The number of martial artists entering the small world was overwhelming; even after losing a significant portion, tens of thousands remained.
Amidst the throng, Duan Wenbo and the others blended in, hardly noticeable. Upon reaching the ruins, they suddenly realized that Ye Tian was nowhere to be found.
"Where is Ye Tian?" Duan Wenbo exclaimed, scanning the surroundings, but all he could see were the silhouettes of martial artists, with Ye Tian's presence conspicuously absent.
"Perhaps he got separated in the crowd!" Sun Piaopiao remarked with a slight scoff, a glimmer of schadenfreude flashing in her eyes.
Niu Yunshan furrowed his brow and said, "He might be caught up in the crowd, but there's no need for concern; his strength is formidable, and he should be fine."
"Alright then, let's proceed inside. The cave of our esteemed Martial Ancestor must harbor many treasures," Duan Wenbo nodded.
Their faces were alight with anticipation; a Martial Ancestor's cave was, in itself, a vast trove of wealth.
As for Ye Tian, they felt no anxiety, for his prowess had reached the seventh level of Martial Master, placing him among the elite in this realm.
...
The solitary statue, having weathered countless seasons, gazed skyward with open eyes and a mouth agape, as if unleashing a roar of defiance.
Ye Tian stood quietly before the statue, scrutinizing it intently.
Beside the statue, a half-man high stone tablet bore inscriptions of some significance.
"So this esteemed Martial Ancestor is named Zhao Yun. How familiar that name sounds! I had nearly forgotten that my original world also had a hero by that name, a general from the Three Kingdoms era. Is this perhaps a twist of fate?"
Ye Tian sighed softly, reflecting on his nineteen years in this world, a tinge of sentiment swelling within him.
Though this world was remarkably vibrant, he often felt a pang of loneliness whenever he paused to reflect.
A gentle breeze swept by, carrying with it a sense of solitude.
As he regarded the statue, a wave of melancholy washed over him, compelling him to bow in reverence.
Whether inspired by the name "Zhao Yun," which invoked memories of his past life, or by the impressive strength of this predecessor, both were deserving of his respect.
"Chirp, chirp…" After Ye Tian paid his respects, a faint sound emanated from the grass at the statue's base, reminiscent of a mouse squeaking.
"Hmm?" Curiosity piqued, Ye Tian leaned forward, preparing to part the grass.
Suddenly, a golden figure leaped from the underbrush, startling Ye Tian.
"Chirp, chirp…" It was a palm-sized golden mouse, sporting tiny golden wings that allowed it to hover in mid-air. Its round, bright eyes sparkled with a greenish hue as it blinked at Ye Tian, clutching an ancient book in its tiny mouth.
Ye Tian was instantly amused by its adorable demeanor, but a question arose in his mind: what kind of creature is this? Mice don't fly, and one so golden is truly rare.
"Chirp!" The little golden mouse flapped its wings and flew toward Ye Tian, nudging the book against his palm.
"Do you wish to give this to me?"
Understanding the mouse's intent, Ye Tian took the ancient book and inquired of the little creature.
To his surprise, the golden mouse nodded vigorously, then flew up to perch on Ye Tian's shoulder, rubbing its cheek against his neck with a look of sheer joy.
Intrigued, Ye Tian opened the ancient book to examine its contents.
"Zhao Yun…" This was not a martial arts manual nor a cultivation technique, but rather a simple collection of essays or perhaps a final testament, chronicling the exploits of this esteemed Martial Ancestor named Zhao Yun.
Initially, Ye Tian felt disappointed, as he sought martial techniques or inner cultivation methods. However, as he read further, his eyes brightened, culminating in sheer shock and exhilaration.
"Treasure-seeking mouse! Blood Demon Blade Sovereign! Blood Demon Transformation! Good heavens… I've struck gold!" Even Ye Tian, usually composed, could hardly contain his excitement; had he not feared attracting attention, he might have shouted aloud.
This was undeniably a monumental opportunity; if word got out, the entire Great Yan Kingdom would be set ablaze with frenzy, and Ye Tian would find himself the target of relentless pursuers.
This book contained the essays and final words of Martial Sovereign Zhao Yun, yet it concealed a treasure so great that it would send all martial artists in the Great Yan Kingdom into a frenzy.
Eight hundred years prior, a phenomenal genius of the sword emerged in the Great Yan Kingdom, known as the Blood Demon Blade Sovereign.
Upon his birth, he swept through the youth of the Great Yan Kingdom, ultimately making his name known across the eighteen kingdoms of the North Sea. The so-called eighteen kingdoms were a coalition of nations bordering the North Sea, of which the Great Yan Kingdom was one.
One can only imagine how many geniuses hailed from the vast expanse of the Great Yan Kingdom, and even more from the eighteen kingdoms of the North Sea.
Yet the Blood Demon Blade Sovereign outshone them all, his cultivation unrivaled among his peers, instilling fear in the hearts of many.
What truly catapulted the Blood Demon Blade Sovereign to fame was the infamous "King's Battle." Why was it termed the "King's Battle"? It was because the combatants consisted of a Martial Sovereign and a Martial King.
The disparity between a Martial Sovereign and a Martial King is well-known; it is akin to the chasm between heaven and earth, an insurmountable divide.
However, the outcome of this "King's Battle" left everyone astounded, as the Martial Sovereign managed to slay his opponent… a Martial King!
And that Martial Sovereign was none other than the Blood Demon Blade Sovereign.
After this battle, the Blood Demon Blade Sovereign's renown spread far and wide, yet he eventually left the eighteen kingdoms of the North Sea in search of worthy opponents.
The vast expanse of the Divine Continent was endless, and the Blood Demon Blade Sovereign could not foresee his return; he might even perish in distant lands. Thus, to ensure that his legacy did not vanish, before departing from the eighteen kingdoms of the North Sea, he left behind his cultivation technique—"Blood Demon Transformation."
In a flash, the eighteen kingdoms of the North Sea erupted in chaos, as countless martial artists clashed and fought over this unparalleled technique, a struggle that endured for centuries.
Zhao Yun was an ordinary Martial Sovereign from the Great Yan Kingdom, hailing from the Black Blood City and enjoying a modest reputation in the Nanlin Prefecture.
Though Zhao Yun's talent was not remarkable, he initially believed that reaching the Martial Spirit realm was his utmost limit. However, fortune smiled upon him when he accidentally rescued a young treasure-seeking mouse. Through the mouse's unique abilities, Zhao Yun encountered one stroke of good fortune after another, elevating his cultivation to the Martial Sovereign level.
In the end, Zhao Yun came into possession of the long-lost "Blood Demon Transformation." However, just as he was reveling in his good fortune, a close friend betrayed him, leaking the news of his acquisition of "Blood Demon Transformation" and triggering a relentless pursuit.
Though Zhao Yun's strength was formidable, among those coveting the "Blood Demon Transformation" were even Martial Kings and many Martial Sovereign-level adversaries. After enduring years of relentless pursuit, he ultimately met a tragic end.
Yet, before his demise, Zhao Yun detached his own small world and concealed the "Blood Demon Transformation" within, leaving his pursuers with nothing but regret.
Over a century passed, and while many rumors circulated regarding Zhao Yun's small world, none ever located it.
It was not until a few years ago that the entrance to Zhao Yun's small world was accidentally discovered by the lord of Black Blood City.
"It seems that the members of the four great families, as well as the lord of Black Blood City, are all likely here for the *Blood Demon Transformation*. Unfortunately, they are destined to return empty-handed." Ye Tian gazed at the ethereal palaces high in the sky, a hint of mockery and schadenfreude flickering in his eyes.
From Zhao Yun's posthumous letter, he understood that the celestial structures above were utterly vacant, containing at best some low-tier treasures—mere refuse that Zhao Yun had deemed worthless.
In truth, the secret manuscript of *Blood Demon Transformation* lay concealed at the base of the statue.
Due to the treasure-seeking mouse's affinity for the mystical, Zhao Yun had, before his demise, entrusted it to guard the statue diligently, instructing it to present the letter to anyone who bowed or paid their respects to the statue.
Regrettably, apart from Ye Tian, all the other warriors who entered had rushed toward the celestial palaces and the ruins below, neglecting to honor Zhao Yun.
Ye Tian was convinced that many warriors had surely noticed the statue, yet none paid it heed; they were all avaricious souls, unwilling to offer their respect to Zhao Yun.
Even Ye Tian had only bowed due to the name "Zhao Yun," which evoked memories from his past life, compelling him to express his respect in a moment of reflection.
"Thankfully, this esteemed warrior is named Zhao Yun!"
Contemplating this, Ye Tian felt a shiver run through him; had it not been for the name that stirred his emotions, he likely wouldn't have bowed to the statue at all.
After all, to him, Zhao Yun was merely a stranger.
However, Ye Tian felt a pang of shame. After perusing Zhao Yun's letter, he bowed once more before the statue, this time with genuine sincerity, rather than merely due to the name "Zhao Yun."
After paying his respects, Ye Tian began to dig near the statue's right foot, following the direction indicated by the little golden mouse's wings.
Before long, a stone box emerged before him, and excitement washed over his face as he eagerly opened it, revealing a thick ancient tome.
"Blood Demon Transformation!"
Gazing at the three blood-red characters emblazoned on the cover, Ye Tian trembled with exhilaration, aware that this manuscript was a coveted treasure, even among the formidable warrior kings.
Its value was beyond comprehension.
As he carefully perused its contents, his excitement only intensified. This *Blood Demon Transformation* not only contained a foundational earth-level inner strength technique but also included an earth-level basic martial arts sword technique, along with Zhao Yun's insights on the art of the sword.
Each of these was a priceless gem, and Ye Tian was so elated he felt on the verge of fainting.
Earth-level martial techniques and inner strength methods were, even within the mightiest sects, regarded as the pinnacle of skill.
Undoubtedly, with the *Blood Demon Transformation* in hand, coupled with Ye Tian's extraordinary talent, while he might not surpass the Blood Demon Sword Monarch, he would certainly not fall far behind.