Once Noire opened his eyes, he could feel a slight disturbance in the spiritual energy, as if an enormous vortex that was a variable to spiritual sense expanded in a dome to monitor the ocean.
This peculiar feeling was emitted from the Island's direction, Noire estimated that the array had some sort of vigilance mechanism.
When Anastasia saw Noire looking towards the Island's direction, she naturally misunderstood because her soul power wasn't high enough to pick up on these subtle law changes.
She said, "We should be getting there soon. But, we need to be careful not to offend some powerful force while being there. You won't be able to rely on Qi Essence to fly before reaching the Eclipse Realm."
As Anastasia gave Noire some warnings, Yinfer could only give her a weird look.
Then, Noire's voice resounded as he asked Yinfer directly, "Yin'er, in your memories, did people on the Core Continent achieve the Celestial Realm?"
"Hm? Why are you asking? I believe so, yeah."
Although confused, Yinfer still answered based on her memory.
However, Noire didn't seem satisfied.
Then again, a Phoenix Empress would likely only socialize with those from the upper echelons of society, the humans she met must be top figures.
Seeing Noire fall back into contemplation, Yinfer repeated her inquiry.
Noire said, "When I first met with Yue and Ning'er, I studied their cultivation methods of gathering Qi Essence. At first, I didn't pay it much attention as I already acknowledged this place as a lackluster backyard. However, after Arima brought up the matter of our continent being the lowest of the low, I have this feeling that the distribution of cultivation methods from the Core Continent outwards is being influenced..."
Noire voiced out some of his concerns. If he was right, this would explain the disparity in strength between the peripheral continents, and it would also explain how the Imperial Family can usher in power.
If they can monopolize the distribution of Qi Essence gathering cultivation methods, they can supply people with either ineffective or incomplete cultivation methods to cripple their paths of martial arts.
That way, they can directly control the Core Continent and indirectly control the peripheral five continents. That's really sinister.
This type of plan would require time and effort, Noire can imagine that the Imperial Family found a good chance and obtained new cultivation methods that are a bit better than the ones that were available to the martial artists of this realm.
Then, if they began to slowly switch out the old methods with better ones, the entire realm would eventually rely on the Imperial Family for such an inheritance.
'They must have had plans to govern over the opportunities of people throughout the Chaotic Dynasty Realm through manipulating cultivation methods...'
Noire came to this conclusion whilst Anastasia and Yinfer were also trying to digest the meaning behind Noire's previous answer.
Anastasia said, "Hm, that's possible. Then, the existence of the Divine Inheritance Island would be a major thorn in the foot for them. If you're lucky enough, it's not hard to get a cultivation method from the Island, right?"
Noire nodded and said, "That should be right. But, if that's the case, then how come we haven't heard of people gaining Qi Essence gathering cultivation methods before? Could it be that there's an unspoken rule against such a thing?"
Noire was puzzled. Alas, he doesn't know that he was almost correct.
In fact, the Martial Law doesn't solely compete whenever the Divine Inheritance Island opens up just for resources. However, they've slaughtered countless people, countless times, whenever a 'lucky' hero managed to obtain a cultivation inheritance, only to bring the method back to the Imperial Family.
However, for some reason, every cultivation method that left the island is rendered incomplete, sufficient only till reaching Peak Eclipse Realm.
....
Back in the mysterious room.
"Hmm, there's almost a thousand people outside, grandpa!"
The six-year-old girl said as she nommed on a piece of spiritual fruit, the warm fluorescent lights caressing her lips with each bite.
"Also, I can see the bad guys again!" She then pointed at a three-layered pagoda, because just then, a group of scholar-looking old men departed from the first floor on a small flying treasure, each carrying an array plate.
"Ho? Did they send eight array masters this time? What a pity, they're probably trying to comprehend the mystery of opening the portal when I open it from my end." The old man said, completely indifferent to their futile efforts.
"Grandpa, aren't you worried they might do it this time?"
"Hahaha, don't worry. They have been trying for thousands of years, these ants aren't even worthy."
The six-year-old girl's mouth twitched and her eyes rounded up in shock.
She then brought her tiny fingers in front of her big eyes and began to count in a low voice...
After a brief moment, she sighed and said, "Grandpa! I can't even count to one thousand yet! How old are you really?"
The old man couldn't help but cough as he choked on air, this was a little embarrassing.
"Don't worry, grandpa is still young with many years to come!" He answered before ghostly fading away, leaving the young girl alone with sparkling eyes as she thought.
'When I become 10 years old, I'll count how old is grandpa!'
....
"Master Wei, are you positive we can unearth the mysteries this time? I don't want to be punished..."
"Stop talking nonsense, if Master Wei said he can do it, then he absolutely can do it!"
"Indeed, Master Wei had the chance to study some of the array mysteries left by the Great Elder in the ruins, the Martial Law must really appreciate him to a heavenly degree!"
"..."
As the group of array masters approached the Island's protective mist, the one called Master Wei looked incomparably solemn.
At first, he was found of his array skills.
But, after getting the chance to meditate on the jade slips left behind in the ruins by the mysterious Great Elder, he came to realize just how lacking his skill was.
He already told the Martial Law that he has the qualifications to comprehend the array, but now, facing the array that was established countless thousands of years ago, he feels as insignificant as an ant.
But, he already rode the tiger and if he was to back down now, he can't afford it...