Bamboo Mound

Ge Shu raised an eyebrow slightly, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. "Naturally, it's the secret realm for testing the Eyes of Truth and the Eyes of Mirroring Crystal. As you said before, my friend, you would come to the Astrology Pavilion to find me once you're ready."

Ning Chang remembered before Ge Shu could finish speaking, and chuckled twice, saying, "I had forgotten about that."

My initial intention in coming here was to first tour and familiarize myself with the layout and capabilities of the Astrology Pavilion. As for the secret realm...

Although my cultivation level hasn't improved much yet, there's nothing urgent at the moment. I'll give it a try after the tour."

Ge Shu nodded slightly, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Very well then. Come with me for a walk around, and I'll show you the unique features of the Astrology Pavilion."

“Alright.” Since he still had business to attend to after the visit, Ning Chang was no longer afraid to trouble Ge Shu.

After entering the sect's protective formation, with no obstruction, the entire Three Mountains were exposed to his view.

But atop the mountain, the buildings of the Astrology Pavilion were arranged in a well-organized and magnificent manner.

The mountains were shrouded in mist, partially obscuring the carved beams and painted rafters, giving them an air of mystery and solemnity.

At the foot of the mountain, a wide stream flows gently, crystal clear. Even from a distance, you can see colorful strands darting about, which are probably lively fish, adding to the sense of life.

"Compared to this Astrology Pavilion, Medicine King Valley and the Weapon Refining Workshop are like a rural village with mud houses," Ning Chang couldn't help but sigh.

"This is just the exterior; once you get to the pavilion at the top of the mountain, the world inside will be even more vast."

Turning their gaze away from the three mountains, they looked at the houses on both sides, where servants were busy with their tasks, while the young men from the outer gate chatted and laughed.

There were only a few arenas to be seen, and only a handful of disciples were on them. The movements were not very intense, and the exchanges were slow.

At the same time, there were no array formations or patterns to be seen in the entire area, just like the ordinary sect he had initially imagined!

Ning Chang looked around at the group of disciples who seemed to be unable to see the two of them. Just as he was wondering about this, he suddenly heard Ge Shu say slowly, "There are more outer disciples and miscellaneous disciples in the Astrology Pavilion, and their advancement is different from the other two sects."

Only disciples with a talent for formations can advance to the inner sect and learn formation knowledge after reaching the Spirit Platform Realm. As for disciples without a talent for formations, they can only stay in the outer sect indefinitely until they leave on their own or reach the required cultivation level and go to the Ascension Gate for secluded cultivation.

"Hmm." Ning Chang nodded, indicating that he understood.

"Without talent, will I stay in the outer sect forever...? Either leave or go into seclusion. Sigh~ talent, talent, if you don't have enough, you're destined to be a stepping stone..." He couldn't help but sigh in his heart.

With the blessing of the Azure Bamboo Forest, his cultivation speed will only increase, but the improvement of his realm will not depend solely on the amount of spiritual power.

The upcoming Fetal Heart Realm alone requires the cultivation of a primordial spirit, not to mention the Transformation Realm and the realms beyond, each requiring talent. It's true that I have some talent for absorbing spiritual energy, but the Azure Spirit Bamboo can be considered a fortuitous encounter.

What about his talent for cultivating the primordial spirit? Will he still have any talent for the later stages like the primordial spirit and the spirit god, with all those complicated advancement requirements? Can he break through by accumulating time? Or will he simply slumber in some starry sky, or perish in some tribulation of lightning?

"Don't overthink it, young friend." Ge Shu was only distracted for a moment before he saw Ning Chang's melancholy expression again. "Whether you succeed or fail, time will remember everything."

"It's just some sentimentality." Ning Chang shook his head, gesturing for Ge Shu to continue.

The two strode to the foot of the mountain, where a relatively long blue stone staircase winds its way up the mountain. On both sides of the staircase, at intervals, stands an exquisite stone sculpture, each depicting a strange and wonderful beast, lifelike and bearing traces of star-like markings.

As they climbed the stone steps, they soon arrived at the top of the three mountains, in front of a pavilion with a plaque that read "Astrology Pavilion".

Two tall, vermilion doors were wide open, but the interior was obscured, only a hazy view remained.

The door is also engraved with intricate celestial patterns, each line seemingly concealing a mystery and emitting a faint glow.

The other two hilltops had no pavilions, but each had a formation platform, and no other buildings.

Following Ge Shu into the area, a wide-open plaza came into view. Disciples were coming and going in twos and threes, some practicing martial arts, others discussing formations.

In the center of the square, a huge fountain was gushing out spiritual liquid, which rose into colorful mist, creating a dreamlike scene.

Looking further into the distance, he could not see the top floor of the pavilion, only a clear blue sky. Considering Ge Shu's description of the secret realm, he couldn't help but wonder if he had entered the Astrology Pavilion or come to some secret realm through that portal.

Looking through the gaps in the carved beams and painted rafters surrounding the square, one sees a vast, boundless space. Though it is ultimately a distant mountain range, it is still several times the size of the space within the outer protective array!

"This is the main area of ​​the Astrology Pavilion, a space modeled after the secret realm, which can be expanded outwards at any time. All the elders and inner disciples live here."

"We are currently in the Hidden Star Zone. Apart from the architectural style, it is similar to the central square of Medicine King Valley, so we won't stay any longer."

As he spoke, Ge Shu quickened his pace slightly, and Ning Jian quickly followed. They passed through the crowd that also ignored the two of them, and soon arrived at a single-story circular building behind the square.

An old woman in brown robes behind the door finally stopped ignoring the two like the other disciples. After bowing to Ge Shu, she only glanced at Ning Chang a few times before closing her eyes again.

Ning Chang couldn't help but glance at the old woman guarding the gate a few more times, with a touch of respect in his eyes.

He couldn't sense the old woman's cultivation level or aura at all, so she must be an elder above the fifth level of the Fetal Heart Realm. If she hadn't taken the initiative to greet him, Ning Chang wouldn't have known that there was someone behind the door!

“This is a star chart…” As Ge Shu’s voice rang out, Ning Chang turned his gaze into the room.

The walls were completely empty, and in the center of the space was a flattened spherical object reflecting the starry sky, emitting a faint glow that made the surrounding ground appear somewhat white.

"Entrants will find themselves in a simulated starry sky, where they can see events related to themselves, whether it be past experiences or the short-term future, all of which can be revealed."

Would you like to give it a try, young friend?

As Ning Chang gazed at the astrological chart, images of her previous cultivation of the Inner Demon Speed ​​technique involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

Although the extraction of Ning Tongyu had no effect on the image after simply viewing it, he still felt a slight resistance when he thought about it again.

So he only glanced at it twice before turning his gaze elsewhere, but there seemed to be nowhere else to linger.