Ancient Great Era Theory

"I've read your mission report. You did a great job using your wits to eliminate a Skin-Painting Yao."

Lu Yang was overjoyed. It wasn't easy to get a compliment from Senior Disciple Sister, so the trip to Taiping Township was worth it.

After Yun Zhi's brief comment, she thought of the implications behind the Skin-Painting Yao, and a hint of gloom appeared between her brows.

"In the past hundred years, with the arrival of the Great Era, the various forces hidden in the shadows have been stirring, and Beguilers are rampant. The Great Xia Dynasty seems peaceful, but who knows how many disasters are hidden within it. The Great Xia Dynasty is too concerned with appearances and refuses to seek help from the Five Great Immortal Sects." Yun Zhi sighed softly. These words were naturally not meant for Lu Yang's ears.

Lu Yang noticed a phrase in Senior Disciple Sister's words: "The arrival of the Great Era?"

He hadn't heard of this term before, nor had he seen it in books.

Yun Zhi's voice was ethereal, as if she didn't belong to this world: "A hundred years ago, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Strategy Sect emerged from his death seclusion, spilling blood on the Qing River, questioning the heavens with his life. What he divined is unknown."

The Heavenly Strategy Sect was known for being able to predict everything and solve anything, emphasizing the clarity of heavenly principles and karmic retribution. They were the ones who questioned the insurance policies of the Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association.

"The Grand Elder then announced to the world that the Great Era had arrived, reviving the magnificent splendor of ancient immortal cultivation."

"According to past conventions, the Five Great Immortal Sects were lucky to produce one Single Spirit Root per generation. In your generation, there appeared an Ancient Barbarian Race, three Single Spirit Roots, and an Immortal Body even rarer than a Single Spirit Root. I've heard that other immortal sects have also recruited many geniuses comparable to Single Spirit Roots in the past hundred years. From these, we can glimpse a corner of the ancient Great Era."

Yun Zhi's lips rarely curved into a faint smile, seemingly mocking: "The ancient Great Era is said to be a magnificent time, but in reality, it was extremely chaotic. The Great Era is also a chaotic era, with various forces and interests intertwined. Yao-Demons and Beguilers scheme against each other, human hearts are unpredictable, and life and death are determined by fate. Countless innocent talents died before a single immortal cultivation expert emerged. In terms of peace and stability, it's far inferior to the present."

Lu Yang thought Senior Disciple Sister's smile was very cold.

Lu Yang had seen descriptions of the ancient Great Era in books. The ancient Great Era respected strength above all else, where the winner was king, with no distinction between good and evil. The Human Race was just one of the many powerful races at that time, far from being the dominant power on the continent as it is today.

Yao-Demons were born, dragons fought tigers, and geniuses roamed the world, forging their reputations with blood and bones. They were decisive in killing, and countless great figures became legends admired by millions in the process, a goal that cultivators strived for their entire lives but could never reach. It was truly inspiring, making one wish to travel back to that era and showcase their talents.

It was in such a chaotic world that various heroes and heroines had the opportunity to emerge.

But seeing Senior Disciple Sister's expression, Lu Yang realized that the ancient Great Era was good for geniuses, but a nightmarish hell for ordinary people.

Living fast and dying young, life was precarious. A single ordinary conflict among the upper echelons could result in one's own people being reduced to slaves and prisoners, subjected to enslavement and slaughter, with no stability whatsoever.

The ancient Great Era described in the books was magnificent because the author himself was a high-level cultivator, yearning for the scenes of that time.

If viewed from the perspective of an ordinary person, the picture would be completely different.

Lu Yang realized that after becoming a cultivator, he seemed to have forgotten that he was once a mortal.

This shouldn't be the case.

Yun Zhi didn't dwell too much on this topic, as it was too early for Lu Yang: "Do you have anything else to ask?"

"Well, Senior Disciple Sister, do you have any spells here that can be used for traveling?"

"Of course, but what do you need such a spell for?"

The Dao Seeking Sect and the Falling Gold Coin Merchant Association had an agreement that the expenses of Dao Seeking Sect disciples when traveling outside, regarding accommodation and transportation, would be charged to the Dao Seeking Sect's account. Lu Yang didn't even need to pay Spirit Stones when riding the Flying Boat, so where would he use a traveling spell?

Lu Yang scratched his head, a rare embarrassed expression on his face: "It's nothing, I just want to learn it, to save money for our Dao Seeking Sect."

Yun Zhi didn't suspect anything: "Since you have this intention, I, as your Senior Disciple Sister, can't go against your wishes. You've just reached Foundation Establishment, so there aren't many spells you can use."

Lu Yang chuckled and rubbed his hands: "Having something usable is enough."

"I've been watching your cultivation this year, and you're worthy of the name Sword Spirit Root. I have a Flying Sword Art here that allows you to step on a Flying Sword and travel freely across the land."

"There's also a Levitation Technique that tempers your divine sense, allowing it to become strong enough to move your body and fly at will. However, the speed isn't as fast as the Flying Sword Art, but it's more energy-saving, and tempering your divine sense is also helpful for future battles."

"The Transformation Technique is also an option. After mastering it, you can transform into a bird and soar in the sky, free and unrestrained."

"Junior Brother, which one do you choose?" Yun Zhi casually mentioned a few spells for Lu Yang to choose from.

"...Well, do you have any spells that don't involve flying?"

Yun Zhi looked at the blushing Lu Yang with interest: "Oh, why do you want to learn a traveling spell that doesn't involve flying?"

Lu Yang stammered, unable to say anything for a long time.

Yun Zhi didn't press further: "There are also spells that don't involve flying, but this spell requires extremely high Daoist Arts comprehension and also has requirements for Method Power. It might be a bit early for you to learn it now."

"It's okay, I'll try it first. If it doesn't work, then forget it."

"This spell is called Shrink Ground to Inch, and its cultivation difficulty is extremely high. This is the incantation. After you've memorized it thoroughly, I'll officially teach you."

Yun Zhi raised her jade hand, casually opened a space, and took out a page of golden paper, neatly filled with delicate handwriting.

Lu Yang carefully took the golden paper. This thing looked valuable at first glance, and it would be terrible if he tore it.

After Lu Yang left, Yun Zhi closed her eyes and continued to cultivate. As a gust of Yin wind came, an old and resentful voice came from her ear, making one's blood run cold, as if falling into an ice cellar.

"My good disciple, how much longer are you going to imprison your teacher?"

The voice was as if it came from the Nine Underworlds Hell, creepy and spine-chilling!

"Your teacher didn't guide you many times. It wasn't easy for you to cultivate to your current realm. Your teacher is proud of you."

"As the saying goes, 'Once a teacher, always a father.' You can't disregard your teacher's guidance and imprison your teacher here."

"The Dao Seeking Sect hasn't had a Sect Master in place for ten years. You're acting on behalf of your teacher, exercising the Sect Master's authority. Aren't you afraid of gossip, affecting your Senior Disciple Sister's glorious image?"

"It's fine if you're taking in disciples on behalf of your teacher, accepting such a Sword Dao genius on behalf of your teacher. Your teacher won't pursue the matter deeply."

"But you should at least let your teacher out, let your teacher meet my disciple. Instead of worshiping the real person, you're only letting him worship your teacher's portrait. Wouldn't that be laughable?"

The voice contained a certain magic, stirring the heartstrings, making one unconsciously want to believe, undo the seal, and release the owner of the voice.

Yun Zhi cultivated with all her heart, turning a deaf ear.

Seeing that Yun Zhi was unmoved, the old voice turned thousands of words into a long sigh, disappearing completely, as if it had never appeared.

Yun Zhi sat in the five hearts facing heaven position, everything remained the same.