The exquisitely handsome man, “Hongshi,” turned his head and stepped into the elegant pavilion.
Dongbo Xueying and Xi Wei followed closely behind.
Passing through a side door of the pavilion and walking along the corridor, they entered a room at the rear. The handsome man pushed open the door, revealing an empty chamber with only a meditation cushion inside. On the wall hung a painting depicting an elder with red robes and red hair, his red beard bristling, his eyes deep and unfathomable. The entire figure exuded a surging and vast aura. The red-robed, red-haired elder in the painting seemed even more boundless and expansive than the stars themselves.
“This is the Holy Master,” the handsome man said. “In the past, guardian disciples who joined would kneel in reverence before the Holy Master. However, since the Holy Master has passed, you may simply kneel before this portrait.”
“Yes,” Dongbo Xueying immediately responded, kneeling down. Although the Holy Master was no longer alive, Dongbo Xueying deeply admired him. He had once witnessed the scene of the Holy Master performing “Creation of the Heavens and Earth,” an awe-inspiring sight beyond imagination.
After Dongbo Xueying completed his kowtow, the handsome man nodded slightly and said, “The Holy Master styled himself as ‘Hongchen,’ and delighted in traveling through countless worlds. Whenever he encountered something unjust, he would often intervene. Unable to bear the obscurity of many extraordinary beings, he even opened the Hongshi Mountain, willing to accept countless disciples. In truth, at the Holy Master’s level of cultivation, he had already transcended mortality, existing eternally through the ages. Taking in only those of exceptional talent or those who possessed the rare First-Rank True Intent was sufficient. Ordinary extraordinary beings were simply not worth the effort. Yet, the Holy Master still wished to offer them a chance.”
Dongbo Xueying listened, somewhat surprised.
What a noble-hearted person!
“In both the Divine Realm and the Dark Abyss, many had benefited from the Holy Master’s grace. Yet, precisely because he would intervene regardless of the opponent’s background, he eventually clashed with a great power in the Divine Realm, fell victim to a treacherous ambush, and ultimately perished,” Hongshi sighed. “Those who attain the rank of a great power already tower over the entire Divine Realm. It is rare indeed to hear of their deaths. If the Holy Master had been slightly more patient and avoided conflict with other great powers, perhaps this tragic fate could have been avoided.”
“Hmph, why must one always endure?” Xi Wei, the green-haired woman beside him, frowned and retorted. “The Holy Master could never tolerate injustice his entire life. Even this death was due to treachery. Otherwise, even if he were outmatched, he could have easily preserved his life.”
“Excessive rigidity invites breaking,” Hongshi shook his head. “Even a great power is not invincible.”
“What’s the use of saying all this now? You know the Holy Master’s temper. Many have tried to advise him—some he could tolerate with a few words, but others he would immediately turn against.” Xi Wei sneered. “Besides, I prefer the Holy Master exactly as he was! His death can only be blamed on his own carelessness, for he never imagined that his opponent would truly seek his life.”
Dongbo Xueying listened quietly.
“Alright, alright, we needn’t argue over this,” Hongshi, the handsome man called Redstone, chuckled. His temperament was relatively gentle. “Besides, Dongbo Xueying is still listening.”
Xi Wei finally relented.
In her heart, she deeply revered the Holy Master.
“Dongbo Xueying,” Hongshi turned to him, saying, “As a guardian disciple under the Holy Master, you may cultivate on Hongchen Island. Additionally, you may receive a set of divine artifacts, freely choose one Divine Realm-level secret art, and freely select one treasure recorded on the list.”
“This is the list,” Hongshi waved his hand, and a green parchment floated over, inscribed with a series of treasures.
Dongbo Xueying picked it up and glanced through it. The list detailed many treasures—such as “100,000 Divine Crystals,” “a Divine Realm-level secret art inheritance,” “a Red Fire Ant Nest,” and so on.
Looking through it, he found most of the treasures’ values unfamiliar.
“Senior Hongshi,” Dongbo Xueying asked hurriedly, “why do the mighty Divine Realm cultivators from the Divine Realm and the Abyss send extraordinary beings into Hongshi Mountain?”
“Because of the Divine Realm-level secret arts,” Xi Wei answered.
“Are Divine Realm-level secret arts so valuable to Divine Realm cultivators?” Dongbo Xueying inquired.
Xi Wei nodded. “Of course. Divine-level secret arts are created by Divine Realm cultivators themselves! Divine Realm-level secret arts are created by great powers. These are secret techniques that can allow Divine Realm cultivators to cultivate and greatly enhance their strength.”
“No wonder,” Dongbo Xueying realized, “no wonder my Xia Clan has never obtained Divine-level secret arts, while only the Earth God Temple, the Demon God Assembly, and the Blood Blade Tavern possess them.”
“Even Divine Realm cultivators find it difficult to learn Divine Realm-level secret arts. Only those who become disciples under a great power might learn one or two. If one fails to become a disciple of a great power, acquiring such secret arts becomes extremely difficult,” Xi Wei explained. “Since there are various Divine Realm-level secret arts, even those who have learned one or two would still wish to acquire another. Hence, they naturally send extraordinary beings into Hongshi Mountain.”
Dongbo Xueying frowned. “Does Hongshi Mountain permit the leakage of Divine Realm-level secret arts?”
Normally, factions would strictly control such matters.
“Guardian disciples may receive a set of divine artifacts and freely choose one Divine Realm-level secret art. However, the chosen Divine Realm-level secret art must be learned personally and cannot be leaked,” Xi Wei pointed at the parchment in Dongbo Xueying’s hand. “From the list, you may freely choose one treasure, including the inheritance of a Divine Realm-level secret art, which you may then bestow upon others.”
Senior Hongshi beside her mused, “Most other great powers in the Divine Realm strictly prevent leakage. Yet the Holy Master did this for two reasons: first, to allow guardian disciples to exchange treasures with Divine Realm cultivators; second, to give those Divine Realm cultivators a chance to learn secret arts. Hence, the Holy Master was highly respected in the Divine Realm, revered by countless deities.”
…
Dongbo Xueying, Xi Wei, and Senior Hongshi exited the pavilion and began walking through other parts of Hongchen Island.
“Senior Hongshi,” Dongbo Xueying gazed at the scenic surroundings but couldn’t help asking, “how can I detoxify? Do I have to choose the 100,000 Divine Crystals from the list and then purchase an antidote?”
“If you choose that path, it’s acceptable.”
Hongshi smiled. “However, I’d suggest this instead—you can freely choose one Divine Realm-level secret art, right? Then why not choose ‘The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture,’ the most renowned life-saving secret art among the eighteen Divine Realm-level secret arts of Hongshi Mountain?”
“The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture” was forged by an old companion of the Sacred Sovereign. Once you commence its cultivation, your Ghost Six Grudges hex shall be effortlessly purged!
Dongbo Xueying was puzzled. “The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture? Hongshi Mountain has eighteen Divine Realm-level secret arts, and I know nothing about the others.”
His clan faced a great threat.
Divine Realm-level secret arts were pivotal for bolstering his own power, yet he could only select one freely. Glancing through the list, Dongbo Xueying had no desire to pick a secret art. Instead, his preference leaned toward treasures that could aid his Xia Clan in resisting the Witch God and the Great Demon God—such as the relatively cost-effective “Chen Jiu Battleship.”
Therefore, he would likely only be able to choose one Divine Realm-level secret art, so he had to carefully select the most suitable one for himself.
“Haha, the others?” Hongshi chuckled.
“Forget about the others,” Xi Wei beside him laughed. “Dongbo, it’s extremely difficult to begin cultivating a Divine Realm-level secret art. Perhaps even an ordinary extraordinary being could begin learning a Divine-level secret art, but for Divine Realm-level secret arts, even the initial stages are extremely demanding. Generally, only after becoming a god does one have hope. Of course, your cultivation level rivals that of many newly ascended gods. However, among the eighteen Divine Realm-level secret arts, you currently cannot even begin cultivating any except ‘The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture.’ This is only possible because you have cultivated the Void Body. With the Void Body, you can relatively easily begin cultivating ‘The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture.'”
Dongbo Xueying understood.
He couldn’t even begin cultivating the others?
“Is ‘The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture’ really that powerful? The best for preserving life?” Dongbo Xueying asked.
“Exceedingly formidable,” Xi Wei responded. “Once you commence its cultivation, even the primal Ghost Six Grudges’ voodoo entering your body shall be effortlessly expelled. You could remain motionless, and not even ordinary newly ascended deities assaulting you would manage to inflict the slightest harm.”
“Ah,” Dongbo Xueying was astonished.
Just beginning cultivation, and newly ascended gods couldn’t harm him?
“Otherwise, how could it be a secret art coveted by Divine Realm cultivators? But the requirements for cultivation are extremely high. Only with your Void Body can you barely begin cultivation,” Xi Wei said. “Have you decided? Will you choose ‘The Ten Thousand Calamities Primordial Scripture’?”
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