Chapter 49: The Mysterious Elder in the Secret Realm

This moment.

Li Mu and Qian Wenyi both turned pale at once, their bodies tensing instantly, fully on guard!

With Li Mu's current perception, even when he faced the ferocious assault of the second‑rank pinnacle Demon General Crimson Flame Giant Tiger before, he could still handle it with ease.

Even Yang Yuanwu, ranked first on the Storm Ranking.

He still couldn't appear behind him unnoticed by gods or ghosts!

Li Mu and Qian Wenyi turned their heads almost simultaneously, looking toward the direction of the sound.

And then they saw.

At the cave entrance, an elderly man with crane‑like hair and a childlike face was standing, though it was unclear when he had arrived.

The elder was about 1.78 m tall, wore his hair in a topknot, dressed in a Dao robe, carried a sword on his back, and exuded an ethereal aura.

In appearance and attire, the elder gave off a celestial, Daoist vibe.

Yet his aura was no different from an ordinary person, and he moved silently as if to merge completely with his surroundings.

If the elder hadn't spoken up just now, Li Mu might never have noticed him!

The last person who gave Li Mu a similar feeling was the enigmatic Yu Lao of the Gong Fa Dian.

"How long has this elder been here?"

"Did he arrive before I and Shao Wenqiang and the other Little Sky Peak disciples clashed, or even earlier?"

"What is his purpose for coming here?"

While pondering, Li Mu stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "Senior, I am Li Mu."

"May I ask, senior, what you seek of me?"

"Come with me to a place!"

The Dao‑robed elder said calmly, "As for the young man beside you, let him stay here for now."

Hearing this, Qian Wenyi immediately looked at Li Mu, puzzled.

Our leader, isn't he just a mortal who ascended from the mundane world?

When did he become connected with this great figure of the Qian Kun Realm!

Thinking that, Qian Wenyi stepped forward again, bowed, and said respectfully.

"Senior, I am Qian Wenyi of the Qian family of Qingzhou; my grandfather is Qian Daosheng."

"I hope, senior, you will spare my elder brother out of respect for my grandfather!"

There's no choice!

Facing the mysterious Dao‑robed elder, Qian Wenyi could only invoke his grandfather, hoping to intimidate the stranger.

"Qian Daosheng?"

The Dao‑robed elder narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly.

"You're referring to the young man from Gaoshān, right?"

"When he sees me, he must respectfully offer tea and call me Zhang Zhenren!"

"Now you bring up your grandfather—are you trying to give me a face?"

He finished speaking.

The Dao‑robed elder's gaze hardened!

In an instant, the surrounding air seemed to solidify completely!

The elder's previously calm, ordinary aura underwent an earth‑shattering transformation at that moment.

Masses of terrifying, overwhelming pressure poured in from all directions at once!

Qian Wenyi was shocked and turned pale!

Although the pressure the Dao‑robed elder released might not even be a millionth of his own aura!

Even though he only cast a glance toward them, showing a hint of aura.

That alone was enough to intimidate Qian Wenyi, who felt breathless, unable to speak, let alone move a finger.

Under that terrifying pressure, Qian Wenyi felt as tiny as an ant dust.

If the elder wished, a single thought could turn him to dust, erasing him completely from this world.

Moreover, when the Dao‑robed elder could utter his grandfather's "character" in one phrase, and when he spoke of the Qian family with a nonchalant air.

From these points it's clear the elder never regarded the Qian family at all!

Yet at this tense, imposing moment—

A young voice beside them sounded softly.

"Senior, I'll follow you!"

"Don't trouble my friend!"

"Hm?"

The Dao‑robed elder turned toward the voice.

But they saw that, under his own imposing pressure, Li Mu did not cower like Qian Wenyi, nor show any fear or anxiety.

He even voluntarily walked toward them?

This…

How could this be possible?

At this moment, the shock that Li Mu caused him.

It was even more overwhelming than the shock of personally witnessing Li Mu single‑handedly annihilate Shao Wenqiang and over ten Little Sky Peak disciples.

Seeing the Dao‑robed elder's astonished gaze toward him, Li Mu naturally understood what was shocking at that moment.

Li Mu had already experienced a similar situation with senior sister Zi Yuan of the Inner Peak.

At that time I was only at the third‑grade Refining Qi Realm, and Zi Yuan was clearly far superior to me in cultivation.

Yet before I displayed my power, Zi Yuan could not even perceive my depth, let alone comment on it.

He actually expected me to be wary of a first‑grade Refining Qi Realm Qin Zhixiang.

At that time, Li Mu found it quite unbelievable.

Now, the Dao‑robe elder before him gives Li Mu a strong sense of pressure and danger.

Then…

And that's all there is to it!

In any case, if the other party truly bears murderous intent toward me or acts against me,

why would they be babbling with me like this for so long?

There's no need to reveal themselves; I have already died with Qian Wenyi a thousand‑plus times.

Or, in a single thought, they could snatch me out of this Yunshan Secret Realm.

And now, since they have chosen to manifest and clearly want me to accompany them,

it's easy to see that, since they hold no real hostility toward me, they are likely offering me a favor.

Knowing a benefit awaits, only a fool would refuse to follow.

"You youngster, you're quite a remarkable person."

"Not bad, not bad…"

The Dao‑robe elder's gaze toward Li Mu softened, and the terrifying pressure that had filled the cave instantly dissipated.

Then, the elder tapped the void.

A Jade Slip materialized out of thin air, drifting slowly before Qian Wenyi, and said: "Given that you, even in such a dangerous situation, still did not abandon your fellow sect members and possess a rare childlike heart."

"Take this Jade Slip as a reward; contemplate it well on your own!"

Afterwards.

The Dao‑robe elder looked at Li Mu again and said, "Young man, accompany me for a while."

As he spoke, a golden light blossomed beneath the Dao‑robe elder and Li Mu; as the golden light gradually dispersed, the two disappeared from the spot.

Throughout the entire process, Qian Wenyi stood there, stunned.

Watching his big brother disappear before his eyes, his mind went completely blank.

He still hasn't grasped what just happened, what is all this?

Who exactly is this mysterious Dao‑robe elder?

Why does he take his big brother away?

Isn't his big brother just an ordinary person who recently ascended from the mortal realm?

When, in the Qian Kun Realm, did he meet such an impressive senior master?

His heart trembling.

Qian Wenyi then refocused his attention on the Jade Slip the Dao‑robe elder had just left behind.

As soon as his consciousness fell silent within it, Qian Wenyi's face turned horrified, and he let out a startled cry.

"Sss…"

"This…"

"This is actually the true Dao method explanation of a Nascent Soul Realm master!"

The person who could compose this Jade Slip…

Undoubtedly!

That Dao‑robe elder just now is indeed a genuine high‑level master of the Nascent Soul Realm!

Thinking this, Qian Wenyi looked toward the direction Li Mu vanished, his envy so intense his saliva nearly spilled from his eyes.

To gain the favor of a peerless Nascent Soul Realm master, his big brother is sure to take off again.

However, his big brother eats meat.

As his junior, I can follow and have a sip of meat broth, right?

Thinking this, Qian Wenyi steadied his mind and began to earnestly contemplate the true Dao method of this Nascent Soul Realm master.

"…"

Meanwhile.

When the golden light faded, Li Mu and the Dao‑robe elder arrived at a mountain summit.

The Dao‑robe elder turned, his gaze deep as he looked at Li Mu, and said plainly, "Young man, I know you have many questions in your heart now."

"But you need not ask."

"Because even if you ask, I won't answer."

"The only thing I can tell you is."

"From now on, follow my instructions."

"As long as you meet my requirements, I will grant you a grand destiny."

Li Mu understood and nodded.

Li Mu was not particularly surprised by the Dao‑robe elder's words.

Moreover, Li Mu could even roughly guess the elder's purpose for seeking him.

Thinking this, Li Mu replied directly, "Then please, senior, clearly state what you need the junior to do."

The Dao‑robe elder gave him a faint glance, did not answer directly, but shifted his tone.

"I see that you have not yet broken through the Ten Grade Lian Qi Realm Peak, yet you have already visualized your divine spirit form through imprinting spirit, awakening divine abilities."

"Although this situation is extremely rare, there have been precedents before…"

Listening to the robe‑clad elder babble grand principles of the cultivation world in his ear, Li Mu felt his mind clouded like mist over Yunshan.

As someone from the secular world and a pure grassroots background, Li Mu.

From officially stepping onto the cultivation path to formally joining the Ziyang Sect, barely a month has passed.

His grasp of cultivation still remains at the Refining Qi Realm's Eight Vessels Unity, Jade Tendon Iron Bone stage.

Moreover.

Each time he breaks a minor obstacle, the system grants him a Thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing.

Each time he breaks a major obstacle, the system grants him a Ten‑thousandfold Heavenly Dao Blessing.

It's that simple!

However, listening to the robe‑clad elder ramble on by himself for half a day.

Li Mu did understand the meaning he wanted to convey.

When a cultivator is in the second heaven, the Refining Qi Realm, they must overcome three minor obstacles.

They are, respectively, Solidify Origin, Sever Vessels, Temper Body!

Ultimately Eight Vessels Unity, Jade Tendon Iron Bone!

And when a cultivator reaches the third heaven, the Concentration Realm, they likewise must overcome three minor obstacles!

They are, respectively, Seal Spirit, Materialize, Great Freedom!

The first minor obstacle of the Concentration Realm, Seal Spirit, essentially means there is a spirit within the body's five organs.

When a cultivator reaches the Concentration Realm, they can visualize the form of their own spirit; that is Seal Spirit!

And when a cultivator breaks through these three obstacles of the Concentration Realm, they can awaken their own Divine Art!

Divine Arts are myriad, countless, innumerable.

They are divided into four major grades—Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, Yellow—each grade split into ten ranks.

If a Divine Art's grade is higher, the cultivation speed, ability, and future potential are naturally stronger, and the hope of attaining the Immortal Ascension is greater.

But among them, of the one million cultivators who awaken a Divine Art, at least nine hundred thousand are at the Yellow Tier.

Only the remaining one hundred thousand have a chance for a grade above Yellow Tier!

And each person can awaken only one Divine Art in a lifetime, and its grade never changes.

Besides the above, in the Qian Kun Realm there are rare exceptions where not even one emerges among hundreds of millions!

That is, some cultivators awaken a Divine Art before reaching the Concentration Realm!

Such people are usually regarded in the Qian Kun Realm as those bearing a heavenly destiny!

This is why, after learning of the suspected Divine Art awakening phenomenon in the Yunshan Secret Realm...

The robe‑clad elder would travel thousands of miles, crossing the void, just to come to the Yunshan Secret Realm to find Li Mu.

Upon hearing this, a look of understanding appeared on Li Mu's face.

"I told you!"

"When I first arrived at the Great Hall of Tianfeng Ridge, the sect master and the peak elders each manifested various rare treasures and exotic beasts behind them; how did such formidable Divine Art arise?"

"So that's how it came..."

"But..."

Li Mu's thoughts flickered.

Looking at the system page showing Eight‑Nine Profound Skill lv: 13, his expression became extraordinarily vivid.

If Divine Arts are seen by these locals as solemn and sacred, truly things that can decide a cultivator's fate.

And for such a 'thing', one can awaken one every ten levels.

Then...

If the elder before me, who keeps babbling, were to find out.

Wouldn't that shatter one's worldview, making one want to smash one's head against a wall?