“Everyone present is someone I can trust…”
Li Chengfeng muttered, repeating Qu Linglong’s words, then suddenly looked around as if something occurred to him.
Among the various sects that had come to the South Sea, several were conspicuously absent.
“Are you saying that the sects that didn’t come all have evil cultivator spies? How is that possible?!”
He exclaimed. Several people nearby began whispering among themselves.
“Ahem, that’s not entirely the case.”
Qu Linglong cleared her throat and quickly reassured them.
“My Heavenly Mystery Pavilion only divined that everyone present is trustworthy. As for who the evil cultivators are, that hasn’t been fully determined. The Daoist friends who didn’t come today are merely suspected of being evil cultivators.”
Of course, the truth was far more shocking—the sects that didn’t come all had evil cultivators lurking among them, and some had even completely fallen to the evil path.
Qu Linglong deliberately phrased it tactfully to keep everyone calm; this explanation was easier for the various sect prodigies to accept.
“So, everyone, please be sure to be wary of the Daoist friends from the sects that didn’t come today. Do not let your guard down.”
Qu Linglong, standing on a small stool, swept her gaze across the crowd and continued.
“This South Sea Secret Realm exploration is likely fraught with danger. If any Daoist friend is unwilling to face the evil cultivators, you may withdraw now. However, please keep tonight’s matter a secret, and do not…”
Before she could finish, she was interrupted by an impatient voice.
Everyone looked; it was Li Chengfeng again.
“What do you mean, unwilling to face evil cultivators? I, Li Chengfeng, am not that kind of coward. I won’t be scared off by some broken prophecy and refuse to enter the secret realm. Evil cultivators are nothing but a bunch of clowns!”
“Besides, who knows if your prophecy is real or fake? What if your Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is just trying to trick us into withdrawing so you can hog all the treasures in the secret realm?”
Stared at with suspicious eyes, Qu Linglong sighed helplessly.
“Oh, I’ve said it many times—my Heavenly Mystery Pavilion would never do something so selfish and immoral. Why won’t you believe me?”
She looked around again.
“I, Qu, will confirm one more time. Having heard the prophecy about evil cultivators, do you still choose to enter the secret realm?”
“Of course.”
Su Feiyao gently waved her folding fan, her fox tails lightly swaying behind her, and spoke first.
“I dare not boast about other things, but I have some confidence in my own abilities. I will not easily die in the secret realm. Fairy Qu, do not worry.”
Then the other prodigies present spoke up one after another, all with confident tones. No one showed any intention of backing out.
“Good! Since you have all decided to go, then I, Qu, will reveal the remaining content of the hexagram.”
Seeing no one retreat, Qu Linglong’s expression grew even more serious.
“Next, I will tell you each the information about the evil cultivators you may encounter in the secret realm, based on my divination. I will share it one by one for your reference and response.”
“First, fellow Daoist Yun of the Xiaoyao Sword Sect, you will face…”
“…”
/
The next day, noon.
The entrance to the secret realm, normally deserted, was now packed with people.
There were even more people than at the previous flower viewing party.
Unexpectedly, the prophecy from Heavenly Mystery Pavilion turned out to be true—this secret realm, which appeared without warning, actually opened today…
In the crowd, Li Chengfeng chatted with Chu Ming and Lu Wenyuan beside him while secretly calculating in his mind.
‘The secret realm opened exactly on time. Does that mean the prophecy about evil cultivators infiltrating was also not false…?’
As he thought, he maintained a cheerful demeanor on the surface, but his gaze unconsciously swept around, secretly watching the few people Qu Linglong had named last night.
And in the crowd, there were clearly many who shared his thoughts.
On the other side, at the Xiaoyao Sword Sect’s station.
Hua Yan crouched down and hesitantly sent a telepathic message to Hua Xiangrong in front of her.
[Rongrong, do you really want me to go down into the secret realm with Xue Shang? Aren’t you worried about evil cultivators outside? Will you be okay being separated from us?]
Hua Xiangrong raised her head with a smile. Having advanced to the Foundation Building stage, she could now smoothly use the telepathic channel Hua Yan had constructed, without fear of others eavesdropping.
[Mother, rest assured. Your time in the secret realm won’t be too long, and the evil cultivators are mostly causing trouble inside. I can take care of myself. Besides, Elder Ji and Little Pomegranate are with me.]
She paused, then added softly.
[Didn’t we go out yesterday to buy decorations for Mother’s birthday? Mother’s birthday is coming soon. If you don’t go into the secret realm, how can you celebrate with her?]
[And only if you go down into the secret realm with Mother can you better protect her from the evil cultivators, right? We already agreed yesterday.]
“Hoo—”
Hua Yan let out a heavy breath.
Yes, when she went out with Rongrong yesterday and heard her prophecy, she had already planned to enter the secret realm. She absolutely could not miss this trip.
Since her daughter was so understanding and considerate, she couldn’t be indecisive and act unfitting.
“Okay, then while we’re away, you need to listen to Elder Ji and Elder Yue—actually, just listen to Elder Ji.”
She ruffled the girl’s soft pink hair; halfway through her instructions, she suddenly remembered Yue Jue’s unreliable nature and quickly corrected herself.
“Mm, I’ll behave.”
After Hua Xiangrong assured her again, Hua Yan walked over to Yun Xuechang beside her.
“Xue Shang, I’m sorry for not being able to keep the promise I made at the Xiaoyao Sword Sect. I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay outside the secret realm and accompany Rongrong on your behalf as well.”
Her bright face showed a trace of apology.
“It’s okay, I understand.”
Yun Xuechang gently shook her head and reached out to hold her hand.
Since Hua Xiangrong had said the secret realm trip would not take long—at most a few months—and there would be no regret of “missing a daughter’s growth by leaving the secret realm,” she had no objections.
And as for going down into the secret realm, Hua Yan’s motive was for her and to fight evil together.
Even Rongrong understood, so she would not stop her.
Once out of the secret realm, she would take more time to play with Rongrong. x2
The two girls held hands and looked shoulder to shoulder toward the mountain peak, thinking the same thing in their hearts.
Just then, at the mountain peak—
Lan Han, the master of Tinghai Pavilion, waved his hand.
An ancient picture scroll flew out of his sleeve and grew larger with the wind. In an instant, it had covered half the sky.
The scroll slowly unfurled, and the circular giant island depicted on it seemed to come to life.
An ancient, vast aura poured out from the scroll, enveloping the entire back mountain.
“Fellow Daoists—”
Lan Han’s voice was sent out with spiritual power, clearly reaching everyone’s ears.
“This secret realm discovered on Yuxin Island is now officially open. As we elders previously predicted and announced, the secret realm is only open to cultivators under three hundred years old. This secret realm appearing for the first time holds countless opportunities but is also full of unknowns. I hope you all act within your abilities and do not lose your lives because of greed for treasures.”
As soon as he finished speaking, discussions broke out among the crowd.
Some rubbed their hands eagerly, some looked solemn and calculated, and others had flickering eyes, as if plotting something.
The scroll continued to unfurl, and the surrounding clouds and mist grew thicker.
Gradually, dazzling golden light appeared in the center of the scroll.
An inexplicable Dao rhyme lingered in the golden light.
The secret realm gate faintly appeared, with mist surging inside, bottomless, and the scene within was unclear.
An even richer aura rushed toward them, making their hearts flutter and yearn.
“The secret realm gate is about to open! I, this old man, wish all fellow Daoists good luck on this secret realm journey!”
Lan Han said solemnly.
Before he finished, the golden light gate suddenly swelled.
The mist inside gushed out, turning into a winding mist bridge that descended straight from the mountain peak to the front of the crowd—
The South Sea Secret Realm was officially open!