Shen Mo chuckled softly but did not speak.

The old and the young both fell into silence.

After a while, Ji Ping finally spoke, “Little friend, once Gu Ming exits seclusion, his strength will undoubtedly advance further. How do you plan to deal with him then?”

Shen Mo smiled. “Simple—I’ll just be stronger than him.”

Ji Ping was momentarily taken aback before letting out a laugh. “Indeed, that is simple. But I fear it won’t be easy.”

“However…” His gaze scrutinized Shen Mo before he continued, “You also cultivate both spirit and blood energy. Perhaps you truly can surpass Gu Ming.”

Shen Mo was not surprised that Ji Ping saw through his dual cultivation of spiritual and blood energy.

After all, Ji Ping was a Sword Sovereign, a peak Divine Transformation cultivator.

If he couldn’t even discern that much, his reputation would have been undeserved.

“I, too, was once ambitious in my youth. I practiced blood energy techniques, only to later realize I wasn’t suited for them.”

“My blood energy realm even ended up hindering my spiritual cultivation. In the end, I abandoned those techniques and focused solely on spiritual power.”

Ji Ping sighed lightly, his eyes tinged with nostalgia, as if recalling his younger days of ambition and recklessness.

“I have something here, a gift from Ji Wu.” Ji Ping reached into his robe and retrieved a blood-colored crystal. “I’m old now, and I have no need to waste such a treasure.”

He pushed the blood-colored crystal toward Shen Mo.

Shen Mo was slightly surprised.

Ji Wu—the current Emperor of Jing.

With just one glance, Shen Mo’s eyes lit up.

Even though he had foreseen this treasure in a recent fortuitous encounter, seeing it in person now, he still felt an overwhelming surge of blood energy radiating from it.

Ji Ping smiled. “This is a Qingluan Blood Essence. In life, it had reached the seventh tier, equivalent to the Divine Palace Realm in human cultivation.”

“The Qingluan is a descendant of the Phoenix. However, all Qingluan in this world have already been exterminated.”

“This piece of Qingluan Blood Essence should be enough to push your blood energy cultivation to the next level.”

Shen Mo did not immediately accept it. Instead, he looked at Ji Ping. “Senior, what is your request?”

Ji Ping laughed. “You truly are a smart one.”

Then, his tone turned serious.

“For decades, I have traveled across the Eight Sects of the Nine Provinces, secretly observing the rising talents of each region.”

“Some possess unparalleled talent but are arrogant and overambitious.”

“Some remained obscure for years, only to bloom into greatness after decades.”

“Some are blessed with extraordinary aptitude but lack moral character.”

“Among countless geniuses, you have grown the fastest.”

“You are blessed with great fortune, surrounded by opportunities, and possess unwavering determination.”

“As long as nothing unexpected happens, your spiritual cultivation will surely reach the peak of the Divine Transformation Realm, and your blood energy cultivation will ascend to the Golden Summit Monarch level.”

Ji Ping spoke solemnly. “When the day comes that your power shakes the world, I hope you will not eradicate the royal bloodline.”

He let out a bitter laugh. “No matter what happens, my surname is Ji. I do not wish for the Ji bloodline to be severed.”

Shen Mo was somewhat surprised.

Ji Ping’s foresight was far-reaching.

Clearly, he was using this Qingluan Blood Essence to secure Shen Mo’s goodwill in advance.

Moreover, his request was surprisingly lenient.

He did not ask Shen Mo to serve the imperial court or pledge loyalty to the royal family.

He merely hoped that, in the future, Shen Mo would spare the Ji bloodline from complete annihilation.

Shen Mo remained silent, not agreeing immediately.

Ji Ping sighed after a moment and added, “As part of this exchange, I can also share something else with you.”

“This matter is even more important—it concerns a great secret of this world.”

Shen Mo pondered. “Senior, give me a few key terms first, and then I’ll decide whether I want to hear more.”

Ji Ping couldn’t help but laugh. “Alright.”

His expression turned solemn. “I will say only one term.”

He enunciated each word carefully.

“Suppressing Demon Sea.”

Shen Mo’s heart trembled. “Fine. I accept your condition.”

Ji Ping let out a long breath and smiled in relief.

He knew his time was running out—his lifespan was nearing its end.

He also knew that Shen Mo’s potential was limitless.

In the future, Shen Mo would undoubtedly become someone of his caliber—perhaps even surpass him.

Trading a Qingluan Blood Essence and a piece of intelligence for Shen Mo’s promise? He did not consider that a loss.

Ji Ping spoke slowly, “Do you know why humans have no Divine Palace Realm cultivators, and why the demon race has no Demon Sovereigns above the monarch level?”

Shen Mo’s eyebrows twitched.

This question had long been on Shen Mo’s mind.

Clearly, the Divine Palace Realm existed, yet throughout the vast Jing Kingdom and the entire continent, there was not a single Divine Palace Realm cultivator.

It was too strange.

The same was true for the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.

It was as if an invisible boundary separated the Divine Palace Realm from the Divine Transformation Realm.

During his spare time, Shen Mo would read various books.

With his current cultivation, he could skim through ten lines at a glance—hundreds if he wished.

Yet, despite reading countless books, he had never found any records regarding this mystery.

All cultivators who had reached the Divine Palace Realm, all demon monarchs who had ascended beyond their level, seemed to have vanished the moment they stepped into that realm. Not even the faintest trace of their existence remained.

Ji Ping spoke in a low voice. “Because of the Suppressing Demon Sea.”

“Demons are the common enemies of both humans and monsters. Any human who ascends to the Divine Palace Realm and any monster who advances to the Demon Sovereign Realm is immediately summoned by the will of the Heavenly Dao and sent to the Suppressing Demon Sea to suppress the Demon Race.”

Shen Mo’s eyes widened slightly.

So that’s the truth!

“When a Nascent Soul cultivator emerges in a regional sect, they are usually summoned by their sect and required to join it.”

“But that is not mandatory—there are many Nascent Soul rogue cultivators who live freely outside the sects.”

“But the summons of the Heavenly Dao are different.”

Ji Ping continued, “If one refuses, they are erased on the spot—without reason, without negotiation.”

“What’s even more terrifying is that even if one is killed, the summons still take effect.”

Shen Mo was startled. “How can someone be summoned after death?”

Ji Ping let out a bitter laugh. “Even if a Divine Palace Realm cultivator dies physically, their primordial spirit remains intact. The summons will take their primordial spirit and reconstruct a body in the Suppressing Demon Sea.”

“Demon Sovereigns, even if slain, can be reborn from a drop of blood. They are simply sent to the Suppressing Demon Sea, where they are resurrected with overwhelming force.”

Shen Mo felt a chill run down his spine.

Not even death could escape the will of the Heavenly Dao!

“How did you learn of this, Senior?” Shen Mo asked.

Ji Ping tapped his temple. “Our Ji royal family has always carried this knowledge in our minds, passed down through generations.”

“This memory is entrusted only to the strongest cultivator of each generation.”

“No written record is allowed to exist—because it cannot be written down.”

Ji Ping lowered his voice. “Monsters are the byproduct of forbidden experiments by demons, so they are closer to demons than humans.”

Shen Mo nodded firmly. “Understood. Thank you, Senior.”

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Madara Web Novel