When Elder Jing heard Yang Wei's innocent reply on how he was not touching her inappropriately, she slowly turned her head around.

"Wahhhhh"

Elder Jing screamed in panic when she saw a wrinkled old man touching her shoulder.

Yang Wei instantly drew his sword out at this time before saying, "Who are you and why did you appear out of nowhere."

Elder Jing also hurriedly withdrew to Yang Wei's side as she was frightened by this mysterious man who appeared out of thin air.

He was completely silent and produced no qi that indicates he's here if they couldn't see him with the naked eye.

"Drawing swords in someone else territory. How amusing of you?" The old man said when he saw Yang Wei was prepared to attack him if he made any unnecessary movements.

Yang Wei calmed down when he heard his tone of speech and said, "I didn't know this garden belonged to this senior here, so I would like to apologize because we didn't intrude here on purpose."

"Hoh, a sincere apology. Didn't expect you to be this type of person. Call me Old Ling and this garden does not belong to me. I'm just a gardener, taking care of this herb garden for my master who left this place a long time ago." Old Ling said in a gloomy tone when he mentioned his master.

Elder Jing took a deep breath and returned to her usual posture as she was hiding behind Yang Wei's back even though she was many times stronger than him.

"Such a shameful act from me. I need to stop being the weaker one here and act as the proper senior or else this Yang Wei will continue to act cheeky in front of me.'

Elder Jing said inwardly as she decided to step forward to talk with this Old Ling.

"Senior Ling is it possible to help us escape since we have disturbed senior rest accidentally." Elder Jing cupped her fist lightly as she requested help from him.

A pondering expression came from Old Ling when he heard this request because he was going to eliminate the intruders who didn't know what's good for them.

However, Yang Wei and Elder Jing have not stolen any herbs in this place nor destroyed anything so he couldn't use this reason to eliminate them.

Also, Yang Wei may have drawn his weapon out but he did it because of reflex on something unknown which is understandable. Yang Wei has apologized for this mistake when he understands his position.

"Fine, you may leave but you'll have to pass three of my tests otherwise, anyone could just come and go as they please." Old Ling decided to give them three tests just like how he was tested back then.

Elder Jing's face went pale when hearing about his condition. 'I can't detect his cultivation so his test is definitely going to be something difficult.'

Old Ling's cultivation was concealed so Elder Jing has no way to sense his cultivation base which shows that he was at least above the Nascent Soul realm.

"What will the test be about Senior Ling?" Seeing that Elder Jing has no intention to reply, Yang Wei decided to step up and asked for information.

"You have a lot of courage for someone who is young and weak in cultivation." Old Ling said as he used his spiritual sense to look into Yang Wei.

A surprised expression was shown on his face when he discovered something interesting from Yang Wei. 'His soul is not from this world. It's not a reincarnation by using the Nascent Soul ability and it has some unique aura in it.'

'Interesting, this boy, no he would be a prominent cultivator soon like Master since they both have the same situation.' Old Ling smiled wickedly when he found someone similar to his master who had ascended from this Mortal World already.

"The test is extremely simple and that is to beat me in three categories. The first is fighting me in a battle and I will restrict my cultivation to be the same as yours. The second test is soul fighting where we will only use our soul to condense a sword and fight. The third test is related to this garden and that is alchemy." Old Ling said slowly as he looked forward to their performance.

"That's impossible Senior Ling. The second test, soul fighting has been a long-lost technique that no one has managed to form a soul image to fight." Elder Jing replied when she heard about soul fighting.

Soul fighting is an ancient technique where cultivators with a strong soul were able to comprehend it and condense a battle spirit to assist them in a fight.

A battle spirit is extremely powerful and is akin to having a clone that matches the cultivator so, in a life and death situation, those who formed a battle spirit have the advantage.

"Huh, the cultivation world has deteriorated this much where no cultivator has managed to form a battle spirit?" Old Ling said in disbelief.

"Replying to seniors, it's not that there's no cultivator who couldn't form a battle spirit but it has become insanely rare to see one and they are extremely treasured by the sects." Elder Jing replied respectively since Old Ling was definitely an ancient being.

'This senior is definitely from the desolate era where cultivators have prospered due to the profound spiritual qi in this world where Xiantian realm cultivators are common in the street.'

Elder Jing said inwardly while hoping they could get out of this situation alive. A person from the desolate era was definitely one who can kill someone without batting an eyelid or need any effort.

The desolate era is the start of cultivation for humans when they discover the miracle spiritual qi in their bodies. It was during that time when cultivating is extremely fast and many intense fights occurred as they struggled to be the apex of this world.

Old Ling simply remained carefree when he noticed Elder Jing seems to have found out his secret. Whether he's from this era or the desolate era, he was still a cultivator in the end.

Elder Jing became a bit frightened when her suspicion is most likely correct and to meet one in this mysterious realm is dangerous.

"Hehe, little girl, you are indeed sharp to notice this. That's right, I am someone from the desolate era and has been guarding this herb garden for the past 1000 years already." Old Ling said when he noticed the change in emotion from Elder Jing.