Chapter 1498: Distance Is Too Far

"A chance to comprehend the fifth level?" Zhang Xuan was stunned.

"That's right. The fifth level of the Eye of Insight is the 'World in the Eye,' a virtual realm. Once unleashed, even experts above Saint 9-dan will fall into it, as if entering hell, making reincarnation impossible! Back then, my teacher, Ancient Sage Bo Shang, used it to annihilate a million Otherworldly Demonic Tribesmen with a single glance... it was truly legendary!"

"Normally, this level cannot be comprehended outside the Nine Serenities Secret Realm. However, since you are anxious to leave to save someone, I can grant you an opportunity. As long as you can comprehend the fourth level, 'Wrath of Vajra, Subduing Tigers and Demons,' you can activate the restriction on the Hall Master Token, which will grant you the chance to comprehend the fifth level! Of course, this technique cannot be used lightly; not only is the energy consumption immense, but most importantly, it can easily lead to mass slaughter!" Sage Kuil's voice continued.

"Many thanks, Senior!" Zhang Xuan clasped his fists.

Although Zhang Xuan wasn't sure if he would learn the Nine Serenities Divine Eye, the offer of such an opportunity was an immense act of generosity. On the Master Teacher Continent, the legacy of the teaching profession is highly valued. Whether students make sacrifices for their teachers or teachers for their students, such acts are celebrated as admirable tales and command great respect. For Zhang Xuan, sacrificing this learning opportunity for his students was a huge sacrifice for a prospective hall master. After all, losing the chance to cultivate within the secret realm meant he might never advance the Eye of Insight to the fourth level, or even become a true hall master, in his lifetime.

"This is your own choice; there's no need to thank me... Leaving is also simple. Return to the circular platform where you entered, hold the Hall Master Token, and you will automatically be teleported out!" Sage Kuil instructed.

"Thank you!" Zhang Xuan let out a sigh of relief. Without hesitation, he turned and walked towards the circular platform. Upon reaching it, he took out the Hall Master Token and gently tightened his grip. A spatial force tore through the air, and in the next moment, with another flicker, he vanished from his spot.

"As a teacher, one must possess a broad mind and be willing to make sacrifices for students. Perhaps this individual truly can become an outstanding hall master and lead the Saint Son Hall even further..." Seeing him leave without the slightest hesitation, Sage Kuil's voice slowly resonated with emotion. "A person's breadth of mind determines their achievements. This individual, capable of unwavering dedication to his students, sacrificing what needs to be sacrificed, alone indicates that his future accomplishments will be immeasurable! It's even possible he could surpass all previous hall masters."

Unaware of Sage Kuil's evaluation of him, Zhang Xuan found himself on the ground once more.

This time, whether due to a shorter teleportation distance or some other reason, he didn't experience the previous discomforts or the sensation of time stretching out. Shaking his head, he got up from the ground, looked around, and couldn't help but sigh in relief. Just as he had guessed, he was back in the Saint Son Hall. He was within the inner courtyard, not too far from Sage Kuil's statue, which contained the formidable man's sternum.

"Could it be... that the so-called Nine Serenities Secret Realm is inside the statue?" He frowned. Since he appeared here, the actual extent of the secret realm must not be far. Could it be hidden within the statue, just like the formidable man's skeleton?

"Never mind, I'll go find Chen Leyao first and ask for clarification!" Knowing it wasn't the time to investigate this, he took out his inner courtyard access token, went to a specific spot, and lightly swiped it. *Rip!* A crack appeared in space, and he stepped through it, emerging on the other side.

Outside, it was already dark, and the Saint Son Hall was remarkably quiet, seemingly unaware that the Zhang Clan, millions of kilometers away, had already been reduced to ruins.

He quickly flew in the direction of Chen Leyao's residence and arrived before long.

"Master Zhang, you..." Chen Leyao was startled. When she sent the message, he was still millions of kilometers away, yet he appeared before her in just a few minutes. Even with her usual composure, she found it utterly incredible.

"What exactly happened to Zhao Ya?" Too lazy to explain, Zhang Xuan asked directly.

"I wouldn't know either. I was cultivating just now when I received an urgent message from the Young Palace Mistress... I knew you weren't in the Saint Son Hall, so I had to use a formation to transmit her message to you. Unexpectedly, she only spoke a few words before the connection broke..." Shaking her head, Chen Leyao also looked bewildered. It seemed she was still unclear about what had happened.

"Aside from Zhao Ya's message, has there been any news from the Glacier Palace?" After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Xuan asked.

"After losing contact with the Young Palace Mistress, I sent messages to my sisters in the palace. The news I received was... everything is normal, no incidents have occurred, and the Young Palace Mistress hasn't left the Glacier Palace..." Chen Leyao shook her head. "Could it be a false alarm?"

"Impossible!" Zhang Xuan shook his head. Zhao Ya would never joke around with him like that. If she sent out a distress call, she must have encountered danger.

"Then..." Chen Leyao was utterly confused. The Young Palace Mistress's status in the Glacier Palace was second only to the Palace Mistress herself. If something truly happened, how could her sisters in the palace be completely unaware? Yet... if nothing was wrong, she wouldn't have sent such an urgent message. What on earth had happened?

"Take me to the Glacier Palace!" Without answering her question, Zhang Xuan pondered for a moment, his eyes narrowing.

"To the Glacier Palace?" Chen Leyao was startled. "Now?"

"Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded.

"The Glacier Palace is millions of kilometers from here. Even riding a Saint 9-dan holy beast would take a month. If the Young Palace Mistress is truly in danger, arriving after such a long time might be too late to help her..." Chen Leyao's face was filled with worry. The Glacier Palace was even farther from the Saint Son Hall than the Zhang Clan. Flying there on a holy beast would take over a month. If something had indeed happened, arriving so late would mean it was far too late to do anything.

"A month?" His fist tightened. A month was too long. If Zhao Ya had sent such an urgent message, she definitely wouldn't be able to hold on for that long. But... how could he cover such a vast distance? Unless...

"Does the Saint Son Hall have a teleportation formation to the Glacier Palace?" He looked up at her. He had used teleportation once before, and its speed was incredibly fast; a month's journey could be covered in a few breaths. If such a thing existed, it could easily resolve the current situation.

"No..." Chen Leyao shook her head. "The Glacier Palace has only established teleportation formations with a few allied powers. As for the Saint Son Hall, there's no connection. When my sisters and I came here, we relied on flying holy beasts..." Teleportation formations could instantly transport cultivators deep into another power's territory. Unless relations were exceptionally good, such formations would never be established. Otherwise, they wouldn't even know they'd been annihilated.

"Where's the nearest teleportation point from here?" Zhang Xuan looked at her.

"That would be the Saint Clan Yuan, but it's still half a month's journey from here..." Chen Leyao thought for a moment before replying. She understood his urgency, but the Glacier Palace was located in the extreme northern icy lands of the continent and was simply not easy to reach.

"Half a month... that's still too far! Since you know the exact location of the Glacier Palace, is there any way to set up a teleportation formation?" Zhang Xuan frowned, asking.