"You should not worry about this matter, arrangements have already been made," Xi Ying said.

"I understand," Yuan Ming replied, nodding, though a trace of unusual color flashed in his eyes.

"Is there anything else you want to ask? Why hesitate in front of me? Just ask directly," Xi Ying said, giving Yuan Ming a glance.

"With such a thorough understanding of the Wuyue Sect, could it be that you are also a member?" Yuan Ming gave a wry smile but did not hesitate further as he asked.

Upon hearing this, Xi Ying fell silent for a moment before saying, "If I said I am not, would you believe me?"

"I've heard that the Wuyue Sect is the origin of all Soul Cultivators on the Yunhuang Continent. Since I have embarked on the path of Soul Cultivation, naturally, I do not view the Wuyue Sect with the same hostility as the Central Plains Immortal Cultivation Sects. However, what exactly is your position within the Wuyue Sect? Knowing so many secrets, yet planning to kill a Venerable within the sect? This act is tantamount to betrayal. You should have considered the consequences, right?" Yuan Ming said, looking into Xi Ying's eyes.

A mysterious expression flashed in Xi Ying's eyes, and her lips, hidden under her veil, moved slightly as if she harbored some hesitation.

Just as she was about to speak her mind to Yuan Ming, the stele in the great hall suddenly cracked, and a beam of white light emerged, forming a light gate about ten feet tall and three feet wide in front of them.

"The ins and outs of the matter will be explained after killing the Six Desires Venerable. For now, let's focus on the task at hand," Xi Ying said.

Yuan Ming, knowing Xi Ying was not a person of impulsive actions, nodded and stepped forward to examine the situation, only to find that the white light gate was enveloped by a forbidden barrier, rendering him unable to touch or probe it with his Divine Sense.

At that moment, he suddenly recalled the Spirit Talisman given to him by the Shura Master, which had the ability to control some of the forbiddances within the Shura Palace. Perhaps it could also remove the forbiddance outside the light gate.

With this thought, he immediately communicated with the Spirit Talisman at his brow with his mind, attempting to unlock the forbiddance outside the light gate.

Meanwhile, behind him, Xi Ying quickly made a silly face at Yuan Ming, though her mood seemed much improved from before.

Engrossed in breaking the forbiddance, Yuan Ming did not notice Xi Ying's small gesture.

Soon, with his efforts, a crisp "bang" sounded, and the forbiddance outside the light gate dissipated into spirit light.

Seeing this, Yuan Ming was immediately overjoyed. He stepped forward, pushed open the light gate, and entered through it with Xi Ying.

Behind the light gate was another great hall, its structure very similar to the second and third layers of the Black Tower.

"Is this the Fourth Layer?"

Yuan Ming pondered with some doubt, looking around only to find no treasures but a blue stele standing in the center of the hall.

The stele, about five feet tall, had three ancient blood-red characters inscribed on it. Yuan Ming, who had been well-read even as a mortal and had studied ancient texts, recognized them immediately as "Shura Palace."

Although not runes, a shimmering spirit light subtly flickered over these characters, imbuing them with a touch of Spiritual Charm.

"What is this?" Yuan Ming curiously examined the stele, suddenly feeling a warmth in his brow as the blood-red Spirit Talisman on his forehead, resembling an eye, shone a beam of spirit light directly onto the stele.

"It seems this is the core of the Shura Palace's forbiddance, excellent. Before they return, you should quickly refine it. This will give us a greater advantage against the Six Desires," Xi Ying said with a flick of her finger on the stele, a white light emanating from her fingertip as her eyes brightened.

Upon hearing her words, Yuan Ming was momentarily startled, then nodded in agreement.

He immediately focused his mind on the Spirit Talisman on his brow. The light emanating from the talisman intensified and touched the forbiddance within the stele.

At that moment, Yuan Ming's vision blurred, and he found himself in a mysterious space.

This space was only about ten feet in size, surrounded by pure white in all directions, except for the direction Yuan Ming faced, where a painting hung. In it, a black-clad Shura Master was portrayed with his back to Yuan Ming, seemingly gazing at the tranquil sea before him.

Yuan Ming was observing the painting curiously when suddenly a warmth surged in his brow and a red light shot from the blood-colored Spirit Talisman, entering the painting in an instant.

Then, to Yuan Ming's surprise, the figure in the painting turned around and met his gaze.

"I didn't expect you to be the first to reach the Shura Stone Tablet. Did you manage to obtain the Shura Blood Devouring Map?" the Shura Master asked, scrutinizing Yuan Ming with a smile.

"I regret to disappoint you, Venerable. Although I have your bestowed Spirit Talisman, my limited abilities prevented me from securing the Shura Blood Devouring Map; it fell into the hands of another," Yuan Ming said with a wry smile.

"Who obtained this treasure?" the Shura Master asked, a slight movement in his brows.

"The Six Desires Venerable," Yuan Ming replied.

"So it's really him..." The expression on the Shura Master's face did not change much, and after a brief silence, he murmured to himself.

"Venerable, are you aware that the Six Desires Venerable has entered the Shura Palace?" Yuan Ming asked.

"Although he had switched bodies and his Mana was completely different from before, he couldn't hide the aura of his Divine Soul, which I naturally recognized," the Shura Master said.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Ming was on the verge of speaking but stopped himself.

"You want to ask why I didn't take the opportunity to kill the Six Desires Venerable during the test in the All Living Beings' Dream?" the Shura Master seemed to see through what Yuan Ming was thinking.

"Junior indeed has this doubt," Yuan Ming admitted honestly.

"There are two reasons. First, I am now only a Residual Soul, and even though I can control the prohibitions of the Shura Palace, I am still not powerful enough to kill the Six Desires Venerable," the Shura Master explained.

"What's the second reason?" Yuan Ming agreed and asked.

"The second reason is related to what I am about to discuss with you!" the Shura Master said.

Yuan Ming quietly waited for him to continue.

"You being the first to arrive here has already proven your fortunate opportunity, allowing you to take most of the treasures in the palace. However, to truly inherit the entirety of the Shura Palace, you need to prove your conviction and strength to me!" the Shura Master said, his expression growing stern.

"What does Senior mean?" Yuan Ming asked, puzzled.

"After I reached the Returning Void Stage, I explored the Overseas World many times. Though I ultimately lost my life because of it, my desire to explore the Overseas World did not diminish. If you wish to inherit the Shura Palace, you must vow here with your heart, that if you reach the Returning Void Stage, you will take it upon yourself to explore the Overseas World until death," the Shura Master declared.

Yuan Ming's eyes gleamed. The Shura Master's obsession with the Overseas World was profound and almost maddening.

Nevertheless, Yuan Ming himself was greatly interested in the Overseas World. The Spiritual Energy of the Yunhuang Continent was limited; even if the Shura Master made no such demand, he would still go to the Overseas to find new lands once he broke through to the Returning Void Stage.

"Junior Yuan Ming, with my heart, I vow…" Yuan Ming looked at the Shura Master, his gaze unwavering.

After listening to Yuan Ming's vow, the Shura Master nodded in satisfaction and spoke again, "As for proving your strength, you need to help me kill someone, and that person is the Six Desires Venerable!"

Yuan Ming was not surprised by this; the Six Desires Venerable was a great enemy of the Shura Master in life. Now inside the Shura Palace, the Shura Master naturally could not allow him to leave alive, while also testing the capabilities of his successor.

"The Six Desires Venerable took away the Shura Blood Devouring Map. Even if Senior did not demand it, I must retrieve this map!" he declared firmly.

"Very well, then let me explain carefully about the inheritance of the Shura Palace, which is mainly divided into three parts. The first is the Shura Blood Devouring Map, which needs to be retrieved from the Six Desires Venerable; the second is 'All Living Beings' Dream,' a Divine Skill I created using Overseas runes combined with a lifetime of study in Illusion Techniques, which has many marvelous uses; the third is this Shura Palace Mansion itself," the Shura Master explained.

Yuan Ming felt a surge of excitement upon hearing this.

He already knew of the wonders of the Shura Blood Devouring Map; he had also experienced the power of the All Living Beings' Dream Divine Skill during the previous trial, knowing if he could master this Divine Skill, he would possess a potent Illusion Technique.

As for the Shura Palace Mansion itself, with its vast area, possessing it would greatly benefit his future cultivation.

"How do you find this mansion?" the Shura Master asked.

"Senior's Shura Palace has opened my eyes. Such a simple mansion contains such vast internal space. Senior's expertise in Formation is truly admirable! It's a pity that I am not well-versed in the way of Formations; otherwise, I would learn this set of space-expanding Formation at any cost," Yuan Ming praised sincerely.

"Young friend, you flatter me. Creating a small space with the power of Formations is within my ability, but to open such a vast space is not something a Cultivator in the Returning Void Stage can achieve," the Shura Master said, shaking his head.

"Then how did such a vast space come to be within the Shura Palace?" Yuan Ming asked, surprised.

"The space of the Shura Palace was derived from an artifact, which I happened to come across on my third expedition overseas. It possesses the superpower to open up spaces, and I call it the Void Stone," the Shura Master said, raising his palm. A silver-white stone as large as a human head materialized as a phantom in his palm.

"This item appears ordinary, yet it can open up the void," Yuan Ming remarked in amazement, looking at the phantom of the silver stone.

"The Overseas World not only harbors dangers but also infinite treasures. Many parts of this Shura Palace are constructed from Overseas spiritual materials," the Shura Master explained.

Yuan Ming felt a slight stir in his heart upon hearing this.

The Shura Master explaining the situation of the Shura Palace was probably deliberately directing the conversation towards the Overseas to spark his desire to explore there.

"The Shura Stone Tablet contains all the prohibitions of the Immortal Mansion, and it is a unique method I refined which can only be refined using a special Sacrificial Refining Method. The secret technique is in the scroll that I am currently in. It's my final aid to you, after which whether or not you can kill the Six Desires Venerable and obtain the inheritance of the Shura Palace will depend on your methods," the Shura Master finished speaking. Suddenly, flames rose from the bottom of the scroll, quickly burning it into a void of Spirit Fog, which then immediately surged into Yuan Ming's Divine Soul, transforming into a mnemonic.

The next moment, Yuan Ming left the pure white space and returned outside the Stele.

Xi Ying was still in the same state as before, seemingly unaware of anything strange.

Yuan Ming composed himself; due to the urgency of time, he didn't reveal what had just happened to Xi Ying, silently reviewing the complicated refining secret technique that had appeared in his mind.

This refining method was much more complex than ordinary Sacrificial Refining Methods, but Yuan Ming's current cultivation and insight were unparalleled compared to before. He quickly grasped it and immediately began to refine the Stele.

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