Chapter 29: Theory of the Ancient Great Era

"I have reviewed your mission report. You used your wits to eliminate a painted skin demon; well done."

Lu Yang felt a sudden surge of joy. Praise from the eldest senior sister was no easy feat to obtain, making his journey to Taiping Township well worth the effort.

After offering her brief commentary, Yun Zhi recalled the underlying implications of the painted skin demon, and a shadow of gloom settled between her brows.

"For a century, with the arrival of the great epoch, hidden factions of every stripe have grown restless, and ghosts and monsters run rampant. This Great Xia Dynasty appears tranquil on the surface, yet who knows how many disasters lie buried within it. The Great Xia Dynasty saves face above all else, refusing to seek assistance from the five great immortal sects," Yun Zhi sighed softly, her words clearly not intended for Lu Yang’s ears alone.

Lu Yang caught a particular phrase in his senior sister's words: "The arrival of the great epoch?"

He had never heard this term, nor had he ever encountered it in books.

Yun Zhi's voice sounded ethereal, as if she were not entirely of this realm: "A hundred years ago, the Supreme Elder of the Tiance Sect emerged from his death-seclusion, spilling his blood into the Qinghe River. He questioned Heaven at the cost of his life, though what he calculated remains unknown."

The Tiance Sect claimed that all things could be measured and nothing was beyond comprehension, devoting themselves to the clarity of heavenly principles and karmic retribution; it was they who had questioned the insurance policies of the Gold Coin Merchant Guild.

"The Supreme Elder subsequently announced to the world that the great epoch had arrived, resurrecting the resplendent glory of ancient immortal cultivation."

"According to past tradition, it was considered a fine harvest if the five great immortal sects produced a single single-attribute spiritual root in one generation. Yet your generation has seen the appearance of the Ancient Barbarian clan, three single-attribute spiritual roots, and an immortal physique even rarer than a single-attribute root. I have heard that other immortal sects have also recruited numerous geniuses over the past century who are by no means inferior to single-attribute roots. From this, one can catch a glimpse of the ancient great epoch."

A rare, faint smile touched the corner of Yun Zhi's mouth, carrying a hint of mockery: "The ancient great epoch is called a magnificent spectacle, but in truth, it was chaotic to the absolute extreme. A great epoch is also an era of chaos, where various factions and interests entwine, demons and ghosts scheme against one another, human hearts are inscrutable, and life and death are left to the heavens. Who knows how many innocent people died before a single great master of immortal cultivation emerged. In terms of peace and stability, it falls far short of the present day."

Lu Yang felt that his senior sister’s smile was chillingly cold.

Lu Yang had seen descriptions of the ancient great epoch in books. The ancient great epoch revered strength above all else, where the victor took the crown, and there was no distinction between orthodox and demonic. The human race back then was merely one among many powers, far from possessing its current status as the hegemon of the continent.

Demons emerged, dragons and tigers clashed, and favored geniuses traversed the world, forging their prestige with blood and bone through decisive slaughter. Countless great masters became legends revered by millions in the process, becoming targets that cultivators spent their entire lives striving for yet could never touch. Reading it truly made one's blood boil with excitement, wishing one could travel back to that era to display one's own talents.

It was precisely in such chaotic times that all kinds of heroes and champions had the chance to rise above the rest.

But seeing his senior sister's expression, Lu Yang finally realized that while the ancient great epoch was a blessing for geniuses, it was a hellish nightmare for ordinary folk.

Living in the morning and dying by dusk, with lives constantly hanging in the balance, a commonplace confrontation among the higher-ups could cause one's entire clan to become slaves and prisoners, subject to the servitude and slaughter of others without any semblance of stability.

The ancient great epoch described in books was grand and magnificent only because the authors themselves were high-stage cultivators who yearned for the scenes of that era.

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

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

This should not be.

Yun Zhi did not dwell excessively on this topic; it was still too early for Lu Yang: "Do you have any other matters to ask?"

"Um, Eldest Senior Sister, do you have any techniques here for traveling long distances?"

"Naturally I do, but what do you need such a technique for?"

The Dao Seeking Sect had an agreement with the Gold Coin Merchant Guild. When disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect traveled, their expenses for accommodation and transport at the Gold Coin Merchant Guild were charged directly to the sect's account. Lu Yang did not even need to spend spirit stones to ride a flying vessel, so where would he use a travel technique?

Lu Yang scratched his head, revealing a rare look of embarrassment: "It's nothing, I just want to learn one to save money for our Dao Seeking Sect."

Yun Zhi harbored no suspicions: "Since you have this intention, as your senior sister, I cannot deny your request. You have only just established your foundation, so there are not many techniques you can use."

Lu Yang chuckled and rubbed his hands together: "As long as there's one I can use, that's fine."

"I have witnessed your cultivation over this past year, and you truly live up to the name of the sword spiritual root. I have a flying sword technique here that will allow you to step upon a flying sword and roam the five lakes and four seas freely."

"There is also a displacement technique that tempers divine sense, allowing your divine sense to grow strong enough to move your own body and fly at will. It is merely not as fast as the flying sword technique, but its advantage lies in saving effort, and tempering your divine sense will also aid you in future battles."

"A transformation technique is also an option. Once mastered, you can transform into a bird and soar through the sky, free and unfettered."

"Junior brother, which one do you choose?" Yun Zhi casually listed several techniques for Lu Yang to choose from.

"...Um, is there a technique that doesn't involve flying?"

Yun Zhi looked at the blushing Lu Yang with great interest: "Oh? Why do you wish to learn a travel technique that does not involve flying?"

Lu Yang hemmed and hawed, unable to utter a word for a long time.

Yun Zhi did not press him further: "There are indeed techniques that do not involve flying, but this technique requires an extremely high comprehension of Daoist magic, as well as requirements for spiritual power. Learning it now might be a bit too early for you."

"It's fine, let me try it first. If it doesn't work, then so be it."

"This technique is called Shrinking the Earth into an Inch, and its cultivation difficulty is extremely high. This is the mantra formula; once you have memorized it thoroughly, I will formally teach you."

Yun Zhi raised her jade-like hand, casually slicing open a rift in space to draw out a golden sheet of paper, neatly filled with elegant script.

Lu Yang carefully accepted the golden sheet of paper. This object looked immensely valuable at a glance; it would be disastrous if he accidentally tore it.

After Lu Yang left, Yun Zhi closed her eyes and continued her cultivation. As a chilling wind blew past, an old and resentful voice echoed in her ear, making one shudder as if plunged into an ice cellar.

"My good disciple, how much longer do you intend to confine your master?"

The voice seemed to emerge from the nine layers of purgatory, causing the skin to crawl and the spine to turn cold!

"Your master did not instruct you many times. For you to cultivate to your current boundary was no easy feat; your master is proud of you."

"As the saying goes, a master for a day is a father for life. You cannot disregard your master's grace of instruction and imprison your master here."

"The Dao Seeking Sect has been without a sect master in office for ten years. You exercise the authority of the sect master on your master's behalf; are you not afraid of idle gossip affecting your glorious image as the eldest senior sister?"

"You accepted a disciple on behalf of your master, taking in such a genius of the sword dao for me, and your master will not investigate this deeply."

"But at the very least, let your master out to meet my disciple. Leaving a living master unvenerated and only making him bow to your master's portrait—won't it make people laugh if word gets out?"

The voice contained a certain magical quality that tugged at the heartstrings, making one unconsciously desire to believe it, to undo the seal and release the owner of the voice.

Yun Zhi immersed herself in her cultivation, turning a deaf ear to it.

Seeing that Yun Zhi remained completely unmoved, the old voice dissolved thousands of words into a long sigh, vanishing entirely as if it had never existed.

Yun Zhi sat with her five centers facing heaven, everything remaining just as before.