264: Chapter 264 Amidst all expectations, there was no reaction within the ancient land of inheritance.

"Once you step onto the light stairs, the bronze gate will open on its own.

The Legacy land forms its own space, impenetrable to the outside world. Only when you have gained some insight, or triggered a Restriction that sends you out, will the outside world be able to perceive it."

The Taihu Clan Chief said: "We shall wait here. Xu Ruyu, although you are an outsider, I, as the Clan Chief, am very much looking forward to you bringing some pleasant surprises to our Taihu Clan."

Xu Ruyu bowed to everyone in the hall, hesitated no longer, and stepped onto the moonlight stairs.

When he reached the massive bronze gate, the nine-fox pattern on it seemed to come alive, a nimble light flashing in its eyes. Immediately, the heavy doors emitted a low rumble and slowly opened inward, revealing a deep, ancient darkness that seemed eternal.

Xu Ruyu stepped inside.

Behind him, the massive bronze gate closed quietly, sealing off the inside from the outside.

...

The hall fell into a brief silence.

"How long do you think he will need?" Elder Lan Yi asked softly, breaking the silence.

The Grand Elder pondered: "Given the... strangeness and power this child displayed in the first two stages, his Comprehension Ability must also be extraordinary. Perhaps he can gain something within one stick of incense?"

Lady Qingli's eyes flickered, her tone firm: "I believe in Xiao Yuer. He always creates miracles. Perhaps... he can comprehend more than one technique."

The figure of the Clan Chief, shrouded in moonlight, rippled slightly, and a cold, clear voice rang out: "Supreme Master, what do you think?"

The phantom of the Supreme Master was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "This child's 'Dao' is vastly different from the norm. His perspective might allow him to see things that we cannot. I look forward to his performance. Perhaps... he can touch upon three techniques?"

This was already an extremely high expectation.

One must know that in the history of the Taihu Clan, those who could comprehend more than three incomplete Cultivation Techniques in the Ancient Legacy Land were few and far between, and each one later became a titan who led their era.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the waiting.

An exquisite bronze incense burner was placed in the hall, and a slender "Soul-Stabilizing Incense" was lit, with green smoke curling upwards.

The time of one stick of incense passed quickly.

In the direction of the Legacy land, the massive bronze gate remained tightly shut, with no movement, and none of the unique "Legacy Holy Light" that was expected to overflow from the door cracks when "comprehending a Cultivation Technique" appeared.

The expressions of everyone in the hall remained normal; one stick of incense was already a very high expectation, and it was normal not to achieve it.

The Soul-Stabilizing Incense burned out, and the second stick was lit.

Two sticks of incense passed... still, there was no movement.

The Grand Elder frowned slightly, and a trace of doubt flashed in Elder Lan Yi's eyes.

Lady Qingli's hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched unconsciously.

The third stick of Soul-Stabilizing Incense was lit.

Three sticks of incense—this was the usual time limit for an excellent Disciple to comprehend one Cultivation Technique, and also one of the critical points for the Legacy land to automatically teleport the participant out.

The incense stick burned slowly, the green smoke rising straight up.

When the third stick of incense also burned out its last wisp of green smoke—

The massive bronze gate remained silent.

There was no Holy Light, no fluctuation, and Xu Ruyu had not been teleported out.

The atmosphere in the hall began to turn somewhat subtle.

"This..." The Grand Elder stroked its beard, its face showing confusion, "Three sticks of incense have passed. Even if he failed to comprehend anything, he should have been teleported out, right? The Restriction of the Legacy land has never failed."

Elder Lan Yi hesitated: "Could it be... that he encountered some special situation inside? Or... has he fallen into some kind of deep state of comprehension, such that even the Restriction has not yet judged him as 'having gained nothing'?"

The Clan Chief and the Supreme Master did not speak, simply looking quietly in the direction of the massive bronze gate. The moonlight and the phantom rippled slightly, showing that they too were observing and calculating.

Time continued to flow by.

One hour, two hours... half a day had passed.

The Legacy land still had no reaction.

The people waiting in the hall, from their initial expectation and calmness, gradually began to feel a trace of doubt and unease.

This situation was unprecedented.

The news spread like wildfire.

More and more high-level members and elite Disciples of the Taihu Clan arrived upon hearing the news, gathering outside the Moon Fox Palace, whispering to each other.

"I heard that Xu Ruyu entered the Ancient Legacy Land and it's already been half a day, yet there hasn't been a single movement?"

"He should have come out after three sticks of incense. How long has it been now? Could it be... that something happened to him inside?"

"What could happen? Although the Legacy land tests Comprehension Ability, there is no danger to life."

"Could it be that his Comprehension Ability... is actually quite ordinary? Or even... very poor? Did he just rely on a special Physique or trickery for the first two stages?"

"Very likely! After all, he is only in the Qi Refinement Stage, his cultivation Foundation is shallow, and his understanding of profound Cultivation Techniques must be limited! How mysterious are those ancient Cultivation Techniques? He can't understand them, but is unwilling to come out, so he's just stubbornly holding on?"

"Perhaps he is trapped in some illusion or difficult problem? Sigh, it seems that his reputation exceeds his actual ability."

Amidst the discussions, a sense of disappointment began to spread. Those who had originally looked at Xu Ruyu with admiration because of his performance in the War Soul Tower were now wavering. Comprehension Ability is, after all, one of the Foundations of cultivation. If he failed at this stage, his previous stunning performance would be greatly diminished.

As the sky gradually darkened, one day passed.

The massive bronze gate was like a sleeping beast, showing no signs of opening at all.

The Clan Chief finally stood up. Its figure under the moonlight seemed to solidify for a moment, and it glanced at the phantom of the Supreme Master.

The Supreme Master was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Wait a little longer."

The second day passed in an even more anxious and doubtful wait. The discussions outside the Moon Fox Palace had turned into almost one-sided disappointment and questioning. Even some Elders who had originally supported Lady Qingli began to shake their heads and sigh.

Lady Qingli pressed her lips tightly, her beautiful face unable to hide her worry, but she still stubbornly stood in the hall, her eyes fixed tightly on that door, silently thinking to herself: "Xiao Yuer, you can definitely do it..."