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"It is truly meticulous and thorough, befitting of an empire that has been passed down for three thousand years."

Chapter 40: The Path of Soul Refinement in the Sacred Domain of Magic Lions

Although Tianwu Palace is called a "palace," it is actually more akin to an academy. Beyond the steles at the main entrance lie countless training grounds, several libraries, and some residences and dining halls. The entire complex is situated on a small mountain, while "Sage of Battle" Leimen's cultivation place is located in a separate courtyard behind the mountain.

As "Sage of Battle" Leimen's disciple, Catherine is well-known within Tianwu Palace. Before we even finished walking through the corridor, numerous students had already run out to watch us, forcing us to quicken our pace and head straight for Leimen's secluded residence, "Thousand Seas Ice Condensation Hermitage."

The area around "Thousand Seas Ice Condensation Hermitage" is strictly off-limits to ordinary students. This is because Leimen's martial arts are extraordinary, and his senses are highly attuned. Even without paying attention, he can detect any movement within a hundred feet, so he naturally dislikes being disturbed. Additionally, there are often sparring sessions in the hermitage, and if the energy from these clashes were to accidentally hit a student, it could result in serious injury. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is necessary to designate this area as a restricted zone.

As soon as we reached the gate, the tightly closed door opened automatically. The courtyard beyond was vast and essentially empty. The yard in front of us was about twenty feet wide and long, with clean white sand covering the ground. There was nothing else except for a simple wooden house made of unprocessed logs at the far end. The structure was plain and unadorned, with no distinguishing features other than its size.

What truly impressed me, however, was that there was not a single person in the courtyard, which meant that "Sage of Battle" Leimen himself had opened the door for us. Given Leimen's status as a renowned figure who has dominated for a century, it is unlikely that he would engage in the trivial act of running out to open the door and then pretending to be mysterious. Therefore, the only conclusion is that Leimen never left the house; he used his aura to open the door, and I did not sense any fluctuation in his aura.

My current feeling was one of awe. Since coming to this world, I have seen many powerful beings whose strength surpasses mine. However, their mastery of such power is far inferior to that of the supreme experts from my previous life. If my master or Zongyang Zhenren were here, even if their power only reached the level of a tenth-level Sword Hero, they could still easily manipulate any Sword Master except those who practice the "Emperor Martial Overlord Art." Their superiority stems from their unparalleled martial wisdom. Moreover, after yesterday's battle with Leopard Sword Master Biomo, my realm and cultivation have advanced further, making me somewhat dismissive of the world's other experts. Yet, now I realize that the unseen master in the wooden house has surpassed the level of the "Five Supremes" from my past life, reaching heights I never dreamed possible.

"Junior disciple Xuanfeng Blizzard Wolfe greets Senior Leimen," I said loudly as I walked towards the wooden house.

"The alliance's new generation always produces outstanding talents. It is an honor to meet you, young friend Xuanfeng," a gentle and deep voice echoed from the rustic wooden house, clear and resonant like the evening bell of an ancient temple, stirring the soul.

However, accompanying this voice was an overwhelming pressure, as if a million Kunlun mountains were pressing down upon me.

Despite the immense pressure, the sand beneath my feet remained unchanged, indicating that this pressure was purely spiritual. If I were a fool, I would feel nothing. If I were a great sage from my past life, I could see through everything and treat this pressure as a gentle breeze. Unfortunately, I am Chen Xuanfeng, burdened with countless sins and grudges, tainted by boundless ambition and slaughter. I cannot see through it all; I must face it head-on.

The twenty-foot courtyard now seemed more distant than when I fled from Jiangnan to the Mongolian desert with that thief woman Chaofeng. Each step felt like crossing a thousand mountains and rivers, each moment replaying my past and present lives. I knew that Leimen was testing my will with his spiritual cultivation. Only by overcoming myself and reaching him could I earn his respect and the right to converse with him as equals. Presumably, every young Sword Master who comes here undergoes the same trial.

I believe Leimen treats all visitors equally, exerting the same amount of force. My spiritual cultivation is much higher than that of my peers. Even Catherine's innate regal aura, amplified by the "Emperor Martial Overlord Art," falls short of mine. Furthermore, after yesterday's experience, my spirit became even more resilient and steadfast. However, unlike the young and ambitious Beastman Sword Masters, I carry a heavier mental burden. The sorrow of losing my family in my youth, the guilt of betraying my master, the struggle of slaughtering in the martial world, the resentment of dying in a foreign land, the terror of reincarnation, and the confusion of battling anew all surged into my mind, causing my spirit to waver and making me want to turn back and escape from these endless memories and torment.

Catherine followed me, watching as I stepped forward with sweat-soaked footprints towards the house where her master lived. Her eyes flickered with surprise, admiration, and concern. As Leimen's disciple, she had also undergone this spiritual test upon entering the hermitage. Typically, most visiting Sword Masters are immediately overwhelmed by the vast spiritual pressure and either flee or kneel. Such people are dismissed and must train elsewhere. Those who can stand firm at the gate under the pressure are accepted as nominal disciples and can seek guidance from Leimen but do not receive systematic training. Those who can take steps forward, regardless of how many, are admitted as formal disciples and inherit Leimen's martial philosophy and century-old essence. However, even those who can advance eventually collapse due to exhaustion. Sixty-three meters away, Qigefei only managed to walk eighteen meters a year ago, while Catherine herself reached thirty-seven meters. Only Samantha once walked all the way to the wooden house before collapsing, becoming the top disciple among them.