The giant Fire Ape bowed its head and looked down at Ye Chen, "I am the Three-eyed Ape King, of course I can speak, young man. State your name, and from now on, just call me 'Ape Elder'."
"Ape Elder, the junior is called Ye Chen, Ye as in leaf, Chen as in the stars," Ye Chen replied.
This Three-Eyed Giant Ape, capable of speaking like humans and possessing a hundred-zhang-tall body, and even more astonishing, the ability to fetch him from the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain to this place - these divine powers were simply more terrifying than any of the Spirit Sea Realm cultivators that Ye Chen had heard of!
"May I know why the elder has brought Ye Chen here?" Ye Chen looked at the Three-Eyed Giant Ape and asked aloud.
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape's three divine eyes glanced at the vast cave abode and then lowered its head to look at Ye Chen, "You were able to comprehend the Sword Intent Fragment I scattered and step into the Sword Intent Realm, meeting the qualifications set by my master to enter the 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode,' so I brought you here."
"Sword Intent Fragment? Could it be that the fragment from before is yours, Ape Elder?" Hearing the Three-Eyed Giant Ape mention the Sword Intent Fragment, Ye Chen's heart stirred, remembering the scene where the broken sword fragment suddenly vibrated and shot away.
That broken sword fragment had vibrated suddenly at the moment he fully comprehended the sword intent, and at the very instant the shattered piece flew off, was also when the phantom of the Three-Eyed Giant Ape descended.
With that said, it was really possible that the broken sword fragment was related to this Three-Eyed Giant Ape.
"However, who is this master you speak of, Elder, and why did he allow me to enter this 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode' after I stepped into the Sword Intent Realm?" Ye Chen had a myriad of questions in his heart.
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape looked at Ye Chen and sighed deeply, as would a human.
"Since you have entered the 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode,' I will explain everything to you."
"My master was a strong cultivator from the Heavenly Saint Realm born in the Heavenly Wind Kingdom. This 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode' is what he left behind. Within this abode lies a tremendous legacy that only those with fate can obtain," the Ape explained.
"My master asked me to find someone of fate, with the most basic condition being the comprehension of sword intent. Therefore, I shattered the ten Spiritual Swords I once wielded into one thousand and one Sword Intent Fragments and scattered them across the Heavenly Wind Kingdom. What you have obtained is one of these fragments."
"One thousand and one Sword Intent Fragments!" Ye Chen gasped upon hearing that there were a total of one thousand and one fragments, like the broken sword piece he encountered.
He had only obtained one fragment, and it helped him comprehend sword intent. The Three-Eyed Giant Ape had scattered a total of one thousand and one fragments, how powerful it must be!
"Of course, I prepared one thousand and one fragments. Did you think my master's legacy would be so easy to obtain?" the Three-Eyed Giant Ape huffed a little discontentedly.
"Even though I have scattered so many fragments, in over three hundred years, only two hundred and fifty-six people qualified to enter the 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode,' and not a single one succeeded in obtaining my master's legacy!"
"Moreover, among those trials, only forty-seven have successfully completed the 'Fire and Water Dao' challenge in the Outer Mansion!"
Seeing Ye Chen's puzzled expression, the Three-Eyed Giant Ape explained, "The 'Thousand Lotus Cave Abode' is divided into an Inner and Outer Mansion. There are three challenges in the Outer Mansion, all of which are conducted in the 'Fire and Water Dao.' Only those who pass these three challenges are qualified to enter the Inner Mansion."
"And inside the Inner Mansion, there are another three trials. Only by passing those can one ultimately obtain my master's legacy."
While the Three-Eyed Giant Ape spoke, its enormous palm stretched out towards one side of the cave, slapping the air, and suddenly, two circular entrances, each with a diameter of ten meters, appeared in the wall.
From one of these entrances poured endless flames, while from the other streamed a gentle blue water light.
"This is the trial area for the Outer Mansion — the 'Fire and Water Dao'!"
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape pointed to the two circular entrances and spoke to Ye Chen.
"Fire and Water Dao are divided into two paths, male cultivators take the 'Path of Fire,' and female cultivators take the 'Path of Water.' Only after passing through all three challenges in the paths can one pass the trial of the Outer Mansion."
"According to the master's rules, only a pair of male and female who have both successfully passed the 'Fire and Water Dao' trials can enter the Inner Mansion together to face new trials."
"So, even if you pass the Outer Mansion trial, you cannot enter the Inner Mansion without a suitable companion."
Hearing this rule, Ye Chen found it strange; he hadn't expected that not only did he have to challenge the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode alone, but he also had to find a partner for the Inner Mansion.
"In that case, if one cannot wait for a suitable companion, doesn't that mean they can never enter the Inner Mansion?" Ye Chen asked.
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape nodded, "Indeed, in these past three hundred years, among the forty-seven people who have passed the Outer Mansion trial, only thirty-six have successfully paired up, forming eighteen pairs to challenge the Inner Mansion. However, not a single one among these eighteen pairs has succeeded."
"The remaining individuals, throughout the years they lived, never found suitable companions and, in the end, could not enter the Inner Mansion."
"However," the Three-Eyed Giant Ape looked at Ye Chen, "young lad Ye Chen, you're rather lucky. There's already a girl who has successfully passed the 'Path of Water' and has been waiting for her partner. If you can overcome the 'Path of Fire,' you could join her and proceed to the Inner Mansion together."
"A female cultivator has already passed the 'Path of Water'?" Ye Chen was taken aback.
The Three-Eyed Giant Ape nodded, "But whether you can enter the Inner Mansion with her as partners still depends on your skill. She has been waiting for three years, and during these three years, nineteen others have attempted the challenge, yet none have succeeded. I hope you won't become the twentieth failure, causing the girl to miss another opportunity."
"Alright, I have said all there is to say. Now, enter the 'Path of Fire' and begin your trial! Acquiring the Sword Intent Fragment is not an optional trial; success or failure is all down to your destiny!"
Ye Chen, not one to hesitate, took a deep breath and stepped into the "Path of Fire" within the Fire and Water Dao under the intense gaze of the Three-Eyed Giant Ape.
Having gained benefits from the broken sword fragments, it was only right to follow the rules set by the master of this abode!
Fire and Water Dao, give it your all!
Not long after he entered the Fire and Water Dao, a streak of Escaping Light flashed in, entering this expansive cave abode.
The Escaping Light dissipated, revealing a girl dressed in light blue garments.
This girl was none other than Jiang Yao, who had left the Taixuan Sect and was headed to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain!
"Ape senior, has another come to try their hand at the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode?"
Upon entering the cave abode, Jiang Yao, noticing the glowing light from the pathway of Fire and Water Dao, asked the Three-Eyed Giant Ape with a slight sparkle in her eyes.
"Yes, a youth has come." The Three-Eyed Giant Ape waved its massive hand, projecting a light screen in the air of the vast cave. On that screen, the figure of Ye Chen, who had just entered the "Path of Fire," appeared!
"He's so young and has already comprehended the Sword Intent Realm?"
Seeing Ye Chen's image on the screen, Jiang Yao was also slightly surprised, "The nineteen who came to challenge the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode before were all of advanced age."
"The younger the age, the greater the potential. Little girl, perhaps this Ye Chen could truly become your partner, joining you in the challenges of the Inner Mansion," the Three-Eyed Giant Ape said.
"I hope so." A hint of expectation flickered in Jiang Yao's clear, large eyes, "It's been three years, and I've yet to find a partner. I really want to see what the Inner Mansion of the Thousand Lotus Cave Abode is like!"