Ancient Tomb

"I do not know where I am." Jian Zheng arrived in village that he did not know where it belongs, "Am I even in the capital?" He pondered, but became disappointed as there was no huge castle in the middle.

As a person who spent basically his entire life in the Asura Cloud Sect you could say he was insolated from the outside world.

Depressed, Jian Zheng stepped into the village. The moment he did he was met with countless stares, some look at him with disgust and terror while others looked at him with curious eyes.

Jian Zheng didn't bother with this for the reason they were looking at him like that was because of his torn white robes that was covered in his own blood and dirt along with a dense murderous aura flowing out of him.

He quickly found an inn and used the remaining of his money to rent a room. The thing he wanted to do the most was wash up and get the bloody stench off his body.

Arriving in his room he immediately went inside a small lake and stayed in there for an entire day.

Of course in that time Scarlett came out to tease him, infuriating him.

When he came out he headed towards the dining sector and saw many people chattering with one another.

No one pay any attention to him so he took a seat and ordered the cheapest food they have to offer since he was pretty much broke.

"Hey, did you hear about the recent news?" A burly man chugged down a jar of wine and burped loudly.

His behavior didn't stir or provoke anyone as this sort of action was pretty common in this place.

"The news about the five sects finding some ancient tomb?" Curious, one of the men around the table asked.

"That's right! From what I heard, this tomb possess the corpse of an expert that was said to be able to split mountains in half and cause the sea waves to halt at his steps....." The burly man uttered in a drunken voice making it hard to tell if what he was saying is true or false.

"An expert that could split mountains in half?" This statement ping Jian Zheng curiosity and he listen intently to what the burly man had to say.

"Split mountains in half? There's no such expert in the Cloud Empire, they can only be found in the Abandoned Lands." Another man laughed, finding what the burly man said unbelievable.

"But I'm telling the truth! Why else would the five sects gather at the tomb!" The burly man yelled, gathering the attention of the others in the diner.

"Shut up!" An expert in the Body Transformation realm shouted causing the inn to tremble.

"Sorry senior." The burly man realizing his mistake cuffed his hands and bowed slightly to the Body Transformation cultivator. His entire body was actually trembling in fear since he was only a puny person at the Huotian Second stage.

The senior sneered arrogantly then ignored the burly man.

"What's the Abandoned Lands?" Ignoring the commotion caused by the burly man, someone asked.

"You don't know what the Abandoned Lands is?" The burly man scratched his head in confusion.

The person who asked shook his head, "I've been isolated from the outside world from birth, this is the first time leaving my hometown." The person said honestly.

"No wonder. Then let me tell you, the Abandoned Lands is actually the entire continent, the Cloud Empire along with the other empires located at the border." The burly man drank a mouthful of wine and said.

"But the real Abandoned Lands is in the center region where true experts gather."

"Why is it called the Abandoned Lands?" Jian Zheng suddenly tap his hand on the burly man's shoulder, sending shivers down his back. He and the others around the table only noticed Jian Zheng after he spoke, shocking them.

Seeing that it was just a young man the burly man sighed in relief before continuing, "I don't know the exact details, but some say that the real experts abandon this barren land while others say a war occur that caused the world to change."

"Thank you for the information elder." Jian Zheng nodded his head then release his hand from the burly man.

"Elder...?" Stunned by what Jian Zheng called him he didn't even notice him leaving.

"Haha! From now on you should be called Burly Elder." One of his peers laughed and his words caused the others around to laugh as well.

"S- Shut Up!" The burly man feeling embarrassed slam his hand on the table while yelling.

"I said SHUT UP!" The Body Transformation cultivator expression change as he look at the burly man coldly, his aura causing the burly man to crumble to the ground "Senior I'm truly sorry this time...."

____________________

Jian Zheng walked out of the inn with his sword, "Since the five sects are here then that means there should be disciples of the Asura Cloud Sect as well." He mumbled to himself as he approached a person who look to be a disciple of some sect.

"Excuse me." He came in front of the person, "Do you know where the Ancient Tomb is?"

"The Ancient Tomb?" The man raise an eyebrow and his eyes flash, trying to look through Jian Zheng only to be shocked to realize he couldn't, "What sect are you from?" Seeing that he could not see Jian Zheng cultivation base his tone became a bit respectful, believing that Jian Zheng is some peerless expert.

"The Asura Cloud Sect." He said with a smile, the moment he saw the man eyes flash he used Aura Concealment to hide his cultivation. At first he didn't think it would work as this person was at the third stage of the Body Transformation Realm, but to his surprise it actually did.

"What's your name little brother?"

"Jian Zheng."

"That's strange, I never heard of an expert from the Asura Cloud Sect with the name Jian Zheng before." The man became apprehensive, clear suspicion in his eyes. He looked at Jian Zheng robes feeling that something wasn't right.

"This is the first time I ever leave the sect." Jian Zheng quickly respond, he panicked slightly but kept a calm front up, "I was sent here with my fellow senior brothers, but a Huotian Three beast caused some of us to separate, killing a few of us and scratching my robes with its claws." He came up with a lie as a frighten, pale look appear on his face, "I was one of them that got separated, lost in an unknown world with sever injuries. Do you know how afraid I was? Who knows how many other similar beast was lurking around. Luckily, I had some life saving pills and I was able to recover from my injuries."

The man saw Jian Zheng pale look and how his body shiver and felt pity and shock, "To think you and your senior brothers would experience such a thing. Come I'll take you to the Ancient Tomb." The man didn't suspect Jian Zheng of lying as such a thing is common in the cultivation world. He thought Jian Zheng was quite lucky to survive and make it here.

"Thank you senior." Jian Zheng smiled, he have succeeded in getting this person to carry him to the Ancient Tomb making him feel pleased that he was able to come up with such a 'flawless' lie.

"I can't wait for your lie to be exposed." Scarlett who listened to everything snorted, "This guy must be some idiot to believe that a Body Transformation Realm expert could escape from a Huotian Three beast."

"Brother, you haven't told me your name." Ignoring Scarlett as always, Jian Zheng asked the man while following behind him.

"Shan Liang."

"Brother Shan, are you from the Green Mountain Sect?" He asked as a question appear in his mind.

Shan Liang nodded his head as he continue on the path to the Ancient Tomb.

"Do you know if the Green Mountain Sect have a sword technique called Soaring Cloud Sword Art?"

"I shouldn't be telling you this since you aren't from my sect, but I will make an exception." Hearing this, he grew excited as that could only mean!

"No. We have various of different sword techniques, but I have never heard of a Soaring Cloud Sword Art." Hearing this he grew disappointed as he thought that the Green Mountain Sect possess one of the copies.

But he didn't stay disappointed for too long, there were still two other sects he could investigate, Yellow Cloud Sect and Cloud Temple.

"Why did Junior Brother ask? Ah, that must sound like a stupid question. You look like a sword cultivator, but since you are one why are you staying in the Asura Cloud Sect instead of going to the Sword Cloud Sect?" Shan Liang was curious. No sword cultivator, especially one with a will for only the sword would stay in a sect that teaches nothing about the sword.

"I was born in the Asura Cloud Sect so I cannot leave." Jian Zheng told another lie.

"That makes sense, people in the labor court can form relationships and even give birth, but any child that is born in a sect can only stay loyal to that sect and no other sect would be willing to take in such a person." Shan Liang came to an understanding, as he look deeply at Jian Zheng, "However, that shouldn't be the case for you as no original person could give birth to someone who can reach such a high cultivation at such a young age."

"Then that can only mean you are the son of the Sect Master! As only a sect master can raise a talent like you. So which one are you, the son of the previous sect master or the current one?" Shan Liang said with excitement. Becoming friends with someone who is the son of a sect master could bring great fortune for him.

"What do you mean previous sect master?" Confused, he asked but soon regret his impulsive question.

"Huh? Don't you know the previous was found dead in his seclusion cave a month ago? The current Sect Master is Lu Langshen." Shan Liang soon became doubtful of Jian Zheng, 'Didn't he say he was in the Asura Cloud Sect for all his life?'

'The Sect Master died?' Jian Zheng grew shocked, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'Was it not said that the Sect Master was at the middle Blood Circulation Realm?'

The Blood Circulation Realm is the realm above Body Transformation Realm. This realm allows a cultivator to control the blood in their body. If they are injured then they can move the blood in their body to heal the wound and if a limb is cut from the body with the exception of the head, then as long as blood is still inside the limb then it can be attached back in place.

This realm is the dream of many in the Cloud Empire, but few possess the talent to reach this stage and the reason for why people wish to reach this stage is not only because it is the peak of the Cloud Empire, but also because it can unlock a persons bloodline.

As for what this bloodline does, Jian Zheng doesn't know and neither is he willing to ask Scarlett.

Seeing the shock in Jian Zheng eyes Shan Liang became extremely suspicious. Unfortunately, he couldn't stop Jian Zheng from following him as they have arrived at the Ancient Tomb, 'Damn! If I knew he wasn't from the Asura Cloud Sect I wouldn't have brought him here.'

'Wait, but what could I do if he used force?' Still believing that Jian Zheng was an expert with a cultivation above him, cold sweat appear on his forehead, 'Brothers, I may have brought us trouble.'

Coming back to his senses he saw Shan Liang stop, "Thank you brother for bringing me to the Ancient Tomb." Jian Zheng came in front of Shan Liang and bow slightly before moving on his way.

He realize his lies have been exposes, but so what? Even with his cultivation at the peak of the Huotian Stage with his current power he was confident in conquering anyone below the sixth stage of the Body Transformation realm.

As for why he felt so confident, he himself doesn't know as he never fought against someone at the sixth stage of the Body Transformation realm before.

"The Body Transformation Realm isn't simple as its separated in three stages. The hands, feet and head. The first three stages focus on the hands, the fourth to sixth stage focus on the feet and the latter the head." Scarlett suddenly said.

"They are called Peng, Jiao and Shou."

"The Peng naturally increase the strength of the hands, Jiao feet and Shou the head. What I am trying to say is unless I am upgraded to a Earth Stage sword, although you can face those at the Peng Stage, don't expect to defeat those at the Jiao and Shou stage."

"And the only way I can be upgraded to the earth stage is if you HURRY up and breakthrough to the Body Transformation Realm!" While explaining, Scarlett sounded very calm and more like his Big Sister, but her sudden outburst ruin that image in his mind as he could hear annoyance in her tone. It was as if she was in a rush to get stronger.

"You know I cannot breakthrough unless I reach the third stage in the Phoenix Endeavors Art." He said with a apologetic smile, the Phoenix Endeavors Art is naturally the Scarlet Phoenix Sword Art. He simply changed the name since he thought it sounded better.

The last thing he heard from Scarlett was a sigh as she stopped talking to him.

As he walk around the entrance of the Ancient Tomb he saw many people, but none were from the sects as they were wandering cultivators.

Some were at the Huotian Realm while some were actually at the Body Transformation Realm, shocking him.

After walking for about an hour he finally saw where the sect disciples were gathering. Well, where the Asura Cloud Sect disciples were.

He heave a sigh of relief that he finally discover them. They were in blue, white robes that seems to represent the Inner Court. Not one of them in white robes which means there were no Outer Court Disciples here.

He walked towards the inner court disciples, "Junior Jian Zheng greets seniors." He bowed towards the disciples, stunning them.

"Who are you?" One of the disciples asked while sizing up Jian Zheng.

"I am Jian Zheng of the outer court." He said while showing his cultivation base as it was meaningless to continue hiding it.

"Jian Zheng... I never heard of such a name in the outer court, are you on the top hundred leaderboard?" Another disciple asked.

"Yes, in fact I am on the top 10" Jian Zheng replied honestly.

"Is that so? Then can you explain why you are doing here or why your robes look like that?" Another disciple came up, it was actually a beautiful girl, this girl was actually the person known as the Lake Maiden in the outer court.

Jian Zheng was shocked when he saw her as her beauty was comparable with his big sister, luckily he came back to his senses before anyone became suspicious, "I was on a golden mission to escort Prince Yi, the youngest prince of the Cloud Empire when he betrayed me along with the other four disciples of the other sects. The four of them was killed while I managed to escape by faking my death." Jian Zheng responded with fear in his tone. Zhuang Yi saved him, but he was also the reason for why he had to experience so much so he does not mind giving him a bad name.

"Absurd! Does a mere prince with no background dare to kill my sect disciples?!" The girl became furious when she heard this.

The other disciples were also angry, they did not doubt Jian Zheng words for a second as it was the only thing that could explain his robes that looked extremely tattered though, brand new.

The girl looked at Jian Zheng and was suddenly remembered by the man who saw her naked body, but quickly dismiss such thoughts. Looking at his robes that seem to covered with his own blood and then his sharp eyes her heart wavered while she also felt some pity for him

"Come, you should be the same age as me, you can just call me Qin Fenfei." Seeing that their junior sister approve of him, they also welcomed Jian Zheng.

"You said your name was Jian Zheng?" At that moment a man with an indifferent expression approach them.