The so-called Ancient Battlefield of Meditation was in fact a mysterious realm that had existed for an unknown number of years, at the very least, it dated back to the ancient era, lasting over ten thousand years.
As the name implied, this mysterious realm was an immense battlefield that recorded past wars.
However, what constituted this mysterious realm was not just a single battlefield, but rather a war-torn domain formed by countless battlefield phantasmagorias, endlessly reappearing and intertwined.
The origin of this realm remained unknown to this day, but it was universally acknowledged that its source was by no means a mere relic of ancient times.
Because even battles between ancient Saints were recorded within this mysterious realm!
This was precisely why the Martial Sage had entered the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation to undergo closed-door cultivation and had not emerged since. His aim was to observe the battlefields of the ancient Saints and attempt to gain insight toward ascending to the Celestial Vastness Realm.
However, judging from the current situation, given that he was about to emerge from seclusion and had yet to show any signs of a breakthrough, the results of his meditation seemed far from ideal.
The Ancient Battlefield of Meditation opened once every five hundred years, and each time it remained accessible for only three months.
During those three months, it was only in the final seven days or so that the battlefield illusions would drop to their weakest level, generally stabilizing around mid-third grade intensity.
Before that period, the battlefields alternated unpredictably and were highly unstable, sometimes even containing Saint-level battlefields.
Thus, all sects and powers of Cangyuan had agreed that prior to the final seven days, any Saints with needs could negotiate among themselves to enter as they wished.
But during the final seven days, the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation was directly treated as a training ground for the various sects' disciples, and no outsiders were allowed to interfere.
As for the formation used to open the secret realm, it required the combined effort of multiple participating factions to activate.
As for why it was so coincidental that these particular factions were required, well, one might as well ask where a sealing formation in a wild secret realm even came from in the first place...
The Ancient Battlefield of Meditation had originally been completely open, without any seal whatsoever, simply awaiting a fated person to enter. It was only later that a few factions collaborated to lay down a Heaven-Earth Art Array, essentially claiming the battlefield as their own.
From then on, the entry quotas for the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation were "held in the hands" of just a few major sects and powers.
Upon realizing this, Chen Kuang immediately understood Zhang Zhizhou's meaning.
As the senior disciple of Liberty Mountain, Zhang Zhizhou would undoubtedly have a spot.
All Zhang Zhizhou needed to do was transfer his spot to Chen Kuang and allow him to enter the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation as a disciple of Liberty Mountain.
Then, once the Martial Sage exited seclusion the next day, he would have already missed the chance to re-enter the battlefield and would not be able to go back in!
Unless he was willing to break the jointly established rules and make enemies of every sect and power involved.
Even someone as straightforward as Mu Zhao would have to think twice about such a move...
It had to be said, Zhang Zhizhou's move here was a flawless application of existing rules, embodying perfection itself. He was the slyest of sly old foxes.
When he was not acting insane or speaking in riddles, he was indeed worthy of the title "Senior Disciple of Liberty Mountain".
This was also currently the best available option.
The only problem was, once Chen Kuang came out of the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation seven days later, he would likely be facing a heaven-spanning net of pursuit and extermination.
But for Chen Kuang, seven days was more than enough for his strength to undergo a world-shaking transformation.
More importantly, during that time, the battlefield would gather the backbones and elite talents of all the major powers in Cangyuan. At that point, the variables would multiply, and Chen Kuang would have far more room to maneuver.
Seeing the change in Chen Kuang's expression, Zhang Zhizhou said, "It seems you've already figured it out."
Chen Kuang nodded and said in a low voice, "However, this Ancient Battlefield of Meditation must also offer considerable benefits to you. It only opens once every five hundred years. Are you really going to give it up so easily?"
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head and replied, "Realm advancement has never been my pursuit. I have other matters to tend to right now. I don't have time to go."
With a casual flick of his sleeve, he added, "Besides, it's just five hundred years. It's not like this is the only chance."
Chen Kuang was momentarily speechless. He had grown accustomed to racing against time and still had not adjusted to a cultivator's concept of time.
In theory, the Sea-Cleaving Realm already granted an increased lifespan of eight hundred years. Upon reaching the Master Realm, one's lifespan extended to two thousand years.
As for Saints, three thousand.
Five hundred years, while not quite as fleeting as a snap of the fingers, was certainly not out of reach.
Still, Chen Kuang said, "To occupy a place that is not mine weighs heavily on my conscience. If Senior Brother Zhang ever needs my help in the future, I will not refuse."
Since he was going to make use of Liberty Mountain's quota, Chen Kuang thickened his skin and climbed the ladder, calling him "Senior Brother" to get closer.
After all, among cultivators, it was a common courtesy for those of lower cultivation to refer to stronger ones as "Senior Brother" or "Senior Sister" out of respect and familiarity, even if they were not from the same sect.
Zhang Zhizhou shook his head. "That's not necessary. This matter still requires the Master's judgment. If you truly feel grateful, just thank the Master in person."
The Master? In person?
Chen Kuang froze. "How?"
Zhang Zhizhou pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve, folded into the shape of a tiny person, and placed it on the floor of the ruined temple.
He blew on it, and the paper doll immediately stood up, glancing left and right, then clasped its hands behind its back and looked up at Zhang Zhizhou.
"Zhang Zhizhou? It's rare to see you come looking for me. Speak, what is it this time, did you steal someone's Vermilion Bird, or kidnap someone's pet Sky-Swallowing Toad?"
The doll's voice was squelchy and distorted, like a rubber duck being squeezed.
It didn't sound anything like the famed Master who stood at the pinnacle of scholarship, but rather like a nagging old man from a common household.
Chen Kuang looked at Zhang Zhizhou with a strange expression.
Was there seriously no way to adjust the voice output of this technique?
There had to be.
He suspected this Senior Brother was deliberately tarnishing his own Master's image, though he had no proof.
Meanwhile, Su Huaiying's expression grew even stranger.
So, the "chicken" that Zhang Zhizhou had once brought to assist him was actually a Vermilion Bird, and the "toad" was a Sky-Swallowing Toad...
In that case, perhaps this man wasn't quite as crazy as he seemed.
These beasts, if they lived long enough, could very well develop intelligence and become demons.
If that happened, them assisting a monarch wouldn't be entirely impossible either?
Zhang Zhizhou crouched down and looked solemnly at the little paper man. "It wasn't stealing."
"Taking without asking is stealing. I reasoned with them, moved them with emotion. I spent three hours telling them of my grand ambitions until they were convinced and voluntarily gave me the beasts."
The Master: "..."
The paper doll searched the ground for a while, found a broken twig, weighed it in its hand, and took a few steps forward.
Then, with a sudden leap, it smacked Zhang Zhizhou's knee with the stick.
With an angry shout, it said, "You're right, it wasn't stealing, it was robbing!"
Zhang Zhizhou sucked in a breath and quickly jumped back. "How is that robbery? They gave them to me willingly!"
The paper figurine said, "Voluntarily? Then I'll have you 'voluntarily' run two laps around this rundown temple!"
Chen Kuang stood there, watching Zhang Zhizhou get chased around the temple twice by a paper doll not even the size of a palm.
In the end, it was the paper doll who got too tired to continue. Panting heavily, it leaned on its little wooden stick and gave up the chase.
Zhang Zhizhou patted the paper doll's back with a finger to help it catch its breath, grinning as he said, "Master is getting on in years, best not get so worked up. Next time I absolutely won't steal, no, snatch other people's things again."
The master gave a cold snort, clearly not believing a single word.
Chen Kuang's expression was subtle. With Zhang Zhizhou's "crazy" personality, where even sincere persuasion was wasted, he was basically the most troublesome kind of problem child.
And yet he just had to be the senior disciple of Liberty Mountain...
While the master rested, Zhang Zhizhou explained the general situation and asked, "Master, what do you think?"
The paper figurine looked at Chen Kuang, scrutinizing him up and down for quite some time before finally saying:
"Permissible."
There was no expression on the figurine's face, and Chen Kuang couldn't sense what sort of attitude the master had toward him.
But since it was an approval, Chen Kuang immediately copied the formal etiquette he had observed before and bowed deeply, with genuine sincerity and utmost respect:
"Many thanks for your gracious consent, Master!"
This truly counted as a lifesaving favor, and Chen Kuang was naturally deeply grateful.
But just then, the paper figurine walked up to him and said,
"You're quite good."
"Those poems you've composed recently, I heard them all. It's just a shame you do not cultivate the Talent Aura, or I would've been willing to teach you myself."
Chen Kuang's pupils contracted. Heard them?
The master was currently at Liberty Mountain, at the northernmost point of the Yang Kingdom.
Chen Kuang had composed those verses along the way, most of which were only heard by himself and his enemies, who were usually dead by the time the verses ended.
As a result, these timeless masterpieces hadn't really spread at all.
Yet the master said he had heard them!
Chen Kuang thought to himself, could it be that all the literary expression in the world, the master could hear?
This Divine Ability was too absurd... it bordered on the Dao!
Not just a Domain of the Dao, but truly a law of heaven and earth!
Chen Kuang didn't know what exactly a "Martial Saint's" cultivation entailed, but at this moment, he was certain that the master's level was definitely above that of the Martial Saint.
He shamelessly said, "It's not too late to teach me now, is it?"
The master seemed to glance at Zhang Zhizhou and said regretfully, "A gentleman does not take what another cherishes. I was late arriving, otherwise, I truly might've had some fate with you."
Chen Kuang was stunned, then realized the master must be referring to Xi Mengquan.
He couldn't help feeling resentful. That old rascal, he only taught Chen Kuang some superficial tricks and then branded him with a mark, causing others to automatically assume he was Xi Mengquan's disciple.
Holding the seat and not doing the job, utterly disgraceful!
So despicable!
The master chuckled again and said,
"However, if you are truly sincere, once you emerge from the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation, could you gift me a poem? That would suffice to please me."
Chen Kuang nodded immediately:
"Of course!"
The master raised his hand and stroked an imaginary beard in midair, nodding with satisfaction. Then the paper figurine drifted downward and flattened, returning to its original form as a sheet of paper.
Zhang Zhizhou said, "Alright. Since Master has agreed, it's settled."
He then took out a white cloth and handed it to Chen Kuang.
As Chen Kuang received it, he heard Zhang Zhizhou say,
"When the time comes, tie this cloth around your wrist. It will naturally take you to the location of the Ancient Battlefield of Meditation. From there, you'll have to adapt on your own."
Chen Kuang nodded, then couldn't help but ask:
"Is the master a Sage?"
This question was technically meaningless. Anyone familiar with Liberty Mountain's strength would naturally assume the master was in the Daoist Shore Realm.
But Zhang Zhizhou shook his head:
"Master has no cultivation."
Chen Kuang was shocked: "No cultivation?"
Zhang Zhizhou said, "Not even a shred."
"He doesn't stay inside Liberty Mountain to live in seclusion, it's because he has too many enemies. We disciples have to protect him."
Chen Kuang: "..."
"Then how does he teach you all?"
Zhang Zhizhou countered, "Does teaching require cultivation? Then again, perhaps one day when the master leaves the mountain, he might suddenly have cultivation. Who knows?"
Chen Kuang gave up questioning. This was probably another enormous secret, something one could not comprehend unless they reached that level.
What he should be worried about now was his own life.
Chen Kuang turned to Su Huaiying and asked,
"Where do you plan to go next, Your Highness?"
"No need to worry," Su Huaiying replied simply.
"I'll return to Liangguo first. Now that I have the Reversal Bell, I at least have some means of self-preservation, but I still need to raise my cultivation. Moreover, Liangguo's Soil True Officials can act as my support."
She added in a soft voice:
"National Destiny is important, but the Dragon Vein must also be preserved. If the Dragon Vein is suppressed and Liangguo's geomantic pattern is broken, Spiritual Energy will inevitably bleed away... very disadvantageous for cultivators."
She looked at Chen Kuang and blinked:
"Now that Zhouguo's attention is focused entirely on you, I can move forward with some of my plans ahead of schedule."
Chen Kuang let out a laugh and nodded:
"As long as I can be of help, that's all that matters."
The little princess clearly had her own ideas, that was a good thing.
Su Huaiying hesitated for a moment and then said quietly,
"There's something I must tell you."
Chen Kuang blinked: "What is it?"
Su Huaiying motioned for him to lean in, and Chen Kuang bowed his head. He heard her say,
"When my mother left, she took your corpse with her, and she once said something to me."
In truth, Chu Wenruo had only mouthed a few words, but perhaps due to their mother-daughter bond, Su Huaiying immediately understood the meaning.
The princess didn't speak it aloud, though. Instead, she grasped Chen Kuang's hand and wrote eight characters on his palm:
"Heaven muddled, earth round; sun and moon are false."
（天浑地圆,日月为假）
Chen Kuang froze.
Su Huaiying had already let go of his hand and said, "I don't know where my mother went. But I've heard that beyond the Northern Plains, there's a kingdom belonging to demons and monsters. Perhaps she's there."
Chen Kuang took a deep breath:
"Alright."
Su Huaiying stepped back two paces. Chen Kuang stood up and tied the white cloth around his wrist, then looked at Zhang Zhizhou and said,
"Before I leave, there's one more thing I must do. I'll need your help, Senior Brother Zhang."
Zhang Zhizhou replied,
"If it's within my ability, I will."
Chen Kuang smiled:
"It's nothing troublesome. I just want you to take me somewhere."
...
Chen Kuang and Zhang Zhizhou stood high in the sky, gazing down upon the Yang Kingdom's Mountains and Rivers.
The wind stirred the clouds. The rolling peaks and tightly clustered cities spread out below them like a grand tapestry.
At this moment, the Yang Kingdom was still in chaos, though some places remained untouched by conflict.
But the sight in Chen Kuang's eyes was entirely different.
Between the Mountains and Rivers, boundless, massive flows of Spiritual Energy circulated and condensed, as if a living being were breathing.
This wasn't an illusion.
That Spiritual Energy blanketed nearly all of the Yang Kingdom. One could vaguely discern the shape of a coiled, elongated body.
the Yang Kingdom's land was nurturing a true dragon.
The enormous dragon-shaped Spiritual Energy had a clearly visible head and tail now, but at the location of the dragon's head, its eyes had yet to form, only a dense fog of spirit mist lingered there.
And now, as the flames of war continued to spread across the Yang Kingdom, that dragon-shaped Spiritual Energy was slowly beginning to dissipate.