At the sect assembly, all the spots for the Entrance of Ziyang Secret Realm had been allocated.
Tai Lingxuan only had two spots, so Chen Yuyang and Ling Xi were the ones chosen to go.
On the way to the Entrance of Ziyang Secret Realm.
The latter was cheerful and excited.
The former looked somewhat listless.
A total of five hundred people under fifty years old could enter the Ziyang Secret Realm.
At the same time, the cultivators entering the Secret Realm could not exceed the Nascent Soul stage.
The Ziyang Secret Realm would remain open for one month, after which it would automatically close.
When it closed, any living beings not native to the Secret Realm would be forcibly expelled.
The first two rules were set by the sect assembly.
The latter two were inherent restrictions of the Ziyang Secret Realm itself.
“As for me, I’ll head to the Qianghuang Secret Realm to try my luck.”
After Tai Lingxuan carefully reminded Chen Yuyang and Ling Xi of the precautions, Gu Qiushui suddenly said.
“Aren’t you about to breakthrough, Senior Sister? Why risk going on an adventure?”
Ling Xi asked with confusion.
“This month will pass anyway, so I might as well visit the Qianghuang Secret Realm. I was already planning to check it out. If luck is on my side, I might find some opportunity to help me against the Thunder Tribulation,” Gu Qiushui said with a cheerful smile.
“The feeling for the Thunder Tribulation only gives an approximate time. What if it arrives earlier…” Chen Yuyang said slowly.
His experience with surviving tribulations for hundreds of lifetimes told him not to fully trust the premonition of the Thunder Tribulation.
He had once experienced a situation where the tribulation was sensed a month away but struck the very next day.
“That probably won’t happen. Don’t worry, Junior Brother.”
“Since I’m at the early Nascent Soul stage, heading to Qianghuang Secret Realm shouldn’t be too dangerous either,” Gu Qiushui said casually with a smile.
Tai Lingxuan nodded slightly, showing no objection.
She knew well that Gu Qiushui was difficult to dissuade once she made up her mind.
In terms of talent, Qiushui was not noticeably different from her other disciples.
But when it came to determination, she was among the very top of all her disciples.
And the lesson from Chen Yuyang two days ago also made her realize that perhaps it was better not to restrict her disciples too much.
“Senior Sister, in that case… take this with you.”
Chen Yuyang thought for a moment and handed a yellow talisman to Gu Qiushui.
“What’s this?”
“A protective talisman.”
“Hmm, no spiritual energy. What kind of protective talisman is this?” Gu Qiushui sensed it and frowned in confusion.
“It’s the thought that counts. This is truly the sentiment behind it.”
Chen Yuyang hurried to explain.
Gu Qiushui smiled gracefully, leaning in to tease:
“Oh~ Junior Brother is starting to care about others now~ Haha.”
“Since it’s from Junior Brother, Qiushui, just keep it,” Tai Lingxuan waved her hand without much concern.
“Yes, Master.” Gu Qiushui replied and tucked the talisman safely into her bosom.
“Senior Brother, what about me?” Ling Xi rubbed her hands eagerly and looked at Chen Yuyang expectantly.
Chen Yuyang gave the girl a small glare.
“No, I only bought one.”
“That’s not fair! Why does Senior Sister get one? Am I not important?” Ling Xi puffed up her cheeks and demanded.
“Are you that important?” Chen Yuyang laughed softly and countered, “What level are you at? Compare yourself with Senior Sister?”
“Ah ah ah ah, you jerk!”
Ling Xi pouted and flew at him, waving her tiny fists landing on the boy’s shoulders and chest.
“Ahem!”
Tai Lingxuan coughed sternly, with a hint of warning.
“When out and about, Junior Sister, watch it. If someone sees this, they’ll think the Hehuan Sect has no rules if the Junior Sister dares to hit Senior Brother.”
Chen Yuyang put on a serious face, taking on a scolding elder’s role.
Seeing this, Gu Qiushui chuckled quietly, just enjoying the spectacle.
Before long, they arrived at the summit of Ziyang Peak.
The plaza here was crowded with people from various major sects.
Even those without a spot had come along with their masters to watch the spectacle.
“These are your credentials. Once the Secret Realm opens, you can enter with these.”
Tai Lingxuan said, distributing two jade tokens embedded with special spiritual markings to Chen Yuyang and Ling Xi.
While Chen Yuyang was still examining his jade token, Gu Qiushui suddenly tensed up.
“Junior Brother, look, that’s the Deputy Sect Leader of Jianmen Mountain.”
Chen Yuyang looked up, following Gu Qiushui’s pointing finger, and saw a dignified middle-aged man accompanied by a red-haired girl of sixteen or seventeen approaching directly toward them.
“Lingxuan, didn’t you try to buy Zi Xuan Red Crystal from me yesterday? Although I refused then, after checking my stock, I found I have a little extra.”
With a clear objective, Nie Qi raised his head slightly and addressed Tai Lingxuan at the front.
“No need. Also, call me by my full name.”
Tai Lingxuan glanced coldly at him.
If Gu Qiushui were still at the peak Golden Core stage, she might have accepted.
But now that Yuyang had gotten breakthrough herbs for Qiushui, there was no reason to owe this man she found annoying any favors.
Hearing this, Nie Qi’s face showed slight disappointment but no displeasure.
He nodded and turned to leave.
Just then, the red-haired girl behind Nie Qi frowned and scolded sharply:
“Woman, since yesterday you’ve been very disrespectful to my Master. What’s so special about being a Hehuan Sect Sect Leader that you act so high and mighty in front of my Master?”
“Yan Luo, don’t be rude!” Nie Qi frowned and immediately reprimanded.
“Master, I just don’t understand. What’s so great about this woman that you treat her coldly? You’re the Deputy Sect Leader of Jianmen Mountain. You could have any woman you want. To me, she’s just putting on airs, trying to string you along and get more benefits.”
Yan Luo looked contemptuously at Tai Lingxuan and continued to scold.
Tai Lingxuan’s expression darkened, turning ashen.
Her cold personality didn’t mean she would silently endure such insult.
“Yan Luo, enough!”
Nie Qi scolded again but seemed to hold back somewhat, gently pulling Yan Luo’s arm.
Yan Luo shook her head and spoke again: “Master, you don’t need to defend this woman. I’ve seen too many like her.”
The commotion drew many curious gazes.
There was still some time before the Secret Realm opened, so many just waited and watched.
Besides, this was a feud between Jianmen Mountain and Hehuan Sect.
Yan Luo broke free from Nie Qi’s grip and stepped forward.
“Woman, I’ll make things clear.”
“I think you have some charm. My Master is Deputy Sect Leader of Jianmen Mountain. If you’re smart, you’d follow my Master. Then your Hehuan Sect would also come under Jianmen Mountain’s banner, which wouldn’t be a bad thing…”
“Slap!”
A sharp slap rang out.
The scene fell into stunned silence.
Yan Luo tilted her head, feeling the burning sting on her cheek.
A flame of rage lit up her fiery red eyes.
Turning her head back, she saw a young boy still holding out his hand after delivering the slap.
He looked no older than fourteen, with a youthful face, black hair, and black eyes.
“Girl, don’t judge my Master’s noble heart with your petty mind.”
“Not all women in this world are as despicable as you.”
Chen Yuyang hadn’t intended to intervene.
But… he couldn’t bear to see his Master insulted.
Especially since he knew Tai Lingxuan would most likely tolerate it because of the other’s identity.
Chen Yuyang couldn’t stand it.
Although his hundreds of lifetimes of cultivation taught him to be low-key, it didn’t mean he had a good temper.
On the contrary, those lifetimes taught him a truth: never let yourself be wronged and hold grudges.
If there’s a grudge, it must be avenged immediately. If not on the spot, then as soon as possible.
Otherwise, who knows how the Heart Demon Tribulation might manifest later, causing him even greater trouble.
“You, you dare to hit me…”
The girl’s voice trembled slightly, her anger turning into sharp and unmasked killing intent.
Chen Yuyang was calm and unafraid, arrogantly raising his head and loudly said:
“I hit you because you insulted my Master. If you’re not satisfied, then one slap isn’t enough.”
“One on one, fight me if you dare!”
“Bring it on! I’m not afraid of you!”
The girl was burning with fury, itching to tear Chen Yuyang apart.
Hearing it would be a duel, she readily agreed.
The moment she agreed, she stepped forward boldly, drawing a blood-red longsword, and red-hot flames began to swirl around her body.
Chen Yuyang raised his hand and quickly added loudly:
“I have to warn you, the Hehuan Sect is just a third-rate minor sect, and I don’t have much background or strength. If you lose this duel, don’t come back with people to seek revenge.”
“I won’t lose!” The girl retorted furiously. Chen Yuyang’s words only made her feel slighted.
“I don’t care. But you must swear to Heaven now, regardless of the outcome, you won’t seek revenge. Otherwise, you will face the punishment of the Heavenly Dao’s laws.”
Chen Yuyang was firm on this point.
The girl was stunned. For a moment, she hesitated and looked toward her Master.
Cultivators’ oaths could not be taken lightly.
If you speak of retribution, it would surely come.
Retribution could come as a thunder tribulation or a heart demon.
Once sworn, there was no escape.
Nie Qi sighed softly, glanced at the anxious look on Tai Lingxuan’s face, then at the young boy standing up for her…
“Yan Luo, can you stop?”
“No, Master. He slapped me. He slapped the face of my Yan family in the Northern Region. I, Yan Luo, will fight him to the death today.”
Upon hearing the mention of the Yan family, Nie Qi sighed helplessly.
The reason he couldn’t stop this girl was because she was from the Yan family, the eldest daughter, with a prominent status.
“In that case… this matter is up to you.”
Saying so, Nie Qi stepped back, giving space.
The girl arrogantly raised her head and shouted:
“I, Yan Luo, swear here and now, no matter the outcome of this battle, I will not seek revenge, or may the Ten Thousand Dao Heavenly Tribulations fall upon me and reduce me to ashes.”
Hearing this, Chen Yuyang smiled and loudly cupped his hands toward the crowd:
“Very well then, I ask everyone present to bear witness. I, Chen Yuyang, will have a fair fight with her.”