Chapter 454 (2)
Lu Qing was momentarily stunned before realizing that the Yin Tian Sect mentioned must be the same sect that had battled against the Li Huo Sect back in the day.
Upon hearing Lu Qing’s question, Han Lingshuang thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"According to the records of my Cold Water Palace, there was no mention of the Yin Tian Sect among the sects that ultimately boarded the Void Breaking Ark and departed."
Yan fell silent upon hearing this.
In truth, the description Han Lingshuang just gave had already led it to suspect as much.
Back then, when the Li Huo Sect and Yin Tian Sect clashed, although the Li Huo Sect was ultimately defeated and annihilated, the Yin Tian Sect had also suffered greatly. Most of their top experts were either killed or injured, and their sect-protecting spiritual artifact was heavily damaged.
Under such circumstances, it was almost impossible for them to survive the final sect war. Their defeat was only natural.
However, even though Yan knew that the Yin Tian Sect had met a similar fate, it found no solace in this fact.
Because Yan understood that the Li Huo Sect and Yin Tian Sect were likely nothing more than pawns in the schemes of those ancient Nascent Soul cultivators operating behind the scenes.
Lu Qing sensed Yan’s silence and roughly understood its feelings.Instead of commenting further, he turned to Han Lingshuang with another question.
"What about the Divine Rune Sect? Did that sect manage to board the Void Breaking Ark?
And what became of the demon race and sea race in the end?"
Han Lingshuang gave Lu Qing a curious look.
She found it peculiar that while the Grandmaster seemed to know little about the ancient era of cultivation, he was unusually familiar with certain sects, being able to name them accurately.
Despite her curiosity, she did not voice it, instead replying after some thought.
"The Divine Rune Sect was definitely on the Void Breaking Ark. Records describe this sect as immensely powerful.
"Although their disciples were far fewer in number compared to other sects, each one was an extraordinary talent, immensely strong.
"It is said that the Divine Rune Sect had two Nascent Soul cultivators in their ranks at the time.
"With such strength, they naturally had the qualifications to board the ark.
"In fact, according to our ancestors' records, the Divine Rune Sect did not even participate in the sect war. They were directly granted the right to board the ark."
"As for the demon and sea races, these two groups were shrouded in mystery.
"There are rumors that, as calamity loomed, the leaders of the demon race, along with many great demons, vanished overnight.
"The sea race, living in the depths of the ocean, was beyond the reach of us human cultivators.
"So no one knows their ultimate fate."
The demon race vanished in the end?
Lu Qing silently noted this information.
His interest in the demon race stemmed from Xiao Li.
According to Yan, Xiao Li's parents might very well have been prominent figures among the demon race.
If the demon race, like the upper echelons of human cultivators, had chosen to leave this realm, then it was possible that Xiao Li's parents had not perished after all.
"Grandmaster, do you truly mean that there exist other worlds beyond our own?" Han Lingshuang asked at this moment.
"It is absolutely true. Not only do other worlds exist, but they are as numerous as the stars in the sky.
"However, these worlds are extremely far away from our own. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator, relying solely on their own power, would need centuries to traverse the distance to another world."
Lu Qing’s response was not fabricated.
After defeating the gray-robed man, he had obtained a star map from the man’s storage pouch.
The map revealed that the world he currently resided in was located in a remote, dark frontier zone.
In fact, it was so remote that it wasn’t even recorded on the map.
The nearest world, according to the star map, was separated by an unimaginably vast expanse of cosmic darkness.
This explained why the cultivators of the previous era had gone to the trouble of crafting the Void Breaking Ark.
Without the guidance of a star map, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would be powerless and likely overwhelmed by despair when faced with the endless expanse of darkness.
"Even Nascent Soul cultivators require centuries of travel?"
Han Lingshuang was utterly stunned.
As someone who was only in the Foundation Establishment Realm, she was uncertain if she would even succeed in breaking through to the Golden Core Realm in the future.
The idea of such an immense distance was beyond her comprehension.
At the same time, she finally understood why the ancestors never returned after leaving.
With such an unfathomable distance, even if they did find a place to settle, it was unlikely anyone would be willing to expend so much time to make the return journey.
"Hence, you need not worry. The technique I gave you will not bring trouble.
"The sect to which that technique belongs resides in an incomparably distant great world. It is nearly impossible for them to return to our world."
From the markings on the star map, Lu Qing knew that the gray-robed man and his companion had ended up here due to a stroke of fortune and the miraculous nature of their Void Flying Boat.
Their sect resided in a world called Tianyuan, a place unfathomably far from this one.
Even traveling there would require a fortune in spirit stones to power teleportation arrays.
Moreover, even if the gray-robed man’s sect could deduce his location of death, Lu Qing doubted they would expend such resources to recover two Golden Core disciples.
"Han Lingshuang will remember the Grandmaster's teachings."
Realizing the importance of the technique recorded on the jade slip she possessed, Han Lingshuang gripped it tightly, her expression becoming solemn.
Seeing her seriousness, Lu Qing smiled faintly.
He had given Han Lingshuang this opportunity because he appreciated her character.
Her willingness to accept Li Changbo's challenge for the sake of the people of Cold Water City had earned his respect, even if others considered it foolish.
Even Lu Qing admitted he would not have made such a sacrifice for others.
But this did not stop him from admiring such virtue.
Therefore, he was willing to grant her a high-level Golden Core inheritance to aid her progress.
Having gained much from this trip to the Cold Water Palace, Lu Qing knew it was time to leave.
Turning to Han Lingshuang, he said,
"Palace Master, now that matters here are settled, I must take my leave."