444: Chapter 444 Ancient Secrets, The Heaven-Knocking Ceremony

"Why the hell would I be laughing? I have a System on me too!"

Originally, I had stopped thinking about conspiracy theories, but now that you've brought out something so similar, how could I not overthink it?

No wonder that guy was already at the Middle Stage of Void Refining yet still so easily influenced; it turns out it was this old fellow's doing.

Zheng Dafu's poor Heart-Nature and lack of foundation were definitely caused by the other party's force-feeding influence. No wonder his Divine Abilities worked every single time.

However, this hidden hand of his doesn't seem strong enough. If he could monitor the other party at all times, he should have known about the conversation between him and me.

But looking at his reaction, he probably doesn't know. This means that space seems capable of shielding the effects of the other party's key, or perhaps he cannot monitor in real-time.

Furthermore, Zheng Dafu said he had never used that Divine Ability on someone at the Late Stage of Void Refining.

Setting Liu Dan aside, as a core member of the Dao Sect, it was impossible for Zheng Dafu not to know Zhang Mingyuan's cultivation level.

So, that Divine Ability must have never been revealed in front of Zhang Mingyuan. Thus, Zhang Mingyuan didn't know the other party had such a trick up his sleeve and naturally had no way of knowing about my conversation with Zheng Dafu.

Looking at it this way, the other party's methods don't seem particularly sophisticated.

Wait, that's not right. Didn't he just mention my cultivation level?

Could this guy actually have heard it?!

"How did you know my cultivation is at the Late Stage of Void Refining?"

Zhou Yan temporarily set aside the matter of the System and turned to ask about this instead.

After all, the only people who could confirm his strength were Liu Dan and Zheng Dafu. Even they couldn't directly trust him and wanted him to show his hand, let alone Zhang Mingyuan.

Zhou Yan absolutely did not believe that he could be certain of his strength without any testing; otherwise, he could never have cultivated to this Realm.

"An anonymous old friend told me—one who lives in the Great Liang Imperial Palace, is a relative of the Emperor, and whom you met not long ago."

Liu Dan?

Is that old brat still thinking about me?

"Did he not tell you anything else?"

Zhou Yan was quite curious about what exactly Liu Dan had said to Zhang Mingyuan.

Hearing this, Zhang Mingyuan couldn't help but curl his lips into a smile.

"That anonymous friend of mine told me that you, Old Ancestor, likely, seemingly, more or less have a cultivation at the Late Stage of Void Refining, and he wanted me to find a way to test you."

"If it's true, then bringing you back to our Dao Sect would naturally be an excellent thing. Not only would it provide the Immortal clues we crave, but it would also bolster our combat power."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yan lowered his gaze and focused inward, his fingers playing with the rim of his wine cup.

"Then how did you answer, and what were your thoughts?"

Zhou Yan was prepared to throw the chessboard again if the other party also wanted to test him. And this time, if the other party directly attacked, he would just flee.

It could be said that ever since leaving Liu Dan's place, his mind had been filled with thoughts of running away.

But the answer Zhang Mingyuan gave left him momentarily stunned.

"Hahaha, that old geezer."

"As his old friend, how could I not know what he's thinking?"

"His tone already fully proved your strength. I imagine you gave him a harsh lesson, Old Ancestor."

"Not only did you teach him a lesson, but you also rejected his recruitment. So this old brat secretly contacted me, wanting me to test you so that I would also suffer a bit."

"He might even want to use my testing to make you lose trust in the Dao Sect, thereby giving their Imperial Dynasty another chance to recruit you."

"Of course I wouldn't agree. Setting aside the fact that I cannot strike an elder—after all, my Dao Sect has more morals than them..."

"Simply put, I didn't come for your strength, Old Ancestor. I only wanted to welcome back a Senior of the Dao Sect."

Zhang Mingyuan's words weren't wrong. Third Brother Chen's family had been receiving subsidies precisely because they had produced a member of the Dao Sect.

So, while he was indifferent toward Mortals, he truly seemed to treat the Dao Sect well.

But this was for the best; with one less test, he wouldn't have to reveal his bottom line again.

After he finished laughing, Zhang Mingyuan stopped and continued speaking leisurely.

"So, Old Ancestor, the undercover agents developed by Zheng Dafu are actually still people of the Dao Sect first, and Yao Race spies second—it's just that they themselves don't know it."

"Since they have taken the Legacy of my Dao Sect, they naturally must bear the price."

"When the day comes that we need them, they will naturally be sacrificed. If any survive, they can be converted back."

"Even if I mess up due to overconfidence and let them truly 'occupy the magpie's nest'..."

"Their Orthodoxy will still be the Legacy of my Dao Sect. Over time, their descendants will naturally realize this and return to the Dao Sect."

"Therefore, there is no need to pay much mind to these trivial matters. As for the transmission of the Dao Sect's Legacy, with this key, it remains stable."

"So, Old Ancestor, you don't need to worry."

"Let us talk more about the Immortal Realm."

Seeing the fanaticism in the other party's eyes, Zhou Yan quickly stopped him.

"I've already told you, telling you many things now would be of no benefit to either of us."

Seeing the other party fall into disappointment again, Zhou Yan took the opportunity to add a sentence.

"However, if I wait until I recover my cultivation a bit more, it might be possible."

"Recover... cultivation!"

Zhang Mingyuan's originally disappointed face instantly flushed with color, and his eyes shone with a golden light.

"Could it be, Old Ancestor, that you can still recover the strength of an Immortal!"

"If it's truly possible, whatever you need, Old Ancestor, the Dao Sect will definitely do its utmost!"

Looking at the suddenly impassioned Zhang Mingyuan, Zhou Yan seemed to find an opening.

He took the chance to probe slightly with the Law of the Heart.

As expected, perhaps because he firmly believed in Zhou Yan's identity and was too desperate for the path to immortality, Zhou Yan actually succeeded in one go.

"Ahem, Mingyuan, do not be impatient."

"My cultivation can naturally be recovered, but as you know, recovering one's cultivation definitely takes a vast amount of time and energy."

"My relevant memories have been erased, but I know I suffered very heavy injuries. Although I currently have the strength of the Late Stage of Void Refining, if my injuries aren't healed, I won't be able to take another step forward or exert more power."

"So I may first need to treat my injuries for sixty or seventy years at the shortest, or a hundred years at the longest."

"I cannot be disturbed during this period, and I will also need a supply of spiritual plants and spiritual ores."

"My original plan was to see what exactly happened to this world and determine the current state of affairs, which is why I was traveling around."

"The purpose of revealing my identity was also to meet the upper echelons of the current world. I just didn't expect the Dao Sect to have moved here."

"Since that's the case, returning to the Dao Sect is my best choice at the moment."

"So, does the Dao Sect still have the time and strength for this?"

"If not, I will find another place in private to recover on my own. Although it will take more time, it won't affect the Dao Sect."

"It wouldn't be too late to return once I've recovered."

"No, no, no, Old Ancestor!" Zhang Mingyuan hurriedly intervened, his eyes full of urgency.

"How could we trouble you with such a small matter? Your return has already brought this Junior a great surprise, let alone such a massive one."

"My Dao Sect has suffered under the Imperial Dynasty for a long time. If you can recover your cultivation, Old Ancestor, it would be heavenly news."

"Even if you cannot leave behind an Immortal Legacy, having combat power that transcends Void Refining is enough to help my Dao Sect regain its footing and stand above the Mortal world."

Seeing the heat in the other party's eyes and the words he reflexively blurted out, Zhou Yan knew the man was hooked.

So he wanted my Legacy; no wonder he was so attentive. However, it seemed that the bait of being able to recover his strength was even more capable of piquing his interest.

Regarding healing injuries and recovering cultivation, Zhou Yan was naturally lying to him.

What Zhou Yan actually wanted was to find a place for secluded cultivation to break through to Soul Transformation. Once he could break through, his strength would naturally increase.

If he could later reach the Body Integration Stage, that would indeed be stronger than Void Refining, so it wasn't a complete lie.

As the saying goes, the most dangerous place is the safest place. Since there was profit to be gained from him, the other party certainly wouldn't harm him now.

He could use Zhang Mingyuan's prestige to create a suitable cultivation environment for himself.

Perhaps once Zhang Mingyuan's excitement cooled down, he might make some schemes. But what was certain was that he could definitely use this opportunity to steadily break through to Soul Transformation.

By then, even if he had many schemes, Zhou Yan would just go straight home, and he'd have no move left.

If he could chase him through the river of time, then Zhou Yan would consider him impressive.

"But Old Ancestor, will you be in seclusion for nearly a hundred years?"

Zhang Mingyuan seemed lost in thought.

Zhou Yan nodded in response.

That was indeed the case. After all, time had no meaning in the Sea of Laws; entering once could easily result in ten or twenty years passing without notice.

Although Zhou Yan had reported much more, intending to run away while they were waiting for him to emerge, he had only doubled the estimate.

"Originally, I thought that since you had returned, Old Ancestor, I wouldn't go to the Heaven-Kowt Assembly."

"But since you need to enter seclusion, and the timing happens to be just right..."

Zhang Mingyuan looked up, his eyes showing some hesitation.

"I wonder if you have any interest, Old Ancestor, in going to see that Heaven-Kowt Assembly?"

"Heaven-Kowt Assembly?"

Zhou Yan's expression turned solemn.

Could it be that the major event in a hundred years mentioned by Senior Yu Kou is this thing?

"Tell me about it. What exactly is it?"