Chapter 957: Qingyun Sect Old Members

It turned out that the divine Buddhist power for memory erasure, which the Bodhisattva had just unleashed, was aimed at everyone except Abbot Puguang. This included Jiang Fan! However, Jiang Fan's memories were not erased. He still remembered everything that had happened.

Abbot Puguang's Buddhist heart, which had been calm for many years, was stirred, creating ripples. Even he couldn't withstand the Bodhisattva's memory-erasing Buddhist magic, but Jiang Fan could! He finally understood why the Bodhisattva had agreed to Jiang Fan's unreasonable request for clues in installments. It was because the Bodhisattva had misgivings about Jiang Fan.

Tianyuan Ancient City. At the center.

"Just how vast is the Taicang Great State?"

Jiang Fan had been flying with Venerable Qiyin for a full five days. Venerable Qiyin was a Two-aperture Nascent Soul cultivator; at his speed, crossing their continent would take less than half a day. Yet, in the Taicang Great State, five days had only brought them from the coast to its very center. Wouldn't crossing the entire Taicang Great State take more than ten days?

Venerable Qiyin replied, "It depends on what you're comparing it to. If we compare it to your continent, your continent is like a grape, while the Taicang Great State is a watermelon."

Jiang Fan wasn't sure whether to call their continent too small or the Taicang Great State too large.

"Then what is our continent called?" Jiang Fan asked again. He realized that he had heard many outsiders refer to his home as 'the continent,' but it never had a specific name. It was always just 'the continent,' 'the continent.' Only the Infernal Wasteland Beasts had once called their home an 'island.'

Venerable Qiyin shook his head and said, "Your home, it's just called 'the Continent.'"

How could a place name be 'the Continent'?

"Isn't that childish?" Jiang Fan wondered.

Venerable Qiyin chuckled, "Indeed, it's really just called 'the Continent.' I heard that a long time ago, your home was called Spirit Pearl Island. Later, a mysterious person settled on your island and said that the name Spirit Pearl Island was too provincial, and she didn't like it. So, she changed its name to 'the Continent,' finding it more pleasant. Subsequently, all documents in the Taicang Great State erased the name Spirit Pearl Island overnight and replaced it with 'the Continent,' a name that has continued to this day."

Jiang Fan and Consort Yunxia exchanged glances, as if they were listening to a fantastical tale. Could there truly be such a willful and unimaginably powerful figure in the world? The Taicang Great State changing its documents overnight just because of a single sentence from her? What a powerful figure one must be to wield such influence!

"Of course, this is just what I've heard. It happened over a thousand years ago, so its veracity cannot be verified. But it's true that your island is indeed called 'the Continent.'"

"This..."

"Alright."

Jiang Fan looked forward. Amidst the clouds, layer upon layer of colossal floating stone steps, one connected to the next, extended deep into the azure sky. Each stone step was about ten thousand zhang long, resembling an ancient city that blotted out the sky. They all floated in mid-air. The scene was exceptionally magnificent.

"So immense?" Jiang Fan was deeply moved. He had imagined ordinary, ancient staircases stretching into the depths of the sky. But what was this before his eyes?

Venerable Qiyin's eyes also showed deep shock and a great regret at not being able to explore it himself. "The steps you see are less than one percent of the complete structure. According to those who have ascended, there are a total of ten thousand steps, and their combined length is greater than the north-south length of your continent."

Jiang Fan's pupils constricted, his eyes filled with astonishment: "Where did this thing come from?" With so many colossal steps, it was impossible that the people of the Taicang Great State had never noticed them, right?

Venerable Qiyin shook his head: "I don't know. It appeared with a mist that swept across the entire Taicang Great State. When the mist dispersed, this long, ancient path to the heavens remained."

A mist that covered the entire Taicang Great State? How vast must that mist have been?

Jiang Fan's expression showed contemplation; these steps had a strange origin. His gaze flickered, and he asked, "Senior mentioned that someone has gone up?"

Venerable Qiyin hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Yes, that's right. It was a Venerable. After she returned, she ordered that the opportunities be left to disciples below the Nascent Soul realm, and that stronger cultivators should not participate."

A Venerable? That would be an existence at the Spirit Transformation Realm! If even she didn't perceive any danger, then the problem shouldn't be significant.

As the two conversed, they arrived before the first layer of steps. Suspended in the air were many Nascent Soul realm experts, all Nascent Soul level figures from various great divine sects and prominent schools. Seeing Venerable Qiyin approach with two young people, a man and a woman, they couldn't help but be surprised.

"Qiyin, why are you only just arriving? The Ancient Path to Heaven began seven days ago; isn't it too late to send disciples up now? Perhaps those on the Dharma Seal Vajra's list of cultivators to be enlightened have already reached the very top."

Venerable Qiyin didn't say much, merely smiling. He approached a seemingly very young man in a long green robe, with a slightly stern expression. "Senior Chenjing."

Venerable Qiyin, a Two-aperture Nascent Soul, actually addressed the young man before him as 'Senior.' The other people around also showed a hint of respect when they looked at the young Venerable Chenjing. Venerable Chenjing was not only a young Four-aperture Nascent Soul, a highly renowned and powerful expert, but also a disciple under the True Word Venerable! This time, he was entrusted by his master to oversee the Ancient Path to Heaven. Only disciples were allowed entry; Nascent Soul experts were strictly forbidden.

Venerable Chenjing held a list in his hand. He glanced at Venerable Qiyin, then flipped through his list and said: "Aren't your disciples, Yu Peiyuan and Wei Chaoran, already up there? Who are these two?"

According to the rules, each elder was limited to two disciples. Venerable Qiyin's quota had already been used up.

Venerable Qiyin gave an apologetic smile: "These two are my juniors. They also wished to see the Ancient Path to Heaven. Could Senior Chenjing do us a favor? Come to my Sky's Edge Sea Pavilion another day; we are developing a new type of spirit boat that can also travel on land. Perhaps Senior Chenjing could come and offer some pointers then." The implication was that he wanted to give him a good gift.

Venerable Chenjing was somewhat tempted but also very helpless. He transmitted a message: "You're too late. My master visited just yesterday and reprimanded me. I truly dare not let anyone else go up casually anymore."

Venerable Qiyin looked embarrassed. The reason he dared to guarantee entry for Jiang Fan and the others was his existing connection with Venerable Chenjing. With some additional benefits, it usually wouldn't be an issue. However, who knew that this young man had been too greedy earlier, drawing a reprimand from the True Word Venerable? This made him afraid to let anyone else in indiscriminately. This was problematic. He awkwardly looked at Jiang Fan, having brought them all this way, only for them to be unable to enter.

Jiang Fan thought for a moment, then took out Bai Xin's token and said, "Senior, could you do us a favor?"

Upon seeing the token, Venerable Chenjing was slightly surprised: "You are Bai Xin's Sky-Monitoring Guard? Bai Xin told me that she gave her token to a Heavenly Mystery Pavilion disciple from the continent. Are you that person?"

Jiang Fan replied, "Indeed, junior Jiang Fan."

Venerable Chenjing slowly nodded: "Alright, since you are Bai Xin's person, I believe my master won't object to letting you go up."

It sounded like Bai Xin held considerable sway; even the Venerable didn't seem to reject him much.

Jiang Fan clasped his fists: "Thank you, Senior."

The two approached the steps, ready to ascend. Venerable Chenjing hesitated slightly and asked, "Since you are a Heavenly Mystery Pavilion disciple, do you know about the Nine Sects?"

Jiang Fan was slightly taken aback, unsure why Venerable Chenjing was asking this. He replied: "To report to Senior, junior is indeed from the Nine Sects."

Venerable Chenjing nodded: "Then which sect are you from?"

Jiang Fan said, "The Azure Cloud Sect."

Venerable Chenjing's gaze suddenly trembled. He re-examined Jiang Fan, his eyes holding a different expression than before. There was deep surprise, as well as a fleeting hint of joy, as if he wanted to ask something. But the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed them back, waving his hand and saying, "Go on."

Jiang Fan looked puzzled, clearly seeing that Venerable Chenjing had something more to say but refrained. Nodding, he and Consort Yunxia stepped onto the stairs hand in hand.

Venerable Qiyin was also greatly surprised when he heard Jiang Fan was from the Azure Cloud Sect. He asked: "Senior, you're also from the Azure Cloud Sect, aren't you? Why didn't you reveal your identity just now?" He had heard that Venerable Chenjing came from the Azure Cloud Sect and had achieved his current status in the Taicang Great State through his formidable talent. Since they were from the same sect, why didn't Venerable Chenjing acknowledge him?

Venerable Chenjing watched Jiang Fan's retreating back and shook his head slightly: "Forget it. He's already at Core Formation Ninth Layer Perfection, precisely when he needs a Nascent Soul opportunity. If he knew I was his fellow disciple, and shamelessly asked me for an opportunity, what would I do? If I give it, I'd have to beg my master for it. If I don't, he'd think I'm heartless. So, it's better to avoid trouble by pretending not to know him. It's quite good for him to return to the continent and become a vice-pavilion master in the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion. Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix, after all."