Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 973 - 418: Ancient Path Sacred Map True Copy (2)

A majestic will descended from the heavens, and a human silhouette materialized beside Ning Qi.

Near the desk and bookshelf, the newly formed figure instantly appeared next to Ning Qi, solidifying and revealing the form of the Saint Ancestor.

In the void, countless golden chains clanked and rattled, resembling whips or arrows, hurtling towards Ning Qi. They were already within a zhang of him.

However, in the following moment, they suddenly went limp like slack ropes, completely losing their tension and vanishing in an instant.

Not far away, the black mule, obediently following Ning Qi’s command, stared blankly at Ning Qi's location with its mouth agape.

It had followed Ning Qi into this place, always believing it was extremely safe, never anticipating that it was due to Ning Qi and the protection of a single dead leaf.

Only now did it realize the immense terror lurking here.

From the two phantom shadows that suddenly appeared, it felt a formidable power, capable of annihilating it with ease.

"Could these two phantom shadows perhaps be the supreme existences of the Vast Realm?"

The black mule's hooves continuously retreated, fearing a backlash, but seeing Ning Qi remain composed, its fear began to subside.

Nonetheless, its pair of shiny black donkey eyes remained fixed ahead, eager to comprehend Ning Qi's connection to those two phantom figures.

It was utterly perplexed; if Ning Qi was allied with them, why would he infiltrate the Vast Realm in secret?

Yet, if they were not on friendly terms, why did both cease their actions upon spotting Ning Qi? It was truly inexplicable!

Before them, the Vast Realm Will and the calligraphy-painting avatar left by the Saint Ancestor were both astonished to find Ning Qi there.

The Saint Ancestor's avatar inquired, "Youngster, how did you appear here?"

The Vast Realm Will remained silent, assuming the role of a student in the presence of a teacher.

Ning Qi stated, "The situation in the Mountain and Sea Realm has been resolved, but I discovered that the Mountain Ancestor seemed to have dispatched individuals to your Vast Realm, so I followed them here."

"What?"

Both the Saint Ancestor's avatar and the Vast Realm Will were stunned.

The Saint Ancestor's avatar furrowed his brow. This avatar had been placed in the Vast Realm by the main body as a contingency. The main body itself was ensnared within the phantom of Buzhou Mountain by the Mountain Ancestor.

The Vast Realm Will was different. Although he had fought alongside the Saint Ancestor in the war realm, he had retained most of his power within this realm to preserve its vitality.

"How did you settle matters back in the Mountain and Sea Realm, and what makes you so certain the Mountain Ancestor sent someone here? You must understand that with Zhili and my avatar present, the Mountain Ancestor could not easily intrude here." The Saint Ancestor's avatar harbored numerous questions. After all, he still believed Ning Qi to be in the Mountain and Sea Realm and did not anticipate his appearance here.

Ning Qi, grasping the dead leaf, projected an invisible and intangible aura that enveloped him.

"Even my entry into this place went unnoticed by you; what about the Mountain Ancestor's envoy?"

Upon witnessing this, the Saint Ancestor gazed intently at the dead leaf in Ning Qi's hand, his expression growing solemn, and remarked, "Could this be the leaf from the hidden tree in the Mountain and Sea Realm, as mentioned by the Sea Ancestor? It is truly miraculous, rendering even Zhili and myself incapable of perceiving your presence."

"Now is not the time for such talk; I've sensed through a Secret Technique that the person dispatched by the Mountain Ancestor entered behind the waterfall. Old man, what is concealed behind your waterfall?" Ning Qi gestured towards the waterfall.

Hearing this, both the Saint Ancestor's avatar and the Vast Realm Will's expressions shifted once more.

"Not good, quickly, follow us inside!"

Both figures plunged straight into the waterfall.

Ning Qi also leaped into the cascade.

What initially appeared as a small stream cascading from a mountain spring transformed into a vast river in Ning Qi's perception as he drew closer.

Ning Qi's physical body breached the waterfall, distinctly feeling as if he were entering a torrent of rules, the Power of Rules washing over him, causing a slight discomfort.

Within a single breath, Ning Qi's physical form passed through the waterfall, entering another dimension.

This new space resembled an underground cavern, filled with the constant echo of dripping water.

Drip, drip!

Suspended above was a square stone, akin to a large plaque, bearing a few incomplete and faded inscriptions.

"Water Curtain... Cave... Heaven!"

Ning Qi briefly inspected the plaque, vaguely deciphering a few characters. However, he did not dwell on it, as the Saint Ancestor's avatar and the Vast Realm Will were already proceeding deeper into the cave ahead.

Ning Qi followed behind them, clutching the dead leaf, in contrast to the urgent pace of the other two.

"Closer!"

Now that he had entered this place, Ning Qi perceived the lost branch of the Seed of Jianmu with far greater clarity.

Following the direction indicated by a withered leaf, Ning Qi actually managed to outpace both the Saint Ancestor and the Vast Realm Will.

"Follow me, I can sense his location."

The other two paused for a moment, opting to place their trust in him without further inquiry.

Ning Qi took the lead, navigating the cave with great speed.

The Saint Ancestor’s avatar fixed his gaze upon Ning Qi's retreating form, carefully scrutinizing the aura the latter emanated.

To his surprise, this examination sent a jolt through him.

Astonishingly, a power resided within Ning Qi that was entirely congruent with his own.

Yet, he had only recently imparted his legacy to Ning Qi.

More remarkably, the Saint Ancestor's avatar could faintly discern the power of the Sea Ancestor and Vast Realm Power, and even the might of the Mountain and Sea Realm within Ning Qi.

He briefly doubted the accuracy of his own senses.

Could it be that Ning Qi was, in fact, a Celestial Being?

Nevertheless, the Saint Ancestor's avatar refrained from further questioning Ning Qi, content to trail behind him towards a place they would surely recognize.

Before long, the trio arrived at the termination of a narrow cave branch within the larger cavern.

The Saint Ancestor felt a surge of joy as a human silhouette materialized in the distance.

This individual was seated on the ground with legs crossed, appearing to be engaged in no particular activity.

A section of a withered branch hovered above the figure's head; while it possessed no overtly remarkable qualities, they were incapable of sensing any aura emanating from the person.

To the Saint Ancestor's further satisfaction, this particular cave branch was not a repository for significant treasures, but rather a dedicated cultivation site.

A small spatial node situated ahead could be unfurled, providing direct access to the Sea of Realms.

It was within this very location that the Saint Ancestor had honed his profound Dharma Method, the "Snake Swallowing Elephant Divine Techniques."

In the subsequent moment, a chilling sensation gripped the Saint Ancestor's avatar.

This was due to an object resting on the lap of the seated figure—a scroll that instilled in him a profound sense of alarm.

It was none other than the true copy of the Ancient Path Sacred Map!

The envoy dispatched by the Mountain Ancestor had already secured his most coveted treasure—the Ancient Path Sacred Map!

What the Saint Ancestor had previously bestowed upon Ning Qi was merely a duplicate of the map, containing, at most, the Dharma Method of a single Ancient Saint.

However, the authentic map harbored a multitude of far greater secrets.

The figure, with his back turned to the approaching trio, remained seated as if immersed in a deep state of cultivation.

Despite his apparent repose, his perception was astonishingly acute. The moment the trio discerned his form, he rose and turned to face them.

"You managed to discover my presence so quickly?"

The figure sported a mask emblazoned with a dragon motif, obscuring his features. Within the mask's eye slits, his pupils gleamed with exceptional brightness and sharpness.

"Who are you?" Zhili, the Vast Realm Will, surged forward to demand an answer.

Yet, the figure offered no reply, seemingly disregarding the Vast Realm Will's inquiry.

His gaze bypassed the Vast Realm Will and the Saint Ancestor's avatar, ultimately settling upon Ning Qi.

"Oh? How is it you again, Ning Qi? Weren't you in the Mountain and Sea Realm?"

Upon uttering these words, he appeared to grasp something, his eyes blinking suddenly.

Within his gaze, a wave of Divine Intent seemed to be transmitted, sending a signal through the act of blinking.

His aura felt akin to the unfathomable abyss of the starry expanse, the very apex of the universe.

In the very next second, the trio, including Ning Qi, experienced a tremor originating from behind them.

The Vast Realm Will could not resist glancing backward. As the Spirit Realm Will, its perception was the most acute.

All it managed to convey was, "Teacher, a colossal tremor just occurred in the war realm; that Mountain Ancestor went berserk and unleashed a divine light, shattering the Boundary Wall of the Mountain and Sea Realm that Ning Qi had painstakingly repaired."

The Saint Ancestor's avatar acted as if he had heard nothing, his gaze remaining fixed upon the masked figure before him, his attention fixated on the Ancient Path Sacred Map True Copy clutched in the figure's hand!

Ning Qi, too, observed the Sacred Map the figure held, his eyes, clear and sharp, seeming to perceive an endless stream of Immortal Dao Aura within it.