Chapter 1035: Interesting Little Monk

"Fairy, where exactly are we?"

"Didn't this immortal tell you already? The Empyrean Sacred Ground boasts two masters of the Tribulation Transmutation Stage who are eligible to attend the lectures of Immortal Ying Tian. Aside from sharing insights on cultivation, his teachings focus primarily on how to maintain an aura of supreme preeminence."

"After the lectures, they had to complete their assignments. The people of the Empyrean Sacred Ground, along with those from several other sacred grounds, banded together to establish this secret realm, restricting entry to cultivators below the Foundation Establishment Stage."

"As for them, they disguised themselves as Qi Refinement Stage cultivators to enter the realm as well. However, upon entry, they do not deploy their own might, but rather borrow the inherent power of the secret realm to clear the trials."

"Then what was the original name of this secret realm?" Lu Yang inquired.

"Homework Assignment One."

...

"As expected, I have been separated from them." Xin Ding found himself utterly alone in the deep, untamed forest of the Chixiao Ancient Realm, unable to discern even his bearings.

"According to Junior Brother Xin Chen, one's location upon entering the Chixiao Ancient Realm is completely random. If luck favors you, a few acquaintances might be teleported to the same spot. It seems my luck has run dry."

"The Chixiao Ancient Realm is divided into an outer tier and an inner tier. The outer tier holds only ordinary fortunes, while the inner tier offers a far greater chance of encountering extraordinary opportunities, though it is also fraught with greater peril."

"There are two methods of departure: to be automatically expelled after three days, or to choose to leave after obtaining a fortune... Who goes there!"

Sensing a presence, Xin Ding spun around with a sharp demand; having trained in the Buddhist Lion's Roar, his voice possessed an innate, commanding authority.

"Your perception is quite sharp for a little monk. It seems you have specialized in cultivating your divine sense?"

With a rustle of the thickets, a young maiden clad in white emerged, resembling a secluded orchid in an empty valley, entirely detached from the grim atmosphere of her surroundings.

Yu Youlan looked at Xin Ding with a half-smile, amused by the sheer coincidence.

"So it is Benefactor Yu Youlan of the Empyrean Sacred Ground." Xin Ding pressed his palms together, his mind set at ease; he had heard that this Holy Maiden was eccentric and mischievous, but harbored no ill intent and was someone who could be reasoned with.

Yu Youlan covertly observed Xin Ding's reaction upon seeing her, noting that the young monk's gaze remained crystal clear, devoid of the slightest trace of impurity. It was truly a rare quality.

"Very well, little monk, I have matters to attend to. Take care of yourself."

Yu Youlan had not forgotten her mission. She had come to the Ancient Realm fully prepared, possessing a thirty percent chance of breaching the inner tier to seek out the remaining half of her sacred ground's ancient heritage.

"Amitabha."

Yu Youlan offered Xin Ding a radiant smile before taking her leave.

She darted through the dense jungle, running for some time, yet an persistent feeling of being watched trailed her. Halting her steps, she concealed herself within the canopy of a tree, warily awaiting the pursuer.

Before long, Xin Ding walked past.

"Little monk, are you stalking me?"

Yu Youlan was somewhat astonished. She had thought this monk was a man of honor; how could he engage in such surreptitious tailing?

"The benefactor misunderstands. I am merely heading toward the inner tier, and it happens to be the same path you are taking."

"The same path?" Yu Youlan eyed Xin Ding with suspicion, refusing to believe his words. The shortest and safest route from the outer tier to the inner tier had only recently been deciphered by her sacred ground during their last expedition. The Western Heaven Temple had spent no effort on this matter, so how could he possibly have unraveled it?

"Then you go first."

Xin Ding did not decline, moving forward with an unhurried stride while Yu Youlan followed closely behind.

It truly was identical to the route she intended to take!

After following him for a short distance, Yu Youlan finally believed the young monk's words.

"Little monk, how did you know to walk this way?"

"The Buddha says, it cannot be spoken." Xin Ding dared not reveal the matter regarding the Tofu Heavenly Venerate, for it involved a monumental web of karma that dictated whether the Western Heaven Temple would survive or be destroyed.

"Oh, do tell." Yu Youlan's voice turned sweet and melting; a cultivator with a weak will would easily have found themselves entirely at her command.

"It cannot be spoken."

"An interesting little monk indeed." Yu Youlan's curiosity was piqued, increasingly sensing that Xin Ding was far from ordinary.

Born with a silver spoon in her mouth, she had been designated as the Holy Maiden by the clan ancestor himself. Her talent and background were unmatched, and she had never failed to obtain anything she desired.

She was determined to see what other capabilities this little monk possessed!

Since the two shared the same route, they conversed and laughed as they journeyed together.

In truth, it was mostly Yu Youlan talking and laughing, while Xin Ding rarely offered a response.

The more Yu Youlan interacted with him, the more she felt the young monk's temperament was extraordinary; no matter how she probed or hinted, he remained tight-lipped about how he had acquired the correct route.

"Youlan, I did not expect to find you here as well."

As they were speaking, a party of cultivators emerged from the woods. The leader was a man of striking demeanor and imposing stature, though a tear at the hem of his robe marred his perfection, suggesting he had recently survived a bitter struggle.

The outer tier was by no means peaceful, plagued as it was by demonic beasts and vengeful spirits. Xin Ding and his companion had avoided them only because they traveled along the safest possible path.

Xin Ding recognized the leader as Gao Tianxiu, the Holy Son of the Tuoluo Sacred Ground, and reasoned that those trailing behind were his followers.

"Greetings, Benefactor Gao."

Gao Tianxiu frowned slightly, surprised to see Yu Youlan traveling in the company of another. Although Yu Youlan appeared warm and approachable to the world, a closer acquaintance would reveal that she maintained a polite distance from everyone, allowing no one to truly draw near.

This unfamiliar young monk was ordinary in appearance and unremarkable in cultivation. Why was he so close to Yu Youlan?

"Do any of you recognize this little monk?" he questioned one of his followers.

"Holy Son, that monk should be Xin Ding of the Western Heaven Temple. I hear he was originally a menial monk who managed to enter the Martial Monks' Courtyard by a stroke of luck."

"So he is merely a menial monk," Gao Tianxiu sneered, having initially feared the youth possessed some formidable background.

"Gao Tianxiu, I have told you many times that we are not that close. Do not address me by my given name!" Yu Youlan expressed her annoyance; Gao Tianxiu was like a piece of doghide plaster, impossible to shake off.

"Youlan, I only speak out of concern for you. This ancient realm is treacherous; we have encountered more than one pack of demonic beasts and spirits. You are alone, and if you were to be deceived by someone, falling into danger would be disastrous."

As he spoke, Gao Tianxiu cast a deliberate, sidelong glance at Xin Ding, his implication entirely transparent.

"I thank the Holy Son for his concern, but my affairs are none of your business!"

"It seems Benefactor Gao harbors some misunderstanding toward me."

"Little monk, scramble out of here immediately! There is no place for you here!"

"Benefactor Gao, I am afraid you are forcing me into an impossible position."

"It seems you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

Gao Tianxiu bared his teeth in a sinister smile as the aura of the Great Perfection of the Qi Refinement Stage erupted from him. The followers behind him unleashed their auras in unison, all of them at the eighth or ninth level of Qi Refinement. Any one of them possessed a higher cultivation than Xin Ding!

"What do you think you are doing!" Yu Youlan cried out in anger, stepping in front of Xin Ding to protect him. If so many rushed forward at once, even she would be no match for them.

"Youlan, this is a battle between men. Do not interfere!"

Confident of his victory, Gao Tianxiu pressed forward step by step. With over a dozen Qi Refinement cultivators present, no matter how great Xin Ding's abilities were, he could forget about escaping!

"Benefactor Gao, I cannot drink the toast, nor can I drink the forfeit."

"Good lad, you have backbone! Attack together!"

Seeing the crowd converge upon him with no room to evade, Xin Ding pressed his palms together and sighed. His spiritual energy surged, warping the surrounding space. The trees seemed to spring to life as roots unearthed themselves and branches grew frantically, flailing like a dance of demons to entangle Gao Tianxiu and his men.

"What kind of sorcery is this!" The crowd was struck with terror. How could trees transform in such a manner? Since the discovery of the Chixiao Ancient Realm, no such phenomenon had ever been recorded!

Against the ancient trees that had come alive, their cultivation levels and numbers meant absolutely nothing.

Xin Ding placed one hand before his chest and gently pressed the other palm downward. Space itself obeyed his command as an invisible, colossal hand bore down, causing the bound Gao Tianxiu and his followers to crash heavily to the ground!

Maintaining his unhurried, tranquil demeanor, Xin Ding walked toward Gao Tianxiu.

Gao Tianxiu raised his head with great difficulty, his eyes filled with immense dread, as the light fell upon Xinding’s head, illuminating him so fiercely that his features were blurred, appearing like a god, yet like a demon.

“Benefactor Gao, I am a monk; I cannot drink wine.”

“Benefactor Yu, let us continue our journey.”

“Ah, oh.” Yu Youlan jolted as if waking from a dream, for she too had never expected such a transformation to occur.

Xinding’s performance just now made him seem almost like the master of the ancient realm itself!

Within the minor world of the Azure Peak Sword, the Bean Curd Heavenly Venerable was half-joyous and half-sorrowful.

The joy stemmed from being highly satisfied with Xinding’s display.

“The problem is, when I used to visit the ancient realm, why did I never run into this kind of opportunity?”