Chapter 0.8 Youthful Rejuvenation
On Spring Eye Mountain stood a derelict temple. Even the elders in Red Square City, long past their prime, couldn’t recall which deity was worshipped within its walls. All they knew was that since their earliest memories, the small temple had been in a state of disrepair.
Fewer than ten people visited the temple to worship each year. Inside, dust coated everything, and the place was in disarray. The idol’s face was so damaged it was a horrific sight.
Yet today, Qin Yuan, under the guise of a Celestial Master, had drawn thousands of worshippers. Not just ordinary people, but cultivators too, showed respect to the statue with sincere bows, all in deference to Qin Yuan.
The surging crowd threatened to crush the already decaying threshold, transforming the lifeless temple into a bustling marketplace.
Qin Yuan levitated Gu Feiyan with his spiritual power, allowing her to hover beside him high in the sky. A glint of excitement flickered in his eyes as he secretly kept track of how many times people had bowed to the statue.
“What on earth is this guy planning?” Qin Gou and Zhao Xinting whispered to each other amidst the crowd.
“He’s a swindler. Why don’t we just leave?” Zhao Xinting said with a troubled expression.
Qin Gou raised an eyebrow. “We’re already here. Are you going to run away at the last minute? That so-called Celestial Master looks just like us – two eyes and a mouth. What’s so scary about that? I thought he’d have three heads and six arms.”
Zhao Xinting chuckled, amused. “I envy your fearlessness. If you had seen him enraged, you’d probably be wetting your pants right now.”
“Really? Is he that terrifying?” Qin Gou sneered. “Has he done anything terrible to you?”
“Not directly, but I’ve witnessed his terrifying power when he’s angry… And I’ve wronged him deeply; I’ve failed him.” Zhao Xinting offered a bitter smile. “Ultimately, it’s just a difference in ideology. Our paths diverge.”
“I understand,” Qin Gou said, giving Zhao Xinting a deep look.
“What?” Zhao Xinting asked, confused.
Qin Gou shrugged. “Understanding your own shortcomings will help you defeat him.”
“You’re right,” Zhao Xinting nodded. After a moment of contemplation, she gathered her courage and said firmly, “You’re correct. Since we’ve come this far, I have no excuse to turn back now.”
Qin Gou beamed, satisfied. *Go, Little Zhao! Fight hard and defeat that imposter. Then Brother Swindler will give you a huge surprise.*
High in the sky, Qin Yuan suddenly produced a golden talisman from his Nas Ring. He said to Gu Feiyan, “If you encounter any danger later, crush this talisman immediately. It will keep you safe for a while.”
A flicker of confusion crossed Gu Feiyan’s eyes. She softly asked, “Little Monkey, what exactly are you trying to achieve with all this fanfare?”
Qin Yuan smiled mysteriously. “Naturally, to get a head start and seize all the opportunities in the world. In this world, only I can achieve this.”
His grand declaration surprised Gu Feiyan.
Qin Yuan pointed to the dilapidated temple below and chuckled. “If the records are correct, the secret realm will automatically open once a sufficient number of people sincerely worship the statue. This is my goal. For this, I didn’t hesitate to use Old Qin’s name and spent over a hundred Spirit Cultivating Pills to gather these willing fools. But it’s all worth it. This secret realm is crucial for you.”
Gu Feiyan suddenly felt as if she wasn’t facing Qin Yuan, but Qin Gou himself. The unscrupulous, roguish demeanor of these two men was becoming increasingly similar.
“Three, two, one.” Qin Yuan’s countdown ended. As if heaven itself was confirming his words, the desolate ground suddenly shimmered with golden light, and a massive golden vortex appeared out of nowhere, blindingly brilliant.
“Let’s go!” Qin Yuan grabbed Gu Feiyan’s small hand, and they both plunged into the golden vortex.
“This is a secret realm!”
“Could this be the Celestial Master’s true objective?”
“Was the preaching and pill distribution just a facade?”
“Let’s hurry inside too!”
Instantly, a flood of cultivators rushed into the vortex, though few ordinary people dared to venture deep within.
“Let’s go in too,” Qin Gou said calmly.
Zhao Xinting looked surprised. “Aren’t you afraid?”
Qin Gou was confident. “I’m certain of one thing now: you’re definitely not an ordinary person either. Don’t forget to look out for me, okay?”
“But I…”
“Alright, if we dawdle any longer, that golden light might disappear,” Qin Gou said, pulling Zhao Xinting’s arm without further ado. They both dashed into the golden vortex and vanished.
…
As soon as Qin Gou opened his eyes, he realized the power of the secret realm had deliberately separated him from Zhao Xinting.
He now found himself sitting steadily on a stone platform, a dueling arena. Around him were five cocoons of light, presumably other cultivators protected within. Not far away, a dark, sealed door stood.
The meaning was clear: a simple, primal secret realm trial. Only the sole victor here could pass through that door.
Qin Gou mused this as the cocoons shattered one by one, leaving him utterly stunned.
Five children, barely reaching Qin Gou’s waist, stared at each other, their eyes wide with disbelief and shock.
“How did this happen?”
“How did I get younger?”
“Bah! Younger? It’s more like turning into a rascal! A little younger and I’d be back in the womb.”
“My cultivation has also regressed to match my age. Even with all my might, I can only control a few wisps of spiritual power.”
Hearing this, Qin Gou stroked his chin and interjected, “It seems this secret realm forcibly reverts us to our youthful selves. This completely eliminates the possibility of relying on external power and allows for the selection of truly exceptional talents, as those with extraordinary gifts often surpass others from a young age.”
“What about you?”
The five children looked at Qin Gou in unison, as if he were an evil monster, their eyes filled with terror.
“Why are you still an adult and completely unchanged?!” they all exclaimed.
*Hoo.*
Suddenly, Qin Gou casually plucked a long-handled white paper lantern from the air. Its eerie, bluish glow sent a chill down their spines.
Natal Spirit Tool: Dream Person Lantern.
“Not only did I not get smaller, but my own cultivation hasn’t changed one bit either,” Qin Gou said, playing with the Dream Person lantern with a charming, inscrutable smile.
Long ago, when Yi Chengying had measured Qin Gou’s actual physical age, she had been greatly startled.
Qin Gou’s body was less than a year old even at this moment!
