“Zhan Lang Secret Realm?”
“Yes, the Zhan Lang Secret Realm.”
On the Flowing Light Ship, Xu Yi listened as the Green Lotus Sect Leader recounted news of Bei Xinghan’s disappearance in the secret realm.
“I presume you are not unfamiliar with the name True Lord Batian?” the Green Lotus Sect Leader said softly.
Xu Yi nodded. “True Lord Batian is a Mahayana Sword Cultivator of your esteemed sect. With his Zhan Lang Sword Art, he can cleave mountains and divide seas.”
As a qualified sect disciple, one must not only achieve cultivation success but also be knowledgeable in geography, astronomy, and the secrets of various sects.
Xu Yi could recite the names of all seniors above the Tribulation Period cultivation in the five great sects as if they were his own family.
“The Zhan Lang Secret Realm is the secret realm left behind by True Lord Batian after her ascension. Before True Lord Cang Hai and Bei Xinghan, many disciples had entered the secret realm, and all of them returned safely. Only the two of them went missing.”
Mentioning this matter, the Green Lotus Sect Leader’s brows instinctively furrowed. It was clear that he found this outcome difficult to accept.
Whether it was True Lord Cang Hai or Bei Xinghan, both were individuals to whom the Green Lotus Sect Leader and the entire Xuan Qing Sect pinned their hopes. To have them disappear without a trace in their own secret realm was something no one could comprehend.
Xu Yi tapped her fingers gently on the table, her thoughts racing.
According to the Green Lotus Sect Leader, numerous disciples of the Xuan Qing Sect had entered and exited the Zhan Lang Secret Realm, yet only Bei Xinghan and True Lord Cang Hai had met with misfortune.
This indicated that the two must possess something different from ordinary people, and this difference must have existed in both of them simultaneously.
What could it be?
A special bloodline?
Or perhaps…
A thought flashed through Xu Yi’s mind. She suddenly looked up at the Green Lotus Sect Leader.
“I just had an idea. I wonder if it is correct.”
“Old Ancestor Xu, please speak freely.”
The Green Lotus Sect Leader’s spirits lifted.
Dean Deng had said that Xu Yi was the only one who could find Bei Xinghan and True Lord Cang Hai.
Therefore, the Green Lotus Sect Leader placed great importance on Xu Yi’s ideas.
“Sect Leader Green Lotus, have you not noticed a commonality among True Lord Batian, True Lord Cang Hai, and Bei Xinghan?”
The Green Lotus Sect Leader was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized. “You must be referring to the fact that all three were sword cultivators, and exceptionally talented sword cultivators.”
“Yes.” A glimmer flashed in Xu Yi’s eyes. “Is it possible that True Lord Cang Hai and Bei Xinghan were chosen by True Lord Batian to become her inheritors? However, perhaps something unexpected happened midway, leading to the current situation.”
Xu Yi believed her deduction was logical, yet the Green Lotus Sect Leader vehemently denied it.
“That is impossible.”
“Why?” Xu Yi asked in surprise.
“Old Ancestor Xu, you may not know, but although our sect’s True Lord Batian was a woman, her character and magnanimity were broader than that of most men. She aspired to the four directions and did not wish to be bound, thus she remained single until her death.
She had absolutely no intention of taking disciples, and naturally, she would not have left any trials in the secret realm.”
Xu Yi’s idea was not the first to be raised, but it had been immediately dismissed by others.
Anyone who had read the sect’s records, heard of True Lord Batian’s character, or understood her methods would never have conceived of such a thought.
“So, that’s how it is.”
Xu Yi, unaware of the details, accepted the Green Lotus Sect Leader’s firm assertion and abandoned her fleeting thought.
However, this meant the trail of clues had gone cold, and everything had become uncertain.
After chatting with the Green Lotus Sect Leader for a while, Xu Yi rose and returned to her room on the Flowing Light Ship, intending to stay there until they reached the Xuan Qing Sect.
But soon after she sat down, a knock sounded at her door.
Xu Yi’s brows twitched slightly. “Come in.”
The door opened, revealing two figures.
Xu Yi looked at them and asked with a smile, “Why are you here? Is there something you need?”
Wang Yi’an and Qu Xiaoxiao did not reply immediately. Instead, they first paid their respects to Xu Yi.
Then, Qu Xiaoxiao lowered her head, fiddled with her skirt, and opened her mouth a few times, but no sound came out.
Wang Yi’an glanced at her from the side, a look of helplessness on his face.
He had been dragged here by Qu Xiaoxiao.
Qu Xiaoxiao admired Xu Yi and wanted to ask her for some cultivation experience. However, she lacked the courage, so she set her sights on Wang Yi’an.
Wang Yi’an had a good relationship with Xu Yi. With Wang Yi’an leading the way, Qu Xiaoxiao believed it would be easier for her to speak with Xu Yi.
As for why she didn’t approach Long Haotian, it was naturally because Senior Brother Long’s temper had been erratic recently, and Qu Xiaoxiao dared not provoke him. Thus, she chose the one with the best temper.
At that time, Wang Yi’an, not knowing what he was thinking, had been easily persuaded by Qu Xiaoxiao, and then they came to Xu Yi’s room together.
Now that they had met the person, Qu Xiaoxiao had become mute.
Wang Yi’an could only take the initiative to speak. “Junior Sister Qu has some questions she wishes to ask you, so we’ve shamelessly come to disturb you. We hope Old Ancestor Xu will not take offense.”
Qu Xiaoxiao:!
She turned her head incredulously to glare at Wang Yi’an, but Wang Yi’an maintained a composed and unmoving demeanor.
Qu Xiaoxiao felt a lump in her throat.
How could she have thought Senior Brother Wang was the one with the best temper?
This person was clearly a smiling tiger, the kind who devoured people without spitting out their bones.
Xu Yi’s gaze flickered between the two, and she roughly understood what had happened.
She smiled. “Xiaoxiao, is it? What problem have you encountered?”
“I, I…”
Qu Xiaoxiao stammered a few times, then haltingly described some of the problems she had encountered in her cultivation.
In fact, she had already consulted her master about these issues and received answers.
But she just wanted to hear it from Xu Yi’s mouth again.
Xu Yi didn’t think too much about it. After pondering for a while, she provided answers based on her own understanding.
Qu Xiaoxiao became increasingly astonished as she listened, her eyes widening.
The solution provided by Xu Yi was even simpler and more straightforward than what her master had told her.
It was as if a great hand had parted the clouds obscuring her vision, and Qu Xiaoxiao felt her thoughts instantly open up.
Old Ancestor Xu is truly amazing!
“Old Ancestor Xu is truly amazing!”
Leaving Xu Yi’s room, Qu Xiaoxiao propped her chin in her hands, her eyes sparkling as she spoke.
Wang Yi’an nodded silently.
From their first meeting, he had realized that Xu Yi was no ordinary person.
After all, although Long Haotian was arrogant at that time, he had the capital for his arrogance.
However, Long Haotian was completely unable to fight back against Xu Yi and was crushed in all aspects, thus it could be inferred that Xu Yi was an even more formidable person than Long Haotian.
It was just that Wang Yi’an had not expected Xu Yi’s background to be so immense.
Recalling their past encounters now, he still felt as if it were a dream.
“By the way, why did you betray me!” Qu Xiaoxiao suddenly began to bring up old grievances.
She had been so nervous earlier that her heart had nearly leaped out of her throat.
“Junior Sister Qu, how is this betraying you? This is clearly helping you. Why are you still ungrateful?” Wang Yi’an said with a light smile.
“Help? How did you help me? You almost got me killed!”
Their bickering voices filtered through the door into Xu Yi’s ears.
Xu Yi’s lips curved into a knowing smile.