An old man suddenly ran out to block their path, muttering to himself.

Everyone was rendered rather speechless for a moment.

Xiao Luanzi let out a light huff. "This old fool doesn't look tasty at all. His meat would surely be tough to chew."

Yan Daoling was still talking to himself. His gaze fell on Luo Xiu's face, revealing a mixture of hatred and admiration. He suddenly spoke, "Back at the Spirit Tomb Entrance, I observed the purity of your sword intent. With a Mahayana Realm cultivation, you were able to force back four Earth Immortals with a single sword stroke. Indeed, you're fine material for sword cultivation."

"Sigh... I have spent my life fostering good relationships and dislike killing. Besides, there is no deep-seated hatred between us, so there's no need for me to take your life."

"Furthermore, it would truly be a pity to kill a young genius like yourself."

After a moment's thought, he continued, "How about this? If you take me as your master, I can overlook the fact that you pulled a cheap shot and sneak-attacked me with that slap."

"After all, you'll have to kneel and kowtow to perform the discipleship rite anyway, so the humiliation of that slap will be nullified."

"Once you become my disciple, I will impart my entire Dao Technique to you without reservation."

Looking around, he added, "And I can take you to explore the Sword Arrays in the Dragon Grotto."

"The Dragon Grotto is filled with opportunities, but it is also fraught with peril. However, I have been here twice before, so I know the way."

"Without knowing the route, you'd likely wander around aimlessly in here for three to five years and still not find your way out. You might even lose your lives."

"With my earth-shaking strength, I can surely guarantee your safety!"

"Lower Realm lad, what do you say?"

The area fell into a silence so profound you could hear a pin drop.

Everyone exchanged strange looks. This old man seemed even more talkative than the Pig Dragon, and a bit unwarrantedly confident.

Amid the quiet, Kuang Pi said to Luo Xiu, "Xiao Luo, the Dragon Grotto is full of confusing barriers. If we try to navigate it by ourselves, it will be a huge waste of time. We might not even reach our destination before the Ancient God Ruins close."

Luo Xiu pondered for a moment, then nodded slightly. He turned to Yan Daoling and smiled. "Since you don't wish to fight, Senior, why don't we cooperate and explore the Dragon Grotto together?"

Yan Daoling wore a proud expression. "I don't need to cooperate. You just need to take me as your master."

"I will naturally spoil my own disciple and give him everything. Why would we need to speak of cooperation?"

Luo Xiu smiled faintly, not wanting to end the discussion just yet. "Let's talk about the discipleship later. Who knows if you have any real skill?"

"You must understand, taking a master is a decision for a lifetime, no less important than getting married and having children. I can't just casually choose someone I don't know. What if you're a swindler? What would I do then?"

"You brat..." Yan Daoling was choked speechless.

"Hah, forget it, forget it!" he said, suddenly letting go of his frustration with a laugh. "You're a clever one, and you've got some sense about you, though just a little."

"You were born in the Lower Realm and have seen little of the world. I understand."

"Fine. I will cooperate with you for now to explore the Dragon Grotto and let you witness my true skill."

"I'll first take you to find the Sword Arrays and help you acquire a supreme opportunity. After that, I guarantee you'll be begging to take me as your master!"

"You should know, countless people in the Upper Realm want to become my disciple! I wouldn't even glance at those so-called geniuses. But with you, lad, it seems I have to beg you to become my disciple."

"Having to work this hard just to take on a disciple... it's downright pathetic."

Luo Xiu was left speechless, completely flummoxed by the old man.

Behind him, Mu Xueyan and the others covered their mouths, trying to stifle their laughter.

With the matter settled, the group prepared and set off.

...

Under Yan Daoling's guidance, it took nearly a full day for Luo Xiu and his companions to reach the depths of the Dragon Grotto and find the so-called Sword Array. Along the way, Luo Xiu had watched Yan Daoling's every move. He couldn't help but admire the old man, who truly seemed to know everything.

"Look there, lad, that is the Five Divine Sword Arrays," Yan Daoling said, standing atop a large stalagmite and pointing toward a mist-covered flatland ahead.

The flatland was vast and strewn with the skeletons of humans and demons. Even from a distance, they could smell the faint stench of decay.

Yan Daoling explained, "Five Divine Sword Arrays is a collective term. What you see before you is just one of them, the Azure Dragon Sword Array."

"The Fire Phoenix Sword Array has already been broken by a prodigy from the Upper Realm."

"Currently, the Qilin Sword Array, the Gluttonous Sword Array, the Golden Roc Sword Array, and this Azure Dragon Sword Array are all that remain."

"The last time I was here, I came within a hair's breadth of breaking the Azure Dragon Sword Array. Unfortunately, the core of the Sword Array was missing, rendering it incomplete. In the end, I had no choice but to give up."

Luo Xiu walked forward and asked, "What do you get for breaking this Sword Array?"

Yan Daoling chuckled. "I do not know. Each Sword Array gives a different reward."

"However, I heard that after the Fire Phoenix Sword Array was broken, that prodigy received an unparalleled opportunity. She is about your age and has already reached the Dao Jade First Realm."

Hearing this, Kuang Pi and Xiao Luanzi exchanged a look of shock. Having been to the Spirit Tomb before, the two demons knew how powerful these Sword Arrays were.

Kuang Pi remarked, "What kind of exceptional figure could break such a Sword Array?"

Stroking his beard, Yan Daoling said, "She is the Holy Maiden of the Lingtian Plateau, Luo Qingxian."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned slightly. The Lingtian Plateau, and her surname is Luo... could this Luo Qingxian be related to the Luo Family?

Yan Daoling continued, "But that's to be expected. After all, Luo Qingxian possesses the pure Plateau bloodline."

Luo Xiu declared, "I want to attempt this Azure Dragon Sword Array."

Yan Daoling countered, "Let's not even discuss whether you can break it, lad. The Azure Dragon Sword Array cannot be broken in its current state because its core is missing, as I just told you."

"How can one break an incomplete Sword Array?"

"So, you all might as well wander around for a bit. Later, I'll take you to the other Sword Arrays."

"You should know, this Azure Dragon Sword Array isn't the only opportunity hidden in the Dragon Grotto. There are gains to be found elsewhere."

As he spoke, he casually plucked a Lingzhi from a nearby stalagmite. "Take this Stone Milk Ganoderma, for example. It's growing in the most obvious place, and yet everyone who passes by fails to notice it. But I spotted it at a glance. This is an opportunity."

"It's no wonder, though. This Stone Milk Ganoderma greatly resembles these stalagmites. The stone shell on its surface also conceals its Spiritual Energy, making it an expert at camouflage. Most people would never notice it."

Luo Xiu watched Yan Daoling with a peculiar expression, thinking that the old man really did have a few tricks up his sleeve.

Yan Daoling smiled. "Don't you worry, lad. Once you become my disciple, I'll give you this Stone Milk Ganoderma. It can increase your cultivation by at least a hundred years' worth!"

Just then, Kuang Pi suddenly moved to Luo Xiu's side. "Xiao Luo, do you remember what I told you before? The sword on my back is the key to this Sword Array."

At these words, Yan Daoling's eyes flashed. He whirled to look at the sword on Kuang Pi's back and roared, "You cunning bear! So that's where the core of the Azure Dragon Sword Array went! You had it all along!"

Kuang Pi ignored him and said to Luo Xiu, "Xiao Luo, I believe that with your comprehension, you can definitely break this Sword Array."

Stroking his beard, Yan Daoling said with a light smile, "No matter. This Sword Array has ten layers, each more perilous than the last. I've already cleared the first nine, so I can take you directly to the ninth layer in a moment."

"Once we complete the Sword Array, just watch how I break through the tenth layer!"

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