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--- Chapter 279 ---
Murong Yun stepped back and smiled. "Now that you have completed your first task with flying colors, I will keep my word and give you the precious reward."
"Something beyond this world," she added, turning around and walking away. "Follow me, after all, this also concerns the rise of the Misty Mountain Sect."
Han Yuan couldn't help but roll his eyes at Murong's antics, 'This woman is trying too hard to be mysterious...' but still followed her anyway. Since he had already accepted the terms and conditions, there was no use regretting it now.
Then, as Han Yuan followed Murong Yun into another landscape within the secret realm, he noticed that, unlike the sunny meadow they had just left, this place was slightly dimmer, with a hint of seawater flooding the land. He glanced up at the sky and saw that the clouds had darkened, flickering with lightning. A drizzle began to fall.
A faint Dou Qi wrapped around Han Yuan's body like a protective cloak. Since Murong Yun was a soul, she was unaffected by the weather and led Han Yuan to a rock—or rather, a giant bone.
The bone was jade green, smooth and beautiful, yet it possessed a certain metallic quality. It emanated a terrifying aura, an aura that could decimate anything in its presence.
"What is this bone?" Han Yuan asked. Although he could use the Eyes of Truth, he opted to ask Murong Yun for additional information for comparison later.
Murong Yun traced her finger along the surface of the giant jade bone and replied, "I don't know."
"What?" Han Yuan was speechless.
Murong Yun giggled, "Haha, your face is funny. I was teasing you."
"..." Han Yuan.
"This bone was one of the inheritances left behind by my Ancient Murong Clan. My ancestor said this bone came from a creature of another world—one that is near our Dou Qi Continent." Murong Yun winked at him.
"But when I say 'near,' the truth is that the world is infinitely far away from us. The fabric of space and time separates us, and it is impossible to breach this barrier unless one achieves the rank of Dou God."
"The record left by my ancestor states that reaching Dou God is the most difficult requirement to 'break the world' barrier."
"Break the world," Han Yuan muttered, staring at the giant jade bone in amazement. "That's interesting."
"Then how did this bone end up on our Dou Qi Continent?"
Murong Yun wore a smug expression. "That's mostly due to luck! My clan accidentally discovered a lost small plane and obtained this bone from the ruins."
"It took us many years to uncover the secret of this bone; within it is a collection of otherworldly techniques. Some are cultivable, while others are not."
"But that's not all..."
"If one cultivates within the perimeter of this bone, they can temper their soul and spirit, although the effect diminishes once one surpasses the mortal-level Soul Force."
"Soul Force, I see. So that's why the Misty Mountain Sect and the Ancient Murong Clan specialize in barrier-making," Han Yuan concluded, nodding in understanding. "Is this also the reason why your clan became the Ancient Murong Clan back then, um, teacher?"
Murong Yun smiled at his comment. "You're really good at connecting the dots, huh? Yes, this bone is the reason for our rise. But my clan didn't only focus on barrier-making because we also mastered the arts of alchemy, weapon refining, and other traditional arts."
"Some tea ceremony, calligraphy, stuff."
"Too bad that due to decisions made by some old geezers, all of that has gone to waste. Our clan is relatively peaceful compared to other Ancient Clans, but some people just don't know when to stop and end up gambling everything on one thing."
"I mean, who does that? Who puts all their eggs in one basket?!" Murong Yun swings her fist in annoyance. "They were asking for it, basically!"
"Uh..." Han Yuan thought it strange how this woman's temperament shifted so quickly. One moment, she was smug, and the next, she was cursing her own ancestors.
Murong Yun frowned and gazed at Han Yuan, "Are you thinking of rude things about me?"
"No..." Han Yuan flatly denied her accusation.
"Hmph, men are all dishonest." Murong Yun snorted at him, continuing her explanation. "Also, this inheritance bone is called Holy Jade Cosmos Bone because the otherworldly techniques inside are shaped like stars, and only by grabbing it with comprehension talent can one get it."
"Just like the golden monument in the Misty Sword Pavilion?" Han Yuan raised his eyebrow.
"Mm, I made that monument based on this bone," Murong Yun answered casually. "At first, I was planning to screen talents for the Outer Disciple of Misty Mountain Sect, but I was too lazy and never recruited any disciples on my own."
"But that's not the point. My ancestors have at least extracted 99.9% of Holy Jade Cosmos Bone's techniques, but we always believe there is more to it."
"I confirmed this when I reached the Heavenly State. There is indeed a gap in the center of the cosmos."
"Unfortunately, I can't enter that place."
"So you're making me do it instead?" Han Yuan narrowed his eyes. "That is irresponsible..."
Murong Yun flicked Han Yuan's forehead, "Have some respect for your teacher, can't you?"
Thud!
'Damn, no wonder you've been single since birth.' Han Yuan rubbed his forehead and then murmured inwardly.
Pa!
Murong Yun smacked Han Yuan's forehead this time, which made him wince in pain. "What was that for?" He asked in disbelief.
"Hmph, I just felt you were thinking rude things about me again." Murong Yun accused him. "Anyway, stop yapping and meditate near the Holy Jade Cosmos Bone already."
"Yes, yes, I'll listen to you..." Han Yuan helplessly sat down and started meditating under Murong Yun's instruction. The Holy Jade Cosmos Bone shone dimly, and then Han Yuan's consciousness entered it.
Murong Yun's voice echoed, "No matter what happened, I want you to keep going."
"Don't ever think to stop or give up, just push forward, okay?"
"Understood." Han Yuan replied as he drove his consciousness further into the Holy Jade Cosmos Bone's inner space. Everything is black and white, blurry.
What he didn't know was that Murong Yun was clearing every obstacle for him, paving a path to enter the mysterious space within the Holy Jade Cosmos Bone.
"Oh, boy, this is exhausting... I want to quit already." Murong Yun wiped non-existent sweat from her forehead. She bragged that she had sensed the gap in the Holy Jade Cosmos Bone, but the truth is, it was only a glimpse.
She actually paid more than she calculated, weakening her soul greatly to open the path for her recently accepted disciple. She at least needs to sleep for a year or two to recover from this loss.
"But it is worth it." She smiled, gazing at Han Yuan, who meditated calmly on the ground.
---
Han Yuan opened his eyes, getting up from a cold desert. He gazed at his surroundings and discovered there was nothing but boundless sand here; no, the sky is also weird, adorned with three suns.
"After three million years, has someone worthy touched upon my pitiful little inheritance?" A deep voice sighed.
Han Yuan's mouth twitched, 'No way, two in a damned row!'
"Child, don't be afraid. I mean no harm..." The voice tried to calm Han Yuan's agitated mood.
A beautiful beast landed before Han Yuan. Surprisingly, it was a giant three-eyed fox with lustrous white-gold furs, nine tails, and a serene presence.
If any of the spirit beasts from Douluo Dalu were present here, they would have recognized the aura of the Auspicious Beast from this nine-tailed fox.
No, in fact, Han Yuan already knew thanks to his Eyes of Truth.
"You're... Divine Beast?" Han Yuan said in awe.