Cultivating with Bragging System-Chapter 651 - 298: Entering the Nine Heavens!_1

The tornado pierced the heavens and cleaved the earth, unleashing an endless maelstrom.

But strangely, the vast surface of Mirror Lake remained utterly undisturbed, without a single ripple. It was as if the boundless phenomena were mere illusions, or perhaps they did not exist in this plane of existence at all.

Beside Mirror Lake stood a thatched cottage. Peering through the window, one could see an old man napping at a table.

Wang Xiu approached and asked, "Senior?"

After he called out three times, the old man finally responded. He lethargically lifted his sleepy eyes to glance at Wang Xiu and said irritably, "What is it!"

With a warm smile, Wang Xiu said, "To be honest, Senior, I have some small skill in the art of observing auras. From afar, I saw purple mists and a Golden Dragon lingering here, and I knew a reclusive expert resided in this place. This prompted me to come and pay my respects! May I venture to ask if you are from the legendary Kunlun Clan, the eternal guardians of the passage between the two realms?"

Upon hearing this, the old man perked up a bit. He sat up straight and appraised Wang Xiu for a few moments, looking quite surprised. "Young man, for someone your age, you have a keen eye!"

He was rather surprised. His clan, for certain reasons, had been guarding this place for generations, tasked with safeguarding the passage between the two realms. But this passage was unlike others—it wasn't easily damaged, nor were there any fools reckless enough to try! Over countless years, their clan had barely been needed. They did nothing but doze off here day after day.

As time passed, their reputation faded, and later generations mostly forgot about them. Even if some speculated, their knowledge was limited. Some simply assumed they were a powerful force from nearby Kunlun, stationed here to oversee the area. People like Wang Xiu, who could recognize his identity at a glance, were exceedingly rare.

Wang Xiu replied with a smile, "With your remarkable presence, Senior, it would be difficult for me not to recognize you!"

The old man was clearly flattered and waved his hand. "Ah, let's be discreet! Our clan has always preferred to avoid ostentation. It's enough that you understand."

After a pause, he glanced at Wang Xiu and asked, "And you... are you planning to ascend to the heavens?"

"Uh..."

Wang Xiu nodded. "I am. May I ask if there are any specific rules for using this Heavenly Staircase?"

At that, the old man squinted, looking at Wang Xiu with clear admiration. "Smart lad. Not like the others who just rush blindly into the passage, only to regret it immediately!"

Wang Xiu simply smiled without saying a word.

"Well, since I've got nothing else to do, I might as well explain it to you, lad!" The old man stretched languidly. "This passage may seem chaotic, like a tumultuous hurricane with no discernible pattern... but in truth, its inner workings follow their own laws, adhering strictly to the principles of the Heavenly Dao!

"Entering at different times, from different positions, and in different ways will lead you to entirely different destinations!"

Wang Xiu showed a look of astonishment. "Is it really that complicated? Isn't this passage said to be the most stable one?"

The old man chuckled. "It's stable, true, but that merely ensures that those who ascend don't end up in some unknown, perilous land. In fact, this passage can connect to any of the Celestial Realms within the Nine Heavens. It is selectable and controllable! Provided, of course, that you know the method..."

Wang Xiu had an epiphany, realizing that his caution had been warranted. It was a good thing he had asked first.

He swiftly cupped his hands in a salute. "Please enlighten me, Senior."

"Consider yourself lucky, lad," the old man nodded and said. "This knowledge was grasped by my Kunlun Clan over tens of thousands of years of ceaseless observation. Generation after generation studied the ways of the heavens and earth, discerning the mechanics of the universe, striving to comprehend the connection between the cosmos and humanity, and to understand the changes of past and present. Our dedication has never wavered, and we alone hold this knowledge!

"An ordinary person could kneel and beg me, and I still wouldn't tell them a thing!"

[Ding!]

[Detected someone boasting nearby. Congratulations, Host. You have gained Mana +5,555!]

Wang Xiu listened to the old man without batting an eye, a look of admiration naturally appearing on his face.

Of course, he knew the old man was exaggerating. It was clearly written in the Sanqing Scriptures that one of the duties the Kunlun lineage fulfilled for generations was helping those who wished to use the passage choose the best method. If anyone asked, they were bound to explain. The only reason no one asked anymore was that most people were simply unaware of this fact. Only a few ancient Immortal Sects and Great Sects with long-standing records knew the truth.

Of course, that didn't matter.

He didn't know why the Kunlun lineage had been confined to this place for so many years, with mighty Earth Immortal level experts reduced to acting as mere doorkeepers. But that didn't diminish the respect Wang Xiu held for their clan.

...

The method to control the passage's final destination was quite straightforward.

The Kunlun Clan divided the twenty-four hours of a day into nine periods. Each period corresponded to a different destination, leading to one of the nine Celestial Realms.

Wang Xiu wanted to go to the Yaoguang Heavenly Realm. To do so, he had to enter the passage before the Hour of Zi tonight.

Furthermore, the old man also thoughtfully reminded Wang Xiu that the passages between the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths were mostly one-way. From here, one could travel to any realm in the Nine Heavens. But in the other direction, not every realm in the Nine Heavens had a stable passage leading back to the Cangyuan Realm.

Currently, the only known stable, two-way passage was between the Yaoguang Heavenly Realm and the Cangyuan Realm. Therefore, if he wished to return in the future, he would have to go by way of the Yaoguang Heavenly Realm.

Beyond this, the old man also gave Wang Xiu a great deal of basic information and advice, such as what kind of faction would be best to join after reaching the Nine Heavens to serve as a place to transition and grow. He mentioned which regions were friendlier to people from the Lower Realm, which were more xenophobic, and so on.

All in all, he was rather long-winded, but Wang Xiu listened very carefully.

It would all be useful. After all, even though he had Dragon Emperor Ao Lie's memories, the Dragon Emperor had been gone from the Nine Heavens for ten thousand years. Besides, from the moment of his birth, Dragon Emperor Ao Lie had been a lofty existence, looking down on all living things. How could he possibly know such details about the lives of lesser beings?

...

Since there was still time to wait, Wang Xiu put his conversational skills to use and chatted with the old man for a long time. His occasional, seemingly unintentional flattery was immensely pleasing to the old man, who would frequently erupt in hearty laughter. When he was particularly happy, he'd throw in a few more boasts. This allowed Wang Xiu to reap great rewards as well, and for a time, both host and guest were perfectly content.

Finally, night had fallen. The snowy mountain still gleamed white under the sky, not completely dark, but the evening breeze had grown colder.

The old man suddenly stopped talking, sizing up Wang Xiu. "You're so young, yet your cultivation level is so remarkable. You must be a famous prodigy out there. Why the rush to ascend to the Nine Heavens?"

Wang Xiu paused for a moment before replying, "I have my reasons."

The old man shook his head and chuckled lightly. "You young people always have your reasons! And you're all just as stubborn. There's no talking you out of it, so this old man won't even bother trying!"

Wang Xiu raised an eyebrow slightly. "We?"

The old man took a sip of his home-brewed wine. "That's right. I've been on this snowy peak for three thousand years, at least. I've seen far too many youngsters like you! Talented, proud, unrivaled in the Lower Realm... but once they reach the Nine Heavens, their ends are often tragic! Let's not even talk about ancient history. Just a few decades ago, a group of kids about your age, boys and girls, all of them promising talents, insisted on ascending to the Nine Heavens... In the end, tsk tsk!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Xiu's pupils suddenly constricted.