Lingxu Cave Heaven, Strange Grounds Domain.

  The space here was divided into many different zones, just like the Inner Sect disciples' territories. Each zone produced different celestial phenomena.

  Xia Li walked to a large stone stele and began reading the introduction to the Strange Grounds.

  The senior masters of Lingxu Cave Heaven, after creating their techniques, would all transmit the Dao through this method rather than directly recording them into jade slips.

  Because jade slips could only perfectly transmit Dao arts below the Profound grade. For Heaven and Earth grade Dao arts, recording via jade slip would only yield simplified or incomplete versions.

  Paper-based secret manuals could record Mortal and Mundane grade Dao arts.

  Jade slips could record Profound and Yellow grade Dao arts.

  For perfect transmission of Heaven and Earth grade arts, one could only construct inheritance grounds.

  "Lin Ge, it seems the Earth-grade technique you gave me isn't complete. And you still charged that much?"

  After reading the stele's introduction, Xia Li understood the situation. He turned to look at the tagalong behind him.

  Lin Ge had followed anyway, claiming to show Xia Li around and introduce various aspects of Lingxu Cave Heaven.

  "Indeed not complete. The complete Dao art also includes the Assassination Chapter, while what I gave you is only the Concealment Chapter. But I didn't lie either."

  "I said it contains Dark Night Tower's concealment technique—that part wasn't false."

  "As for expensive? Where is it expensive? Ask around at any trade association—this has been the price for years. Perhaps you should reflect on whether you haven't worked hard enough."

  "Also... this technique was my gift of apology. You're the one who insisted on paying spirit stones—I just quoted you the market price."

  Lin Ge's eyes were clear and unwavering as she answered, indicating a clear conscience. Though the Concealment Chapter was just one part separated from a complete assassination technique set.

  But the chapter formulas related to concealment weren't incomplete—they were complete.

  "You can do that?"

  It wasn't even a complete technique—just a separate chapter selling for this much?

  But Xia Li soon understood. Earth's prices and prices here couldn't be compared. Earth's techniques were cheap, but here they believed arts shouldn't be lightly transmitted—techniques sold expensively.

  Xia Li estimated that if he brought the technique Lin Ge gave him back to Earth to sell, its value would probably instantly shrink by dozens of times.

  "Making a fuss over nothing. Any Heaven or Earth grade technique transmitted via jade slip is by default sectioned."

  "For example, the technique recorded in the jade slip I gave you is formally named Shadow Kill Art: Breath Concealment Chapter."

  "So a complete high-grade technique can be perfectly transmitted through sections?"

  Xia Li wanted to smuggle this world's techniques back to Earth and upload them to the Heavenly Dao Computer. The Computer would award him Heavenly Dao Points based on the technique's sophistication.

  Compared to selling cheaply, Heavenly Dao Points were definitely more valuable.

  "It still can't be done. Critical Dao essence would be lacking. Though with special methods plus special materials, Heaven and Earth grade techniques should be perfectly recordable."

  "I see. So the Strange Grounds are the true inheritance grounds."

  Only within the Strange Grounds were there complete Heaven and Earth grade techniques.

  "So, Junior Brother Xia, have you decided which Strange Ground to enter?"

  "Still considering. The Strange Grounds don't even hint at what techniques they contain..."

  This made it difficult for Xia Li to decide. After all, he currently only had one chance to enter the Strange Grounds—wasting it would be a huge loss.

  "Of course the sect won't hint. Arts aren't to be lightly transmitted, and one must observe Dao affinity. Coming to the Strange Grounds to comprehend techniques is about fate—while you're choosing techniques, the Dao arts are also choosing you."

  "However... if you really want to know what Dao each Strange Ground transmits, I can tell you."

  Lin Ge now began demonstrating her usefulness. As the Third Elder's biological granddaughter who'd grown up in Lingxu Cave Heaven since childhood, she naturally knew many things about the sect.

  Information like what Dao arts were transmitted in each Strange Ground was something she knew.

  "Fate, huh? Such lovely fate. Let me go in and try!"

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Xia Li suddenly didn't want to know exactly what techniques each Strange Ground transmitted. He wanted to see what technique he could comprehend based purely on his own intuition.

  "You're really going with fate? You really won't let me guide you? Not only do I know what techniques each Strange Ground transmits, I also know the comprehension tricks. Don't you want to learn a Heaven-grade technique?"

  Lin Ge suddenly felt some regret at her unnecessary meddling. Had she known, she wouldn't have explained the Strange Grounds' rules—she should've tricked Xia Li by saying what technique you comprehend was pure luck.

  That way, Xia Li would rely on her!

  "Let's talk about it next time. I'm quite interested in this aspect of the Dao arts also choosing me."

  "Come on! Please, let me guide you a little. Otherwise, won't I seem useless!"

  Lin Ge shamelessly followed Xia Li precisely to show off in front of him. She hadn't expected Xia Li to be so go-with-the-flow.

  "Since Heaven and Earth grade Dao arts choose their masters, I think following nature is best. Knowing in advance would be too purposeful—that's lowering oneself."

  "As the saying goes: Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Dao, and Dao follows Nature!"

  At this moment, Xia Li recalled a saying. The reason Heaven and Earth grade Dao arts were extraordinary was probably due to their unique spirituality.

  "Dao follows Nature?"

  Lin Ge fell into deep thought upon hearing this. The phrase was profoundly meaningful, directly explaining why Lingxu Cave Heaven forbade revealing what Dao each Strange Ground transmitted.

  This was Lingxu Cave Heaven's purpose—letting disciples learn techniques suited to themselves rather than blindly pursuing what others considered powerful.

  To inherit the Dao and to develop the Dao.

  Otherwise, if everyone learned the powerful techniques, wouldn't the relatively weaker techniques never have inheritors? What if those currently weak techniques could transform in the future?

  Just then...

  An elder with immortal bearing suddenly appeared before the stone stele.

  "Well said—exactly so. I didn't expect someone your age to have such insight."

  The elder looked at Xia Li with scrutiny in his gaze, but also a trace of appreciation.

  Among disciples who came to the Strange Grounds, the vast majority didn't follow the sect's rules. They all came prepared—few disciples understood the sect's deeper meaning.

  Even those who did could only intuit it without articulating it clearly.

  Disciples like Xia Li who could express the deeper meaning in just a few words were extremely rare.

  "May I ask who Senior is?"

  "Call me Third Elder or Elder Lin."

  "Greetings, Third Elder!"

  Xia Li immediately saluted, though internally he was already thinking this wasn't good. Wasn't the Third Elder Lin Ge's biological grandfather?

  Was this a case of the granddaughter acting out, so grandfather came to discipline her?

  "Mm."

  The Third Elder nodded kindly, then looked at Lin Ge.

  He already knew about the outrageous thing Lin Ge had done—actually taking liberties with a male disciple in front of so many new disciples at the mountain gate.

  He didn't recall raising his granddaughter to be like this. His granddaughter was quite renowned within and outside the sect, never lacking suitors.

  But Lin Ge had seemed obtuse since childhood, completely lacking interest in such matters. Who knew that once she finally showed interest, she'd directly go hands-on.

  Simply...

  Outrageous!

  "Xiao Ge, there are some things I won't lecture you about. You have your own choices. But do not force others."

  "As for you—if her harassment becomes unbearable, remember to tell me. I'll discipline her for you."

  The Third Elder knew Lin Ge's nature. Though she hadn't reached the point of absolutely having whatever she set her eyes on, getting her to give up was still very difficult.

  He didn't want to lose face by having people mock his granddaughter for shamelessly harassing male disciples.

  As for whether Xia Li accepted or not...

  He was quite open-minded about that. Acceptance meant treating Xia Li as a grandson-in-law. No acceptance, no problem. The reason he'd stayed at the sect long-term rather than returning to the family was that he'd had enough of the family's stuffiness when young.

  Now that he was in charge, he wouldn't practice that whole matching-social-status nonsense.