Lake of Rebirth

The Elder Steward the counter remained expressionless. After a moment's thought, he began searching through several Jade Slip of different colors on the table.

True Disciple missions are usually assigned directly by the sect to the corresponding True Disciple based on the situation, and the content is mostly related to important matters, special training, or confidential operations.

It's quite rare to see someone like Su Bai proactively requesting to take on a specific type of task.

After all, True Disciple receive a fixed Annual Quota of one thousand Contribution Points, which is enough to support a considerable level of cultivation even without performing any tasks. Only those with surplus capacity would consider earning extra contribution points or accumulating experience through tasks.

A moment later, the Elder in Steward stopped what he was doing and picked up a Jade Slip slip from among the others.

He handed it to Su Bai, his tone calm yet carrying a hint of notification: "The current period is suitable for long-term meditation, and there aren't many missions in environments that are harmless to breaking through realms."

"Take a look at this and see if it suits your needs."

He paused, then added, "Compared to the inner sect, the concentration of Spiritual Qi might be slightly lower, but it has the advantage of absolute tranquility."

"Furthermore, some methods are remarkably effective in focusing the mind and clearing away distractions, which may be an advantage for a crucial stage like Foundation Establishment that requires complete concentration."

Su Bai thanked him and accepted the gift, his Spiritual Sense sinking into it.

A flood of information rushed into his mind, and he read it carefully.

After reading it, Su Bai realized that the environment described in the mission was indeed quite ideal for someone Breaking Through to Foundation Establishment stage in seclusion.

In some ways, it might even be more conducive to calming the State of Mind than being within a sect.

But in contrast, the mission has a time limit of three years!

This might seem too long for many True Disciple who are eager for rapid advancement and keen on practical experience.

However, this disadvantage has become an advantage for Su Bai, who is currently seeking a stable environment to cultivate his Foundation Establishment in seclusion.

Three years is enough time for him to calmly hone his cultivation to the Qi Refining Great Perfection and make full preparations to Breaking Through to Foundation Establishment.

Even if it fails the first time, there is ample time to adjust, recover, and try again.

Moreover, the mission location is far from sect conflicts, ensuring high safety.

The mission involves a Secret Realm called the Lake of Rebirth.

According to the Jade Slip slip, this Secret Realm is under the complete control of the Jade Mist Sect Secret Realm.

According to research, it is suspected to be a fragment left over from the collapse of a higher world involving the Reincarnation Principle.

Within this Secret Realm, all life has vanished, and all things are withered and desolate, except for a strange body of water that remains in its center— the Lake of Rebirth.

Through generations of Cultivator' exploration and research, the Jade Mist Sect gradually discovered some of the mysterious properties of the Lake of Rebirth.

This lake seems to attract, hold, and preserve Memory Fragment left behind by the dead, memories imprinted with strong obsession or deep imprints.

Therefore, the sect established a rule that any Cultivator of the Jade Mist Sect who knows that their time is coming to an end and chooses to Passing into Nirvana naturally can apply to enter this Secret Realm and peacefully Liberation by Violence by the lake.

Their Memory Fragment have a high chance of being absorbed by the Lake of Rebirth, preserved, and transformed into a special entity within the lake.

These preserved Memory Fragment have not completely disappeared, but rather seem to have acquired a certain vitality.

They would float and sink in the Chaos waters of the Lake of Rebirth, like fish of memory, their forms blurred and emitting a faint glow.

To some extent, this means that those predecessors Passing into Nirvana were not completely dead in a certain sense; at least some of their life experiences, insights, and even emotional fragments were able to continue in this unique way.

Su Bai's task was to use the [Soul Spirit Fishing Gear], a magical Law Artifact specially made by the sect 'Artifact Refining Grandmaster, to fish on the Lake of Rebirth for three years.

The target is those Memory Fragment floating in the lake.

The Jade Slip also mentions a vague legend: if one can, through fortuitous opportunity and patience, fish up all the Memory Fragment of the same deceased person and piece them together completely.

Perhaps with the help of the mysterious power of the Lake of Rebirth, the deceased can be resurrected in some form.

Of course, this is just a legend. Since the Jade Mist Sect took control of this Secret Realm, there has never been a successful precedent.

The Memory Fragment are too scattered, and the fish in the lake are too numerous to count; to collect a complete set would be an impossible task.

The Memory Fragment caught by anglers must be handed over to the sect.

The sect will attempt to conduct classification and combination research.

If it is not possible to gather complete memories of the deceased for an extended period, these fragments will be priced in Contribution Points based on the value of the information they contain (such as the level of the Cultivator, the knowledge or insights involved, etc.), and placed in the sect's treasury, available only to True Disciple and above for exchange.

This is a unique resource for True Disciple.

For example, since Su Bai specializes in Sword Dao, he can choose to exchange for Memory Fragment of a senior Sword Cultivator. After absorbing it, he may directly gain the senior's insights into the cultivation of certain sword techniques and Divine Ability.

Even some vague cultivation experiences.

If he wishes to delve into Thunder Method, he can also seek out Memory Fragment of Lightning Law Cultivator.

The Jade Mist Sect has a long history, and countless Memory Fragment slumber in the Lake of Rebirth, some of which are said to have been left by several Nascent Soul Old Ancestor, making them invaluable.

Of course, for Disciple who carry out fishing missions, for each Memory Fragment they successfully fish up, regardless of its final value, the sect will give them a one-time Contribution Points reward based on the fragment's approximate level (Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, etc.).

If you can catch fragments from the Foundation Establishment Realm or higher, the rewards will be quite substantial.

Furthermore, anglers have priority in exchanging the fragments they catch, simply by paying the corresponding Contribution Points.

However, the mission also clearly pointed out the difficulties: the Lake of Rebirth is extremely vast, the water Chaos, and the visibility is extremely low.

It also has a strong blocking and dissolving effect on Spiritual Sense.

Memory Fragment themselves have no physical form, are elusive, and are extremely difficult to perceive and lock onto by [Soul Spirit Fishing Gear].

Luck, patience, and even a touch of mystical fate are all crucial.

If, after three years, one can successfully retrieve a Memory Fragment, then the trip will have been worthwhile and yielded some results.

It's perfectly normal to return empty-handed.

This task is part of the obligation of the True Disciple. If no progress is made after three years, the sect will not provide any basic Contribution Points as a reward.

After careful consideration, Su Bai's eyes gradually settled.

This task was practically tailor-made for him!

"This Disciple is willing to accept this task. I will trouble you Elder." Su Bai handed the Jade Slip back, his tone certain.

Seeing that he was determined, the Elder in Steward didn't try to persuade him further and nodded, "Wait a moment."

He turned and went into the inner hall, returning shortly afterward with something in his hand.

It was a uniquely shaped fishing tackle.

The main body is a fishing rod about seven feet long, neither made of gold nor wood, with a dark, matte black finish.

The hook is not metal, but a small, slowly rotating, milky-white halo emanating a soft, suction-like force. This is the key to hooking up invisible Memory Fragment.

"This is [Soul Spirit Fishing Gear]." The Elder in Steward solemnly handed the fishing gear to Su Bai.

"The Lake of Rebirth are extraordinary; they possess a subtle, eroding power that can erode and dissolve the souls of living beings. Ordinary Law Artifact, or even Spiritual Sense, will be corrupted or devoured in an instant upon entering. Only with this specially crafted fishing tackle can one fish safely and temporarily seal the captured Memory Fragment within the aura of the fishing hook."

"Remember, when fishing, you must use your own pure Spiritual Power to maintain the operation of the fishing tackle runes, and your mind must also maintain a slight connection with the fishing line and hook to sense the fish movements in the lake, but you must never directly probe the lake water with your Spiritual Sense, remember this!"

Next, he handed a palm-sized Secret Realm Jade Talisman to Su Bai, and took Su Bai's True Disciple Token, operating it on a small Magic Array for a moment.

"The entrance to the secret realm is located on a hidden island in the eastern sea area of Wu Kingdom. The jade talisman contains a detailed sea map and instructions on how to enter."

"Only with this Jade Talisman can you open and enter the Secret Realm."

"Your mission information has been entered into the Token. Once you enter the Secret Realm, the Token will automatically start timing."

"After three years, whether you are fishing or not, you will be automatically teleported back to the entrance by the power of the Secret Realm." After giving the Steward, the Elder handed the Token back.

Su Bai carefully put away the [Soul Spirit Fishing Gear] and the Secret Realm Jade Talisman, thanked the Elder Steward, and then turned and left the Inner Sect Grand Hall.

Sword Academy, Training Ground.

Su Bai arrived on his Sword Flight and went directly to Xu Shangran and Zhao Shanhe, who were supervising their Disciple ' cultivation.

He told him that he had accepted a three-year fishing mission in the Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm.

"Lake of Rebirth?"

Upon Xu Shangran frowned slightly, clearly knowing the place. "It is quiet enough, suitable for seclusion."

"But that place... is ultimately a place of Passing into Nirvana, with a somber atmosphere. If one stays there year-round, one must be mindful of one's will and lest the deathly stillness corrupt Dao Heart."

Three years is a long time; you should prepare well.

Zhao Shanhe clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Chief, rest assured, I will manage all affairs of the Sword Academy. I wish Chief a successful journey and a successful Foundation Establishment!"

Su Bai also gave Zhao Shanhe a few words of advice on cultivation, and then glanced at Wang Jue and the others who were trying to sense Sword Qi in a corner of the Training Ground. Without lingering any longer, he rode his Sword Flight and soared into the sky.

This time, they headed straight for the Jade Mist Sect Mountain Gate, following the direction indicated by the Jade Talisman Sea Chart, and sped off.

Five days later, in the eastern part of the Wu Kingdom, in the vast sea.

The azure sea stretches to the horizon, and seabirds circle overhead.

Guided by the Jade Talisman talisman, Su Bai lowered his flight altitude and carefully identified the islands on the sea.

Finally, after flying for about two hours, a seemingly inconspicuous, sparsely vegetated, gray-black island came into view.

There were no Spirit Vein fluctuations on the island, nor any traces of human habitation; only some salt-tolerant shrubs and reefs.

It was mid-June, the Scorching Sun was blazing, the sea breeze was hot, and the temperature on the island was even higher than usual.

Su Bai pressed down on the Sword Light and landed on the island.

He searched carefully and soon found a downward-facing cave entrance, partially hidden by dense vines and only wide enough for one person to pass through, in a shady rocky area in the middle of the island.

The cave entrance was deep and dark, with a faint, warm current emanating from it.

"This is it." Su Bai pushed aside the vines and darted inside without hesitation.

The cave is initially narrow and winding, but as you go down, the space gradually opens up, although the temperature also rises sharply.

The rock face gradually changed from gray-black to dark red, and later, faint shimmering lava could be seen flowing between the cracks.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of sulfur and scorching heat.

After descending for several kilometers, the view suddenly opened up, revealing a huge underground lava cave.

At the bottom of the cave was a slowly churning lake of lava, radiating terrifying heat and a blinding red glow. The rolling heat waves reflected a crimson hue onto the cave.

Ordinary Cultivator would have been dried out or melted into ash long ago if they arrived here without special methods.

The entrance to the Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm is hidden on a rock wall somewhere in this lava cave, concealed by a complex sect Sealing Formation.

Su Bai took out the teardrop-shaped Jade Talisman and infused it with Spiritual Power.

The Jade Talisman immediately emitted a cool blue halo, enveloping him and shielding him from most of the terrifying heat.

Guided by the Jade Talisman talisman, he fixed his gaze on a seemingly ordinary reddish-brown rock face across the lava lake.

He took a deep breath, channeled his Spiritual Power, and his figure transformed into a pale blue shadow, rushing straight toward the rock wall!

As it approached the rock face, the Jade Talisman shone with a brilliant blue light, resonating with the complex array patterns that suddenly illuminated the rock face.

Buzz!

A violent Spatial Fluctuation came, and Su Bai felt his body lighten, as if he had been thrown into a rotating tunnel. The terrifying lava scene around him disappeared instantly, replaced by a bizarre and blurry light and shadow.

In just a breath or two, my feet touched solid ground, and I found myself on new soil.

The Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm.

The first thing that floods the senses is not the scenery, but an indescribable feeling.

Absolute silence, and a heavy, seemingly timeless stillness.

Then, my vision cleared up.

What comes into view is a vast, boundless lake of a Chaos color.

Small, faint Whirlpool kept forming on the surface of the lake, only to disappear again.

The lake shore was covered with vast stretches of deathly gray sand, devoid of any signs of life.

This is the Lake of Rebirth.

Su Bai was currently on one of the Sand Bank.

"The sect's Jade Slip states that the Lake of Rebirth Secret Realm is a World Fragment of a Reincarnation World."

"So, is this place what the world looks like after it has become lifeless?"

Su Bai looked around but didn't see any other sect members fishing.

So he leaped up, preparing to choose a secluded spot to start fishing, and at the same time begin his three-year-long training.