Chapter 347: Nine Marvelous Spiritual Restrictions, Spirit Taming Sect

Hearing this, Xu Mingxian's heart jolted.

Combining the origins of the jade box with the aura of the figure before him, along with what he had just said, a name blurted out from his lips, "Are you... the founder of the Cang family?

The founding patriarch of the Heavenly Azure Sect, Daoist Cangxuan?!"

"That is indeed this old man."

The phantom gave a slight nod, acknowledging his identity.

A trace of imperceptible concern and melancholy immediately surfaced in his eyes. "Endless years have passed, I know not how many.

Little friend, could you tell me.

Are those unworthy descendants of mine still around today?

Does the Cang family still exist?"

As for this jade box, it was willingly gifted to me by Elder Cang Fengheng of the Cang family, who was also once my honored master."

"There is actually such a connection?"

Daoist Cangxuan's eyes rippled slightly. "For you to discover the hidden profoundness I left behind and crack the jade box's restriction, your deduction skills in the Array Dao must be at least comparable to the fourth tier.

Is there actually still someone in my Cang family capable of being your master?"

"I became his disciple during the Foundation Establishment stage and received some of the Cang family's formation inheritance. Although my formation attainments have now surpassed my master's, I still engrave his grace of instruction deep in my heart."

"So that is how it is."

Xu Mingxian continued, "When my master gifted the incomplete array and the jade box to my Xu family, he made it clear that if the box contained an inheritance, we were to make a rubbing and send a copy back to the Cang family.

If it was anything else, it would belong to my Xu family."

"It seems my Cang family has indeed fallen into decline."

Daoist Cangxuan's phantom let out a heavy sigh. "Even my final test and gift had to rely on the hands of an outsider.

If they had kept it, they likely would not have been able to open it in a lifetime."

After a brief moment, Xu Mingxian could not help but ask, "Senior, your current state... could it be that you have not passed away?"

Over a thousand years had passed, yet he could still leave his divine sense in the mortal world.

Xu Mingxian was truly curious about such methods.

Daoist Cangxuan shook his head. "Not at all. I died and my Dao faded long ago. What remains here is nothing but a wisp of divine sense preserved by relying on a spiritual restriction.

Now that the jade box's restriction is broken, the power of the spiritual restriction maintaining this wisp of divine sense has begun to dissipate.

This final shred of my consciousness will not last much longer."

"Spiritual restriction?"

Hearing this term for the first time, Xu Mingxian was extremely intrigued. "What kind of restriction is that, to be so miraculous?

Not only did it form such a flawless protective restriction, but it could also carry your divine sense and preserve it to this day?"

"The path of spiritual restrictions is extraordinarily profound. It is vastly different from ordinary restrictions and was passed down from the ancient era."

"Could Senior please explain it to me?"

Daoist Cangxuan smiled faintly. "Since you broke the jade box's restriction, the Nine Marvelous Spiritual Restrictions left inside naturally belong to you.

As for preserving a wisp of divine sense in the mortal world...

During the ancient era, it was not considered particularly shocking. Any grand powerful cultivator who reached a certain realm could achieve it."

He paused. His illusory gaze fixed upon Xu Mingxian, his expression turning solemn and even carrying a trace of earnestness. "Little friend, I see that your Array Dao has a solid foundation, and your disposition is steady.

Being able to break my restriction is enough to prove your talent and opportunity.

Although I have already passed into history, there is still one matter weighing on my heart."

"Is Senior referring to the Cang family?"

"Exactly."

His phantom seemed to thin out a fraction more. "I know this request is somewhat brazen, but if you agree to lend a helping hand to my Cang family should they face a great disaster in the future, ensuring their inheritance is not severed...

Then, as a reward, I am willing to disclose the location of the second half of the Nine Marvelous Spiritual Restrictions.

The Nine Marvelous Spiritual Restrictions originates from the ancient Nine Wonders Spirit Sect, and the technique is one of its core legacies.

If you can fully learn the first half, it will remain useful even when you reach the Soul Formation stage. As for the second half, it is boundlessly profound."

As his voice faded, a profound silence filled the quiet room.

Only Daoist Cangxuan's gradually fading phantom remained, quietly awaiting Xu Mingxian's reply.

Hearing this, Xu Mingxian fell into deep thought.

The current relationship between the Cang family and the Xu family was passable.

Moreover, they were now allies. As long as they did not stand on opposing sides in the future, lending a hand was not out of the question, both logically and emotionally.

He raised his head, his gaze clear and resolute as he cupped his fists. "Senior Cangxuan, as long as the Cang family does not become an enemy of my Xu family in the future, and it remains within my capabilities...

I am willing to extend a helping hand during their times of peril to ensure their inheritance is not severed."

"In that case... I shall thank you on behalf of those unworthy descendants."

A smile of relief appeared on Daoist Cangxuan's phantom, as if he had finally let go of a long-standing burden in his heart.

He said no more. Raising his illusory arm, spiritual light condensed at his fingertips. It was not an attack, but rather a speck of faint light formed purely from information and Dao Rhyme.

This speck of light fluttered gently forward, sinking into the center of Xu Mingxian's forehead.

In an instant, a clear and complex stream of information unfolded within Xu Mingxian's sea of consciousness.

This information recorded the exact location of a grotto-heaven ruins belonging to the ancient Nine Wonders Spirit Sect, as well as two methods of entry.

The first method: every three hundred years, the grotto-heaven's barrier would weaken and generate spatial fluctuations, allowing it to be forced open from the outside.

The second method: anyone who had mastered the Nine Marvelous Spiritual Restrictions could cast the spiritual restriction near the grotto-heaven, which would sense it and receive them inside.

Beyond this, there were also gifts from Daoist Cangxuan.

These were his life's various insights and experiences regarding fourth-tier formations, along with the Array Dao inheritance he had personally compiled and organized.

Although Daoist Cangxuan was more skilled in restrictions, he had still been a low-grade four-tier array master.

The value of this Array Dao inheritance was immeasurable.

After doing all this, Daoist Cangxuan's phantom grew even more transparent, as if it would disperse with the wind at any moment.

His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the quiet room, looking into the endless void. With a trace of distant melancholy and liberation, he softly chanted:

"A long millennium passes, and the Dao becomes void... Little friend, I hope you can walk much farther than I did!"

His voice curled through the air, its lingering echoes still unbroken.

Ultimately, the phantom of Daoist Cangxuan's divine sense transformed into countless fragmented specks of light, like fireflies.

They flickered vibrantly one last time before dissipating completely within the quiet room.

Silence returned to the quiet room. Only the opened jade box, along with the white jade slip lying at its bottom, proved that everything which had just occurred was no mere illusion.

Xu Mingxian remained silent for a long while, his heart filled with countless emotions.

To converse across time with the founding patriarch of the Heavenly Azure Sect from over two thousand years ago...

Such an encounter could truly be called wondrous.

"This time, the gains have far exceeded my expectations."

Xu Mingxian calmed his thoughts, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

Not only had he obtained the ancient inheritance of the Nine Marvelous Spiritual Restrictions, but he had also received Daoist Cangxuan's precious insights and inheritance in the fourth-tier Array Dao.

For his attempt to break through to the realm of a four-tier array master, this was undoubtedly sending charcoal in snowy weather, saving him countless hours of fumbling forward on his own.

'All of this was originally meant to be an opportunity for the descendants of the Cang family...'

He shook his head slightly, feeling a tinge of pity.

Daoist Cangxuan had gone to great lengths to leave behind such an obscure test. He had hoped his family would produce a peerless genius capable of opening the jade box with their own strength to obtain his true legacy.

In doing so, that descendant would surely step into the ranks of a four-tier array master and lead the family back to prosperity.

A four-tier array master, even one who had only just entered the realm, was enough to make Nascent Soul cultivators treat them with respect, securing the family's prosperity for centuries.

Unfortunately, the younger generations of the Cang family ultimately failed to meet Daoist Cangxuan's expectations.

In the end, this opportunity had fallen right into his lap.

Xu Mingxian reached out and retrieved the milky-white jade slip from the box, sinking his divine sense into it.

Forming restrictions from spiritual qi, shifting them according to one's will, with boundless wondrous applications—Xu Mingxian was deeply shocked after just a cursory glance.

Furthermore, he felt that this spiritual restriction would be of considerable help in his future deductions and refinements of the battle array.

Not long after, Xu Mingxian left the quiet room and arrived at the courtyard where his father, Xu Chuan, resided.

He thoroughly reported the wondrous events that had transpired in the quiet room today, detailing everything exactly as it happened.

Even after hearing Xu Mingxian's recount, a trace of surprise inevitably appeared on Xu Chuan's face.

"To converse with the founding patriarch of the Heavenly Azure Sect from a millennium ago... Such an experience can truly be considered a serendipitous encounter."

Lying on a recliner nearby, Moyue turned his head and calmly evaluated, "That Daoist Cangxuan... to be able to preserve his divine sense for a thousand years in such a manner, he was no simple figure."

"To be able to establish a sect in a prefecture and ensure its legacy endured unbroken for over two thousand years, how could its founder possibly be a simple figure?"

Xu Chuan said this, then looked toward Xu Mingxian. "The path of ancient spiritual restrictions... Being able to obtain this opportunity is your good fortune.

As for making a rubbing of this inheritance and sending it back to the Cang family, there is no rush for now.

You could even organize Daoist Cangxuan's fourth-tier Array Dao inheritance and leave that for the Cang family instead.

That should be far more useful to them."

"I will deliberate further on this matter."

Xu Chuan nodded, saying no more.

After bowing, Xu Mingxian exited the courtyard.

Moyue suddenly sighed with emotion. "It is truly great to have robust providence. Xu Mingxian can just sit at home, and an ancient inheritance will deliver itself right to his door.

I wonder what kinds of harvest Ye Fan and that lass Xu Deyue will reap out there."

Xu Chuan continued his silent cultivation, ignoring the remark.

Meanwhile.

More than half a month ago.

Xi Daoyun had set out for the Myriad Beast Mountain Range in the central region of Heavenly South.

To be exact, he was heading for the top-tier power of the central region entrenched within the Myriad Beast Mountain Range—the Spirit Taming Sect.

"I've finally arrived."

Xi Daoyun stood atop the clouds, gazing far into the distance.

Upon the earth below, he beheld a vast and boundless mountain range crawling like an ancient behemoth, stretching endlessly for tens of thousands of miles.

The mountainous terrain undulated wildly, presenting a magnificent and ever-changing landscape.

Bizarre peaks rose from the ground, as steep as if sheared by a blade, thrusting straight into the heavens. Their summits vanished into the rolling sea of clouds where fierce astral winds howled, and only the occasional screech of birds or roar of beasts managed to pierce downward.

Deep gorges and colossal ravines crisscrossed and carved the landscape, resembling hideous scars upon the earth.

Their depths were unfathomable, with surging mist and faint flickers of phosphorescence lurking within.

There were also wide-open basins set like gleaming pearls, harboring massive, sparkling lakes inside.

Blanketed by dense water vapor and lush vegetation, they had become paradises for numerous aquatic spirit beasts.

Furthermore, primeval, dense forests with towering ancient trees blanketed countless hills and secluded valleys.

The foliage was so thick and deep that the sun was completely blotted out. The lifeblood within was majestic yet chaotic, and the law of the jungle played out at every moment.

The terrain of this mountain range was complex and ever-changing, nurturing thousands of species of demonic beasts.

It was precisely because the Spirit Taming Sect occupied this very domain that their legacy could endure for over four thousand years, remaining powerful all the while.

An hour later.

Xi Daoyun arrived at the mountain gates of the Spirit Taming Sect.

A massive, pale azure light screen, shaped like an overturned jade bowl, enveloped the entire core region of the sect.

Runes flickered across the screen, shimmering with brilliant streams of light. The phantoms of spiritual birds and the illusory silhouettes of giant beasts could occasionally be seen patrolling and prowling along its surface, exuding a terrifying pressure.

This sect-protecting grand formation was clearly of an exceedingly high grade. Tightly interwoven with the earth veins and beast spirits, it was impregnable as metal and boiling water.

The entire sect used the cluster of peaks as its foundation, its pavilions and halls scattered like stars.

Dozens of spiritual peaks were unevenly distributed—some treacherous, some picturesque, and some imposing.

On the summits, along the mountainsides, and even within the misty clouds, countless pavilions, palaces, and plazas had been built in accordance with the terrain. With soaring eaves and interlocking brackets, their resplendent glory merged flawlessly with the natural landscape.

Traces of spirit beasts could be seen everywhere within the sect.

Clear cries of immortal cranes echoed as they carried disciples soaring through the sky. Giant apes guarded the crucial mountain pathways, while scaly, exotic beasts lay dormant in deep pools, inhaling and exhaling spiritual qi.

Over seventy percent of the disciples coming and going were accompanied by spirit beasts.

As for the rest, some lacked the required cultivation, while others simply had not released them from their spirit beast pouches.

"In terms of heritage, the Northwest Region is too far behind compared to the central region."

Xi Daoyun let out a soft sigh.

As far as he knew, the Spirit Taming Sect was currently at the peak of its prosperity, watched over by four Nascent Soul stage cultivators, one of whom was a great Nascent Soul cultivator.

Of the remaining three, one was at the mid-stage and two were at the early stage.

Besides them, there was also a shapeshifting great demon acting as their sect-guarding spirit beast!

It was just unknown what realm it was currently in.

The Spirit Taming Sect had a massive number of disciples, all specializing in beast taming.

When fighting in tandem with their spirit beasts, their combat strength would often far surpass those in the same realm.

Their overall strength in the central region of Heavenly South was second only to the Feather Transformation Sect.

Its millennia of heritage was something even the Northwest Region's number one sect, the Profound Moon Sect, could not compare to.

However, heritage was one thing; peak combat strength was another.

Even if the Spirit Taming Sect relocated to the Northwest, they could not possibly become a hegemonic sect there.

And the reason was the Ancestor of Profound Moon, Zhang Fan.

He alone could match the combined forces of the Spirit Taming Sect's four Nascent Soul cultivators.

As for such a presence, each of the other four peak sects possessed at least one.

After pausing for a moment.

Clad in a black robe, Xi Daoyun flew straight toward the mountain gates, his body radiating a faint Nascent Soul pressure.

At the gates, a jade archway standing thirty meters tall faintly shimmered with spiritual light. It was guarded on both sides by several incredibly lifelike stone statues of spirit beasts, their eyes gleaming as if they were alive.

There was a total of four disciples on guard duty, all wearing the standard blue-green dharma robes of the Spirit Taming Sect.

Their cultivations were mostly in the early to mid Foundation Establishment stage. Beside each of them, spirit beast companions of various shapes and sizes either crouched low or circled in the air.

When Xi Daoyun's undisguised Nascent Soul aura approached, the four disciples shuddered almost simultaneously, expressions of awe surfacing on their faces.

The leader, a middle-aged cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage, reacted the fastest.

He hurriedly stepped forward and bowed deeply with cupped hands. His voice was deferential, yet it did not lose the bearing of his sect. "This junior, a disciple of the Spirit Taming Sect, respectfully welcomes Senior!

May I inquire about Senior's honored name and the purpose of your visit to our sect?

We juniors will immediately relay the message."

Xi Daoyun brought his soaring light to a halt a dozen meters before the gates, sweeping his calm gaze over the disciples.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice not loud but ringing clearly in everyone's ears. "I am Xi Daoyun. I have come to visit your honorable sect's Grand Elder Yu Qi."

"Grand Elder Yu Qi?!"

Hearing this, the disciples' hearts jolted. They exchanged glances, unable to conceal their shock.

Grand Elder Yu Qi was a powerhouse at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, possessing a boundlessly exalted status within the sect, second only to that great cultivator ancestor.

He normally lived in seclusion, making it rare for ordinary disciples to ever catch a glimpse of him.

'Since he is here for a visit, they must be acquainted. And considering he is also a Nascent Soul expert, it makes perfect sense that they would know each other.'

After a moment of thought, the leading disciple quickly restrained his shocked expression, his attitude growing even more respectful. "So it is Senior Xi! Please forgive this junior's lack of manners.

We will report this immediately.

Please wait here for a moment, Senior."

"Very well."

Xi Daoyun gave a faint nod, standing before the mountain gates with his hands clasped behind his back.

His gaze swept past the massive archway, looking toward the majestic, qi-shrouded mountain peaks deep within the sect. His expression betrayed neither joy nor anger.