Chapter 76: Items from Those Years

"Senior, this Great Evolution Blue Wing Sword Art has been passed down since the first generation of the Sea Soul Sect. That's already twenty thousand years. May I ask, honored elder, how old you are?"

Xu Yang, of course, understood what Bai Yu'an implied: she didn't believe him.

For his disciple's sake, Xu Yang didn't conceal the truth. He nodded and said, "My lifespan has already exceeded twenty thousand years."

Xu Yang's words were an indirect way of saying that he had created this cultivation technique twenty thousand years ago.

Thump... Bai Yu'an was so startled she nearly fell to her knees.

"I'm very curious about your Sea Soul Sect. Do you have any historical records or secret manuals that document past events? I'd like to see them," Xu Yang said.

"Yes, yes, we do," Bai Yu'an nodded repeatedly. "They are in the scripture pavilion. If you wish to see them, I can take you there, honored elder."

"Then I'll trouble you."

***

Bai Yu'an led the way. After walking for a while, Xu Yang spotted a tall, vermilion tower in the distance. Faint yellow light shimmered around it, and a subtle, oppressive aura emanated from within, enveloping the surroundings.

"Senior, this is our Sea Soul Sect's scripture pavilion. What you wish to see is on the highest floor; I'll take you there," Bai Yu'an explained.

Although the scripture pavilion was a vital and restricted area of the Sea Soul Sect, not only were outsiders forbidden, but even some disciples and elders were not allowed into certain sections.

However... given Xu Yang's power, she couldn't possibly refuse him.

If Xu Yang wanted to enter the scripture pavilion, he would likely be able to, regardless of whether Bai Yu'an granted permission.

***

Inside the scripture pavilion, Xu Yang proceeded directly to the top floor.

Guided by Bai Yu'an, Xu Yang successfully located the records he sought concerning the Sea Soul Sect's establishment twenty thousand years ago.

The Sea Soul Sect's historical archives, it must be said, were exceptionally detailed.

From the sect's founding twenty thousand years ago until the present day, all events were meticulously documented, with time records precise down to the very day.

Despite this, Xu Yang found not a single shred of information about his disciple.

"Ah, Bai Lianxue," Xu Yang sighed softly, "what is this sect's connection to you?"

Closing the book, Xu Yang stood up, feeling a pang of disappointment.

Just then, from the corner of his eye, Xu Yang noticed another parchment scroll lying nearby.

The parchment, yellowed by time, still clearly displayed five large characters.

"What in the world?! The True Tome of Tianlan Sect?"

Upon seeing these five characters, Xu Yang instantly lost his composure.

"Senior, is something wrong? Is there a problem?" Bai Yu'an asked cautiously.

Xu Yang swallowed, then said, "If I told you this belonged to me, would you believe it?"

Bai Yu'an looked bewildered and replied, "But this has been in our Sea Soul Sect for twenty thousand years."

"Although it serves no apparent purpose, our first sect master decreed that even if the Sea Soul Sect were to perish, this parchment scroll must never be lost."

Xu Yang nodded. He had been unsure whether this sect had any connection to his disciple.

Now, he was absolutely certain of a connection.

This parchment scroll was, in fact, what Xu Yang had personally entrusted to Bai Lianxue for safekeeping.

After Bai Lianxue's misfortune, the parchment scroll vanished along with her.

In truth, the contents of the parchment scroll weren't particularly significant.

Back then, Xu Yang had pinpointed the locations of certain spiritual herbs. As the herbs hadn't matured yet, and he anticipated waiting several millennia, he created the parchment to avoid forgetting.

The location markings on it were highly unique, readable only by him.

Xu Yang picked up the parchment scroll, his fingers tracing its faded yellow cover, aged by the passage of time, a sense of wistfulness washing over him.

Suddenly, something came to Xu Yang's mind.

"Tell me, do you believe there's a small, hidden turtle in the bottom right corner of this parchment scroll?" Xu Yang asked Bai Yu'an with a smile.

Bai Yu'an looked puzzled.

Without another word, Xu Yang rubbed his finger along the bottom right corner of the parchment.

Immediately, a faint white turtle materialized in the bottom right corner.

"My disciple drew this," Xu Yang said with a smile.

Bai Yu'an was speechless. She, too, saw the turtle.

Yet, this parchment scroll had resided in the pavilion for twenty thousand years.

Many had attempted to decipher the parchment's enigma, but no one had ever understood its true contents.

"Senior, this parchment scroll... was it truly yours?" Bai Yu'an stammered.

Xu Yang nodded.

Bai Yu'an was stunned. If Xu Yang wasn't lying, he had lived for at least twenty thousand years.

And he showed no signs of aging whatsoever.

Just what was Xu Yang's cultivation level? How terrifyingly powerful he must be!

Bai Yu'an simply couldn't fathom it.

"Are there no other records concerning your sect's history?" Xu Yang mused for a moment before asking.

Bai Yu'an shook her head. "Senior, there are no more," she replied.

"Alright," Xu Yang sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice.

He had hoped to uncover some information about his disciple within the Sea Soul Sect.

Yet, for reasons unknown, the Sea Soul Sect had absolutely no record or news of Bai Lianxue.

Deeply disappointed, Xu Yang departed from the Sea Soul Sect's scripture pavilion.

"Wait, something's off. There are spiritual energy fluctuations," Xu Yang murmured. He could distinctly feel faint spiritual energy ripples emanating from beneath the ground.

These fluctuations were subtle, imperceptible to anyone but Xu Yang.

"Is there anything beneath your pavilion?" Xu Yang turned to ask Bai Yu'an.

"No," Bai Yu'an replied, sounding puzzled. She couldn't understand why Xu Yang was asking.

"Is that so?" Xu Yang frowned.

At that very moment, another surge of spiritual energy resonated from below the pavilion.

For some reason, as Xu Yang sensed the fluctuations, he felt as if they were the throbbing of a heart.

An inexplicable restlessness stirred within Xu Yang.

"I sense something beneath your pavilion," Xu Yang stated.

"I'd like to see what's there, if that's permissible."

The persistent spiritual energy fluctuations unsettled Xu Yang even further.

"Senior, what do you intend to do?" Bai Yu'an asked, a vague sense of dread creeping over her.

"I want to discover what lies beneath your pavilion," Xu Yang said calmly, "which means your pavilion will likely be damaged."

Bai Yu'an's complexion instantly changed, turning pale then white.

"What's wrong? You don't have any objections, do you?" Xu Yang asked with a gentle smile, subtly clenching his fist.