The elder of the Spirit Institute finished speaking and vanished with the Compassion Map before Liu Zixuan.
Liu Zixuan grinned: "That was an interesting monk."
As for the Compassion Map, it wasn't of much use in Liu Zixuan's hands. Many things only needed to be experienced once. He could communicate them to those he cared about in his own way, and as a man, the core of a group, he could bear most responsibilities.
Therefore, to maximize the value of ancient treasures left by powerful ancestors, they should be given to those they are destined for.
As these thoughts emerged in his mind, the spiral staircase beneath his feet underwent a significant change.
The spiral turned into a straight line, and before him, at the ninth step, was a wide-open door.
Unlike the fourth level, where there were two doors on each side and Luo Xi entered one of them, the fifth level had only this one door!
At this moment, Liu Zixuan understood something.
Nine steps, three steps a test.
The treasure at the third step was a projection of desires from the heart, testing greed!
The sixth step featured the Compassion Map, where one experienced the suffering between Heaven and Hell, testing anger!
As for the ninth step, even though nothing appeared on the surface, it also tested ignorance.
Greed refers to the desire to possess many things, and dissatisfaction when unattainable. Anger is the hatred towards something perceived as unpleasant, believing it to be bad.
Ignorance is the lack of understanding, confusing right with wrong. Desiring things that don't belong to oneself, trying to forcefully keep them.
Just like the Compassion Map earlier, it wasn't of much use to Liu Zixuan. If he forcefully kept it without giving it to the Elder of Profound Spirit, he wouldn't have passed the test of ignorance.
The pavilion was filled with mysterious secrets, and when Liu Zixuan acted generously, he naturally passed the tests of greed, anger, and ignorance!
So, the door opened for him.
Perhaps the Elder of Profound Spirit's appearance was also part of the test.
At least, throughout these three trials, Liu Zixuan did not lose himself.
Stepping up the stairs, Liu Zixuan entered through the door.
Inside, there wasn't much, just a classical bookshelf with several scrolls on it. Opposite it, there were two meditation cushions, one large and one small. Behind the large cushion, a finely crafted sword scabbard was affixed to the wall, but there was no sword inside.
In the center was a small table with a rosewood teapot and two cups. What's peculiar was that as soon as Liu Zixuan stepped in, the rosewood teapot emitted a light steam.
"Would you like to have tea first, or chat?" a slightly childish voice sounded in the empty room.
"Who is it?" Liu Zixuan asked with a frown.
"Does it matter who I am?" The childish voice grew nearer, and shortly a figure appeared before Liu Zixuan.
It was a child, dressed in white robes, seemingly five or six years old. Although young in appearance and voice, the eyes suggested this individual had lived a long time.
"I don't know, senior..."
"No need to call me senior; you can call me Sword." The child then sat on the outer cushion, pointing to the cushion under the sword scabbard: "Please, sit."
Liu Zixuan was taken aback. According to the long-standing etiquette of the Star Sea, the host would sit inside and the guest outside, the positions were reversed now.
However, since invited this way, he didn't hesitate and sat down.
"You say your name is Sword?"
"Yes!"
"The sword in this scabbard?" Liu Zixuan pointed at the ornate sword scabbard above.
"Just me,? Unable to reside in that scabbard," the child shook his head, moved the wooden table between them, and poured tea for Liu Zixuan: "Have some tea."
"Is this tea from the Ancient Era?" Liu Zixuan scratched his head, feeling somewhat awkward.
Though being invited to sit and offered tea seemed highly courteous, was it possible to drink tea from the Ancient Era? The leaves might have long been moldy!
"This isn't ordinary tea, but medicinal tea grown by the previous master; it won't spoil as long as it's not removed," the child stated.
Liu Zixuan took a sip. From just a taste, an essence of pure medicinal power flowed through his meridians, dispelling his previous sense of fatigue completely.
"Amazing tea!" he blurted out instinctively.
After setting down the cup: "You mentioned the previous master? Who is your current master?"
"You!" the child looked up.
Liu Zixuan was stunned: "Me?"
"Yes, you are my master," the child affirmed confidently.
Liu Zixuan chuckled: "How are you so sure? What if you recognize the wrong person?"
"First, entering this room means you passed all prior tests; your mental state is adequate. Though now below the Life and Death Realm, it seems due to a reason for the fall, but your true realm has already reached the genuine Life and Death Realm."
"Correct!" Liu Zixuan nodded.
"Secondly, the previous master stated when my master arrived, the teapot would naturally emit steam."
"This..." Liu Zixuan scratched his head, finding the reasoning somewhat tenuous.
"Lastly, most importantly, I sensed its aura on you," the child pointed at Liu Zixuan's sleeve.
Liu Zixuan squinted, noticing the sword scabbard, and with the child claiming to be the sword, it seemed connected to the Nameless Sword?
Without delay, he retrieved the Nameless Sword from the Relic Mini World and placed it on the table: "Is this what you mean?"
Upon seeing the Nameless Sword, the child's eyes widened, radiating with joy, and he carefully cradled the Nameless Sword: "I've waited so long for it; it's finally here!"
"Wait a moment!"
Liu Zixuan felt somewhat overwhelmed.
It seemed happiness arrived rather abruptly. Sure, some tests were faced earlier, but none too challenging for Liu Zixuan; compared to the life-threatening trials of the Seven-Star Tomb, they were far easier.
Now within the fifth level room, expecting a life-and-death trial, he found none, instead a child calling him master.
And what's more, it related to the Nameless Sword!
This all seemed a bit too smooth!
The child paused and asked: "What's wrong?"
"Do you recognize this sword? What's its story? Your relation to it, the previous master, who built the Qiankun Palace, this pavilion? Why am I called a destined one?"
Liu Zixuan, his face full of bewilderment, growing more so: "Don't blame me for the questions, I am truly perplexed!"