In the world of night mist, darkness ran as deep as an abyss, while cities flickered like candlelight.
This plateau was no exception; light existed only where the Fire Springs surged.
Within the secret realm, there were no Fire Springs, yet neither was it dark. It resembled the "twilight" recorded in ancient texts, illuminated entirely by glowing mist in every color of the spectrum, dominated by an evening glow that drifted through the forest.
The newcomers felt as though they had shrunk, while the mountains and rivers rapidly expanded around them.
From the outside, the ground had appeared blanketed in "moss." Yet before their eyes, everything was monstrously oversized. Giant flowers bloomed large enough for several people to lie inside, easily serving as houses.
The foxtail grass grew thick and long, drooping in midair like dragon tails.
"Are we really standing on a planet that fell from beyond the sky?" Zhao Muyao of Pure Yang Academy asked, carefully surveying the terrain.
Jiang Ruoli of Bodhi Academy remarked, "When you think about it, it truly is dreamlike. A celestial body fell here—it looks tiny from afar, yet it is so extraordinary. It once hung high in the outer realms, and now we're standing on an alien planet."
The young men present were more pragmatic, lacking any sentimental romanticism or wistful musings about wandering the world beyond.
Xiao Wu gave the colossal foxtail grass a tug and called out, "Fairies, why not take a swing on this alien world and soak in the exotic sights?"
Silence fell across the clearing instantly.
Qin Ming hurried over and dragged him aside. His brother was far too simple-minded; even if that group had rejected them, he couldn't just spout nonsense like that.
Clearly, Xiao Wu was still holding a grudge, committed above all else to never taking a verbal loss.
Nearby, both women from before and those who had been about to speak, including Lin Qianyi and Xiao Yaqin, clamped their mouths shut, their faces darkening slightly.
Their ethereal reverie and poetic sentiment had been utterly shattered; the mood was completely gone.
The elder who had led them inside turned to leave without offering further explanation.
"Senior, our teams are made up of either disciples from the previous batch or new recruits from this one. Can we really compete against the others for the immortal seeds here?" Gan Jincheng of Tianpeng Daoist Sanctuary asked.
Broadly speaking, they were all "newcomers" who had never experienced anything like this.
The veteran disciples were not traveling with them, and with factions from the outer realms, the esoteric sects, and non-human races involved, the roster of participants was complicated.
The elder replied, "The secret realm is vast. Those who enter from different areas will be separated by immense distances, making encounters rare."
He then offered a faint smile and added, "Did you think the rare materials and extraordinary spiritual herbs you see are the greatest fortunes here, things you must slaughter and fight one another over? You are mistaken."
"Huh?" Everyone paused in surprise and quickly pressed him for details.
The academy seniors had not mentioned any of this, as this secret realm had only just been conquered and was uniquely distinct.
The elder said, "No need to rush; you will understand soon enough. When the time comes, you won't even have the heart to vie with others. This place is special and requires careful 'savoring.' The benefits are far from small."
His words only piqued the groups' curiosity further, and they humbly asked for guidance.
He smiled. "This is a test of your sharp spiritual perceptiveness. Observe and grasp it for yourselves. I will say only one thing: even figures as formidable as Pu Heng and the disciples of Qingtian have entered this place and walked away with gains."
The crowd was stunned. Who was Pu Heng? Cao Qianqiu's eldest disciple!
Together with a Young Ancestor from the Qingtian Sect, both had explored this place. It was undeniably extraordinary.
"In fact, Senior Sun may have visited in person as well," the elder added in a lowered voice.
Everyone stood in a daze. The "Senior Sun" he spoke of could only mean Sun Taichu. Had an expert of such transcendent cultivation truly graced this place with his presence?
Instantly, the youngsters grew thrilled and stirred with excitement, a few of the younger boys nearly shouting aloud.
Soon, however, they calmed down again.
"Could it be very dangerous?"
For a figure of that stature to take an interest, this place was certainly extraordinary—and perhaps terrifying.
The elder shook his head. "Do not worry; what happens here varies from person to person. Besides, you won't be able to trigger those deeper things anyway. Even if I pointed out the path, you could not walk in that senior's footsteps."
The crowd fell pensive, turning his words over in their minds to decipher every scrap of valuable insight. This star fragment was undoubtedly astonishing.
Having finished speaking, the elder prepared to leave. But noticing a young man digging jade from a boulder and stuffing it into his robes, he couldn't resist asking, "What are you doing?"
Qin Ming gave an awkward smile. "Mount Sumeru contained within a mustard seed. I wondered if bringing stones from here into the outside world could let us use them for spatial storage."
He had pried loose two pieces of jade stone and tossed one to Xiao Wu.
The elder remarked, "You're clever enough, but taking them out won't do you any good. Even the seniors above have to go through great pains to carve out an extradimensional space from them."
He then studied Qin Ming up and down and continued, "To think you are a Newborn. What a pity. Your kind is lacking in the spiritual domain. What is needed here is sharp perceptiveness; you won't cut it. You'll barely scrape by, if at all."
With that, he stepped out of the area and swiftly vanished.
"That old codger!" Xiao Wu scoffed, curling his lip.
Aside from the Newborns, everyone else was delighted, as the elder's words had essentially served as another hint, providing valuable intel.
Wang Lijie of the Dragon-Elephant Dao Arena said, "Everyone, there must be an astonishing fortune here. Otherwise, why would Senior Sun come, or the Young Ancestor and Pu Heng visit in person? Let's think carefully about which direction we should pursue and what the situation actually is."
Su Junlin of Dameng Daoist Sanctuary said, "We can simply forge ahead and explore. However, we shouldn't separate in the early stages. After all, the academy instructors warned us that this place is far from peaceful. When certain dangers arise, a whole team is required to face them."
For a moment, many eyes turned toward Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu. Their two-man squad was laughably thin and threadbare.
The youths felt that if these two didn't trail behind the larger group, they wouldn't even stir a ripple before vanishing and perishing within the secret realm.
Immediately, some curled their lips while others chuckled softly.
Xiao Wu said, "What's that supposed to mean? Looking down on our elite squad of two? In a bit, don't come crying to my brother and me for help!"
"Let's see how long you can keep that stubborn mouth running!"
"If you leave our side, could the two of you even survive?!"
Several disciples voiced their displeasure.
Some even suggested driving the pair away so they couldn't tag along.
Suddenly, a commotion arose up ahead. Several people sprinted forward, having caught a fresh fragrance in this lush, green expanse that grew richer as they advanced.
"Golden Orchids!" someone cried in astonishment.
The trees here easily reached hundreds of meters in height, and vines as thick as water vats were commonplace.
Just ahead, a large cluster of orchids looked so fresh they seemed about to drip golden liquid. Bright and gleaming, they dazzled the eyes, prompting two teams to rush over.
Two youths among them were particularly aggressive, leaping forward to pounce on the Golden Orchids.
This was an exceedingly precious spiritual herb. Compounded with other minerals into a golden liquid, it worked wonders for healing, enabling swift recovery.
"Such rich fragrance—this is a mutated Golden Orchid!" someone exclaimed with joy.
Yet almost immediately, agonized shrieks rang out.
The two who had lunged forward sank into the ground. Covered head to toe in an overwhelming "stench," they stumbled backward to break free.
Everyone froze in shock, then hastily backed away.
Qin Ming and Xiao Wu were dumbfounded as well, quickly covering their noses and mouths as they retreated.
"It's shit!" Xiao Wu yelled without an ounce of sympathy, thoroughly grossed out.
A patch of Golden Orchids had actually taken root atop an enormous mound of dung. Its fragrance had masked the stench beneath, and now the two youths were coated in filth, driven nearly mad with fury.
Three young women who had picked some Golden Orchids suddenly found them anything but fragrant. Flushed with shame and anger, they tossed the flowers away and frantically scrubbed their pale hands, wishing they could peel off a layer of skin.
No one had expected to receive such a brutal "lesson" right after entering. The two main victims were caked in slime, feeling worse than if they had been killed, pushed to the brink of collapse.
"You go too far! Not only did you steal my spirit herbs, but you also ruined my herb field! You bullies!" In the distance, an enormous dung beetle was rolling a ball forward, consumed with literal dung-fueled fury.
It was two to three times larger than a tabletop, its body clicking as if forged from black iron. Its claws sliced through the vines in its path with ease.
Gan Jincheng looked at the afflicted teammates, then at the black beetle. Completely unwilling to fight it, he said, "A misunderstanding. We'll leave immediately."
"I came from the plateau into this domain and spent five years of bitter toil cultivating these herbs, only for you to ruin them! Pay with your lives!" the black beetle shrieked.
Suddenly spreading its black carapace, it fluttered its wings and lunged, moving swift as black lightning.
Everyone realized this could not end amicably. Ruining its herb field was merely its pretext for starting a fight; it was a demon from the plateau to begin with. The two camps were meant to clash here—upon meeting, battle was inevitable.
"Ah..." The two who had fallen into the dung cried out in succession. A chill gripped many hearts as the two boys were severed in two, blood spraying everywhere.
Though their composure had shattered earlier, their reaction to the danger was not slow, and they had exerted their full strength. Yet they failed to hold it off, torn to shreds alive.
No one had anticipated that this black beetle would be so strong. Already in the second realm, its body was harder than refined iron—it was no minor demon.
Worst of all, a grating buzz like iron plates rubbing together began to resonate endlessly, shrill and dreadful enough to raise goosebumps. A total of eight black beetles emerged, darting through the air like streaks of black lightning, every one of them in the second realm.
"One team per beetle! The remaining teams provide support!" Zhao Muyao shouted.
Wang Lijie said, "Don't panic! These demons from the plateau lay in ambush just to catch us off guard. There's nothing to fear—cut them down!"
Each team had experts. Once organized, dealing with second-realm creatures was not excessively difficult.
In an instant, conscious spiritual light flashed, divine wisdom surged, and various spiritual artifacts flew through the air, clashing fiercely against the beetles forged like black gold. Sparks sprayed in all directions, showing just how tough the creatures were.
Qin Ming felt that this trip to an alien world was truly off to a foul start, running into such revolting bugs right away.
"What fallen planet from the heavens? There's nothing romantic or wonderful about this at all!" Xiao Wu grumbled.
Those nearby were infuriated. These two still had the leisure to offer commentary? Jiang Ruoli, Zhao Muyao, and the other female leaders, who had just been musing over otherworldly beauty earlier, glared at him fiercely.
"You two can't help, yet you stand there making sarcastic remarks! What burdens! Shut your mouths!" Su Junlin snapped.
"That's all? Just a few beetles!" Xiao Wu scoffed.
"Then step up and take them out!" someone jeered. By now, they had stabilized the situation, and some black beetles had already been slain.
"True masters need to hold the rear, don't they? Besides, they just smell too awful," Xiao Wu retorted.
"A pair of deadweights!" several others muttered in disgust.
Liu Hanya added in a cold voice, "Don't go telling anyone you belong to Shanhe Academy. I don't know you!"
Just then, another scream tore through the air. A snow-white beetle swept past, severing five people at the waist wherever it flew, unleashing devastating carnage.
They had barely entered the secret realm, yet seven people had already perished. It was a bloody journey; if things continued like this, who knew how many more would die?
The silver beetle was far stronger. Though it stood alone, it severely crippled an entire team.
Its speed was terrifying. The moment it appeared, it caused such devastation before even Qin Ming and Xiao Wu could react.
Immediately after, it dove straight toward Liu Hanya and her companions.
With a loud clang, the spiritual artifact Liu Hanya deployed merely deflected it. Its formidable claws, seemingly forged from refined gold, grazed her armor and carved deep gouges into it, nearly drawing blood.
That was only from an initial clash. Her face turned pale; had it been a direct collision, she might have been torn apart as well.
Compared to the black beetles, the silver beetle was smaller, roughly the size of a tabletop. But it possessed blistering speed and fierce power. The vibration of its silver wings hummed like thunder, cleaving through trees and vines in its path and shattering them to pieces.
Many realized that this was a mutated insect. If allowed to mature, it could become a sacred beetle!
Clang!
It dove a second time. Liu Hanya staggered back, her spiritual artifact damaged and the armor over her shoulder blasted apart. Fortunately, she wore an inner breastplate beneath, or her shoulder might have been ripped away.
Many watched in alarm, aware of how capable she truly was; an elder from the immortal land had taken an interest in her, a testament to her extraordinary talent.
Clang!
Xiao Wu made his move. Though he refused to lose a war of words, he wouldn't stand by and watch someone die. He hurled an iron spear from his back, striking the silver beetle.
To Liu Hanya's astonishment, the beetle rocked violently in midair.
Xiao Wu hurled a second iron spear.
At the same time, Qin Ming acted. The silver beetle was indeed exceptionally powerful; if left unchecked, more would die. He hurled an iron hammer.
The others unleashed their spiritual artifacts as well, attacking in unison.
With a loud boom, the silver beetle exploded.
Liu Hanya stood in shock. Though many had attacked, she felt that it was ultimately Xiao Wu's spear and Shen Wubing's forceful hammer strike that had shattered it, having little to do with the others.
"Thank you!" She stepped forward to express her gratitude, feeling ashamed of her earlier words.
"No need, Shanhe Number Two," Xiao Wu replied, turning the back of his head to her.
Liu Hanya's expression froze.
Qin Ming smiled. "Just helping each other out."
"Thank you," Liu Hanya said softly.
With all the beetles slain, the atmosphere turned somber. They had only just started, yet seven people were dead—an undeniable omen of misfortune.
For the time being, the teams stayed together rather than separating.
Those who had been standing close earlier began to suspect the true strength of the two youths.
Having witnessed it firsthand, Liu Hanya was certain that the two were unfathomable and that she had misjudged them before.
Gan Jincheng frowned. "Where is the miraculous and extraordinary nature of this land supposed to be?"
After advancing ten li, they encountered no further danger, but neither did they find anything unusual.
Jiang Ruoli said, "That senior made it quite clear: one needs sharp spiritual perception. Newborns have no destiny here. In all likelihood, we must continuously use our divine wisdom and conscious spiritual light to scout the way forward."
Aside from the Newborns, everyone did just that.
"Hiss!"
Two li further, they made a discovery. The entire world seemed subtly altered, permeated by an indescribable aura.
Soon after, they heard the barking of a dog—not a wild hound, but one kept in a village. Faintly, a rooster's crow drifted through the air.
Many were astonished to see scenery ahead that had no reason to exist.
Yet the Newborns in each team were bewildered, seeing and hearing nothing at all.
Even those walking the immortal path or esoteric path saw only towering ancient trees and thorn-covered ground whenever they refrained from using divine wisdom or conscious spiritual light; there was nothing unusual.
"Is that someone near-immortal, or a godlike being?!" As they drew closer, the scene grew clearer, causing several people to tremble.
Ahead stood a thatched cottage. Atop a bluestone table, tea fragrance curled into the air beside stacks of bamboo slips.
A peerless beauty was reading a bamboo book. As her silky hair slipped down, touching the bamboo slips, a radiant glow emanated from them. Seeming to hear a call, she boarded five-colored clouds and departed for the moment.
"She left, leaving freshly brewed tea untouched. Can we approach? Could that be the legendary immortal tea that brings sudden enlightenment?"
"Those bamboo slips..." Several disciples trembled inside, excited yet uneasy, feeling as if they were wandering through a dream.
Was this the opportunity the elder had hinted at? It seemed not to belong to the normal, physical world.
Meanwhile, in a distant area, Xiang Yiwu was dumbfounded. He found himself looking at a ruined temple, where a golden cicada engulfed in blazing fire stared back at him eye to eye.
A sudden cicada buzz rang out ahead, and the burly Tathagata renegade nearly blew apart. Shuddering from head to foot, he stumbled backward, his mouth filled with bloody froth.
Even farther away, Li Qingyue walked with hair cascading like a waterfall, resembling an exiled immortal gracing the mortal world. The silk ribbon at her slender waist fluttered in the breeze as she walked along a path paved entirely of black and white stones.
An eight-sided bronze lamp cast its flame, illuminating the road ahead. Soon, she saw a palace engraved with Bagua runes looming before her.
In another location, Cui Chonghe held a nine-colored sword, hacking through thorns and briars before following a bluestone path that ascended into the sky toward the clouds.
...
"She's back! Can she see us?"
From afar, the group of youths watched, their hearts churning. What they saw was eerie. Were these real people and sights, an illusion, or lingering phantoms of events that had occurred long ago?
They couldn't resist moving closer, drawn forward against their will.
"Brother, do you see it?" Xiao Wu asked through a secret transmission.
"I see it," Qin Ming nodded.
Xiao Wu's expression grew solemn. "Truly bizarre. This doesn't look like a spirit wandering realm, yet it feels so real. I can even smell the tea fragrance, clearing my mind completely. If someone took a sip, wouldn't they achieve enlightenment on the spot?"
Qin Ming nodded. "The tea fragrance is indeed alluring, resonating with my spirit. More importantly, that pile of bamboo slips is even more extraordinary."
As they drew closer, more details surfaced.
After the woman returned, an elderly couple walked over, followed by a young child and then a young couple who came into focus. Beside the thatched cottage, a house with gray tiles and blue bricks appeared.
They seemed to be a family.
Soon, the imagery shifted rapidly. The elderly couple appeared to be the woman's parents, the young couple her brother and sister-in-law, and the child her nephew.
In the courtyard of the brick-and-tile house, a yellow dog wagged its tail and an old hen pecked about, full of homely warmth.
As years flowed by, the peerless woman in the thatched cottage remained unchanged, while the others grew old and frail.
At last, she rose from the bluestone table, her entire body radiating light. Endless rain of light engulfed her, the cottage, and everyone else.
"This is like a tale of attaining the Dao—ascending in a cloud of rosy light, where even the chickens and dogs ascend to heaven..." someone murmured.
Yet the ending defied everyone's expectations.
As the woman lifted her loved ones off the ground, they burst into roaring flames and were reduced to ashes. A faint rain of light drifted upward, only to detonate and scatter.
Everyone turned to ash, dying just like that.
Where they had stood, only remnants of the thatched cottage and the gray-tiled house remained. The bamboo slips burned, leaving only a few intact, while the tea set stood undamaged, resting where it had always been.
A gentle breeze blew past, stirring the ashes. Green bamboo swayed, thin mist coiled, and colored clouds gathered only to disperse, as if recounting how arduous it was to approach immortality—even a woman of such brilliance had failed, bringing ruin upon her family.
Ashes, rubble, a bluestone table, and a teapot and cups left from who knew how many years ago—this bizarre scene stretched across the ground before them.
Unable to hold back, someone strode forward, only to clutch his head and cry out. His conscious spiritual light flickered wildly, unable to draw near at all.
When he retreated, gasping for breath, he was stunned to find that he could no longer see anything. No matter how he projected his conscious spiritual light to capture the imagery, it was useless.
"Did I fail? Can I not approach?" he muttered. Then, sensing nothing at all, he walked forward again.
This time, he could walk into that area, but felt nothing, passing straight through it.
The others saw him drift through the ruins like a shadow.
In the physical world, it was merely a thicket of briars; he had only brushed against vines and ancient trees.
"Let me try!" Another person stepped forward, only to clutch his head and scream as well.
Afterward, someone kept their physical body still and extended their conscious spiritual light toward the site, only to be struck as if by lightning. Their soul light was repelled, leaving them groggy for a long time before recovering.
Laden with lingering fear, he said, "It felt like being struck by outer heavenly light! The pain was unbearable!"
Lin Qianyi, Wang Lijie, and the others stepped up one after another, all meeting failure.
Even prominent figures like Gan Jincheng, Jiang Ruoli, and Zhao Muyao made it only to the courtyard ruins before retreating with pale faces.
The Pure Yang Physique was among the ranks as well, a youth named Lu Dao. Bearing immense pressure, he entered the courtyard and seemed to hear something, but eventually backed away, saying, "This place shares no destiny with me."
Next, Ling Yu and Xin Youdao successfully stepped inside, watched tensely by the crowd.
One after another, both frowned and backed out.
Apart from the Newborns, everyone had given it a try, and all had come away empty-handed.
Luo Lianqing, the "immortal flower" of Feixian Academy, said, "No matter. There must be other wondrous sights ahead with even more astonishing fortunes. There will always be a place meant for us."
The crowd nodded in agreement.
"Do you two want to try? Wu Yaozu, aren't you cultivating two paths?" Liu Hanya whispered.
"Brother, let's give it a shot too!" Xiao Wu said.
"All right!" Qin Ming agreed.
Then, just like the others, both shuddered upon their initial approach, letting out muffled groans.
"This... One cultivates two paths, and the other is just an ordinary Newborn. Can they even sense it?"
"You actually believe that? They're obviously faking it!"
Several disciples watched from behind, whispering among themselves. Unfortunately, they could no longer perceive the wondrous scene; the thatched cottage ruins, the bluestone table, and the tea set were completely invisible to them.
"I don't believe for a second that they've actually walked inside!" Zhao Muyao said.
Yet right at that moment, Qin Ming and Xiao Wu took another step. Hindered only briefly, they smoothly entered the courtyard ruins.
Xiao Yaqin remarked, "I think they're just putting on an act. There's no way they could truly set foot before a near-immortal's thatched cottage."
"Pure Yang Number Two, Calamity Avoidance Number Two, keep it down," Xiao Wu called out, casually tossing reminders back to them.
Zhao Muyao and Xiao Yaqin glared at his retreating figure. Being referred to as 'Number Two' was outrageous—that fellow was simply unbearable.
Qin Ming and Xiao Wu heard a sigh, as if a woman were speaking, telling them that they were unsuited for the path here and should depart early.
The pair ignored it, foraging and pacing around. Then, immense pressure bore down upon them as five-colored clouds surged forward, attempting to repel them.
Yet the two planted their feet like iron nails, resisting the mountain-like force without budging an inch.
Xiao Wu said, "She dissipated long ago. She can't do anything to us."
Qin Ming walked toward the bluestone table, grabbed the teapot, and shook it. The sloshing of tea could still be heard inside.
Soon, Xiao Wu braved the immense force and joined him.
"This tea hasn't gone sour, has it?" he muttered.
"No, it's still very fragrant!" Qin Ming replied with certainty.
"Those two really know how to put on a show! Quite convincing, too!" someone commented from outside.
Wang Lijie said, "They must have memorized the position of the bluestone and are pretending to pick up a teapot!"
Lin Qianyi added, "Now they're pretending to pour tea. What's the point of acting like this?"
Qin Ming was genuinely surprised. After so many years, the tea inside the pot had not spoiled; a rich, enticing fragrance still wafted from it.
Unfortunately, very little tea remained. From the initial shake, he could tell there was likely less than half a cup.
The bluestone table was spotless, and the teacups were clean and pristine as new.
Qin Ming poured the tea into two cups. Indeed, there was barely any left; though it covered the bottoms, it was only about an inch deep.
Clear, crystalline, and faintly glowing, it was entirely unlike ordinary tea. Just smelling it made one feel on the verge of enlightenment.
"Let me test it first to see if it's spoiled," Xiao Wu said. He took a small sip, then set the cup down immediately, declaring, "Incredible tea! I feel intoxicated!"
Yet this intoxication was a profound reverie, a sensation of stepping into enlightenment.
Qin Ming drank some as well. Instantly, his mind cleared, and a flood of insights welled within him, making him yearn to enter secluded cultivation right then and there!
"Those two are addicted to playing the part—it's getting more realistic by the second!" someone muttered.
Qin Ming turned to inspect the surviving bamboo slips on the table. In an instant, shock overtook him. Certain he was not mistaken, he stared at the writing and diagrams upon the bamboo slips in sheer disbelief!
Xiao Wu picked up several bamboo slats as well, petrified on the spot. "Holy shit... No, heaven bless me! The ancestors are spoon-feeding us!"
Though immersed in a state of enlightenment, he was nearly driven wild with excitement.
His fingers trembled as he traced the bamboo slips, thrilled beyond measure.
Qin Ming felt the same, the bamboo slips feeling heavy as a mountain in his hands.
The tea and the bamboo slips were an absolute, flawless match. Closing his eyes to reflect before looking back at the bamboo slips, he gained even deeper insights. This place truly was a realm of wonders!
Chapter 203