Could it be that his comprehension is that poor?

Even the Ice Extreme Saint Venerable had a fondness for talent, wanting several times to emerge from the Origin and personally enlighten this stubborn stone.

But ultimately, after the first nine years passed, he gave up in disappointment.

"Forget it, perhaps lacking comprehension is also fate..."

Time continued to flow.

A full twenty years later, there was finally some movement from the Celestial Dao Relic Sea.

Ji Linghan and the other seven, who had been immersed in a state of enlightenment, suddenly trembled and quickly withdrew from cultivation.

The group looked at each other.

"Senior Sister Ji, you’ve reached mid-stage Emperor Realm Sixth Layer?"

Zhongli Que’s stern expression thawed, revealing a hint of a smile.

Two Fourth Generation Disciples, Qiu Ran and Jiang Jiayi, showed signs of happiness.

"Congratulations, Sect Leader Ji!"

"Wow, even Master Zhongli has reached early-stage Emperor Realm Sixth Layer!"

Ji Linghan smiled contentedly: "You two are progressing well."

Although these two disciples were not first-class in talent, they had reached Emperor Realm Fifth Layer.

Four million years ago, they were only at Emperor Realm Second Layer.

In just four million years, breaking through three Great Realms is a feat only achievable in a Super Grotto Heaven Blessed Land like Ice Source Valley.

At that moment, a young man with a face like jade suddenly spoke, interrupting the conversation.

"Ji Linghan, Zhongli Que, have you thought it through?"

"Venerable Tianhong and Venerable Lei Yuan are both super experts at Emperor Realm Ninth Layer."

"If it weren’t for being at Ice Source Valley, you wouldn’t even qualify to approach them; now they proactively accept apprentices, and you still aren’t grateful?"

This youth’s cultivation was already at mid-stage Emperor Realm Seventh Layer.

Higher than Ji Linghan.

After he spoke, two others began to persuade as well.

"Ji Linghan, don’t be ungrateful."

"Indeed, being chosen as disciples by Emperor Realm Ninth Layer is the greatest honor of your lives."

Upon hearing their words, Ji Linghan and Zhongli Que both furrowed their brows.

"Wei Shan, last time we made it very clear."

"We greatly appreciate the kindness of the several Venerables and feel honored."

"But as disciples of Feixian Sect, we cannot apprentice under anyone else."

After saying this, they intended to leave.

Wei Shan blocked their path.

"Ji Linghan, I believe you aren’t foolish."

"An unprecedented great change is about to come, and when the Origin returns, Ice Source Valley will eventually disperse!"

"In the future, facing the brutal competition of the Three Thousand Realms, without a Venerable as a backing, you’re merely rootless duckweed."

"When that time comes, you will die silently!"

"Ice Extreme Saint Venerable hasn’t appeared for a long time; only by joining Celestial Venerable Ming Jue’s Ice Immortal Sect early can you carve out a place in the future chaotic times!"

His words made Ji Linghan involuntarily feel worried.

They had been at Ice Source Valley for four million years and understood the situation well.

Ice Source Valley was not a sect or a strict organization.

Ice Extreme Saint Venerable founded Ice Source Valley by bringing in five hundred people, but did not accept any as apprentices, only leaving cultivation technique manuals for them to cultivate autonomously.

The five hundred people usually addressed each other as Daoists and individually sought understanding in their cave mansions.

During True Realm wars they fought outwardly under the leadership of Ice Extreme Saint Venerable.

This situation persisted for millions of years before they arrived.

At that time, the external world underwent drastic changes.

It’s said that soon all the Three Thousand Realms will converge, and the Ice Realm will border other True Realms.

When that day comes, the Ice Origin will return to the Heavenly Dao, and their world will no longer be only one True Ice Realm.

By then, Ice Source Valley would have no meaning.

The Ice Extreme Saint Venerable seemingly had no concerns about such trends.

He simply wanted everyone to cultivate well.

Thus, Celestial Venerable Ming Jue, whose power was second only to his, rallied several Emperor Realm Ninth Layer and three hundred Emperor Realm Eighth Layer experts within the valley.

Together they founded a sect named Ice Immortal Sect.

Venerable Ying Yan became one of the elders of this new sect.

Their goal was to band together and rise in the upcoming changes.

The remaining Venerable Zhong Bei, Venerable Yun Suo, and others were carefree, uninterested in vying for power.

Because of this, Ice Source Valley had formed two factions.

Ice Immortal Sect, ambitious, relentlessly draws others to expand itself, showing signs of ’submit or perish’, causing turmoil in Ice Source Valley.

Yet Ice Extreme Saint Venerable still does not intervene or stop them.

Perhaps he also feels Ice Source Valley is about to disperse and understands the proactive preparations of these people.

Ji Linghan, Wei Shan and this batch of seven were personally chosen by Ice Extreme Saint Venerable.

According to him, they were the only seven in Ice Realm with unparalleled talent in comprehending the Heavenly Dao.

Celestial Venerable Ming Jue lacked a Daoist Heart, unaware of how to assess such talent, but understood the rarity was precious.

Therefore, he accepted Wei Shan, the highest in cultivation and best protagonist among the seven as a direct disciple.

And intended to recruit the other six into Ice Immortal Sect as well.

After all, the growth of a sect requires second generation disciples.

Lu Qing and Zong Xi joyfully apprenticed under two other Emperor Realm Ninth Layer Venerables on the second day of entering the valley.

But the four from Feixian Sect rejected the invitation.

They always considered themselves members of Feixian Sect; apprenticing under others would be treachery.

Because of this, they hadn’t found peace all these years.

Ice Immortal Sect’s overt and covert attempts to sway, persuade, and entice them with threats continued persistently.

Brother Cheng was approached last time by Venerable Ying Yan for similar reasons.

He directly charged through the Origin’s blockade, marked special and intended to be taken into Ice Immortal Sect.

However, this brother later became lazy, performed poorly, like incapable mud.

Gradually, Ice Immortal Sect lost interest in him.

"We’re still saying the same thing, we appreciate your sect’s kindness, but everyone has their own aspirations..."

"Hmph!"

Refused, Wei Shan felt very embarrassed.

Recruiting Ji Linghan was a task given by his master, yet faced repeated setbacks, dignity lost.

"Ji Linghan, don’t be audacious!"

He flashed again, blocking Ji Linghan’s path.

"Don’t think no one can touch you in Ice Source Valley, once outside, nothing is certain..."

Ji Linghan, having faced tumult, recognized his threat.

She responded with a cold face, "Wei Shan, what do you mean?"

"Nothing significant, ha, as long as you understand..."

Wei Shan wanted to say more when a figure suddenly shielded him behind.

"Hahaha, my lovable disciples, did you miss me?"

Hearing the familiar voice and seeing that captivating familiar face, Ji Linghan almost felt she was dreaming.