"What exactly is this 'serious matter' you mentioned, Brother Heng?" Ji Xia asked calmly, his curiosity piqued by the enigmatic great demon before him.
"We have chosen you," Pei Heng replied, his expression solemn. "We carry within us an immense secret, one we've all been striving to uncover. Unfortunately, we've achieved nothing so far. But now, in our neighboring realm, a genius like you has emerged, and we've set our sights on you."
"'We?'" Ji Xia frowned slightly, puzzled.
Pei Heng remained silent. Suddenly, an overwhelming wave of spiritual energy erupted from his body.
Ji Xia felt as if the entire Lingfu (Spiritual Mansion) had expanded exponentially, capable of containing a towering mountain within its walls. Pei Heng's figure seemed to grow distant. Behind him, a colossal illusory figure materialized—a magnificent divine bird that filled the vast Lingfu with its presence.
This divine bird stood immeasurably tall, with seven heads adorned by multicolored plumes on each crown. Its sharp beaks and piercing eyes radiated an imposing aura as they fixed their gaze on Ji Xia.
Understanding dawned upon Ji Xia. He took a deep breath, rose to his feet, and respectfully saluted the divine bird. "Greetings, venerable seniors."
The seven heads of the divine bird nodded simultaneously before its colossal form dissolved into shimmering light particles, vanishing into the void.
In an instant, the Lingfu returned to its original size. Pei Heng reappeared before Ji Xia, smiling faintly.
"That was your true form, Brother Heng? Truly awe-inspiring," Ji Xia remarked sincerely. The sheer majesty and overwhelming power of the divine bird's presence left him in awe, showcasing just how formidable a transformed great demon of the Lingfu stage could be.
Pei Heng said, "You needn't belittle yourself. Brother Ziyu, the eldest among us, has an exceptional eye for talent. If he has chosen you, you are already one of us. There's no need for formalities—just call us your elder brothers."
"Only a few thousand years older," Pei Heng added with a faint smile.
Though Ji Xia chose to ignore such lighthearted remarks, he harbored no inferiority in his heart. The unwavering pursuit of martial excellence demanded resilience. No matter how immense the obstacles, one's resolve must remain unshaken. Deep inside, Ji Xia believed that someday he would surpass the Lingfu stage itself.
Without dwelling on the matter of titles, Ji Xia asked, "What does 'choosing me' entail? And what can I do for you, my brothers?"
Pei Heng's expression grew increasingly serious. "We need you to help us unravel a restriction."
"A restriction?" Ji Xia repeated, perplexed.
"Yes," Pei Heng confirmed. "An extraordinarily powerful one. We've been stuck here for six centuries without making any progress."
Ji Xia hesitated. "Brother Heng, your cultivation is leagues beyond mine. If even you cannot break this restriction, what can someone of my limited abilities—a mere Spirit Initiate—possibly do? Besides, I know nothing of restriction techniques."
Pei Heng took a sip of spiritual wine and said, "I believe your aptitude surpasses ours by far. After all, how could a mere human rise from mortal obscurity to Spirit Initiate in just half a year?"
"Moreover, your path to Spirit Initiate is unlike any other. Your spiritual essence is exceptionally refined, its purity and density extraordinary—even we cannot help but take notice. This is why Brother Ziyu has decided to give you a chance. As for the art of restrictions, if you don't know it now, you can always learn."
Ji Xia nodded slightly and took another sip of the wine, feeling the vast spiritual energy surging within him. "Still, my brothers, why are you so sure that I will agree to help?"
Pei Heng was momentarily taken aback, a slight frown creasing his brow.
Unperturbed by the reaction, Ji Xia continued, "Brother Heng, you are an unparalleled powerhouse. Even outside this Lingfu, you could obliterate me with a mere flick of your finger—or even destroy all of Taicang if you so wished.
"So if you wish for me to do something, I dare not refuse. However, I still wonder: why do you believe I would genuinely devote myself to this task? What stops me from simply paying lip service and stalling indefinitely?"
Pei Heng's frown deepened as he listened to Ji Xia's calm reasoning.
Ji Xia pressed on, "Brother Heng, you mentioned my high aptitude. Surely you understand that if I were forced into this against my will, my comprehension—or so-called 'aptitude'—could be adversely affected. Would that not hinder the progress of this endeavor?"
After a long pause, Pei Heng's expression softened. "You truly are as remarkable as Brother Ziyu said. Few people could stand before beings like us and argue so clearly, with such confidence."
Ji Xia bowed slightly. "I hope you won't take offense, Brother Heng. As the ruler of Taicang, the lives of tens of thousands rest on my shoulders. If I were alone, I'd readily accept your task. But as a leader, I must be cautious to avoid bringing calamity upon my people."
Pei Heng regarded Ji Xia thoughtfully before breaking into a smile. "No wonder Brother Ziyu holds you in such high regard. You are indeed a kind and noble soul."
"Very well. I promise you that no one beyond this room will know of this task. Should you succeed, unimaginable fortune will await you."
Ji Xia nodded. "Brother Heng, I trust that you won't deceive me. However, I fear my abilities may fall short. Please, tell me more about this task."
Pei Heng raised his hand, and a palm-sized black slate appeared, which he handed to Ji Xia.
Taking the slate, Ji Xia hesitated briefly before channeling his spiritual essence into it. It felt like throwing a stone into the ocean—no response at all.
"Now that you've reached the Spirit Initiate stage, you should have awakened your spiritual sense," Pei Heng reminded him. "Try using that."
Ji Xia nodded. Concentrating, he extended a thread of spiritual sense into the slate.
Suddenly, he felt as though he had gained a new body, standing in a vast, dark void. Within the void, countless light screens floated, each displaying intricate spiritual energy patterns and innumerable nodes. Surrounding these were massive volumes of text, explaining, analyzing, and questioning the workings of the restrictions.
The sight reminded Ji Xia of the detailed spiritual patterns he had glimpsed when using his Great Sun Spirit Eyes to examine Zhang Yi's Hidden Void Gourd.
"These are restrictions—an overwhelming number of them!"
Ji Xia withdrew his spiritual sense from the slate and turned to Pei Heng, who said, "This task is not merely a burden—it is an unparalleled opportunity. If your comprehension is sufficient, the benefits will be limitless."
Standing tall, Pei Heng gazed at Ji Xia with piercing eyes. "My six brothers, along with a few others, have poured centuries of effort into engraving thirty thousand restriction techniques onto this slate. Each is detailed with our insights and analyses from years of research.
"All we ask of you is to study these restrictions carefully. One day, we hope you can help us break a divine restriction."