Dense trees formed a forest, and occasionally, a few piercing cries could be heard.
There were no dangerous beasts in Biluo Peak, but instead, some Ling Beasts who were quite friendly toward cultivators.
Bai Yazhi wore a bright red robe, her somewhat enchanting face blooming with delight.
This Biluo Peak truly was filled with treasures everywhere.
Relying on her Junk-picking Talent, just by “picking up trash” in the mountains, she had already gained a lot today.
With a casual dig, she could find broken magical artifacts left behind by some Ancestor, or even a few pieces of Lingshi.
She wiped the sweat from her brow, feeling that no matter how tiring it was, it was all worth it.
Although her talent wasn’t as monstrous as Li Xunmiao’s, it still far surpassed ordinary disciples.
An elder of Biluo Peak took a liking to Bai Yazhi’s talent and accepted her into the Sect.
Yet whenever she thought about Li Xunmiao and her Li Xunmiao’s Lackey also being in these mountains, and even having a higher status than herself, Bai Yazhi always felt a fire smoldering in her chest.
Hmph, in this immortal mountain, there were countless opportunities. Surely there would be a fortune that belonged to her, Bai Yazhi.
Suddenly, Bai Yazhi’s ears twitched slightly as she heard voices speaking deep within the woods.
She found the voices awfully familiar and quickly snuck over stealthily.
“Thank you for taking a walk with me, Gu Shixiong. I feel so much better now.” The gloom in Li Xunmiao’s heart was swept away.
“You were only doubting yourself. What’s so bad about having outstanding talent? Others would only wish they could be in your place.”
Gu Ze comforted her. Li Xunmiao still lacked confidence, but once she realized she was this world’s Heaven’s Mandate heroine, she would surely become much stronger.
“Then… is Gu Shixiong jealous of me too?” Li Xunmiao tilted her head slightly, taking tiny steps as she watched Gu Ze’s reaction.
“Not at all.” To her surprise, Gu Ze shook his head.
He plucked a branch and started drawing something on the ground—maybe the shape of Biluo Peak, maybe just random doodles.
“In the cultivation world, the stronger your abilities, the greater your responsibility. Maybe once you truly gain enlightenment and even take control of the Heavenly Dao, you’ll look back and realize that the purest memories are from this brief period during the Qi Refinement Stage.”
Taking control of the Heavenly Dao? Li Xunmiao had never imagined such a scene.
But Gu Shixiong’s ancient, story-like eyes seemed to see through everything, as if recounting things that were destined to happen.
Li Xunmiao pursed her lips. Right now, all she wanted was to become stronger.
Only by becoming stronger could she avoid being bullied, only then could she change her fate against the will of Heaven.
“Then as a cultivator in the Qi Refinement Stage, does Gu Shixiong have his own responsibilities to uphold?”
“Oh?” Gu Ze looked up.
Gentle sunlight filtered through the leaves, sprinkling golden patches across Li Xunmiao.
In that moment, Gu Ze truly saw the fairy who smiled so sweetly at him.
Li Xunmiao grinned, her eyes curving like a mischievous crescent moon: “Gu Shixiong, your current responsibility is to protect me.”
Gu Ze smiled casually as well. At this time, he didn’t realize just how heavy the meaning behind Li Xunmiao’s words truly was.
Suddenly, Gu Ze sensed a familiar presence drawing near.
Although the other party had deliberately slowed their footsteps, he had only just broken through yesterday and received a soul-strengthening gift from Qingquan, so his perception was far sharper than before.
Without looking back, Gu Ze already knew that it was Bai Yazhi hiding in the shadows.
What a coincidence—according to the original story, every time Li Xunmiao came across a Legacy in the early chapters, Bai Yazhi would appear like a lingering ghost, always stirring up trouble and fighting with her for it.
Today, Gu Ze had brought Li Xunmiao to the mountain in advance to look for hidden cultivation techniques, yet they still ran into Bai Yazhi?
Was this one of those inevitable, low-probability events that was bound to happen?
“Gu Shixiong, I feel like someone is watching us…” Before Gu Ze could give a warning, Li Xunmiao had already lowered her voice and spoken up first.
Gu Ze froze. Did Li Xunmiao have such terrifying senses too? But she was just a mortal right now.
“It’s Bai Yazhi, don’t worry. With me here, she won’t dare act rashly.”
“That woman…!” Li Xunmiao stomped her foot in anger.
Remembering how her jade pendant was almost snatched away yesterday and how she had been publicly humiliated, Li Xunmiao’s brows knit together.
Her bottom line was clear: repay kindness with kindness and grudges with vengeance. If people didn’t offend her, she wouldn’t offend them.
But Bai Yazhi clearly harbored ill intentions toward her, and no matter how tolerant Li Xunmiao was, a bit of anger still flared up.
Open.
Release.
Last night, Gu Ze had also recalled just how practical Bai Yazhi’s Junk-picking Talent was as described in the novel.
She couldn’t possibly be in the mountains just for a stroll—she had probably already picked up quite a few treasures by now.
But how could the fate that belonged to Li Xunmiao be snatched away by her?
For hundreds of years, Biluo Peak had been almost entirely explored by cultivators. What could still be left on the main peak that was worth having?
“Let’s go to the back mountain for a walk and try to shake her off first.” Gu Ze took this opportunity to lead Li Xunmiao to Biluo Peak’s rear mountain.
Unlike the lush vitality of the main peak, this area was bare rock and dead grass, bleak and desolate.
Even disciples of Biluo Peak rarely set foot here.
The feng shui was chaotic, and cultivating here could even make it easier to fall into madness.
But Gu Ze knew that a certain opportunity awaited Li Xunmiao here.
From the highest heaven to the deepest yellow spring.
This place was once called Huangquan Valley, where the Legacy of Biluo Peak’s First Peak Lord was buried.
Seeing the two enter the back mountain, Bai Yazhi hesitated but ultimately chose not to follow.
Her Junk-picking Talent told her there was nothing of value to be found there.
For them to sneak off to such a rarely visited and dangerous place—who knows what shady business they were up to.
Bai Yazhi snorted. Li Xunmiao had terrible taste in men; that Gu Ze was obviously mediocre and had no background, living off a woman.
If it were her, she would surely use her status as a direct disciple to make friends with powerful male cultivators instead.
Sensing that the presence behind them had faded, Gu Ze finally relaxed.
Gazing at the setting sun, Gu Ze quietly noted that the time was about right.
A Hidden Realm containing the First Peak Lord’s Legacy was hidden here, and only at dusk, when the sun and moon crossed, could the place be opened by a man and a woman representing yin and yang standing here together.
Wait a second—something was off.
In the novel, Li Xunmiao was the protagonist, but there was no male lead. Who did she enter the Hidden Realm with in the story?
Gu Ze frowned deeply. The more he tried to recall, the more his head hurt, and he simply couldn’t remember this part of the plot.
Could it be that he remembered wrong, and Li Xunmiao could open the Hidden Realm alone?
Perhaps that was the case. The Heaven’s Mandate heroine could do anything, after all.
“Gu Shixiong! Look around us!” Li Xunmiao exclaimed as the scenery rapidly changed.
The once barren ground suddenly sprouted bamboo shoots, and in a blink, a lush bamboo forest had grown.
The dusty yellow earth became pitch black and moist, brimming with vitality.
One could even hear crisp birdsong that could never belong to Huangquan Valley.
Gu Ze wasn’t surprised; entering the Hidden Realm had been within his expectations.
“Shimei, it seems our luck is good. This looks like a Hidden Realm left by an Ancestor for Biluo Peak’s juniors.” Gu Ze pretended to be delighted.
“So that’s it. But…” Li Xunmiao was still in awe of the changing scenery.
She hesitated but couldn’t help asking, “Why does it feel like you already knew about this place and brought me here on purpose, Gu Shixiong?”
“Ahem, just pure luck. If I’d known, why wouldn’t I have come alone to explore?” He averted his gaze, forcing out an unconvincing answer.
Fortunately, Li Xunmiao was so attracted by the sights that she accepted his explanation without question.
Elsewhere, Bai Yazhi hadn’t gone far when, at sunset, she suddenly felt her hair stand on end.
She jerked her head back, only to catch the last rays of the setting sun.
What a strange feeling! She almost thought that some peerless treasure she had never known before was about to appear.
But the feeling vanished instantly. Bai Yazhi touched her neck and, glancing around at the dark, quiet woods, quickly quickened her pace to return home.
The Hidden Realm the two had entered wasn’t large. Following the bamboo path for a short while, they soon saw a pavilion with red pillars.
In front of the pavilion stood a Panda Statue.
Hmm… a panda in a bamboo forest was reasonable enough.
On the table at the center of the pavilion rested two jade boxes, one long and one short. Anyone could guess there were treasures inside.
Yet Gu Ze made no move. Instead, he cupped his fists in salute to the Panda Statue.
“Junior Gu Ze pays his respects for disturbing Senior’s rest.”
No response.
Of course, Gu Ze himself didn’t know why he suddenly felt compelled to pay his respects to the panda.
He just felt an overwhelming pressure emanating from the Panda Statue that far exceeded his current cultivation level.
Faint, almost undetectable. If not for Qingquan’s soul-strengthening gift, he wouldn’t have sensed it at all.
Li Xunmiao’s eyes darted about, clearly fascinated by this unfamiliar creature.
She imitated Gu Ze’s gesture and also saluted the panda.
“Junior Li Xunmiao, sorry to disturb Senior.”
****
After waiting a moment without any reaction, Gu Ze signaled to Li Xunmiao to open the jade boxes together.
Inside the smaller box was a manual: .
In the longer box lay a Spirit Sword inscribed with runes.
Gu Ze had barely cracked the box open when he felt a sharp pain in his eyes and quickly shut it.
He was nearly blinded by the sealed Sword Intent.
After lying dormant for so long, the sword was still this sharp—no wonder, in the novel, Li Xunmiao could use this Spirit Sword to cut her way up to the Nascent Soul stage.
“Shixiong, why are you giving me both jade boxes?” Li Xunmiao looked surprised when Gu Ze simply handed the sword box to her.
“This sword is far too sharp for me. I can’t control it.”
“And this cultivation manual…”
“Ahem, it’s as profound as a heavenly scripture. My aptitude is too dull to comprehend it.” Gu Ze said, a hint of embarrassment flashing across his face.
He knew he was weak, but saying it aloud was still a bit awkward.
“But… this Hidden Realm was discovered by both of us. I can’t let you leave empty-handed, Shixiong.” Li Xunmiao held the jade box, unsure whether to take it or put it back.
Gu Ze glanced around and said with a sigh, “If nothing else, I could dig up some fresh bamboo shoots to bring back. They’re almost impossible to find at this time of year.”
“That’s too unfair to you, Shixiong!”
When Li Xunmiao was wandering destitute, she’d often heard storytellers in alleys telling tales of cultivators.
There were plenty of cultivators who turned against each other, even stabbed their friends in the back, for the sake of an opportunity.
Even if Gu Ze couldn’t use the treasures from this Hidden Realm, he could always trade them for something to advance his cultivation.
But Gu Shixiong insisted on looking after her.
Li Xunmiao pursed her lips and whispered, “Gu Shixiong’s kindness—Xunmiao will repay it a hundredfold in the future.”
Suddenly, both of them felt themselves being lifted by the collars.
The Panda Statue had somehow appeared behind them, grabbed them both, and tossed them into the sky.