"Thank you, Sect Master Leng. I like this very much!" Xu Chuan said with a faint smile, accepting the treasure vault key.
He hadn't expected to obtain this item at the Lingxiao Sect.
It seemed his subsequent itinerary might undergo some changes!
Xu Chuan thought to himself.
Originally, he had planned to return to the Eastern Region by the shortest route after obtaining information about the Southern Region. But now, he decided to get his hands on the Divine Medicine Emperor's treasure vault first!
The treasure vault of an Emperor Realm expert would surely contain many good things. Otherwise, why would a dignified Holy Land, disregarding their reputation, try to snatch the key?
This indicated that there must be something in the vault that could move them greatly!
"I'm glad Young Master Xu is satisfied!" Leng Tianhan also said with a smile.
"Young Master Xu has been traveling for a long time. Why not rest for a few days at our Lingxiao Sect before continuing your journey?"
Since Xu Chuan had accepted the treasure vault key, it meant he was not afraid of the Yin Yang Holy Land. His gamble today had paid off.
Next, all he needed was to have Xu Chuan stay at Lingxiao Sect for a few days, wait for the Yin Yang Holy Land to arrive, and then have Xu Chuan deal with this calamity for Lingxiao Sect.
"Then I shall respectfully accept your invitation!"
Xu Chuan did not refuse Leng Tianhan's invitation and stayed at Lingxiao Sect.
Upon learning what the key was, Xu Chuan had sorted out the entire affair and understood Leng Tianhan's intentions.
He wasn't angry about it.
The principle of taking someone's money and resolving their troubles was only natural.
Since Leng Tianhan was willing to hand over this item to him, he didn't mind protecting Lingxiao Sect.
As for whether he could protect Lingxiao Sect, Xu Chuan wasn't worried at all.
With his current strength, he could remain undefeated even against an expert at the first or second level of the Heavenly King Realm!
Even if he couldn't win, he still had Xuan Lie as a trump card.
Xuan Lie had been recuperating in the ancient palace world during this time, and Xu Chuan had spared no effort in using all sorts of healing items on him.
Now, his injuries had mostly recovered.
Although he was not at his peak Heavenly King Realm cultivation, ordinary Heavenly King Realm experts at the sixth or seventh level would be like chicks in his hands.
With this double assurance, Xu Chuan dared to claim he could protect Lingxiao Sect.
Moreover, when dealing with a sect whose highest cultivation was only at the eighth level of the Tongtian Realm, there was no possibility of Heavenly King Realm experts at the sixth or seventh level appearing.
This was completely unnecessary!
Heavenly King Realm experts were all pillars of their sects, existing to protect the sect, and would not easily leave their sect's domain.
Just like in the Taiyi Holy Land, apart from the ten peak masters who were Tongtian Realm experts, there seemed to be no Heavenly King Realm experts on the surface.
But in reality, the Taiyi Holy Land had four Divine Protectors and five hidden Grand Elders.
These nine individuals were all at the ninth level of the Heavenly King Realm.
Some were even just one step away from breaking through to the Half-Emperor Realm, becoming figures like the Holy Lord.
Besides them, the Holy Land also harbored many Heavenly King Realm experts of ordinary cultivation, who usually played the role of the sweeping monk.
This was also why the Taiyi Holy Land could firmly hold its position as the foremost Holy Land in the Eastern Region.
Without some real capabilities, who would dare to take on such a task?
They would be tired of living!
...
Under Leng Tianhan's arrangements, Xu Chuan stayed at Lingxiao Sect.
He spent his time studying the terrain and power distribution of the Southern Region, as well as researching the secrets of the treasure vault key.
After several days of study, Xu Chuan had thoroughly understood the entire terrain and power distribution of the Southern Region.
The entire Southern Region was divided into four parts, occupied by four major powers.
These included the Sanyang Holy Land, the Great Desolate Imperial Dynasty, the Undying Volcano, and the Myriad Beast Territory.
Among these four major powers, the strongest was the Sanyang Holy Land.
This force had been stationed in the Southern Region for tens of thousands of years, firmly controlling the entire region.
On the surface, its Holy Lord was also a Half-Emperor Realm expert, with the same cultivation as the Taiyi Holy Lord.
It was just unknown who was stronger.
But one thing was certain: a Holy Land without a Half-Emperor Realm expert could never become a top power in a region!
The Great Desolate Imperial Dynasty was the dynasty where the Divine Medicine Emperor was born. It had continued for tens of thousands of years, becoming one of the four major powers of the Southern Region.
As for the Undying Volcano, it was a force led by a Half-Emperor Realm phoenix, with various winged beasts possessing phoenix bloodlines under its command.
The last, the Myriad Beast Territory, was a place completely ruled by demons.
Its Demon Emperor was also a Half-Emperor Realm expert.
Xu Chuan had also figured out the origin of the Yin Yang Holy Land, which was putting so much pressure on Lingxiao Sect.
The Yin Yang Holy Land was a Holy Land that had risen in the Southern Region only in the last few thousand years, and was a subordinate force within the territory controlled by the Sanyang Holy Land.
It was said that its Holy Lord had inadvertently obtained the legacy of the Divine Medicine Emperor in the Great Desolate, and then rapidly rose. He eventually used this legacy to cultivate to the seventh level of the Heavenly King Realm, and then established the Yin Yang Holy Land in the Southern Region.
"No wonder the Yin Yang Holy Land was so desperately searching for the Emperor's treasure vault; it's because they received a legacy," Xu Chuan realized with sudden understanding upon seeing this information.
A mere legacy had allowed him to become a powerful figure and even later establish such a vast Holy Land.
Anyone would be tempted by the true treasure vault of the Divine Medicine Emperor.
However, after understanding the strength of the Yin Yang Holy Land, Xu Chuan felt even more at ease.
Its strongest expert, the Holy Lord, was only at the seventh level of the Heavenly King Realm. Calling it a Holy Land was barely any different from a large sect.
This way, even if the Yin Yang Holy Land's Holy Lord appeared, he wouldn't be able to snatch the key from him.
As for the treasure vault key, Xu Chuan had studied it for a long time but couldn't make heads or tails of it.
The item seemed to be missing something; without that something, the location of the vault couldn't be found, let alone opened.
Helpless, Xu Chuan had to put it aside.
He would wait at Lingxiao Sect for the Yin Yang Holy Land's people to arrive and see if he could obtain some useful information from them.
During these few days, Leng Wushuang also visited Xu Chuan from time to time.
Since being rescued by Xu Chuan, she had developed feelings for him. However, due to the gap in their identities and cultivation, she felt a great distance, and could only express her feelings through her actions.
Xu Chuan, while fully aware of this, did not openly acknowledge it.
Firstly, he was merely a passerby and would soon leave the Southern Region to return to the Eastern Region.
There were many people waiting for him there, and he couldn't linger for long.
Secondly, he did not want to discourage Leng Wushuang or spoil her good intentions.
Under these circumstances, Xu Chuan waited for five days.
However, five days passed, and there was no sign of the Yin Yang Holy Land.
Just as Xu Chuan was growing impatient, a colossal warship finally appeared outside the mountain gate of Lingxiao Sect.
The warship hovered in the air, with dozens of guards surrounding it.
From the ground, the spectacle was grand!