A colossal phantom of a world hovered above the Other Shore Ark, undergoing endless transformations. With a single glance, it seemed to pass through the four seasons and countless cycles of reincarnation.
Numerous void storms lingered around the world’s entrance. That world was like a giant magnet, constantly absorbing energy—and everything else—from the boundless void in all directions. The void was not spotless. It contained countless unnamed fragments and many broken corpses.
This was the Fourth Layer of the Void. Across the entire Cangyuan Realm, the known methods to reach this place could be counted on one hand, and the Other Shore Ark was one of them. The dangers here were beyond description. In this layer of the void, any and everything would be rapidly broken down, dissolved, and returned to silence. The same was true even for cultivators, which was why this place looked so remarkably clean, like a night sky devoid of stars.
Yet, paradoxically, as people gazed up at the colossal world phantom, an indescribable fear sprouted in their hearts. It was the instinctual reaction of a tiny creature facing an unknown, immense existence.
At the entrance to the world, the void twisted. A vortex, moving with incredible slowness yet seeming as ancient as time itself, spun leisurely, swallowing everything from the emptiness around it. When the Other Shore Ark arrived at this point, its surface was instantly covered with incredibly dense ripples, as if an unimaginable, invisible force was trying to crush and devour it.
The elder surnamed Hao walked to the bow of the ark. Looking at the proud young talents before him, he declared in a loud voice, "The world before you is the realm where the Ancient Sanctuary is located! Shortly, we will open a teleportation passage and send you inside. I believe your elders have already made things very clear to you regarding the Ancient Sanctuary.
"However, I must emphasize it once more! You must remember, you only have five years! After five years, regardless of how many opportunities you have gained or whether you are satisfied with your progress, you must leave. Otherwise, you will have to remain within the Ancient Sanctuary forever!"
His voice was extremely stern and serious. The many prodigies present mirrored his solemn expression, nodding subconsciously.
The Ancient Sanctuary opened only once every eight hundred years, and each time, for only five years. If one missed the window, they would have to wait for the next eight hundred years. Furthermore, the rules of the world where the Ancient Sanctuary resided restricted free entry and exit to cultivators under one hundred years of age. Once the time was up, you could never leave.
Even though there were countless opportunities and endless treasures inside the Sanctuary that could rapidly boost one’s strength, what was the point if you could never get out? It was crucial to remember that the Ancient Sanctuary was a sealed-off minor world. Inside, cultivators could not connect with the Heavenly Dao of the outside world, meaning they could not undergo Tribulation Transcendence. The absolute limit for everyone was the peak of Saint Manifestation. Therefore, there was no possibility of cultivating all the way to Tribulation Transcendence, becoming an immortal, and then tearing open the world’s rules with absolute power.
These words were repeated countless times every time the Ancient Sanctuary opened. Yet, there were always some prodigies who, for various reasons, were left behind. Some were on the verge of fully mastering a Daoist Magic and were unwilling to leave. Others waited for a supreme Precious Medicine to mature, which was just a few days away. Still others simply lost track of time while in deep seclusion. In short, the reasons were many, but the outcome was always the same. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel★fire.net
The Ancient Sanctuary had not originally been a "sanctuary" at all; it was simply an extraordinary land of opportunity. But as time went on and the years accumulated, more and more people from the various Great Blessed Lands of Nanzhou ended up staying inside. Having reached the bottleneck of their cultivation and being unable to leave, their long lifespans led to explosive boredom. Gradually, someone came up with an idea.
These individuals who remained within the Ancient Sanctuary began to teach the disciples of the next generations. Not only could they guide their cultivation, but they could also preserve the legacies of their respective Sects. If, by some misfortune, a Sect was annihilated, its scriptures lost, and only a few survivors remained, a disciple could enter the Ancient Sanctuary, find their Sect’s ancestors, and ensure the continuation of their heritage. It was for this reason that this world gradually earned its name: the Ancient Sanctuary.
Of course, aside from those accidentally left behind, there were others. During the most ferocious years of the war against the Demon Race, some with a great sense of righteousness willingly sacrificed themselves for the sake of preserving their Immortal Sect’s lineage. They chose to remain in the Ancient Sanctuary, confining themselves within its bounds forever, never to leave. They worried that if the front lines were to collapse one day and the Immortal Sects were destroyed, it would be the absolute end. By staying behind—even if it meant having nothing in the Sanctuary’s world, even if it meant enduring thousands, or even tens of thousands of years of loneliness and hardship—they could preserve a spark for the Human Race.
Because of this, all the previous generations of prodigies who stayed behind were respectfully called the "Watchers" by the Nanzhou Immortal Alliance.
Even though the Watchers were worthy of great respect, upon introspection, the vast majority of those present were unwilling to become one. The Ancient Sanctuary has so many advantages! It’s full of opportunities and great fortune, and cultivation progresses immensely fast. But... you only live with any real hope for the first few thousand years. Cultivation always has its limits. Although one could theoretically cultivate to the peak of Saint Manifestation within the Sanctuary, the reality is different. After reaching the Saint Manifestation stage, cultivators need to draw upon the faith of sentient beings to continue their cultivation. The number of living creatures in the Sanctuary’s world is simply too small.