After Li Xuan and the other two left the Ghost Realm, a figure slowly appeared before Qin Guang and the others.
"Greetings, Left Protector!" Qin Guang and the others hurriedly bowed and saluted upon seeing him.
Yang Xiao nodded slightly and, looking in the direction Li Xuan and the others had departed, said slowly, "Effective immediately, seal the entrance to the Ghost Realm. Until the Empress awakens, no further contact with the outside world is to be made."
"We shall obey the Left Protector's decree!" Qin Guang and the others nodded in assent.
"Meng Lang and Meng Nai He are dead. As for Shen Tu, his cultivation has been crippled, so let him remain within the clan," Yang Xiao said after some thought.
"Left Protector, how strong is that person's power?" one of the men couldn't help but ask.
Yang Xiao fell silent. In truth, he had awakened when Meng Lang emerged from his seclusion. Naturally, he had also witnessed Yi Qin instantly kill Meng Lang with a single move. If he had not intended to rescue them, the Left and Right Protectors of the Ghost Realm would have both perished by now.
"Above Saint is the Prime Origin Realm. Beyond that are the Universe Realm and the Yin-Yang Realm. For that person to have casually annihilated Meng Lang, they must have at least reached the Life-Death Realm," Yang Xiao stated solemnly.
Qin Guang and the others fell silent upon hearing this.
Prime Origin Realm, Universe Realm, Yin-Yang Realm, Life-Death Realm!
These four realms were already known to them. Even Meng Lang and Yang Xiao, after a millennium of seclusion, had only managed to barely reach the Universe Realm. Yet, this Yi Qin, who appeared so young, had already reached the pinnacle of the realms they knew.
The Life-Death Realm!
Qin Guang and the others found the mere thought of it terrifying.
"Senior, you mentioned that Meng Nai He's father is in the Universe Realm. What is this realm about? Wasn't Saint supposed to be the highest realm?" Li Xuan and the other two did not linger in the Ghost Sect. Standing on a mountaintop, Li Xuan looked at Yi Qin with some curiosity and asked. As for Jian Chi, he had consciously retreated to a distance to wait.
"Your strength is not yet sufficient. When the time is right, you will naturally understand. However, since you have had some exposure, it won't hurt to tell you," Yi Qin said after some thought, and then he recounted the realms beyond Saint.
"Senior, are you in the Life-Death Realm?" Li Xuan fell silent for a moment. His path still had a long way to go. However, he was also curious about Yi Qin's strength.
Yi Qin shook his head slightly and then smiled, "You don't need to know these things. The most important thing is to walk your own path diligently."
Li Xuan was taken aback. It seemed this Senior Yi Qin's strength was even beyond the Life-Death Realm.
"Senior, since there are so many realms beyond Saint, why has no one on our Boundless Continent ever mentioned them? Or is it that the spiritual masters on our Boundless Continent cannot cultivate beyond Saint?" Li Xuan pondered for a moment and asked his final question.
Yi Qin nodded slightly upon hearing this. "Your Boundless Continent, in your perception, might seem like a vast world. But in truth, your Boundless Continent is merely a small, secluded corner. When your strength is sufficient, you will understand this. Hmm, you are not entirely wrong; with the Heavenly Dao's spiritual essence on your Boundless Continent, it is impossible to break through the shackles of Saint."
"You don't need to ask me about the Heavenly Dao's spiritual essence; you can inquire about it when you reach Saint. Alright, what are your plans now?"
Li Xuan forced a wry smile. He really wished he knew what the Heavenly Dao's spiritual essence was. However, since Yi Qin had closed off that line of questioning, Li Xuan saw no need to press further. After a moment of thought, Li Xuan said, "Now that Yao'er's whereabouts have been found, I must begin to improve my strength."
Li Xuan knew very well that less than ten years remained before the first layer of the Prison of Suppression would be unsealed. If he couldn't find a suitable spiritual sword, the consequences would be dire.
Yi Qin nodded slightly. Li Xuan, having found his sister's whereabouts, had not forgotten his mission, which showed a good grasp of the situation. Yi Qin thought for a moment and said, "If you cannot find a suitable spiritual sword to suppress them, you could also try to see what their character is like. You don't necessarily have to suppress all of them. Do you understand?"
"I don't need to suppress all of them..." Li Xuan frowned upon hearing this, pondered for a moment, and a glimmer of understanding gradually dawned in his eyes.
Before this, Li Xuan had subconsciously assumed that all beings within the Prison of Suppression were heinous criminals. Therefore, when the woman in yellow had told him to improve his strength while also seeking powerful spiritual swords to suppress them, Li Xuan had readily agreed.
But were all beings within the Prison of Suppression truly evil? Not necessarily. For example, Yi Qin, and Feng Zhao Ge. At least the two he had encountered so far, Li Xuan did not consider them to be bad people. Otherwise, Yi Qin could have easily killed him or released other suppressed beings from the Prison of Suppression.
"Senior, I understand," Li Xuan nodded. He now understood Yi Qin's meaning. If they were evil, they should naturally be suppressed. But if they were good, why couldn't he forge a good relationship with them or allow them to leave? Sometimes, a good deed could yield immense rewards.
"Good, it's good that you understand. There's one more thing you need to remember. I will not interfere with your path from now on. At least, not as actively as I did this time. Those who have not experienced growth cannot ultimately go further," Yi Qin said with a nod.
Li Xuan nodded in response. If not for the overwhelming strength of the individuals who appeared this time, Li Xuan would not have wanted to rely on Yi Qin. Self-reliance was, after all, the ultimate principle.
"And this young fellow here, his comprehension of the Way of the Sword is quite good. His willingness to follow you will be a great help to you in the future. However, I hope you will remember one thing: true friends value sincerity and mutual trust, not exploitation. Otherwise, it will ultimately lead to misfortune," Yi Qin said, glancing at Jian Chi, who was waiting at a distance.
"Mhm," Li Xuan nodded, naturally understanding Yi Qin's meaning.
Seeing this, Yi Qin did not continue speaking. With a movement, he vanished. Jian Chi, who had been watching from afar, walked over and asked, "That senior, has he left?"
"He has. Jian Chi, what are your plans now?" Li Xuan nodded and then asked.
Jian Chi was taken aback, then shook his head slightly. "I've chosen to follow you, so wherever you go, I'll go. Even if you go to a brothel, I'll go with you."
Li Xuan was stunned. This fellow looked like a gentleman, but his thoughts were not so pure.
"I was just using an analogy," Jian Chi said, blushing slightly at Li Xuan's strange look, and quickly clarified.
Li Xuan chuckled. "I know. Let's go."
Upon hearing this, Jian Chi immediately followed with curiosity, "Where are we going next?"
"Didn't you say it yourself? To visit a brothel," Li Xuan laughed heartily without looking back.
Jian Chi stumbled, nearly falling over.