CHAPTER 787: CHAPTER 010: YU KING’S NINE CAULDRONS

"You may rise. In fact, seeing that your root bone is decent and you are not too old, just over thirty, it is not easy to reach this realm in a world where energy is so scarce."

Zhou Yan heaved a sigh, a surge of soul power lifted the green-clothed woman and at the same time, released the soul power restraint on her soul.

These cultivators, although they had strength and combat power, were really immature in terms of enlightenment, cultivation, and combat experience, even inferior to an ordinary prodigy from a large family in the breeding grounds of Sword Burial Ancestor Star.

But Zhou Yan could tell that someone like this green-clothed woman must be a dazzling, proud figure within her sect.

"Without comparison, one will never know how great the gap is."

A cultivation holy land, an ancestral land, once had nearly countless immortal divine legends, but now, it couldn’t even compare to an ordinary cultivator from a breeding ground. This can only be described as sadness.

"The Xuanyuan Ancestor is fortunate to have fallen asleep, otherwise, if he were to wake up and see this scene, I wonder if he would be utterly disappointed."

Zhou Yan mumbled to himself, filled with lamentation.

In his view, the cultivators of this world were like the beggars of Sword Burial Ancestor Star—truly ’impoverished’ and really ’pitiable’.

Yet, even so, in this state of decline, the various sects still kept their magic techniques tightly sealed and did not share them. They were still engaging in mutual suppression, framing each other, slaughtering each other.

At this rate, the world of these cultivators would truly face annihilation soon. When only one sect remained, it might seem strong, but a sect without competition is doomed to quick extinction.

"Thank you, thank you, senior."

The green-clothed woman, lifted by the power of the Void Soul, could no longer kneel, and feeling somewhat relieved, she respectfully said,

"No need, you tell me about Pure Yang Sect and the various current cultivation practices so that I can understand."

Zhou Yan said indifferently.

"Senior, are you serious?"

The green-clothed woman was slightly startled, somewhat confused as to why the young but exceptionally powerful cultivator was doing this; given his cultivation level, he must be an Old Monster who had cultivated for countless years. How could he not know the basics?

Now, with him asking, she didn’t know how to answer.

After thinking for a moment, she didn’t dare to question anything but gave a brief overview of the current state of affairs: "The heavenly tracks are abnormal, the karma of cultivators is very powerful, so our cultivation world completely separates from the ordinary world using remnants of Ancient Arrays, even blocking many entrances to cultivation."

"My name is ’Xu Yingxia,’ I am the second direct disciple of Yun Han, the Sect Master of Pure Yang. I am shallow in experience and will resolve your doubts to the best of my abilities, hoping for your understanding.

In the eyes of people like me in the cultivation world, the Buddhist saying ’a flower is a world, a leaf is a bodhi’ can roughly describe our kind of world; we exist within such a world.

Our world is also connected together by various ancient arrays, appearing separate, but in fact, in some areas, they merge. From the Void City Shu Mountain to Kunlun Immortal Pool and Yuxu Peak, Yaochi Ancestral Land, to Dunhuang Divine Sect, they are all straightforward paths, but they are distinct from how the ordinary world divides this planet.

The original Wanling Clan, the legends of a journey to the west, the path of the deification and such, this kind of westward path, belongs to our world.

According to them, the world of ordinary people on Earth is the Positive Matter World, and we inhabit a world in the Anti-Matter World."

Xu Yingxia explained bit by bit, occasionally glancing at Zhou Yan, paying attention to his expression and whether he was satisfied.

This is because she did not dare to offend such a powerful individual comparable to the ancient Earth Venerates.

Zhou Yan’s strength was almost identical to the ancient ancestors of her Pure Yang Sect, suggesting that this being might have awakened recently, and therefore, did not know much about the current situation.

"There’s such a saying?"

Zhou Yan nodded slightly. As for this, he had seen faint indications of it.

The cultivators of the cultivation world generally appeared rarely in this world, but the two worlds had points of connection. Near these points, strange phenomena often occurred, such as seawater flowing backward or plane crashes.

The unsolved mysteries of the real world, those famous magical places, are mostly entrances to this kind of world.

Such places needed ancient sealing, Rune Ancient Arrays, and the like to stabilize. Once fluctuations or anomalies occurred, they could lead to unusual changes, causing inexplicable, eerie scenes in the ordinary world.

"Yes, for instance, the largest entrance to our world is in the region of the Pearl River Delta, a perilous place and an entrance for cultivators to undergo training," explained Xu Yingxia.

"Hmm, I generally understand. So, what’s the current situation with cultivators?" asked Zhou Yan.

"Now... the scope of the cultivation world is shrinking. The Dunhuang Divine Sect is growing in strength, and the Western Great Sects are quite formidable, with followers already spread throughout all our lands.

However, there are not many cultivators who truly dedicate themselves to passing on the Tao, except for the Shushan Taoist Sect, Shushan Sword Sect, and Creation Gate. The original Xingyi Sect, Baji Sect, and such are gradually straying from the scope of the cultivation world. At present, some influences still have an impact, such as Shushan Sword Sect, Shushan Taoist Sect, Kunlun Immortal Pool Holy Land, Yuxu Sect, Ancient Yaochi, and Dunhuang Divine Sect, among others.

It was precisely because of these powers that the invasion of the Western Great Sect had been slow. However, now there were rumors that the Shushan Sword Sect had begun to annex other Sects, recklessly trying to gather the divine Magic Treasures from the Ancient Tai Chu era, preparing to merge with the Tao Sect."

"During my Red Dust Training to investigate, I found that the Shushan Sword Sect might have dealings with missionaries from within the Western Great Sect, likely planning to join forces with the Western Great Sect to attack the Shushan Taoist Sect."

"Of course, this is just my personal opinion, I lack concrete evidence."

"But the Western Great Sect and the Cultivation World of Central Earth have always been at odds, like water and fire. Now, to make a pact is like asking a tiger for its skin; once the smaller Sects are wiped out, the fall of Shushan could happen overnight."

Xu Yingxia laid out her viewpoint and explained the cause and effect.

Zhou Yan, however, simply nodded indifferently, without any signs of anger or fury, but with a calm demeanor instead.

This response left Xu Yingxia somewhat unable to grasp the depth of Zhou Yan, uncertain of his stance regarding the Shushan Sword Sect and Taoist Sect.

"Senior—"

Xu Yingxia tentatively called out.

Zhou Yan glanced at Xu Yingxia casually, which immediately unsettled her.

"I won’t interfere with your Cultivators’ infighting, as long as it doesn’t impede my work. Just now, as you were speaking, I had a Soul venture forth, roaming Heaven and Earth, I caught a few ordinary mortals who were followers of the Western faith to take a look.

Inside their bodies, there is a faint Source Power, fed back to them, guarding their peace and tranquility, allowing them a place for their hearts to rely on, which is actually a good thing.

Although some ordinary people, blinded by their obsessions, commit evil under the guise of being followers, such things are not the original intention of those Western Great Sects. Essentially, it’s not really a bad thing.

Compared to the brutal methods of the Cultivation World of Central Earth, being invaded by forces of the Western religious Sects might actually be beneficial."

"Ah, Senior—"

Xu Yingxia was taken aback.

If the other party were a true Cultivator, an old antique, how could this be? Wouldn’t he have suddenly leapt into action, calling for battle, eager to strike at the West?

"Chan Sect, Jie Sect, even the Jesus Sect, and so on are all ancient Great Sects. In ancient times, the Divine beings of the West and those of the East glorified and diminished together.

Otherwise, the Tai Chu Runes and Ancient Ancient Arrays beyond our Earth would not be protected by the combination of Eastern and Western scripts."

"So, your vision is all too short-sighted, only seeing what’s before you, not the past nor the future."

"I will not intervene in what you do, but I will spread the teachings, pass on the Cultivation to Dao, to all Sects, opening up Holy Lands for Cultivation for all Sects, making Cultivators incredibly powerful. Ultimately, one day, to break through this domain, to go and see the outside world, and then, upon returning, to ponder what the point of conflict is within such a small place."

Zhou Yan sighed and said.

Talking about Sects, and about spreading teachings, after understanding the situation of ordinary people, Zhou Yan felt unspeakably sorrowful.

Many ordinary people no longer believe that the Divine watches just three feet above, during festivals they no longer worship their ancestors.

They have forgotten propriety, integrity, modesty, and right conduct, they have forgotten ancient teachings like benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and trust, living only for their desires.

With belief in ruins and morals decayed, an entire world seems to have become a sickly, decaying tree on the verge of death.

The world is filled with the stench of decay, a state of lethargy and listlessness.

The world of ordinary people is like this, and now, from what Xu Yingxia has shared, the Cultivation World is nearly the same, rotten to its core, secluding itself, yet still arrogantly considering itself superior to ordinary people, mocking and looking down upon them.

This is nothing but the pot calling the kettle black.

"Senior, what do you mean?" Xu Yingxia was shocked.

"Has the Cultivation World seen any major events recently?"

Zhou Yan did not respond to Xu Yingxia’s question but instead asked one of his own.

"Well, there is indeed. First is the discussion and competition among Cultivators from all the Ancient Lands that occurs every ten years, to identify Cultivators with the best talent and to vie for the rights to explore some of the Ancient Ruins with precious resources, as well as to distribute resources accumulated over vast territories."

"Another matter is that the Western Great Sect is said to have obtained an Ancient Cauldron, one of King Yu’s Nine Cauldrons, and many Cultivators are now turning their attention to our Pure Yang Sect’s Pure Yang Ancient Cauldron to verify its authenticity."

Xu Yingxia thought for a moment and brought up this matter, also explaining the reason she had been previously pursued.

Zhou Yan nodded and said, "The matter of King Yu’s Nine Cauldrons must be true. It seems your Pure Yang Sect will have a troubled time. Come, take me on a visit there, it’s an excellent opportunity to declare to the world that I intend to accept disciples."

"As for my strength, when your mightiest Cultivator appears later, I will demonstrate my power for them to see."

Zhou Yan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, speaking confidently.