Hearing the old man’s words, Xu Zimei smiled and said, "What interests me right now is how a martial artist from the Saint Vein Realm like you has managed to live from the Wild Desolation Era to the present."
"Give up, I won’t tell you anything," the old man said indifferently.
At this moment, a green light suddenly emitted from a leaf that Xu Zimei had previously obtained in the secret realm, which was now inside his Storage Ring.
"He ingested the Leaf of Life before," the consciousness within the leaf said.
Xu Zimei nodded and then said, "All right, let’s get back to the main point. Give me that secret technique, and I will let you leave."
"I don’t know what secret technique you are referring to," the old man replied indifferently. "If it’s the Battle Body Fusion secret technique, you can forget about it."
"Are you still not willing to admit it," Xu Zimei said with a smile. "In fact, you yourselves are well aware that the Battle Body Fusion secret technique is just a smokescreen.
Actually, you have been secretly researching a Twin Battle Bodies secret technique all along, haven’t you?"
Hearing Xu Zimei’s words, the old man’s expression changed dramatically, and he stared intently at Xu Zimei.
It should be noted that the Twin Battle Bodies secret technique was their clan’s secret, and other than the ten Yamas, the Nine Spirits God, and the Thirteen Saints, no one else could possibly know about it.
Even the members within their own Ancient Nether Tribe were unclear about such a secret technique.
The old man felt a shiver down his spine; he had no idea how Xu Zimei had come to know of it.
Could there have been a high-level betrayal within the tribe? But upon further consideration, it seemed impossible. They all had journeyed together from the Wild Desolation Era to the present.
They shared the same aspirations and dreams and would never betray each other for any reason.
"How did you come to know of this?" the old man asked indifferently.
At this stage, he also understood that there was no point in hiding it any longer.
"That’s not important," Xu Zimei shook his head and replied. "We are not enemies; perhaps we could try to work together."
Xu Zimei was determined to get the Twin Battle Bodies secret technique. This technique could allow a person to possess two great Battle Bodies at the same time.
Most crucially, these two Battle Bodies are not entirely fused into the physical body.
For someone like Xu Zimei, who had already fused with the first Battle Body, fusing with additional Battle Bodies would actually not have much effect anymore.
However, this Twin Battle Bodies technique was related to the mysteries beyond the Saint Vein Realm.
After advancing to the Saint Vein Realm, martial artists could possess a fully formed Divine Soul.
As long as the Divine Soul is not extinguished, even the gravest of injuries can be healed.
This Twin Battle Bodies secret technique is actually about the Divine Soul.
Ordinary people fuse Battle Bodies within their physical bodies, but this Twin Battle Bodies technique not only allows your original body to fuse with a Battle Body but also helps your Divine Soul to fuse with another from the Hundred Great Battle Bodies.
Just think, since the advent of the Hundred Great Battle Bodies, there has never been a case where a person’s Divine Soul and physical body could simultaneously fuse with two Battle Bodies.
With the enhancement of a Battle Body, a martial artist’s Divine Soul will gain substantial increases in both defensive and offensive power.
It’s no exaggeration to say that once this secret technique emerges, it will become the main cultivation system throughout the entire Yuan Central Continent.
Even among martial artists of the Saint Vein Realm, the combat power is completely on a different level depending on whether the Divine Soul has fused with a Battle Body or not.
"This is a secret technique my clan has researched over a million years at a great cost," the old man said flatly. "If I were to give it to you, then I would be a traitor to my entire species.
I cannot let everything be in vain, not even death can justify that."
"Don’t be so sure, let me tell you another story," Xu Zimei laughed and spoke, "After the Ancient Nether was defeated, they started hiding in various parts of Yuan Central Continent.
Their main base was set up in the City of Clouds, and at the same time, they established branches in the major cities of each continent.
That includes the Wild Desolation Tavern in Mixed Yuan Ancient City, the Heavenly Star Lounge in Heavenly Light Ancient City, the Yellow Sand Tea House in North Desert........"
As Xu Zimei named each branch, the look on the old man’s face grew more and more panicked.
"What do you think would happen to the Ancient Nether if I spread this information everywhere?"
Upon hearing Xu Zimei’s words, the elder glared at Xu Zimei, grinding his teeth and said fiercely, "You deserve to die."
"You talk to me like that, and it truly hurts my feelings," Xu Zimei said with a laugh, smacking his lips, "I haven’t killed any of your Ancient Nether people. I’ve just spread some information, that’s all.
Oh, by the way, since the defeat of your clan in the era of Wild Desolation, you’ve also been quietly gathering strength for a million years.
If the location of your main base in the City of Clouds is exposed, wouldn’t your million years of effort go up in smoke as well?"
"I can give you the secret technique," the old man was silent for a while, staring intently at Xu Zimei and said, "but why should I trust you?
What if, after you get the secret technique, you continue to blackmail me with this, or spread the news anyway? I couldn’t stop you."
"You have no choice. If I wanted to spread the news, I would have already done so. The Thirteen Saints are not just you; I can seek out other Ancient Nethers," Xu Zimei replied indifferently. "You give me the secret technique, and I will let you go.
Also, I want to meet one of your top ten Yamas; have him come talk to me."
The elder fell silent again for a long time and eventually, with reluctance, nodded and responded, "I will tell you the secret technique only once, make sure you remember it."
"I can’t trust your spoken word, after all, matters of the Divine Soul cannot be taken lightly," Xu Zimei said with a smile, shaking his head.
"What do you want then?" the elder asked with a slight frown.
"Open up your mind, I need to check your memories," Xu Zimei replied.
"That’s impossible," the elder’s expression changed drastically, and he immediately refused.
If Xu Zimei peeked into his memories, then all the secrets of the elder’s life would be laid bare before Xu Zimei without reservation.
"Rest assured, I’m only interested in the memories concerning the research on Twin Battle Bodies. I have no interest in your other memories," Xu Zimei said with a smile.
The elder pondered deeply for a while and eventually gave in helplessly.
Indeed, at their level, there were few things that could threaten them anymore; even death was not a deterrence.
But Xu Zimei just happened to use what they cherished most— their clan — which might very well be their greatest weakness.
As the elder opened his mind, his Divine Soul severed out the memories related to the Twin Battle Bodies, beginning to share them with Xu Zimei.
The memory was extensive, from the very beginning when the Ancient Nether started researching Twin Battle Bodies, it went through countless failures and a million years of setbacks and frustration.
Xu Zimei was able to get a more direct impression of the secret technique, as if he himself had been part of the research.
After this set of memories finished playing, nearly seven days had passed.
Xu Zimei took a long breath and said with a smile, "I must admit, your Ancient Nether really commands respect for your spirit of adventure and wisdom."