Chapter 70: Bearing It All

After being transported out of the Celestial Pool Secret Realm by the Azure Soul, Tianming, together with Shu Meng and Chu Qingchen, made their way to the Elders’ Pavilion. Just moments before, a message had arrived on their tokens: the Sect Master Xiao Tianji wished to question them about certain matters.

Tianming guessed it was probably about the events involving Suo Yang and Can within the secret realm.

Before long, they arrived at a grand hall within the Elders’ Pavilion, which was already filled with people. The true leadership of the Elders’ Pavilion had all assembled here. Seated at the central place of honor was Xiao Tianji himself, with the Grand Elder and the Third Elder on his left and right, and beside the Third Elder sat Wang Sheng. The remaining elders filled the seats in order. The atmosphere was tense and grave. Under the gaze of so many elders, Tianming and the others felt somewhat ill at ease.

“Might I ask, Sect Master and honored elders, what business do you have with us?” After the group had paid their respects to the Sect Master and the elders, Tianming could not contain his curiosity and asked.

“My young friend, do you still remember me?” Xiao Tianji, seated in the position of highest authority, spoke as soon as Tianming opened his mouth.

A sharp, almost unbearable pain suddenly stabbed through Tianming’s mind as he gazed at the familiar face, just as he began to recall something, forcing him to suck in a breath.

“...Hmm?” Not only were the elders surprised by Tianming's reaction, but even Chu Qingchen and Shu Meng beside him were puzzled as to why the Sect Master would ask such a question and what had caused Tianming's reaction.

Layer upon layer of questions built up, until suddenly—

“If I’m not mistaken, you must be the elder who gave me the inner disciple token?” Tianming’s arm veins bulged as he struggled to compose himself, a sudden flash of understanding illuminating his mind.

“That’s correct,” Xiao Tianji replied coolly, as if unsurprised by Tianming’s deduction.

This exchange only left the other elders, as well as Chu Qingchen and Shu Meng, even more puzzled, for they knew nothing of what had transpired on Chang’an Street.

Seeing Xiao Tianji nod, Tianming managed a grateful smile. “I must thank the Sect Master for bestowing the token upon me. Had it not been for your token, I would have been long gone from this world!”

“Indeed!”

“You have triggered the token’s protective function twice—once at Celestial Lake and once in the Celestial Pool Secret Realm. Although I do not know how you advanced so rapidly from first-rank Warrior to tenth-rank Foundation Establishment, you carry the hopes of the entire continent. Thus, I will not pry into your secrets.” The Sect Master’s gaze was gentle as he looked at Tianming.

“Ah! How did you know I used it twice?” Tianming asked in astonishment. Did this mean the Sect Master could glimpse both past and future?

The thought made Tianming’s heart race. If so, wouldn’t the fact that he was not of this world be revealed as well? Still, since he bore the hopes of the continent, this much, at least, was inevitable—he had the all-powerful Dora.

“This token is a medium that connects to my own strength. Whenever you use it, the spiritual energy within my core is depleted. How could I not know how many times you have used it?” Xiao Tianji replied, the corners of his mouth turning up at Tianming’s startled expression.

As his words faded, a stir ran through the room—save for the Grand Elder, all the other elders, as well as Wang Sheng, were shocked. The elders marveled that Xiao Tianji would go to such lengths for this young man, while Wang Sheng was stunned to learn Tianming had reached the tenth rank of Foundation Establishment.

“So that’s how it is. I must thank the Sect Master once more for his kindness.” Tianming nodded in realization. He had often wondered how such a small token could contain such vast power. Now he understood: each use of the token drew directly on Xiao Tianji’s own strength.

“What? Tenth rank of Foundation Establishment!” Wang Sheng, who knew Tianming, was momentarily at a loss. When he had sent Tianming into the Celestial Pool Secret Realm, Tianming had only reached the fourth rank of Foundation Establishment. That Tianming had crossed six ranks in such a short time was beyond prodigious.

He was not the only one struck by this revelation—Shu Meng and Chu Qingchen were equally stunned.

“It’s nothing, really. I owe my rapid progress to the sect’s Linglong Heaven Realm,” Tianming replied with calm humility, shaking his head.

In truth, it was thanks to Azure Soul, but Tianming preferred not to mention this, for it was a secret he shared with Azure Soul alone.

“Linglong Heaven Realm?” At that moment, an elder below looked at Tianming with a puzzled expression, intrigued by the unfamiliar term.

“Tianming, that’s Elder Xun Changsheng—the Seventh Elder!” Chu Qingchen leaned in and whispered to Tianming.

Upon hearing this, Tianming nodded and turned his attention toward Elder Xun.

“Elder Xun, and honored elders, do you truly not know of the Linglong Heaven Realm?” Tianming asked in some confusion.

Elder Xun only looked more perplexed and glanced at the Grand Elder.

“It’s not surprising you don’t know, Changsheng. The Linglong Heaven Realm is actually the true nature of the Paradise Secret Realm. The former is its real name, but it was changed to conceal its existence. Only those who have seen the spirit within know its true face,” the Grand Elder explained with a sigh, meeting Elder Xun’s gaze.

Elder Xun nodded in understanding and did not press further.

“Ah, Grand Elder, will it cause trouble that I just mentioned that name?” Tianming asked, a bit sheepishly, as the depth behind the name dawned on him.

“It’s no issue. Now that the Celestial Evolution Sect has become the continent’s foremost sect, no one would dare act rashly here,” the Grand Elder replied, his words brimming with confidence.

It was indeed a remarkable thing. Though the Celestial Evolution Sect was on par with the Celestial Sword Sect, the two were allied. Thus, to call the Celestial Evolution Sect the continent’s number one was hardly an exaggeration.

As the Grand Elder finished, the other elders and Tianming’s group all nodded in solemn agreement, their faces soon brightening with proud smiles. It was a matter worthy of celebration.

Suddenly, as if recalling something, Wang Sheng, who stood by the Grand Elder, fixed his gaze on Tianming. “By the way, Tianming, in the Paradise Secret Realm, why were so many disciples suddenly transported out? What exactly happened earlier?”

As Tianming was about to answer, Shu Meng stepped forward. A hint of fresh fragrance drifted by, and Tianming glanced over in surprise at Shu Meng’s graceful figure.

“Grand Elder, the events unfolded as follows...” Shu Meng began, recounting everything that had transpired, including how she was grievously wounded by Suo Xiufu and how Tianming had, single-handedly, faced two adversaries at the ninth and tenth ranks of Spirit Void. When she reached this part, the hall was once again thrown into astonishment. That someone at the tenth rank of Foundation Establishment could contend with foes a whole realm higher—let alone ones of the demonic path—was nothing short of legendary.

As he met the many ravenous gazes around him, Tianming could only spread his hands in helplessness.

In the end, he had borne everything alone.