Chapter 249: Spirit Ruins Secret Realm
The sky was clear and the breeze was gentle.
The weather on Mount Longhu today was exceptionally sunny. Compared to the apocalyptic scene of dark clouds and shattered heavens from the previous two days, it was a complete transformation.
Coinciding with the rare break at the end of the month, many students from the United Universities of Cultivation took the opportunity to go hiking and enjoy the scenery, cherishing these moments of leisure.
Chen An, though nominally a student, was not among them. He actually wouldn’t have minded joining the fun with the other three, but there was still something he needed to attend to.
It was to find the main ingredient for the Meridian Opening Pill for his sister, Chen Xi. Compared to the cultivation world, many medicinal herbs on Blue Star were not very effective. Their names and appearances also differed, often requiring Chen An to personally identify them.
Speaking of which, it was a plan made not too long ago, and now the time had come, yet he inexplicably felt like he had fallen into a time warp. It was as if something decided in the twentieth chapter of a novel was only being addressed in the two-hundredth chapter.
His thoughts wandered as Chen An led a dazed girl, her eyes filled with a clear, simple innocence, to the entrance of the Spirit Ruins Secret Realm. This girl was none other than Miss Lin Jingqiu, who had initially insisted on taking Chen An to the capital for treatment.
Today, she had her hair tied up in a high ponytail, exposing her raven locks, and wore a green daoist robe identical to her Master, Luo Cong’an. The robe was just smaller, making her look like a youthful version of Luo Cong’an. Having been notified of her participation at the last minute, the girl appeared a bit bewildered, yet felt she should be happy about this great opportunity, wearing a dazed expression.
The Spirit Ruins Secret Realm on Mount Longhu was located on a small, independent peak behind the Celestial Master’s Mansion. The area was bare, with only occasional spatial distortions in the center hinting at its extraordinary nature. The secret realm had been passed down through generations in the Celestial Master’s Mansion, opened by a powerful figure for their disciples’ trials. However, as spiritual energy declined, the keys to opening the realm became ordinary objects, and it was eventually shelved, becoming a faint legend among disciples. It even spread widely, not just within Mount Longhu itself, but also outwardly, attracting countless people who came to offer incense in hopes of receiving divine blessings.
Chen An knew all this, naturally, not because he had deliberately inquired. Ever since returning to the present world, aside from actively seeking medicine for his sister Chen Xi, he had been in a very “passive” state. In other words, he was too lazy. One could imagine that after enduring nine lifetimes of struggle, anyone would lose their passion.
Ahead, the lecture from the Dragon Tiger Mountain Celestial Master continued, recounting the glorious history of their ancestors. The young man lowered his eyes, patiently waiting. This patience, however, might have been slightly related to the bamboo chair he was lounging on. Beside him, a bright and charming young girl was squatting, whispering into his ear.
“Chen An, do you think we’ll be separated by something strange after we go in?”
“Chen An, do you think that after all these years, something terrifying might have spawned inside… Oh, no, you’re so powerful, you’ll definitely protect me, right?”
“Sigh, I’m so nervous. Aren’t you even a little bit nervous? This is a legendary secret realm, didn’t you hear how powerful that person said it was? I feel like just looking at it for a second would make it explode!”
Lin Jingqiu’s restless chatter buzzed like an annoying bee, relentlessly. However, the young man on the bamboo chair simply lay there quietly, neither telling her to stop nor offering any specific answers. The girl continued chattering to herself, not finding it boring. She was like a student about to enter an exam, about to put knowledge into practice, using constant talking to alleviate her nervousness. No one else was around them. This was because Luo Cong’an had previously stated that the Spirit Ruins Secret Realm could not withstand the “shenanigans” of people at their level.
“Chen An, look!”
Suddenly, the girl’s wandering gaze seemed to spot something. Her eyes lit up, and she immediately shook the young man’s arm with her hand. Chen An slightly raised his eyes and looked in the direction she pointed. Not far away stood a man and a woman, appearing young, around twenty years old. Judging by their attire, they were likely foreign “friends” from the Land of Cherry Blossoms. Both had fine appearances and were currently standing there slightly self-consciously, discreetly observing their surroundings.
Chen An withdrew his gaze and casually remarked, “Didn’t you tell me yourself that we have international ‘exchange students’? What are you so excited about?”
Upon hearing this, the girl leaned in and mumbled softly beside his ear, “Saying it is one thing, seeing it with my own eyes is another, isn’t it? Besides, aren’t you at all curious about how their cultivation methods or combat techniques differ from ours?”
“Not curious,” Chen An replied instantly.
Lin Jingqiu rolled her eyes at him. In her eyes, the young man was still the same, only his background was much more mysterious, so she felt no reservations in interacting with him. She opened her mouth, about to say something, when she was suddenly interrupted by a somewhat surprised shout from behind her.
“Junior Sister Lin, why are you here?”
Lin Jingqiu turned around and saw a young man walking towards her. Behind him followed two men and a woman, all wearing the distinctive green daoist robes of Mount Qingcheng, with the prominent Yin-Yang symbol on their cuffs. With the opening of the Spirit Ruins Secret Realm, Mount Longhu, as the host, did not forget to invite Mount Qingcheng, another holy land, to participate. The ones who came were selected by Mount Qingcheng and met the requirements, representing the younger generation, all with considerable strength. For instance, the leading man had already reached the formidable Qi Cultivation Level 4.
Upon seeing the arrivals, Lin Jingqiu quickly stood up and politely bowed.
“Senior Brother Chang.”
After greeting him, she then looked at the only woman among the group and winked playfully. This was none other than her Senior Sister from the same peak, Zheng Qing. Zheng Qing also showed surprise upon seeing the girl, but her expression turned understanding when she saw the young man lying beside her. She nodded slightly as a response.
“Junior Sister Lin, I remember you only started cultivating not long ago. You haven’t even entered Qi Refining, why are you here?” Senior Brother Chang, as he was called, frowned and asked.
Lin Jingqiu did not hide anything and truthfully relayed Luo Cong’an’s instructions. Senior Brother Chang’s frown deepened. Seeing this, the girl added, “Senior Brother Chang, I have already entered Qi Refining.”
“Nonsense! Even if you’ve entered Qi Refining, you’re only at Level 1, and you probably haven’t even mastered a few spells. If you encounter danger in the secret realm, won’t you be throwing away your life for nothing?” Although he knew it was at the behest of Peak Master Luo, Chang Hao couldn’t help but scold her. He sighed helplessly and gritted his teeth, “How about this, when we enter the secret realm, you stick with us. At worst, we won’t go to the more adventurous places.” Although this would undoubtedly reduce their gains, it was a sacrifice worth making compared to risking their lives.
Lin Jingqiu was stunned when she heard this. She shifted her body to the side, revealing the young man behind her. Then she said earnestly, “Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Chang. However, my Master said I should follow him closely.”
