Chapter 28 (Part 1)

The territory occupied by the Canglan Realm was vast and boundless. Xuantian Sect was only tucked away in one corner of it. Setting out from Xuantian Sect toward the Tushan Secret Realm, even with the Lotus Cloud Boat traveling at full speed, the journey still took half a month.

For that half month, every Qi Refining disciple ate, drank, relieved themselves, and slept aboard the flying boat.

The Lotus Cloud Boat did not look large from the outside, but it contained countless hidden spaces within. Every Qi Refining disciple had a separate room, though each room was very small, only about ten square meters or so.

Song Yuanxi was quite excited for the first two days, constantly clinging to the railing at the side of the boat and gazing out at the sky, admiring the magnificent scenery of the Canglan Realm’s rivers and mountains. But after encountering storm currents for the umpteenth time, he completely lost the desire to linger by the side of the boat.

Although the Lotus Cloud Boat had a Defensive Array that kept him from being injured, the thrill of facing a category-thirteen typhoon head-on was more than enough, thank you very much.

Another storm current swept in. Judging by the strength, it was probably equivalent to a category-sixteen typhoon. Song Yuanxi decisively prepared to make his escape.

“Senior Brother Du, I’m heading back to my room first,” he said to Du Tianyu beside him.

Du Tianyu was also worried his junior brother would not be able to take it. “Yuanxi, you go back first. The storm currents may become even stronger over the next few days, so you’d better not come out at all.”

The moment he finished speaking, the Golden Core elder responsible for watching over them suddenly looked over. “Song Yuanxi?”

Song Yuanxi’s steps halted. He quickly nodded. “Yes, disciple Song Yuanxi. May I ask what instructions Elder Hong has?”

“Go stand at the very front of the flying boat.”

After the Golden Core elder finished speaking, he saw Song Yuanxi’s terrified expression and consoled him, “What are you afraid of? The Defensive Array personally carved by the grand elder can withstand three full-strength strikes from an early-stage Soul Transformation cultivator. It is only a mere storm current.”

“Elder Hong, this doesn’t seem too good. This disciple is only at the third level of Qi Refining.” For the sake of his little life, Song Yuanxi boldly protested.

Unexpectedly, the Golden Core elder nodded instead. “Those who practice Body Cultivation should experience wind and rain. The reason your cultivation is low is because you have not been tempered enough. This storm current is at most at the strength of late Foundation Establishment. After the Defensive Array removes part of it, very little remains. It suits you perfectly.”

He paused, then smiled and said, “Before Daoist Master Fanjian entered seclusion, he specifically instructed that if you boarded the Lotus Cloud Boat, you must properly experience this wonderful moment. Fortunately, I still remember the matter.”

Only then did Song Yuanxi realize that before his master went into seclusion, he had calculated a divination. It seemed he had long predicted Song Yuanxi’s trip to the secret realm, and then… even arranged a supervisor?

A master’s command was hard to disobey, and with a Golden Core elder personally instructing him, Song Yuanxi could only accept the order and miserably head toward the deck at the very front of the flying boat.

There were always quite a few disciples standing by the railings on both sides of the flying boat, but almost no one dared go to the deck at the very front because the storm currents there were too strong. Song Yuanxi thought he would be the first little pitiful soul there, and was just about to cry for a while when he unexpectedly realized there was someone else.

That figure was somewhat blurry. Only when he walked very close did he see clearly that it was Ji Wuyi.

“Senior Brother Ji, why are you here?”

As Song Yuanxi spoke, storm currents instantly rushed into his mouth. The pain was like ten thousand needles stabbing him, and his face twisted for a moment.

Damn it! What happened to the promised Defensive Array? Why did it hurt this much?

Ji Wuyi shifted his position, blocking most of the storm current in front of Song Yuanxi before saying, “This place is where the flying boat’s Defensive Array functions at its strongest. No-Return Mountain’s grand elder’s array technique is exquisite. Since I have a rare opportunity to study it up close, how could I miss it? But Junior Brother Song, why have you come here?”

Song Yuanxi did not want to mention his unscrupulous master, so he casually said, “Really? I thought the same thing.”

Ji Wuyi then smiled and nodded, exposing all the storm current he had originally blocked straight in front of him. “Then I shall not disturb Junior Brother Song’s cultivation.”

Song Yuanxi: “…”

A quarter of an hour later, his legs were numb from standing. He tried hard to keep smiling, but the smile looked uglier than crying.

Half an hour later, his face went numb. His eyes and mouth were tightly shut, and his mind was full of counting sheep.

One hour later, his heart went numb. He suddenly opened his eyes and shouted, “Ah, true warriors! They dare to face bleak lives head-on, and dare to look squarely at dripping blood!”

“What a fine line about facing bleak lives head-on. What a fine line about looking squarely at dripping blood. I never expected Junior Brother Song to possess such awareness.”

Ji Wuyi savored it for a while and felt it was rather interesting.

Song Yuanxi’s mouth twitched. Every word leaked air. “No… not me… it was… Lu… said…”

“Junior Brother Song, you had best not open your mouth again. Be careful of facial paralysis,” Ji Wuyi kindly reminded him.

Song Yuanxi instantly shut his mouth and continued being abused in the storm current.

For the next ten days, that Golden Core elder called Song Yuanxi to the very front of the flying boat every day, and each stay started at four hours. Only in the final three days did this so-called wonderful experience finally end.

“I see your foundation has become quite a bit more solid. Go back and meditate properly to consolidate your cultivation.”

The Golden Core elder was very satisfied. At last, he had completed Daoist Master Fanjian’s request, which could also be considered worthy of those two jars of Evergreen.

After receiving the “amnesty order,” Song Yuanxi was wild with joy. He rushed straight back to his room, locked the door, and swore to the death that he would not take another step outside.

Three days later, Du Tianyu came to knock on the door. “Junior Brother Song, we’re almost at the Tushan Secret Realm. Make your preparations.”

Song Yuanxi suddenly woke from his sleep in a daze. He blinked and blinked, unable to believe he had only taken a short nap, and three days had passed?

“Junior Brother Song? Junior Brother Song?” another call came from outside.

Song Yuanxi quickly answered, “Senior Brother Du, I know.”

The Lotus Cloud Boat stopped at an open area outside the Tushan Secret Realm. The two Golden Core elders jumped down first, followed by a headcount of the disciples and all kinds of organization.

Song Yuanxi had not had enough sleep. With sleepy eyes, he followed behind the familiar senior brothers and senior sisters while also listening to the surrounding disciples whispering among themselves.

“Look, quick! There’s rosy light shining on the peak. Such dense spiritual energy!”

“That is the Tushan Secret Realm. It’s the sign that it is about to open. Once the rosy light shines over the entire mountain peak, the gate to the secret realm will open. Then we’ll be able to enter.”

“There are so many disciples over there. There’s Tianyi Sect, Huayang Sect, Sifang City… and the Three Thousand Alliance too…”

After listening to the gossip, Song Yuanxi roughly understood that the three great sects, the four great forces, and the loose cultivator alliance federation had all sent people. Apart from each of the three great sects having three thousand disciple slots, the four great forces and the loose cultivator alliance federation each had only fifteen hundred slots. This directly showed the gap in strength.

Song Yuanxi once again sighed over how well the original owner had reincarnated. Not only was he a second-generation cultivator, but the sect backing him was also one of the very best.

“Junior Brother Song, the Tushan Secret Realm is about to open. Stay close to us.”

Seeing Song Yuanxi looking all over the place with the relaxed air of someone out on an excursion, Jiang Lanyi could not help but remind him, “When we enter the secret realm in a while, the order will follow the sects. If you fall behind and get squeezed together with disciples from other sects, you’ll inevitably suffer.”

Junior Brother Song was so innocent and kindhearted. He was very easy to take advantage of.

Jiang Lanyi had accepted Daoist Master Yunxi’s storage pouch and was extremely grateful. Toward Song Yuanxi, she wished she could worry over him like an old mother.

Song Yuanxi smiled and quickly stood properly in line. “I understand. Senior Sister Jiang, don’t worry.”

“You should stand between Senior Brother Du and me.”

In the end, Jiang Lanyi still felt uneasy and placed him between herself and Du Tianyu. Song Yuanxi was forced to become the filling in a meat sandwich, pushed forward continuously. He did not know whether to laugh or cry.

Before long, the great gate of the Tushan Secret Realm opened. Rosy light stretched ten thousand zhang, illuminating a thousand li.

The two Golden Core elders of Xuantian Sect shouted, “All disciples, heed the order. Enter the secret realm in sequence in teams of one hundred. You must keep your sect jade token on you. If you encounter an emergency, immediately request rescue from fellow disciples. The secret realm will remain open for one year. No matter what opportunity you encounter, remember that safety comes first!”

At the same time, the elders of the other two sects also began arranging their teams, and similar reminders rang out among the disciples.

After the three great sects, the four great forces also gave similar departure speeches, except they did not have that final line of “safety comes first.” As for the loose cultivator alliance federation, they were even freer and more casual, without any of these words at all.

Song Yuanxi was in the same line as Jiang Lanyi, Du Tianyu, and the others. The hundred of them stepped onto the array at the opened gate of the Tushan Secret Realm. With one blink, the scene before their eyes instantly changed. They had entered the secret realm from outside.

Just like the sect’s secret realm trial, the moment they went in, everyone was automatically scattered. Song Yuanxi took out the jade token issued by the sect, wanting to see the distance between himself and the other sect disciples.

The jade token had been enhanced by a special array and could show all fellow disciples within a hundred li. Yet Song Yuanxi stared at the jade token and confirmed it again and again. On the crude map, apart from himself, there was not a single other little red dot.

“Is this even something a human would do? We’re scattered way too far apart.”

Song Yuanxi was simply speechless.

With no fellow disciples to support him, and since this was his first time in the Tushan Secret Realm, while people from various sects and forces filled the surrounding area, Song Yuanxi did not dare act rashly. He chose a location in the very center of the known map issued by the sect and advanced toward it.

This was what he had agreed on with Du Tianyu and the others beforehand. If they were scattered after entering the secret realm, they would first gather at the central location.

“Senior brothers and senior sisters, please wait for me. Your junior brother is coming right away to cling to your thighs.”

Song Yuanxi tucked the jade token away and hurried on with all speed. Occasionally, when he encountered low-level demonic beasts, he immediately detoured. When he ran into disciples from other sects, he did the same. His main role was that of an emotionless person rushing along the road.

At dusk on the fifth day, Song Yuanxi was resting inside a cave when a little red dot suddenly lit up on the jade token.

He lowered his head to look. The distance from him was less than fifty li. “Why didn’t it show up before?”

As Song Yuanxi was feeling puzzled, the jade token suddenly received a request for rescue: Wanhai Peak’s He Man requests support from fellow disciples. Extremely urgent!

“It’s Senior Brother He!”

Song Yuanxi’s eyes brightened, then he became deeply worried. That red dot was He Man’s location. Senior Brother He was in danger.

Almost after just a moment of thought, he changed his route and headed around toward He Man’s location. At the same time, he replied to the message he had received: Senior Brother He, Yuanxi is coming to help.

Contact messages between red dots were not sent under real names, and each message could contain no more than twenty characters, so everyone gave their name and kept things short.

He Man was very happy to receive a reply, but when he opened it and saw that the person replying was Song Yuanxi, and that within a radius of fifty li centered on himself, this was the only person there, his feelings became very subtle.

He Man looked at the Five-Chief Fruits that were about to bloom not far away and felt very conflicted. Should he pick these fruits or not? Junior Brother Song’s cultivation was so weak. What if he accidentally brought the guy to his death?

“Why couldn’t it have been another fellow disciple? Or at least a few more of them…”

As He Man muttered to himself, he rummaged through his storage pouch and prepared defensive items for himself and Song Yuanxi.

Song Yuanxi was anxious. He hurried as fast as he could and finally arrived at the signal point where He Man had sent the rescue request. However, all he saw was his senior brother leisurely lounging there. Where was the desperate emergency he had imagined?

“Senior Brother He?” Song Yuanxi called in confusion. “Weren’t you… asking for help?” And extremely urgently too, saying to come at once!

He Man gave an “Mm.” “That’s right. It is indeed very urgent. Look at those Five-Chief Fruits in the gorge. They’re giving off such a charming fragrance, and the fruits are about to mature. If we don’t pick them, it would be a waste. Five-Chief Fruit is excellent for brewing wine. This kind of fruit wine is full of spiritual power, comparable to a Return Origin Pill. Tell me, isn’t this matter important?”

Song Yuanxi fell silent.

“I originally thought other senior brothers and senior sisters from the sect would come to provide support. That way, the chances of picking the Five-Chief Fruits would be even greater. I didn’t expect it to be you, Junior Brother Song!”

He Man smiled, then said, “But that’s fine too. Since only you came, we’ll get a bigger share of the spoils. We brothers can split it fifty-fifty. How about that?”

“…”

For a moment, Song Yuanxi did not know whether he should cry or laugh.

Only after adjusting his mood did Song Yuanxi nod. “There’s no need to split it fifty-fifty. At most, I’ll lend Senior Brother a hand, then adapt according to the situation.”

Seeing that he insisted, He Man said no more. He simply waited until after the fruits were picked, planning to forcibly stuff half of them over to him.

“Junior Brother Song, lie down next to me.”

He Man pulled Song Yuanxi down and, while he was at it, handed him a hat made of weeds.

Song Yuanxi had just wanted to speak when his back suddenly grew heavy. He turned back to look. He Man had somehow pulled over a weed cloak from somewhere and covered both of them tightly with it.

“This is woven from Breathless Grass. It can conceal a cultivator’s aura to a certain extent. The guardian demonic beast of the Five-Chief Fruit has the keenest nose. We have to disguise ourselves a little,” He Man said, looking somewhat smug.

In that instant, Song Yuanxi thought of modern special forces soldiers. Their camouflage techniques could be called first-rate, to the point where they could practically merge with nature. And in order to complete a mission, they would use any means necessary.

Song Yuanxi tugged at the grass cloak and casually said, “If it’s really to cover our aura, then demonic beast excrement is best. Smear it over your body, and you practically become half a demonic beast.”

When He Man heard this, he felt it made a great deal of sense. “Exactly, exactly! I should get some excrement from the guardian demonic beast and wipe it on so we smell the same as them. Wouldn’t that make it even easier to get close? Junior Brother Song, you truly are clever!”

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