“In the vast ocean, there is a forbidden sea route stretching countless miles, separating the Southeast Region from the Central Continent,” Zi Ling explained. “It is said that the stronger one’s cultivation, the harder it is to pass through this taboo. Initially, no one could cross it, but as time passed, the taboo weakened. Now, martial artists below the Martial Emperor realm can pass through.”
Lin Xiao was somewhat surprised.
Over a thousand years ago, the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor had fallen. The changes in the sea separating the Southeast Region and the Central Continent likely occurred after his death.
Even if a major event shook the entire continent, the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor would not have known.
Moreover, the emperor’s memories were incomplete. Even before his death, there might not have been any mention of this forbidden sea.
Lin Xiao hadn’t anticipated such a situation on the journey to the Central Continent.
Fortunately, his cultivation had not yet reached the Martial Emperor realm, so he could still pass through.
Otherwise, he might never be able to reach the Central Continent in his lifetime.
“Of course, the forbidden sea affects the entire Southeast Region and Central Continent. Beyond that, many islands in the sea have their own unique taboos, some capable of killing even Martial Emperors,” Zi Ling added. “Moreover, there are numerous powerful spiritual beasts in the sea that could attack at any moment. Thus, those with great strength cannot pass, and those with weak strength struggle to survive. Over the years, very few people from the Southeast Region have gone to the Central Continent, and even fewer have returned.”
In truth, Zi Ling hadn’t fully explained. Due to the forbidden sea, those traveling from the Southeast Region to the Central Continent could not be too strong.
The few who could successfully make the journey were almost always martial artists whose cultivation was close to the taboo’s limit.
Once in the Central Continent, whether they perished or became enamored with the region, a breakthrough in cultivation would prevent them from returning.
In other words, since the changes in the sea between the Southeast Region and the Central Continent, almost no one had returned from the Central Continent.
“Thus, there is no safe route map. You can only cross the sea by trial and error. It might take you about a year to pass through the sea,” Zi Ling continued. “After reaching the Central Continent, Spirit Pool Island is said to be in the central region. You may need to navigate countless teleportation arrays, and even another year might not be enough.”
Lin Xiao’s expression darkened. Not only was the journey fraught with danger, but it would take a year to cross the sea, and possibly another year in the Central Continent. Wasn’t the distance too vast?
Without a teleportation array, he could have used vast amounts of spirit stones and elixirs to power his Void Phoenix Wings for a swift journey.
However, using too much energy to cross the forbidden sea might trigger the taboo and lead to his demise.
Even if it didn’t, the sea was dotted with countless islands, many with their own taboos.
Rushing straight through at high speed and passing over an island with a taboo would likely be akin to courting death.
Only by moving at a controllable speed, ready to avoid dangers, could he travel safely.
With all the dangers, a year might even be a conservative estimate.
If he wasn’t careful, he might not even make it to Spirit Pool Island for the Continental Spirit Controller Competition.
“Is this information reliable?” Lin Xiao couldn’t help but ask. If true, he would need to set off as soon as possible.
A promise made to others could not be broken.
After all, An Miao was the daughter of the Heaven-Devouring Spirit Emperor. Having received immense favor from the emperor, participating in the Continental Spirit Controller Competition to secure a place for An Miao on Spirit Pool Island was only right.
Moreover, Spirit Pool Island held the Destruction Spirit Energy, something he coveted greatly. Obtaining it would give him a better chance to rescue his mother from the Tianji Tower at the Tianji Sacred Land.
However, with the Temple of Fate still a threat in the Southeast Region and Feng Youyu yet to be rescued, he couldn’t depart yet.
At this moment, Lin Xiao felt an even greater urgency to fuse the two spiritual energies.
“This information comes from my great-grandfather. It should be accurate,” Zi Ling replied.
“By the way, I heard from my great-grandfather that twenty years ago, one of our senior brothers went to the Central Continent. He was exceptionally talented, but during the Southeast Region Assembly, he was eliminated in the first round’s illusion trial. No one knows about it,” Zi Ling added as a reminder. “If you go to the Central Continent, you might be able to find him. His name is Long Tutian.”
Lin Xiao nodded.
He had heard of Long Tutian from Vice Dean Rong Wanqing of Shengyuan Academy. Long Tutian was a super genius from the academy, possessing the Divine Dragon Bloodline. At the age of twenty, when he was at the First Layer Martial Venerable realm, building his Martial Emperor foundation, he refined sixty percent of a Martial Emperor’s essence blood. His strength likely far surpassed Lin Xiao’s at that time, making him truly remarkable.
During the illusion trial in Shengshi City, the three-clawed divine dragon within the illusion mentioned that Long Tutian fought it for half a day, showcasing his extraordinary talent.
At that time, he was likely unmatched in the entire Southeast Region, with limitless future potential.
Unfortunately, Long Tutian was eliminated in the illusion trial and could not advance to the later rounds of the assembly.
Even with his prodigious talent, he couldn’t shine.
Later, Long Tutian went to the Central Continent, naturally leaving no reputation in the Southeast Region.
However, in a larger continent like the Central Continent, with Long Tutian’s talent, twenty years would have been enough to achieve significant accomplishments.
If Lin Xiao went to the Central Continent in the future and had the chance, he would naturally seek out this senior brother.
“By the way, how did Master An Miao travel from the Central Continent to the Southeast Region? And how did she return?” Lin Xiao asked curiously, thinking of An Miao.
Logically, if An Miao crossed the sea from the Central Continent, she should have some knowledge of the sea routes between the two continents.
Yet, she had left him no clues.
Zi Ling shook her head. “Sister didn’t say, nor did she provide a map. She took me in not long ago, and she rarely spoke about her matters.”
“Perhaps she came through a teleportation array,” Lin Xiao speculated.
If it was a two-way ancient array, An Miao would have known where the Southeast Region’s array was located.
Since she didn’t mention it, it was highly likely that an error occurred when she entered the teleportation array, or it was a one-way array to the Southeast Region.
Or perhaps there was another method.
Alternatively, An Miao might have deliberately withheld a detailed map for some reason.
For instance, she might have wanted him to grow in the Southeast Region before heading to the Central Continent.
Without the various crises in the Southeast Region, he might not have progressed so much in a year.
Crossing the sea might also be intended to temper and train him.
Of course, this was just speculation. It didn’t seem likely to be the case.
Since An Miao left no other clues, he would likely have to take the most basic route, setting off by sea.
After pondering for a moment, Lin Xiao finally said to Zi Ling, “I will set off for the Central Continent as soon as possible, but there are some matters I must resolve first.”
He was referring to the Temple of Fate and Feng Youyu.
Zi Ling nodded understandingly, showing no intention of rushing him.
“By the way, I need to go into seclusion for a while, possibly one or two months. During this time, take care of yourselves,” Lin Xiao added to Zi Ling.
“Seclusion?” Zi Ling looked at Lin Xiao in surprise. Having just broken through two layers of Martial Lord cultivation, was he planning to enter seclusion again to push for another breakthrough?
“My spiritual power realm has been stagnant for a long time. I’m preparing to advance it,” Lin Xiao explained casually.
Zi Ling gave him a playful glare. Lin Xiao’s spiritual power had only broken through during the Southeast Region Assembly half a year ago, and that was without focusing much on it. Was that considered a long time?
Then what about her?
After exchanging a few more words with Zi Ling, Lin Xiao gave some instructions to a Half-Step Martial Emperor Elder of Qianglong Sect. Then, under the pretext of handling some matters, he left Lingjian Sect.
