In any era, the strong are respected, and the Mortal World is no exception.
Humans share a common psychology; as long as they are not the only ones suffering, seeing others in the same predicament alleviates their resentment towards their adversaries.
It stems from the belief that this is not a lack of backbone on their part, but rather the overwhelming power of the opponent. Yielding before a stronger enemy is not seen as shameful.
Situations like this are commonplace in the Mortal World.
“Old Xu, I won't hide it from you. I submitted to him the moment I entered this realm. It wasn't that I didn't want to resist, but that he was beyond my ability to fight. In his presence, I didn't even have a chance to retaliate, just like you.
As you just heard him say, your choices are to submit or die, or we both die together. I had no choice, but you still do.”
Zhou Yu said to him in a tone of utter despair.
Xu Da was stunned, his whole body trembling, unsure if it was from pain, heartache, or the unwillingness to surrender.
He was faced with a life-or-death dilemma, a choice between survival and his integrity.
Looking at his companion Zhou Yu's slightly peculiar expression, even a hint of anticipation, Xu Da shivered.
He was all too familiar with that look in Zhou Yu's eyes; he had seen it many times before. His 'good' companion likely hoped he would choose to resist.
And if he were to oblige him…
“Is Zhou Yu trying to get rid of me?”
“I submit, I submit.”
With this thought, Xu Da hastily shouted.
Hearing Xu Da's willingness to submit, Zhou Yu appeared slightly disappointed and went to report the situation to Ning Beichen.
But in his heart, he felt both joy and sorrow.
If he hadn't used this method, he would have had to kill Xu Da with his own hands, something he was unwilling to do. So, he could only make Xu Da suspect him. Even if Xu Da misunderstood him, it was better than him killing Xu Da himself.
Ning Beichen, treating Xu Da’s submission similarly to Zhou Yu’s, placed a backdoor in his cultivation seal.
Several hours later.
Xu Da stood obediently beside Ning Beichen, having told him everything he knew, occasionally casting an unfriendly glance at Zhou Yu.
Zhou Yu could only pretend not to see it. He was helpless. If he hadn't acted this way, given Xu Da's temperament, he would have certainly resisted to the end.
“By the way, have you two encountered anyone like this in the Mortal World?”
Ning Beichen showed them a photo of his master, Chen Xingyun.
Zhou Yu and Xu Da studied the photo intently, but both shook their heads, indicating they had neither seen nor heard of such a person, which disappointed Ning Beichen.
He wondered if his master had indeed gone to the Mortal World.
Given his master's strength, there were almost no threats to him in this realm, which was why Ning Beichen suspected his master had gone to the Mortal World.
However, his master had always been very low-key in this realm, his name known to few. Even if he had gone to the Mortal World, he likely wouldn't have gained much notoriety.
Therefore, it was quite normal that Zhou Yu and Xu Da had not seen or heard of Chen Xingyun, and Ning Beichen could only continue to investigate his whereabouts slowly.
However, besides this matter, Ning Beichen also learned something very important.
The reason why they, as Mortal World transcenders, had entered this realm without triggering its法则毁灭 (law destruction) was because a powerful being had predicted that the laws of this realm were weakening.
As long as transcenders below the Tai Yi realm entered this realm, they would generally not be subject to law destruction.
This news caused Ning Beichen some unease.
Because he felt that the change in the realm’s laws might be related to his breakthrough to the Grandmaster realm and achieving the state of "Heaven and Man United."
Before him, the strongest in this realm had been at most Grandmaster level.
But he had taken a different path, through a life-and-death tribulation and the Zhou Tian path, forcibly breaking through the influence of the laws and successfully taking that step.
Regardless, Ning Beichen had already taken that step and could not turn back. Furthermore, he could not lower his cultivation, so he could only take it one step at a time.
Approximately a few days later.
Ning Beichen left with Zhou Yu and Xu Da.
The Lotus Cave Heaven had been fully explored. Nothing was found inside, though Ning Beichen did obtain some of the memories of a cultivator from the Ming Dynasty.
To obtain all his memories, Ning Beichen needed to help him find his descendant and pass on the cultivation techniques to them.
But who knew where his descendant was, or if they were even still alive? Thus, Ning Beichen planned to have people investigate after he returned.
If he could find his descendant, that would be ideal.
If he couldn't find them, or if they had no descendants, then Ning Beichen would have no choice but to give up.
As for Zhou Yu and Xu Da, Ning Beichen did not have them follow him. Instead, he released them, instructing them to search for the whereabouts of the other transcenders and to notify him immediately upon finding them.
Xu Da, being simple-minded, didn't overthink it. Since he had already submitted to Ning Beichen, he followed Ning Beichen's orders.
Zhou Yu, however, understood Ning Beichen's intentions. But precisely because he understood, he felt fear and apprehension.
He saw Ning Beichen's ambition. Ning Beichen definitely intended to enlist all six of them, the transcenders, for his own use.
But even though Zhou Yu saw this, it was useless. He himself was like a clay Buddha crossing a river, struggling to survive. Even if he sacrificed himself, he might not be able to change Ning Beichen's resolve.
When they left, Xu Da glared at him with resentment and misunderstanding, leaving Zhou Yu no opportunity to explain.
In Xu Da's heart, his greatest hatred was likely not for Ning Beichen, but for his 'betraying' companion.
Zhou Yu could only hope that Xu Da would one day understand his intentions and not let his efforts be in vain.
Upon returning to Haizhou, Ning Beichen immediately had people investigate the information about the descendant of the Ming Dynasty cultivator.
Originally, Ning Beichen thought that after several hundred years, the chance of finding his descendant would be extremely slim.
However, to Ning Beichen's surprise, the very next day after he sent people to investigate, good news arrived: they had found the descendant of the Ming Dynasty cultivator.
However, his lineage was not prosperous. Currently, only one person could be traced, and it was a woman.
What's more, this woman was quite famous and was a major celebrity.
Regardless, Ning Beichen intended to meet her.
As for whether he would fulfill the Ming Dynasty cultivator's wish, Ning Beichen was unsure. He could only decide after meeting his descendant and communicating with her.
If his descendant wished to cultivate, Ning Beichen would pass on her ancestor's cultivation method.
If she was unwilling to take that path, Ning Beichen would not force her, as this path was not an easy one.