Miss Ling, Please Advise!

Lin Xuan turned and exchanged a glance with Ling Qingzhu. The next moment, the two of them stepped into the sea of fire in unspoken accord.

"There are so many passages around us. How can Young Master Lin Xuan be certain that they are all fake?"

Ling Qingzhu looked at Lin Xuan, who had entered alongside her, and a trace of surprise flashed through her eyes. She knew the weak point of this array only because her master had told her about it.

Although the Fire Sea Grand Array was rather unusual, it was only unusual. It was not enough to trouble a great expert of the Revolving Wheel Realm.

Moreover, even without her master's guidance, the Ancient Azure Sky Lotus beneath Ling Qingzhu's feet could restrain arrays of this kind that incorporated illusions.

"Lin Xuan was fortunate enough to obtain a special path of cultivation, allowing me to see through such illusory grand arrays to some extent. On the other hand, Miss Ling saw through this grand array at a glance. Truly impressive!"

With the Sword Heart's clarity, let alone an illusory grand array left behind by a mere Nirvana Realm expert, unless it was an illusory grand array that forcefully bewitched the mind through powerful mental strength, it would be impossible to affect Lin Xuan—even if its creator were an expert on the level of the Symbol Ancestor.

What was clarity? It was to understand one's heart and perceive one's true nature, with one's spirit free of delusion!

After hearing Lin Xuan's words, Ling Qingzhu was somewhat astonished, but she did not dwell on it. Such things might be rather unusual, but that was all.

The two entered the sea of fire and continued deeper together. Before long, they arrived before a Bronze Gate.

After glancing at Ling Qingzhu, Lin Xuan stepped forward with her. Each stood before one half of the gate. Though they had exchanged no words, they moved in perfect sync, raising their hands and placing them upon the doors at the same time.

"Boom! Boom!! Boom!!"

As the two exerted force, the Bronze Gate before them let out a series of heavy roars. Then, this Bronze Gate, sealed away for countless years, slowly opened.

Once they passed through the Bronze Gate, the crimson glow behind them vanished completely, as though an invisible barrier had blocked it all away.

Before Lin Xuan and Ling Qingzhu stood a vast yet simple Stone Hall.

Within the empty Stone Hall, the stone coffin placed at its center and the glowing sphere above it, radiating vigorous vitality, immediately drew both Ling Qingzhu's and Lin Xuan's attention.

However, their attention was fixed on different things. Ling Qingzhu looked up at the emerald-green Nirvana Heart overhead, and even her usually calm eyes carried a hint of burning desire.

Lin Xuan, however, merely glanced at the Nirvana Heart before withdrawing his gaze and focusing it on the uncovered stone coffin.

"Nirvana Heart!"

Ling Qingzhu's tone was no longer calm. As she spoke, her aura began to flicker in and out, as though she had already begun preparing to contend with Lin Xuan for it.

"It seems this senior passed away after failing to break through to the Life Profound Realm. That Nirvana Heart already carries a faint trace of a Spirit Seal."

Lin Xuan stared deeply at the stone coffin, his grip on his sword tightening slightly without his noticing. Only then did he glance up at the Nirvana Heart and speak softly.

In truth, the Nirvana Heart, Spirit Seal, and even the final Reincarnation Seal were all part of the same progression.

The Nirvana Heart merely condensed one's own energy together. Only Nirvana Realm experts could accomplish this, making it the most basic version.

The Spirit Seal was an advanced version. Not only did it contain vast energy, but it could also preserve a trace of spiritual consciousness. It might even erode whoever obtained it, seize their body, and be reborn once more. (This existed in the original Martial Universe text, with Su Rou.)

As for the Reincarnation Seal, it was the perfected version. It not only contained all of one's power, but also a complete soul and all of one's memories.

The appearance of a Reincarnation Seal meant that reincarnation had succeeded. As time passed, one could slowly awaken from reincarnation, and their strength would return to its peak.

"Heh, brat, you certainly know quite a lot. And your eyes are sharp too—you actually spotted my hiding place at a glance."

At that moment, streams of light slowly drifted out from the uncovered stone coffin. Then, beneath Ling Qingzhu's shocked gaze, they gradually condensed into an elegant man.

Ling Qingzhu's pupils contracted slightly. She had not expected that the Tomb Master's remnant primordial spirit was still here.

What puzzled Ling Qingzhu even more was that this damaged primordial spirit had escaped even her master's notice—or perhaps her master simply had not paid attention to it. How had Lin Xuan seen through it at a glance?

"You flatter me, Senior. This junior is merely somewhat sensitive to such unusual fluctuations."

The Tomb Master only smiled without speaking as he watched Lin Xuan, who wore a humble expression and cupped his hands in salute. He could tell that while Lin Xuan appeared humble, that humility stemmed from the pride in his bones.

The more arrogantly someone acted and looked down on others, the more inferior they truly felt inside.

Those who were truly proud were often quite humble, because from the very beginning, people like you had never been their goal.

Comparisons of strength, talent, and the like meant nothing to them, because they had never regarded such things as their goals or pursuits.

After glancing at Ling Qingzhu standing beside Lin Xuan, the Tomb Master's smile grew even more pronounced. At a glance, he could tell that Ling Qingzhu's origins were extraordinary. Although Lin Xuan's background was inferior to hers, his talent and aptitude were unquestionably above Ling Qingzhu's.

They were simply a match made in heaven!

"I have only one Nirvana Heart here. Why don't you two discuss it and decide who it should belong to?"

The Tomb Master's gaze made Ling Qingzhu's delicate brows furrow. For some reason, she felt that the Tomb Master before her did not seem like an upright person.

Thus, upon hearing the Tomb Master's words, which seemed to carry a hint of provocation, Ling Qingzhu immediately replied.

"There is no need for Senior to concern yourself with that. So long as Senior is willing to hand this Nirvana Heart over to us, that will be enough."

"That is no problem. I am dead anyway. Keeping this Nirvana Heart would only be for your sake."

The Tomb Master chuckled softly. His gaze swept back and forth between Lin Xuan and Ling Qingzhu, as though he were greatly satisfied.

Feeling somewhat uncomfortable under the Tomb Master's gaze, Ling Qingzhu gracefully retreated after receiving his agreement, widening the distance between herself and Lin Xuan. The long sword in her hand pointed directly at him.

"Young Master Lin Xuan, do you still remember the agreement between you and Qingzhu?"

"Rest assured, Miss Ling. You and I will decide the victor. The winner shall claim this Nirvana Heart, while the loser must stand guard for the winner!"

As Lin Xuan spoke, he raised his hand and saluted Ling Qingzhu.

"Miss Ling, please enlighten me!"