Sage of Humanity
Chapter 926 - 924 Nian Yuexian's Speculation

As they were talking, Ying Wuji flew over, landed, and looked at Lu Ye helplessly.

"Didn't I ask you to investigate the surroundings?" Lu Ye frowned, feeling that this guy was being too negligent.

Ying Wuji replied, "What you see before you is all that can be explored."

"What do you mean?" Lu Ye frowned.

Nian Yuexian said, "Don't blame him. This secret realm is very small. The whole scope is just the valley and spirit mountaintop we see now, so there's no need to investigate further."

Lu Ye was astonished.

If Ying Wuji had said this, he might not have believed it, but coming from Nian Yuexian, it had to be true. Nian Yuexian had clearly already explored the surroundings after being knocked out from the cottage earlier, leading to this conclusion.

Could there really be such a small secret realm in this world?

The secret realms Lu Ye had experienced before were all backgrounded by a whole domain. Even the smallest ones, like the Ten Thousand Beasts Domain secret realm, were still about thirty percent the size of the Spirit Stream battlefield.

"It seems this really is a legacy secret realm." Nian Yuexian mused.

Ying Wuji furrowed his brow equally: "So the senior means this was specifically created for certain inheritances?"

Hearing this, Lu Ye immediately thought of Hua Ci. He wasn't clear about the exact nature of the secret realm Hua Ci had gotten his inheritance from, but Hua Ci had casually mentioned once that the inheritance secret realm seemed to be quite small.

Because these secret realms created specifically for certain inheritances don't need to be large. By passing its trials, you can safely leave with the contained inheritance.

"Did the old gentleman ask you to do anything?" Nian Yuexian asked.

Lu Ye nodded: "He calls himself Khong Khong, the 163rd Sect Master of the Sword Weapon Sect. He wants me and Ying Wuji to first learn the Artifact Refining method from him and, once accomplished, to then pass on the sword cultivator path to us."

Nian Yuexian understood: "It seems this is the trial of the secret realm..." She steadied her mind, looking at Lu Ye: "This is a celestial opportunity. Since you've encountered it, there's no reason to miss it. You should focus on learning and cultivation there for now."

"Yes!" Lu Ye responded.

To be honest, he's not too interested in Artifact Refining, mainly because he's already practicing the Path of Spirit Runes and Array Path. He is well aware that a person's energy is limited, and if he spends too much on external paths, his own cultivation is sure to be affected.

His master had previously taught him the Rune Tattoo Path. He practiced for a period but didn't delve deeply, simply because there wasn't enough energy.

Moreover, in the Nine Provinces, whatever one needs can be bought from the Heaven's Augury treasure vault or custom-made by someone, no need to master it yourself.

A gourmet isn't necessarily a chef; the same principle applies.

Plus, he has the Hall of Battle Merits. The good items there are countless and can be exchanged with enough battle merit.

But if this is the secret realm's trial, it can't be ignored.

"Senior, what's with the cultivation of Sect Master Khong Khong?" Ying Wuji asked boldly.

The scene where Khong Khong sliced Nian Yuexian with a single Sword Qi earlier had frightened him.

"His cultivation..." Nian Yuexian looked contemplative, "is much higher than mine."

"Above Divine Sea; could there really be a path beyond?" Ying Wuji became excited, prompting Lu Ye to glance askance at him, not knowing what a True Lake Realm would be getting excited about.

Nian Yuexian said gently, "This is precisely the quest across generations of Divine Sea Realm in the Nine Provinces..."

Ying Wuji stated, "Generations of Divine Sea Realm in the Nine Provinces have explored to no avail, yet the cultivation of Sect Master Khong Khong is beyond Divine Sea; doesn't this mean he isn't a Nine Provinces cultivator?"

Nian Yuexian looked up at him: "You certainly know a lot!"

Ying Wuji sighed: "The Nine Provinces are full of celestial opportunities, diverse inheritances. Many have speculated throughout history that otherworldly inheritances may have landed in the Nine Provinces for various reasons. Initially, I was skeptical, but after last time's Unparalleled Continent event, disbelief ceased."

The incident on the Unparalleled Continent is no longer a secret. Not to mention that the Cloud River battlefield's realm fusion has been known for a while; currently, many cultivators from the Unparalleled Continent have started walking within the Nine Provinces, some even establishing sects. News travels easily in the Nine Provinces, so it's naturally known to all.

Nian Yuexian has also heard of the Unparalleled Continent affair; thus, hearing Ying Wuji speak of it, she understood the situation.

"Perhaps this opportunity comes from outside the Nine Provinces, or perhaps within it. Don't forget, there are only records of a few thousand years for this era; what the Nine Provinces were like before and whether there were cultivators above Divine Sea, no one knows."

If the Sword Weapon Sect was a sect from several thousand years ago, then this secret realm is the legacy from before this era.

"Senior is right." Ying Wuji accepted the teaching with humility, looking very honest.

"In any case, Khong Khong is not a living person; he is likely a manifestation of Heaven's Augury, or perhaps the lingering intent of a powerful figure. His cultivation realm did indeed exceed mine. Be cautious when you two interact with him."

For the first time, Ying Wuji felt the care from Nian Yuexian. Although he understood it was incidental, he was still very moved and kept nodding: "Don't worry, senior. Brother Lu is best at getting along with others, surely he won't offend Sect Master Khong Khong. I, Ying Wuji, will also follow his lead."

Lu Ye couldn't be bothered with him and just looked at Nian Yuexian: "Master, what about you?"

"Me?" Nian Yuexian was startled for a moment, then looked down at the two-foot cutlass in her hand: "I'll take this time to refine the sword, you don't need to worry."

Lu Ye nodded, then turned to Ying Wuji and instructed: "Go chop some wood."

Ying Wuji was puzzled: "For what?"

"We don't know how long we'll be staying here. There's only one grass shed; we cannot dine and sleep in the open air."

"Makes sense." Ying Wuji nodded, "Why don't we go together?"

Lu Ye's gaze turned sharp.

Ying Wuji called out to Nian Yuexian: "Master, you see, he's always bullying people!"

Nian Yuexian smiled, having never seen two opposing camp members getting along like this, and said, "You go alone, I have some words to exchange with Lu Ye."

"Understood!" Ying Wuji obediently complied.

After Ying Wuji left, Lu Ye spoke: "Master wants me to explore the mysteries beyond the Divine Sea?"

Nian Yuexian slowly shook her head: "This secret realm is meant for the inheritance of the Sword Weapon Sect, not for cultivation. So even if you explore, you might not discover any results, and could say something wrong instead. What I want to tell you is that this secret realm isn't as peaceful as it appears."

"What do you mean, master?"

"From the current situation, the Willow Catkins isn't a fortune, but a bait." Nian Yuexian raised the cutlass in her hand and began speaking, "Using the allure of the Willow Catkins to stir greed in people, drawing them into this legacy secret realm, passing tests to get the inheritance of the Sword Weapon Sect — this is a common tactic of many lands of legacy. It's just that I was blinded by greed momentarily and didn't see through it. But if it truly is so, hasn't anyone else entered here in ages? The place is indeed hidden well, but if I can find it, so can others. So before us, it's very likely someone has been here, but where are they?"

Lu Ye was slightly disturbed.

"Of course, I'm not saying that Khong Khong is a bad person, but the fact that this legacy secret realm has lasted until now means nobody has passed the test so far. Even if someone entered before, they died here." Nian Yuexian stared at Lu Ye, her expression serious, "This is the peril of a legacy secret realm; once entered, either gain the inheritance and leave safely, or be trapped forever!"

Lu Ye listened quietly, nodding with understanding: "You're saying it's difficult to obtain the inheritance and pass Khong Khong's test here!"

"Either way, be mentally prepared!"

Lu Ye nodded slightly, but soon thought of something: "Master, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"If Willow Catkins is truly bait to lure people into this legacy secret realm, then it shouldn't be so perilous. You relied on your great strength to pass that passage and obtain the Willow Catkins; others might not have your capacity. Perhaps they were slain in the passage before even getting near the Willow Catkins, which doesn't align with the original intent of luring people in."

If they intended to draw people in, it should have been easier.

In fact, Nian Yuexian would have obtained the Willow Catkins and been drawn into this secret realm the first time she came here.

"Perhaps you are right!" Nian Yuexian did not deny Lu Ye's assessment, her eyes deep, looking towards the direction of the grass shed: "But what if Khong Khong, to some extent, can sense the situation outside and even control the restrictions outside?"

Lu Ye became alert.

If true, that explanation makes sense.

Nian Yuexian hadn't succeeded before because Khong Khong deemed her unfit to carry the inheritance of the Sword Weapon Sect, continuously obstructing her. But this time, she brought Lu Ye and Ying Wuji, giving Khong Khong hope, thus sparing her.

However, since Nian Yuexian has had previous experiences here, the tests cannot be too easy, else it would arouse her suspicion.

Forcing her to exert all effort to finally pass the passage and obtain the Willow Catkins is the best outcome.

If this is the case, Khong Khong indeed has spent much effort.

"Anyway, passing the test here won't be simple, so be cautious."

"I'll try my best," Lu Ye nodded.

If I can't make it, there's still Ying Wuji. If he can't either, then we'll have to find another way to leave this secret realm.

But that's a matter for later.

Moments later, Ying Wuji returned, and together with Lu Ye, they began constructing three wooden huts at the entrance of the valley, meant to be the current residence for the three of them.

The three huts were spaced several meters apart, with Lu Ye in the center, Ying Wuji on the left, and Nian Yuexian on the right, facilitating mutual care.

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