Chapter 1665
Chapter 1665 (Raw 1677):
The Grave Sea had three blessed lands: the Black Cave Mountain, the Potala Mountain, and the Heavenly Shaking Mountain.
The Potala Mountain was filled with the orthodox Buddhist temples and was rather unified. On the other hand, the Black Cave Mountain and Heavenly Shaking Mountain were more secular with more complicated settings. The competition there was even more intense.
The Potala Mountain rarely produced overbearing people, but it was definitely the strongest of the three blessed lands.
After seven days of travel, the Black Cave Mountain appeared in the distance at the limits of Xiao Chen's vision.
Having reached this place, the Black Cutlass could no longer proceed. Otherwise, it would be "properly taken care of" by the Black Cave Mountain's factions in the periphery.
"Young Master Xiao, are you really not willing to come with me to the Profound Light Temple? Actually, a lay disciple needs to cultivate there for only ten years before they can leave the temple and cultivate in the secular world. Furthermore, when you travel outside, you will also enjoy freedom. If you are willing, this old monk can take you in as my disciple."
As the group approached the Black Cave Mountain, the Venerable Xuan Bei expressed his desire to take Xiao Chen in as his disciple once again.
After interacting with Xiao Chen for seven days, the Venerable Xuan Bei had gained a deeper impression of him, finding himself becoming attached to him.
Xiao Chen smiled faintly and rejected the Venerable's invitation again.
Xiao Suo said, "Venerable, what about me? My comprehension ability should still be fine. How about I become your disciple?"
Being able to be a disciple personally taken in by the Venerable Xuan Bei was undoubtedly a good thing, filled with potential. At the very least, there would be no lack of resources, Martial Techniques, Cultivation Techniques, weapons, Medicinal Pills, and Spirit Jades.
The Venerable Xuan Bei smiled and shook his head. "Your six roots are not clean. Entering my Buddhist sect would only delay your cultivation. Don't be sad. As long as you have a heart for Buddha, no matter where you are, you are cultivating."
"Hahaha!"
Laughter immediately rang out on the deck. The evaluation of his six roots not being clean embarrassed Xiao Suo very much, and he could only laugh awkwardly.
Such an evaluation was very easy to misunderstand.
Actually, it was not as everyone imagined. The so-called six roots referred to the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and will, representing six different desires. The six roots not being clean meant that one was short-tempered and filled with desire.
The Venerable Xuan Bei said softly, "Cultivating in a Buddhist sect is filled with suffering. Even if you were my disciple, you would not be given much special treatment. You would need to be like Benefactor Xiao, someone who can endure loneliness. Perhaps by following me for ten years, his cultivation and strength might not improve at all. However, when he gains enlightenment, he would experience an earth-shattering rise."
He paused for a moment before continuing, "Benefactor Xiao, the Black Cave Mountain is different from my Buddhist sect. It will be hard to avoid being put on the spot as a result of cultivation. Do be mentally prepared."
Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute, expressing his gratitude.
During the many days of interaction, this Venerable Xuan Bei had indeed proven himself to be an esteemed monk of virtue and prestige.
When the Venerable Xuan Bei spoke with everyone on the ship, he did not come across as a peak Starry Sky powerhouse.
They could get some answers to the problems in their hearts from the Venerable Xuan Bei.
However, the many Buddhist sects had different cultivation focuses. Naturally, their characters would be different. One could not take the Venerable Xuan Bei's character as representative of all the Buddhist sects.
"The people responsible for receiving outsiders to the Black Cave Mountain should be right in front. I will not send you any further. Various Benefactors, we will meet again if it is fated. May the Lord Buddha preserve us!"
The Venerable Xuan Bei bowed with one hand pressed to his chest as he chanted Buddhist scripture and rode on his small boat, slowly disappearing from everyone's vision.
"Captain, should we wait for you here? Or is there anything else we should do?" Xiao Suo asked.
Xiao Chen pondered before replying, "I will remain here for at least three months. At most, it might be two years. It is really hard to say. During this period, just roam about freely. After I come out, I'll come and look for you all."
"Right. Captain, take care. After you come out, you just need to go to any of the Pirate Halls, and you can find us using the Captain Token."
This time, it was a true goodbye. Without the threat of the Black Lotus Church, Xiao Chen relaxed and left instructions to everyone.
When he got to the Iron Hand Yama, he gave the other party a bear hug. "Many thanks. If not for your help, all of us would have died at the hands of the Black Lotus Church's Protector."
The Iron Hand Yama guffawed and said, "Don't be so polite. At this moment, Captain is missing. I will stay aboard during this period and help you keep an eye on these newbies."
Elder Tang looked at Xiao Chen and said, "Before I help you unravel the Scarlet Blood Pirate King's riddle in his last words, I will remain on the ship."
After obtaining these two's promises, Xiao Chen felt certain that after he left the Black Cutlass, there was no need to worry about their safety, at least.
"Goodbye. After I come out, I will definitely look for everyone."
"Captain, take care!"
Before everyone's reluctant gaze, Xiao Chen turned around and left. This time, there was no pressure. He would also be free of the Black Lotus Church for a long period, so he could be said to be entering with a light load.
When Xiao Chen was about two hundred fifty kilometers from an island of the Black Cave Mountain, he felt an invisible pressure blocking him.
This was not a barrier or a formation.
Instead, it was two Cloud Sea Star Venerates directly using their auras infused with the will of soul to block Xiao Chen, preventing him from taking a step forward.
Xiao Chen could not help feeling startled. It was just an island on the periphery, but there were already two Star Venerates personally standing guard here. This was somewhat too excessive.
Halt! Explain the purpose of your visit.
A message rang out in Xiao Chen's mind. He knew what he had to do.
Xiao Chen took out the recommendation letter and directly opened it. The strong lingering aura on the words immediately spread out.
"A recommendation letter?"
"Only someone who has made great contributions to their blessed land or has outstanding strength has the right to write a recommendation letter."
"I have already verified the words of this senior. It is genuine."
After the guards had a brief conversation, a message entered Xiao Chen's head. Holder of the recommendation letter, go to the island's Cloud Sealing Hall. Someone will receive you there.
"Many thanks.
Feeling the obstruction disappear, Xiao Chen put away the recommendation letter and took a few more steps forward. Then, he saw someone flying towards him.
It looked like two young disciples. They did not speak much, only glancing at Xiao Chen's recommendation letter before bringing him to the island.
Under the two's lead, Xiao Chen soon arrived at the Cloud Sealing Hall that the two Star Venerates mentioned.
The Cloud Sealing Hall was extensive, several times larger than any of the Pirate Halls that Xiao Chen had seen.
When he walked in, he found it to be in perfect order. Despite the bustle, there was no chaos.
In the hall, Xiao Chen noticed that there were many independent doors in there, all of them marked with the names of sects.
Xiao Chen guessed that these were the sects stationed in this blessed land.
"Enter, then. The Cloud Sealing Hall's Hall Master Mo is in there. We will not accompany you any further."
The two disciples did not take Xiao Chen seriously. After all, he was only a half-step Primal Core cultivator.
As for the two disciples leading the way, they were both peak Minor Primal Core cultivators, so their attitude was rather normal.
When Xiao Chen entered the plain and simple room, he found a black-clad, stern-faced old man inside.
This should be the Hall Master.
"Greetings to Hall Master Mo."
Xiao Chen performed a cupped-fist salute and stepped forward to hand over his recommendation letter.
"It is genuine. Tell me, which sect would you like to join?" Hall Master Mo closed the recommendation letter and continued, "Of course, you won't be able to enter just because you want to. You need to take the tests of those sects first.
"There is a total of forty-three Rank 3 sects and two Rank 4 sects in the Black Cave Mountain. All Rank 3 sects face intense competition, and there are eliminations based on the ranking. After a sect ranks last for ten years, it will have to leave the blessed land."
The competition was really intense. To a sect, there was a world's difference in status between being in a blessed land or not. No one would be willing to be eliminated.
A blessed land was the core of all the sects in the entire Grave Sea. This was the stage where large sects flaunted their strength.
"Here is a simple introduction of all the sects. Take a look for yourself and then make your choice."
Hall Master Mo handed Xiao Chen a jade strip. Xiao Chen accepted it and sent his Spiritual Sense into it. Then, plenty of information appeared in his mind.
However, this was not what Xiao Chen wanted. He put down the jade strip and asked, "Hall Master, do you know which sect Senior Ye Zifeng is in?"
"You know Senior Ye Zifeng?"
At the mention of Ye Zifeng, Hall Master Mo's eyes lit up, appearing more emotional.
It looked like this Ye Zifeng was indeed a famous person in the Black Cave Mountain.
Xiao Chen did not wish to complicate things, so he replied cautiously, "Not really. I just admire the ten great bladesmen of the Grave Sea. This junior is also a bladesman."
"Oh."
The Hall Master's eyes immediately dimmed. "Senior Ye Zifeng is in the Purple Flame Sect, which is one of the Rank 4 sects of the Black Cave Mountain. Could it be that you want to enter the Purple Flame Sect?"
A mocking light appeared in Hall Master Mo's eyes. "I can tell that your bloodline is extraordinary. However, you still have not advanced to the Primal Core Realm. This proves that your bloodline power is not very strong.
"The bloodlines of the Great Desolate Eon's ten thousand races are not very rare in the blessed lands.
"A Rank 4 sect would be interested only if you truly have a bloodline of the Great Desolate Eon's ten thousand races. Furthermore, it would have to be at least of Medial Grade."
In short, Hall Master Mo was saying that Xiao Chen was not worthy of joining a Rank 4 sect and should give up hope now.
However, he did it by beating about the bush.
"In fact, I feel that it is still somewhat difficult for you to join a Rank 3 sect of the blessed land. If your skills at the saber are truly extraordinary, how about you try your luck at the sects that are focused on the saber?"
Hall Master Mo was only speaking honestly and not trying to make things difficult for Xiao Chen.
Xiao Chen did not get angry and replied calmly, "I still choose the Purple Flame Sect. Hall Master, please help me make the arrangements."
Hall Master Mo shook his head and did not try to dissuade him anymore. Then, he called over a subordinate and said, "Take him to the Purple Flame Sect branch. Say that I gave orders to you and explain his purpose here. Get those people from the Purple Flame Sect to not make things difficult for him or embarrass him."
"Yes, Hall Master."