Chapter 7

Chen Xi was immersed in a mysterious feeling.

He forgot everything around him, forgetting where he was, and his eyes were fixed on the countless stars that circled endlessly. These trajectories varied in length and thickness, some winding and intertwined, some straight as a spear, some curved into arcs, and some spiraling into circles, resembling various strokes of mystical runes.

Chen Xi seemed to see an invisible giant hand, using the sky as the rune paper, the countless stars as the rune pen, and an unimaginable rune-making technique to interpret the mystical and unpredictable rune paths, which were indescribably wonderful.

He couldn't help but want to exclaim, but found no words to describe it. He wanted to remember the trajectories but found that although they seemed to have a pattern, he couldn't grasp them. Thus, he no longer dwelled on it, nor did he pay attention to so many things, but simply observed and appreciated, his mind becoming calm and clear.

Buzz!

A strange low hum grew from small to large, from low to high, gradually echoing throughout the world.

The clear light from the countless stars condensed together, forming a flowing light painting. Accompanied by the strange hum, this painting suddenly released endless light, sweeping across the sky, enveloping the countless stars and returning them to the painting!

Whoosh!

The painting rolled up into a bundle and then, at a visible speed, transformed into a streak of clear light, shooting toward the place where Chen Xi stood.

A sense of alarm suddenly rose in Chen Xi's heart, and he immediately snapped out of his state of complete absorption. However, before he could react, he felt a buzz in his head. In the next moment, a huge, gaunt old man appeared in his mind, barefoot and wearing hemp clothes, with white hair and a long beard, sitting cross-legged in the air, gazing at the sky with eyes as deep and clear as stars.

This huge old man, though unremarkable in appearance, exuded a vast and desolate aura, drawing all attention to him.

What happened? Who is this old man?

Chen Xi was startled by the scene before him, quickly thinking to himself. He had been observing the trajectories of the stars, so why did his mind suddenly change so drastically?

"Finally, after so many years, a disciple worthy of inheriting the master's legacy has arrived, hahaha."

A deep, hoarse voice suddenly echoed in his ears, making Chen Xi shudder. He no longer had time to think about anything else, and he abruptly opened his eyes. When he saw the surroundings, he was once again greatly surprised.

The star-studded night sky was gone, and in its place was a vast expanse of tender green grass, with a mighty river suddenly appearing, its waves surging and splashing, stretching endlessly forward. In the middle of the river stood a solitary, steep peak, completely black and devoid of any vegetation.

Suddenly, a creature with a single horn on its head emerged from the river. It had a lion's body and a dragon's head, four pillar-like hooves, and feet that trod on clouds. Its body was covered in dense, dark black scales, and its eyes were clear, yet exuded a sense of ancient wisdom.

Qilin... Qilin?

Seeing this creature and feeling the terrifying aura it emitted, Chen Xi couldn't help but draw a sharp breath, his heart pounding.

He had only read about Qilins in books, which described them as one of the famous divine beasts of ancient times, capable of manipulating the five elements, wise and spiritual. Even in the era of gods and demons, few dared to provoke a Qilin, indicating its terrifying power.

Now, a creature resembling a Qilin had suddenly appeared before him, and even though his mind had been tempered to be as firm as a rock, Chen Xi still felt a strange sense of tension.

"Don't be afraid. I am the spirit of the cave, and my master named me Ji Yu. For over a million years, I have been helping the master guard the cave." The deep, hoarse voice spoke again, coming from the mouth of the Qilin-like creature.

So its name is Ji Yu, Chen Xi thought, slightly relieved. Then he suddenly realized that this creature had lived for a million years, which meant that the cave had existed for a million years as well.

"Junior Chen Xi, I greet you, Senior. May I ask if this is truly the cultivation place of the ancient god or demon?" Chen Xi asked respectfully, knowing that even if the other party was a monster, he could not be impolite.

"That's right, it is indeed my master's cultivation place." Ji Yu stepped forward, examining Chen Xi from head to toe, and said in surprise, "At the innate realm? Your strength is so weak, how could you possibly inherit the master's true legacy?"

Chen Xi was puzzled, "What true legacy?"

Ji Yu ignored him, deep in thought for a long time before suddenly saying, "Little boy, are you a cultivator who entered the path through runes?"

Entering the path through runes? Chen Xi was confused and shook his head, "I only know how to make some basic runes."

Ji Yu looked enlightened and sighed, "Indeed, the master entered the path by deducing the mysteries of the universe. Choosing you to inherit his legacy is reasonable."

Chen Xi became even more puzzled and couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what exactly is going on? When did I inherit the legacy?"

Ji Yu stared at Chen Xi with a strange look and said, "In your mind, there is a trace of the master's true self. Didn't you know?"

Chen Xi thought of the ancient, vast old man in his mind and said in surprise, "That old man is your master?"

Ji Yu was taken aback, shook his head, and sighed, "It seems you really know nothing."

Chen Xi felt embarrassed and said respectfully, "I hope Senior can inform me."

Ji Yu was silent for a long time before slowly speaking, "A million years ago, when my master left, he stipulated that only those who could obtain the trace of his true self in the Star Secret Realm would be qualified to inherit his legacy. You are the only one to have done so in all these years. In other words, you now have the qualifications to become the master's disciple."

Chen Xi suddenly understood. The vast sky he had seen earlier was probably the Star Secret Realm. However, was this also a test? He had merely observed the trajectories of the stars and received the master's true self trace. Wasn't that too simple?

As if seeing through Chen Xi's thoughts, Ji Yu snorted, "Do you know how many powerful beings have tried to obtain the master's true self trace over the past million years?"

"I can tell you exactly, 6,983 people! Among them were Nirvana experts, Transcendent True Men, Earth Immortals who had broken through the tribulation, and even a few Celestial Immortals. The lowest level was the Two Instruments Golden Core realm. Do you still think it's simple?"

Before Chen Xi could speak, Ji Yu raised his head proudly and said coldly, "If you hadn't entered the path through runes and had good insight, you would have been torn apart by the celestial stars long ago!"

Chen Xi was startled and said in horror, "Torn apart by the celestial stars?"

Ji Yu nodded, "That's right. The Star Secret Realm is profound and all-encompassing. If you can't leave it within an hour, you will die there, your soul and body destroyed."

Ji Yu then said with a touch of emotion, "Those who enter the cave are all extraordinary experts of the present era. However, in the Star Secret Realm, most of them still perished, with only a few successfully leaving. These people, like you, understood some of the master's teachings from the Star Secret Realm. Unfortunately, before you appeared, no one could obtain the master's true self trace, and thus they had no chance to become the master's disciple."

Chen Xi asked, puzzled, "What about these people? Would they leave willingly?"

Ji Yu said coldly, "Of course not. The teachings they understood in the Star Secret Realm were enough to benefit them for life, but some were still obsessed and tried to obtain the master's legacy. They climbed the Trial Heaven Peak, but ultimately met their end."

Ji Yu pointed to the solitary peak in the middle of the river and said, "That is the Trial Heaven Peak, divided into eighteen levels of trials. Only by passing all the trials can one obtain the master's complete legacy. Most of those who climbed the Trial Heaven Peak died in the first three levels. The most powerful was a sword immortal from hundreds of thousands of years ago, who had reached the peak of sword cultivation, but he only made it to the thirteenth level before perishing."

Chen Xi was shocked and asked, looking at the solitary peak in the middle of the river, "Do I need to pass the eighteen levels of the Trial Heaven Peak to obtain the complete legacy?"

"Of course, but you are different. You have already obtained the master's true self trace, so you will only be injured, not killed, when you pass the trials." Ji Yu answered casually.

Chen Xi secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He couldn't help but worry, as even the supreme sword immortal had died at the thirteenth level, and his innate third realm cultivation was probably not even enough to pass the first level.

Ji Yu warned, "Although you won't die, I still advise you not to attempt the trials now. Your cultivation is too weak, even the weakest I have ever seen. Not to mock you, but in ancient times, someone like you would be only slightly stronger than a newborn baby."

Only slightly stronger than a newborn baby?

Chen Xi felt不服 (unconvinced), but thinking of the million-year-old creature before him, he had to bury his dissatisfaction deep in his heart and asked, "Senior, when can I pass the first level of the Trial Heaven Peak?"

Ji Yu was taken aback and asked, puzzled, "Tell me, why are you so eager to attempt the trials?"

Chen Xi answered without hesitation, "I want to become stronger, to avenge my grandfather, to avenge my Chen family, and to become a Celestial Immortal to meet my mother!"

Ji Yu understood and, after a moment of thought, said slowly, "Now that you have obtained the master's true self trace, as long as nothing goes wrong, you will eventually achieve your goals. However, your body is extremely weak, and your cultivation is pitifully low. It will take a long time to reach the Celestial Immortal realm."

Chen Xi's eyes were resolute, and he said calmly, "No matter how difficult it is, I will never give up, and I will never give up!"

A hint of appreciation flashed in Ji Yu's eyes, which had seen much. He then raised his head and looked at the Trial Heaven Peak, saying proudly, "You are the only one in a million years to obtain the master's true self trace. As long as you practice diligently, not only will you avenge your family, but you will also achieve the Celestial Immortal realm, and even go further, which is reasonable. In the past, the master controlled the great principles and walked on..."

His voice suddenly stopped, as if he realized something, and he closed his mouth.

Chen Xi didn't notice this, but was thinking about the mysteries of the true self trace left by the cave master in his mind and how it could help him become stronger.

Also, where is the copy of the River Chart that Mother mentioned, and where is it placed in the cave?

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