When Jing Xiang's parents heard this, they couldn't help but glance at each other, both thinking of Ling Yuxian.
No wonder Ling Qiuchang had repeatedly reminded them when he entrusted Ling Yuxian to the Jing family.
As for the relationship between the Jing family's ancestors and the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, that was beyond their speculation.
Then, where is the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace currently trapped? Although our Jing family has not been active in the world, the depth of our clan's heritage should not be underestimated. For the sake of rescuing the founder, our Jing family is willing to pay any price," the current head of the Jing family asked respectfully.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist. However, even we are not clear about where the founder is currently trapped. The young ancestor only mentioned that it is related to the Jing family's ancestral land. This matter requires consultation with the Jing family," the white-bearded elder who had spoken earlier shook his head slightly.
Hearing this, the highest-ranking elders of the Jing family were stunned, as if they had thought of something.
"Could it be related to the rules set by our ancient ancestor?"
Their expressions immediately became uncertain.
This matter was tied to one of the Jing family's greatest secrets, known to no more than a handful of people across generations.
Even the current head of the Jing family might not know about it.
"Oh? What's wrong, fellow Daoists? Is there some difficulty?"
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace were also surprised, not understanding why the Jing family elders had suddenly changed their expressions.
"We just recalled some instructions left by our ancestors. Perhaps the place where the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace is trapped is closely related to those instructions," the Jing family elders sighed after exchanging glances.
At this critical moment, they could no longer hold back and revealed some of the ancient secrets.
The Jing family had existed for a long time, its history comparable to that of immortal forces like the Imperial Immortal Palace. However, over the years, the family had declined, with few talented members remaining.
Even though the family had lived in seclusion within this independent universe, staying aloof from worldly affairs, their population should have grown over time.
Yet, the Jing family's numbers remained small, and even fewer were core members cultivating in the ancestral land.
A significant reason for this was that many clan members, once they reached a certain level of cultivation, were required to go to a specific place.
"That place is known to our Jing family as the Land of Eternal Life. Only clan members who have reached a certain level of cultivation are qualified to know of its existence. However, those who go to the Land of Eternal Life rarely return," the Jing family elders sighed.
There were many things they hadn't revealed. The Land of Eternal Life was not a good place. If not for the heavenly oath sworn by their ancestors, requiring generations to guard and reinforce the seals there…
Who would willingly go to such a place?
Because of this, many of the Jing family's elders eventually grew old and died there.
Once one's cultivation reached a certain level, it became difficult to have descendants. The Jing family's ancestors had exhausted their lifespans there.
"Perhaps the founder is trapped in that Land of Eternal Life."
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace were visibly shaken.
The other Jing family members were also shocked. They had never heard of such a secret before.
Did this mean that once their cultivation reached a certain level, they too would have to go to the Land of Eternal Life?
The Jing family elders who had spoken earlier glanced at Jing Xiang's parents and others, shaking their heads slightly.
According to clan rules, Jing Xiang's parents and others should have already gone to the Land of Eternal Life.
However, in recent years, the seals there had stabilized, and there had been no disturbances like before.
After private discussions, they had decided to delay informing Jing Xiang's parents and others.
"Where is this Land of Eternal Life located now?" The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace exchanged glances and asked solemnly.
They were now certain that the place Ling Yuxian was looking for was the Jing family's Land of Eternal Life.
"The seals there are constantly reinforced. Even we find it difficult to approach. It requires the combined efforts of many to open. In the past, those inside would send a signal, and the outside clan members would prepare to let them in," the Jing family elders explained helplessly.
When the clan members in the Land of Eternal Life sensed disturbances in the seals and could no longer suppress them, they would send a message to the outside clan members, who would then prepare to open the entrance.
For the Jing family, guarding the Land of Eternal Life was no honor. It was more like a form of torment and punishment.
Generations of descendants were trapped there, bound by their oath, unable to leave.
If they could rescue the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace trapped there, would it also mean liberation for the Jing family?
"As the young ancestor said, that place cannot be opened by the power of a single person."
"But why was the founder trapped there, and why did the Jing family's ancestors take on the responsibility of guarding and reinforcing the seals?"
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace were filled with questions.
However, they didn't dwell on it for now. They planned to send the information back to the Imperial Immortal Palace and let Ling Yuxian make the decision.
The Jing family elders also didn't know what was inside the Land of Eternal Life.
That place had been left by the Jing family's ancient ancestor, who entrusted future generations to guard and reinforce the seals there.
Now, it seemed that this might have been a seal left by the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace, and the Jing family's ancient ancestor had been tasked with guarding it.
Afterward, the Jing family elders led everyone to a ancestral hall.
Rows of dim soul lamps, each containing profound mysteries, floated in the void, flickering in the depths of the hall. Some were dim, as if they might extinguish at any moment; others were blurred like nebulae, while a few shone brightly like small suns.
"Each of these soul lamps represents a Jing family elder who has gone to the Land of Eternal Life. The largest one in the deepest part represents our ancient ancestor," one of the elders explained to the group.
The elders of the Imperial Immortal Palace were deeply shocked. They hadn't expected that the Jing family's ancient ancestor was still alive and residing in the Land of Eternal Life.
This was a truly immortal figure, living in the same era as the founder of the Imperial Immortal Palace.
However, judging by the state of the soul lamp, the ancestor's condition was not good—it was extremely dim, as if on the verge of extinguishing.