Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 251: Chapter 247: Not of the Human Race, Profound Celestial Ancient Land

In the quiet room, the handmaiden Qiu Yue stood to one side.

”The young miss has been like this for over a month now.”

Her brow was furrowed with an unconcealable worry. Her gaze fell upon a black jade cocoon.

This Black Jade Cocoon was woven from countless black threads. The threads were crystalline and translucent, like jade filaments, making the entire thing resemble a piece of black jade.

Complex and bizarre runes were etched upon its surface, enveloping the entire cocoon and imbuing it with an air of mystery.

When faced with this cocoon, even someone as powerful as Yue Wenfu felt a sense of oppression, as if some terrifying existence was sealed within.

”I had my suspicions long ago. Yue Lianxi’s features don’t resemble yours in the slightest. I guessed back then that she wasn’t your descendant. You won’t deny that, will you?”

Ning Jiang said slowly, his eyes on the Black Jade Cocoon.

Yue Lianxi hadn’t appeared at the recent Qing Province Tournament precisely because she had ended up like this.

As for the Longevity Fruit she had obtained and the promise she made to Jian Xinghe, those matters had long since been abandoned.

After his crushing defeat at the Qing Province Tournament, how could Jian Xinghe possibly be in the mood for romance? Besides, with the name of Meng Daoyi now protecting the Yanyue Sect, Jian Xinghe wouldn’t dare cause trouble.

”Young friend, you are remarkably perceptive.” Yue Wenfu gave a wry smile and spoke the truth. ”You have done the Yanyue Sect a great service. There’s no harm in telling you about this.”

Yue Wenfu trusted Ning Jiang.

He then began to tell the story.

”Lianxi... I found her years ago in the Ancient Forbidden Area...”

According to Yue Wenfu, more than twenty years ago, he went to explore the Ancient Forbidden Area, hoping to try his luck and find some fortuitous opportunity.

There, he found Yue Lianxi.

However, back then, Yue Lianxi was just as she was now: encased within the Black Jade Cocoon. At the time, he had thought he had found some rare, worldly treasure and joyfully brought the Black Jade Cocoon back with him.

To his surprise, a baby girl emerged from the Black Jade Cocoon.

Although Yue Wenfu knew the baby girl’s origins were likely anything but simple, after much deliberation, he couldn’t bring himself to abandon her. He raised her as his own and named her Yue Lianxi.

”The Ancient Forbidden Area... Isn’t that a famous forbidden land in the Six Eastern Provinces?”

The handmaiden Qiu Yue, standing nearby, was also hearing these secrets for the first time. She had never known that the young miss she served had such a mysterious background.

But it was the name ”Ancient Forbidden Area” that truly shocked her.

Even Celestial Martial Realm Kings paled at the mention of that place and dared not venture deep inside.

”Back then, I only explored the outer edges of the Ancient Forbidden Area.”

Yue Wenfu knew what had startled Qiu Yue. With his level of strength, he naturally wouldn’t have dared to venture deep into the forbidden area either. He had found the Black Jade Cocoon by chance in the outer region.

”But as for Lianxi’s current condition, even I don’t know what’s happening.”

Yue Wenfu shook his head. The last time he had seen this Black Jade Cocoon was over twenty years ago.

He only knew that the Black Jade Cocoon was incomparably hard. Back then, thinking it was some kind of treasure, he had struck it with his full power but couldn’t even damage it.

”Young friend, do you have any idea what’s going on?”

Yue Wenfu looked at Ning Jiang and asked subconsciously. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt it was a pointless question. How could someone as young as Ning Jiang possibly know?

However, to his surprise, Ning Jiang replied, ”I do know a little.”

”What? You really know?” Yue Wenfu was stunned. ”Then is Lianxi in any danger in her current state?”

Although he and Yue Lianxi were not related by blood, the affection he’d developed from raising her for over twenty years was real. He had long since come to see her as his own daughter.

”Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. On the contrary, when she emerges, she should give you quite a shock. It’s just that...”

Ning Jiang paused here.

”Just what?” Yue Wenfu pressed anxiously.

”A caterpillar emerges as a butterfly; she will undergo a complete rebirth. When she comes out, will she still be the same person?” Ning Jiang murmured. Not even he had the answer to that question.

Some transformations, like a caterpillar becoming a butterfly or a carp turning into a Golden Dragon, are so immense they defy imagination.

”Since you know what’s happening, young friend, what exactly are Lianxi’s origins?” Yue Wenfu asked, staring at Ning Jiang in astonishment. He could only sense a profound wisdom in Ning Jiang’s eyes, one that seemed to see through everything.

It was as if the person before him wasn’t a young man, but a terrifying old monster.

A person’s expressions and words could be faked, but their eyes could never lie.

For the eyes are the windows to the soul.

He was certain that there was far more to Ning Jiang than met the eye!

”Strictly speaking, she isn’t from the Human Race. But it’s better that you don’t know the details,” Ning Jiang said, not elaborating further.

”Not from the Human Race?” Those five words sent a chill down Yue Wenfu’s spine.

”What’s so strange about that? There are countless races in the Great Thousand Realms. While the Human Race is the most numerous, there are many other powerful races besides. For most people, however, such matters are too remote, so not many are aware of them.”

Ning Jiang said indifferently. The Great Thousand Realms held many secrets, and the stronger one became, the more one would naturally learn.

Although Yue Wenfu was a Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert, in the face of the vast and boundless Great Thousand Realms, he was still just a tiny ant.

Only after a Martial Artist’s strength reached the Celestial Martial Realm would they be qualified to learn of such hidden matters.

”Forget it. As long as Lianxi is alright, that’s all that matters.”

Yue Wenfu didn’t press the issue. Sometimes, knowing too much was not necessarily a good thing.

”Let’s go. She won’t be waking up for at least half a year.” Ning Jiang turned and left.

...

”The Yanyue Sect is full of surprises. First, they gained the banner of Meng Daoyi, and now even Yue Wenfu has recovered from his injuries.”

”It seems the Yanyue Sect’s rise is unstoppable. Thankfully, our Sect didn’t try to kick them while they were down after their decline. Otherwise, we’d be the ones filled with regret right now.”

”I heard several Elders from the Cyan Splendor Sect rushed to the Yanyue Sect overnight to offer their apologies.”

”Heh heh, the Cyan Splendor Sect’s foundation is too shallow, after all. With their only Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm expert dead, more than half their strength collapsed. How could they possibly fight the Yanyue Sect? They’re afraid the Yanyue Sect will settle old scores, so of course they can only go and grovel for forgiveness.”

Eventually, news spread that several Elders of the Cyan Splendor Sect had knelt at the Yanyue Sect’s gates for a full day and night before finally receiving their forgiveness.

「Meanwhile.」

As the seven-day mark slowly approached, the younger generation of experts from all the major sects were busy making their final preparations.

On the night of the sixth day, the Elders of the Yanyue Sect, along with Ning Jiang and Yue Wenfu, gathered to discuss the Secret Realm.

”The Profound Celestial Ancient Land opens tomorrow. We should finish our preparations and finalize the list of people who will enter.”

”According to the rules, the first-place winner of the Qing Province Tournament can bring nine people in, the second-place winner can bring eight, and so on. Since the Ninth Elder took first place, our Sect can send in ten people!”

The Elders were all thrilled at the thought of ten people.

”The last time the Profound Celestial Ancient Land opened, the Yanyue Sect was near the bottom. We only got to send three people in, which was a huge disadvantage.”

The Profound Celestial Ancient Land was an Ancient Secret Realm, an extremely old place.

It was filled with numerous opportunities and Magical Treasures. Those who entered almost always came away with a great harvest. The only catch was that the number of entry slots was limited.

Thus, every single slot became exceedingly precious.

At this thought, they couldn’t help but glance at Ning Jiang. If not for his arrival, the Yanyue Sect wouldn’t have been able to obtain so many slots even in their wildest dreams.

”Tang Lin, Zi Yunfei, and Xiang Yinghao are confirmed. We need to select six more talented individuals.”

Currently, the Yanyue Sect only had Tang Lin and the other two as its first-tier geniuses, which put them at a slight disadvantage compared to the other major sects.

This time, however, they had enough slots to send them in. After these disciples emerged, their strength would be further enhanced, and reaching the first tier would be no problem at all.

Soon, based on the Elders’ recommendations, the six remaining slots were filled.

These six were all individuals of excellent character who were deeply loyal to the Sect.

”Ninth Elder, what do you think of them?”

”It’s fine. I trust your judgment. You don’t need to ask me about such minor details.”

Ning Jiang waved his hand dismissively. ”Just tell me about the Profound Celestial Ancient Land.”

Meng Nanfeng nodded and said, ”The Profound Celestial Ancient Land opens only once every three years. Its location isn’t actually in Qing Province, but in a desert. However, that desert happens to lie on the border between Qing Province and Lei Province, so every time it opens, people from Lei Province also rush over.”

Lei Province, one of the Six Eastern Provinces. But compared to Qing Province, Lei Province was several times stronger, if not more.

Qing Province had always been recognized as the weakest and most unremarkable of the six provinces.

”Don’t people from the other provinces come to this Profound Celestial Ancient Land?” Ning Jiang asked casually.

”Across the entire Six Eastern Provinces, besides the Profound Celestial Ancient Land, there are many other Secret Realms, both large and small. There’s no need for people from the other provinces to come and compete for this one,” Meng Nanfeng explained.

The resources in one Profound Celestial Ancient Land are enough for people from two provinces.

If people from all six provinces came to this one Ancient Land, it would be a case of too many monks and not enough porridge—the resources wouldn’t be enough to go around, making it completely pointless.

”I see.”

Ning Jiang nodded. ’So the Profound Celestial Ancient Land must be a relatively ordinary Secret Realm.’

’It’s nothing like a hundred thousand years ago, when the emergence of a Top Level Secret Realm would draw experts from across the entire Great Thousand Realms. Now *that* was a truly grand spectacle.’

”But there is one thing you must be aware of. Every time the Profound Celestial Ancient Land opens, conflicts break out between people from the two provinces. Deaths and injuries inside are inevitable,” Meng Nanfeng said, his expression grave.

”I know what you mean. Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to look after them,” Ning Jiang nodded.

”Alright, everyone go back and rest for now. We will officially set out for the Profound Celestial Ancient Land tomorrow,” Yue Wenfu decided, bringing the meeting to a close.

The night passed peacefully.

Early the next morning, a team set out from the Yanyue Sect.