Chapter 1364: Why Is It You Again?

In the Qingyuan Empire, Emperor Qingtian had once worn a bronze mask and sought help from the Calligraphers' Guild. He had helped resolve the issue and discovered that it concealed a phantom of Master Kong.

Now seeing such a painting again, and with an even higher realm, the mountains completely identical... Could it be the same place?

"There's no phantom of Master Kong here. I wonder if it was deliberately left out or simply not discovered."

He frowned.

Turning his wrist, he took out the scroll and compared it with the mountains before him. They were identical, without the slightest difference, except that the painting lacked the image of a beautiful woman bathing.

"This is [Baixi Mountain] in the Empire Alliance. It's in the opposite direction from the Saint Son Hall, very far from here. To get there, even a seventh-level holy beast in the Holy Domain would need to fly for a full three months!"

Seeing the painting in his hand overlap with the outside scene almost perfectly, Luo Xuanqing explained.

"Baixi Mountain?"

Zhang Xuan clenched his fist.

"The calligrapher of this painting is quite skilled, vivid and lifelike, capturing the essence of this mountain completely!"

Luo Xuanqing praised.

This painting was astonishing in the Qingyuan Empire, but in the eyes of an expert like him, it was merely decent.

"Indeed!"

Putting the scroll away, Zhang Xuan was filled with excitement.

Knowing this was Baixi Mountain, he would definitely go there if he had the chance. Since there was a phantom of Master Kong, perhaps the location of the beautiful woman bathing might lead to the remains left by Master Kong.

Whoosh!

As they spoke, the bubble flew out of the spiritual qi river and arrived before the massive painting.

"Can we enter this painting?"

Looking at the work that seemed as real as life, Zhang Xuan couldn't help asking.

The senior who left the Void Gourd must have had a purpose in leaving this painting. If he could go in and take a look, he might learn more details.

"It should be possible..."

Luo Xuanqing nodded.

"Then let me have a look!"

With a slight smile, Zhang Xuan shook his body and flew forward.

This painting was not on paper but painted on folded space, layers connected together. After flying for a long time, he finally arrived before the great mountain.

The mountain range was dense and imposing, giving a sense of majesty.

Flying upward, he soon reached the spot where the beautiful woman bathed. After scanning around, he couldn't help shaking his head.

It was no different from anywhere else—no phantom of Master Kong, nor any hidden folded space or the like.

"Although Master Kong is not painted, the senior who left this painting must have had a profound intention."

If this relic was truly left by the Ancient Sage Qiuwu, everything would make sense.

He was Master Kong's servant. Leaving this painting was probably to remind later generations that this Baixi Mountain... was unusual!

After studying for a while, knowing it was just a painting and he couldn't find anything specific, he shook his body and retreated.

Just as he returned to Luo Xuanqing and the others, the great mountain shook and turned into a pool of ink.

"This painting is too old. It maintained its appearance because no one touched it. When you entered, you brought the aura of a living person, so it could no longer hold up."

Luo Xuanqing explained.

Zhang Xuan understood.

It was like many things from tombs—bright and colorful, but once taken out, they immediately turned to the color of earth.

No longer dwelling on it, he continued looking forward. A wide passage appeared in his sight.

Following behind Luo Xuanqing and the others, he landed on it.

After experiencing various spatial distortions, finally setting foot on solid ground, he felt much more relaxed.

"The treasure I sensed is inside!"

Pointing inward, Yun Lianhai's eyes lit up.

Earlier, his sensing was unclear, but now it was very distinct. If they followed the passage, they should be able to find many treasures smoothly.

"Good!"

Hearing that the treasure was nearby, everyone perked up and walked forward in unison.

Before long, a palace appeared before them.

The palace was not very large, nor particularly luxurious. It had stood for who knows how many years, giving an ancient feel.

"There might be danger here. I'll go in and take a look; you follow later."

Luo Xuanqing walked to the front and reached the door in a few steps.

The palace gate was entirely carved from stone, densely covered with runes.

"These are space runes, special characters created by the Ancient Sage Qiuwu. Observing them regularly can help comprehend spatial laws. Our family has detailed annotations for these characters."

After a glance, Luo Xuanqing raised his eyebrows.

"Space runes?"

Zhang Xuan suddenly understood.

He had seen them in Qiuwu Palace.

The Great Compassion Demon Palm was written in this script. At the time, he didn't know what it was, but he learned the incantation based on the shape of the characters.

"So this relic really was left by the Ancient Sage?"

Bi Hongyin was filled with excitement.

Although the Ancient Sage Qiuwu was Master Kong's servant, his true strength was not much weaker than Bu Shang, the founding patriarch of the Saint Son Hall. Most importantly, he had a profound understanding of space. If they could obtain his inheritance, breaking through to the eighth level of the Holy Domain, or even the ninth, would only be a matter of time.

"Most likely. But... our family has many books recording the deeds of ancient sages, and I've never heard of a relic left here."

Luo Xuanqing found it strange.

"This relic looks very complex, but for a powerhouse at the level of an ancient sage, it might have been done casually, and he might not even remember it..."

Yun Lianhai said.

As a family skilled in treasure hunting, they had seen too many treasures.

Many relics are mysterious and precious to later generations, but to those who left them, they mean nothing.

Different realms bring different perspectives.

"That's true!"

Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.

For him now, high-grade spirit stones were of little use. He could casually throw away hundreds or thousands without feeling distressed, but in the Ten Thousand Kingdoms Alliance, even a single one would be sought after by countless people.

The Void Gourd seemed precious to them, but to an ancient sage, tossing it away casually was nothing.

"Luo Xuanqing, do you recognize these runes? What do they say?"

Yun Lianhai asked.

"They are a message for later generations. The gist is that reaching this point shows a deep understanding of space and qualifies one to receive his inheritance. It also records the method to open this door..."

Staring at the characters on the door, Luo Xuanqing said.

The Luo family had studied these space runes for countless years and could recognize most of them.

"Inheritance? Do you mean there really is an ancient sage's inheritance here?"

"Yes."

Luo Xuanqing nodded and took a deep breath: "I'm going to open the door. Everyone be careful. Since we've come this far, let's not have any accidents..."

After speaking, he stepped back, flipped his fingers, and a surge of true energy shot out, pointing straight at the door.

Three consecutive strikes formed a triangle. Ripples appeared on the door's surface, and it slowly creaked open.

True energy surged, forming a protective shield around his body.

Although the Ancient Sage Qiuwu was a renowned sage, since he left an inheritance, there would inevitably be various tests, possibly including traps and mechanisms. He had to be cautious.

Entering the room first, Luo Xuanqing waved to the others after a moment: "No danger. Come in!"

Everyone filed in. There was only a hall, bare with nothing, and a statue stood not far away.

"It's the Ancient Sage Qiuwu!"

Recognizing the statue's appearance, Zhang Xuan said.

This statue was very familiar; he had seen it before in Qiuwu Palace.

"This is the Ancient Sage?"

Yuan Xiao and the others were shocked.

Although they came from prestigious families, the era of the ancient sages was too distant for them to have seen them.

"I've seen portraits of the Ancient Sage. This is indeed him."

Luo Xuanqing responded, then looked at Zhang Xuan with slight confusion: "How does Master Zhang know?"

The Luo family had portraits of the Ancient Sage Qiuwu, but this man came from the Qingyuan Empire—how could he recognize him at a glance?

"Since you said the script was left by the Ancient Sage, I guessed the statue should be him. Just a random guess..."

Zhang Xuan said.

It was better not to mention that Qiuwu Palace contained the Spatial Shift Scripture.

Seeing he didn't want to elaborate, Luo Xuanqing knew everyone had their own fortunes and didn't press further. Instead, he walked up to the statue and knelt down.

He kowtowed respectfully a few times, then turned to explain to the others.

"Our Luo family's understanding of space is inherited from the Ancient Sage. Therefore, our ancestors decreed that whenever we see a statue or remnant will of the Ancient Sage, we must kneel and treat him with the etiquette due to a patriarch."

"Inherited from the Ancient Sage?"

Zhang Xuan was astonished.

He turned to look at Yuan Xiao and the others, but they seemed to already know.

"Space involves the primordial great path. The great path is singular; it cannot be divided into multiple true interpretations like the sword path. Since that's the case, a single lineage is simple..."

After thinking, he suddenly understood.

He should have known this earlier.

No wonder the榻言 ancient book left by Saint Luo could perfect the Spatial Shift Scripture and make it suitable for cultivation—they came from the same source.

"Luo Xuanqing, a later student, pays respects to the Ancient Sage Qiuwu!"

After doing this, he gently extended his hand and placed it on the statue's base.

Hum!

With a soft chime, the Ancient Sage instantly radiated myriad rays of light. The stone statue, which had been motionless, slowly opened its eyes.

"The Ancient Sage's will..."

Bi Hongyin, Yuan Xiao, and the others were all thrilled. Without hesitation, they followed suit and knelt down.

The Ancient Sage Qiuwu was a sage even older than their founding patriarch. Even their ancestors would kneel and address him as senior, not daring to act arrogantly.

"Passing by here back then, I accidentally obtained a seed of the Void Gourd and planted it casually, hoping to leave something for later generations to benefit from. Since you have come here, it shows you have a high understanding of space and are qualified to refine it and receive the fortune I impart..."

The stone statue's voice slowly sounded.

"Thank you, Ancient Sage..."

Everyone was filled with excitement. Luo Xuanqing was about to say more words of gratitude when he suddenly noticed that Zhang Xuan nearby had not knelt.

Frowning, he couldn't help scolding: "Master Zhang, when you see the Ancient Sage, why don't you bow..."

Before he could finish, the Ancient Sage statue also turned its head, its expression changing as if it had seen a ghost: "Why is it you again?"