All Hundred Million Humans, Descendants All

Even though the man had done nothing, Zhang Xiu still felt a chill creeping up his spine.

No! He had to escape!

He lunged directly toward the wall to his side.

Given his cultivation realm, he could be clear of this residential complex within two seconds of breaking through.

Yet, the next moment, he discovered to his horror that no matter how hard he tried, the distance between him and the wall remained unchanged.

"You went to such lengths to reach me, so why are you in such a hurry to leave?"

His vision blurred, and when Zhang Xiu finally regained his senses, he saw he was still standing in his original position. His expression turned grim.

An illusion array!

And an incredibly sophisticated one at that; he hadn't even realized when he had fallen into the trap.

"Who exactly are you?"

There was no doubt that this person's cultivation far exceeded his own, but how could Xiaolu possibly be involved with a practitioner of this caliber?

"Me? In a sense, you are likely the first person to discover that I have emerged from seclusion." Xu Xing did not hide the truth.

Hum!

It felt as if a thunderbolt had flashed through his mind, causing even his soul to tremble.

He had considered that Xu Xing might be a practitioner drawn here by the emergence of a great cultivator, but he had never imagined that this man was the very ancient cultivator who had just emerged!

But how could this be?!

Why would Xiaolu be connected to an ancient cultivator who had just come out of seclusion?

"Don't overthink it. I simply felt that you and your sister were fated to meet me, so I passed on a few things to her to make her path of cultivation a bit smoother."

Zhang Xiu did not believe Xu Xing's words, but he still cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks, Senior, but Xiaolu's path of cultivation is already smoother than most, so..."

He stopped mid-sentence, staring at Xu Xing in disbelief—or more accurately, at the teardrop-shaped red jade in his hand.

It wasn't in his storage ring!

He frantically searched his body, but it wasn't there either!

"So that's how it is. I was wondering why she managed to master the first form of the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique." Xu Xing clicked his tongue in wonder. "Interesting, to think someone would come up with a way to utilize the blood of those creatures."

Blood?

Could it be that this ancient cultivator knew the true nature of the red jade?

"The method used to craft this item is quite ingenious, but it shouldn't be used the way you are using it."

Xu Xing looked at him and asked, "Do you need me to give you a hand? Though, after I use it, the 'form' of this object might disappear."

"I dare not trouble you, Senior."

This was the only item his parents had left behind; he could not possibly let it vanish, especially not at the hands of an ancient practitioner he knew nothing about.

"Very well. At your current realm, the utility of this item is indeed limited." The red jade in Xu Xing's hand vanished. "It has been returned."

Zhang Xiu checked immediately; the red jade was lying quietly inside his storage ring, as if it had never left.

A trace of chill surged into his heart.

Just what level of big shot was this?!

"Sit down first. Ask whatever you wish to ask, and I will do my best to answer you."

Zhang Xiu wanted to say he had nothing to ask, but the chance to find clues about his parents' passing was right before him. If he gave up now...

After a brief hesitation, he stepped forward and sat upright on the sofa.

"Dare I ask, Senior, you mentioned the red jade is 'blood.' May I ask from what kind of creature it originates?"

"The answer to that question is far too dangerous for you right now. I suggest you join the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect; you will naturally know once you reach the Dao-Integration realm."

Ah?

Not only did he have to join an immortal sect, but he also had to become a Dao-Integration practitioner?!

It was just an answer; was the threshold really that high?

His parents had been a long way off from Dao-Integration back in the day.

"Is that the only way?"

"It doesn't necessarily have to be the immortal sect, but Dao-Integration is a must. After all, you are a body cultivator; joining the Dragon-Elephant Heaven-Supporting Sect would allow you to progress more smoothly."

"..." After a moment of silence, he asked, "As for Xiaolu, what are your arrangements for her, Senior?"

"She has decent talent for combat. I will assist her in forging a Heaven-Forged Dao Foundation, after which she will naturally enter my Sword Sect."

If she has good combat talent, she should become a sword cultivator?

Why not focus on body cultivation? Body cultivators need combat talent too!

"Because sword cultivators are cooler than body cultivators."

Hm?!

Telepathy?

"Not mind-reading, but isn't that exactly what you body cultivators think the moment you hear 'sword cultivator'?"

He couldn't refute that.

As the two universally acknowledged brutes of the Great Profound Realm, the elegant, free-spirited sword cultivators who rode the wind on their blades were indeed far more popular than the muscle-bound body cultivators who were always ripping their shirts apart.

"Besides, do you really want your sister to go around smashing people with her fists?"

Zhang Xiu: "..."

Fine, he couldn't quite stomach that image either.

"Anything else you want to ask?"

"Senior's cultivation has reached the pinnacle of creation. At your level, why would you pay attention to small cultivators like us?" Zhang Xiu asked earnestly.

Could it be because you're bored and looking for some amusement?

"Don't view things so darkly."

And you say you aren't using telepathy.

"I am a forerunner. Compared to you, I have simply walked a few more years."

"When I first stepped onto the path of cultivation, I also received the protection of many predecessors to reach where I am today. Naturally, I should protect the younger generation just as they did."

This answer was truly unexpected.

"But I am not a member of the Sword Sect," Zhang Xiu wondered aloud.

Hearing this, Xu Xing looked at him: "The billions of humans in the Great Profound Realm are all our descendants."

Within the gray, hazy space, Zhang Yunlu sat cross-legged as wisps of gray mist flowed and converged into the gaping hole in her abdomen.

The injuries on the rest of her body had also completely healed.

[Enemy Slain: Qi Refining Level 9 Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Great Success]

[Time Taken: 3 minutes and 10 seconds]

Golden text appeared, followed by a round, smooth medicinal pill.

Zhang Yunlu opened her eyes, grabbed the pill, and popped it into her mouth.

The medicinal power took effect quickly; the depleted spiritual energy in her dantian recovered rapidly and grew much stronger.

Didn't I fall asleep?

Why can I still feel the spiritual energy in my dantian?

Why did I feel pain when I was injured?

Is that really what it feels like when life slips away?

A multitude of questions weighed on her heart, but she had no energy left to explore them now.

After nearly a hundred life-or-death battles without holding anything back, her Flowing Cloud Sword Technique had progressed rapidly, and she had mastered all the subsequent sword moves. Now, even a sword cultivator with the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Great Success was no match for her.

[Enemy: Qi Refining Level 9 Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Perfection]

[Kill to end this trial]

Seeing that line of text, a glimmer of spirit finally returned to Zhang Yunlu's eyes.

She could finally end this!

She finally understood why Xu Xing had been so adamant in his guarantee that she could master the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique.

It turned out it was entirely piled up with lives!

Her spirits lifted, and Zhang Yunlu stood up, gazing into the depths of the gray mist.

Step, step!

It was the same familiar sword cultivator phantom, its face obscured, possessing spiritual energy on par with her own.

Kill him, and I can get out of here!

This time, Zhang Yunlu decided to seize the initiative!

With a light tap of her toes, she lunged toward the sword cultivator phantom, slashing out five sword beams in one go—and this wasn't even her limit!

After a burst of metallic clashing sounds.

Pfft!

The blood she spat out dissipated into the gray mist.

Pierced by several sword beams, Zhang Yunlu flew backward like a broken ragdoll, while the sword cultivator phantom showed no mercy, stepping forward to thrust its blade through her brow.

[Enemy: Qi Refining Level 9 Sword Cultivator, Flowing Cloud Sword Technique at Perfection]

[Challenge Failed]