Chapter 1: Rebirth and Return

The night at Tianyuan Sect was as silent as water. In the sky, the silver moon hung high, casting its cold light, which illuminated a pavilion within the sect. A gentle breeze blew, causing the bamboo forest to rustle softly, as if telling ancient tales.

Ling Xiao suddenly awoke from a nightmare, his forehead covered in cold sweat. He gasped for breath, his eyes filled with complex emotions—pain, anger, confusion, and determination.

"I... have returned?" Ling Xiao muttered to himself as he looked around, taking in the familiar surroundings. This was his room, and everything was just as he remembered, unchanged.

He got up and walked to the window, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, his mind racing with thoughts. Memories of his past life surged like a tide. To prevent his master from refining the entire world to create a tool for his own tribulation, he had no choice but to turn against him. In front of the entire sect, he killed his master, only to be besieged and killed by the entire sect as a traitor. However, what pained him the most was that even his most trusted junior sister, Lin Yue'er, swore to kill him.

"Senior Brother Ling Xiao, you're finally awake." A soft female voice came from outside the door. Ling Xiao turned to see his junior sister, Lin Yue'er. She was still as beautiful as he remembered, dressed in white, with delicate features and eyes full of concern.

"Yue'er..." Ling Xiao's voice trembled slightly as the memories of his past life and the reality before him intertwined, leaving him momentarily disoriented.

"Senior Brother Ling Xiao, what's wrong? You don't look well. Did you have a nightmare last night?" Lin Yue'er stepped forward, asking with concern.

Ling Xiao forced a smile and said, "It's nothing, just a long dream last night." The painful memories in the dream made his heart ache, but he knew that the dream felt so real—perhaps it wasn't just a dream.

Lin Yue'er nodded and then said, "The master has asked us to gather at the main hall tomorrow. He says there's something important to announce."

"The master..." Ling Xiao's eyes darkened slightly at the mention of that name. He knew that whatever the master was about to announce could very well be the beginning of his sinister plan. He had to be cautious and prevent the tragedy of his past life from happening again.

"I understand, Yue'er. You should go rest now; I still have some things to take care of," Ling Xiao said gently.

Lin Yue'er glanced at him and nodded, "Alright then, Senior Brother, you should also rest early." With that, she turned and left the room.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, silently making a firm resolution in his heart: "In this life, I will never let the tragedy repeat itself!"

The next day, in the main hall of the Tianyuan Sect, all the disciples were gathered. The hall was solemn and majestic, with intricate carvings and paintings exuding an ancient authority. At the high seat, the master, Tianjizi, sat with a commanding presence, his gaze sweeping across the crowd like a torch.

"Today, I've gathered everyone here to announce something important," Tianjizi began slowly, his voice deep and powerful.

Ling Xiao stood among the crowd, staring intently at the master, his heart on high alert. He knew that every word from the master's mouth could potentially conceal a grand conspiracy.

"I am about to enter seclusion for cultivation to prepare for my tribulation and ascension. During my seclusion, Senior Brother Ling Xiao will temporarily assume the position of sect leader, overseeing all sect affairs." Tianjizi's words caused an uproar among the crowd.

Ling Xiao was shocked. In his past life, it was also at this moment that Tianjizi began his scheming. Now, he had to act with extreme caution and not let Tianjizi detect his intentions.

"Sect Leader, this... might not be appropriate, don't you think?" An elder stepped forward, his face full of doubt. "Ling Xiao is still young, and taking on the role of sect leader might make it difficult for him to command respect."

Tianjizi smiled faintly and said calmly, "Ling Xiao has a firm disposition and exceptional talent. I believe he is capable of handling this position. Besides, my seclusion is only temporary, and Ling Xiao is merely acting as the sect leader for the time being."

The disciples exchanged glances, harboring some doubts in their hearts but not daring to voice them further. Ling Xiao stood still, silently deciding that he must make the most of this time to cultivate while also uncovering Tianjizi's plot.

After the meeting, Ling Xiao walked out of the main hall, and Lin Yue'er approached him, asking with concern, "Senior Brother, are you really going to temporarily take over as sect leader? This is a big responsibility."

Ling Xiao looked at her, his eyes filled with tenderness. "Yue'er, I know this is an important matter, but I will do my best. Don't worry, I won't let the sect fall into danger."

Lin Yue'er nodded. "Senior Brother, I believe in you. But no matter what happens, I will stand by your side."

Ling Xiao felt a warmth in his heart from his junior sister's trust, and his gaze softened. "Thank you, Yue'er."

Looking at Lin Yue'er in front of him, Ling Xiao felt a pang of pain in his heart. In his previous life, he was solely focused on cultivation and never realized the feelings his junior sister had for him. Now, having been reborn, he deeply understood Lin Yue'er's affection.

"Yue'er, I'm sorry. This time, I won't let you down."

Lin Yue'er, seeing Ling Xiao lost in thought, said firmly, "Senior Brother, no matter how difficult the road ahead may be, I will stay by your side."

Ling Xiao was moved by her resolve, feeling a warm surge in his heart. He knew that in this life, he would definitely be able to defeat Tianjizi, defeat the Demon King, and change the course of fate.

The two of them exchanged smiles, filled with hope and determination for the future.

In the days that followed, Ling Xiao managed the sect's affairs while secretly investigating his master's movements. He discovered that the place where Tianjizi was in seclusion was surrounded by multiple layers of complex formations, clearly designed to hide something unspeakable within. Moreover, these formations were impossible to breach for anyone below the Nascent Soul stage.

Although he had already reached the peak of the Golden Core stage, just a step away from the Nascent Soul stage, he was still unable to make the slightest dent in the formation.

One morning, Ling Xiao and Lin Yue'er were walking side by side along a path in the back mountains of Tianyuan Sect. The morning mist lingered, birds chirped crisply, and the flowers and grasses around them appeared especially vibrant under the nourishment of dew. As they chatted and laughed, a group of disciples approached, led by Zhao Heng, an inner sect disciple.

Zhao Heng, seeing Ling Xiao and Lin Yue'er walking so closely together, a flash of jealousy and disdain crossed his eyes. He sneered and said, "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, it seems that not only has your cultivation progressed rapidly, but your relationship with Junior Sister has also deepened. Junior Sister Yue'er, you seem to be growing even more beautiful by the day."

Ling Xiao's brow furrowed slightly, and he replied coolly, "Junior Brother Zhao, please be careful with your words.."

Zhao Heng snorted coldly, "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, I heard that you were recently appointed as the acting sect leader by our master. It seems you've gained quite the prestige. But I wonder, does your strength truly match this position?"

Lin Yue'er's expression changed slightly at these words, and she was about to speak when Ling Xiao raised his hand to stop her. His eyes were sharp as he looked directly at Zhao Heng, "Junior Brother Zhao, if you are dissatisfied, why not settle it with a sparring match on the Dao platform?"

A sly gleam flickered in Zhao Heng's eyes as he cupped his hands and said, "Since Senior Brother has suggested it, I, Zhao Heng, will naturally accompany you."

The two of them headed to the Dao platform, and the surrounding disciples quickly gathered around, discussing among themselves. Ling Xiao and Zhao Heng stood in the center, their gazes locked, and the atmosphere grew tense.

"Senior Brother, be careful," Lin Yue'er said worriedly, her voice low as she watched Ling Xiao.

Ling Xiao smiled slightly, nodding to reassure her. Then, his expression turned serious as he drew his sword, the blade radiating an intimidating aura.

Zhao Heng was not to be outdone; he unsheathed his sword and coldly said, "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, please!"

Without another word, Ling Xiao's figure flashed and instantly appeared before Zhao Heng, his sword aimed straight at Zhao Heng's throat. Zhao Heng quickly retreated, swinging his sword to block. The two clashed in an instant, their swords flashing, sparks flying.

On the Dao platform, sword energy surged, and true energy intertwined as the disciples held their breath, watching the two with tense anticipation. Ling Xiao's moves were fierce and relentless, pushing Zhao Heng back step by step. Zhao Heng struggled to defend himself, narrowly avoiding being forced off the platform several times.

"Senior Brother Ling Xiao, you truly are formidable," Zhao Heng gritted his teeth, his heart filled with fear.

Ling Xiao sneered, his sword striking continuously, the sword energy as swift as a rainbow, relentlessly breaking through Zhao Heng's defense. Zhao Heng began to feel overwhelmed, his movements growing erratic as he struggled to keep up.

Suddenly, Ling Xiao let out a soft shout, and his sword's speed increased dramatically. The blade struck out like lightning, and Zhao Heng saw a flash before his eyes, followed by a cold sensation at his throat. A powerful force then sent him flying, and he crashed heavily to the ground, his sword clattering to the side.

The scene fell into silence, the disciples staring in disbelief at what had just happened. Ling Xiao sheathed his sword and stood, looking down at Zhao Heng with a cold gaze as he said, "Junior Brother Zhao, thank you for the match."

Zhao Heng's face was pale as he struggled to his feet and cupped his hands, "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, I admit defeat."

Lin Yue'er quickly walked up to Ling Xiao, her voice full of concern, "Senior Brother, are you alright?"

Ling Xiao smiled slightly and shook his head, "It's nothing, just a small test of skill."

Zhao Heng awkwardly picked up his sword, casting a complicated look at Ling Xiao before saying in a low voice, "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, I will take my leave now." With that, he hurried away with his disciples.

The disciples around the Dao platform began to chatter, some expressing amazement at Ling Xiao's strength, while others voiced their displeasure at Zhao Heng's provocation. Ling Xiao knew that this sparring match was only the beginning; there would be more challenges ahead.

After the sparring match, Ling Xiao and Lin Yue'er returned to their residence together. Along the way, Lin Yue'er walked closely beside Ling Xiao, her brow furrowed, clearly deep in thought.

"Yue'er, what's on your mind?" Ling Xiao asked, noticing her unusual mood.

Lin Yue'er looked up at him and softly said, "Senior Brother, why did Zhao Heng and the others provoke you like that? Is it because you're temporarily acting as the sect leader?"

Ling Xiao nodded and sighed, "Yes, some disciples in the sect are dissatisfied with my appointment, so they came to provoke me. But some of them are likely emboldened by the elders backing them, acting deliberately like this."

A flash of worry crossed Lin Yue'er's eyes as she whispered, "Senior Brother, you must be careful. I'm afraid they might trouble you again."

In the days that followed, Ling Xiao would practice his swordsmanship in the bamboo forest on the back mountain every morning. Lin Yue'er often accompanied him, quietly watching. In the bamboo grove, the sword light flickered as Ling Xiao's figure moved like a dragon, his sword energy fierce, sending bamboo leaves flying.

After finishing his practice, Ling Xiao sat down on a stone bench in the bamboo grove to rest. Lin Yue'er gently walked over, handing him a teapot as she softly said, "Senior Brother, have some tea."

Ling Xiao took the teapot, took a sip, and felt a refreshing sweetness. He smiled and said, "Yue'er, your tea is indeed delicious."

Lin Yue'er chuckled softly, "As long as Senior Brother likes it."

The two of them sat quietly in the bamboo grove, savoring the peace of the moment.

Gradually, some elders and disciples within the sect began to accept the fact that Ling Xiao was temporarily acting as the sect leader. Although there was some dissatisfaction, under Ling Xiao's strength and charisma, they gradually became more restrained.

One day, while Ling Xiao was handling sect affairs, an elder hurried over with a grave expression on his face. "Nephew Ling Xiao, there has been some abnormal activity detected on the front mountain. The spiritual energy is unusually dense, and I fear something unusual might be happening."

Ling Xiao frowned and immediately stood up, "Take me to see it."

The elder led Ling Xiao to the front mountain, where they saw a place shrouded in spiritual energy, with a crack in the ground emitting an eerie glow.

"It seems something is hidden within this crack. Everyone, be careful," Ling Xiao warned.

Just as Ling Xiao was about to investigate further, a familiar voice rang out, "Senior Brother Ling Xiao, what's happening?"

Ling Xiao turned to see Lin Yue'er, who looked somewhat anxious, her eyes full of concern.

"Yue'er, there's some unusual spiritual energy here. I suspect it might be related to an underground spiritual vein," Ling Xiao explained.

Lin Yue'er nodded and stepped forward to observe the crack alongside Ling Xiao. Suddenly, a flash of cold light shot out from the crack, and a powerful force erupted, pushing everyone back several steps.

"Everyone, step back! This force is no ordinary one!" Ling Xiao ordered loudly.

Lin Yue'er stood by Ling Xiao's side, tightly gripping his hand as she whispered, "Senior Brother, I sense that this force is very dangerous. What should we do?"

Ling Xiao frowned in thought for a moment before making a decision, "Yue'er, you and the other disciples should step back. I'll go in and take a look."

A trace of worry flashed in Lin Yue'er's eyes, but she still nodded in agreement, "Senior Brother, please be careful."

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, circulated his true energy, and slowly approached the crack. He felt a powerful pull as if it was trying to drag him in. Focusing all his energy, Ling Xiao resisted the force and cautiously extended his hand into the crack.

Suddenly, a massive force surged out from the crack, instantly pulling Ling Xiao inside. Lin Yue'er cried out in alarm, her eyes filled with terror, "Senior Brother!"

Ling Xiao felt his vision go black as a powerful force suppressed him, making it impossible to move. He struggled to open his eyes and found himself in a strange space filled with dense spiritual energy. The space was vast and boundless, with crystalline spiritual light floating all around. The ground was covered in various rare herbs, and the air was filled with a refreshing fragrance.

"Where is this place?" Ling Xiao was puzzled.

As he looked around, he noticed a small, winding path leading to an ancient stone gate. The stone gate was engraved with intricate runes that exuded an aura of ancient mystery. Feeling a stir in his heart, Ling Xiao decided to follow the path forward.

When he reached the stone gate, he saw that the stone wall beside it was embedded with several radiant spiritual stones that emitted a soft glow. Ling Xiao reached out to touch the gate and found that the runes on it flickered slightly, indicating that they required spiritual energy to activate. He channeled his inner spiritual energy into the runes, and the stone gate slowly opened, allowing a dazzling light to spill out from within.

Upon entering the gate, Ling Xiao saw several skeletons scattered around the space. "The owners of these skeletons must have been cultivators who came here in search of treasures but perished for some reason," he thought, as the atmosphere grew somewhat eerie.

Ling Xiao approached one of the skeletons and noticed a faint glow emanating from the hand of one of the remains. Upon closer inspection, he found that it was the storage ring of the skeleton's owner that was emitting the dim light. Ling Xiao stepped forward and softly said, "Senior, though I don't know why you perished here, it seems fate has brought me to you. I will bury you here."

He gently removed the storage ring and then found a relatively flat area nearby where he carefully buried the skeletons. Using his sword energy, he carved the words "Tomb of the Nameless Seniors" onto a stone.

After completing this task, Ling Xiao stood before the tombstone and said, "Seniors, may you rest in peace in the other world."

Having done this, he continued toward the end of the hall. There, he discovered an ancient stone platform on which a scroll of ancient scriptures was placed. Ling Xiao cautiously approached, took the scroll, and opened it, finding that it was the "Xuan Yuan Body Refining Technique." According to the scroll, the "Xuan Yuan Body Refining Technique" is divided into three volumes: "Body Forging," "Bone Tempering," and "Soul Refining." Each volume has its own unique training methods and effects.

Body Forging:

Daily Absorption of Spiritual Energy: Meditate in places rich in spiritual energy every morning and use breathing techniques to absorb the spiritual energy into the body.

Channeling Spiritual Energy through the Meridians: Circulate the spiritual energy within the body along the meridians, infusing it throughout the body, especially into the muscles and bones.

Meditative Tempering: During nightly meditation, gather spiritual energy in the dantian and gradually release it throughout the body to repeatedly temper it.

Spiritual Energy Impact: Every seven days, use spiritual energy to impact the meridians, making them wider and tougher.

Supplementary Methods: Take specific spiritual herbs and medicines to aid in tempering the body and enhance the effects of the training.

Mastery of this technique results in:

Resilient Body: The muscles become as tough as steel, capable of withstanding enormous impact.

Increased Strength: Strength is greatly enhanced, allowing one to shatter boulders with bare hands, with strength comparable to that of a giant elephant.

Enhanced Defense: Able to withstand attacks from ordinary magical weapons, making it difficult to be injured.

At this moment, his heart couldn't help but race with excitement. "Although this is just a fragment, if I can gather all three volumes, wouldn't I be able to fight beyond my level within the same realm?"

Just then, the hall suddenly began to tremble, and the ground split open, revealing a massive black hole. Ling Xiao quickly reacted, leaping to dodge, only to have a huge boulder fall from above, blocking his path. He scanned his surroundings and noticed a few raised stone slabs on the wall, seemingly the key to triggering a mechanism.

Ling Xiao carefully explored with his spiritual sense and discovered that these slabs needed to be pressed in a specific order. He calmly analyzed the situation, deduced the correct sequence, and pressed the slabs in turn. The slabs responded, and the wall slowly parted, revealing a hidden passage.

Following the passage, Ling Xiao entered a spacious stone chamber. In the center of the chamber hovered a massive spirit orb, emitting intense spiritual energy waves. Surrounding the spirit orb floated three figures: the phantom of his master Tianjizi, the phantom of Zhao Heng, and the phantom of an unknown powerful figure. Each phantom exuded an imposing aura, brimming with spiritual power.

Before Ling Xiao could take a closer look, one of the phantoms suddenly charged at him.

Without hesitation, Ling Xiao drew his sword and advanced. The battle erupted instantly, with spiritual energies intertwining, creating an extremely intense scene.

Ling Xiao first engaged Zhao Heng's phantom. Zhao Heng's phantom unleashed the "Eight Absolute Thunders," with sword light flashing like lightning. Ling Xiao countered with the "Xiaoyun Sword Art," and their sword energies clashed, causing waves of spiritual power to ripple outward. Ling Xiao circulated his inner spiritual energy and summoned the "Xuanbing Shield," an ice-blue spiritual shield that blocked Zhao Heng's fierce assault. Zhao Heng was momentarily stunned, and Ling Xiao seized the opportunity to strike with a slash of "Heaven-Breaking Sword," forcing Zhao Heng to retreat until his phantom eventually dissipated.

Next, Ling Xiao faced the phantom of his master, Tianjizi. This phantom was exceptionally powerful, at the Nascent Soul stage, and its techniques were deadly. Ling Xiao knew that every move from his master carried immense danger, so he concentrated fully, not daring to let his guard down.

Tianjizi's phantom began with a vast outpouring of spiritual energy, transforming into a sword aura that formed a sword array, with sword light pouring down like a waterfall, overwhelming in its power. Ling Xiao narrowed his eyes and employed "Nine Heavens Cloud Step," his figure flickering like a ghost to narrowly evade the first wave of attacks.

Tianjizi's phantom smirked, lightly flicking his sword, causing a dense rain of sword energy to rain down. Each sword energy contained devastating power, and in an instant, the entire stone chamber was shrouded in endless sword light. Ling Xiao circulated his spiritual power, quickly casting "Xuanbing Shield," forming an ice-blue shield in front of him that blocked most of the sword energy, though a few still managed to pierce through, grazing his body and causing sharp pain.

Ling Xiao silently cursed, knowing this was just the beginning. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain, channeled his inner spiritual energy, and countered with the "Xiaoyun Sword Art." The sword light arced like a rainbow, targeting a weakness in Tianjizi's phantom. The phantom coldly snorted, and with a flick of his sword, he executed dozens of different techniques in an instant, each one swift and deadly. Ling Xiao saw countless overlapping sword shadows before him, almost impossible to discern the real from the illusory.

As Ling Xiao found himself in a tight spot, a sudden inspiration struck him. He used "Nine Heavens Cloud Step" once more, his figure becoming as elusive as mist, dodging Tianjizi's phantom's relentless attacks. The phantom seemed surprised for a moment but quickly smirked again, raising his sword high as spiritual energy from heaven and earth converged at the sword's tip.

"Heavenly Secrets Divine Sword!" Tianjizi's phantom intoned softly, the sword energy coalescing into a massive sword shadow, descending upon Ling Xiao with destructive force. Ling Xiao felt the oppressive force in the air and realized this was his master's killing move, leaving no room for error. He took a deep breath, mobilizing all his spiritual energy, and cast the "Xiaoyun Seal," creating a sturdy defensive circle of sword energy around him.

The giant sword shadow descended, and Ling Xiao felt a tremendous force sweeping over him, causing his defensive circle to shake violently. He clenched his teeth, stubbornly holding his ground. Just as his defense was about to collapse, he let out a light cry, and his sword transformed into a streak of light, unleashing the "Sword of Dawn." The sword light shone like the break of dawn, filled with boundless hope and power, directly targeting a vital point in Tianjizi's phantom.

The two forces collided fiercely in mid-air, causing the entire stone chamber to tremble. Sword light clashed, spiritual energy scattered, and Ling Xiao and Tianjizi's phantom figures flickered amidst the sword light. Ling Xiao felt the rapid depletion of his spiritual energy, but he refused to give up, his resolve unyielding, pushing his sword light toward the opponent with all his might.

Finally, Ling Xiao's sword light broke through Tianjizi's phantom's defense, piercing his heart. The phantom froze momentarily before slowly dissipating into a wisp of smoke. Ling Xiao, panting heavily and drenched in sweat, had a determined light in his eyes. "Master, no matter what tricks you have in store for me this time, I'll face them all!"

The final phantom was that of the unknown powerful figure, and Ling Xiao could distinctly sense the threat from this phantom, which had reached the Nascent Soul stage. The unknown figure unleashed the "Ten Thousand Dragons Roar," with countless dragon shadows coiling and soaring, their roars shaking the heavens as spiritual energy surged like a tide. Ling Xiao met the challenge with the "Xuanxiao Dragon Control Art." The two clashed dozens of times, and the spiritual energy collision caused shockwaves that rippled through the surroundings. Ling Xiao gradually began to feel his strength waning, but he refused to yield, persistently seeking the opponent's weaknesses. The unknown figure's onslaught was relentless, but Ling Xiao activated the "Spiritual Nourishment Art," continuously absorbing the abundant spiritual energy around him and concentrating it in his spiritual sea, resulting in a brief surge in spiritual power. His figure moved like lightning, simultaneously unleashing the blood-burning secret technique, and with a single strike, he slashed at his opponent. The two forces collided in mid-air, the spiritual energy surging, and Ling Xiao's momentum soared. His figure blurred as he appeared beside the unknown figure, his sword flashing like lightning as he struck at a vulnerable point.

The unknown figure was taken aback, hastily channeling spiritual energy to defend, but Ling Xiao's attack was too swift, and the sword light had already reached its mark. The two forces collided fiercely in mid-air, spiritual energy flaring as Ling Xiao's sword light ultimately penetrated the opponent's defense, piercing his vital point.

The unknown figure's body froze before gradually dissipating into a wisp of smoke.

With the disappearance of the last phantom, Ling Xiao felt a strong tremor, and the spirit orb before him slowly rose, causing the space to begin distorting. Then, a hoarse voice rang in his ear: "Young one, to have passed these three trials, it seems your Nine Heavens Sacred Body is indeed extraordinary."

Ling Xiao looked up and saw an elderly figure, with white hair and beard, but with eyes that were sharp and penetrating, appearing within the light of the spirit orb. The elder wore an ancient robe, exuding an aura of both authority and benevolence.

"Who are you?" Ling Xiao asked warily.

The elder smiled faintly: "I am the master of this space. You may call me the Xuan Yuan Ancestor."

Ling Xiao was momentarily stunned, then carefully recalled: "There's no one in the current cultivation world who calls themselves the Xuan Yuan Ancestor. Could this elder be a cultivator from a thousand years ago?"

"Elder, why did you bring me here?" Ling Xiao asked.

The Xuan Yuan Ancestor chuckled: "Young one, I have been observing you for some time. Your Nine Heavens Sacred Body is a rare and unique ancient physique, capable of absorbing and transforming the purest spiritual energy from heaven and earth, and constantly absorbing and refining the spiritual energy around you. Your physique complements the technique I practiced. Now that the formation here is about to fail, I want someone to inherit my technique before I vanish from this world."

The Nine Heavens Sacred Body? Is that why my master taught me the Spiritual Nourishment Art? It's said that the Spiritual Nourishment Art is extremely difficult to cultivate, and if an ordinary person practices it, they might even suffer backlash. The Spiritual Nourishment Art absorbs an overwhelming amount of spiritual energy, and if it's not absorbed and transformed in time, it could create a backlash within the body, ultimately damaging the meridians.

Ling Xiao's heart stirred, but he remained cautious: "Your trials are over?"

The Xuan Yuan Ancestor nodded: "Indeed. Your strength and willpower have earned my recognition. The three phantoms earlier were my trials for you, representing the three most challenging hurdles in your heart.

Those skeletal remains belonged to cultivators who once came here seeking treasure but failed the trials, eventually exhausting their spiritual power in endless battles and perishing. Seeing you bury them with respect, I recognized your firm and kind nature. I hope you will not let this treasure fall into the hands of evil people."

The figure of the Xuan Yuan Patriarch gradually became blurred as he began to tell his story: "In the past, I was one of the top experts in the cultivation world. At that time, I was undefeated, so I decided to battle the strongest cultivator in the world. However, I was wounded by his unique technique, resulting in a severe Dao injury. To heal, I hid in Tianyuan Sect and set up a grand array to gather the surrounding spiritual energy. Yet, the injury was too severe, and in the end, I exhausted all my spiritual energy and perished. Now, I rely on the spiritual vein your ancestral master discovered in this foothill to barely absorb enough spiritual energy to sustain my soul, but even that will not last much longer."

A trace of sorrow flickered in the eyes of the Xuan Yuan Patriarch as he continued in a low voice, "I spent my entire life pursuing the supreme Dao, enduring countless hardships and near-death experiences. But in the end, I am nothing more than dust, scattered by the wind. The world's prosperity and glory are fleeting, like illusions in a mirror, transient and insubstantial. The path of cultivation, no matter how brilliant, is ultimately just a fleeting dream."

Ling Xiao looked at the Xuan Yuan Patriarch, feeling the deep sense of helplessness and melancholy in his heart. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy. He had no idea how many storms and trials this old man had endured to reach such a realm, yet in the end, he could not escape the impermanence of fate.

The Xuan Yuan Patriarch smiled faintly, a hint of relief in his eyes: "Boy, the path of cultivation is arduous, but you possess a unique constitution and a resolute will. You are sure to go farther on this path. Remember, no matter how difficult the future may be, you must hold fast to your beliefs."

Ling Xiao hesitated for a moment, then cupped his hands: "Thank you, Elder, for your guidance."

The Xuan Yuan Ancestor waved his hand: "Do not thank me just yet. My legacy is not something anyone can bear lightly. The technique I am about to pass to you is the "Xuan Yuan Sacred Scripture," an ancient technique said to be the foundation for cultivating the Nine Heavens Sacred Body. With it, you will gain the power to step into the Supreme Realm."

"The Xuan Yuan Sacred Scripture?" Ling Xiao's heart pounded with excitement.

The Xuan Yuan Ancestor gently nodded, his figure slowly becoming transparent. "Come closer, I will pass this scripture to you. But remember, your heart must remain unyielding, and you must practice diligently. Do not let it fall into the hands of evil people."

Ling Xiao solemnly walked forward and respectfully knelt down, "I swear to follow the elder's teachings and not disappoint the elder's expectations."

The Xuan Yuan Ancestor smiled with satisfaction and lightly waved his hand. A bright light shot out from the spirit orb, directly entering Ling Xiao's forehead.

In an instant, countless profound cultivation techniques and spiritual insights flooded his mind. His whole body began to tremble uncontrollably as his consciousness expanded and transcended the material world. He felt as if his spiritual sea had been split open, and boundless spiritual energy surged into his body, transforming his entire being.

He felt his spiritual energy rapidly increase, his spiritual awareness significantly enhanced, and his true essence surging, breaking through the bottleneck of his cultivation level, helping him successfully advance to the early stage of the Nascent Soul.

When he opened his eyes, the figure of the Xuan Yuan Patriarch had already vanished. Then, an ancient voice echoed once more, "Boy, we shall meet again."

A determined light flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes. "Senior, I will not disgrace these two techniques. One day, I will become the strongest in this world."

As the voice of the Xuan Yuan Patriarch gradually faded away, Ling Xiao felt a powerful force pulling him back to reality. In a flash, he found himself back in a forest in the foothills of Tianyuan Sect. Ling Xiao transformed into a streak of light and flew towards where Lin Yue'er was, soon spotting her anxiously waiting for him.

"Senior Brother, are you okay?" Lin Yue'er hurriedly approached as soon as she saw Ling Xiao return, her eyes full of concern.

Ling Xiao smiled gently and said softly, "I'm fine, Yue'er, don't worry."