Tell Me Honestly, Are You Coming Back?
At this moment, Yi Xuan looked at Cui Yan with a resentful expression and said, "Sect Master Cui? Senior Brother Cui? Why are you, a group of highly respected sect elders, discussing me?"
Yi Xuan dared not blame his master, so he could only blame the elders.
Cui Yan smiled and said, "What's wrong? Isn't this the sect and the elders' trust in you?"
"Whoa...!"
After listening to Cui Yan's words, Yi Xuan already knew what he was going to say next. He simply hoped that Yi Xuan would continue to work hard, complete the tasks assigned to him by the sect, and not let down the sect and the elders.
Although this method of making empty promises was crude, Yi Xuan knew that the sect had already done its best.
They simply hadn't expected that Yi Xuan was a time traveler who had already encountered all sorts of lucrative career opportunities before his transmigration. Compared to those high-end opportunities, the pie in the sky that Cui Yan and the others were painting for Yi Xuan was at best a Wu Dalang pancake, the kind without Pan Jinlian. How could Yi Xuan possibly accept that?
"Sect Leader, you know my situation. My own strength is really nothing special. If it weren't for some unusual skills, I wouldn't be able to Sect Protector. If I were to lead the team, the other sects in the Southern Frontier would laugh at us. They would say that our Azure Cloud Sect has no one left, actually sending a Qi Refining Realm guy to lead the team. It would really damage the sect's reputation!"
Cui Yan nodded after hearing Yi Xuan's words. "We have considered what you said, but based on your performance during the attack by the Gazing Immortal Sect, all the elders unanimously believe that you will not bring shame to the sect!"
"But...!"
Yi Xuan wanted to retort, but Cui Yan interrupted him directly, "This is also Grand Elder Xiao's intention!"
Upon hearing this, Yi Xuan had no more excuses to make.
Yi Xuan knew that his master would not let him take any risks, and this incident was probably just a way for him to train himself.
However, Yi Xuan, who had the typical otaku tendencies, didn't appreciate it much, just like when he went to the Origin Return Sect to resolve Zhuo Ning's matter last time. Yi Xuan did it mainly out of respect for his master.
If he had a choice, Yi Xuan would just want to quietly conduct scientific research at the base and be a quiet, handsome man.
It is precisely because of Yi Xuan's personality that he has been able to develop his technology to its current level in this Cultivation Realm.
Helpless, Yi Xuan could only nod and ask Sect Master Cui to introduce him to some relevant information about the Artifact Ruins.
Cui Yan had already given Yi Xuan a brief overview of the situation. This Artifact Ruins was the site of a High Antiquity cultivation sect called Artifact Sect, located in an alternate dimension connected to the Cultivation Realm, which is what cultivators call a secret realm.
As the oldest secret realm in the Southern Frontier, the Artifact Ruins is so well-known that all the sects Southern Frontier have thoroughly explored its contents. It's like a game instance that was pioneered in a previous life, and there are plenty of guides for Yi Xuan to refer to.
The condition for entering the Ruins of Artifact Ruins is the map that Liu Xing presented to the sects. When the maps in the hands of each sect begin to emit a faint light, they can set off for the Ruins of Artifacts. According to the markings on the map, the person holding the map will be able to find the entrance to the Artifact Ruins.
Each map can support ten people to enter the Artifact Ruins. However, once their cultivation level exceeds the Golden Core Realm, they will be rejected by the entrance of the Artifact Ruins. Therefore, over the years, the major sects in the Southern Frontier have sent their disciples who have reached the completion of the Grain Avoidance Perfection stage to enter.
Many people gained a lot after entering, but before the Artifact Ruins closed, they were expelled because they had advanced to the Golden Core stage within them.
The reason why Yi Xuan was chosen to lead the team this time was twofold: firstly, because Yi Xuan had demonstrated combat strength beyond the Golden Core Realm when he was protecting the sect before; and secondly, because of his Rootless Person nature, Yi Xuan's cultivation level was forever stuck at the Qi Refining Realm stage.
In this way, Yi Xuan could lead his disciples into the Artifact Ruins.
Having someone with the combat power of the Golden Core Realm to lead the way into the Artifact Ruins will surely result in a much greater harvest than before. This is the most important reason why the sect's higher-ups decided to let Yi Xuan lead the team.
Upon learning this, Yi Xuan could no longer refuse, because it seemed that even Yi Xuan felt this matter was rightfully his.
It should be noted that during previous expeditions to the Artifact Ruins, the sect would send elders at the Golden Core Realm to lead the teams in order to ensure the safety of its disciples.
This way, there was indeed very little danger during the journey to and from the ruins, but once inside, the Golden Core Elder could only watch helplessly from the outside.
The survival of the Cultivation Realm is deeply ingrained, so the battles in the ruins are bound to be fierce. Almost every time, many disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect die after entering them.
After understanding the situation, Yi Xuan nodded to Sect Master Cui and said, "Senior Brother! I understand. Although I can't guarantee anything, I will do my best to protect the safety of my sect's disciples!"
Hearing Yi Xuan say this, Cui Yan nodded with relief. Now Yi Xuan finally understood the sect's higher-ups' good intentions. Those disciples who had reached the completion of the Foundation Grain Avoidance Perfection and entered the secret realm were the future of the sect, and Yi Xuan needed to do this time was to protect that future!
"How much more time do I have to prepare?" Yi Xuan asked Cui Yan anxiously.
After all, Yi Xuan is not a cultivator who can leave at will; his strength is all he has.
Thinking about participating in such a dangerous matter, Yi Xuan felt that it was best to be fully prepared.
Cui Yan took out the map of the Artifact Ruins, which was already emitting a faint glow.
Judging from this light, we must set off in three days at most!
Three days?
Yi Xuan made a mental estimate and concluded that although time was a bit tight, he should be able to prepare adequately.
Nodding to the sect leader, Yi Xuan said, "There's no time to lose, Senior Brother. I'll go back and prepare now. I'll be back in three days. In the meantime, please confirm the disciples who will participate in this secret realm with the elders!"
"You don't need to worry about that!" Cui Yan waved to Yi Xuan, seeing his impatient expression.
Seeing that his senior brother, the sect leader, was gesturing for him to leave, Yi Xuan flew down the mountain.
After all, there were only three days left, Yi Xuan didn't want to waste a single second.
Back at the base, Yi Xuan called Liang Shi and Zhuo Ning over, and the three of them began to work busily around the base.
Three days later, in front of the main hall of the Azure Cloud Sect, a group of elders and selected disciples stood in formation. Cui Yan nodded as he looked at the nine disciples below. These disciples were all experts who Grain Avoidance Perfection, and two of them were even just one step away from becoming Golden Core True Person.
"Sect Leader, it's almost time! Protector Yi hasn't arrived yet!" An elder behind the Sect Leader stepped forward to remind him.
Cui Yan also noticed that Yi Xuan was still nowhere to be seen and became somewhat uneasy. After all, he had gone to great lengths to persuade Yi Xuan to go last time, and if Yi Xuan was afraid of the battle and didn't come now, things would get really messed up.
Yi Xuan did not disappoint them. Just when everyone was getting impatient, a figure appeared in their sight. It was Yi Xuan.
Yi Xuan's figure completely attracted the attention of everyone in the square. When Yi Xuan came in front of Cui Yan couldn't help but ask, "Junior Brother Yi, tell me honestly, are you coming back?"
Cui Yan pointed to the dozen or so Storage Bag at Yi Xuan's waist, and the people around him looked at Yi Xuan with strange expressions.