The third possibility was completely ruled out. That left only geniuses from the major sects of the Central Domain, or successors trained by the top forces of the other four domains!
Regardless of which it was, it was not someone he, Leng Tianhan, or even the entire Lingxiao Sect, could afford to offend!
"Sect Master Leng, there's no need for politeness. It was merely a small effort," Xu Chuan said, shaking his head.
"To Young Master Xu, it was a small effort, but to me, Leng Tianhan, and to my Lingxiao Sect, it is a heaven-sent grace."
"Such a favor must be repaid!"
Leng Tianhan stated with unwavering resolve.
As if making a final decision, he took out a pitch-black key from his storage ring.
It was evident that Leng Tianhan was extremely reluctant to part with this item, yet he still extended it to Xu Chuan.
"My Lingxiao Sect is merely a mid-tier sect and cannot offer much to repay Young Master Xu's kindness. This key was something I obtained by chance. Today, I present it to Young Master Xu!"
The elders and disciples of the Lingxiao Sect present changed their expressions upon seeing the item.
An elder even exclaimed, "Sect Master, absolutely not! This item concerns the future of our Lingxiao Sect. How can it be so easily given to an outsider?"
"Indeed, Sect Master, please reconsider. This matter is of great importance and cannot be given away!"
"That's right! The people from Yin Yang Holy Land will be here soon to reclaim this item. If we cannot produce it then, the entire Lingxiao Sect will be plunged into eternal damnation!"
It was clear that the key Leng Tianhan had produced held immense significance for the Lingxiao Sect, tolerating no misstep.
Yet, despite this, Leng Tianhan still brought it out and gifted it directly to Xu Chuan.
However, there was a calculated move behind Leng Tianhan's actions.
This item had brought great disaster to his Lingxiao Sect in the form of the Yin Yang Holy Land, which had given Leng Tianhan a deadline to hand it over.
Otherwise, the entire Lingxiao Sect would be annihilated.
Under the pressure of the Yin Yang Holy Land, Leng Tianhan felt immensely stifled.
Now, by handing this item to Xu Chuan, he might be able to grasp a sliver of hope for survival.
He was gambling, betting that Xu Chuan's background was so significant that it could crush the Yin Yang Holy Land.
For he knew very well that even if he handed the item over to the Yin Yang Holy Land, they would not spare him and his Lingxiao Sect.
The reason for this was simple: to prevent any leakage of information about this key.
This was also the reason he had dispatched Leng Wushuang to the distant Ten Thousand Spears Mountain in the Western Region, hoping she could escape this calamity.
However, he hadn't expected Leng Wushuang to return early and bring along someone like Xu Chuan.
This had also brought a ray of hope to the Lingxiao Sect!
"Insolent!"
"This item is mine! Whom I give it to is my prerogative. It is not for you to obstruct!"
Leng Tianhan rebuked.
Upon hearing this, the elders dared not speak further.
Leng Tianhan was still the Sect Master, and his authority was still potent.
However, though they remained silent, all the elders wore expressions of utter despair, inwardly blaming Leng Tianhan for his foolishness and lack of judgment.
They believed he was gambling with the lives of all the disciples of the Lingxiao Sect!
Some elders who had already pledged allegiance to the Yin Yang Holy Land began secretly transmitting messages, planning to depose Leng Tianhan as Sect Master, reclaim the key, and present it to the Yin Yang Holy Land to gain their favor, subsequently joining them.
Xu Chuan observed all these reactions.
He was also curious, what exactly was this key that a great Holy Land would personally descend to seize?
Under Xu Chuan's gaze, he took the key from Leng Tianhan's hand.
Simultaneously, he activated his "All-Seeing" ability, beginning to analyze the origin of the key.
This divine ability, since he had acquired it, Xu Chuan had used it only a few times.
But its effectiveness was absolutely top-notch!
In just a moment, all the information about the key appeared before Xu Chuan.
[Treasure Vault Key: The sole key to the Divine Medicine Emperor's treasure vault. Only by possessing this key can one open the treasure vault left behind by the Divine Medicine Emperor before he departed the Profound Heaven Continent!]
"Hmm?"
"The Divine Medicine Emperor's treasure vault key?"
Upon seeing this information, Xu Chuan revealed a look of surprise.
He hadn't expected this unassuming key to be the key to the Divine Medicine Emperor's treasure vault!
Even though Xu Chuan was from the Eastern Region, he had heard of this esteemed title, the Divine Medicine Emperor.
Legend had it that thirty thousand years ago, in the Southern Domain of the Profound Heaven Continent, there was an imperial dynasty called the Great Desolation.
Within the Great Desolation Imperial Dynasty, there was a peculiar prince. In an era when cultivating martial arts was honored, he went against the trend, completely abandoning martial arts and solely indulging in various spiritual medicines.
This greatly angered the ruler of the Great Desolation at the time. Amidst the criticisms of the populace and impeachments by numerous officials, he, in a fit of rage, banished this prince to a barren land in the Southern Domain.
That place was an undeveloped area teeming with demonic beasts.
Everyone assumed this prince was destined to perish there, becoming a mere anecdote for the Great Desolation Dynasty to laugh about.
However, an event that occurred twenty years later proved everyone wrong!
One day, twenty years later, an ultimate power erupted from that barren land.
Under this power, all things revived, dead trees turned green, and even people who felt this power had their severed limbs regenerated and were brought back from the dead.
The person who triggered this power was none other than that prince!
But at this time, he was no longer the frail prince without any cultivation.
He had now risen to become the most powerful existence on the entire Profound Heaven Continent!
A cultivator at the Emperor Realm!
He did not seek revenge on those who had once humiliated him. Instead, he emerged from the Great Desolation and spread the techniques of planting spiritual medicines and refining elixirs throughout the Profound Heaven Continent!
In an instant, the level of spiritual medicine cultivation and elixir refining techniques across the Profound Heaven Continent improved by an immeasurable degree!
Countless people benefited from this, their lives spared.
Finally, after disseminating all his knowledge throughout the Profound Heaven, this prince departed this world, heading towards the Chaos.
However, before he left, he uttered a sentence.
"Whoever finds the key can open my treasure vault!"
After his departure, countless people reverently addressed him as the Divine Medicine Emperor!
And countless people began searching for the legendary key, based on his words.
Who wouldn't be tempted by the treasure vault of an Emperor Realm expert?
Yet, after thirty thousand years had passed, there was no news of anyone finding the key.
Everyone believed it was merely a joke he had made before leaving, that there was no such key or treasure vault, and his intention was to teach a small lesson to those who had mocked him, a kind of dark humor.
But Xu Chuan never imagined that even after all this time, people were still searching for the key, and now, this key had fallen into his hands.
Indeed, it was a hot potato.
But was there any possibility of something that fell into Xu Chuan's hands being handed over?
Evidently not!
A mere Holy Land? He hadn't just offended one Holy Land before!