Upon reaching the towering exquisite golden statue, Teacher Li clasped his hands behind his back as he gazed at the statue, "Venerable Ancestor," He muttered, turning around to look at the awed disciples. "They used to call him the Golden Mountain. It was said that this whole mountain was refined as his own personal weapon and he used to fight with."
Jing almost chuckled at that, 'Fighting with a mountain? The hell.'
With a reverent voice Teacher Li continued, "He is a role model that each new generation of disciples should aspire to. His final ascension as he dissolved into pure Qi becoming one with heaven's will isn't a mere myth. It was documented by hundreds of historians from the old Ten sects. Although they had fallen now, their records are still as present as ever." His gaze glancing at the very peak of the mountain he said, "Even The Sect Master and His Old Majesty witnessed the heavenly phenomenon that day."
He looked at the disciples once again and said, "Some of you might not know this fact although it isn't really a secret, but the reason we have such a tight bond with the Kaesen Dragon Dynasty is because the Old king who had passed away some years ago and the sect master were fellow disciples. Now, I don't know how true this fact is but it was said that before Venerable Ancestor embraced the heaven's will, he gave his younger disciple, our Sect Master his Golden Mountain and that is where we're standing right now. Our Sect master felt guilty over being given such a treasure and feeling indebted to his senior brother they joined forces and took down all of the ten sects, and in the end, Our sect master built the palace for his senior brother and gave him the throne. That is how The Kaesen Dragon Dynasty was built."
Loud murmurs erupted from the throng of disciples as they began discussing this shocking news.
"Is that true?" Jing asked Wang Fei who was the most knowledgeable of the group.
"I've read some books about it," Wang Fei said, and all of the nearby disciples began eavesdropping making him feel slightly awkward, but he pressed on. "What Teacher Li said about the history records is true, and even the fall of the ten sects. It's just that the details are blurry, but with how things unfolded it makes sense. For example, Venerable Ancestor and his two disciples were wandering cultivators, and the sects of old were too domineering as they monopolized all of the resource spots, and that is why a grudge had formed between them. So, it makes sense for the sect master to go attack them directly and give their domains, mines, and dungeons to his senior brother."
"Dungeons?" Questioned Jing, puzzled as to why he put importance on prisons.
"Not dungeons in the traditional sense of the word," Smiled Wang Fei. "But the heavenly treasures dungeons. They are a closed-dimensional space where a lot of strong monsters gather. If you enter inside you have to kill everyone inside before you're allowed to exit. And the reason they're so important is because they help tremendously with cultivation and offer a lot of spirit crystals."
"Spirit Crystals?" Asked Jing once again.
Wang Fei's smile widened even further as he scratched his head and said, "Unlike spirit stones which are naturally formed, spirit crystals are a purer version of them. And spirit crystals tend to have qualities to them, Fire Qi, Wind Qi, Earth Qi, and so on..." As if he remembered something, his eyes lit up, and said, "Have you heard of the legendary Vandrelli Ming Family?"
"No? Who are these?" Jing asked.
"They're very special," Wang Fei said with a solemn look. "They are the only family that was able to stand on its own. It doesn't rely on any sects, kingdom, or holy land. It's a family whose power far surpasses them all, and that's all because of Spirit Crystals. The story goes that they were just a normal small family, but one of their heirs accidentally found a very hidden dungeon. The monsters there were unimaginably strong and they held the power of Space itself. But even though he stumbled into the dungeon on his own, he managed to survive. Do you know how?"
"How?" Jing asked, paying full attention to the next words. Even Zho Tu, Shen Yun, and some of the nearby disciples did the same.
"Dungeons have five different rooms," Wang Fei explained. "Each room has a group of monsters that when you beat them a portal opens up that takes you to the next room. But there is nothing that would force you to take it, so you can stay as long as you want. And that is exactly how The Legendary Patriarch Ming Delan managed to beat one of the hardest dungeons on his own. It took him 23 long years to finally emerge from the exit portal.
"Fortunately, he was at the Core Formation at the time, and the dungeons as rich with Qi, so food wasn't an issue. When he finally finished his dungeon, one of the other heirs, a cousin of his, had already become the patriarch. However, after the whole family witnessed how stronger, wealthier, and more resourceful he was, they all voted for Ming Delan to become the head of the family. Using his Spatial Qi Spirit Crystals, and most importantly the Satori Cultivation Manuals and Techniques he had learned on his stay in the dungeon, they became the undisputed number one force in the world."
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"Wow," Zho Tu mumbled, shocked, just like all of the others were.
Jing too was flabbergasted by this Meng Delan guy's epic journey. "But," He said, confused by something. "Why are they named Vandrelli Ming?"
"It's just because most of the spatial monsters were called Vandrellis and the patriarch changed it to become that." Wang Fei replied.
"Is he still alive?" Jing asked.
"No," Wang Fei smiled. "His ascended as well. Becoming one with all."
"Hmm..." Jing murmured, unable to understand why they were all so certain of such a vague belief. 'Becoming one with all and joining the heaven's will?' He was so intrigued that he asked Aukhman.
"Heaven's will is real," He said. "But joining it and becoming one with all is nonsense. They just ascended to higher worlds to continue their cultivation path."
Jing's eyes lit up, finally understanding what happened to them, and most importantly knowing the source of all of those myths.
Teacher Liang Li was still lecturing them about the Sect's history, its relationship with the nearby dynasty, and most importantly Golden Veil City. However, compared to the story Wang Fei told them, he had to admit that it was way inferior.
"You're very knowledgeable Wang Fei," Jing praised.
Wang Fei embarassedly scratched his head politely saying, "Just a little..." But Jing could tell that the chubby boy was beaming at the praise.
The lecture went on for an hour or so before Teacher Li's smile widened and said, "Now, all of you will learn our Sect's precious cultivation manual. Here, come surround the Ancestor's statue."
All of the disciples followed his lead and they all sat cross-legged encircling the statue in the middle. Beside it, Teacher Li touched it with his palm and began pouring his Qi into it.
Suddenly, the statue moved. Its dead eyes became lifelike, and its pupils glanced down, gazing at all of the disciples with an unfathomable pressure.
Jing felt the breath leaving his body as an enormous descended upon him out of nowhere. His mouth widened in shock when he met the statue's eyes, 'Is it intelligent?' He exclaimed.
Before that line of thoughts could even run its course, a golden bright light exploded inside of his mind and he felt himself disconnected from all of his senses, reaching a foreign space where only a bright golden light existed.
In a golden world that had no shapes, no textures, and not even sight or smell, he felt something happening to his mind. A vast amount of knowledge was gently pouring ininto his fragile mind with every second. Fortunately, the amount was small enough that Jing was able to go through it as it fell on him and he attempted to understand it.
The more he learned the giddier he became, as it turned out the Golden Mountain's manual was indeed far superior to the one he previously used to break through to the Qi Condensation.
After an unknown amount of time, his eyes jolted open, and he found himself in the exact same position. Teacher Li glanced at him and warmly smiled, which he returned in kind. Most of the other disciples were still out of it, except for a few. As he studied those who were lucid, it dawned on him that Soul Purity had something to do with it. Shen Yun was awake, and Xu Yun too, both of which had a Golden Talent.
"What did you think?" Jing whispered to the demonic disciple beside him.
"It's something," Shen Yun mumbled, and as much as he wanted to feign nonchalance, the subtle astonishment in both his tone and eyes was evident to Jing.
The remaining disciples' eyes began to snap open one after the other. When Teacher Li noticed that everyone had woken up, he spoke once again, "Now, that all of you learned the cultivation manual I'll let you go for the rest of the day. Make sure to rest well because tomorrow we'll be going to the Scriptures hall for you to choose three techniques mainly offensive, defensive, and a movement technique. If you feel like a breakthrough is around the corner, you can head to the treasury to pick up the necessary materials."
The disciples all stood up and bowed in the teacher's direction in unison, which made his already sunshine smile widen even further. After that most disciples gathered in their particular cliques and made way for the dining halls. The protest of an angry growling stomach was something that had been echoing for a while now.
When the group reached their destination, Jing was surprised by how captivating the place was. The absolutely delicious smells that wafted from its end merely emphasized that fact.
The interior of the dining hall was very cozy and beautiful. It exuded a warm and inviting atmosphere, with sunlight streaming through the ceiling's grid-shaped ceiling made up of brown thick logs, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow across the rustic wooden floors and the hundreds of long tables. Vases in multiple colors accompanied the tables where a myriad of unique flowers gracefully lived.
"Thank you," Jing said with a wide smile gazing at the tray filled with food in front of him, drool dripping at the side of his mouth. At one of the tables, the group of four was sitting eating spiritual food. Wang Fei had paid for everything once again.
"It's okay, no need." Wang Fei said with a smile.
"Thank you, Wang Fei," said Zho Tu as well.
When Jing noticed that Shen Yun didn't say anything he frowned. "Pretty boy," He called. "Aren't you forgetting something?"
Shen Yun who seemed lost in thoughts as he stared in a particular direction straightened up and said, "Ah, yes, Thank you." Scowling, he stared at Jing and questioned, "What's your problem?"
"Problem?" Muttered Jing with a smile as he asked with a stupefied voice. "I just said that you need to say Thank you. How's that a problem?"
"It's not," Shen Yun said with narrowed eyes. "But it feels like an attack."
Shrugging his shoulders Jing said with an innocent smile, "It isn't, I am just worried our prodigal friend here might not get the praise that he so rightly deserves."
"It's just a couple of spirit stones," Shen Yun waved his hand dismissively.
"That you don't have." Jing quipped with a smile.
Clicking his tongue in annoyance Shen Yun simply gestured to change the subject and continued staring into the distance like he was doing.
Jing snorted in amusement, but he could tell that Wang Fei felt grateful for what he was doing. He knew that Shen Yun didn't respect Wang Fei at all, and he didn't know if it was because he was simply weak or just because he was considered someone not of theirs. However, to Jing those were all minors matter, if a man pays for your meal you say thank you, and that was it.