Chapter 710 - 283: Void (Part 2)

Her jet-black hair cascaded like a waterfall, held loosely in place by a single wooden hairpin.

It was the same mysterious woman he had met on two previous occasions: once on Ten Thousand Laws Peak, and again during his cultivation in the Grotto Heaven.

The woman lightly tapped a jade-like finger. The surging God-Eroding Nether Fire ahead seemed to hit an invisible wall, instantly freezing in place. Then, like a gentle stream, it parted around her and Chen Qing, flowing to either side before finally dissipating into the Grotto Heaven’s dense Primordial Qi.

The crisis was averted, but an even greater storm was brewing in Chen Qing’s heart.

He stared intently and saw that the woman was exceptionally beautiful. She appeared to be around his age, but the casual ease with which she had just neutralized the God-Eroding Nether Fire was clearly a display of precise control only achievable by someone in the True Essence Realm!

He had heard of, or at least seen portraits of, most of the True Essence Realm experts within the Sect, especially the young and beautiful ones. Yet, the person before him was a complete stranger.

’Who in the world is she?’ Chen Qing was filled with questions.

The woman slowly turned her head, her eyes landing on Chen Qing with a hint of confusion.

She spoke in a soft, pleasant voice, "This God-Eroding Nether Fire is naturally generated by the Grotto Heaven Core. It’s used to temper the Sea of Will and Divine Sense of True Essence Realm Cultivators. An ordinary Astral Force disciple wouldn’t trigger such a large-scale, direct attack even if they got close... Why would it suddenly rush you?"

Logically, the fire shouldn’t have so violently attacked someone who hadn’t even stepped into the True Essence Realm.

"I don’t know either."

Chen Qing shook his head, a look of confusion on his face. "I was just cultivating here. I didn’t actively approach the core region. The fire just suddenly surged out of Red Nightmare Mountain and came straight for me."

He vaguely sensed it had something to do with the purple light in his mind, but of course, he wouldn’t mention that now.

Hearing this, the woman’s delicate, willow-like brows furrowed slightly. She pondered for a moment, her gaze sweeping over Chen Qing once more as if trying to discern something from him.

Finally, she said gently, "Perhaps your cultivation technique is special, or you’re carrying some unusual item that agitated the fire. In any case, this place is now somewhat dangerous for you. When you cultivate in the future, remember to stay farther away from the core region to avoid getting hurt again."

"Thank you... Senior, for saving me."

Chen Qing cupped his fist in a solemn gesture of thanks.

Her power was greater than his, so addressing her as ’Senior’ was certainly not a mistake.

"I am Chen Qing. May I ask who Senior is...?"

Hearing Chen Qing introduce himself, the woman smiled gently, like a spring breeze. "I don’t deserve to be called ’Senior.’ My name is Xu Min."

Xu Min!?

He had never heard of anyone by that name among the younger generation.

’Could she be... one of the Sect’s old monsters who’s skilled at preserving their youth?’

True Essence Realm Cultivators had long lifespans; maintaining a youthful appearance was not difficult for them.

It was just that he was familiar with Elder Xiang and the others, but this "Xu Min" was someone he had never heard of.

"Alright, you shouldn’t linger here. You should regulate your breathing and leave as soon as possible. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll be taking my leave now."

Xu Min seemed unwilling to talk further. She gave Chen Qing a slight nod, and then her figure vanished on the spot like a wisp of smoke.

Chen Qing stared in the direction she had disappeared, his mind filled with a thicket of doubts.

This Xu Min arrived suddenly and vanished like a ghost. Her power was unfathomable and her identity was a mystery. Who in the world was she?

He shook his head, temporarily suppressing the urge to investigate. The most pressing matter was to check his own condition.

He immediately sat down cross-legged and sent his consciousness into his mind.

This discovery made his heart pound violently!

On the simple, ancient-looking panel, a new line of text had appeared at some unknown time.

[Taixu Scripture (Part 1) Not Yet Learned (0/1000)]

The Taixu Scripture!

Chen Qing’s breathing suddenly quickened, and it felt as if a clap of thunder had exploded in his mind!

He clearly remembered his master, Luo Zhixian, telling him that the foundational legacy of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect’s Founding Ancestor—the very thing he had relied on to dominate the world—was a Supreme Technique called the "Taixu Scripture"!

It was said that this technique was infinitely profound, a top-tier cultivation technique capable of refining one’s True Essence up to thirteen times. It was the Sect’s true, ultimate secret, and it had been lost for many years!

’Could it be that the faint, illusory figure that appeared on the mountain peak, the golden light it sent into my mind with a wave of its hand, was the inheritance of the "Taixu Scripture"?’

’That illusory figure... Could it be a manifestation of the brand left behind by the Sect Founding Ancestor?’

This sudden, heaven-sent opportunity made Chen Qing’s Heart and Spirit surge with excitement.

He forcefully suppressed the wild joy and turmoil in his heart, knowing that this matter was of grave importance and could not be revealed in the slightest.

Chen Qing quickly calmed down and began to ponder.

The panel displayed it very clearly: the Taixu Scripture had two volumes, an upper and a lower. He seemed to have only obtained the upper volume. ’There’s a lower volume too?’

Chen Qing’s gaze involuntarily shifted toward the core region.

’Could the lower volume be in there?’

He wondered to himself.

The terror of the God-Eroding Nether Fire was still fresh in his mind.

The core region was bound to be even more dangerous. He feared that only mid-to-late stage True Essence Realm experts, or perhaps even Grandmaster Level masters, were qualified to explore its depths.

With his current Late-stage Astral Force cultivation, rashly searching for the lower volume would be no different from an egg smashing against a rock—courting death.

’Don’t bite off more than you can chew. The upper volume is already a massive stroke of fortune, more than enough for me to benefit from endlessly.’

Chen Qing suppressed the ripple of greed in his heart.

The priority now was to digest the gains from this session of cultivation in the Grotto Heaven.

Having thought this through, he no longer hesitated. He buried the matter of the "Taixu Scripture" deep in his heart, classifying it as a top secret.

After confirming that he was unharmed, Chen Qing did not linger and promptly rose to leave the Grotto Heaven.

At the entrance, Elder Xiang was still waiting with a smile. Seeing Chen Qing emerge, he asked casually, "How was your cultivation? Your aura seems a little unsteady."