Chapter 707 - 356: The Previous Master (Part 2)

Chapter 707: Chapter 356: The Previous Master (Part 2)

After listening, the Ring Spirit added, "In a way, you and I are both outsiders, yet we can be considered successors. As for the previous master, he lost two entire worlds. But I need more information..."

The Ring Spirit began listing the questions it wanted answered. Cheng Zongyang recorded them one by one. He knew this was crucial for the Ring Spirit to gain complete control over the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, so he had to get a thorough understanding, even if the old man didn’t know much.

"...And finally, about that Grand Array—if possible, dismantle it and take it with you! You might save yourself three million Points."

A smile touched the corners of Cheng Zongyang’s lips. "That’s what I was thinking, too."

Thus, nearly thirty minutes passed before Cheng Zongyang returned to the cave.

Cheng Zongyang then began asking the old man all sorts of questions, recording the answers one by one. Most of the questions were from the Ring Spirit, but some were his own.

For example: How many Grand Arrays were left in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races? Did the old man know about its connection to the Underground Cultivation Immortality Realm? Was there a complete map of the Realm of Ten Thousand Races?

Why had he called the Five Great Immortal Sects "trash"? Had the Realm Master left anything behind? And why was the old man immortal, able to move about in his current form?

The old man answered Cheng Zongyang’s questions patiently and in detail, and when he didn’t know something, he simply said so. From the old man, Cheng Zongyang also learned his Daoist name was Qing Xuanzi—a title passed down through generations of Sect Leaders.

After all the questions were answered, Cheng Zongyang looked at Qing Xuanzi. "I am the inheritor. But I don’t know where the Realm Master is; I only received his inheritance by chance in the mountains. So, if you’d like to live in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races, I can send you there. I can even get you a body."

A desolate look crossed Qing Xuanzi’s face. "Even the Realm Master was defeated... Is it even possible my master could have survived?"

As he spoke, with a mere thought, a Jade Scroll by the meditation cushion materialized out of thin air and floated before Cheng Zongyang. He gazed at the Jade Scroll, his eyes filled with reluctance and nostalgia, and said slowly,

"You are now the inheritor, the Realm Master. This Jade Scroll contains all the information on the Grand Array, as well as the Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique that I cultivate. My ability to survive to this day in this form is thanks to this Cultivation Technique. It was a reward given to my master by the Realm Master’s eldest disciple long ago.

"I don’t know if Master or my senior brothers and sisters ever cultivated the Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique, but... forget it. Realm Master, I will not leave. This is my home, the place where I grew up. Master, my brothers, my sisters... they are all gone. I must continue to guard our home in their stead."

Hearing this, Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly in silence and put the Jade Scroll away. His heart filled with a myriad of emotions, he asked,

"Does the Mountain Protection Array need to be reset?"

As he spoke, he took out the old man’s skeleton and returned it to him.

’He had thought this place was deserted and planned to loot it clean before leaving, but now that Qing Xuanzi was here, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.’

The power Qing Xuanzi displayed was immense. After centuries of comprehending the Dao, he was already on the verge of the Dao Realm. However, a persistent obsession in his heart prevented him from taking the final step of "letting go of the Dao," and thus he could not attain it. Once he entered the Dao Realm, he would begin to grasp Divine Abilities.

"It’s no matter, I can handle it. Realm Master, you may come and retrieve this Grand Array whenever you wish." Qing Xuanzi glanced toward the stone wall.

"Then I’ll stay here for a few days," Cheng Zongyang said. "Saves me the trip back and forth. It’s a long way."

"Very well. It’s just that in this state, I’m afraid I cannot properly host you, Realm Master," Qing Xuanzi said, abashed.

Cheng Zongyang waved his hand. "Don’t worry about it. I’m the one intruding on your Cyan Profound Sect."

And so, Cheng Zongyang left the cave. Qing Xuanzi, however, did not stay put; he went underground to inspect the Mountain Protection Array.

Cheng Zongyang went to the Daoist Collection Pavilion and entered the Realm of Ten Thousand Races. The Transmission Channel Formation and the Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique—these were the two Supreme Treasures of the Cyan Profound Sect.

’And now, because of my identity, Qing Xuanzi has given them both to me. I wonder if it’s because he doesn’t want the objects to remind him of the past, or for some other reason.’

"Ring Spirit, take a look for yourself." Cheng Zongyang sacrificed the notebook with his records in the Altar Space.

Meanwhile, Cheng Zongyang extended his Divine Sense into the Jade Scroll to examine the Teleportation Array and the Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique.

The Ring Spirit processed the information at an incredible speed. Before Cheng Zongyang had made much headway with the Cultivation Technique, its voice echoed in the Altar Space:

"I’ve analyzed it. There isn’t much of value. However, that new Transmission Channel is currently outside my sphere of control, so I need you to accelerate your expansion. By my estimation, there should be at least five such channels. That would allow entry from various locations in the outside world."

"As for the Ice and Fire Cultivation Immortality Realm, it’s just as I predicted—a separate place carved out by my predecessor. It was likely meant as a retreat for the Cultivation Immortality Realm. Otherwise, the channel wouldn’t have been left open like that."

Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "Dwelling on that is meaningless now. If I wanted to create one, what Realm do you think I’d need to reach?"

The Ring Spirit replied without hesitation, "If I gain complete control over the Realm of Ten Thousand Races and your Cultivation reaches the Mahayana Realm, then by combining our power, we could use the rules and our strength to reshape this planet."

Cheng Zongyang was speechless. He shook his head and said, "I think I’ll just focus on building my Immortal City. I don’t need to reshape the world. But I have another question: the previous master of the Realm of Ten Thousand Races... did he die at the hands of another Jade Stone’s host, or was he captured? What’s your take on it?"

The Ring Spirit replied, "A host is basically immortal, unless their Jade Stone is forcibly devoured by another of its kind. It’s like this: if the strongest Nascent Soul Great Perfection Cultivator from the Five Great Immortal Sects wanted to kill you, they would have to grind your bones to dust and obliterate your Divine Soul in the instant before you could even react.

"Otherwise, even if only your Divine Soul remained, you could instantly enter the Realm of Ten Thousand Races to recover, albeit at an extremely high price.

"Since that person could reshape and even create this world’s Cultivation Immortality Realm, it proves that his power, and the authority Grade of his Jade Stone, were far superior to ours.

"But he never returned, and nearly all the resources in the Realm of Ten Thousand Races were stripped away. That leaves only one possibility: my predecessor was devoured, which means its host should also be dead. Of course, that’s not a certainty. The host might still be alive, but the Jade Stone Ring Spirit is definitely gone."

"If another one devoured you, would its Grade increase?" Cheng Zongyang asked, curious.

After a long silence, the Ring Spirit said, "You could say that. It wouldn’t just increase its Grade; it would also gain more Abilities."

Cheng Zongyang set down the Jade Scroll and fell into contemplation. ’This isn’t a conclusion I like to see, but I also really don’t want that person to ever come back. Otherwise, how would the Ring Spirit and I even deal with him?’

After a long moment, Cheng Zongyang replied, "Then let’s start by speeding up the collection of gold and silver to help you completely cover the Realm of Ten Thousand Races. Oh, right."

As he spoke, Cheng Zongyang looked at the Jade Scroll. "Can I set up the Transmission Channel Formation described inside?"

"You can, but its function is different from the channel in Territory No. 2. The channel I said could be built for three million Points is like that one. This type of Transmission Channel likely imposes a time limit on those who enter."

Cheng Zongyang said immediately, "Then you take a look first. I can’t make heads or tails of it."

"You need to sell or sacrifice it," the Ring Spirit reminded him.

Cheng Zongyang was speechless. "You’re just planning to sell it back to me later, aren’t you?"

The Ring Spirit didn’t respond. Helping each other improve was one thing, but it still needed to follow the rules and use Points to raise its own Grade.

Seeing this, Cheng Zongyang decided to appraise the Jade Scroll first.

——

[Jade Scroll]

Description: Contains the records for an Ancient Teleportation Array, the [Qiankun Array], and a Divine Dao Technique, the [Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique].

Points: 1,000,000 + 3,000,000

——

Cheng Zongyang’s eyes lit up. While the description didn’t specify the exact functions of the two items, their Point value alone spoke volumes about their worth!

’The Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique... Qing Xuanzi said it’s how he’s managed to survive to this day. But he wasn’t specific.’

’But judging by the Point value and the Ring Spirit’s guess, there must be some kind of catch.’

He said to the Ring Spirit, "I can sell you the whole Jade Scroll, but in return, you have to tell me the Array’s function and the methods for using, dismantling, and setting it up. You also have to give me a copy of the Purple Qi Morning Birth Technique as a light orb, in the same format as the North Nether Swallowing Qi Method. Otherwise, I could get more than this price by putting it on consignment."

’The Jade Scroll was filled with all sorts of array runes. He wasn’t an expert in Arrays, so it was all Greek to him.’

"Agreed," the Ring Spirit replied.

So, Cheng Zongyang sold the Jade Scroll, receiving four million Points in return. Immediately after, two white orbs of light descended before him.

Without hesitation, Cheng Zongyang absorbed the array information first.

Instantly, his Extraordinary Adaptation Talent activated on its own. As a massive flood of array data overwhelmed him, causing discomfort, the Talent continuously adjusted, allowing his brain to peacefully receive and integrate the information.