Chapter 307 - 306: The Ancient Dongtian and the Secret of the Sacred Grounds (4)

"Master Ku Ming," Lin Yuan asked, "have you ever heard of a Dongtian Realm?"

The monk suddenly stopped walking.

Bai Qingyue also turned toward Lin Yuan.

For several breaths, Ku Ming simply stared at him.

Then his expression became unusually solemn.

"Why do you ask that question?"

Lin Yuan smiled faintly.

"I have a suspicion, but I would rather hear what you know before drawing a conclusion."

Ku Ming studied him for a moment before looking toward the distant mountains.

"A Dongtian Realm is not an ordinary secret realm. A secret realm may simply be a region of space isolated through a formation or concealed within a spatial fold. It can contain mountains, rivers, spiritual veins, and even small ecosystems, but its existence still depends heavily on the structure that separates it from the outside world."

He raised one hand and drew a small circle in the air.

"An ordinary secret realm is like a room built within a larger house. Its walls separate it from the outside, but the room itself does not necessarily possess an independent foundation."

His finger moved, and a second circle appeared inside the first.

"A Dongtian Realm is different. At a certain level, it possesses the characteristics of a world in its own right. Its spatial structure can support an internal environment, its laws can sustain the things within it, and its circulation of spiritual energy does not necessarily depend on the continuous supply of energy from the outside world."

Ku Ming lowered his hand.

"Of course, not every Dongtian is equally complete. Some are little more than spaces refined by powerful cultivators. Others are ancient worlds that have undergone countless years of transformation. The most extraordinary ones can preserve their own temporal laws, support entire civilizations, and maintain environments that differ considerably from the outside world."

Bai Qingyue’s eyes widened slightly.

"Then, according to what you are saying, the Sacred Grounds could be a Dongtian Realm?"

"I am saying that such a possibility cannot be dismissed."

Ku Ming’s voice became heavier.

"The ancient records of the Nine Provinces contain references to realms that were separated from the outside world during the ancient era. Some were created by supreme cultivators, while others were originally independent worlds that were gradually transformed through the efforts of ancient civilizations."

He paused.

"However, the records are incomplete. Many of those realms disappeared during the ancient calamity with the demon realm, while others became inaccessible. The Sacred Grounds possess several characteristics that resemble the descriptions of those ancient Dongtian Realms, but resemblance alone is not proof."

Lin Yuan nodded slowly.

He appreciated the monk’s caution.

Nevertheless, the more he examined the environment, the more convinced he became that the possibility deserved serious consideration.

An ordinary secret realm could preserve spiritual resources and ancient inheritances.

But the Sacred Grounds did not merely preserve treasures.

They preserved an entire environment.

The temporal laws were different. The spiritual Qi circulated in a manner that suggested an internal system. The pressure exerted by the ancient laws remained consistent across vast distances, and even the movement of energy appeared to follow a structure that extended beyond individual mountains or valleys.

If the Sacred Grounds were indeed a Dongtian Realm, then all these phenomena could be explained through a single underlying principle.

Lin Yuan looked toward the path ahead.

"Let us continue."

Ku Ming nodded, and the three resumed their journey.

As they climbed the narrow path between the mountains, the pressure gradually increased. The spiritual Qi became so dense that it was almost tangible, flowing around their bodies like invisible water.

Bai Qingyue’s breathing grew slightly heavier.

Lin Yuan immediately noticed.

He reached out and gently took her hand.

A faint fluctuation passed between them, and the Heaven and Earth Luck surrounding Bai Qingyue responded to his presence. The pressure pressing against her body eased, allowing her to continue without difficulty.

She glanced at him and smiled.

"I’m fine, Yuan."

"I know."

Lin Yuan returned her smile.

"That does not mean I intend to let you endure unnecessary discomfort."

Ku Ming glanced at the two of them before looking away with a small smile.

Their relationship was unusual.

He had seen countless Dao Companions who claimed to share a common path, yet many of them treated cultivation as a competition. They measured their progress against one another and became increasingly distant whenever their cultivation levels diverged.

Lin Yuan and Bai Qingyue were different.

Lin Yuan’s cultivation was far beyond hers, yet he showed no impatience toward her slower progress. On the contrary, he constantly considered how his own advancement could benefit her.

Perhaps that was why their karmic connection had become so profound.

A shared path did not require two people to walk at the same speed.

It required them to continue walking toward the same destination.

After another stretch of climbing, the narrow path opened onto a broad stone platform.

A waterfall descended from the cliff above, its silver waters striking a clear pool before flowing into a winding stream. Ancient trees surrounded the platform, and several smooth stones lay near the edge of the water.

The spiritual Qi was astonishingly dense.

The moment Lin Yuan stepped onto the platform, his Dao Fruit trembled more strongly than before.

Golden-purple lightning flickered across its surface, and the silver patterns of Rain began to flow in a continuous cycle.

He could feel the ancient laws here with remarkable clarity.

Yet, instead of immediately sitting down to cultivate, Lin Yuan walked toward the edge of the platform and looked at the waterfall.

The water descended from above, but the stream flowing away from the pool seemed far too small to account for the amount of water falling from the cliff.

He followed its path with his eyes.

The stream passed between two stones, disappeared beneath a cluster of roots, and emerged several dozen feet away.

Then it flowed toward a narrow crevice in the mountain.

Lin Yuan’s gaze sharpened.

The water did not appear to be accumulating anywhere.

Nor did the stream grow significantly larger as it continued.

It was as though the water were returning somewhere rather than simply flowing downhill.

"Master Ku Ming, where does this stream lead?"

The monk approached the edge of the platform.

"That is one of the peculiarities of this place. I followed it once, but after several miles, it disappeared into a narrow ravine. I attempted to trace its course beyond that point, only to discover that the surrounding spatial fluctuations were unusually unstable."

He shook his head.

"I eventually abandoned the attempt. The stream may connect to an underground river, or it may be part of some ancient formation. I could not determine the answer."

Lin Yuan crouched beside the water, and extended his divine sense toward the stream.