Xiao Ye followed the Elder into the stone cottage, only to be struck by a look of utter astonishment on his face.
For within this stone cottage, there was unexpectedly a different world - a vast plain. At the edge of sight, a range of stone mountains rose abruptly from the ground, piercing the sky like swords, extraordinarily awe-inspiring.
From the outside, the stone cottage seemed quite small, but inside it held such an immense space.
"Don’t be surprised, an Array has been set up inside this stone cottage, creating a special space, and the Spirit King Pool is just ahead," Tian Jiu said with a smile.
"Next, let Elder Yang take you there," Tian Jiu continued.
"Then I’ll have to trouble Elder Yang," Xiao Ye nodded, once again giving the unremarkable-looking old man a fist salute.
"Alright, there’s no need for such formalities. I find you quite pleasing to the eye, so I’ll personally take you there," said the old man, then, with hands behind his back, took a step forward.
With just one seemingly casual step, the ground beneath the old man’s feet appeared to shrink, and in the blink of an eye, he was several hundred meters away.
In just a few breaths’ time, the old man was about to vanish from Xiao Ye’s line of sight.
"This..." Xiao Ye was thoroughly shaken.
The Elder didn’t emit any fluctuations, nor did it appear as if he was using any Combat Techniques; he was just walking tranquilly, yet he could exert such a terrifying speed. It was too fearsome.
"Xiao Ye, seize this opportunity well," said Tian Jiu with profound meaning.
Xiao Ye, comprehending the hidden message, nodded. He understood that this Elder was not an average Emperor Martial Realm Expert, realizing that Tian Jiu’s personal guidance to the Spirit King Pool likely held this additional significance.
With this in mind, Xiao Ye felt even more gratitude toward Tian Jiu.
Xiao Ye unleashed the Suppression of the King Martial Realm; his body soared into the sky and transformed into a streak of light, racing after the old man.
Across the vast grassland, Xiao Ye flew through the air at his utmost speed, slowly catching up with the old man.
"Oh? Not bad speed," commented the old man, who was walking across the plain with hands behind his back. A barely perceptible smile appeared on his face, after which his body abruptly flickered, significantly increasing his speed once more and instantly leaving Xiao Ye behind again.
"I refuse to give in!" Xiao Ye gritted his teeth hard. The old man obviously wasn’t utilizing Divine Skills of an Emperor Realm Expert, yet he was able to leave him far behind, something Xiao Ye could not accept.
Under immense pressure, Xiao Ye’s speed surged anew, yet he still couldn’t catch up with the old man. Instead, the distance between them grew even larger.
Dozens of breaths later, the old man finally stopped and, with hands still behind his back, he watched with a smirk as Xiao Ye caught up.
Xiao Ye dropped from the sky, landing in front of the old man, and said with a wry smile, "Elder Yang’s divine skill is indeed beyond the disciple’s speculation and comparison."
Xiao Ye’s heartfelt praise seemed to greatly please the old man, who laughed and said, "You’re quite strong too, lad."
"Rare are the Martial Artists in the Initial King Realm who can reach your level. But this old man also knows the purpose of that old fellow Tian Jiu personally bringing you here."
"All I can tell you is that you still don’t qualify for this old man’s attention."
Hearing these cool words, Xiao Ye couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile.
Before, he had not cared much about the legacy of this old man, but after the contest of speed, he recognized that the old man was far from ordinary, and in the past, he was likely much more than merely the first among the Earth Hall’s Law Enforcement Elders.
Thus, Xiao Ye now found himself somewhat interested in the old man’s legacy, but unfortunately, the other did not yet hold him in regard.
Putting those thoughts aside, Xiao Ye then asked, "Is the Spirit King Pool here, Elder Yang?"
"Follow me," said the old man, continuing to walk ahead with his hands behind his back.
After following him through twists and turns into a mountain cave on the plain, Xiao Ye was greeted by a strange fluctuation.
Looking more closely, he saw on the cave floor a pool as large as a courtyard, its waters milky white and emitting a steaming mist, like ephemeral Immortal Energy.
Yet in this enormous pool, not a single person was seen.
"This is the Spirit King Pool; the waters within are refined from various Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures. They can help a King Martial Realm martial artist accelerate the transformation of their Grotto Heaven into the King Realm. Only one person can enter at a time. Go in now, and just use the secret technique for transforming into the King Realm," explained the old man, his expression solemn.
Xiao Ye nodded excitedly; as long as he could transform all Four Cave Heavens into the King Realm, his power would definitely increase substantially.
As for the secret technique to transform into the King Realm, Tian Jiu had already given it to him on the way here; everything was ready.
"Then, you go in. This old man will guard outside to ensure no one disturbs you," said the Elder, turning and walking away with hands behind his back.
The transformation of Grotto Heaven into King Realm was extremely dangerous; being disturbed midway could cause the collapse of the Grotto Heaven.
After the Elder disappeared inside the cave, Xiao Ye gazed intently at the Spirit King Pool.
Unable to wait, Xiao Ye jumped into the Spirit King Pool. He immediately felt a tremendous special current enveloping his entire body, very comfortable.
"What a wondrous feeling!" Xiao Ye, not daring to be careless, swiftly sat cross-legged at the bottom of the pool, circulated the King Realm transformation secret technique imparted by Tian Jiu, and began his cultivation.
The pool water churned as if a giant dragon was rolling within. Soon around Xiao Ye’s body, Four Cave Heavens, brilliant with light, emerged.
These Four Cave Heavens were connected by a mystical thread. As Xiao Ye circulated the transformation technique and absorbed energy from the Spirit King Pool, the Four Cave Heavens trembled in unison, like black holes absorbing the pool’s energy, undergoing a form of Transformation.
It was a qualitative Transformation, remarkably impressive.
Meanwhile, the old man sitting on a large stone outside the cave glanced over at the cave entrance.
"This lad’s character, perseverance, and talent are all top-notch. If he can last ten days within the Spirit King Pool, then it wouldn’t be bad to choose him as the successor of my legacy. Perhaps he might become the next Jun Shitian," the old man murmured to himself.
In a Treasure Land like the Spirit King Pool, the longer one can endure within it, the greater the benefits received.
And managing to endure in the Spirit King Pool for ten days was something that not even the monsters of the Main Hall could easily achieve - it had to be said that the old man’s requirements were very high.