Chu Nan was puzzled. Although the Yin Evil Spirit Pearl was precious, for Martial Artists without the Yin Evil Celestial Eye, it only served to refine Spirit Corpses.

Yet before, when one could go up the Ten Thousand Corpses Mountain, the Yin Evil Qi was almost inexhaustible.

The Yin Evil Spirit Pearl was somewhat redundant by nature.

At this moment, Chu Lingshan sighed, a look of pain crossing his face as if recalling a past he was unwilling to face.

"The Spirit Corpse Sect occupies Liangshan Province, being one of the strongest Sects in the Qin Kingdom, seemingly enjoying endless prestige."

"But when facing the ten Strong Races of the Imperial Capital, the Spirit Corpse Sect is nothing more than an ant to be manipulated."

Chu Nan furrowed his brows deeply; even the Sect Leader of Spirit Corpse Sect, Chu Lingshan, could say such things, perhaps the terror of the Strong Races was more frightening than he had imagined.

"Nearly twenty years ago, I was just a Sect Elder, traveling for several years when I happened upon a woman and became Dao companions with her."

"After that, we roamed the Celestial Crossing Realm, carefree and content, and soon she bore me a daughter."

A gentle look flashed in Chu Lingshan's eyes, as if those memories were incredibly beautiful.

But soon his expression turned to one of hatred: "But to my surprise, during an exploration of a Secret Realm, we encountered Zhou Rulie, the Young Master of the Zhou family at that time."

"He coveted my Dao companion's beauty, wanting to forcibly possess her. We swore to fight and engaged the Zhou family in a bloody battle."

At this point, Chu Lingshan clenched his fists, his eyes widened, and he said, "Although we barely escaped with our lives, my Dao companion perished in that battle."

"Even our daughter was severely injured, invaded by Zhou Rulie's fire poison, tormented by blazing flames burning her Martial Vein, wishing for death rather than life."

Chu Nan was a bit surprised that even someone as powerful as Chu Lingshan was so helpless against the Strong Races.

"To counteract the fire poison, I brought my daughter to Ten Thousand Corpses Mountain, using the cold of the Yin Evil Qi to counteract the poison, reducing the damage of the fire poison."

"But the dispersed Yin Evil Qi could only suppress the fire poison and not eliminate it. My daughter had to remain on Ten Thousand Corpses Mountain, barely clinging to life."

"For over twenty years, I searched through ancient texts and only then learned that a Yin Evil Spirit Pearl, containing the purest Yin Evil Qi, could completely dispel the fire poison."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nan instantly understood. So Chu Lingshan sought the Yin Evil Spirit Pearl to save his daughter.

Chu Lingshan looked at Chu Nan and said, "You obtained the Yin Evil Spirit Pearl for me, saving my daughter, which is a great favor to me!"

"That's why I support you in becoming the Young Sect Leader."

Chu Nan solemnly replied, "It was a small effort. If the Sect Leader still needs the Yin Evil Spirit Pearl, I can find a way to get it."

"No need. My daughter's fire poison has dissipated. She only needs some conditioning to recover her health," Chu Lingshan said with a slight smile.

But soon, he changed the topic, asking Chu Nan, "Do you know why the Strong Races are so strong, or rather, what qualifies them to be called Strong Races?"

Chu Nan pondered for a moment before answering, "Do the Strong Races have many Cloud Sea Realm Martial Artists?"

The highest realm in the Celestial Crossing Realm is the Cloud Sea Realm. The reason the Strong Races can dominate must be because they have enough Cloud Sea Realm experts.

However, what surprised Chu Nan somewhat was that Chu Lingshan shook his head.

"Indeed, the Strong Races have many in the Cloud Sea Realm, but outside the Imperial Capital, the various provinces also have many Cloud Sea Realm experts. For example, our Spirit Corpse Sect actually has five or six Cloud Sea Realm Martial Artists."

"What allows them to dominate the Imperial Capital and be called Strong Races is not just having enough Cloud Sea Realm experts."

Chu Nan frowned, deeply puzzled, and then asked, "Then what is it?"

"This matter should only be known after reaching the Cloud Sea Realm, but with your talent, breaking through to the Cloud Sea Realm should be effortless. There's no harm in telling you now."

Chu Lingshan said solemnly, "The Celestial Crossing Realm cannot break through to the Unification Realm, and the two realms are difficult to cross. This causes many experts to be trapped in the Cloud Sea Realm, unable to advance and stuck until their life runs out."

"But Martial Artists will find their own path. Since they can't break through to the Unification Realm, they strive to reach the strongest point within the Cloud Sea Realm!"

"So, a Secret Technique called Nine Heaven arose."

Then he waved his hand, causing a layer of clouds to rise around them.

Chu Lingshan said, "This is a normal Cloud Sea Realm Martial Artist. Even at the ninth level of Cloud Sea, it's just this layer of clouds."

"But upon reaching the ninth level of the Cloud Sea Realm, one can practice the Nine Heaven Secret Technique to create more clouds!"

He waved again, adding another layer of clouds on top of the original ones.

"This is the realm of Double Heaven within the Cloud Sea."

Layer upon layer of clouds continued to stack until the ninth layer…

"The Nine Heaven Secret Technique can allow a Cloud Sea Realm Martial Artist to create nine layers of clouds, with strength so vast and profound that reaching nine layers of clouds allows one to leave the Celestial Crossing Realm to a broader Heavenly Balance Realm."

"The reason the Imperial Capital Strong Races are called Strong Races is because they have many Martial Artists who practice the Nine Heaven Secret Technique, making them dozens to hundreds of times more powerful than ordinary Cloud Sea Realm Martial Artists!"

"The Qin Royal Family and the Strong Races, along with the two major forces outside the Qin Kingdom, all have heritages of the Nine Heaven Secret Technique. Our Spirit Corpse Sect, lacking the Nine Heaven Secret Technique, means we can never surpass them."

Upon hearing this, Chu Nan was not discouraged. Looking at the nine layers of clouds enveloping him, he couldn't help but feel overwhelmed with excitement.

The path of the Martial Artist is vast as the sea, and those in the Celestial Crossing Realm unable to break through to the Unification Realm have found their own path.

Even a single cloud layer is the pinnacle of the Celestial Crossing Realm, so what kind of power must there be in nine cloud layers?

At this moment, Chu Nan's perspective expanded once more, realizing that there was still so much space for him to improve on the path of the Martial Artist...

"I, Chu Nan, am determined to become a peerless expert who can create nine layers of clouds!" Chu Nan silently vowed.

Chu Lingshan, seeing Chu Nan's resolute gaze, was relieved that he wasn't intimidated by this knowledge.

When he first learned about the top experts of the Strong Races in the Imperial Capital, who could create more clouds, he almost fell into despair. But Chu Nan was more invigorated than anything else.

"Chu Nan, this time there won't be any Martial Artists practicing the Nine Heaven Secret Technique appearing in the Cyan Profound Mansion, so you can rest easy."

"But I hope you can help me keep an eye on the Zhou family. I want to know the whereabouts of Zhou Rulie; I, Chu Lingshan, must personally avenge the death of my wife!"

Chu Nan nodded in agreement and said, "Rest assured, Sect Leader. I will investigate news regarding the Zhou family."

Then Chu Lingshan continued, "Next, I'm planning to relocate the Sect, and once the relocation is complete, I will go to the Cyan Profound Mansion to assist you."

"Once you return to the Cyan Profound Mansion, be cautious in everything. Don't engage the Strong Races lightly—beware of bringing down a besiegement."

Chu Lingshan nodded and handed Chu Nan a Storage Bag, "Here are three hundred Origin Stones. Keep them well; they will come in handy in the future."

"Thank you, Sect Leader." Chu Nan did not refuse, since he had not a single Origin Stone left to repair the puppet.

Chu Lingshan then took out a blue human skin mask and said, "This is the Ghost Concealment mask; wearing it will change your appearance and aura."

"When you return to the Cyan Profound Mansion, put it on. Unless they are at the ninth level of the Cloud Sea Realm, no one will recognize you."

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