368: Chapter 368 Xu Ruyu's Scheme, Dialogue with the Hundred Saints

Deep in the Transmission Monument Forest, Xu Ruyu stood alone before a transmission monument.

Yue Ling and the Taihao Clan had gone to wander elsewhere—the Taihao Clan said she wanted to see those newly completed Cultivation Techniques, and Yue Ling accompanied her.

Xu Ruyu was happy for the peace and quiet, so he stayed in this monument forest alone.

The surroundings were quiet, with only the faint whimpering sound of the wind blowing past the monuments.

Sunlight scattered through the Formation light screen, casting mottled shadows on the monuments.

Over a hundred monuments stood silently, each emitting a faint dao rhyme, as if silently recounting ancient secrets.

Xu Ruyu closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

He didn't come here to comprehend Cultivation Techniques.

Those techniques, he had already fully comprehended while passing the trials. Not only comprehended, but also completed and upgraded them all. If he really wanted to Cultivate, he could just practice directly; why come to the monument forest again?

He came for another matter.

—Back when he completed those fragmented Cultivation Techniques, the phantoms of the ancient Hundred Saints appeared and gave him a promise.

"If little friend has leisure in the future, you may come to the monument forest for a chat. Though we have already dissipated, our residual intent can still converse with you for a few words."

This was what a person who looked like an old man among The Hundred Saints said at the time.

The rest of The Hundred Saints nodded one after another, their gazes toward him full of appreciation and... a hint of indescribable complexity.

Xu Ruyu took note of it at that time.

Later, he had been busy—busy with Artifact Refining, busy with transmitting techniques, busy with dealing with the difficulties from Mo Feng and his people. Only today did he finally have some free time.

He needed answers.

An answer about himself.

Why had his cultivation been increasing until now, yet his Realm always remained at the Qi Refinement Stage?

First level of Qi Refining, second level of Qi Refining, third level of Qi Refining... by now, he was already at the twenty-fifth level of Qi Refining!

What kind of concept was this?

A normal Qi Refinement Stage only has four levels. After the fourth level comes Foundation Establishment, after Foundation Establishment is Golden Core, after Golden Core is Nascent Soul, after Nascent Soul is Soul Transformation, after Soul Transformation is Void Refining, after Void Refining is Body Integration, after Body Integration is Mahayana, after Mahayana is Undergoing Tribulation, and after Undergoing Tribulation is the Saint Realm.

With his twenty-fifth level of Qi Refining, based on the level count, he should have long since broken through to some unknown Realm.

But strangely, his aura was still at the Qi Refinement Stage.

That kind of weak Qi Refinement Stage fluctuation that could be blown away by the wind at any time.

This was too bizarre.

So bizarre that he himself felt it was ridiculous.

Therefore, he wanted to ask these ancient Hundred Saints—they had lived for so long and were knowledgeable; perhaps they knew what was going on.

Xu Ruyu opened his eyes, looked at the monument in front of him, and said softly, "Seniors, Junior Xu Ruyu has come to seek guidance as promised."

As the words fell, the surroundings were silent.

Only the sound of the wind blowing past the monuments.

Xu Ruyu waited for a moment, but there was no reaction.

He frowned and said again, "Junior Xu Ruyu has come to seek guidance as promised."

Still no reaction.

Xu Ruyu was a bit puzzled.

Had the residual intent of those Hundred Saints already dissipated? Or did it require some special method of communication?

Just as he was thinking, suddenly—

A speck of golden light flew out from the monument in front of him.

That golden light was tiny, only the size of a grain of rice, yet it was so brilliant that one could not look directly at it.

It slowly flew in front of Xu Ruyu, suspended in mid-air, trembling slightly.

Xu Ruyu was startled and subconsciously took half a step back.

However, in the next instant, that speck of golden light suddenly expanded, turning into a gate of light that enveloped his entire person!

The world spun.

Time and space were distorted.

It seemed like only an instant, yet also as if a long time had passed.

When Xu Ruyu opened his eyes again, he found he was no longer in the Transmission Monument Forest.

This was a murky gray space.

No sky, no earth, no direction, no boundaries. The surroundings were endless gray mist flowing slowly, with occasional golden specks of light flickering in the mist like distant stars in the night sky.

Xu Ruyu stood in the Void Realm; his feet felt as if they were on empty air, yet it was as if he were stepping on solid ground. He looked around, his brow furrowing slightly.

"This is..."

"Welcome to the 'Saint Intent Space'."

An old and gentle voice came from all directions.

Xu Ruyu looked toward the sound and saw the mist in front of him slowly disperse, revealing figure after figure.

Those figures included men and women, old and young, in various forms.

Some wore high hats and broad belts with a refined air; some were clad in battle armor, looking majestic; some were in plain clothes and barefoot, appearing ethereal and unconventional; some had white hair and youthful faces, looking kind and benevolent.

But they all had one thing in common—they were all translucent phantoms, their bodies emitting a faint golden light.

The ancient Hundred Saints!

Exactly one hundred figures walked out of the mist and stood still in front of Xu Ruyu. Their gazes toward Xu Ruyu held appreciation, curiosity, gratitude, and also a hint of... indescribable complexity.

Leading them was an old man with white hair and beard and a kind face, the very one who had spoken before. He nodded slightly to Xu Ruyu and smiled, "Little friend is indeed trustworthy, coming as promised."

Xu Ruyu quickly bowed in greeting: "Junior Xu Ruyu pays his respects to the Seniors."

The old man waved his hand: "No need for such formalities. We are very happy that you could come."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over Xu Ruyu, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Little friend's cultivation... has improved again."

Xu Ruyu smiled bitterly: "Senior has a Wisdom Eye. It's just that this Junior's cultivation is truly quite bizarre."

The old man nodded and said to the people behind him, "Everyone, come and meet this little friend. He is the genius who completed our Cultivation Techniques."

Those figures behind him stepped forward one by one, sizing up Xu Ruyu with eyes full of curiosity and praise.

"Is it him? He doesn't look very old."

"Qi Refinement Stage? No, this aura... is quite strange."

"I have lived for ten thousand years and have never seen such a Physique."

"Interesting, truly interesting."

Xu Ruyu felt a bit uncomfortable being watched by them, coughed dryly, and said, "Seniors, I have come here to ask about something."

The old man smiled: "Little friend, feel free to speak."