"In a place like this, how does one cultivate?" Han Xu True Master muttered bitterly.

Their gazes swept the surroundings, but what they found was that, not only was there no Spiritual Energy here.

There was also not a single trace of life.

All they could see in every direction was nothing but vast stretches of yellow sand!

There was not even the slightest breeze—an utter stillness.

Save for the edges, and apart from the Gray Mist that seemed to envelop the entire region from above, there was truly nothing else!

Here, let alone cultivation; even lingering for too long—even a True Master risked perishing!

After all, Mana could not be replenished here; even a True Master does not possess infinite Mana.

"This pocket world has only just formed several hours ago; naturally, there is nothing within." Cultivator Shen Yu walked over, his tone calm as ever, but turned to the Mingyun Sect Master and spoke up, "Mingyun Sect Master, the land your sect occupies is teeming with Spiritual Energy. If convenient, might you transport some Spiritual Energy here?"

"Of course." Mingyun Sect Master nodded slightly.

He too wished to know if cultivation was truly possible in this place, even if it meant achieving a breakthrough.

Indeed, he was full of anticipation.

After all, the mere existence of a place utterly devoid of Taoist Rhyme was already sufficiently astonishing.

Having received the sect master's permission, Cultivator Shen Yu acted without hesitation.

With a single wave of his hand, a Spirit Gathering Array took shape right before the Space Gate.

This was naturally crafted from Gray Mist.

Previously, Wizard Shen Yu had created something similar in order to absorb Divine Power; now, Cultivator Shen Yu had roughly modified it for Spiritual Power instead, expending little Gray Mist—but the effect was remarkable.

A vortex of Spiritual Energy appeared visibly at the other side of the Space Gate.

Huge waves of Spiritual Energy surged in!

In the eyes of many cultivators, it was as though a parched desert were suddenly flooded with torrents of water, causing the very air to turn humid in an instant.

Han Xu and Ning Meng, the two True Masters, and even Qingfeng True Master, all instinctively began to absorb Spiritual Energy.

To their astonishment, despite lacking Taoist Rhyme or any rules, their cultivation techniques continued to operate as normal!

Spiritual Energy ceaselessly transformed into Mana, nourishing their Divine Souls and flesh!

It was truly possible!

Even without Taoist Rhyme, as long as Spiritual Energy existed, one could cultivate!

Even the Mingyun Sect Master, as an Earth Immortal, was left awestruck.

His gaze kept scanning this space, only to suddenly lock onto the edge of the Gray Mist.

For he had realized that his Divine Sense could not probe beyond; or rather, any Divine Sense sent out vanished into nothingness in an instant.

"Fellow Daoist," Mingyun Sect Master decided to ask outright, "May I ask, what lies within that Gray Mist?"

Not only Mingyun Sect Master, even Qingfeng True Master grew curious.

That cultivation could be carried out here did not much surprise him; he trusted his junior disciple on that.

What most intrigued Qingfeng True Master was the true power behind this Association.

Although they had arrived, all was surrounded by Gray Mist, and the Association itself had yet to be seen.

Yet at this, Cultivator Shen Yu, his expression somewhat solemn, said gravely, "That is precisely what I must tell you—all authority within this space belongs to me; be it inviting you all, or permitting you to cultivate and break through here, it is mine to decide. But outside this space, within the Gray Mist, the situation is altogether different—without express permission, no matter who you are, to set foot in the Gray Mist is certain death!"

Certain death?

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances.

True, some powers did set up Annihilation Arrays at key points of their sects so intruders would be attacked, yet none would go so far as to spread such arrays throughout an entire sect.

Just what kind of place demanded such extreme precautions?

Cultivator Shen Yu saw their expressions and knew they had misunderstood.

He let out a light chuckle, gazing toward the Gray Mist, and asked, "What do you suppose this place truly is?"

"..." The crowd looked at each other, unable to answer.

A place with not even so much as a trace of Taoist Rhyme already far exceeded their comprehension.

Even Earth Immortals had never heard of such a domain.

However, Cultivator Shen Yu had not expected an answer; with a flick of his sleeve, he said calmly, "We call this the 'Gray Mist Space,' though some name it the 'Land of Return.' What is the Land of Return? It means, all is void. In the Gray Mist Space, even the idea of space itself does not exist—what remains is only nothingness: not space, not time, not air—indeed, not even up or down, left or right—all is absent. How could life exist? Yet it was our Association's predecessors who discovered that though this place is void, it is also nearest to the Endless Heavens, even the birthplace of the Endless World; hence, the Association was founded here."

Some truth and some falsehood lay in those words.

That the Endless World was birthed here was surely false.

No proof exists whatsoever.

But the rest was not nonsense.

Ever since the many Shen Yu witnessed the birth of worlds, their understanding had indeed grown, deepening knowledge of the Gray Mist Space.

Just as Cultivator Shen Yu had said, within the Gray Mist Space not even the foundation for material existence was present!

More precisely, only things connected to Shen Yu and associates carried the basic laws of material existence.

That was why those things brought in did not entirely collapse.

Yet even these most fundamental laws were insufficient to sustain life, let alone form souls.

As expected, this was the reason why, in the Gray Mist Space, all beings other than Shen Yu were bound to perish.

As for why Shen Yu and his counterparts could survive?

They had their theories.

Likely, their souls had become tightly bound to this Gray Mist Space—the soul did not outright exist within, but persisted in some far more intimate connection.

Only thus could they live and function here!

Yet these words now spoken struck the assembled cultivators with a mighty shock.

Land of Return—all is void; every Law erased!

This was not beyond their grasp. Indeed, because they understood, it seemed all the more impossible.

If even space and time were gone, how could anything still move, let alone enter?

"You may experiment as you wish." Cultivator Shen Yu, seeing their skepticism, smiled unconcernedly.

This time, even Mingyun Sect Master could not sit still.

An Earth Immortal who had lived nearly six thousand long years, he knew how vast the world was and how little could be known.

Yet such a place defied belief.

Now, he strode directly to the edge of the Gray Mist.

Sending Divine Sense forth was pointless.

Any Divine Sense that touched the Gray Mist was obliterated instantly; too much damage would even cost him dearly.

After a moment's thought, he suddenly slapped his waist.

A massive lion spun out from within.

It was, unmistakably, a spirit pet of the True Master Realm!

Even Cultivator Shen Yu looked on in awe.

He hadn't known there was such a thing as Beast Taming here?

Yet clearly, the status of Spirit Beasts was low, even at the True Master Realm; for the Mingyun Sect Master ordered his lion, which had attained the Dao Fruit of Eternal Life, to stretch its tail into the Gray Mist and investigate.

The Spirit Beast had plenty of courage—its tail swung lightly into the mist.

Yet in an instant, it roared in agony, yanking its tail back with a jolt!

In its enormous blue eyes shone indescribable terror!

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