"There's no need to trouble Celestial Master Zhang. My business here is done, and I'm planning to leave Longhu Mountain soon. This visit as your guest is my way of forging good karma before I depart." Ning Beichen said directly.
"Mr. Ning is leaving so soon?" Zhang Hong's heart pounded at Ning Beichen's words, his face filled with reluctance.
"Not immediately. I've been on Longhu Mountain for almost a month now, and it's time to go. Before I leave, is there anything you wish to ask me, Celestial Master?" Ning Beichen, unwilling to waste time bickering, decided to cut to the chase. He could already guess what Zhang Hong wanted to ask, and he had prepared his answers.
"In that case, I won't be polite. There are rumors in the outside world that Mr. Ning has already taken that step. Is this true?" Zhang Hong asked in a low voice, as if afraid of being overheard.
"Yes, Celestial Master, you heard correctly. The rumors are true." Ning Beichen admitted generously. This matter didn't require secrecy for him. In fact, it couldn't be kept secret. He could easily defeat those two grandmasters from Mount Hua, and even if he didn't admit it, they would speculate in that direction. Furthermore, Ning Beichen had his own selfish reasons for admitting it. While it felt good to be the only transcended being in this world, Ning Beichen's ultimate goal was the transcended realm. It would be better to gather allies rather than fight alone.
Upon hearing Ning Beichen's words, Zhang Hong's eyes lit up. His aura surged uncontrollably, and he looked at Ning Beichen with immense joy. Whether he had a chance to take that step himself or not, knowing that such a step existed was enough to satisfy him, even if he died. Of course, if he could have the opportunity to take that step and see for himself in this lifetime, it would be the wish of all cultivators.
"Mr. Ning, may I see it?" Zhang Hong asked excitedly.
"Alright." As soon as Ning Beichen said the word, Zhang Hong was sent flying backward. "My apologies." Ning Beichen clasped his hands at him. He had merely sent Zhang Hong flying, not harmed him.
Zhang Hong stood stunned on the spot. He hadn't even seen Ning Beichen make a move, nor had he sensed any danger before a mysterious and unfathomable power propelled him away. In other words, if Ning Beichen had wanted to kill him, it would have been effortless. He was a grandmaster, not a minor one, but a great grandmaster, though he had never publicized it.
This time, Zhang Hong truly believed that Ning Beichen had taken that step. Otherwise, how could Ning Beichen have so easily defeated him, a great grandmaster? He felt no frustration at being defeated, only excitement and exhilaration. So the realm of 'harmony between man and nature' truly existed and wasn't just a legend.
"Mr. Ning, was that the ability of 'harmony between man and nature' just now?" Zhang Hong asked excitedly.
Ning Beichen nodded. In truth, it was more than just the ability of 'harmony between man and nature'; he had utilized the dimensional ability he had recently comprehended. However, calling it the ability of 'harmony between man and nature' wasn't wrong either, as without achieving that state, Ning Beichen wouldn't have been able to learn this ability.
"Mr. Ning, there's another speculation in the outside world, that you came from that place..." Zhang Hong eagerly asked Ning Beichen.
"The place you're referring to should be the transcended realm. However, I didn't come from there. But I have met people who came from that place." Ning Beichen had nothing to hide about the transcended realm. He told Zhang Hong about his encounter with the woman in hemp, omitting certain details but emphasizing the existence of the transcended realm.
Zhang Hong's expression shifted like a kaleidoscope after hearing Ning Beichen's words. He didn't doubt Ning Beichen's account but was surprised to learn that the place was called the transcended realm and that it wasn't in this dimension. After a long while, Zhang Hong accepted the information and sincerely clasped his hands to Ning Beichen in gratitude.
"Celestial Master Zhang, I know why you sought me out. To be honest, it's not that I want to be selfish, but I myself am unclear about how to break through to the realm of 'harmony between man and nature.' I am still exploring, and the time is not yet ripe. Once I find a method that can be widely disseminated, I will definitely make it public," Ning Beichen told him.
"Mr. Ning's benevolence is profound." Zhang Hong rose and bowed deeply to Ning Beichen. He didn't doubt Ning Beichen's words. The Celestial Master's Mansion had existed for so long without disappearing for a reason, and at the very least, they were excellent judges of character.
"Celestial Master Zhang, there's no need for such a gesture. The truth is, my willingness to impart this knowledge doesn't necessarily prove my selflessness. It's just that I understand clearly that I can't complete this path by fighting alone. I need everyone to walk it together. And I have a concern..." Ning Beichen paused here.
"Please speak, Mr. Ning," Zhang Hong asked, deeply moved.
"Ever since I took that step, I've had a vague feeling that I'm concerned about people from the transcended realm entering this world."
"You know the saying, 'those not of our kind have different hearts.' What's more, they are transcended beings. Once they enter this world, do you think they will care about mortals?"
"Although there are laws to suppress them, preventing transcended beings from running rampant here, for some reason, I feel that the laws of this world are weakening. I don't know if it's due to the laws themselves changing or if people from the transcended realm are interfering. This is something we must guard against." Ning Beichen said.
"Mr. Ning, is what you say true?" Zhang Hong asked, his heart pounding.
"I wish it were false," Ning Beichen sighed. He wasn't lying about this. Especially after he had cultivated to the point of crossing the sea of suffering in the mountains of Longhu Mountain, this feeling had become even stronger. Previously, he had assumed that his being a transcended being and using transcended power without the laws restricting or eliminating him was due to sheer luck. But now, he thought it might not be luck, nor was it that the laws were blind to him. It was possible that the laws were flawed and powerless. Of course, these were currently just his speculations, and their truth could only be verified later. However, he had to guard against it. Because if transcended beings were to enter this world in large numbers, Ning Beichen couldn't even bear to imagine the scene. He couldn't guarantee that all those transcended beings were benevolent. With their superior attitude, mortals in this world were like ants in their eyes. Would they care about the lives of ants? No! Just as humans, when walking, rarely pay attention to the ants passing beneath their feet.