Li Wei and the elder decided to head to the sect's library to see if they could uncover any information on higher realms.
After all, how could a mere youngster like Li Wei know of such a thing? The elder also suggested that Li Wei's master join them; since he was stuck at the 8th stage of the Profound Realm, perhaps something in the library could help him achieve enlightenment into the Returning Realm.
As they approached the entrance, two guards radiating fierce waves of essence blocked their way. These were puppet guards, forged by high elders from the forgotten era.
*(Curious about the forgotten era? Well, it won't come up for the next few chapters...)*
Made from high-grade chaos meteorites, these puppet guards were at the peak of the Returning Realm. However, lacking consciousness, they could not advance any further. When Li Wei presented a token given to him by the sect leader, the guards let them pass without issue.
"Well, if it isn't our pride and joy," a voice called out.
The voice belonged to a very old man. His wrinkles obscured the finer features of his face, and his long gray hair was tied in a neat bun. His robes were simple yet intricately detailed, as if crafted by a master embroiderer.
"What brings you to this humble shack?" he asked, eyeing all three of them with a curious glint.
He seemed particularly interested in Elder Huocheng as if something about him felt familiar. After a moment's consideration, he shrugged it off and turned his attention back to Li Wei.
"We came seeking information on how to break through the Returning Realm," Elder Huocheng explained.
The old man didn't seem surprised. Stroking his beard, he gestured for them to follow.
"You see," he began, "you're not the first to come here in search of a way to break through the highest realm known on the Azure Continent. Our sect's founder, one of the most powerful cultivators of his time, spent years trying to do so"
But even he couldn't find a way, and by then, he was close to the maximum lifespan—500 years—for someone at the peak of the Returning Realm. Time was his greatest enemy.
"Just as he was about to give up, he found an ancient manual. It mentioned a gate, one that led to a hidden sect—a high-level sect in our Azure Kingdom, a rival to our Heavenly Note Sect. After the great war, however, this sect vanished. The founder knew it still existed somewhere, so he left to search for it. As far as we know, he never returned."
The elder's voice softened, his expression somber as if recalling an old friend.
"Did he leave the manual here?" Li Wei asked a flicker of hope in his eyes.
The old man let out a hearty laugh. "No, he took it with him, hoping it would lead him to the gate."
Li Wei and his companions felt a wave of disappointment; their best chance had slipped away. Just as they were about to leave, the elder stopped them.
"But…" he said, his voice trailing off thoughtfully. "He did tell me where he thought the gate might be. Here, let me mark it on this map."
After he handed over the map, Li Wei's master decided to return to the sect hall. He felt that only the sect master was worthy of accompanying Li Wei on this journey. Meanwhile, he planned to head to the Demon's Wilds, hoping he might find something there to help him break through.
The group split, with the sect master joining Li Wei and Elder Huocheng. Before leaving, he appointed Yue Ling, the Celestial Fairy Hall elder, as the acting sect leader.
After briefing the sect master on their goal, the three set off. Three hours into their journey, they were blocked by a group of minor demons who called themselves the Wardens of the Skies. These demons demanded a toll of 100 spirit crystals, threatening to kill them if they refused.
The two elders chuckled. "How about young Li Wei handles this?" Elder Huocheng suggested.
"Me?" Li Wei asked, hovering in the air with a hint of reluctance.
The demons were barely at the True Radiance Realm—weak compared to Li Wei's peak Returning Realm level. It felt like a grown man fighting children.
"Don't worry," Elder Huocheng reassured him. "You need real combat experience to familiarize yourself with your newfound strength. Otherwise, you could face a dangerous backlash in the future."
"Hey! Do we look like a joke to you?" the demon leader roared. He seemed to be at the 5th stage of the True Radiance Realm.
"Yeah!" another demon added, emboldened. "Now, hand over your spirit stones and weapons, or things will get ugly."
"Go on, Li Wei," Elder Huocheng encouraged with a grin.
Taking the hint, Li Wei charged at the demons. Startled, the demons scattered, and their leader slipped to the back, urging his subordinates to attack. One of the demons hurled a dagger at Li Wei, which whizzed past his ear. In response, Li Wei used his Sky Call Art to pull one of the demons toward him.
Another demon swung a chain filled with dark energy at Li Wei, but due to its weak power, it bounced harmlessly off him. Li Wei grabbed the chain and used it to bind the demon he had summoned.
Meanwhile, another demon attempted a technique called "Soul Severing Demon Hand," a sinister move meant to burn his soul. Thankfully, at the Returning Realm, Li Wei's soul had advanced to a Resonant Soul, making it resistant to such attacks.
Reluctantly, Li Wei snapped the demon's neck, realizing that such vicious techniques could harm his sectmates in the future. With two demons down, their leader activated an illusion formation, hoping to turn the tide.
Unfazed, Li Wei used his Cloud-Treading Art to slip behind the demon leader and, with a quick motion, stabbed him in the back with the very dagger that had been thrown at him earlier.
In under a minute, he had defeated three of the seven demons. He was about to continue when a powerful figure emerged from the shadows.
"Your esteemed ones…" the elder demon lowered his head respectfully. "Please, spare us." He held back a young demon who attempted to attack Li Wei, quickly sealing him inside a treasure.
"He's just a child," the elder demon pleaded.
Elder Li scoffed. "A demon is a demon. Since he dared to attack us, he deserves no mercy."
Li Wei silently thought that Elder Li's stance was harsher than the demons'.
"Please," the elder demon implored, "he's young and foolish, but he's also the son of our leader. His death could spark a war."
"And what sect do you belong to?" Elder Li pressed, his essence weighing down on the demon.
"We are not a sect; we belong to the Demon God's Palace."
"Demon God's Palace!" Elder Li and the sect leader exchanged a look of alarm.
"That old witch Jiao Yao has a son?" the sect leader muttered in disbelief.
"What's the Demon God's Palace?" Li Wei asked Elder Li telepathically.
"It used to be one of the Five Palaces, alongside our Eternal Flame Palace, Skyward Palace, Serene Waters Palace, and Whispering Clouds Palace. But after the war, they vanished, leaving only the Four Palaces."
"What happened to the fifth?" Li Wei pressed.
Elder Li hesitated, glancing at the sect leader. "Let's just say it didn't end well."
Breaking the tense silence, Li Wei looked at the map and passed it to the elders. The sect leader's face grew dark as he studied it.
"Where is your palace currently located?" he demanded, turning to the elder demon.
"We're hidden in the Mystic Woods. After the war, we found a place to contain Her Majesty's… temper."
"Enough." The sect leader cut him off sharply. "Look at this map. Is this where you're located?"
The elder demon inspected the map, confused as to how they knew their exact location.
"How could you know this? We haven't left the Mystic Woods in 200 years."
"It seems destiny has brought us together," the sect leader declared. "Now, lead us to your palace."
Reluctantly, the elder demon began to lead the way.