"You're so young, you probably don't know. This Lingxu Ancient Realm is a mysterious and elusive place. Although it restricts Foundation Establishment cultivation, it is an ancient secret realm. Being related to the ancient times, it always has some unpredictable and strange aspects. Don't underestimate it."

"Huai Mei, thank you for your guidance, Master Xie."

"Then what should we do now?" Master Huaimei's sect is a newly established sect, and every Foundation Establishment cultivator is the backbone of the future. She doesn't want anything to happen to them.

"I think we should go to the Silver Light Pavilion and ask that person. They understand destiny and are knowledgeable about fate; they must have a solution."

"That person is not easy to invite; it would be a waste of his talent. He's just a Foundation Establishment disciple. Putting aside the cost of inviting him here, we don't know how long it would take him to get here, given his weak health."

"Why not ask Venerable Yan, who lives not far from here? He has always been gentle in nature, and I've heard that he recently took on a personal disciple in this secret realm. He probably won't ignore him."

"That makes sense. Let's set off now."

Soon, Yan Xiuzhu arrived at the entrance of the Spirit Void Ancient Realm, his deep voice carrying out:

"The Book of Fate states that the rules of the Spirit Void Ancient Realm have been changed. It cannot be opened by external force, but only when the disciples inside break through to the Golden Core stage can it be opened."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances and began to discuss amongst themselves. Master Huaimei asked anxiously, "But aren't there cultivation level restrictions within the Ancient Realm?"

"That's right, that's the difficulty. Restricting the cultivation level to Foundation Establishment, yet requiring disciples to break through to Golden Core, is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

He looked up at the blue sky and felt a sense of unease. Perhaps this was Heaven's way of making things difficult for his young disciple.

But perhaps it's a good thing.

The junior disciple is trapped in the Lingxu Ancient Realm, unable to advance further in strength. Although it is a prison of the Heavenly Dao, it is also a form of protection.

It's like locking a naughty, rebellious child at home. Although she loses her freedom and happiness, she won't go out and encounter the dangers and perils of the outside world, and can live a peaceful life.

The higher one's strength, the greater the chance of being discovered by the Heavenly Dao, and the more arduous the path to breakthrough becomes.

Since the young disciple's cultivation has not progressed at all, it will not attract the attention of the Heavenly Dao. Perhaps the Heavenly Dao does not want to completely destroy her and has given her a way out.

Yan Xiuzhu also believed that in the secret realm where cultivation was restricted, his junior disciple would definitely be able to cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment. In addition, with the magic treasures and pills he had prepared, no one below the Golden Core stage would be able to defeat him.

She could then spend the rest of her life happily and peacefully on this imprisoned continent.

The lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator can reach over six hundred years, which is much longer than that of an ordinary person.

Tu Longjian was safe and sound, and he didn't have to face the fate of sacrificing himself to save her; everything seemed perfect. He couldn't persuade his stubborn disciple, and at this point, the ending seemed quite good.

Concealing the slight disappointment in his heart, Yan Xiuzhu smiled and spoke:

"Actually, the Lingxu Ancient Realm is rich in resources, and the disciples are not in much danger there. It's just that they have been there for a long time."

"When the secret realm opens again, or if any of the disciples are talented enough to meet the requirements, they will be able to come out."

The other Nascent Soul cultivators nodded helplessly, not taking it too seriously.

Since things have come to this, we can only assume that these disciples have gone missing. Their sect has a rich foundation and is not lacking in geniuses; it's just a bit of a pity.

But as soon as he finished speaking, a sharp female voice rang out.

How could you just abandon your disciple like this?

Master Huaimei stood up resolutely, disregarding social status, his expression passionate.

"Their cultivation is not easy. Although their paths are different, who doesn't want to roam the skies and live freely in the world?"

"Who would willingly be imprisoned in a strange, secret realm, never to see their family, companions, friends, and elders again?"

"Not to mention that being unable to make any progress in cultivation is a catastrophic disaster for any cultivator!"

"Despite being on the verge of a breakthrough in cultivation, I am blocked by this damned restriction, failing time and time again, my soul forever adrift in another land."

"A fledgling bird wants to soar in the sky, but it always crashes into an invisible barrier, like a moth drawn to a flame time and time again in despair. Is this feeling pleasant?"

"The spiritual energy in the cultivation world has declined, and the path to ascension has been closed. Isn't the pain you all suffer from being unable to ascend the same as that of these children?"

Yan Xiuzhu's smiling face suddenly froze. Huai Mei Zhenren's words struck his heart like a resounding slap in the face.

Thinking of Tu Longjian's repeated setbacks and his resentful appearance.

For the first time, he stammered, unsure whether he was explaining to others or to himself, "But I am powerless. I should follow the will of Heaven."

"The Way of Heaven?" Master Huaimei sneered and said loudly, "Every step a cultivator takes is a struggle against the Way of Heaven. My fate is in my own hands, so why should I conform to the principles of the Way of Heaven?!"

A middle-aged cultivator stepped forward and rebuked her: "Absurd! How dare you speak so disrespectfully to Daoist Yan?"

At this moment, Master Huaimei was like a mother eagle protecting her young, covered in thorns, fierce and fearless:

"Lord Yan, have you never had the thought of defying the Heavenly Dao? You are so noble, why haven't you ascended yet? What, the Heavenly Dao won't let you ascend, so you obediently stay in the lower realm?"

Yan Xiuzhu's handsome face turned pale as if struck by lightning, and he staggered back a step.

He didn't care about ascension, but he had done things that went against the natural order...

The only time in his life he defied the will of Heaven was when he disobeyed the instructions of the Book of Fate, refusing to repeat his destiny of sacrificing himself to save others, and even letting his young disciple die instead of being saved, allowing her to be trapped.

Is he still the same Yan Xiuzhu who was once indifferent to worldly desires?

He was a coward, a weakling, and an incompetent teacher.

Recalling Tu Longjian's repeated calls of "Master," the warmth rising in the corner, and the peaceful days of sewing clothes under the moonlight, he realized that his little disciple had already left a mark on his heart.

Because of her excessive excitement, Huai Mei Zhenren was pushed and shoved by the other Nascent Soul cultivators, who demanded that she apologize for her rude remarks.

But she still refused to give up, and said passionately:

"I must find a way to save them. I would rather die in battle than die in forced hardship. Give me liberty or give me death!"

Yan Xiuzhu waved his hand to stop them from cursing and acting against Huai Mei Zhenren, and calmly said, "She is right."

"My personal disciple is inside. For her sake, I must find a way to break through this secret realm. If you are unwilling, you may leave."

The other Nascent Soul cultivators couldn't understand it and just thought the two of them were stupid, not focusing on their own cultivation but instead doing useless work.

Anyway, the disciples are fine, the eternal lamps are still burning, so it's like they've gone to a continent from which they can never return. Is it really necessary?

Yan Xiuzhu and Huai Mei observed the Lingxu Ancient Realm day and night. Under his guidance, Huai Mei helped him figure out every part of the ancient realm's barrier.

Then Yan Xiuzhu conducted complex calculations and deductions, working day and night, and finally found a weak point.

"This is it."