One sword cheat

Chapter 22 Entering the Ancient Realm, Humanity's Protection

"Master, could you tell us what exactly the Ancient Realm is?"

Chen Ren raised his hand, his gaze intense: "You've always avoided talking about the Ancient Realm, but now that we've reached the fifth level, shouldn't we be qualified to know about it?"

Zhang Yunqing's gaze fell on Chen Ren, but she didn't answer immediately; instead, she seemed to be thinking about something.

"Logically speaking, now that you've reached this level, I should be telling you this."

Zhang Yunqing slowly shook her head: "But... it's not something I can say. Entering the Ancient Realm for the first time will be dangerous, but it will also bring immense benefits. If I tell you beforehand, you might miss out on these opportunities."

She simply told Chen Ren and the others to prepare themselves mentally, and that the answer would be available tomorrow.

This made Wang Chengxian, Chen Ren, and Ren Renren even more curious.

"Junior brother, what exactly is different about the Ancient Realm?"

After Zhang Yunqing left, Ren Renren couldn't contain himself any longer and asked, full of curiosity.

"How would I know? But I think my brother and the others have mentioned that the Ancient Realm is a place beyond our imagination."

Wang Chengxian interjected, "When the family holds clan meetings, they always say that only the Ancient Realm is the place where we contemporary cultivators should stay."

"Instead of thinking so much, we should prepare more. Do you remember what your master said? Don't look, don't listen, don't remember."

Chen Ren waved his hand helplessly: "I'm going to sleep now to prepare for tomorrow."

Sword drawing value +5.

In fact, it wasn't just them; masters and disciples from other sects were also talking about things related to the Ancient Realm.

After the disciples had all fallen asleep, the masters from the seven sects of Qingcheng Mountain gathered again in the office of the Chilin Association.

Their expressions were somewhat solemn, as if they were quite wary of tomorrow's journey into the ancient realm.

"This time, I have three disciples," Zhang Yunqing said first.

"I have two disciples," Wenren Yu continued.

Gong Ping of Lao Jun Pavilion and Zhao Shi of Pu Zhao Temple exchanged a glance: "We each have two."

Apart from them, Guchang Temple, Baiyun Temple, and others each only had one person.

"Seven sects from Qingcheng Mountain have come this time, making a total of twelve people."

Zhang Yunqing frowned, somewhat displeased: "Confucius's writings can only safely protect ten people at a time."

She took out an old bamboo scroll from her bosom. The scroll was very old and had been weathered by time; it looked quite ordinary.

"More than ten people might be a bit dangerous, lacking in humanity and civility, but it's the day we're distributing resources, and you probably don't want to postpone it for a while."

"The Ancient Realm... when is it not dangerous?"

Zhao Shi clasped his hands together and sighed, "Based on past experience with attrition rates, people might die."

"There's nothing we can do about it. People born in the ancient world are marked from birth, and they have better aptitude, but these children are our foundation."

Wenren Yu sighed: "However, my disciple Su Rentong and my senior brother's disciple Chen Ren must go. They are talented, and everyone should know that."

"Hmm, whose younger member will step down first?"

Zhao Shi thought for a moment and said, "A sect with only one person can't just withdraw, can it?"

"The Shangqing Palace is in charge of the collection of Confucius's writings, and since no one has been selected for the past two years, it should be able to find someone who can do more."

Wenren Yu was speaking up for Zhang Yunqing this time, that was a fact. Hearing this, the others exchanged glances, and Gong from Lao Jun Pavilion sighed:

"My Lao Jun Pavilion is willing to have one person withdraw."

This is unethical, but there's nothing we can do about it.

"No need to look anymore, let one person from Puzhao Temple also withdraw."

Zhao Shi said somewhat helplessly, "No matter what, we still have to ensure their safety first."

"My first time entering the Ancient Realm..."

The many cultivators from Qingcheng Mountain muttered and sighed, a hint of fear flashing in their eyes. Their first visit there was something they would never forget.

Early the next morning, Zhang Yunqing placed a bamboo slip in Chen Ren's palm.

"What is this?"

Chen Ren's eyes lit up: "Is this the benefit you were talking about, Master?"

Does he still remember the promise Zhang Yunqing made?

"Okay, don't ask too many questions. You'll be the one to lead the way among the ten people this time."

Zhang Yunqing earnestly instructed, "Don't break it. This is your first time entering the Ancient Realm. Just remember this sentence—"

Hold the bamboo slips tightly, don't let go!

Actually, this was originally intended for Su Rentong, but things didn't go as planned.

But there's a natural order to tension and relaxation; after Su Rentong left, Chen Ren came along.

Chen Ren couldn't understand the bamboo slips, but he was afraid of damaging them and not being able to afford the compensation, so he held them very carefully.

It's like a brand new phone that's just been unpacked.

Early the next morning, he and ten other people lined up.

"Come with me."

Zhang Yunqing waved her hand gently, and the next second, a clear light shone, carrying them slowly into the air.

This was Chen Ren's first time flying. He could clearly see everything around him receding, while they were rapidly approaching the depths of the fog.

Gradually, the fog thickened, and they could no longer see anything clearly except for their group of people in the spiritual light.

Looking behind them, Zhang Yunqing and the other six senior disciples from various sects followed behind them like a flock of wild geese, protecting them.

Occasionally, the sound of wind could be heard from within the mist, and Chen Ren realized that it seemed as if someone had flown in from above.

No, there is someone flying!

He felt the eye-like totem from yesterday spontaneously coalescing within his blood and qi, as if guided by something.

Suddenly, they entered a huge stone gate. The mist thinned abruptly, and above them were cultivators who moved like streaks of light, their movements so fast that only afterimages could be seen.

Before he could react, the group had already passed through the stone gate. In that instant, Chen Ren suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

The surroundings became dark, as if some shadow was looming over them.

Strange things seemed to coil around them from the heavens and earth, trying to penetrate them.

In that instant, Chen Ren recalled what he had seen and heard when he ate the eye and broke through to the fifth level of Qi and Blood.

Not a revolving lantern?

But... it actually happened!

He saw the altar, and the indistinct things in the surrounding mist that seemed to want to assimilate them.

At this moment, the eye totem on my body seemed to become a lighthouse in the darkness, guiding these things...!

Oh no, how could this happen?

Chen Ren's sword-drawing ability kept increasing, and he sensed something was wrong.

The ten people turned pale with fright. The Ancient Realm was actually like this? This was no place to be trifled with!

They even saw, at an unknown distance, a giant with dark blue skin, holding a jade tablet, extending his enormous hand to them.

Just as everyone was about to be enveloped, suddenly, white light spread from their bodies.

At the same time, Chen Ren saw white light emanating from the group of people other than himself. Wang Chengxian, Ren Renren, and others were glowing, and seemingly familiar yet unfamiliar characters spread from their foreheads, eyes, and limbs.

What's going on?

"This is Small Seal script. Look, I actually have characters on my hand!"

Wang Chengxian raised his right hand, and small seal script characters continuously appeared on his palm:

"In the twenty-sixth year, the emperor annexed all the feudal lords under heaven, bringing great peace to the people, and established himself as emperor..."

"I also have writing on my skin. I recognize it; it looks like a line of poetry."

"The roc rises with the wind, soaring ninety thousand miles high..."

"I have some on me too, where did it come from?"

Zhang Yunmiao couldn't help but speak up as well. His dantian glowed, and the words within were clearly visible:

"To establish a moral compass for Heaven and Earth, to secure a destiny for the people, to continue the lost learning of past sages, and to usher in an era of peace for all generations..."