Yuan Zun frowned and said, “After the Mysterious Realm was split into thirteen continents, the Heavenly Dragon Continent ranked last, also being the weakest. Then, along the ‘Storm Ocean,’ a route was formed, connecting all thirteen continents, called the ‘Chosen Path.'”
“I can understand the Storm Ocean, probably because it’s constantly stormy, but what does the Chosen Path mean?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Ever since the Mysterious Realm split, a giant gate appeared, leading to the outside, called the Chosen Giant Gate! It’s at the end of the Chosen Path. The closer you get to the Chosen Giant Gate, the stronger the warriors become! Though the reason is unclear, warriors have always strived to improve their strength, heading along the Chosen Path toward the Chosen Giant Gate!” Yuan Zun replied.
“Master, have you been there?” Ling Xiao asked excitedly.
“I’ve been, but unfortunately, I failed,” Yuan Zun sighed. “It’s said that entering the Chosen Giant Gate frees one from the Mysterious Realm’s rules, leading to a whole new level of martial arts and cultivation. Sadly, I couldn’t even enter the gate.”
“Don’t worry, Master. One day, I’ll open that gate with you and see what’s behind it!” Ling Xiao said, thrilled.
The vastness of the Mysterious Realm far exceeded his imagination. He hadn’t expected a Chosen Giant Gate leading to the outside world, and he was truly eager to discover what lay beyond it.
From what Master Yuan Zun said, as you travel from the Heavenly Dragon Continent along the Chosen Path, the warriors on each continent grow stronger. Though weaker individuals exist, the strong are far more numerous on each successive continent.
For example, the Divine Phoenix Continent, the closest to the Heavenly Dragon Continent, has sects and forces ten times stronger than the twelve sects of the Heavenly Dragon Continent!
Meals are eaten bite by bite, and paths are walked step by step, but Ling Xiao was already eager to move forward. The Moonlight Sect was just a small place; he needed to break out from here and stand out among the twelve sects.
As Master Yuan Zun said, to travel from the Heavenly Dragon Continent to the Divine Phoenix Continent, a Heavenly Human Realm cultivation was the minimum requirement. He was still far from that.
Later, under Yuan Zun’s guidance, Ling Xiao learned how to create the Purple Lightning Shocking Secret Scroll and worked with Yuan Zun to enhance it. After mastering the enhancement technique, Ling Xiao bid farewell to Yuan Zun and Yang Danlin.
Before leaving, he naturally left Yang Danlin plenty of good items, including a Longevity Fruit. Yang Danlin, unable to break through to the Heavenly Human Realm, was nearing the end of his lifespan and needed this fruit most.
Afterward, Ling Xiao visited Lan Yuer and Shangguan Lei. Lan Yuer’s relationship with Chang Yueli had worsened, partly because of him, so he felt obliged to check on his senior sister, who had helped him greatly. When he arrived, Lan Yuer was preparing for secluded cultivation to get ready for the upcoming Four Factions Martial Assembly. Ling Xiao gave her a massive Earth Spirit Fruit, which should help her advance to Half-Step Heavenly Venerable without issue. As his loyal ally, her strength would benefit him greatly.
As for Shangguan Lei, who had been imprisoned due to his situation and suffered much grievance, Ling Xiao gave him a Golden Spirit Fruit.
After meeting them, Ling Xiao gave Dai Yuling, Leng Hao, and Zhao Zhi each a spirit fruit best suited to them. He had brought plenty of spirit fruits from the Moonlight Pagoda, so sharing with his closest friends was only natural. These people would be the pillars of the Moonlight Sect in the future.
Finally, he met the new sect leader, Wu Xiang. Honestly, placing the burden of sect leadership on Wu Xiang was a bit impulsive, as he hadn’t consulted him. Fortunately, Wu Xiang didn’t seem to mind, though he found it sudden.
Wu Xiang, already a Cave Heaven Realm expert, didn’t need gifts. The two chatted privately. The new sect leader mentioned he had discussed matters with the current Law Enforcement Hall Leader, Chang Yueying. Given Ling Xiao’s outstanding performance in the Pagoda Climbing Ceremony and to compensate for the harm from false accusations, they proposed rewards and compensation.
The rewards included cultivation resources like spirit stones. But what caught Ling Xiao’s attention most was one privilege: equal status to an inner sect elder, with access to the same resources. This was even greater than the privileges of the top ten core disciples.
When announced, it infuriated Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable, and some core disciples expressed dissatisfaction. However, fearing the Moonlight Heavenly Lady’s power, they didn’t show it openly.
Wu Xiang didn’t care about their opinions. Ling Xiao had saved his life, so no reward seemed excessive. Besides, Ling Xiao had made great contributions to the Moonlight Sect and had the Moonlight Heavenly Lady’s strong support, making the rewards entirely justified.
Wu Xiang only regretted that the Moonlight Sect was too weak to offer Ling Xiao more. Otherwise, his rewards might have been greater.
With the status of an inner sect elder, Ling Xiao’s cave dwelling naturally changed. His new cave had richer spiritual energy, a better location, and even a guardian beast, comparable to Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable’s former Volcano Palace. It was practically a mountain to himself.
Perhaps due to his rising fame, many in the sect wanted to meet him. But Ling Xiao disliked such attention. Besides, he had just emerged from the Moonlight Pagoda and had much to do, like mastering the inherited soul of the Ancient Hell Dragon, which he had only scratched the surface of. He needed to train diligently.
So, he ordered his cave’s guardian beast to refuse all visitors, no exceptions. Even the former Grandmaster and Law Enforcement Hall Leader waited three or four days without seeing him.
“Hmph, this Ling Xiao is getting too full of himself! He’s not even an inner sect elder yet, and he dares treat us like this!” Elder Jin snorted, trembling with anger.
“Sigh, what can we do? Even the Moonlight Heavenly Lady appeared to aid him. We can’t compete with him!” Chang Yueli said, but her eyes glinted with malice.
Within the sect, she might not act against Ling Xiao, but outside the Moonlight Sect, things were different. With the Four Factions Martial Assembly approaching, she had already planned to deal with him.
She didn’t care about much, but Ling Xiao had to die!
