The secret realm opened at dusk.

After Chu Xinghui and Cheng Yu finished eating and rested for a while, they arrived at the entrance of the secret realm just before it opened.

The entrance was packed with low-level cultivators preparing to enter.

Cheng Yu, being short, tiptoed and strained to look over the crowd. His eyes suddenly noticed the sword in Chu Xinghui’s hand: “Hey, you changed your spirit sword?”

He remembered his poor friend had always used a pretty worn-out sword before—when did he become so well-off?

Seeing that Cheng Yu had noticed, Chu Xinghui generously showed it off: “Does it look good?”

Cheng Yu inspected it and commented: “You know, it really does. The material looks solid, way better than your old one.”

Chu Xinghui nodded modestly and put the sword away: “It’s mine.”

Cheng Yu didn’t understand why he suddenly sounded so proud, so he chalked it up to the eccentric habits of sword cultivators.

They were just like his senior brother and sister with their obsession over their alchemy furnaces.

After a while, members of the Beiyue Sword Sect arrived.

Ming Xiao, seeing the two standing up front, loudly cleared his throat.

But Chu Xinghui and Cheng Yu didn’t notice and kept their attention on the secret realm.

After waiting a long time with no response, Ming Xiao finally clenched his teeth and greeted them first: “We meet again.”

Only then did Cheng Yu notice someone familiar behind them. He warmly greeted him: “Fellow Cultivator Ming, you’re here too?”

Ming Xiao glanced at Chu Xinghui and said: “Since it’s our second time meeting, let’s exchange names.”

Cheng Yu was puzzled: “I’m Cheng Yu. My master took me to Beiyue Sword Sect before—you should know my name.”

Ming Xiao was momentarily stunned: “Who asked you?”

Cheng Yu became even more confused: “Didn’t you just say ‘let’s exchange names’? I’m part of the ‘we’ too.”

Ming Xiao: “…”

He gave up on Cheng Yu and walked straight to Chu Xinghui, raising his chin: “Hey, the one surnamed Xie, did you hear me?”

Chu Xinghui, hugging his sword and observing the area, turned around at the sound: “Were you talking to me? I’m not surnamed Xie.”

Just as Ming Xiao was about to blow up, Chu Xinghui added: “Chu Xinghui. That’s my name.”

Ming Xiao was barely satisfied but didn’t want to look too pleased. So he stared at him for a while and finally muttered: “I didn’t come just to ask your name.”

Chu Xinghui wasn’t sure why he emphasized that and politely nodded: “Oh.”

Ming Xiao, in a good mood, didn’t want to argue and huffed proudly: “Lots of people want to be friends with me. You should feel lucky I’m even offering to exchange names.”

This time, many young cultivators from major sects had come to the secret realm. They were the darlings of their sects, so even the outer security had been upgraded.

As the opening approached, several high-level cultivators arrived to monitor the entrance for any accidents.

Chu Xinghui let Ming Xiao’s words go in one ear and out the other, his gaze caught by a familiar figure at the end of the group.

That person wore an unremarkable face and mingled with the crowd like he was only here for the stipend, looking quite carefree.

As if sensing his gaze, the man turned back and winked at him through the crowd.

Chu Xinghui’s eyes lit up involuntarily.

Ming Xiao had been rambling, but when he noticed Chu Xinghui zoning out, he got annoyed: “Hey, I’m talking to you. At least look at me, will you?”

Cheng Yu, feeling left out, chimed in: “And me. I’m here too. If you’re going to argue, at least look at me while doing it.”

Hearing this, Ming Xiao turned and snapped at him: “Shut up. Is that something to be proud of?”

Cheng Yu protested, trying to defend his right to join the argument: “That’s not fair. I was the first to say your temper is bad. Why can’t I be part of the fight?”

His logic was flawless. Ming Xiao couldn’t think of a comeback and could only stubbornly say: “My cultivation is higher than yours. If I say you can’t, then you can’t!”

Meanwhile, the familiar figure disappeared into the crowd, and Chu Xinghui finally looked away.

He heard the two still bickering beside him and quietly took a step back, wanting to distance himself.

Getting mistaken for being part of their group would be horrible for his reputation.

Just as he debated changing spots, a stir ran through the crowd ahead.

A surge of spiritual energy burst from the entrance, and a black hole with an unclear interior appeared in its place.

The secret realm had opened.

Chu Xinghui pressed down on the two still arguing and dragged them toward the entrance.

*

After the secret realm opened, cultivators entered one after another, and the entrance area gradually cleared out.

Shang Ling held a map, discussing the surrounding spiritual fields with other cultivators who had come to help.

Someone noticed a stranger standing beside him and asked: “This fellow Cultivator looks a bit unfamiliar. May I ask your name?”

Xie Liufeng casually made one up: “My surname is Chu.”

The person thought for a while but couldn’t recall any famous cultivator surnamed Chu. Assuming Shang Ling brought him, he politely nodded and ignored him.

After a long discussion, the group finalized their investigation plans and dispersed.

Seeing that most had left, Shang Ling elbowed the silent man beside him: “Any thoughts?”

But Xie Liufeng wasn’t even looking at the map. Instead, he gazed toward a distant mountain: “What’s over there?”

Shang Ling followed his gaze but couldn’t recall anything special: “Just ordinary hills. I remember people from Lingxiang Sect camped there yesterday.”

Lingxiang Sect again?

That sect had been a little too present lately.

Xie Liufeng pondered for a moment: “Find someone skilled in formations. I’ll go check it out.”
Shang Ling was about to ask why, but when he turned back, the man had already disappeared.

He cursed under his breath but trusted that Xie Liufeng wouldn’t act without reason and went to find help.

*

The disorienting sensation of spatial transmission still lingered in Chu Xinghui’s mind.

Before he opened his eyes, he heard a strange rustling.

His sword shot out instantly and slashed the source of the sound.

Opening his eyes, he found himself in an unfamiliar forest, next to the corpse of a Qi Refining stage Purple Venom Spider.

So that was the source of the sound.

The forest was full of mist and the sky overcast—it didn’t seem like a safe place.

The fog concealed movement, and far off atop a mountain, a building loomed through the haze.

Looking around, Chu Xinghui noticed Cheng Yu wasn’t nearby.

Many secret realms had randomized teleportation. They had prepared for this by buying artifacts that could track each other’s positions.

Right now, Cheng Yu’s location appeared on the device.

Luckily, they weren’t too far apart—at most an hour’s journey at a fast pace.

Considering Cheng Yu’s limited self-defense skills and their pending business transaction, he needed to reunite with him quickly.

Having decided, Chu Xinghui confirmed the direction and set off.

As he walked, he collected some low-level herbs, but then noticed trampled grass ahead.

Someone had been here.

In secret realms, strangers could be just as dangerous as beasts. Chu Xinghui slowed down and stayed cautious.

Eventually, he spotted the figure—it was Qin Yuwen from Lingxiang Sect.

The moment he saw him, Chu Xinghui turned and started walking the other way.

He had a strong feeling this guy was bad news. The best way to handle trouble was to avoid it entirely.

But Qin Yuwen had already spotted him: “Fellow Cultivator Xie.”

Chu Xinghui had no choice but to stop and replied from a distance: “Do you need something?”

Qin Yuwen gave a soft smile: “I twisted my ankle. You don’t mind lending a hand, do you?”

His looks weren’t stunning, but his features were pleasant. When he furrowed his brow, it brought out a natural urge to protect.

Few could refuse him under such circumstances, especially someone upright like a Heavenly Dao Child. He was confident.

Chu Xinghui frowned.

He was puzzled: “Don’t you have spiritual energy?”

Qin Yuwen had already built his foundation. An ankle twist was nothing—a little spiritual energy or a healing pill would fix it.

He didn’t look like someone who lacked money for pills either.

So why was he keeping an injury in a dangerous secret realm?

Qin Yuwen froze for a second.

Chu Xinghui waited a bit, then turned to leave.

Seeing that he was about to go, Qin Yuwen quickly called out: “Wait!”

Chu Xinghui, a little annoyed, stopped again: “What is it exactly?”

Qin Yuwen’s temple twitched as he forced a gentle smile: “There’s a formation around this forest. You won’t get out easily. I have some understanding of such things. Why not travel together for a bit?”

 

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