Little did Zhang Junbao know that his shock upon seeing Ye Yun was even greater. As someone in the Innate realm, when he carefully observed Ye Yun, he quickly discovered the differences between Ye Yun and himself.
Bone age!
Vitality!
Both of these revealed Ye Yun's actual age without exception. Moreover, his vitality was more than a notch stronger than his own, indicating that Ye Yun's strength was immeasurably greater than his.
A Celestial Being at 23 years old!
Zhang Junbao suppressed the tremor in his heart and began to converse with Ye Yun. His tone was even enthusiastic and flattering.
He had originally been entrusted by the Elder Council to subtly rein Ye Yun in. Now, that thought was entirely gone.
After a period of conversation, Ye Yun finally gained a new understanding of this world, even solving some lingering mysteries from his past life. He also gained a comprehensive understanding of the cultivation system in the real world.
In ancient times, a large number of cultivators emerged on Blue Star, igniting a cultivation craze. They showed no reverence to heaven or earth, broke all earthly shackles, and shattered humanity's own limitations. Everything was heading towards a prosperous era of cultivation.
However, a significant change occurred over 3,200 years ago.
Three thousand two hundred years ago, just before the Western Zhou Dynasty, human cultivators reached their peak. Humanity gradually grew stronger, began to venture into the stars, and even unscrupulously plundered resources. This soon attracted the attention of some alien races.
After twenty to thirty years of observation, they discovered that although humans were born weak, they possessed a talent and wisdom that shocked even them, making them feel a strong sense of threat.
Thus, they began to lay their plans on Blue Star, gradually cultivating some weak humans into their trusted subordinates. Joining forces with three races, they took advantage of the internal strife within human kingdoms to run rampant on Blue Star, completely destroying the cultivation system that humanity had painstakingly built over several epochs.
If it were only this, it would be bearable; with human ingenuity, they would eventually become strong again. However, these beings established puppet regimes and, over a period of several hundred years, plundered the cultivation resources of the entire planet.
When they withdrew, they also set up a massive Spirit Breaking Array outside the Blue Star domain, gradually siphoning off the spiritual energy of Blue Star, making it impossible for future generations on Blue Star to cultivate.
"That's so explosive? Then how do you guys cultivate?" Ye Yun asked Zhang Junbao with confusion. As for what he had just mentioned, Ye Yun could roughly imagine the situation.
More than 3,200 years ago, wasn't that the era of Investiture of the Gods? The era when demons, spirits, gods, and humans danced together. Unfortunately, there was too little information about that era, but one thing Ye Yun was very clear about was the origin of the term 'Son of Heaven'!
"These are just records from some ancient texts; we have no way of knowing the specifics of what happened back then. Perhaps it's all nonsense?"
"However, it is true that the spiritual energy has been thinning day by day. We can only rely on some natural gifts to barely reach this Innate realm. Unfortunately, since reaching this stage, this old man has made no progress for 500 years," Zhang Junbao said with a hint of disappointment as he sipped his tea.
In the Innate realm, one's lifespan reached nine hundred years! Zhang Junbao was already over eight hundred and seventy years old; his time was running out.
What could Ye Yun say?
He himself was utterly bewildered!
No wonder that Li Jianyin the other day had called himself an 'Innate realm expert.' So, that guy thought he was also an ancient martial arts practitioner.
However, Zhang Junbao had been stuck in the Innate realm for 500 years. It seemed that this Innate realm was the ultimate barrier in this world.
Although the fluctuation of strength from Zhang Junbao was significantly weaker than his own, this was the first time Ye Yun knew that cultivators truly existed in this world! And there had even been immortal cultivators!
"Elder Zhang, are there many people like you?" Ye Yun asked with some curiosity.
"Not many. There are only 3 left in the entire world, each a national treasure of their respective countries. In our Huaguo, I am the only one." Speaking of this, Zhang Junbao's aged face was filled with melancholy.
"In the past hundred years, the demon dens have become increasingly active, with more and more demon creatures breaking through spatial barriers. Bowen self-destructed a hundred years ago."
Perhaps due to his age, Zhang Junbao was quite talkative, sharing many secrets that Ye Yun had never known.
"Demon dens?" Another new term. It seemed his strength in his previous life was truly too low.
"Yes, this demon den is located in a region of Nevada, USA, and is now sealed off by the United States."
"Area 51? That so-called alien base? What exactly is inside?" Ye Yun's heart stirred, recalling various rumors on the internet.
"Yes, inside there is a cosmic black hole. Every month during the full moon, a few demon creatures emerge from it. For reasons unknown these past two months, the number of demon creatures emerging each month has reached thirty. Although their strength has decreased, each one is comparable to a Grandmaster."
"This is considered good. Last year's 'Aurora Night Shadow' incident at Area 51 was actually a demon tide where one demon creature broke through our defenses. An Innate realm expert, nearing the end of his life, was trapped in the horde and self-destructed. A demon tide, that's nearly a thousand demon creatures at once. If another one comes, I don't know if the three old men can hold them off."
Zhang Junbao spoke with an unwillingness in his face.
"What happens if you can't hold them off?" Ye Yun asked, feeling a bit more interested in these demon creatures from Zhang Junbao's words.
"If we can't hold them off? ...The Americas would quickly become a world of demon creatures, and the entire world would fall into endless war!" Zhang Junbao was stunned for a moment, then replied.
"So, you are constantly stationed in the United States? Isn't that indirectly serving them?" Ye Yun asked indifferently, his eyes fixed on Zhang Junbao.
"This concerns the lives of all humanity. Of course, I'm stationed there. Moreover, the U.S. government offers us a reward of five million U.S. dollars for each demon creature killed. Why wouldn't I do it! Besides, it's a time of peace, and earning foreign exchange is better for the country, isn't it?"
"Most importantly, after killing demon creatures, their demonic energy can strengthen our sea of consciousness! Although it's a tiny amount, for us who have been stagnant for hundreds of years, it's still a glimmer of hope!" Zhang Junbao said calmly, avoiding Ye Yun's gaze.
He feared death. If he didn't break through again, in another ten to twenty years, he would be nothing but dust.
Five million U.S. dollars each?
Ye Yun blinked. As expected of the wealthy and powerful United States. If Zhang Junbao's words were to be believed, then thirty creatures a month would amount to one hundred and fifty million U.S. dollars!
Hiss...
Damn it, that's equivalent to 900 million Chinese Yuan! Even if split among three people, that's 300 million each. A year would be 3.6 billion!
Calculating this, Ye Yun gasped! Honestly, even he was a little tempted.
"Call me next time there's a beast tide."