelming force, their power shaking the heavens and the ages.
No one could withstand their combined attack. That the portal had held for so long was already a surprise to everyone.
"Stop!"
"Who dares destroy the sacred land of our Jing family?"
However, at this moment, a furious roar suddenly rang out.
In the distant void, a massive rift appeared, and several figures shrouded in chaotic mist rushed out, quickly approaching.
Behind them, more figures emerged one after another—men and women, all ancient and powerful, their auras overwhelming. They were the members of the Jing family who had rushed here from their ancestral land.
Everyone's faces were filled with shock and anger.
The man leading them was none other than the current head of the Jing family.
The other ancient elders followed closely behind, their expressions a mix of disbelief and horror.
Also among them were the elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace who had previously gone to the Jing family's ancestral land.
They stared at the scene before them, stunned and unable to react for a moment.
They had thought that the Jing family was under attack by external enemies, which had disturbed the soul lamps of the ancestors in the Land of Eternal Life.
But who could have imagined that among the figures attacking were many they recognized?
In the distance, they even saw Ling Yuxian and others.
What was going on? Weren't Ling Yuxian and the others supposed to be waiting for news in the Sheng Yang Ancient Domain?
"Xiao'er, Xiang'er, why are you here?"
Among the Jing family members who had arrived, Jing Xiang's parents were also shocked and confused, looking at Jing Xiao and Jing Xiang, then at Ling Yuxian, who stood nearby with a look of excitement and determination.
Why were their children here, and why was Ling Yuxian here as well?
How had they found the location of the Jing family's Land of Eternal Life?
This was a secret even they didn't know.
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace hurriedly spoke up, trying to calm the furious Jing family members.
At the same time, someone rushed to stop the Ancestral Dao experts who were about to continue destroying the portal.
Gu Changge watched all of this, shaking his head slightly.
These people had arrived just in time. The portal was on the verge of being opened, and they showed up at this critical moment.
He considered whether to take action and destroy it himself.
However, with so many Ancestral Dao experts from the Imperial Immortal Palace present, as well as the powerful members of the Jing family, he decided against it.
The portal would be destroyed sooner or later. There was no need to rush.
"What exactly is going on?"
The Jing family members finally realized that this wasn't an attack by external enemies.
Instead, it was the Imperial Immortal Palace trying to destroy the portal sealing the Land of Eternal Life.
But the existence of the Land of Eternal Life was a secret of the Jing family.
Even many of the elders didn't know about it.
How had the Imperial Immortal Palace found this place?
Ling Yuxian, however, didn't seem to care. She frowned slightly, clearly displeased that the Jing family had interrupted her mission to rescue her sister.
"Could it be that this isn't the Jing family's ancestral land after all?"
Jing Xiao's face turned pale, realizing they might have caused a huge disaster.
Jing Xiang also looked dazed. Under the questioning gazes of his parents, he could only lower his head and pretend not to know anything.
"What exactly is going on?"
The head of the Jing family took a deep breath, his expression still grim as he looked at the nearly destroyed portal.
The Jing family had guarded this place for countless ages, yet in his generation, something had gone wrong.
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace also hurriedly asked Ling Yuxian for an explanation.
Ling Yuxian glanced at everyone, thought for a moment, and decided not to hide the truth. She straightforwardly explained that the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace was trapped here, and she was here to rescue them.
As for how she had found the Land of Eternal Life, she didn't hide that either, saying it was Jing Xiang who had told her.
At these words, all the Jing family members were shocked, their eyes turning to Jing Xiang.
Jing Xiang's parents were especially incredulous.
Many of the Jing family elders still remembered him. His parents had taken him to see many elders in the past because Jing Xiang had been born with a ruined dantian, unable to cultivate.
No matter how many rare treasures they used, nothing had worked.
This condition was extremely rare, something even the elders of the Jing family had never seen before, and they had no solution.
But how could a clan member who had never been able to cultivate know about the existence of the Land of Eternal Life?
At this moment, Jing Xiang still wanted to hide the fact that he could hear the voice of the ancient ancestor. He tried to use the excuse of having read about it in the royal archives to deceive the Jing family members.
But everyone present was a powerful cultivator, capable of causing earthquakes with a single stomp. How could they not see through his lies?
Even Jing Xiang's parents frowned severely, sternly demanding, "Xiang'er, in front of the elders, don't try to deceive us. You must honestly explain how you knew about this. Otherwise, even if you're our son, you'll face severe punishment."
This was the first time Jing Xiang had seen his parents so stern, and he felt a mix of fear, resentment, and injustice.
Why couldn't he cultivate? Why had they hidden so many things from him?
Inside the portal was the solution to his curse.
But now, he also felt doubt and conflict. Could the ancient ancestor have deceived him?
After all, it was the ancestor who had told him this was the Jing family's ancestral land.
Or perhaps this had once been the ancestral land, but the Jing family had moved away later?
Seeing Jing Xiang remain silent, his parents looked at him with disappointment.
The head of the Jing family sighed softly, then seemed to think of something and shook his head. "Forget it. Since the portal has already been destroyed, it seems this was destined to happen. Everything is already set in stone."
"What good will blaming him do? Can it restore the destroyed portal?"
The other Jing family elders also sighed, saying nothing more.
Since Ling Yuxian had said the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace was trapped inside,
then no matter what, the portal would eventually be opened—it was only a matter of time.
Moreover, once the founder was rescued, wouldn't it mean the Jing family no longer had to guard this place and could finally be free?
As for how Jing Xiang had known about the Land of Eternal Life, it no longer mattered.