Northern Yan - Chapter 41: Ruined? Ruined.

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The two of them rushed toward the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm without stopping after emerging from the teleportation array. Along the way, Mo Hao took out the map Jiang Jianfeng had given him, only for both Meng Xin and Liu Yue to disdainfully dismiss it. A prodigy like Meng Xin had naturally visited the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm before. As for Liu Yue, although her remarks often made Mo Hao uncomfortable, after spending so much time together, he had gradually grown accustomed to them.

“Stop!”

They had been traveling for more than half a month when Meng Xin suddenly halted about a hundred yards ahead of him. At the same time, Mo Hao heard her voice transmitted directly into his mind.

Following her gaze, he saw that a clearing had been hacked out of the forest ahead. Numerous people had set up camp there, while several figures at the head of the group wore anxious expressions, as though they were waiting for someone.

Mo Hao was somewhat puzzled. Could these people also be heading for the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm? But there were far too many of them. Only four sects were participating in the expedition: the three great sects and the Void Sword Sect. Could this be one of the three great sects?

Before he had time to think further, Meng Xin told him to accompany her in paying the group a visit. Mo Hao asked her about it, and she replied:

“That’s right. This is the Glazed Palace, one of the three great sects heading to the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm. The other two sects should be nearby as well. Come on. Since we have encountered them, we may as well pay them a visit. The Golden Core cultivator leading them has undoubtedly already noticed our presence.”

Meng Xin spoke of it as casually as if it were nothing, but Mo Hao listened with great concern. He had heard his irresponsible master mention the cultivators of the Glazed Palace before. Among those making this journey were said to be several cultivators who had reached the threshold of Foundation Establishment. Mo Hao had always wanted to ask about that matter, especially since he had once taken something from a Glazed Palace cultivator.

Meng Xin walked forward, but after two steps she realized that Mo Hao had not moved and was still standing where he was. She called out to him twice before he finally raised his head.

“What is it?” Meng Xin asked.

Mo Hao stammered, uncertain whether he should bring it up. After all, the matter concerned three Foundation Establishment Pills. Though those pills might not even be worth a single spirit stone in Meng Xin’s eyes, he still steeled himself and asked:

“Senior Sister, Master told me about something two years ago that I have never understood. I heard some senior brothers say that only cultivators in the Grain Avoidance Realm can enter the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm, and that even those who have taken half a step into Foundation Establishment are barred from entering. Then why did Master say that there are many cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment inside the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm?”

“Oh! So that is what you were asking about. Cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment originally could not enter the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm at all. However, a Nascent Soul cultivator once wanted to pull some strings and arrange for his grandson to enter. Although he was a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm was simply too important, and the three great sects were unwilling to agree so easily. That Nascent Soul cultivator claimed that he had a way to send cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment from the three great sects into the secret realm. Only then did the three sects agree to let his grandson replace another disciple and enter by special dispensation. Of course, the condition was that he first had to successfully send a cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment into the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm.”

Mo Hao scratched his head and asked in astonishment, “Then, Senior Sister, if all those cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment can enter the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm, what business is there for cultivators like us in the Grain Avoidance Realm?”

Meng Xin smiled faintly.

“Listen to the rest. The method that Nascent Soul cultivator used was extremely simple. He placed a restriction inside the body of each cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment, forcing them to remain at the peak of the late Grain Avoidance Realm. That allowed them to deceive the ancient inheritance site within the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm. The restriction itself is very simple; many elders of the three great sects know how to cast it. Unfortunately, having already agreed to the Nascent Soul cultivator’s terms, they could not easily go back on their word. In the end, they had no choice but to swallow the loss in silence.”

“What? They can only maintain the strength of the peak of the late Grain Avoidance Realm? Then why go to all that trouble to impose a restriction? Why not simply choose cultivators who are already at that level?”

“Do you think a cultivator who has spent many years at the peak of the late Grain Avoidance Realm has cultivated for a longer time than those Foundation Establishment cultivators? Those cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment have practiced the Pure Origin Art for many years and have long since mastered it. Their combat experience is also far richer. How can a young cultivator like you, who has not cultivated for very long, compare with those seasoned veterans at the threshold of Foundation Establishment?”

“Oh! So that is how it is. Then…”

Before Mo Hao could continue with his questions, Meng Xin grew somewhat impatient. It seemed she knew someone among the Glazed Palace contingent. She hurriedly waved him forward and quickened her pace, motioning for him to follow.

Mo Hao had no choice but to trail behind her.

“Hahahahahaha! You nearly killed me! You actually asked such a foolish question. Why choose cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment? Why not simply choose cultivators at the peak of the late Grain Avoidance Realm? Hahaha, this is too funny! How did I ever end up with such a brainless fool?”

Mo Hao silently followed Meng Xin when a sudden burst of malicious laughter startled him. It was Liu Yue’s voice, which had abruptly emerged from his mind. Mo Hao rolled his eyes.

“What are you laughing at? It is called humbly asking questions!”

“Pfft! What a fine example of humbly asking questions! Hahahaha, I am dying! How did I end up stuck with such an idiot?”

“Liu Yue, the way you put that makes it sound as though you already knew the answer.”

“Of course I did! Who do you think you are looking down on? I am a Nascent Soul cultivator, after all. From now on, stop asking your Senior Sister and ask me instead. Otherwise, I am afraid you will disgrace yourself if you tell anyone about this.”

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Mo Hao did not argue with her. He had long since grown accustomed to her sarcasm. Since Liu Yue had said he could ask her anything, why should he remain polite?

“My first question is this: if even your soul can enter someone else’s body, why don’t the three great sects station souls inside the bodies of those cultivators at the threshold of Foundation Establishment? My second question concerns the Pure Origin Art. What exactly is so special about it? Why is every cultivator practicing it? From what Senior Sister Meng said, it seems extremely important.”

The Pure Origin Art was the first cultivation method Xuanfengzi had taught him. He had assumed it was merely an ordinary method for cultivation, but now it seemed far from simple.

“All right. Since I have already agreed to answer your questions, I will do so. However, your first question has truly stumped me. Sigh, I cannot find a single word to describe how foolish it is. Are you really so stupid that you can ask something like that? Do you think a soul can simply leap into another person’s body whenever it pleases? In order to seize the treasures of the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm, would you have them destroy the bodies of Golden Core or Nascent Soul cultivators?”

“Ahem, ahem!”

Mo Hao realized that his question had indeed been rather idiotic, and he hurriedly coughed twice to conceal his embarrassment.

“As for your second question, you probably have not continued cultivating the Pure Origin Art consistently. You merely use it to recover your spiritual power, don’t you? Whether in the Illusory Moon Marsh, the Northern Yan Lands, or the Bright Sea, the entire Lower Clear Realm knows of this technique. It is used as the foundational cultivation method by virtually everyone and has spread throughout the realm. As for which cultivator created it, I have no idea.”

“Can you get to the point? Just tell me what the Pure Origin Art actually does!”

Mo Hao grew anxious as Liu Yue launched into a history lesson about the Lower Clear Realm.

“Why are you in such a hurry? Fine. Cultivation of the Pure Origin Art is endless. Though, as far as I know, only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage continue practicing it. In the end, the Pure Origin Art can draw vast quantities of the world’s spiritual energy to restore spiritual power and aid cultivation. I noticed that you still use spirit stones whenever you cast techniques. If you continue cultivating the Pure Origin Art, you will be able to absorb spiritual energy continuously from the world around you. Spiritual power is the foundation of a cultivator, so naturally this method is highly valued.”

“As for Golden Core cultivators, their bodies contain a Golden Core, and they have already broken through the limitations imposed by heaven and earth. They no longer need the Pure Origin Art to restore their spiritual power. That is why only cultivators at Foundation Establishment and below continue to practice it.”

Mo Hao nodded. It seemed he would have to continue cultivating the Pure Origin Art. His several techniques consumed an enormous amount of spiritual power, and now he had finally found a way to solve the problem.

“Thank you, Senior. Then…”

“What else do you want to ask? Enough. My soul is tired today, and I do not feel like talking anymore. Do not bother me again. I am done.”

Helpless, Mo Hao silently followed Meng Xin toward the Glazed Palace cultivators. His mind was filled with questions, and he paid no attention to his surroundings. He did not even notice when Meng Xin stopped. He walked straight into her, causing everyone around them to burst into laughter.

Mo Hao felt embarrassed, but then he sensed a familiar aura approaching. His brows furrowed, and he inwardly sighed.

The person he was bound to encounter had finally appeared.

It was the cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment whom he had met at Phoenix Pavilion. Fortunately, Mo Hao had been wearing a mask at the time. Yet if Mo Hao could recognize the other man’s aura, how could the other man fail to recognize his?

Sure enough, when the man saw Meng Xin and Mo Hao, his eyes narrowed. A trace of killing intent flashed through them before he walked directly toward Mo Hao.

“Oh? Who is this junior brother? Why do I find you so familiar? Have we met somewhere before? Are you also here to participate in the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm?”

Mo Hao quietly looked at him and nodded, but said nothing.

“Then I shall trouble junior brother to take good care of your senior brother inside the Glimmering Mist Secret Realm.”

With that, he reached out to pat Mo Hao on the shoulder, the sinister expression on his face growing even more pronounced.

Mo Hao could draw upon his spiritual power at any moment. Ever since he had seen this cultivator, he had remained on guard against him. He was no longer the mid-stage Grain Avoidance cultivator he had once been. If a battle broke out, he naturally possessed the strength to fight.

However, before the man’s hand could descend, a sword had already been placed against the cultivator’s throat.

Mo Hao turned his head and saw Meng Xin standing there with a sword in hand. She had previously been chatting happily with a female cultivator who was also at the Foundation Establishment stage, but now the blade was pressed against the neck of the cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment.

“You little cultivator, you certainly have some nerve. How dare you lay a hand on my junior brother? Have you lived too long and decided you want to die early? For Yiyi’s sake, I will give you a minor punishment this time. But if there is a next time, hmph! Do not think that merely because you are a disciple at the threshold of Foundation Establishment from the Glazed Palace, you will be safe. I would dare kill even a Foundation Establishment disciple!”

Mo Hao saw a female cultivator who appeared to be one of the Glazed Palace’s leaders walk over with a dark expression. Without saying a word, she struck the cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment with her palm.

The man was sent flying several yards, fresh blood spraying from his mouth like mist.

Mo Hao sneered. The female cultivator from the Glazed Palace was indeed skilled at reading the situation. If Meng Xin had struck first, she would likely have crippled the man. Although this female cultivator named Yiyi appeared ruthless, her attack had in fact inflicted only a minor injury on him.

Meng Xin knew that the other woman had acted before she could in order to show some consideration, but the two women were acquainted, and she had to give her that much face.

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“Oh dear, look at this. This was truly my failure to discipline my people. This young brother is Xin’er’s junior brother, I presume? How wonderful. But, junior brother, why don’t we let this matter end here? I promise I will punish him severely later. Please, give your senior sister this much consideration.”

Mo Hao turned to look at Meng Xin, then at the cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment. After a moment, he slowly nodded.

He sighed inwardly.

To these Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even to those at the Pseudo-Core stage, cultivators who had yet to reach Foundation Establishment were truly worth nothing. They could kill them whenever they pleased.

It seemed that he would have to work harder at his cultivation.

He followed the female cultivator into a tent. From the outside, it was large but looked somewhat battered and dilapidated. Yet once Mo Hao entered, he discovered that it was actually a spatial artifact.

Unlike a storage bag, this spatial artifact could contain living beings, and its inner space was astonishingly vast. Mo Hao had not expected anything like it.

There were only a few cultivators inside, but from their auras, Mo Hao could tell that every one of them had reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

Mo Hao courteously greeted them one by one. Once the cultivators learned that he was Meng Xin’s junior brother, they all offered him friendly smiles. One male Foundation Establishment cultivator went even further, fussing over Mo Hao with such warmth that he seemed like an affectionate elder brother. They acted as though they had become close friends at first sight.

Mo Hao felt somewhat uncomfortable. However, after exchanging only a few words with him, the cultivator turned and hurried toward Meng Xin.

To Mo Hao’s surprise, the man directly took Meng Xin’s hand, which was as smooth and pale as white jade.

Mo Hao swallowed.

This was truly astonishing news.

He saw a faint blush spread across Meng Xin’s usually austere face. At last, he understood why she had hurried here to meet the Glazed Palace cultivators without even allowing him time to ask more questions.

But then Meng Xin seemed to remember something. Her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she pulled her hand free from the man’s grasp.

“Shangguan Han, the cultivators of your Glazed Palace are getting far too bold!”

“What? What are you talking about? Which of the cultivators here would dare bully you? I cannot even defeat you myself.”

Meng Xin’s expression turned cold, and she was about to erupt. Seeing the change in her face, however, the male cultivator realized that she was not joking. He hurriedly turned toward the female cultivator named Yiyi.

“What happened?”

Shangguan Han also looked at Yiyi with a dark expression. No matter how angry Meng Xin became in the past, she had never acted with such unforgiving severity. What had happened today?

Yiyi sighed, knowing that she could no longer protect the cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment. She also knew her senior brother’s temperament, so she explained everything honestly:

“Gao Tianli was hostile toward this junior brother earlier. He even attacked him in front of Xin’er.”

When Shangguan Han heard this, he flew into a rage.

How could this be tolerated?

His companion was a powerful Pseudo-Core cultivator who ranked among the foremost practitioners of the Profound Thunder spiritual lineage. Even cultivators who had just entered the Golden Core stage had to show her some respect. Yet one of his disciples had actually tried to injure the junior brother he had brought with him?

“Gao Tianli? The cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment? Bring him in!”

“Senior Brother, I have already punished that boy. The Glimmering Mist Secret Realm is about to open, so you should show some restraint. Senior Sister, please say something on my behalf.”

“What nonsense are you talking about? Bring him in!”

Yiyi sighed inwardly and walked out of the tent.

Before long, the cultivator at the threshold of Foundation Establishment who had attacked Mo Hao entered the tent.

Shangguan Han said nothing. He simply condensed his spiritual power and pointed at Gao Tianli.

The force of that single gesture sent Gao Tianli flying. Blood streamed from his seven orifices, and he collapsed motionless onto the ground.

Just like that, his cultivation had been crippled.

Mo Hao was utterly stunned.

“He crippled him just like that? He really did.”