Chapter 320 251: Secret Land, Part 2

'The path is so complex and dangerous. A single mistake could be life-threatening. The Cyan Dragon Sect doesn't have many members... could it be because the disciples who couldn't remember the way all drowned?'

A strange thought flashed through Zhao Xuanqi's mind.

"Given the situation, the Cyan Dragon Sect Secret Land must be inside the mountain or underground, right?"

Zhao Xuanqi spoke, his voice traveling through the water. The turbulent current made it sound somewhat distorted.

"Yeah, you guessed righ—"

GLUG GLUG!!

Zhu Yuanfei had subconsciously opened his mouth to reply, and in that instant, the undercurrent rushed in. He choked on a mouthful of water and almost lost his breath before he realized what was happening.

'This is an underwater current! How are you able to talk?!'

Zhu Yuanfei looked toward Zhao Xuanqi, an expression on his face like he'd just seen a ghost.

Zhao Xuanqi's muscles rippled as he circulated energy through his Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Acupoints. The Force and control in every part of his body were so strong that the turbulent undercurrent was repelled upon contact with his skin. This created a vacuum of about an inch around his body, allowing him to speak for a moment.

Like a dragon entering a river or sea, parting the waters as it went.

At that moment, Wang Sea, who had been focused on leading the way, also noticed Zhao Xuanqi's unusual feat, and a look of amazement appeared in his eyes.

'Even I couldn't do that. Even if I used vibrations to project my voice like ventriloquism, it wouldn't travel far. His Physical Ability is so powerful, and his Martial Dao realm is so profound, that I'm nowhere near his level. Even if I used my Cyan Dragon Dharma Aspect, I couldn't break through his control over his own body.'

He nodded in answer to Zhao Xuanqi's question, then refocused on leading the way.

After about a Quarter Hour of swimming through the undercurrent, Wang Sea suddenly led them upward. The group entered a passageway where Zhao Xuanqi could clearly sense the marks of artificial carving.

After ascending for about ten meters, mural carvings began to appear in the passageway. The murals were severely corroded by the water and covered in moss and aquatic plants, but they could still vaguely make out the images of some Exotic Beasts.

After ascending another ten meters, a glimmer of light appeared from the water's surface above.

SPLASH!!

The three of them broke the surface completely. With a light Force Release, they leaped onto the bank.

The surroundings were rather dim. Zhao Xuanqi glanced around and found they were in a small grotto. Sharp stalactites hung from the ceiling, and some of the surrounding ores emitted a faint glow.

On one side of the grotto was a dark, deep tunnel leading to an unknown destination.

"We've arrived. This is the Cyan Dragon Sect Secret Land. It's located inside the mountain and can only be reached through the underground undercurrent. This undercurrent is very special; depending on which pool you enter from, as well as the time and direction, the speed and flow of the current will be different. Only the direct-lineage disciples of the Cyan Dragon Sect know the method of calculation. That's why for thousands of years, no one has been able to enter or leave this place without a member of the Cyan Dragon Sect to guide them."

"In fact, this place was originally discovered by chance by the Holy Beast Divine General. Later, during a great calamity for the Human Race, this place served as a refuge for some of our people."

"There's one more thing. According to the ancient records, the Holy Beast Divine General achieved enlightenment right here in this place."

Wang Sea explained to Zhao Xuanqi.

'The Holy Beast Divine General achieved enlightenment here? Ascended to the realm of a Divine General?'

The look of interest in Zhao Xuanqi's eyes intensified. The Cyan Dragon Sect held even more secrets than he had imagined.

"Let's go. This isn't the real Secret Land yet."

Wang Sea said, walking toward the tunnel in the grotto.

The tunnel was winding and very dark, but as they walked forward, it gradually grew brighter.

It was a pale yellow light, similar to sunlight, but slightly deeper in color.

As they stepped out of the tunnel, a wondrous world unfolded before Zhao Xuanqi's eyes.

Before him lay a vast expanse of grasslands and forests, with streams flowing through them. All kinds of Rare Beasts roamed about, radiating a vibrant Vitality. It was a veritable paradise, completely isolated from the outside world.

Zhao Xuanqi then surveyed his surroundings and discovered they were in a massive, naturally formed cavern more than ten kilometers in diameter. The ceiling was covered with a pale-red, crystalline substance. Each crystal emitted a faint light, and together they created a considerable brightness.

Furthermore, Zhao Xuanqi could feel a natural heat and magnetic field emanating from the crystals, which seemed to mimic the effects of sunlight to some extent.

And among these crystals were nine brilliant light sources, releasing intense light and heat like massive searchlights. They looked just like nine small, suspended suns.

"This is..."

Zhao Xuanqi narrowed his eyes. From within those nine light sources, he thought he could sense... a "living" presence?

"On the cavern ceiling, there is a type of rare, naturally occurring crystal we've named 'Sun Stone'," Wang Sea explained. "Its origin is unknown. As for those nine small suns, they were placed there later by the Holy Beast Divine General using a special method. They are the organs of an Exotic Beast."

"What kind of Exotic Beast?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked. Thousands of years had passed since the time of the Holy Beast Divine General. How could the organs of an Exotic Beast still retain a "living" characteristic?

"Legend has it that in Ancient Times, a giant tree grew in the eastern Divine Land. It was called the Fusang Wood. Living on this tree were its companion beasts: ten Three-legged Crows. Their power defied the natural order of heaven and earth. Wherever they went, the land was scorched red, and they ruled as tyrants, feeding on humans."

"Later, the Holy Beast Divine General chopped down the Fusang Wood and killed nine of the Three-legged Crows in succession. Only the last one remained, which fled across the East Sea and never returned to the Divine Land. Its whereabouts are unknown."

"What hang above us are the remaining organs of those nine Three-legged Crows. The Holy Beast Divine General used a special technique to sustain them with the Power of Heaven and Earth, turning them into the 'suns' of the Secret Land."

"Just partial organs, and they can survive for so long?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"Ancient Exotic Beasts were all long-lived species. Their lifespans could exceed a thousand years, and the top-tier among them have no records of ever dying from natural causes. The Three-legged Crows were such a species. Their power was comparable to a Divine General's, and their life force was exceptionally vigorous. You could say that even in death, they are not truly gone. However, their reproduction was extremely difficult, so their population was very limited."

Wang Sea said.

"Where exactly did the Exotic Beasts originate? Why were they so miraculous? Are there any records of this in your Cyan Dragon Sect?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked. This was something he had been extremely curious about ever since he was reincarnated into this world, and it was the biggest difference between this life and his previous one.

"We don't know. The Holy Beast Divine General likely knew some clues, but not many records were passed down. That era is too distant. All we know from the ancient texts is that Exotic Beasts once rampaged across the land, treating the Human Race as food. During the most difficult period, the Human Race was nearly driven to extinction. Later, the Holy Beast Divine General rose up, led the Human Race in a counterattack, and the Exotic Beasts were either exterminated or driven away, leaving no trace of them in the Divine Land."

"Based on our deductions, most of the Exotic Beasts from that time fled overseas, primarily to the Western Continent. We speculate that the Secret Medicine used by the Six Great Powers today is likely a technology they developed by obtaining the remains or residual flesh and blood of Exotic Beasts, applying it to the human body, and then refining it over time."

Wang Sea said.

'Secret Medicine technology?'

Zhao Xuanqi looked up at the nine small suns in the sky. It was hard to imagine that they were fashioned from the remains of creatures that died thousands of years ago, yet could still continuously generate energy.

'If Exotic Beasts truly possessed such power, then it's very likely they are the source of the various nations' Secret Medicines.'

'After all, once a Secret Medicine reaches a certain level, the abilities it grants are virtually indistinguishable from the Divine Transformation abilities of an Exotic Beast.'

"I'm very curious as to how these biological remains produce bio-energy. I wonder if it will be possible to observe them up close later?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked.

"Of course. However, ever since these nine 'suns' were put in place, no one from our sect has been able to get near them. After all, in essence, the power within them might touch upon the very nature of a Divine General."

Wang Sea said.

"The nature of a Divine General? Does the Cyan Dragon Sect have records concerning Divine Generals?"

Zhao Xuanqi narrowed his eyes slightly.

"We have some records. There is a saying in the outside world: 'One who conquers the self is Divine; one who conquers others is a General. Only one who can conquer both the self and others can be called a Divine General.'"

"That saying itself isn't wrong, but the world misunderstands it. The 'others' in 'conquering others' is merely a placeholder, referring to everything besides oneself. The true Profound Technique of a Divine General lies in subduing one's own body and mind, and through that, subduing everything else outside the self—including this very heaven and earth."

"'To be Divine is to be enlightened; to consume Qi is to be Undying.'"