51 Bu Lingxue

My eyes twitched as I pointed to Su Dangtian and replied,"How am I supposed to know that he would challenge me out of nowhere?"

Then, Elder Hong looked at Su Dangtian with a creepy smile,"Kid Su, it looks like you need some extra training. This time the training won't end before you master that martial skill."

Su Dangtian's and a few other disciples' faces paled when they heard that. It looks likes there is a story here.

I then told Su Dangtian with a serious expression,"Next time don't be reckless in performing unmastered Taboo skills. You might end up with a serious backlash."

Su Chenkong answered with sharp expression,"Don't worry little friend, he won't be executing that skill in a while."

Su Dangtian lowered his head and stayed silent.

Li Fengxian then said,"It's fine as long as you learn from your mistakes."

Su Dangtian looked at me with an unyielding expression and said,"I will challenge you again once I master the skill."

I gave him a dangerous smile and replied,"Any time."

I also looked at him with a serious expression,"Also, I recommend that you don't go to the forbidden ground even if you are selected right now."

He frowned slightly and asked,"Why not? It's a great opportunity for me to increase my cultivation."

I shook my head and replied,"Think carefully. Unlike the other disciples here, I can feel that you are on the verge of breaking through to 2nd rank Martial Exalted. Once you do, it will be even more effective for you to cultivate in that place."

He had an expression of realisation as he solemnly nodded. Su Chenkong then smiled a little and said,"Don't worry lad, I had the same idea as you. I won't allow him to there before he breaks through."

I then patiently answered some other questions from the crowd. The elders praised me while some disciples wanted to challenge me. I told them that I will declare a vacant slot in my schedule soon.

Xuan Feng and Li Muzhi also left along with their elders. The only ones left were the members of Spirit Enclave.

Dao Xuan asked me,"Are we going to the forbidden ground now?"

I nodded and covered them all in my spirit power. I then took them all to the Heavenly Pagoda quickly. As soon as we arrived, I transported them inside the small world.

As soon as we entered the small world, I looked back at them and informed,"Only those that reached Martial Exalted are allowed inside. The rest should just wait here."

There were about 6 people who fit the requirements. I took them to the basement of the Heavenly Pagoda where my sealing formation was placed.

I then allowed them to enter the main formation using my key. We then found ourselves inside the chaotic space. I've already informed them about the conditions inside so they were careful.

I then led them to the core floating island in the middle of the space.

Among the 6 people that came in, 3 of them had a spirit level of 4th level Dragon Transformation Sensation. Bu Lingxue and another elder reached 5th level Dragon Transformation Sensation. Dao Xuan was the highest with 6th level Dragon Transformation Sensation.

I then told them,"Be careful with the formation that I set up. Don't accidentally start the sealing formation or your life would bear in danger."

All of them except Bu Lingxue went forward to examine the sealing formation. They were also interested in checking out my diversion formation.

I wondered why she stayed with me at he edge of the island. It was also the first time I interacted with her alone.

I asked her,"Aren't you interested in seeing the formation?"

She said,"It's fine. When you give the blue prints to Daoist Xuan, I will study it."

Then there was an awkward silence around the two of us.

She then broke the awkward silence with a question. She looked at me with piercing eyes and asked,"Can you do me a personal favour? I know we don't really know each other but this is very important to me. I will also compensate you for this favour if you succeed."

I looked at her with narrowed eyes and thought for a while. A personal favour? She is a fellow elder and a talented world spiritist so, I'll atleast hear her out.

I replied,"I would first like to hear some details about this favour."

She nodded and started explaining. Apparently, in one of her visits to the inheritance area of the Spirit Enclave, she procured a certain treasure that came from Ancient Era.

She also learnt that if one could successfully refine this treasure, it would be a huge help for world spiritists. According to her, some key knowledge related to divination was also stored inside this treasure. However, this treasure had a highly cryptic sealing formation placed on it.

She wanted me to help her open the sealing formation. Dao Xuan tried several times in the past to open it only to fail. She said the she would give me all her divination techniques if I successfully decode the formation.

She really is a good master. She actually wants to use this treasure to help her disciple.

I liked challenges like these and it wouldn't hurt to help her. So I agreed.

I nodded and said,"Once this is over, bring that treasure to my residence and I will see what I can do."

She had a relieved look in her eyes when I agreed. I could also sense anticipation from her. Her expression also became less colder.

I hesitated a little but still asked,"Can I ask you a question? It's somewhat personal so feel free to tell me if I am crossing any lines."

She nodded slightly with a curious expression.

I then asked,"Why are you so interested in divination?" I know my question was extremely personal but I couldn't stop my curiosity.

Her eyes widened and her expression became extremely cold. She also did not speak any further and I didn't urge her either.

I was expecting a cold refusal but surprisingly she composed herself and actually replied with a sad expression.

"When I was younger, my family got wiped out by some nefarious forces. The martial cultivation is a cruel place where strong prey on the weak. My family was just another weak victim of this cruelty. I only escaped this fate through luck and sacrifices of my family. In fact the force that attacked my family also met it's end in the hands of another stronger force shortly after."

"While I was alone, the Sect Master saved my life and brought me to the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect. I owe her and the Sect a debt that I can't repay. I found out shortly after entering the Spirit Enclave that I had a talent for divination. I want to safeguard the sect from any possible disasters by predicting them in advance. That is the only way I can pay back the Sect."

I looked at her for a few seconds and chuckled,"Even if you look like an Ice berg, you are actually very warm inside."

She immediately went back to being her usual cold self.

I don't know why but I said,"When I was back in the lower realm, I was adopted by a small and incredibly weak clan. The cultivation of the clan head was Origin realm. I have this tendency to offend many people wherever I go. One day, when I came back to the clan. I found the entire clan massacred and their heads hanging on the walls as a warning sign."

My expression turned cold as I continued,"I hunted down every last one of the assailants but still it wouldn't bring them back. It was later when I became stronger that I found out I could resurrect them with my spirit power if I reached a certain level."

I looked at her and continued,"I know exactly what it feels like to loose family and be helpless about it."

I don't know why but she give me some kind of familiarity. No, familiarity is not the right word. Somehow, I feel like I can share my personal things with her with no discomfort.

She looked at me and slightly nodded with a less colder expression.

I then told her,"By the way, just call me Chu Feng. I don't feel that comfortable with the title 'Elder'."

She nodded and remained silent.

After a while, the 4 of them came back from the altar. Dao Xuan had a respectful expression as he said,"Your formation is truly exquisite little friend Chu Feng. However, the cost to operate it also seems to be quite steep."

I nodded and replied,"That's why the Sect Master asked the punishment hall to do a strict screening. I spent some valuable treasures of mine to operate the formation for the Sect Master and Elder Hong. That was also why the Sect Master gave me two spots to give people of my choice if they qualify."

Bu Lingxue raised her eyebrow and said,"Didn't you say it was one spot?"

I gave a mischievous smile and replied,"I only said that not to draw too much envy."

The juniors that I know would earn themselves a spot when they step into Martial Exalted. Su Dangtian and I don't know very well but I am sure he would be the first one to be sent here.

I am sure Long Xiaoxiao would be given a spot once she successfully breaks through to Martial Exalted.

I have already prepared the blueprints of the formation. I handed them over to Dao Xuan. I then took them back to the Hidden Dragon Martial Sect.

Before we separated, I stopped Bu Lingxue and said,"I am going out of the Sect in 10 days. So, it's better if you would bring me the item right now."

She nodded and left. I soon came back to my residence. I greeted the servants and told them about Bu Lingxue's visit. They were a little surprised and looked at me with an odd expression.

Shortly after they informed me that Long Xiaoxiao came by to tell me that she was entering closed door seclusion to comprehend Dragon Vein Source and hopefully breakthrough to Marital Exalted.

As this seclusion might take a while, she asked me to deliver a message back to her clan when I go out. I planned to go to the Ancestral Marital Starfield anyway so, I'll stop by and say hello.

After a few hours, Bu Lingxue came as promised. I greeted her and took her to the back yard where it was more spacious.

Shortly after we sat down, she took out a cylindrical object which gave an ancient aura. However, there was something familiar about this aura. I can't quite place it but it's definitely something I've seen or sensed before.

I took the cylinder and began to study it. The more I studied it, the more this familiar feeling increased. I furrowed my eyebrows as I started to recall where I sensed this aura before.

She wasn't wrong. This was not an easy formation to decode. I had a feeling that I would discover something shocking if I was able to decode it. I also started to become restless because of the familiar aura.

I ignored Bu Lingxue and started to solve the formation. The patterns were extremely unpredictable and endless. I had to peel it layer by layer to get to the core of the formation. I sat there for about 3 days straight and I finally got some results.

What I got was a formation puzzle with a set of star positions that were extremely complex to understand. I then realise that it was a divination formation. I could crack it by using trial and error to find a viable pattern if I spend a lot of time but I think it's better to let the expert beside me deal with it.

I came out of my zone and looked at her. She waiter patiently for the last 3 days.

I looked at her and said,"It's your time to work." I then laid down the picture of the divination puzzle before her in the courtyard. I only need the solution to continue decoding.

She nodded immediately and started arranging some formations. I could follow her purely from the perspective of formations but I couldn't grasp the essence that they contained in this particular situation.

It took her some time to give me the solution. I then input the solution into the real puzzle and suddenly another puzzle appeared in it's place.

I see, this sealing formation is a mixture of pure formation puzzles and divination puzzles. Actually even at her spirit power level she can decode these formations if she has the capability. But it seems she lacks in that area. So does Dao Xuan.

It was not easy for me too. In fact, this was just the outer layer of the seal. It will only get harder as we go deeper.

We repeated the same process for the next 4 days and finally the first layer was successfully cracked. I could tell that she was completely spent by the way she was sweating.

Suddenly a bright light from the cylinder illuminated the courtyard as the first seal undid itself. I suddenly got an influx of information. The aura that I sensed earlier also intensified.

That's when my expression turned to shock when I remembered the source of that aura. This, how could there be such a coincidence? I never thought I would go back to that place again.