Chapter 66: Three Trials, Four Questions

Chapter 66: Chapter 66: Three Trials, Four Questions

Yang Tianrui was naive, after all. Li Ye easily coaxed the information out of him.

The Cyan Sun Sect was indeed a major sect, but not a top-tier one. Above it were the Upper Three Sects—the Dao Sect, the Sword Sect, and the Buddhist Sect. They were the true titans of the cultivation world, holding dominion over it all.

The counterparts to the Upper Three Sects were the Demon Sect, the Ghost Sect, and the Demon Realm, collectively known as the Three Evil Sects.

From time immemorial, the righteous and evil paths had been locked in a struggle for cultivation resources. By now, the conflict had grown so intense they were like fire and water.

The Cyan Sun Sect and the four other sects that had jointly established the trading market formed a self-sufficient alliance. They were united in offense and defense, watching each other’s backs. This way, when the evil sects attacked, they wouldn’t be left to fight alone and face annihilation.

The Upper Three Sects were too far away to help with immediate problems. When a war between the righteous and evil paths broke out, sects couldn’t just wait for rescue; most had to rely on their own strength to survive...

The Cyan Sun Sect had five lineages, each occupying one of five peaks.

They were the Main Peak, Cyan Yang Peak, followed by Changding Peak, Evergreen Peak, Changbai Peak, and Changle Peak.

Yang Tianrui’s lineage hailed from Changding Peak. Changding Peak specialized in the Alchemy Dao and was responsible for the entire sect’s supply of Elixir Pills. Of the five peaks, they were the last to ever worry about a shortage of Spirit Stones...

...

Just as Yang Tianrui was speaking of Changding Peak,

his senior brother returned, bringing their master with him.

His master, Xu Jingxing, was a middle-aged man who wore a grim expression upon his arrival.

He clearly didn’t believe someone could actually travel here from another world. Of course, no sane person would believe such a bizarre story.

And so, Li Ye was subjected to another round of questioning. He even recited the *Mental Tranquility Spell* and the *Five Elements Mutual Production Technique* in their entirety.

Xu Jingxing was even more cautious than the senior brother. After listening to the *Mental Tranquility Spell*, he asked for details about the Chu Country and personally inspected the flow of Li Ye’s Inner Strength.

After a moment, he frowned.

"Master, how is it?" Shen Weifeng asked.

"It seems to be real," Xu Jingxing said. "The *Five Elements Mutual Production Technique* only goes up to Foundation Establishment; it’s an ordinary cultivation technique. But the *Mental Tranquility Spell* has some miraculous properties. Cultivating this spell has a remarkable effect against cultivation deviation. As far as I know, no sect possesses a similar spell."

"Master, is he really from another world?" Shen Weifeng asked excitedly.

"This matter is of great importance and requires careful verification." Xu Jingxing hesitated for a moment, glanced at Li Ye, and said, "Let’s go. Back to the Sect."

...

「Back on Cyan Yang Mountain.」

Xu Jingxing took Li Ye directly to the Main Peak.

A short while later,

the five Peak Masters gathered on the Main Peak.

Everything on Li Ye’s person was confiscated and laid out before the Peak Masters, including his watch.

’When you’re living under someone else’s roof, you have to lower your head. There was nothing to be done about it.’

However,

the watch was bound to Li Ye through the Demon Suppression Tower. Others couldn’t use it even if they had it, so he wasn’t worried about losing it.

Another round of questioning commenced.

This time, the five Peak Masters took turns speaking, their questions even more detailed.

Fortunately, everything Li Ye said was from his own personal experience.

In his previous world, the Demon Qi had granted him a photographic memory.

He had not only memorized secret manuals but also many classic literary works.

’He was a pragmatic person, a believer in the saying that one can never have too many skills. It was never a mistake to learn more; you never knew when it might come in handy.’

Thus, the details of his story held up perfectly under scrutiny.

...

After the interrogation, Li Ye was sent to a side hall to rest.

The Peak Masters activated the main hall’s soundproofing array and began their discussion inside.

"Sect Leader, it’s very likely true," said Yu Lanxin, the Peak Master of Evergreen Peak. "A person might be able to fabricate a story, but it’s impossible to invent so many poems and literary works. In my youth, when I traveled down the mountain, I greatly admired scholars and poets, and I have never heard of any of those poems in this world."

"The cultivation techniques are self-consistent and don’t seem fabricated either," said Wen Lei, the Peak Master of Changbai Peak. "However, we can still send someone down the mountain to investigate techniques like the *Dragon Emperor Spell*."

"If he were really a spy from the Demon Sect, he wouldn’t have made such a grand entrance, nor used such an unbelievable method," said Lu Qingling of Changle Peak. "A photographic memory is already an extraordinary gift, and what’s more, he brought a cultivation technique like the *Mental Tranquility Spell*. I think he’s telling the truth..."

"Senior Brother, this boy’s innate talent is excellent, his vitality is vigorous, and his Inner Strength has liquefied. A small amount of his Inner Strength has been converted into Spiritual Qi via the *Five Elements Mutual Generation Spell*," said Xu Jingxing. "This is consistent with the experience he described. If he were truly sent by the Demon Sect, it would be quite a waste of such talent."

"With his innate talent, if he had started cultivating from a young age, he would likely have already reached Core Formation and Nascent Soul by now. He wouldn’t have instead mastered such profound Inner Strength while only being at the entry-level of cultivation. If I had such a disciple, I would absolutely never send him out as a spy..."

"I also believe he’s telling the truth," said Sect Leader Meng Mingzhe. "If he were really a Demon Sect spy, there would be no need to go through so much trouble to plant him in the Cyan Sun Sect. Sending him to one of the Upper Three Sects would be far more useful."

"Senior Brother, does this mean there really is another world?" Wen Lei asked excitedly. "A great calamity ten thousand years ago caused many legacies to be lost and severed the Path of Ascension. Is it possible that the world Li Hao comes from is related to the legendary Immortal Realm?"

"It doesn’t seem like the Immortal Realm. It’s more like a world that suffered a calamity, just like ours. However, the path of cultivation in their world was severed even more completely. I suspect even Spiritual Qi vanished, which led to Martial Artists running rampant, unable to cultivate even if they obtained a cultivation method," said Sect Leader Meng Mingzhe. "Regardless, the existence of other worlds beyond our own is a good thing. Perhaps we can discover the Path of Ascension through him..."

"Unfortunately, he can’t explain the structure of the Teleportation Array," Wen Lei said with regret. "An array that could send him to our world must be incredibly powerful. If we could obtain the diagram for it and travel between worlds, the Cyan Sun Sect could use it to leap into the ranks of the Upper Three Sects."

"Senior Brother Wen, since you know such an array exists in the world, you can just research it yourself," Yu Lanxin said with a smile. "Perhaps one day, you’ll figure it out."

"Senior Brother, now that we’ve more or less confirmed his identity, how should we arrange for him?" Xu Jingxing asked.

"Let’s keep him here for now and observe him for a while longer," Meng Mingzhe said. "Junior brothers and sisters, his identity is special. Do not let any news of him leak out. Otherwise, the Cyan Sun Sect could face annihilation."

"Senior Brother, I will instruct my disciples," Xu Jingxing said.

"Senior Brother, Li Hao’s innate talent is excellent, and his primary focus is the Martial Dao. Why not place him under my tutelage and let me guide him personally?" Yu Lanxin asked.

"Junior Sister Yu, it’s better to have him join my peak. Liu and the others already know of Li Hao’s origins. Under my guidance, Liu might be able to glean more useful information from him," Xu Jingxing said with a smile. "If he were under you, a leak of his identity would be inconvenient."

"Senior Brother, you’re clearly just coveting his aptitude! Changding Peak cultivates the Alchemy Dao. He’s a Martial Cultivator. Aren’t you afraid of holding him back?" Yu Lanxin said, displeased.

"Junior Sister, we had the same master. Although I cultivate the Alchemy Dao, I also know what you know," Xu Jingxing said. "With my abilities, teaching an Entry-Level Disciple is still no problem."

"Senior Brother, having him join my Changbai Peak would also work. He crossed over from another world; perhaps I can figure out the Teleportation Array from him..." Wen Lei said.

"Senior Brother Wen, if we’re going by that logic, my Changle Peak could teach him too..."

"AHEM." The Sect Leader’s cough interrupted everyone. "What is there to fight about? His identity isn’t even fully confirmed yet. For now, place him on Changding Peak to cultivate for a while. Once we are certain there are no problems with him, we will make further arrangements."

...

Xu Jingxing and the others were discussing these matters behind Li Ye’s back.

But the Demon Qi was too miraculous. Even through the walls of the great hall, their conversation reached Li Ye’s ears with perfect clarity.

This allowed him to learn of the Cyan Sun Sect’s plans for him, and he couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Of course, he also learned more secret information.

’The Path of Ascension and many legacies were severed ten thousand years ago? It seems the cultivation techniques of this world aren’t that advanced after all!’