Chapter 382: 游心海

While Meng Chuan was confident, he wasn't entirely sure if his potential in both areas could truly rank among the top five in human history. After all, those who had passed the God of War Tower and Heart Sea Hall included powerful Soul Tribulation Realm cultivators, Emperors, and even those who had comprehended the Heaven and Earth Realm. Canghai Patriarch's own rankings illustrated this point, placing seventh in the God of War Tower and seventeenth in the Heart Sea Hall.

"I won't hide anything from you," Meng Chuan stated. "Currently, another world, the 'Demon Race World,' and our 'Human Race World' are connected within the River of Time, and both have developed spatial rifts. The number of world entrances is countless, meaning our human race has reached a critical juncture of life and death."

"Life and death?" the Dharma Protector God asked, surprised.

"Indeed."

Meng Chuan nodded. "The Demon Race World is far more powerful than our human world. Their realm is more expansive, and they possess a greater number of strong individuals. At present, they have three Demon Emperors and nearly a hundred Demon Sages. In contrast, our human world has no Emperors and only nine Creation Realm cultivators."

"Demon Sages are comparable to Creation Realm cultivators?" the Dharma Protector God inquired further.

"Yes," Meng Chuan confirmed. "Furthermore, two of these Demon Sages have reached the 'Heaven and Earth Realm.' With world entrances appearing more frequently, if one large enough to accommodate Demon Sages emerges in the future, their influx would undoubtedly sweep across the human world."

Meng Chuan then looked at the Dharma Protector God. "Our human race is at a point of utter peril. We desperately need the strength of the Canghai Sect. If the sect's ancient texts and primeval spirit mystic arts could be made available for Creation Realm cultivators to study, it might lead to the birth of an Emperor or an invincible Creation Realm expert. That would be the complete salvation of our entire human world."

"An invincible Creation Realm cultivator is incredibly rare; it's not something that can be achieved simply by studying ancient texts and mystic arts," the Dharma Protector God said, shaking his head. "Throughout human history, an invincible Creation Realm expert has appeared, on average, only once every tens of thousands of years, and most of them have been indirect disciples of Patriarch Cang Yuan."

"Indirect disciples of Patriarch Cang Yuan?" Meng Chuan's eyes lit up. "How are such disciples nurtured?"

The Dharma Protector God paused, then observed Meng Chuan closely before smiling. "As a Marquis God-Demon, you likely haven't truly taken charge of Yuanchu Mountain yet, which explains why you're unaware of many of its secrets. In fact, the truth about Patriarch Cang Yuan's indirect disciples is known to all the major sects in the world. Patriarch Cang Yuan's legacy resides within Yuanchu Mountain! And naturally, his indirect disciples also emerge from among Yuanchu Mountain's own disciples. This is one of the reasons for Yuanchu Mountain's immense power."

"They emerge from Yuanchu Mountain disciples?" Meng Chuan nodded slightly.

Any sect would naturally strive to cultivate such indirect disciples of Patriarch Cang Yuan.

However, an invincible Creation Realm expert appears only once every tens of thousands of years. It remains an incredibly difficult feat.

Speaking of which...

An'er cultivates the Reincarnation Divine Body, a God-Demon body personally created by Patriarch Cang Yuan. He wondered if she might be qualified to become one of his indirect disciples. However, An'er was still far from becoming a Marquis God-Demon.

Many thoughts flashed through Meng Chuan's mind, but he quickly set them aside for the moment.

Meng Chuan looked earnestly at the Dharma Protector God. "Being here at the bottom of the sea, I'm sure you've recently witnessed demon kings passing through this area, haven't you?"

"Yes, I have observed several waves of demon kings," the Dharma Protector God confirmed with a nod.

"Even in this remote location, you've seen several waves of demon kings pass by. You can well imagine how many demon kings there are across the entire world," Meng Chuan said. "The human race is truly facing an existential crisis. You, the Dharma Protector God, were also left by Patriarch Cang Yuan. At this critical juncture, can't you make an exception and transfer all these resources to Yuanchu Mountain? After all, Yuanchu Mountain also belongs to Patriarch Cang Yuan's lineage."

"I am ashamed to say," the Dharma Protector God sighed, "My sole purpose is to adhere to commands. I cannot defy the orders left by the Canghai Sect Master. They never stipulated that the entire Canghai Sect should be handed over to other sects merely because the human world faces imminent destruction."

Meng Chuan felt both frustrated and helpless.

In the long course of history, there had been no invasions from other worlds. Meng Chuan believed that if the Canghai Sect Master were still alive, he would surely set aside any past differences in this current crisis.

"Logically, with the legacy left by Patriarch Cang Yuan, the human world shouldn't be so easily destroyed," the Dharma Protector God mused, perplexed.

"What can we do when confronted with a stronger world?" Meng Chuan shook his head. "This war has already persisted for over eight hundred years, claiming the lives of countless God-Demons and mortals. The situation grows more dire by the day."

"It has lasted this long?"

The Dharma Protector God gently shook his head. "As a Dharma Protector God, I am bound to follow orders. If you wish to transfer the Canghai Sect's ancient texts and mystic arts to other powers, there is only one path: you must pass two trials. Once you succeed, everything within the Canghai Sect will be yours to command, and I will obey your every instruction."

Meng Chuan understood.

He decided to try his best. Meng Chuan's gaze swept across the three buildings: The Starry Sky Tower, the Heart Sea Hall, and the God of War Tower.

"I'll go to the Heart Sea Hall first," Meng Chuan decided. He had the most confidence in his primeval spirit talent and felt he could succeed. Passing even one trial would qualify him as a protector and grant him significantly greater authority.

Meng Chuan then walked towards the Heart Sea Hall.

"Just go straight in," the Dharma Protector God said with a slight smile. "Once inside, sit on the meditation cushion, and you will begin the trial of mental will. Oh, and what is your name? It needs to be recorded in both the Heart Sea Hall and the God of War Tower."

Meng Chuan pondered for a moment before replying, "Just call me 'Demon Slayer'."

"'Demon Slayer'?" The Dharma Protector God was slightly taken aback.

Since he was disguised by wearing a mask, he resolved not to reveal his true identity throughout his entire quest to investigate and hunt down demon kings. Even upon reaching the Canghai Sect, he maintained this secrecy. Only by continuous concealment could his identity remain protected for a significant duration.

"Understood, I'll record it," the Dharma Protector God nodded slightly.

Meng Chuan approached the Heart Sea Hall. Its heavy door was tightly shut, but he reached out and pushed it open.

The enormous hall door slowly swung inward, and a wave of warmth emanated from within, causing him to instinctively feel relaxed.

"A trial of mental will?" Meng Chuan wondered as he stepped inside.

Upon entering the Heart Sea Hall, Meng Chuan found it surprisingly ordinary. There was a single meditation cushion in the center, a simplicity that aligned well with Patriarch Cang Yuan's architectural style. Meng Chuan walked to the cushion and immediately sat down cross-legged.

The instant he sat, his consciousness hummed, and he plunged into a vast world.

"What is this?" he murmured.

Meng Chuan looked around.

The sky was bright with sunshine, and the azure sea stretched out beautifully.

He found himself on a small boat, holding an oar. The vessel drifted on a seemingly boundless ocean, which appeared calm, yet even the calmest waters had small, three-foot waves. The boat continuously swayed with the ocean's motion, but Meng Chuan stood steadily upon it.

"Is this the Heart Sea Hall trial?" Meng Chuan mused, perplexed. "Am I supposed to cross this sea by boat?"

Outside the Heart Sea Hall, the massive door rumbled shut once more.

Outside the hall, the Dharma Protector God stood watching with a faint smile, deeply nostalgic. "It's been so many years, and finally, a God-Demon has entered this Heart Sea Hall again. Back when the Heart Sea Hall was part of the Cangyuan Sect, it was incredibly lively, with countless God-Demons entering one after another. Alas, those bustling days are gone forever."

"'Demon Slayer'? He even used a false name with me, a Dharma Protector God?" The Dharma Protector God looked towards a pillar inside the Heart Sea Hall, where text began to appear: "Demon Slayer, 59 years old."

"Fifty-nine years old?" The Dharma Protector God's eyes widened like brass bells. "Isn't he a Marquis God-Demon? Doesn't he have graying temples?"

Marquis God-Demons are typically not young.

Graying temples usually suggest an age of over four hundred years.

The Heart Sea Hall determines age based on the 'years' a life has experienced, which is the most precise method.

"His name is also fake," the Dharma Protector God murmured to himself. "This young man has disguised himself quite thoroughly."