Jiangnan Sword Pavilion, atop the Extreme Heaven Cliff.
The clouds at the horizon, the intersecting streaks of light, and even the surging spiritual qi seemed to freeze at this moment. The Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde consequently looked around.
All things and phenomena had turned gray.
Only a single silhouette beside him possessed color, appearing as if the brilliance of all things in heaven and earth had converged upon it, though its specific gender could not be discerned.
"Ancestors..."
The Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde could not help but speak in a low voice. His eyes harbored a fervent eagerness, as if he had returned to that night when he was still in the Foundation Establishment stage, nearly despairing.
It was exactly on that night that he gained the favor of a Dao Lord. In the end, not only did he defy heaven and alter his fate, snatching the rank of Perfected Lord from the hands of that fellow from the Shaman Ghost Dao, but he also became the leader of the Sword Pavilion in one fell swoop, dominating the Immortal Nexus for a thousand years. Without a doubt, that was the night his destiny changed.
Now, it had come again.
Although this "Sword Lord Ancestor" did not look quite the same as the one he saw back then, the majesty displayed was scarcely different. Who else could it be but the Ancestor?
'I knew the Ancestor would not abandon me!'
'I still have a chance.'
The Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde felt his heart lift. He did not suspect the "Ancestor" identity of the figure before him in the slightest—or rather, he was unwilling to think in that direction.
Especially at this time.
His limit was approaching. Although his consciousness would no longer sink into oblivion, once he died, there would ultimately be variables upon his return, and he would be unable to immediately reclaim his exalted status.
At this moment, he was like a drowning man, desperate to grasp a life-saving straw.
Therefore, the person before him could only be the "Ancestor."
And must be the "Ancestor"!
With this thought, the Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde could not help but say in a low voice: "Ancestor, I have followed orders and brought this person here. I wonder about the matter of extending my lifespan..."
"Hmm?"
Before the words had finished falling, the silhouette that had gathered the brilliance of heaven and earth turned around. The Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde instantly felt a piercing pain in his eyes, like staring directly into the rising sun.
"Are you teaching me how to do things?"
"This disciple would not dare!"
The Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde immediately lowered his eyelids, not daring to say another word. The silhouette could not be bothered to offer perfunctory remarks, its gaze falling straight upon the Great Perfected One Subduing-Spirit.
Normally, given his personality, it would be impossible for him to converse with a low-grade talent like the Perfected Lord Chengtian Zhengde—someone who could neither go to the False History nor attain the rank of Dao Lord. However, just recently, the voice that echoed in the ears of all those who had cultivated a Primordial Spirit had given rise to unspeakable thoughts within him.
The eighth secret realm, the legacy of Deity Transformation.
If he had the hope of entering it a step ahead of the others, perhaps he could overtake them on a curve and surpass those Dao Lords atop the [Paramita] in one fell swoop?
Regardless, it wouldn't hurt to try.
Besides, he truly had clues.
Born from the collision of the thoughts of the World Honored One and Du Xuan, he naturally inherited part of their knowledge. Among that knowledge was intelligence related to the [Gatekeepers].
With this thought, he reached out and directly plucked Long Tu from Great Perfected One Subduing-Spirit's sea of consciousness.
"Urgh! Who goes there?"
In an instant, Long Tu—who had still been conversing with Great Perfected One Subduing-Spirit—experienced a drastic change in expression. His already weak remnant consciousness nearly shattered directly as a result.
However, after seeing the brilliance lingering around the person before him, he quickly regained his composure. He decisively lowered his head and respectfully greeted:
"This junior Long Tu pays respects to the Dao Lord."
"Dispense with the formalities."
Hearing this, Xiu Zhen smiled slightly: "Fellow Daoist hails from the Gatekeeper lineage and possesses extraordinary experience. I have a question this time and hope Fellow Daoist can enlighten me."
"Please speak, Dao Lord," Long Tu hurriedly lowered his head.
Xiu Zhen didn't drag things out and said straightforwardly: "The [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness] consists of a total of seven trials. However, above the seven trials lies the eighth secret realm. Does Fellow Daoist know of this?"
BOOM!
Xiu Zhen's voice was like the strike of a great bell, crashing thunderously into the depths of Long Tu's heart. His thoughts, which had been forcing themselves to remain calm, instantly fell into utter chaos.
'He knows? How could he know!'
'Exactly who is this Dao Lord?'
For a moment, infinite speculations surfaced in Long Tu's heart, yet he was powerless to do anything. He only felt his own silhouette growing smaller and smaller, as if falling into a brand-new heaven and earth.
Xiu Zhen's silhouette disappeared. The Immortal Nexus? Jiangnan? Extreme Heaven Cliff? All vanished without a trace. All he could see was a stretch of golden brilliance, and a sun and moon hanging high above, alternating between light and dark like opening and closing eyes. The chilling gaze felt like a sharp blade intending to cleave his soul.
"It seems Fellow Daoist knows."
Xiu Zhen felt a surge of joyful surprise. Of the Gatekeeper lineage from back then, only the Star Palace had any remnants left. He had already visited it long ago but hadn't found any important intelligence.
After searching for a long time, he only found that there was still one surviving Gatekeeper in the Immortal Nexus.
He originally thought it would be another futile effort.
He hadn't expected to actually uncover a little something!
Thinking of this, Xiu Zhen also felt somewhat emotional: 'Indeed, no matter what you do, you still have to rely on the people of the Immortal Nexus. Most of those outside the Immortal Nexus are useless.'
In the next second, Xiu Zhen continued speaking:
"Speak."
As the Primordial Spirit operated, there was no need to deliberately apply pressure. A mere shift in thought caused tremendous oppression upon Long Tu, making it almost impossible to conceal the secrets in his heart.
"The eighth secret realm... this junior is actually unclear on the details. Only in the past, when acting as an attendant boy, did I accidentally overhear a conversation between my Master and the Gatekeeper, thereby learning of its existence. Back then, the Gatekeeper once instructed that if a cataclysmic change were to occur, one might be able to hide within the eighth secret realm..."
Long Tu's voice was intermittent.
Xiu Zhen's eyes, however, lit up brilliantly as he rapidly searched his memories: 'The Gatekeeper... is it that one from back then? He is the one who founded the Gatekeeper lineage.'
This person was extremely mysterious.
Because in the Ancient Era, he was the only cultivator who had never attended Sisui's lectures, always clinging to that little acre of land known as the [Heavenly Being's Remnant Consciousness].
His cultivation was high, yet not high—a Heaven-Treading Great Perfected Lord.
It was low, yet not low—he was not even a Dao Lord and had not refined a Primordial Spirit. Therefore, back then, when the World Honored One stomped his foot down, he died very naturally.
But looking at it now—
"Could there have been a hidden truth back then? The Gatekeeper didn't die?"
Dao Lord Xiu Zhen could not help but mutter to himself in a low voice.
Seeing this, Lu Yang also nodded: "It seems there is indeed a hidden truth."
"Indeed... Hmm!?"
BOOM!
In an instant, the brilliance of the Primordial Spirit dissipated. The unfathomable Dao Lord aura in Long Tu's eyes was pierced through with a single poke. He only saw Xiu Zhen's silhouette rapidly retreating into the distance.
On the other side, the black-robed youth who had suddenly appeared merely waved his hand:
"Is it not a joy to have friends coming from afar?"
"Fellow Daoist, please stay!"
As the words fell, Xiu Zhen—who had already retreated thousands of miles and practically vanished without a trace—reappeared on the Extreme Heaven Cliff, his aura suddenly stagnating.
How could this be!
He dared to move freely in the current world because he had confidence. Dao Lords were located in the [Paramita], and their interference with the current world was ultimately limited; they could not fully grasp it.
Furthermore, he possessed a Primordial Spirit. Under deliberate concealment of the heavenly secrets, it was nearly impossible to discover him. Were it not so, he wouldn't have been able to stay hidden for so many years.
Yet he was exposed.
It made no sense!
Unless this person not only knew his aura like the back of his hand but was also proficient in karma, and was deliberately calculating—only then would there be a hope of knowing his whereabouts.
But how could that be possible?
(End of Chapter)