However, Ning Beichen truly felt his own transformation. His cultivation had indeed increased, and some of his doubts about cultivation had been resolved.
But what exactly happened just now?
What had occurred?
Ning Beichen himself was bewildered.
"Did you see anything just now?"
Ning Beichen asked Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie.
"No?"
Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie replied simultaneously, thinking inwardly, "Did Ning Beichen see something just now?"
"Really nothing?"
Ning Beichen couldn't help but furrow his brow, as the experience had been too surreal.
For not only had Ning Beichen heard the sound of scriptures being preached, but he had also seen countless scenes.
In reality, his experience had not been that short. Based on his estimation, he should have been in that shifting environment for about an hour.
But in reality, according to Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie's answers, it seemed as if no time had passed at all.
In other words, the hour that Ning Beichen had just experienced had simply not existed in their eyes.
Shocking!
Immensely shocking!
What kind of power could achieve this!
Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie both shook their heads at Ning Beichen and asked with confused expressions.
"Mr. Ning, did you see something just now?"
"No, perhaps I was mistaken."
Ning Beichen replied.
He naturally would not tell them what had just happened, for a simple reason: Ning Beichen did not trust them.
Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie could tell that Ning Beichen was hiding something from them, but they were merely Ning Beichen's defeated opponents and did not have the right or courage to pry further.
The three rested. About half an hour later, Ning Beichen stood up and said to them, "We're not far from the top. Let's continue."
Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie were both stunned. They were curious how Ning Beichen knew they weren't far from the top.
They were still enveloped in clouds and mist here, unable to see the end, let alone what was above.
"Is he guessing?"
Ling Jue and Zhao Yingdie mused inwardly.
However, at this moment, Ning Beichen had already started walking upwards, and they quickly followed.
As Ning Beichen had said, the three walked upwards for about half an hour. The white jade steps disappeared, and the clouds and mist vanished, revealing a vast plaza before them.
The plaza was empty, with no one around, only a few wisps of clouds drifting by occasionally.
Above the plaza were many buildings, and at the highest, central position, stood an immense palace.
Although there was no one visible, the sight was still incredibly awe-inspiring.
However, Ning Beichen's expression was strange. He had been here before, and it was very familiar, not in reality, but during that dreamlike hour just now.
But when he had been there, the plaza had been filled with cultivators dressed in ancient white robes, practicing a combined sword technique.
The sound of scriptures he had heard had come from the topmost palace.
Ning Beichen had glanced at the plaque above the topmost palace; it read 'Jiang Jing Ge' (Scripture Preaching Pavilion).
But in reality, no one was preaching scriptures.
Therefore, Ning Beichen suspected that his previous experience was likely due to his spirit or consciousness resonating with the surrounding magnetic field of this place.
This might have allowed him to see or hear a recording left behind from a certain period in this location.
After being with Liu Yilin, Ning Beichen was no longer accustomed to attributing unknown phenomena to metaphysics, but rather tried to interpret them using scientific principles.
Of course, science isn't always right, and metaphysics isn't entirely baseless.
But the combination of the two often provides illuminating answers or prompts reflection.
Ning Beichen was not a stubborn person.
This was no longer an ancient era, and cultivators needed to keep up with the times to go further.
At least, that's what Ning Beichen believed.
From this perspective, he felt he was far superior to those old fuddy-duddies who remained in seclusion within the orthodox sects.
The thoughts of those old fuddy-duddies were already ossified, and changing their perceptions was extremely difficult.
It was like pointing at a cow and telling an adult, "Look, it's a pig." The adult would likely just give you a look of disdain and a middle finger.
But if you pointed at this cow and told a young child with weak cognitive abilities, "This is a pig," the child would definitely believe you, because no one had yet told them it was a cow.
But why was it a cow and not a pig?
It was because humans had given them their earliest names. But whether they were essentially cows or pigs was just a label, like why someone was called Zhang San instead of Li Si.
Those old fuddy-duddies often couldn't break free from this cognition, because in their hearts, it was already a cow, and no one was allowed to question it, including themselves.
This was also why Ning Beichen, at such a young age, could break through to Grandmaster without the Core Breaking Pill, and even surpass Grandmaster, embarking on the path of transcending mortality towards the unity of heaven and man.
It was because Ning Beichen dared to question, dare to deny, and dare to affirm.
However, the three of them were not here to sightsee, but to find something.
So, they only lingered briefly in the plaza before heading towards the palaces and buildings.
"Cang Jing Ge, it's Cang Jing Ge!"
The three arrived at a building with an ancient charm and heard Ling Jue excitedly exclaim, pointing at the plaque above the structure.
Zhao Yingdie, unable to contain herself, immediately stepped forward to push open the door of Cang Jing Ge.
"Presumptuous!"
At this moment, a stern voice was heard.
A tremendous force sent Zhao Yingdie flying out. She landed and coughed up blood repeatedly, her expression filled with terror.
"Someone is inside Cang Jing Ge!"
Ling Jue also shouted, becoming utterly terrified.
Only Ning Beichen showed no panic, nor did he retreat like Ling Jue.
Ning Beichen had also heard the voice, but it wasn't human. It came from the door of Cang Jing Ge. He had seen it clearly just now.
When Zhao Yingdie reached out to touch the door of Cang Jing Ge, Ning Beichen distinctly saw a red light appear on the door. Then, Ning Beichen saw the door open its eyes.
Following the red light, it repelled Zhao Yingdie, much like an ill-tempered human.
"Senior, I did not intend to offend. I merely wished to enter the pavilion for a look."
Ning Beichen bowed respectfully to the door.
Although it was absurd, it wasn't unacceptable. If calamities could exist, a door with its own consciousness was not impossible.
"Cang Jing Ge is only open to disciples of the sect. Please state your identity."
A deep voice echoed from within Cang Jing Ge.