"Only the top ten?"
Ning Beichen murmured softly, but he was self-aware. Although he was a true Grandmaster, it didn't mean there were no other true Grandmasters in the world.
For his age, ranking in the top ten among Grandmasters was already remarkable.
As for first place.
Ning Beichen had never even considered it.
Putting aside everything else, his own master was someone he couldn't possibly contend with.
Seeing that Ning Beichen seemed somewhat dissatisfied with the ranking, the Chen family patriarch was extremely shocked.
He wondered who had taught this Grandmaster Ning, whose disciple was unsatisfied with the top ten. Regardless, the Chen family absolutely could not offend him; they had to befriend him.
Ning Beichen saw the expression on the Chen family patriarch's face and immediately knew he had misunderstood. He quickly explained.
"Patriarch Chen, you've misunderstood. I'm not dissatisfied with the ranking; I'm just feeling a bit sentimental."
"Thinking about how many accomplished cultivators there were in our Oriental Ancient Kingdom in the past, but now there's a gap, and the sects are in decline. Even someone of my cultivation can rank in the top ten. It truly makes me feel ashamed."
The Chen family patriarch also sighed with emotion upon hearing Ning Beichen's words.
However, this was unavoidable. Life was better now, and there were no wars, so people were naturally unwilling to cultivate arduously.
Furthermore, with the development of society, many blessed lands no longer existed, and heavenly treasures were extremely scarce. Even common medicinal herbs like ginseng were artificially cultivated. Where could one find spiritual energy from heaven and earth?
Coupled with extensive environmental damage and social tranquility, it was already rare for people nowadays to cultivate to the Grandmaster level. What's more, to advance beyond it.
"By the way, Grandmaster Ning is so young. Do you perhaps have any thoughts of advancing further?"
The Chen family patriarch looked at Ning Beichen with an eager expression.
Ning Beichen's heart trembled. He looked at the Chen family patriarch and asked with some surprise.
"Patriarch, are you referring to the unity of heaven and man?"
The Chen family patriarch's eyes lit up, and he nodded at Ning Beichen.
Below the Grandmaster realm, one was merely mortal, with a lifespan predetermined by heaven. Even a Grandmaster could not live beyond the age of one hundred and fifty.
Therefore, the unity of heaven and man was a realm all cultivators yearned for, because reaching it could extend one's lifespan. If one could advance to the realm of the unity of heaven and man, their lifespan could be extended by at least three hundred years.
"The unity of heaven and man is ethereal and illusory. There are only legends, no sign of it. Patriarch might be overthinking."
Ning Beichen said calmly. He naturally wouldn't reveal his secret collection of the Nine Palaces Strategy.
"Not at all, not at all. The unity of heaven and man is not ethereal and illusory. Although there aren't many Grandmasters in the ancient kingdom, with the accumulation over the years, the number of Grandmasters in the ancient kingdom is actually quite substantial. If not many, then still a thousand or a few hundred."
The Chen family patriarch lowered his voice and said to Ning Beichen.
Hearing that there were a thousand or a few hundred Grandmasters, Ning Beichen was startled. He hadn't expected there to be so many Grandmasters in the ancient kingdom. Fortunately, he had previously thought that reaching the Grandmaster realm would grant him peace of mind.
"Since there are so many Grandmasters, why have we never heard of their existence in the world?"
Ning Beichen also lowered his voice and asked.
"It's not easy to advance to the Grandmaster realm. I myself only stepped through the door of the Grandmaster realm at the age of seventy-eight, and most Grandmasters in the world are like this."
"At our age, worldly wealth and power hold little attraction. At most, it's about mentoring the younger generation. What we pursue is naturally the unity of heaven and man, so why would we waste time in this world?"
The Chen family patriarch whispered to Ning Beichen.
"What does the Patriarch mean?"
Ning Beichen listened, somewhat confused.
"We have pursued the unity of heaven and man for so many years, and after much exploration, we have made some progress. We have found a glimmer of opportunity to break through to the unity of heaven and man."
The Chen family patriarch spoke softer and softer. If Ning Beichen hadn't been paying full attention, he wouldn't have been able to hear him.
Ning Beichen's heart leaped. He immediately asked, "Is it the Nine Palaces Strategy?"
The Chen family patriarch shook his head and said, "No. Although legend has it that the Nine Palaces Strategy holds the secret to understanding the unity of heaven and man, no one has ever managed to collect the complete Nine Palaces Strategy over the years. Even if someone did, it's still unknown whether it truly contains the secret to the unity of heaven and man."
Ning Beichen was relieved upon hearing that they were not after the Nine Palaces Strategy.
He had already collected four volumes of the Nine Palaces Strategy, and his senior sister had also found clues to the whereabouts of other volumes. Ning Beichen had already sent people to investigate the remaining volumes, and they were showing some progress.
If there was one person in the world today who had the greatest hope of collecting the Nine Palaces Strategy, it would undoubtedly be him, Ning Beichen.
Even if the Nine Palaces Strategy didn't necessarily hold the secret to understanding the unity of heaven and man, where there's smoke, there's fire. If others couldn't find it, he, Ning Beichen, might be able to.
If these Grandmasters were truly after the Nine Palaces Strategy, Ning Beichen would be in quite a bit of trouble. Now that he heard the Chen family patriarch say their method wasn't the Nine Palaces Strategy, Ning Beichen was at ease.
"If it's not the Nine Palaces Strategy, then what other way is there to understand the unity of heaven and man?"
Ning Beichen asked in a low, fervent voice.
He was a Grandmaster, although not yet perfect, and could only be considered a novice Grandmaster at best. To say he had no interest in the unity of heaven and man would be self-deception.
After cultivating so hard for so long, who wouldn't want to glimpse a higher realm?
Ning Beichen lacked nothing in terms of worldly wealth. He had no interest in fame and fortune. Only the path of cultivation was what Ning Beichen desired most.
"Grandmaster Ning, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but this matter is not something I can decide alone. One must join the Grandmaster Alliance to have the right to know. Grandmaster Ning, at your age, to possess the cultivation of a Grandmaster, if you are willing to join the Grandmaster Alliance, you will undoubtedly be welcomed."
The Chen family patriarch said to Ning Beichen.
"Grandmaster Alliance? I've never heard of it."
Ning Beichen shook his head. He knew nothing about the Grandmaster Alliance and naturally wouldn't agree to join immediately.
"The Grandmaster Alliance is exactly as its name suggests. It is an alliance formed by Grandmasters from the Oriental Ancient Kingdom. By joining this alliance, everyone can share information, communicate with each other, and even trade heavenly treasures. Or they can learn about hard-to-find heavenly treasures or cultivation techniques, and so on."
"Another point is that everyone must watch out for each other. For example, if a Grandmaster encounters a great trouble and needs help, the Grandmasters in the alliance must assist."
"Of course, such help is not provided for free. Sufficient rewards will be given afterward. In essence, joining this alliance has a hundred benefits and no drawbacks."
The Chen family patriarch explained the Grandmaster Alliance in detail to Ning Beichen.
However, Ning Beichen was not a naive person. Although young, he was not a green newcomer. An unconstrained alliance was just a pile of loose sand. He did not fully believe everything the Chen family patriarch said.