The wind and snow raged outside the cave.
Jiang Huai woke up naturally after a short nap. He carefully got out of bed, made sure to cover Mu Yao with the quilt, and then began selecting ingredients for lunch from his storage space. As he casually glanced towards Ji Qingxuan’s direction, he suddenly froze.
Ji Qingxuan was awake, sitting quietly on the bedding, leaning against the cold stone wall of the cave. Her ice-blue long dress made her appear as pure and radiant as a fairy from the Jade Pool. Her legs were stretched out, and the section of jade-white calf below her skirt hem was pristine. Silver chains adorned her delicate and smooth feet, and her tender jade feet were now facing Jiang Huai. The moment their eyes met, Jiang Huai instinctively wanted to look away.
After all, he felt guilty.
Although he suspected he might be overthinking things, Ji Qingxuan’s words when she had been on top of him – “I want to get a good look at the only man in my life” – had indeed left him feeling a little uneasy.
“You’re awake,” Ji Qingxuan’s cool voice reached Jiang Huai’s ears.
“Mm, I’m making something to eat. Is there anything you’d like to have?” Jiang Huai asked politely in a soft voice. However, Ji Qingxuan had already stood up in his sight. Her fair, delicate jade feet touched the ground. She raised her eyelashes slightly, her eyes calm and cool, and then shook her head gently.
“Since you are awake, I will take my leave now.” Her gaze lingered on Jiang Huai’s face for a moment before she spoke slowly, “Regarding today’s dual cultivation matter, I do not wish for anyone other than Mu Yao to know about it.”
“Alright, I’ll keep it a secret, and I’ll also remind Mu Yao.”
“Your life-saving grace is something I cannot repay for the moment. After we leave the secret realm, please accompany me to the Central Province. I will explain the situation to my Father Emperor, and then I will take you to the Imperial City in the Central Province to find any treasure you desire.”
After she said this, Jiang Huai did not hesitate for a moment and shook his head, “No need.”
Ji Qingxuan looked up, and after a moment, her eyes turned cold. “Are you going to tell me next that dual cultivation with me counts as me repaying your favor, and therefore you don’t need any further compensation?”
“I, I didn’t say that.”
Even though Jiang Huai had a trace of that thought in his heart, he hadn’t voiced it.
“I do not wish for you to think that dual cultivation with me was you taking advantage of me. Please restrain your inherent arrogance. Don’t forget… you were also beneath me.”
“Oh.”
Are you referring to the woman who got soft in her legs and had cramps, unable to move the slightest bit after sitting down? Jiang Huai only dared to say this quietly in his heart, not out loud.
But speaking of it, Jiang Huai understood Ji Qingxuan’s logic.
It seemed she was also a proud woman.
“Regarding the deaths of those two Northern Region princes and the matter of my imperial brother, Ji Qinghai, you will eventually need to be present to clarify things with my Father Emperor. Therefore, you must come to the Central Province.”
“Alright,” Jiang Huai nodded gently. “After we leave the secret realm, I will return with you.”
Ji Qingxuan nodded slightly and then turned around directly. However, Jiang Huai noticed a slight awkwardness in her gait. The wind and snow were still raging outside the cave. Jiang Huai found himself seriously contemplating whether he should ask her to stay for a meal. Perhaps the meal would be a bit awkward, but after just doing something bad and bullying her, would it be right to just watch her leave all alone?
Wait, if he held the idea that he had bullied her and taken advantage of her, would she be even more annoyed, given her inherent pride?
Jiang Huai was lost in strange thoughts when Ji Qingxuan had already reached the cave entrance. Her footsteps were neither hurried nor delayed. Jiang Huai finally snapped back to reality. “Um… would you like to stay for a meal? Anyway, there’s only one day left in the Ancestral Secret Realm. If you still want to explore anywhere, the three of us could look out for each other.”
Jiang Huai thought Ji Qingxuan would readily agree, but she didn’t even look back. She simply replied calmly, “No need. I’ll see you outside the secret realm.”
With that, she gracefully left the cave.
Jiang Huai scratched his head.
She seemed gentle on the surface, but was actually a cold woman.
—
The Ancestral Secret Realm had only one day left. Jiang Huai had already found the Ice Crystal Snow Soul Flower. Mu Yao had nothing particular she wanted to find. After lunch, she and Jiang Huai went for a stroll outside the cave.
The wind and snow howled, and the mountains were covered in a silver coat. Snow lotuses and unnamed small flowers bloomed in many corners. Mu Yao picked pretty flowers, and eventually, Jiang Huai wove a flower crown for her and placed it on her head.
She skipped around happily. After all, she was still a young girl; her emotions came and went quickly. She didn’t dwell on sad things for too long and was relatively easy to coax.
Jiang Huai spent the whole day with her in the secret realm. That night, they returned to their cozy beds and slept in each other’s arms. Before falling asleep, he kissed Mu Yao’s forehead. Mu Yao had become increasingly adept at draping her legs over him. The warmth of the quilt completely blocked out the cold from the cave.
The next day, Jiang Huai woke up early again and stewed beef brisket, making tomato beef brisket noodles. After eating their fill, they sat by the cave entrance watching the wind and snow. Jiang Huai began to take stock of his gains from this secret realm.
He had just used his Experience Scroll, and his cultivation level was now stably at the Body Integration Third Level, with his spiritual energy sea full.
He had not yet refined the Ice Crystal Snow Soul Flower, planning to do so after leaving the secret realm and ensuring his safety, as there were inevitably risks within the secret realm.
As for his Overlord Art, he was not far from the Seventh Realm completion. The few times he had engaged in dual cultivation with Ji Qingxuan, he had mostly transferred the Dragon Heart power to her. Her cultivation level was only at the Eighth Realm First Level, so the dual cultivation did not significantly improve his Overlord Art.
The Overlord Art’s Eighth Realm required the inner cores of five Eighth Realm demonic beasts. Jiang Huai had now collected two. The Snow Bear Demon King’s inner core had not been taken by Ji Qingxuan, and she had given it to him, which was why Jiang Huai had no intention of taking anything else from the so-called Central Province treasury. As soon as he finished recounting the events in the secret realm to Ji Qingxuan’s Father Emperor, he would head to the Qingxuan Sect. Favors were never truly settled with a single repayment; they always involved give and take, leading to increasing entanglement.
It had been a long time since he had seen Luo Yueguan; he suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of longing.
—
The seventh day in the Ancestral Secret Realm.
Jiang Huai tidied up the clean bedding and cooking utensils. He and Mu Yao, holding hands quietly, waited for the Ancestral Secret Realm to begin expelling outsiders. A slight dizziness washed over them, and their bodies were expelled from the realm. Darkness enveloped them, and when they regained their senses, they were back at the Mu Family Ancestral Hall.
A group of people were already waiting outside the Mu Family Ancestral Hall. When the elders of the Mu Family and the Qin Family saw their juniors were all safe and sound, they breathed a sigh of relief.
Jiang Huai and Mu Yao were also well. Soon, the Mu Family elders’ gazes turned to Ji Qingxuan because Ji Qinghai, who had entered the secret realm with her, was nowhere to be seen. The Mu Family elders soon noticed that even those two demon princes had not appeared even after the Ancestral Secret Realm had closed.
Mu Jianghe’s brows furrowed slightly, and he let out a sigh.
The Mu Family and the Northern Region royal family had always had some ties. They had recently finalized a sword-casting cooperation with the Northern Region royal family, which had involved significant concessions from them. This was why they had invited young cultivators from the Northern Region at the Seventh Realm to explore this place. Unexpectedly, the two princes had met with misfortune within the secret realm. While there were dangers within the secret realm, the deaths of the two princes in the Mu Family’s secret realm did not necessarily place blame on the Mu Family. However, seeing such prodigies perish was, to some extent, regrettable.
Seeing that Mu Yao and Jiang Huai were safe and sound, Mu Jianghe let out a long sigh of relief, and the gloom in his heart dissipated somewhat. He spoke softly, “Jiang Huai.”
Jiang Huai had been looking at Ji Qingxuan, who stood quietly. She was still wearing the same ice-blue long dress as yesterday. The only difference was that beneath the ice-blue long dress were now a pair of light-colored strap high heels, completely obscuring her fair, delicate jade feet and making her appear even taller. Hearing Mu Jianghe call him, Jiang Huai quickly turned his head.
“I promised before that I would give you a great gift after you emerged from the Ancestral Secret Realm. Come with me.”
Jiang Huai nodded obediently. Ji Qingxuan looked at him quietly and then transmitted a message calmly, “Go ahead, I’ll wait for you at the Mu Family.”
With that, she tossed a spiritual artifact for communication to Jiang Huai. Jiang Huai put it away and followed Mu Jianghe. Mu Yao happily held his hand and hopped along beside them.
Mu Jianghe led Jiang Huai through the Mu Family Ancestral Hall to the Mu Family’s underground secret realm. He used his spiritual energy to open the three restrictions of the underground secret realm, then protected Jiang Huai and Mu Yao with his spiritual energy. They passed through a long, dark tunnel, and finally, Jiang Huai saw the light in the distance.
It was clusters of ice-blue flames scattered within the earth’s veins.
“This must be the Mu Family’s Tempering Flame,” Mu Jianghe said, gazing at the flames burning on the earth’s veins. A proud smile appeared on his aged face. “This Tempering Flame is the foundation of our Mu Family. In order to seize this area of earth veins, our ancestors sacrificed many of the Mu Family’s bloodlines, finally allowing the Mu Family to claim it and establish a firm foothold in the Southern Region, gradually growing and strengthening.”
“This Tempering Flame is a spiritual treasure of heaven and earth. Only one cluster appears every thousand years. Ordinary Sky-tier spirit swords, once tempered by the Tempering Flame, can advance to the Absolute Level. Take out your spirit sword, and I will personally temper it for you.” Mu Jianghe turned to look at Jiang Huai. This was truly an immense gift.
However, Jiang Huai scratched his head. “Senior Mu, if you intend to bestow the Tempering Flame upon me… could you give it to me to… distribute myself?”
He remembered that Mu Jianghe had previously mentioned that Chu Xianning wished to use the Tempering Flame to cleanse the blade of her Suoxue Sword, which had been stained with blood, which was why she had sought it at the Mu Family in the Southern Region but had not found it. Now that the opportunity was at hand, Jiang Huai naturally wanted to take one back to please Chu Xianning.
Mu Jianghe sighed helplessly. “This kind of creation of heaven and earth, the Mu Family only bestows upon those fated. If you wish to take this Tempering Flame to your master, it would inadvertently break the rules. I am giving you one cluster because I see your terrifying talent and wish to help you soar to great heights in the future. If you still wish to give it to someone else, you would be letting down my good intentions.”
Since Mu Jianghe had spoken to this extent, Jiang Huai could not force the issue. He summoned the Yening Sword and also called out the Yening Sword Spirit, who was usually always sleeping. The petite Yening Sword Spirit sat on the floating spirit sword and heard Jiang Huai say softly, “With Senior helping me temper the sword, Xiao Ning, come out first, don’t stay inside the sword.”
Upon hearing this, the Yening Sword Spirit obediently perched on Jiang Huai’s shoulder. After a moment, she rubbed her eyes in surprise. “Eh, Master, you’re already at the Seventh Realm.”
“Don’t you feel anything when you’re sleeping all the time?”
“Master rarely uses me once a month, so when would I have the time to feel anything? Master, you’re much better than my previous master. Unlike her, who was always fighting and killing, following her was exhausting and nerve-wracking. It’s much more relaxing following you, Master. I can sleep in every day.”
“…” Jiang Huai was momentarily speechless, unsure how to respond.
