Chapter 1022: Heavenly Dome Saint Lord

"What's going on?" The Qi Cultivation stage cultivators outside stared blankly as the ground shook violently. "What happened?" "I don't know, it's been over 200,000 years since the Crimson Cloud Ancient Realm was discovered, and I've never heard of anything like this happening before."

Not only the ancient stone hall, but the entire ancient realm was shaking. Everyone was terrified, unsure whether this change was a blessing or a curse. They stopped their skirmishes, no longer bothering to fight over the ancient Foundation Establishment Grass.

The two individuals at the center of the upheaval also had no idea what was happening. The last shroud of chaotic energy dissipated, revealing an ancient coffin. The coffin shook continuously, emitting faint wisps of terrifying aura.

"Is it... a reanimated corpse?" Yu Youlan stammered, trembling as she stared at the ancient coffin. Inside the Clear Edge Sword's miniature world, Lu Yang was utterly bewildered. 'Wait, who gives themselves away as a reward?'

As Xin Ding and Yu Youlan's heartbeats quickened, a skeletal hand suddenly shot out of the coffin, gripping the rim.

The bony hand lifted, and the coffin lid burst open, tumbling twice in the air before crashing to the ground, leaving a large crater!

"A grand dream, long and empty. Joys and sorrows pierce the heart, but fret not. To think I would have a day to reappear in this world."

The skeletal figure stood up, its eye sockets hollow, with only two wisps of eerie green ghostly flames flickering within. As the skeleton rose, the Tribulation Transcendence aura became controlled, and the ancient realm stopped shaking.

The skeleton looked at Xin Ding and Yu Youlan and asked indifferently, "Two youngsters, what year is it today? And which fellow daoist governs the world?"

Xin Ding and Yu Youlan exchanged glances. The skeleton spoke an ancient language they couldn't understand at all. The ancient language Xin Ding had used to control the specters in the branch hall was taught to him by Lu Yang on the spot.

The Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord frowned slightly. 'Strange, why aren't these two reacting? Are they scared witless by me?'

Just as the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord pondered, Xin Ding lowered his head, then lifted it again, seeming to transform into a different person in an instant. His eyes became profound, as if he had witnessed countless ages, and all things in the world were but fleeting clouds.

"Haha, Xuan Tianzi, I didn't expect to find you here." "What went wrong with your hiding method, that your physical body couldn't withstand the baptism of 300,000 years, leaving only this skeletal frame?"

Xin Ding also spoke the ancient language!

The Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord was stunned. He hadn't expected to be recognized even as a skeleton, nor for his name to be known. He politely asked, "Who are you, fellow daoist?" He must be an ancient fellow daoist.

"Who am I?" Xin Ding chuckled twice, seemingly finding the question amusing, or perhaps mocking the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord for being blind and failing to recognize a true immortal.

"Zhu Tian holds me in high regard, Xiao Ling and Lianyi call me Senior Brother, and Immortal Ying Tian refers to me as a friend. Who do you think I am?"

A tempest raged in the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord's heart. 'How is this possible? Who exactly is this revered senior?' If what the other party said was true, he wouldn't even be qualified to call him "fellow daoist"!

"Don't believe me?" "True, mere words are no proof; it's normal not to believe. How about this, then?"

The Tofu Celestial Venerable chuckled softly. A terrifying aura surged behind Xin Ding, perceptible only to the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord! An immortal!

Sensing this aura, the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord's expression turned to one of horror, and he stumbled back several steps! Identity could be faked, but this aura could not be counterfeited under any circumstances!

Only then did the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord notice the Clear Edge Sword, wrapped in coarse cloth, on Xin Ding's back. Although he didn't recognize the Clear Edge Sword itself, the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord was from ancient times and had often heard Immortal Ying Tian's lectures, so he recognized it as a true immortal artifact at a glance!

"Esteemed Senior..." The Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord was filled with trepidation, not daring to show the slightest disrespect.

"I am the Tofu Celestial Venerable."

The Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord racked his brain, trying to recall which of the Four Ancient Immortals might have used the title 'Tofu Celestial Venerable', but he couldn't think of anyone. This naming style didn't sound like that of the Four Ancient Immortals.

Even without knowing the Tofu Celestial Venerable's true identity, courtesy demanded full deference: "Xuan Tianzi greets the Tofu Celestial Venerable!"

"Let's talk about you. Why have you been dormant until now?"

"To answer your question, Senior, I actually didn't intend to keep my physical body. It was my original intention for my soul to remain attached to this skeletal frame."

"Oh?"

The Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord gave a wry smile. "With a cultivation like yours, Senior, I suppose you cannot comprehend my troubles. I am merely at the late Tribulation Transcendence stage, with meager cultivation. In ancient times, it was hard to stand out. Even when hiding my identity, I would often encounter fellow daoists who were also in disguise, which was always awkward. If I met a Half-Immortal, it would be even more embarrassing." "I am truly ashamed that I could not uphold Immortal Venerable Ying Tian's teachings." "I devised a brilliant plan: to sleep for hundreds of thousands of years and then, as a remnant soul, awaken in a fledgling cultivator, guiding their practice and thus appearing as a sage before others." "Since my lifespan is limited, with less than two thousand years remaining, and I have no lingering attachments, I chose to slumber in this secret realm, awaiting a destined young cultivator to arrive at the inner hall." "I never expected to encounter you, Senior, here."

Lu Yang: "..." 'Can you ancient cultivators please have some actual purpose, like learning from... who was it?' Lu Yang paused, realizing there seemed to be no worthy role models in ancient times; the Five Ancient Immortals themselves led the way in frivolousness.

"I am burdened by myriad karmic ties and must possess this junior to resolve them. Although this junior's aptitude is ordinary, his character is excellent, and he will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future. After I depart, you may take my place in possessing him."

Lu Yang had inquired about the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord from Immortal Undying. The evaluation was good; he was a benevolent person. Lu Yang genuinely believed that Xin Ding was a malleable talent, and West Heaven Temple, being blind, had never recognized this. Such a talent, if properly nurtured, would surely achieve significant accomplishments. West Heaven Temple should be grateful to him for helping them cultivate talent.

"Thank you, Senior!" The Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord was overjoyed. Xin Ding was precisely the type of person he needed; those with overly exceptional aptitude became uninteresting. Moreover, being so highly praised by the Tofu Celestial Venerable, there could be no mistake.

"Before that, you shall wait in this secret realm." "Yes!"

Seeing that the matter was concluded, Lu Yang retreated back to the Clear Edge Sword's miniature world, returning control of the body to Xin Ding.

Yu Youlan stood frozen, her emotions unable to settle for a long time. What had just happened? Xin Ding had faced the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord without fear, speaking an ancient language and conversing with him. Although she hadn't understood what they talked about, the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord bowing to Xin Ding indicated that Xin Ding's identity was likely far more terrifying than she had imagined! 'As expected of the man I fancy.'

Xin Ding came back to his senses. He also hadn't understood what the Tofu Celestial Venerable had said, but seeing the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord's respectful attitude towards him, he knew that the Tofu Celestial Venerable's previous words were true: a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator was merely a junior in his presence. This made him even more certain that he couldn't expose the Tofu Celestial Venerable's secret, lest he bring about the utter destruction of West Heaven Temple.

"Benefactress Yu, let's go."

Lu Yang did not let Xin Ding choose a legacy; with the Heavenly Dome Sacred Lord present, all the secret realm's legacies would eventually belong to Xin Ding anyway.