As the laughter grew closer, a middle-aged man of average stature walked in. The man, who was dressed in instructor's robes from the Taoist Academy, had a plain face, but it did little to hide his calm and collected demeanor.
"May I ask who you are?" Pei Xuanjing asked.
Pei Xuanjing glanced at the man before him, ripples appearing in his deep eyes. However, he showed no fear of this mysterious man. After all, even if the strongest being from the Nine realms of spirit were to stand before him, he would not be worried, given his current state.
What he was particularly curious about was that most of the powerful beings who returned from the Sky Wasteland seemed to avoid him, so why would this man seek him out?
The middle-aged man, with a smile, said, "I'm No Phase True Monarch. I heard that you excel in the Divine Abilities of transformation. Coincidentally, I also know a little about this. So after coming back to the ancestral land, I was itching to ask for your guidance."
Once the self-proclaimed No Phase True Monarch finished speaking, Pei Xuanjing immediately realized his identity.
Even though he had never entered the Sky Wasteland, he had considerable knowledge about the powerful forces there.
This self-proclaimed No Phase True Monarch, although courteous in his speech, had a complicated background. He was not merely an expert in transformation, as he claimed, but a renowned figure in the Sky Wasteland.
No Phase True Monarch, known in the Sky Wasteland as Wu Xiangzi, was at the peak of the Eightfold Spirit Realm. Thanks to his unrivaled transformation ability, he could fight undefeated against beings of the Nine Realms of Spirit. It is said that no one has ever truly known where he is.
Also, his Wuxiang Palace was a top-tier power but did not recruit disciples. Its actions were both righteous and evil, so he always did as he pleased in the Sky Wasteland, and many top-tier powers didn't want to get tangled up with him.
Given his character, it wasn't surprising that he sought out Pei Xuanjing upon returning to the ancestral land.
However, nobody could tell what his purpose was. Was it genuinely to confirm his understanding of transformation, or did he intended to provoke a fight?
"So it's the famous No Phase True Monarch. I apologize for not receiving you sooner." A faint smile appeared on Pei Xuanjing's face.
He asked No Phase True Monarch, "Did you come here to validate the transformation ability with me?"
"What else could it be?" No Phase True Monarch retorted.
He glanced at Pei Xuanjing disdainfully and said, "Hehe, are you suggesting that I, the True Monarch, was provoked by someone else and purposely sought you out for a fight?"
He had run rampant in the Sky Wasteland for thousands of years, never bound by anyone. Even if the strongest of the Nine Realms of Spirit was unhappy with him, he would still ignore them if he himself was not in a good mood. What could they do to him?
Upon reaching his state, especially after possessing self-preservation means against the strongest of the Nine Realms of Spirit, he was naturally proud and disdainful, and would not easily be swayed by others.
Pei Xuanjing shook his head with a smile. "Not at all."
"Oh?" No Phase True Monarch was puzzled.
Pei Xuanjing countered, "Why should I compare with the True Monarch?"
No Phase True Monarch's smile stiffened, instantly turning cold. In a low voice, he said, "You mean to refuse?"
As he spoke, the atmosphere in the room suddenly changed, as if ready to strike given the slightest disagreement.
Pei Xuanjing, however, was not intimidated by No Phase True Monarch's intentions. He continued to say indifferently, "I do not wish to compare."
Whoosh!
No Phase True Monarch's smile completely vanished. He glared coldly at Pei Xuanjing, the temperature around him dropping as tendrils of terrifying power began to seep out, pressing towards Pei Xuanjing.
The pressure released by a powerful being of the Eightfold Spirit Realm, even without exerting his full power, was still terrifyingly potent. In No Phase True Monarch's view, a cultivator at the seventh level of the Spirit realm like Pei Xuanjing definitely couldn't stand against it for long.
Hmph!
Pei Xuanjing frowned slightly, a trace of displeasure flashing in his eyes.
This No Phase True Monarch was indeed as unpredictable as the rumors suggested, swinging between righteousness and evil, capricious and unbridled in his actions.
The pressure he released had no effect on him, but if it were to spread out, it would be too much for the many disciples and instructors in the Taoist academy, as they wouldn't be able to withstand a powerful being of the Eightfold Spirit Realm.
With a flick of his sleeve, a soft, tranquil Primordial Qi rolled out, instantly trapping No Phase True Monarch's pressure within the courtyard, preventing it from spreading even an inch further.
"This!"
Pei Xuanjing's seemingly nonchalant move, simply flicking his sleeve to completely isolate and trap No Phase True Monarch's pressure, was astonishing in No Phase True Monarch's eyes.
"So, you've already reached the Eightfold Spirit Realm." No Phase True Monarch couldn't hide the shocked look in his eyes. His gaze towards Pei Xuanjing resembled that towards a monster.
According to the news he received, wasn't Pei Xuanjing supposed to be in the seventh level of the Spirit Realm? How did he break through to the Eighth level of the Spirit Realm in such a short time?
A meticulous calculation revealed that Pei Xuanjing hadn't been cultivating for that long, or rather, it didn't seem like he was a hundred years old yet.
The Ninth Realm of Spirit, ascending one level was as difficult as reaching the heavens. This was a harsh reality for every cultivator. Even geniuses born into top-tier forces who were personally trained by the strongest of the Nine Realms of Spirit might not necessarily reach the Eightfold Spirit realm before they turn a hundred.
When he thought about this, he remembered that he had reached the Eightfold Spirit realm when he was over two hundred, and he was hailed as a genius among geniuses by countless people.
However, compared to Pei Xuanjing, his achievement seemed insignificant; it was like the difference between heaven and earth.
If No Phase True Monarch had known that Pei Xuanjing had already reached the Eightfold Spirit Realm, and especially that he did so before turning a hundred, he would've never come to see him today.
Although he wasn't afraid of the strongest of the Nine Realms of the Spirit, that was because he always knew he wouldn't get into bitter conflicts with them. He always left himself some leeway, which made him so free and easy today. But if he really provoked one of the strongest of the Nine Realms into hunting him down, he certainly wouldn't be having such a good time now.
To No Phase True Monarch, Pei Xuanjing, who had reached the Eightfold Spirit Realm before turning a hundred, would almost certainly reach the strongest of the Nine realms of Spirit in the future. So why did he seek trouble with such a promising future powerhouse?
Leaving aside the transformation ability they had been discussing, even if he won against Pei Xuanjing, what of it?
"My friend, since you have already made a breakthrough, you'll need some time to consolidate your realm. I was impertinent to visit today and have disturbed you. How about this, after some time has passed, I will come to congratulate you." The tone of No Phase True Monarch's voice changed somewhat.
Pei Xuanjing was taken aback, and somewhat surprised. He had prepared to act given No Phase True Monarch's aggressive stance just now, assuming that if he didn't intervene, it seemed today's matter wouldn't come to an end.
But, to his surprise, just as he revealed his Spirit Realm Eightfold strength, the No Phase True Monarch swiftly changed his demeanor, seemingly avoiding conflict. This left Pei Xuanjing momentarily at a loss.
His understanding of the No Phase True Monarch came mostly from the anecdotes of people in the Sky Wasteland, according to whom, he was not one to be easily placated.
If not for the unfeigned realm of the other's cultivation, he would have thought the True Monarch to be an imposter.
"Heh-heh." Pei Xuanjing merely smiled and looked at No Phase True Monarch, saying nothing.
At that moment, the figure of the Deer Elder appeared behind the No Phase True Monarch.
"Master?" The Deer Elder looked at the No Phase True Monarch standing against Pei Xuanjing, his gaze sweeping over to Pei Xuanjing. With just an order from his master, he would spring into action without hesitation.
The Deer Elder had been reading information in a room within the courtyard. Despite Pei Xuanjing having shared many details about this world with him, there were still many things he needed to understand on his own.
He had certainly noticed the appearance of the No Phase True Monarch, but he didn't pay much attention. From his perspective, his master was so powerful — having defeated many powerful beings of the sixth stage — and this was merely a cultivator equivalent to the mid-sixth stage, similar to his own cultivation. He deemed the situation unworthy of concern and didn't make any movements.
However, when the No Phase True Monarch released his momentum, the Deer Elder naturally responded. Even though he was sure his master was not afraid, he, being a subordinate, didn't think his master should need to act personally in this situation.
Thus, in the blink of an eye, the Deer Elder appeared here. Standing in front and behind the No Phase True Monarch respectfully with Pei Xuanjing, they juxtaposed him, exerting pressure from both sides.
"What? Another Spirit Realm Eightfold demon king appeared, calling him master!" No Phase True Monarch looked at Deer Elder who had appeared behind him, his heart pounded with shock.
He was already profoundly shocked by Pei Xuanjing, who was not even a hundred years old, and now another Spirit Realm Eightfold demon king had appeared.
What was even more astounding was that he had heard the demon king personally address Pei Xuanjing as his master.
Who exactly was he, who could actually subdue a Spirit Realm Eightfold demon king.
It's well known that most of the demons in the Sky Wasteland were untamed, the stronger the demon, the more so. They would not easily submit to the human race and would rather choose death instead of submission.
The demon kings who existed among the humans now were mostly demons they had raised since childhood. They were not at all similar to naturally occurring demon races.
"Did Pei Xuanjing suppress the news after his breakthrough and kept the Spirit Realm Eightfold demon king's existence secret, preparing some mischief, and this True Monarch has accidentally walked into a trap?" No Phase True Monarch speculated to himself.
Reviewing what he knew about Pei Xuanjing's history, he felt more and more that his inference should be correct.
This world is about to awaken, and Pei Xuanjing, no doubt, being the strongest in the ancestral land, will be the first to face many returning forces. So, even if he breaks through, he won't announce it, waiting for the opportunity to kill powerful individuals to establish his dominance.
"True Monarch, rest assured, as for today's incident, this regent has seen nothing and knows nothing. I absolutely won't leak any information," No Phase True Monarch said.
Although he had only came with an avatar, if possible, he'd prefer not to lose it.
After all, while it would be simple for him to re-form an avatar, a strong one like this isn't easy to create. It requires countless time and resources. In the coming Great World era, losing this avatar would be quite a loss for him.
Pei Xuanjing didn't know how much the No Phase True Monarch had speculated in such a short time. Seeing the other party's attitude, he signaled the Deer Elder not to make a move for the time being.
After all, he is not unreasonable. Though the other party intimidated with power, there was no intent to kill. Pei Xuanjing didn't necessarily want to kill him either.
More importantly, he could tell that the opposition was only an avatar. Killing the avatar alone would not eradicate the problem, and would undoubtedly create a troublesome enemy for him.
Moreover, if he killed No Phase True Monarch's avatar today, regardless of the reason, it would inevitably evoke a sense of rejection from many cultivators in the Sky Wasteland.
"I was in a hurry today and did not bring many things with me, so treat this as a gift of congratulations on your breakthrough." With a pained expression, No Phase True Monarch took out something.
Nine Orifices Divine Gold, which was a rare divine gold found in Sky Wasteland. However, the greatest use of this divine gold wasn't for refining magical objects, but for practising avatars, a premium item.
Under normal circumstances, No Phase True Monarch would never be willing to present this divine object and use it as a bribe for Pei Xuanjing in exchange for the opportunity to leave.
"Indeed, then I appreciate True Monarch's kindness." Pei Xuanjing smiled and accepted the divine gold without a fuss.
While he could summon avatars at any time through his spiritual consciousness and the power of the incense fire, he was clearly feeling that the avatar had restrictions. With the help of Nine Orifices Divine Gold, perhaps he could create a more powerful avatar that possessed greater combat power.
Seeing Pei Xuanjing accept the divine gold but still not letting him go, No Phase True Monarch gazed at him in confusion, wondering whether he intended to take both the goods and the person and then renounce the debt.
Just as he was preparing himself to have a do-or-die battle, he heard Pei Xuanjing suddenly laugh and say: "Actually, there is another matter that requires True Monarch's help."
The statement mildly eased No Phase True Monarch's apprehension. Something to discuss was better than nothing. Now, he was under siege and was at Pei Xuanjing's mercy. There was no alternative.
"Please, Master, say it." He had prepared himself to comply, provided the request was not too excessive.
Pei Xuanjing said, "True Monarch should have heard that I had previously mentioned to the many forces of Sky Wasteland that arrived: Spirit Realm cultivators must not fight against ordinary martial artists or the public. The fighting should avoid locations within the Human Clan city. I wonder what True Monarch's thoughts on this are?"
Since it had reached this point, Pei Xuanjing decided to go all the way and take this opportunity to pressure No Phase True Monarch into signing this restriction agreement.
However, the other party's response was beyond Pei Xuanjing's expectations.
Originally, Pei Xuanjing thought that this rule would not be so easily agreed upon by the No Phase True Monarch.
But to his surprise, upon hearing this, the latter laughed heartily: "What does His Majesty consider me to be? I completely agree with this rule and absolutely have no objections. I can sign it right now."
The No Phase True Monarch's unhesitating agreement caught Pei Xuanjing a bit off guard.
In fact, he still didn't fully understand the other party. Though they both were masters of first-rate powers, the affairs of Wuxiang Palace were determined solely by the No Phase True Monarch. He didn't care about these things at all. If it weren't for his own enjoyment and collection of resources, he would not have established the Wuxiang Palace.
So for these constraints, they might influence the thoughts of other people's disciples, but the No Phase True Monarch didn't need to consider at all.
However, for Pei Xuanjing, since the other party had accepted his request, his aim had been achieved. As long as the No Phase True Monarch signed, nothing else mattered, regardless of the reason behind his agreement.
Pei Xuanjing slowly extended his clean and slender palm, and the artifact originally used for reaching an agreement with Xue Renfang of the great Xue ancient country appeared in his hand again.
The Book of Covenant emitted a faint aura, unfolding gently towards the No Phase True Monarch, waiting for him to sign his true name.
"Please," Pei Xuanjing signified.
Without needing Pei Xuanjing to explain, the No Phase True Monarch was clear about the purpose of the Book of Covenant as soon as it appeared before him.
"Who'd have thought that you, National Teacher, are truly set on doing this." The No Phase True Monarch, while signing his true name, simultaneously sighed with emotion, "I do not care about these things, I don't have any disciples, so this constraint means nothing to me. But for some others, it is not the same, and I wonder if they will be willing to submit?"
Even though he was indifferent to this event, it didn't mean that the No Phase True Monarch didn't understand the difficulty and significance of what Pei Xuanjing was doing. He knew that such an event, for someone of his character, was of no consequence, but would other people be willing to bow their heads and accept this constraint?
If this National Teacher really has a firm resolve to proceed with this, then the resistance he will face in the future would be unimaginably strong. At least in the impression of the No Phase True Monarch, from the arrogant and untamed characters he knows, they're likely to be unwilling to accept such restrictions.
Even with their pride, they won't attack ordinary human race martial artists, but they wouldn't be willing to sign this either. Being restricted by others for no reason would, in some people's view, be blasphemous to the strong.
"Everything is done as best as one can!" Pei Xuanjing chuckled lightly, not explaining much more.
He was fully aware of how difficult the task he wanted to undertake was, and the amount of resistance he would encounter, regardless of what others said. But so what? Should some things not be done simply because they're difficult?
After storing the Book of Covenant, Pei Xuanjing said to the No Phase True Monarch: "I thank the True Monarch for today. But I have some matters to attend to, so I won't keep the True Monarch any longer."
"No need, I too have some matters to deal with, so I won't be a bother," The No Phase True Monarch quickly replied.
After he finished speaking, seeing Deer Elder clear the path, he left without hesitation, as if fleeing from the plague. Before one could take a breath, his presence could no longer be sensed.
"Master, are we really letting him go just like that?" Deer Elder, stepping forward, asked Pei Xuanjing.
Having become accustomed to life in the Sky Wasteland world, he was somewhat at a loss as to why his master let his opponent off so easily. After all, according to the rules of the Sky Wasteland world, one must seize the opportunity to detain such an enemy, to avoid any future calamities.
Pei Xuanjing laughed and said: "You don't understand, sometimes there is no need to put too much pressure on the opponent."
This No Phase True Monarch has dominated the Sky Wasteland for thousands of years, and definitely isn't just a big name. Despite seemingly yielding in front of him, it was simply a result of the No Phase True Monarch's estimation of their respective strengths. If he truly wanted to take the other's life, the other would not surrender and would definitely resist.
What's more, Pei Xuanjing wasn't the type to consider the world his enemy, like Long Aotian. Destroying a mere incarnation would not mean a thing, but would instead create an enemy for no reason and attract even more hostility and resentment.
After all, there were still many things he wanted to do in the future. He couldn't just bulldoze through everything with his own strength, which would be the worst option.
Deer Elder nodded and said no more, he was just expressing his own understanding. Since his master thought it was right, then it must be right.
Pei Xuanjing knew that Deer Elder meant well, and didn't add anything more. He then asked him: "How much have you understood about this world during this period? Are you familiar with this Heaven and Earth, do you still feel a sense of rejection when you make a move, and can you exert all your strength for a long time?"
For a strong character like Deer Elder, he naturally wouldn't let him stay idle in the Taoist Academy, as that would be a complete waste of talent. Particularly in the present situation, where having a cultivator of Spirit Realm Eightfold Level at his disposal would be exceptionally beneficial to his plans.
However, Deer Elder was a creature he had attracted from the Sky Wasteland world. Even though he paid ten million Taoyun value for the simulator to erase his origins, to this Heaven and Earth, Deer Elder was still an outsider, and an even more alien and remote one than those who returned from the Sky Wasteland world.
Therefore, while Deer Elder's strength seemed to signify that of the Spirit Realm Eightfold Level, in reality, he could only exert limited strength for a short duration. Once that duration exceeded a certain limit, he would attract the scrutiny of Heaven and Earth. If he couldn't conceal his aura, he would definitely be repelled and suppressed by Heaven and Earth.
Therefore, even though it appeared to be a two-on-one confrontation against the No Phase True Monarch, in truth, Deer Elder couldn't engage in combat for a prolonged period. Deer Elder was more of a bluff.
Of course, with Pei Xuanjing's strength, he alone was enough to suppress the other's incarnation, which prompted Deer Elder's inquiry. He wouldn't believe that it was because of him that his master held back.
Hearing his master's question, Deer Elder was silent for a moment, then shared his recent status: "I have come to understand some aspects of this world, at least not revealing anything in terms of language and habits."