The old man wore a bright crane robe, looking unlike Ning Yunmiao in his hemp clothes and straw sandals. He sat solemnly on the periphery of a sphere of light, rotating naturally in a certain rhythm.

It gave Song Yan the impression that the "Lower Realm" was a star system, and the old man a "satellite."

The arrival of Ning Yunmiao did not prompt the old man to make way.

He merely opened his eyes slightly.

Ning Yunmiao said, "Elder He, I have brought my junior for the placement of his Lifebound Secret Realm."

"Lifebound Secret Realm?" Elder He looked up at Song Yan, saying, "This Lower Realm is entirely composed of the Lifebound Secret Realms, the Lifebound Worlds, of our Sword Palace disciples. They are complex and intertwined, with the weak succumbing to the strong among them.

I oversee this place, but as long as nothing that defies the Heavenly Dao occurs, and no demonic threats to the entire Lower Realm emerge, I remain uninvolved and do not interfere.

You should explain the rules to the disciples or clan members, and I will assess the overall strength of this Secret Realm and place it in an appropriate area."

Song Yan bowed and said, "Thank you, Elder He."

The old man closed his eyes and said no more.

Ning Yunmiao encouraged him with a glance and stepped aside slightly.

Song Yan took out the sphere of light, focused his mind, dove inside to account to his old friends, then offered several cultivation techniques he had comprehended before, and afterward, gracefully exited, handing the sphere of light to the crane-robed elder.

Elder He took the sphere of light, glanced over it slightly, and said, "First-level Cultivation Profound Land, comprehensive assessment, inferior, then let it go to Nanyun State."

With that, the light shield slightly opened.

The sphere of light surged inside and quickly flew toward a certain direction at the edge.

Song Yan watched that sphere of light recede into the distance. He knew... the Formless Ancient Race in the future, as well as these old friends, would start brand new lives and cultivation. Only, this time the cultivation would be in a world that, at least for now, seems healthy. The old friends need not face the threat of the Master of Heaven and Earth, only needing to live well in this Lower Realm filled with exceptional talents and strive for the day they could ascend to the Upper Realm.

After placing Song Yan's Lifebound Secret Realm, Elder He looked back at Song Yan and said, "You, young one, originally do not have the qualifications to stand here, and should be in the Lower Realm, awaiting the breaking of the Profound Yellow mirror, and passing the assessment before coming here. You ought to let go of all distractions, cultivate earnestly, and strive to reach the Profound Yellow Realm, lest you waste Yunmiao's kind intentions..."

Song Yan bowed, complying, "Yes."

Elder He waved his hand and then resumed closing his eyes, continuing both to guard and to cultivate.

Song Yan, along with Ning Yunmiao, departed.

All that he saw and heard along the way was enough to shock him, and also made him realize... if Ning Yunmiao harbored any malice towards him, he would probably not even be able to self-destruct.

...

...

The formal entering of the hall as a mortal, or the master-apprentice ceremony, did not occur.

Song Yan, following Ning Yunmiao, soon melded into a point of light.

Within the point of light, a world appeared abruptly.

It was an Immortal Mountain surrounded by mist.

Ning Yunmiao said, "This is my Dao venue—Qingzhu Mountain.

Currently, my grandfather has not returned, and for some reason cannot be contacted.

I will temporarily take over his duties, ignite your Life Lamp, and take you to the Sword Tomb to comprehend Little Celestial Dao Characters, afterwards passing on to you the complete version of the 'Myriad Star Melting Furnace Art' from Celestial Wondrous Sword Palace.

You need not call me master, continue to call me senior sister instead."

Song Yan said, "Senior sister, for those old friends gone to the Lower Realm, if I feel homesick... what should I do?"

Hearing this, Ning Yunmiao showed a gentle expression and said, "Once you breakthrough to the Profound Yellow Realm, you merely need to exchange a Starfire Spirit Stone for a Lower Realm Order, then you can incarnate to see your old friends. But before that, all should be focused on cultivation."

As she spoke of cultivation, her expression became stern again, continuing her teaching, "You've come from the mundane world, and naturally understand that a realm corresponds to a level of heaven, and each level of heaven is not the tranquil place imagined in the Lower Realm.

Upon entering Profound Yellow, you will live and die with heaven and earth, but tribulations will become more frequent, and the demand for cultivation resources will become ever more exacting, while competition even within the same realm will become hidden and terrifying.

These matters are distant to you, come, let me first take you to ignite the Life Lamp for you. Since you are at Qingzhu Mountain's Dao venue, let the Life Lamp be ignited here."

Song Yan asked, "What is a Life Lamp?"

Ning Yunmiao replied, "You will know once you see it."

...

...

At the secret hall deep within Qingzhu Mountain...

Five different oil lamps quietly floated.

Among them, three were single-flame bronze-colored lotus platforms, while two were dual-flame. One of those dual-flame lamps was in a muddled state, its inner light flickering and moving without wind.

Ning Yunmiao glanced at that muddled lamp, slightly closed her eyes, then looked at Song Yan, raised her hand slightly...

A sixth lamp appeared beside the five oil lamps.

Ning Yunmiao said, "Divide a wisp of Divine Soul into it."

Song Yan's heart skipped a beat.

Split Divine Soul?

What is this for?

Ning Yunmiao saw his prolonged inaction and turned her head in surprise, saying, "Junior brother?"

Song Yan hurriedly bowed, "Senior sister, I have not yet learned the method of dividing the Divine Soul."

Ning Yunmiao showed a regretful expression and said, "Igniting it earlier would be better because this Life Lamp not only records the disciple's life status but also accumulates power during the disciple's cultivation, helping to weaken tribulations when the disciple encounters danger or faces calamity in the future, enabling them to pass crises."

Song Yan scratched his head, "It seems I, junior brother, am less fortunate."

Ning Yunmiao said, "Then I will first teach you the method of splitting the soul. Once you comprehend it and ignite the Life Lamp, I will take you to the Sword Tomb to comprehend characters and to the Sword Platform for cultivation."

After saying that, she raised a hand and tossed out two Jade Scrolls.

Song Yan caught them.

Ning Yunmiao said, "Predecessor Gu Mohan's remains will be entering the Sword Tomb, while the dragon remains will be cast into the Sword Platform's rift. I need to witness that, and will return in a month.

Junior brother, first cultivate here, as there are many Cave Mansions within this mountain. If any are not sealed, you may enter freely. There are restrictions in place within, and once you take control of a restriction, it is considered that you've occupied a Cave Mansion."

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.