The Luoxia Immortal Sect’s “Star Sea Ferry” was exceptionally bustling today.
Before the morning light could completely dissipate the night mist, the vast White Jade Plaza was already crowded with figures.
The ground, paved with moon-white stone, shimmered with a faint silver glow that echoed the lingering stars in the sky.
This was the origin of the name “Star Sea.”
It was not a natural phenomenon, but the ruins of an ancient Saint’s Dao field.
The residual Dao Rhythm had been reinforced and guided by generations of predecessors from the Luoxia Immortal Sect, transforming it into this stable and miraculous transition point.
The entrance to the Ancient Saint Crater lay deep within these ripples of shattered laws in the Star Sea.
Over countless years and generations of exploration, the opportunities and secret treasures within had been nearly exhausted.
However, because it only allowed cultivators below the Venerable Realm to enter and the guardian beasts were restricted to that same level, it remained an excellent place for tempering oneself.
On the plaza, most of the Luoxia Immortal Sect disciples were dressed in moon-white or pale green sect robes.
They stood in groups of three or five, conversing in low voices, while their eyes occasionally drifted toward the other side.
There, many figures stood or sat.
Some retained animalistic features, while others had fully transformed into human forms, their Demon Race identities only discernable by their auras.
Beast ears, feathers, scaled tails… under the morning light, they formed a strange and tense picture.
Qian Yu stood on this delicate dividing line—slightly closer to the demon side.
Today, she wore a set of light green martial attire suitable for movement, topped with a spotless white short shirt.
Her cream-colored hair was tied up simply, revealing her snow-white neck.
Her pair of fox ears stood high, complementing You Suqi and Bai Liuli beside her.
The Ancient Saint Crater did not allow those in the Venerable Realm to enter.
However, for a Semi-Saint like the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable, even if she couldn’t enter personally, stretching her reach into it was not a problem.
If Qian Yu wanted to safely find her Master’s remnant soul inside, she had to stick close to the two fox demons and make use of their Protective Scrolls.
“…So, the ‘Heart-Bewildering Mist’ in that crater isn’t a simple Illusion Art. It’s a natural erosion of the souls of low-level cultivators by the residual laws of the Saint Dao. You need to grind Zen Lotus Seeds into powder, mix it with your own essence blood, and apply it to your brow to resist most of it.”
You Suqi, wearing a green dress with a thin veil over her eyes, was whispering advice to Qian Yu and Bai Liuli, appearing extremely friendly.
Although she had never entered the Ancient Saint Crater, her impressive background meant her knowledge of the details surpassed even a member of the Luoxia Immortal Sect like Qian Yu.
Ever since Qian Yu had briefly shown her the Heavenly Fox Bloodline yesterday, You Suqi had become much more affectionate toward her.
Her tribe had originally been Demon Kings under the Ancient Heavenly Fox.
If she hadn’t been uncertain about her elders’ attitudes and worried they might become greedy—and if Qian Yu’s bloodline wasn’t indeed a bit too thin—she would have wanted to take Qian Yu back immediately to meet their fox tribe’s true Heavenly Fox Ancestor.
Qian Yu listened intently, her amber eyes sparkling.
She displayed just the right amount of gratitude and dependence at the right time.
“Thank you, Sister Qi, Sister Liuli! With you both here, I feel much more at ease.”
Just then, a brilliant golden figure leaped onto the high platform ahead, and the noisy plaza instantly fell silent.
Nalan Yunyan.
She wasn’t wearing her gilded long dress today.
Instead, she had changed into a set of dark gold, close-fitting soft armor suitable for combat, topped with a black cloak embroidered with lightning patterns.
Her golden hair was tied high, revealing a smooth forehead and sharp eyes.
Her usual lazy arrogance was replaced by a quiet majesty.
Just by standing there, an invisible pressure seemed to spread, suppressing the entire field.
Presumably wanting to leave the inheritance that originally belonged to Qian Yu’s Master to her, Gu Qinghan had not only stayed away after learning Qian Yu wanted to go to the crater, but she had even given her True Disciple quota to Qian Yu, saving her from the trouble of competing for a spot.
Qian Yu was very happy about this.
It made her even more certain that Gu Qinghan wouldn’t be like Nalan Yunyan, who had pinned her against a wall to threaten her.
However, speaking of Nalan Yunyan…
Qian Yu’s gaze swept across the dense crowd.
When her eyes met those of the golden-haired girl on the platform, her heart stirred slightly.
As one of the highest-cultivated disciples in the sect, and with Gu Qinghan explicitly absent, the position of leader naturally went to Nalan Yunyan.
Qian Yu felt that when the other girl looked at her, her gaze was somewhat evasive, as if she were running away from something.
It was very strange.
Logically, Qian Yu should be the one feeling guilty.
What was Nalan Yunyan avoiding?
“Silence.”
While Qian Yu’s mind whirled with a hundred thoughts, Nalan Yunyan finally spoke from the high platform. Her voice was clear and carried an unquestionable power.
“The Ancient Saint Crater holds both opportunity and danger. This journey is for tempering yourselves and serves as an initial exploration of the cooperation between our two races. I hope you all remember to look out for one another once inside. Do not let private grudges or old grievances damage the righteous cause of our alliance.”
Her speech was short and forceful, and she returned to her usual arrogant and threatening demeanor, as if that brief moment of avoidance had been nothing more than Qian Yu’s imagination.
While her mind was still wandering, the space beside her rippled.
An uninvited guest stepped out of the void, wearing a perfectly gentle smile.
It was the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable.
The Sect Master of the Luoxia Immortal Sect had actually come again.
It seemed she was here to see Qian Yu off.
Not wanting to be noticed by others, she even made a shushing gesture, despite being nearly 1,000 years old.
“Little Yu, you really are impatient. Yesterday, I told you to stay with me for a while after returning from the Nalan family, but today you can’t wait to jump into some Secret Realm.”
“Hehe… I wanted to go…”
The Cloud-Weave Star Venerable stroked Qian Yu’s head.
She looked like she was smiling and chatting, but in reality, she was delivering a warning that only the two of them understood.
Qian Yu scratched her head and laughed sheepishly, pretending she hadn’t understood at all as she leaned closer to You Suqi.
Since this Sect Master wanted to maintain the reputation of a great philanthropist to gain the support of the majority of Venerables to become a Saint, she had to be constrained by that reputation.
Qian Yu was now staying close to You Suqi and the others.
As long as the Luoxia Star Venerable didn’t want to fall out with the powers behind them, she had to consider the consequences of making a move by force.
These young fox demons might have low cultivation, but they certainly carried protective seals or treasures bestowed by their elders.
If the Sect Master attacked, it would definitely be noticed.
Qian Yu’s plan was successful.
Even though the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable was likely itching with hatred, she still had to prioritize the overall situation and let Qian Yu bounce around for a little longer.
But it didn’t matter.
The Ancient Saint Crater would only be open for fifteen days at most, and the Demon Race delegations would eventually have to leave.
Once they were gone, a mere Qian Yu would be hers to toy with as she pleased.
“Good girl, Little Yu. Enjoy this Secret Realm adventure. Consider it the final gift from your Martial Aunt.”
After a warm laugh, the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable’s figure vanished.
Simultaneously, the gates to the Secret Realm finally opened.
In the center of the plaza, the “sea surface” shimmering with starlight suddenly fluctuated.
Countless tiny specks of light emerged from the void, swirling and gradually forming a massive, hazy light gate that sat between reality and illusion.
It radiated a vast, heart-pounding aura.
Nalan Yunyan waved her hand, and her body transformed into a streak of light as she took the lead and stepped inside.
“The hour has arrived. Prepare to enter.”
“Let’s go, Little Yu. Once you reach the Demon Realm, you’ll understand that with your talent and bloodline, even those in the Saint Realm will adore you.”
You Suqi pulled at the dazed Qian Yu, thinking she was still moved by the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable’s personal farewell.
“Okay.”
Qian Yu took a deep breath, suppressed her stray thoughts, and focused all her attention on that brilliant, unknown radiance.
Before coming here, she had repeatedly considered the location of her Master’s remnant soul in her mind.
The Cloud-Weave Star Venerable might strike at her, but the power she could seep inside was at most at the Venerable Realm.
As long as she stayed with the sisters You Suqi and Bai Liuli, their protective treasures would keep her safe.
As for what happened after leaving the Secret Realm…
The Cloud-Weave Star Venerable thought she had her trapped, but she didn’t know that the reason Qian Yu wanted to enter this Secret Realm so badly—other than seeing her Master—was for another, more important reason.
At the location of her Master’s remnant soul, there was an Ancient Teleportation Array.
Her Master had relied on that array to avoid dying in this cultivation-restricting Secret Realm despite being a Venerable.
What Qian Yu truly wanted to do was find her Master’s soul and then use that teleportation array to leave the Luoxia Immortal Sect without a trace, ensuring the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable could never find her again!
She was no longer that weak little half-demon she once was.
In the outside world, she would have at least some ability to protect herself.
And as long as she was out of the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable’s sight, with the memories in her head, the world was her oyster.
Thirty years in the east, thirty years in the west—it wasn’t impossible for her to return for vengeance in the future.
After an unknown amount of time—perhaps only a moment—Qian Yu’s feet finally touched solid ground. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
To ensure this true goal wasn’t discovered, she had even severed the memory of the teleportation array from her mind.
Only after completely leaving the Cloud-Weave Star Venerable’s sight would she use those specific conditions to unseal it from her Memory Palace.
And now, she remembered.
As long as she found that teleportation array under the protection of the You sisters, everything would be settled.
Wait!
This place…
While she was finalizing her plans, Qian Yu’s expression suddenly changed as she took in her surroundings.
The You sisters were gone; she was all alone.
More importantly, everything around her was so unfamiliar.
It was completely different from the descriptions of the Ancient Saint Crater.
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