It was a very ordinary face, not exactly handsome, but he possessed an air of profound compassion. Even if you threw him into a crowd, this quality would make him stand out and draw attention.

In his past life, Ning Jiang had seen all sorts of people: Venerables, Saints, Kings...

He knew that the simplest way to observe a person was to look at their disposition.

A person’s disposition is cultivated over time. Different personalities and different experiences forge different dispositions.

The disposition of the man before him could be described as unique among all the people Ning Jiang had ever met.

"I haven’t introduced myself yet. My name is Golden Cicada."

The young man named Golden Cicada smiled faintly, his eyes as clear and pure as a spring. "But I suppose no one knows my name anymore, do they?"

"Golden Cicada... that’s an interesting name. You’re not of the Human Race?"

Ning Jiang knew that some names didn’t just come from nowhere; they held a deeper meaning.

"You guessed correctly. I am indeed not of the Human Race. A thousand years ago, upon the Enlightenment Tree, I was a golden cicada. One day, I achieved enlightenment and took the name Golden Cicada."

Golden Cicada smiled, admitting it freely as he looked at Ning Jiang with curiosity. "And who might you be? I can’t see through you. You are very strange."

"Like you, I’m just an old relic," Ning Jiang said, flicking his fingernail. "But the past is like smoke. There’s nothing worth saying. What’s past is past."

Ning Jiang wasn’t surprised that Golden Cicada wasn’t of the Human Race.

The Great Thousand Realms were not a world inhabited only by humans. In this place, the Myriad Races coexisted. All sorts of races existed, with the Human Race and the Demon Race being the most numerous. Beyond them, there were countless others.

Like Yue Lianxi, for example...

"Yes, it’s all in the past. I wonder if any of my old friends are still alive?" Golden Cicada sighed, his voice tinged with sorrow and regret.

Compared to Ning Jiang, he lacked a certain state of great detachment.

Ning Jiang looked to the future and let go of the past. In comparison, he was far more free and unfettered.

"But enough of that. Let’s not dwell on it."

Golden Cicada stopped reminiscing and a smile returned to his face. "I am very happy that you were able to pass the ninth trial. At least it proves that I am not alone. Even though I have already fallen, there are still kindred spirits like you."

Like Ning Jiang, he too had passed the trials of the Profound Celestial Ancient Hall. This showed that the two of them were like-minded.

"The path of Martial Arts is a long and arduous one. On this path, kindred spirits are as rare as pearls in the sea or stars at dawn—truly hard to come by."

Ning Jiang deeply agreed. In his previous life, he hadn’t had many friends either, only a handful.

"A pity that I am merely a remnant soul now. Otherwise, I would surely drink a thousand cups with you," Golden Cicada laughed. He was delighted to find a kindred spirit; Ning Jiang was very much to his liking.

"If our hearts are close, no wine is needed for joy," Ning Jiang said.

"Hahaha, well said! You truly are a fascinating person." Golden Cicada grew even more pleased.

After chatting for a while, Golden Cicada’s tone shifted. "Ning Jiang, although you have now inherited the Profound Celestial Ancient Land, I know you must have some questions. Ask whatever you wish. As long as I know the answer, I will tell you without reservation."

Ning Jiang nodded. It was time to get down to business. He cut straight to the point, "What is the significance of being the master of the Profound Celestial Ancient Land?"

"This Ancient Land only opens once every so often. But as its master, you can enter and exit as you please. Everything that exists here belongs to you."

Golden Cicada said slowly, but he knew this wasn’t what Ning Jiang was asking about when he inquired about its significance.

"However, in possessing all of this, you will also shoulder a great responsibility." Golden Cicada’s voice grew solemn.

"Tell me about it," Ning Jiang said, his expression calm.

He had long suspected that becoming the master of the Profound Celestial Ancient Land wouldn’t be so simple. The nine trials, such a rigorous selection process—there had to be a reason for it all.

"The Ancient Forbidden Area!" Golden Cicada uttered three words.

A strange look appeared in Ning Jiang’s eyes. This wasn’t the first time he had heard of the Ancient Forbidden Area. The last time was from Yue Wenfu.

Yue Lianxi had been discovered in the Ancient Forbidden Area.

It was a famous forbidden land in the Six Eastern Provinces. Even Celestial Martial Realm Kings dared not venture deep inside, treating it with extreme apprehension.

"What’s in there?"

"With your current strength, it is still a bit too early for you to know these things. However, I know you are different from the rest, so there’s no harm in telling you."

...

「Outside the Ancient Hall.」

"That Ning Jiang still hasn’t come out. Did he succeed or not?"

"The eighth and ninth trials have always been hidden. They must be as difficult as ascending to the heavens. I doubt his chances of success are high."

"Exactly. Didn’t Mo Qianyu of the Evil Spirit Sect pass the seventh trial? But after she came out, she never mentioned anything about the next two trials. She must have failed, which is why she kept quiet."

"Right. If even Mo Qianyu couldn’t do it, I refuse to believe some guy from Qing Province can succeed."

The crowd from Lei Province chattered amongst themselves. They had always held Qing Province firmly beneath them, and its younger generation was far inferior to their own.

But this time, a person named Ning Jiang had appeared and suppressed them all, which left a bitter taste in their mouths.

"Hmph. Regardless of whether the Ninth Elder succeeds, he still passed the seventh trial. Compared to him, you’re all just failures. What right do you have to gossip about the Ninth Elder?"

Zi Yunfei had a fiery personality. Hearing the chorus of pessimistic voices from Lei Province, she couldn’t help but let out a cold snort.

"What did you say?" Immediately, resentful gazes shot toward Zi Yunfei.

"What? You want to use your numbers to bully the few while the Ninth Elder is away?" Zi Yunfei’s expression hardened.

"So what if we do?" Just then, a cold voice rang out, thick with killing intent.

It was Xu Chen, one of the titans of the Evil Spirit Sect. His gaze was icy. "Your Yanyue Sect’s Ning Jiang dared to kill my Evil Spirit Sect’s Hu Hao. Did you think we would just let this go?"

"What do you want?" Upon seeing the Evil Spirit Sect, everyone’s expressions changed.

This was a Top Grade Sect, the overlord of Lei Province, and far beyond what their Yanyue Sect could hope to oppose.

Even if the Yanyue Sect had the great banner of Meng Daoyi to fly, Meng Daoyi’s strength was at the Earth Martial Realm at best. How could they possibly contend with the Evil Spirit Sect, which had Heaven-Reaching Realm experts?

"It’s simple. A debt of blood must be paid in blood. Anyone who dares kill a member of my Evil Spirit Sect can only atone with their life. And even you lot won’t escape death."

A savage grin spread across Xu Chen’s face as he glanced at the surrounding Sects. "Your lives will serve to let everyone know that my Evil Spirit Sect is not to be trifled with!"

This was a show of force—killing the chicken to scare the monkey.

A great genius disciple from a dignified Top Grade Sect had been killed. If they didn’t respond, who would ever take the Evil Spirit Sect seriously again?

As a Top Grade Sect, they had the dignity of a Top Grade Sect to uphold.

Madman Tu stood to the side without a word, but a murderous intent churned in his eyes.

If it weren’t for Ning Jiang, he would have been the one to pass the seventh trial. It could be said that Ning Jiang had blocked his great opportunity.

How could he not seek revenge for such a deep-seated hatred?

Besides, the last time Mo Qianyu came out, she had obtained a Divine Spirit Flower. With that flower, she broke through to the Primordial Spirit Fourth Tribulation Realm in one go, becoming one of the monsters of the Six Eastern Provinces.

He figured that since Ning Jiang had passed the seventh trial, he must have also obtained a Divine Spirit Flower. Madman Tu was determined to get his hands on it.

"Move out! Seize them!"

At Xu Chen’s command, the experts from the Evil Spirit Sect immediately surrounded them.

"You dare!"

Li Kuangba and Liu Bingxue’s expressions changed. They stood by the Yanyue Sect’s side, ready to fight.

Confronting the Evil Spirit Sect was not wise, but inside the Profound Celestial Ancient Land, Ning Jiang had helped them all immensely. They were not ungrateful curs who would forget his kindness.

"If the War Elephant Sect and Floating Snow Hall dare to oppose us, then sentence them all to death! Leave no one alive! Kill them all!" Madman Tu’s eyes snapped open as he took a step forward.

BOOM!

A tyrannical aura erupted from his body, instantly causing everyone’s faces to turn pale.

CREAK.

Just then, the door opened!