Chapter 270: Hidden Secrets of the Spirit Ruins

During these three days, inside and outside Azure Feather Palace, tens of thousands of cultivators were utterly engrossed, immersed in that vast and profound ocean of Sword Dao.

As the Azure Feather Eminent spoke, the Grand Dao's resonant tones echoed; in the air, sword-condensed spiritual flowers would bloom and scatter, showering down specks of Dao-light rain that nourished the listeners' souls and Dao foundations.

Wang Ping gained enormously.

Although he did not specialize in Sword Dao, the supreme truths of the Great Dao converge despite different paths.

The Azure Feather Eminent's exposition on 'intent' gave him a deeper understanding of the will that burns through the eight wastelands within his own Point Spirit realm's 'Golden Yang Blazing Heaven'.

And the emphasis on 'mind' made his Dao mind ever clearer.

Especially by verifying his gains from this Dao lecture with the White Tiger Slaying Sword Gang, many previously obscure points suddenly became clear; he felt that this seldom-used sword art had improved a fraction, and was only one step away from the Mid-stage of Early Heaven Dao Technique.

When the Azure Feather Eminent uttered the final Dao tone and announced the end of the lecture, the square first fell into utter silence, then erupted in earth-shaking voices of gratitude.

After the lecture ended, cultivators in the outer and middle fields began to withdraw in order, while the several hundred cultivators in the inner field mostly remained where they were to digest what they had gained.

Wang Ping was also savoring the experience with closed eyes when a gentle yet clear voice sounded directly beside his ear: 'Young Friend Wang, holder of the jade token, may go to the Rear Mountain's Listen Snow Pavilion for a meeting.'

It was the Azure Feather Eminent's voice.

Wang Ping opened his eyes, his heart slightly stirred.

His master had asked him to convey greetings; now that the lecture had concluded, the time was right.

He gave it no further thought, taking it merely as a senior's routine care for a former disciple.

He rose, followed the earlier guide disciple's instructions, passed through the plaza cloisters, and headed toward the Azure Feather Palace Rear Mountain.

The Rear Mountain's setting was even more secluded; amidst the sheltering snow bamboo, an elegant little pavilion stood beside an icy stream, its plaque bearing the three characters 'Listen Snow Pavilion' in strokes that were vigorous yet touched with grace. The pavilion doors stood open, revealing a vague figure within.

Wang Ping adjusted his robes and stepped inside.

The interior furnishings were simple; the Azure Feather Eminent sat in the chief seat, holding a jade slip, and upon seeing him enter, smiled and lifted his gaze.

"Junior Wang Ping pays respects to Azure Feather Eminent Senior." Wang Ping performed a respectful salute, then produced that azure jade token with both hands, saying, "By my master's order, I have come specially to offer greetings to you, Senior."

The Azure Feather Eminent received the jade token, lightly brushed it with his fingertip; the token's faint light flashed and vanished. His face showed a gentle smile tinged with recollection:

"Jiang Mingyuan, that old fogey, too lazy to move himself but likes to send his disciples. Hmm, you're quite good, much more courteous than his fellow back then."

Wang Ping hastily replied, "My master often mentions your illustrious bearing."

The Azure Feather Eminent set down the jade slip, his gaze falling on Wang Ping as he examined him carefully; his eyes grew richer with approval.

"Your foundation is solid; the five elements' flow already shows signs of endless renewal, and your soul is refined far beyond your peers… What's rarer is that you bear an edge honed by real combat, yet know how to restrain it. Slaying the Void Clan on the seventh layer of the Heaven-Reaching Tower relied not only on luck."

Wang Ping felt a faint surprise—how could the Azure Feather Eminent Senior know so clearly the details of his experience inside the Heaven-Reaching Tower?

He replied modestly, "Senior, you overpraise me; I am merely fortunate."

"It is not mere fortune." The Azure Feather Eminent shook his head.

"That Void Clan, although only a Golden Core Early Stage projection, possesses bizarre spatial talent; even when I was a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator back then, dealing with it was quite troublesome."

"You were able to precisely trace its tracks in that situation and decisively gamble with a risky Point Spirit Dao Technique; such resolve and ability, given time, will surely earn you a place among the top ten of the Hidden Dragon Ranking."

The Azure Feather Eminent shifted the conversation, seemingly asking casually:

"Your master sent you here; besides conveying greetings, did he entrust you with anything else? Or did he give you any hints?"

Wang Ping startled, thought it over, then shook his head: "Replying, Senior, my master only asked me to convey his greetings and to listen to your lecture; he entrusted me with nothing else and gave no hints."

He indeed felt doubtful; it seemed his master truly just had him come for a perfunctory visit, to greet an old friend.

Seeing his genuine doubt, the Azure Feather Eminent couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head: "That old ghost Jiang still likes to play this mysterious act. He says nothing, confident that I will speak up on my own."

Wang Ping's heart stirred; he vaguely sensed there might be some secret he did not know.

Only then did the Azure Feather Eminent withdraw his smile, his expression turning somewhat solemn as he looked at Wang Ping:

"Young Friend Wang, do you know that your master's sending you here, with the greetings and lecture listening merely incidental, his true intention is for me to point you toward a path—a path concerning your future Dao, possibly even altering your destiny."

Wang Ping's heart jolted; he looked up abruptly at the Azure Feather Eminent. The master's true intention? He truly knew nothing about it!

At this moment, being pointed out by the Azure Feather Eminent, he finally realized why his master had him come to visit when the Spirit Void Secret Realm was about to open—this was not just a greeting, but to create an opportunity for him to speak privately with the Azure Feather Eminent!

"Please enlighten me, Senior!" Wang Ping drew a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and respectfully asked for guidance.

The Azure Feather Eminent was very pleased with his reaction, neither arrogant nor hasty, calm and composed. He spoke slowly: "Your master and I are old acquaintances of many years."

"He knows my background well. Back then, my talents were not outstanding; when I first entered the Golden Core stage, let alone making the Hidden Dragon Ranking, I wasn't even particularly notable among my peers."

Wang Ping listened quietly, yet surprise welled up in his heart. Before him stood this Sword Dao divine, famed across the Spirit Realm Azure Feather Eminent—could he really have had such an "ordinary" period back then?

"However, later I managed to enter the top three hundred of the Human Hidden Dragon Ranking during the Golden Core stage, break into the top hundred during the Nascent Soul stage, and set foot among the top hundred of the Spirit Realm during the Spirit Transformation stage,"

"and ultimately break through to the Void Refinement stage." The Azure Feather Eminent's voice carried a hint of reminiscence and emotion.

"The most crucial turning point was a near-death experience that also seized a heaven‑earth‑crafting opportunity—I once, during my Golden Core Late Stage, accidentally entered a place called the Spirit Void Secret Realm."

"Spirit Void Secret Realm?" Wang Ping thought to himself, "As expected."

"It's normal you don't know." The Azure Feather Eminent laughed and said,

"The Spirit Void Secret Realm is not fixed in any one domain; it drifts unpredictably, wandering through the gaps between the Spirit Realm and many subsidiary small worlds, making its traces hard to find."

"Its opening follows no pattern—short spans of a few thousand years, long spans of tens of thousands of years before it appears once. Information about it is mostly held by cultivators at the Void Refinement level and above, or by some ancient forces with extremely long lineages; ordinary people find it hard to know."

"Two hundred thousand years ago, I was still a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator; in a life‑or‑death mission, I was accidentally flung into the Spirit Void Secret Realm, which had only just begun to open."

The Azure Feather Eminent continued, his eyes deepening: "That was a journey that truly changed my destiny."

"Within the secret realm, danger and opportunity coexist. There, the spatial laws are exceptionally special and unstable; at times they are as solid as Divine Gold Iron, impossible to shift even a fraction."

"At other times they are as fragile as glazed tile; a single misstep could plunge one into endless void turbulence."

"Within it dwell ancient remnant species, elemental spirits, and even aberrant lifeforms coalesced from pure law, rampant with formidable strength and unfathomable means."

"But opposed to that, the secret realm hides boundless opportunities. There are primal spirit elixirs long extinct in the outside world, heaven‑earth rare treasures that aid one in comprehending the Dao and improving spiritual root aptitude, and legacy abodes left by former eminent cultivators."

"Even… there is the chance to directly perceive and come into contact with the heaven‑earth source law."

Upon hearing the words 'contact with the heaven‑earth source law,' Wang Ping's heart leapt! For cultivators, especially those at higher levels, comprehension of the heaven‑earth law is crucial, directly determining the upper limit of future achievements.

To be able to touch the source law while still at the Golden Core stage—what a heaven‑defying opportunity!

Qingyu saw the shock flashing in Wang Ping's eyes, and gave a slight nod:

I, back then, was in the depths of a secret realm, in a strange place called the Myriad Laws Pool, and by chance I sensed a fragment of the most primordial 'sharpness' law, and fused it with my own sword Dao.

It was precisely thanks to this insight that I managed to undergo a complete transformation, my sword Dao cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, making up for the deficiencies in my foundation and talent, which led to my later achievements.

Wang Ping was greatly shocked; does the Lingxu Secret Realm still have such a place?

Qingyu looked at Wang Ping's shocked expression, smiled, and then gazed at him with a burning stare.

Be surprised—back then I was so shocked I didn't come to my senses for half a day. Your master sent you here so that I could tell you the location of that strange place; only I know of it. However, I don't know whether any cultivators have discovered it nowadays.

At this moment, Wang Ping understood his master's deep intentions and painstaking efforts.

This was not merely a simple patronage; it was laying out for him a potential path to a higher realm!

He stood up, gave a deep bow, and said: 'Junior is dull-witted; only now do I realize the master's and predecessors' great kindness! The senior's guidance is a favor Wang Ping will never forget!'

Qingyu lightly lifted his hand, and a gentle force raised Wang Ping: 'No need for excessive courtesy. My friendship with Old Ghost Jiang means it's only right to give his disciple some pointers. Moreover, you yourself are indeed a piece of raw jade worth carving.'

He straightened his expression and warned: 'However, you must bear in mind that although the Lingxu Secret Realm holds countless opportunities, its dangers are equally great. Every time it opens, it attracts top Golden Core heaven's chosen ones from the Spirit Realm and even some powerful minor worlds nearby, including direct descendants of hegemonic clans and the holy sons and daughters of ancient sects; the competition is fierce, far beyond your imagination.'

Moreover, its internal environment is fraught with killing intent, and the mortality rate is extremely high. Back then, I too relied on a bit of luck to manage to come out alive.

'I understand, junior!' Wang Ping nodded solemnly; opportunities often go hand in hand with risk, a principle he understood.