"That’s not all."

Chen Wangu continued, "If you fail, you will not only cease to be my disciple, but I will also expel you from the Shushan Sacred Land."

"This..."

Xu Qing was stunned for a moment. He took a deep breath, looked at Chen Wangu, and nodded. "I will obey your command, Master," he said. "I will certainly step into the Eighth Realm within a thousand years."

"Good."

Chen Wangu nodded in satisfaction. "Worthy of being my Direct Disciple," he said in a deep voice. "From this day forward, not only will all of Shu Mountain’s resources be available to you, but so will the resources of the other Eight Great Sacred Lands."

"In other words,"

"you can utilize the resources of the entire Profound Yellow Realm."

"Thank you, Master!"

Xu Qing took a deep breath and bowed to Chen Wangu. "I will not fail to meet your high expectations, Master."

"Take it."

From within his robes, Chen Wangu produced a simple, unadorned white token. Several runes were carved on its surface, and it floated before Xu Qing.

"This is the Profound Yellow Jade Talisman. It connects to the resource vaults of the Nine Great Sacred Lands in the Profound Yellow Realm. With this Profound Yellow Jade Talisman and the permission of the nine Masters of the Holy Lands, you can freely utilize all of their resources."

"Yes, Master."

Overjoyed, Xu Qing took the Profound Yellow Jade Talisman from Chen Wangu’s hand, respectfully secured it on his person, and bowed once more.

"You may go."

Chen Wangu waved his hand.

"Yes."

WHOOSH!

Xu Qing’s figure tore through the air, transforming into a streak of Sword Light before vanishing completely. He flew back to the Shushan Sacred Land, returning to his Sword One Dojo.

’There’s not much time left.’

Chen Wangu’s expression was grave. With his hands clasped behind his back, he gazed into the Void, his sight seemingly crossing vast distances of space and time to fall upon the Nine Great Forbidden Lands within the Sea of Chaos.

After all, Chen Wangu had just spent nearly a century battling the Dark Dragon King after charging into the Dark Forbidden Land, a fight that had ended with the dragon’s death.

It could be said that during that battle, he had learned many secrets from the Dark Dragon King—including the fact that a true calamity would descend in a thousand years.

When that time comes, all the Forbidden Land Life in the Nine Great Forbidden Lands will awaken. To return to their full strength, they will stop at nothing, Devouring and Refining the innumerable worlds and creatures of the Sea of Chaos into Immortal Substance, which they will then absorb to restore themselves.

’The complete awakening of the Forbidden Land Life from the Nine Great Forbidden Lands...’

Chen Wangu took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "For all the creatures and races in the entire Sea of Chaos, this will be an unprecedented disaster."

’The reason the Dark Dragon King was the first to awaken is because its strength was among the weakest of all the Forbidden Land Life in the Dark Forbidden Land. That’s why it revived first.’

’The later they awaken, the stronger they will be.’

’Also,’ Chen Wangu mused, ’the real reason all the Forbidden Land Life in the Nine Great Forbidden Lands of the Sea of Chaos are awakening this time has to do with the Unique True Realm.’

’After countless Eras of Chaos, the Sea of Chaos has endured innumerable calamities. Era after era has passed, giving rise to one powerful life form and race after another.’

’The Only True Path to the Unique True Realm is about to open. Only by stepping onto the Only True Path can one gain the qualification to enter the Unique True Realm. And only by entering the Unique True Realm can one achieve true Eternal Immortality and become the One and Only.’

’For these Forbidden Land Lifeforms, who crippled themselves just to survive until this day, the allure of the Unique True Realm is simply too great. In fact, for all the powerful beings in the entire Sea of Chaos, it is an unparalleled temptation.’

"A thousand years."

Chen Wangu took a deep breath. "There are only a thousand years left," he said in a low voice. "After a millennium, the Only True Path will open. That is why I gave Xu Qing only a thousand years."

"Because,"

"to set foot on the Only True Path, the Eighth Realm of Cultivation is the minimum requirement. Anyone who has not reached the Eighth Realm will be barred, unable to take that first step."

「Meanwhile.」

「Sword One Dojo.」

Xu Qing let out a long breath.

He was back in the familiar comfort of his Dao Field, but there was no time to relax. His master, Chen Wangu, had given him only a thousand years to reach the Eighth Realm—a nearly impossible task.

Even with the aid of the Encyclopedia of All Things, it would be incredibly difficult, almost undoable.

Therefore, Xu Qing dared not waste a single moment.

HUMMM! HUMMM!

With a single thought, Xu Qing summoned the Profound Yellow Jade Talisman. He controlled it with his consciousness, and it rose into the air, emitting distinct, clear ripples of energy.

SWISH! SWISH!

In the next moment, nine screens of light appeared, each one an interface representing one of the Nine Great Sacred Lands, giving him access to all their resources.

Now that Chen Wangu had achieved Immortal Will, his Cultivation, Realm, and prestige were such that the Masters of the other Eight Great Sacred Lands would never refuse his request.

Therefore, the resources of the Nine Great Sacred Lands of the Profound Yellow Realm were now fully open to Xu Qing.

And so, Xu Qing began to browse through the resources of the Nine Great Sacred Lands, selecting what he needed.

’This is...’

Xu Qing froze. He had noticed a particular Treasure: a simple, unadorned Black Pagoda with thirty-six floors that emanated an Immortal aura.