Ning Beichen stayed there for a few days and found no danger. He decided to leave Linglong behind and explore other areas alone through the portal.
"Hmm, is this a study?"
Ning Beichen entered an area and saw many bookshelves, which invigorated him. After checking for danger, he immediately walked in.
However, he was soon disappointed.
There were indeed many bookshelves, but they were all empty. Not a single book was left on them, likely taken away by someone, leaving him with not even a page.
Ning Beichen was greatly disappointed.
It wasn't that he hoped to find any secret martial arts manuals, but rather he simply wanted to understand what kind of place this was.
Unfortunately, there wasn't even a single page left. If a mouse entered, it would likely starve to death.
Ning Beichen, unwilling to give up, examined all the bookshelves, not even sparing the corners and crevices. However, there was nothing, no matter how he looked.
Disappointed, as Ning Beichen was about to leave, a section of the floor in a corner suddenly caught his attention.
This section of floor looked no different from the rest, and Ning Beichen had passed by here before. It wasn't until he was preparing to leave, by the doorway, that he inadvertently noticed in the dim light that the color of this floor section was slightly different, or rather, it looked newer.
If Ning Beichen hadn't turned back for a final, regretful glance, he would have missed this stone slab.
However, having been disappointed so many times, Ning Beichen was not overly excited by his discovery. Instead, with a calm mind, he approached the stone slab.
Ning Beichen squatted down, tapped it a few times with his finger, then hooked his finger into the gap and lifted it with force.
As expected, the stone slab came loose, revealing a hidden compartment beneath.
Ning Beichen took out a thin bronze sheet from the compartment.
The material of this bronze sheet was the same as the bronze pillars in the hall, and it was inscribed with some text.
Ning Beichen's face lit up with joy.
The characters on the bronze sheet were not the current script. They were the same ancient characters as those on the bronze pillars, but Ning Beichen could now understand them.
This was because his fragmented memories contained knowledge of these ancient writings.
The bronze sheet recorded a mysterious cultivation technique that Ning Beichen had never seen before. It was so mysterious that Ning Beichen could only understand the words, but not the meaning.
It was like a kindergarten child holding a university textbook; they could read every word but couldn't grasp the meaning or the rules.
However, Ning Beichen was very excited.
He was certain that this cultivation technique was not among those currently in circulation. Current techniques were not so profound as to be incomprehensible to him.
If Ning Beichen was not mistaken, the place he was currently in should be the site of a very ancient cultivation sect, but for some reason, it was buried in a no-man's-land in the Sahara Desert.
At this moment, Ning Beichen suddenly remembered the strange blood pool and wondered if the skeletons in the blood pool were left by the sect's enemies, or if they were the remains of the sect's disciples.
If it was the former, then where had the people of this sect gone?
Had they all died?
Or had they left?
If it was the latter, it would mean the sect had been attacked by a powerful enemy, implying that there were no longer any people in the sect, or they had fled.
Ning Beichen pondered for a while but found no answers. He set aside the matter and became very interested in the cultivation technique recorded on the bronze sheet.
This was because after reaching the Grandmaster level, even Ning Beichen had no cultivation techniques for beyond Grandmaster.
The reason was simple: beyond Grandmaster was the realm of Heaven and Man Unification.
And there were no cultivation techniques for Heaven and Man Unification in the world.
Otherwise, why would Ning Beichen have to collect the Nine Palaces Strategy?
But did such a cultivation technique for Heaven and Man Unification truly exist?
Ning Beichen was also confused. Although the Grandmaster realm was powerful, it was merely the current pinnacle of martial power in the world.
But what about in the past?
Were there only Grandmasters in the past as well?
Ning Beichen did not believe so.
But if he didn't believe it, why were there no beings stronger than Grandmasters in this world?
What about his master?
Was he also just a Grandmaster?
The more Ning Beichen thought, the more confused he became. If cultivation techniques beyond Grandmaster truly existed, why hadn't his master taught them to him?
Was it that there were none?
Or was it intentional?
Or was it out of fear?
If it was out of fear, then what was his master afraid of?
Ning Beichen thought for a long time without results.
He still couldn't understand the mysterious cultivation technique on the bronze sheet, but Ning Beichen had a vague feeling that this mysterious cultivation technique was not for below Grandmaster. It was very likely a cultivation technique for beyond Grandmaster.
As soon as this thought crossed his mind, Ning Beichen felt a surge of energy.
Even though he couldn't understand it now, it didn't mean he never would. He just needed some time to comprehend it.
Regardless, the mysterious cultivation technique on the bronze sheet had deeply captivated Ning Beichen. He planned to dedicate himself to deciphering it after he left this place.
Even if he couldn't understand it himself, he still had his incredibly mysterious master, who might be able to comprehend it.
Ning Beichen suppressed his excitement and solemnly put away the bronze sheet.
A few days later, Ning Beichen had explored the area through the portal.
He was now certain.
This was indeed the base of some ancient sect. It was unclear what had happened in the past, or perhaps after the passage of time, everything here had disappeared, leaving behind only a few things.
The blood pool was one, the study was another, and there were some unknown areas.
As for those unknown areas, Ning Beichen couldn't reach them even with the portal, so he believed they must hold great opportunities, which was a pity that he couldn't access them yet.
Finally, Ning Beichen returned to where he had settled Linglong.
Linglong was still the same, not awake, but not dead, and couldn't be woken up.
Ning Beichen was very worried about her, and this place was not entirely safe. Therefore, Ning Beichen decided to take her away from here and find a way to treat her after returning to the outside world.
After all, modern medicine was very advanced, and there might be a way to wake her up.
Ning Beichen felt no reluctance. Instead, he opened the portal leading to the outside world and walked out carrying Linglong on his back.
Compared to his own opportunities, his friends were clearly more important.