"That stone tablet has existed since the founding of our Dao Sect. When our patriarch discovered this place, the stone tablet was already standing on that withered mountain peak. Our patriarch once said that the stone tablet contains the ultimate truth of heaven and earth. If one can comprehend it, one will surely benefit immensely. Later, our patriarch founded the sect here, and the Desolate Hall was born from this." Ying Xuanzi recalled.
He paused, then continued, "As for the origin of the stone tablet, the patriarch did not leave much of a record, only saying that it was an ancient artifact of unknown origin, but certainly not an ordinary one."
Luo Heng nodded without interrupting.
Ying Xuanzi glanced at him and said, "You have comprehended the Great Desolation Scripture and communicated with the Monument Spirit, so you should know some things that we don't."
Luo Heng replied, "Yes, this disciple does know some."
Tell me about it.
Luo Heng pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, saying, " The Great Desolation Monument is Ancient Divine Object, ranking third on the Ancient Divine Artifact Ranking."
Ying Xuanzi's pupils suddenly contracted.
Third on the Ancient Divine Artifact Ranking?
He certainly knew what the Ancient Divine Artifact Ranking meant; it was the most powerful Spirit Treasure in the world, each possessing earth-shattering power, and the top three were legendary beings.
And that stone tablet standing deep within the Desolate Hall is actually the third-ranked divine artifact?
"Beneath the Great Desolation Monument, a Yimo True King is suppressed," Luo Heng continued calmly.
Ying Xuanzi's expression changed completely.
The Yimo True King?
What level of existence is that? It's a terrifying being at the Reincarnation Stage, an enemy that even the Eight Ancient Masters had to personally suppress in ancient times!
"Are you sure?" Ying Xuanzi's voice was somewhat hoarse.
Luo Heng nodded and said, " The Monument Spirit said it itself. It has been suppressing that Yimo King for tens of thousands of years. Now its power has been mostly used up and it can't hold on much longer. In two or three years at most, that Yimo King will break free from its seal."
"Two or three years?" Ying Xuanzi murmured, a hint of seriousness flashing in his eyes.
The Dao Sect was built on the head of the Yimo True King, and it has been established for over a thousand years, yet they know nothing about it. Many of their ancestors even considered moving the Great Desolation Monument to another location...
" The Monument Spirit said that the power of just two Ancestor Talisman is enough to completely annihilate that Yimo King," Luo Heng said.
"Two Ancestor Talisman?" Ying Xuanzi frowned.
The Ancestor Talisman rare; there are only eight in the world, and each one possesses earth-shattering power.
Obtaining even one is incredibly difficult, let alone two.
Currently, it is known that Lin Dong possesses one Devouring Ancestral Symbol, but such a rare find is extremely difficult. How then can he locate a second one?
"Two Ancestor Talisman —how easy is that?"
Luo Heng nodded and said, "It's indeed not easy, but it's not that difficult."
Ying Xuanzi looked at him, his expression somewhat astonished. "That's all?"
Luo Heng said, " The Sect Master should already know that Lin Dong possesses the Devouring Ancestral Symbol."
Ying Xuanzi did not deny it and nodded.
"I have found the second Ancestor Talisman." Luo Heng said calmly, as if he were talking about something trivial.
Ying Xuanzi's pupils contracted slightly. He asked, "Which one?"
" The Darkness Ancestral Symbol," Luo Heng said, pausing before continuing, "The holder of the Darkness Ancestral Symbol is Bo Xuan, the Hall Master the Darkness Hall in the Northern Xuan Region, a peak Samsara Stage expert. She is my lover's master, and I have met her once; our relationship is fairly amicable."
Ying Xuanzi remained silent for a moment.
The Darkness Hall, the sole overlord of the Northern Xuan Region, the wielder of the Darkness Ancestral Symbol and the Darkness Holy Scythe. Bo Xuan had met him several times; he was a true tyrant with unfathomable strength, and even he himself was not certain of victory against him.
"Will Bo Xuan agree?" Ying Xuanzi asked.
Luo Heng said, "This disciple will go and say that eliminating the Yimo is the responsibility of every living being on the Tianxuan Continent, and Hall Master Bo Xuan will not refuse."
Ying Xuanzi looked at him, a complex emotion welling up in his heart. This kid was not only incredibly talented, but also had such a wide network of connections. The Hall Master the Darkness Hall was someone even he had to treat as an equal, yet Luo Heng was able to establish a relationship with her.
"Are you sure she won't refuse?" Ying Xuanzi asked again to confirm.
Luo Heng nodded and said, "Confirmed."
Ying Xuanzi took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, and said, "Alright, if you can persuade Bo Xuan, then there will be hope for resolving the Yimo King beneath the Great Desolation Monument."
The two then discussed some matters concerning the Yimo. Luo Heng briefly recounted to Ying Xuanzi what he had discussed with the Palace Master at the Nine Heavens Taiqing Palace.
After listening, Ying Xuanzi's expression turned solemn. He had long suspected that there was something wrong with the Yuan Sect, but he had not considered the possibility of it being related to the Yimo.
" Yuan Sect ..." Ying Xuanzi murmured, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.
Luo Heng didn't reply; some things are best left unsaid.
Ying Xuanzi looked at Luo Heng. This young man had only been in the Dao Sect for a little over half a year, yet he had already made countless contributions to the sect.
Repairing the Barren Demonic Eye, restoring the Gu Mo Eye, obtaining the seeds and saplings of the Immortal Yuan Ancient Tree, guarding the Blood Rock Land Mine Vein, comprehending the Great Desolation Scripture, receiving insights into the Reincarnation Stage, informing him of information about the Yimo... Each of these achievements would be enough to make any disciple famous throughout the Eastern Xuan Region, and all of them are concentrated on him alone.
Of course, the most important thing was to save his daughter, Huanhuan.
After a moment of silence, Ying Xuanzi suddenly stood up, walked deep into the bamboo forest, and stopped in front of a blue stone wall.
He raised his hand and pressed it against the stone wall, and a gentle surge of Primal Energy flowed out, causing ripples to spread across the surface of the stone wall.
A moment later, a longbow, entirely purple, emerged from the stone wall.
The bow was over three feet long, its body a deep, dark purple, with faint, dark gold patterns flowing across its surface. The bowstring was as thin as a hair, yet it emanated a heart-stopping aura.
The bow is carved with lifelike dragon heads at both ends, with dark red gemstones inlaid in the dragon eyes, which shimmer with an eerie light under the light.
Luo Heng's gaze sharpened. He sensed an extremely terrifying power emanating from the bow, a power far exceeding the scope of Heaven Tier Spirit Treasure.
The Pure Yuan Treasure!
Ying Xuanzi took down the longbow and handed it to Luo Heng, saying, "This bow is named ' Dawnbreaker,' Lower Grade Pure Yuan Treasure."
Luo Heng took it; it felt slightly heavy in his hand, and a cool sensation came from his palm.
He could sense that the bow contained an extremely terrifying power, a power powerful enough to Space-Splitting and even influence the laws of heaven and earth.
"You have made so many contributions, yet I haven't given you any real reward." Ying Xuanzi shook his head, a hint of apology in his voice, and said, "This Spirit Treasure is a small token of my appreciation."
Luo Heng was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, " Sect Master, you're too kind."
He truly hadn't expected Ying Xuanzi to suddenly give him a reward.
Lower Grade Pure Yuan Treasure would be a treasure of any Super Sects. Although the Dao Sect has a profound foundation, the number of Pure Yuan Treasure is extremely limited, and each one is as precious as one's life.
"Keep it," Ying Xuanzi waved his hand and said, "Since you also cultivate archery, Spirit Treasure of the bow and arrow type is just right for you."
Luo Heng nodded and put the Dawnbreaker Bow into his System Space.
He was indeed lacking a decent bow and arrow Spirit Treasure. His strongest bow and arrow was only Earth Tier Spirit Treasure, which was no longer able to keep up with his cultivation level. Now that he had this Lower Grade Pure Yuan Treasure, the power of his archery would surely increase greatly.
"Thank you, Sect Master." Luo Heng clasped his hands in thanks.
Ying Xuanzi waved his hand and said, "This is what you deserve."
The two went back to their seats.
This time, Luo Heng's tone was more serious than before. He said, "This disciple has another matter to inform the Sect Master."
Ying Xuanzi stirred slightly, as if asking, "What else?" Then, with a calm expression, he said, "Speak."
" Sect Master, Senior Brother Zhou Tong..." Luo Heng paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, before slowly saying, "He might still be alive."
Ying Xuanzi's body stiffened abruptly, and the bamboo slip in his hand fell to the ground with a thud. A surge of uncontrollable emotion suddenly welled up in his usually calm and profound eyes.
He didn't speak, but just stared intently at Luo Heng.
The wind in the bamboo forest seemed to stand still at that moment, and even the bamboo leaves stopped swaying.
Looking at Ying Xuanzi's reaction, Luo Heng sighed inwardly. He knew what this news meant to Ying Xuanzi. Zhou Tong was Ying Xuanzi's last disciple and was treated like his own son. When the news of Zhou Tong's death at the hands of the Yuan Sect came, Ying Xuanzi went into seclusion for three whole months. Few people could understand his decision not to attack the Yuan Sect.
"What did you say?" Ying Xuanzi's voice was a little hoarse, with a tremor he himself didn't even realize.
Luo Heng didn't repeat himself, but simply looked at him quietly.
Ying Xuanzi took a deep breath, exhaled slowly, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart, and asked, "Are you sure?"
"I am 70% confident," Luo Heng said calmly, continuing, "Senior Brother Zhou Tong was not killed back then, but imprisoned by the Yuan Sect."
Ying Xuanzi clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white.
captivity.
It wasn't a fall from grace, but imprisonment.
This means that his disciple is still alive, imprisoned deep within the Yuan Sect for over a hundred years.
He didn't doubt the truthfulness of Luo Heng's words, because he knew Luo Heng wouldn't speak carelessly. Saying 70% was probably just a matter of not knowing how to explain it.
" Yuan Sect ..." Ying Xuanzi's voice was very soft, but Luo Heng could hear the raging anger suppressed beneath the calm.
" Sect Master, I currently have no concrete evidence, nor have I located the exact location where Senior Brother Zhou Tong is imprisoned." Luo Heng shook his head and continued, "But I will investigate. After the Sect Tournament concludes, I will travel to the Chaotic Demon Sea. There, I will find the challenges I need and the opportunities I seek. I will keep Senior Brother Zhou Tong's matter in mind."
Ying Xuanzi remained silent for a long time.
Luo Heng didn't urge him, but just sat there quietly.
After a long while, Ying Xuanzi raised his head and looked at Luo Heng. His eyes had regained their usual composure, but Luo Heng could see what was hidden beneath that calmness—a deep pain that had been suppressed for over a hundred years.
" Luo Heng," Ying Xuanzi spoke, his voice hoarse, "If we can truly find Zhou Tong, I will owe you a favor."
Luo Heng shook his head and said, " Sect Master, you flatter me. Senior Brother Zhou Tong is a disciple of the Dao Sect, so it is only right for me to do these things."
Ying Xuanzi didn't say anything more. He simply stood up, walked to the edge of the bamboo forest, stood with his hands behind his back, and looked at the sea of clouds in the distance. His back looked somewhat lonely.
Luo Heng stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, " Sect Master, this disciple will take his leave now."
Ying Xuanzi nodded without turning around.
Luo Heng turned to leave, and just as he reached the exit, he said in a clear voice, " Sect Tournament, Yuan Sect..."
Having said all that, he left the bamboo grove without saying anything more.
Ying Xuanzi didn't move. He knew what Luo Heng wanted to say, and he thought...
Kill all the Yuan Sect disciples!