C15 First into the Secret Realm

Entering the secret realm two days early offered benefits beyond imagination.

It was akin to a stroke of luck; for those two days, there would be no disturbances, allowing for undisturbed exploration—a truly rare chance.

Almost immediately, someone declared, "I'll offer a stalk of spirit medicine!"

"Are you out of your mind? A single stalk of spirit medicine is hardly worth mentioning. My Heaven Pavilion will offer three stalks!"

Qin Feng, leisurely fanning himself, countered, "Five stalks!"

Jiang Fann's heart raced with excitement, contemplating whether he should refine a few more pills to make his fortune.

Yet, he understood the value of scarcity and knew Han Qianxue wouldn't grant him much time.

An elder spoke softly, "Ten stalks!"

After his bid, the crowd fell silent. Jiang Fann glanced over and quickly grasped the situation. The elder hailed from the Heaven Gate Sect, a formidable force within the Leehuo Dynasty, and it seemed no one dared to cross him. Besides, the bid was steep.

Han Qianxue's smile was warm as she addressed him, "Elder Zhuo Lin, your generosity is unmatched. This first Poison Avoiding Treasured Pill is yours. Have your grandson take it promptly. He must leave the lake within five hours after consumption, and I trust he'll find the entrance."

The young man beside the elder approached, exchanged the spirit medicine with Han Qianxue for the pill, but showed no urgency to consume it.

The elder, still cautious, intended to let others test the waters first—after all, another pill remained.

Han Qianxue surveyed the crowd and announced with a smile, "We have one last pill. Let the bidding begin!"

This time, the crowd exchanged hesitant glances, none too eager to bid. They were well aware that the price wouldn't differ much from the first.

Then, a youthful voice cut through the silence.

"Lingloong Pavilion offers a stalk of spirit medicine!"

The area fell into a hush. Jiang Fann, taken aback by Lingloong Pavilion's bid, noticed the young man was backed by three inscrutable elders. With his own strength now in the Innate Stage, he surveyed the others with a bold air.

The Lingloong Pavilion's prowess surpassed even that of the Heaven Gate Sect, primarily because they were selective and fiercely loyal to their own.

The Pavilion only admitted prodigious disciples, limiting itself to three new members annually. With a total of fewer than a thousand members, each one was an elite with formidable strength.

A young man attempted to bid higher, but his companion quickly clamped a hand over his mouth.

"Have you lost your mind? You think you can outbid the Lingloong Pavilion?"

The Lingloong Pavilion's representative was quite pleased with the reaction.

With a smirk, he commented, "Smart move, recognizing your place."

He then turned to Han Qianxue, "Tell me, beautiful Han, does this treasured pill now belong to me? My senior brother sends his regards, by the way."

At his words, Han Qianxue's demeanor shifted, and Jiang Fann noticed a flicker of iciness in her gaze.

With a steady voice, Han Qianxue replied, "I'm aware of who you are! Di Qiu of Lingloong Pavilion, correct? You're quite bold to inquire about my affairs—the first, in fact."

Di Qiu backpedaled quickly, "My apologies, I spoke out of turn. So, about this Poison Avoiding Treasured Pill—is it mine?"

The other cultivators, though irked and eager to compete, held back, knowing that crossing the Lingloong Pavilion was a poor strategy. These young talents were incensed but silent.

It was then that Jiang Fann interjected, "A single stalk is insufficient—thirty stalks of spirit medicine, not one less."

Di Qiu's brow creased, surprised by the challenge.

"And who might you be? Do you think you have a say in this?"

Jiang Fann's retort was icy, "A dog that hides behind its master's strength isn't worthy of this pill. I wouldn't sell it to you for a hundred stalks of spirit medicine."

With that, he snatched the pill from Han Qianxue's grasp and tossed it to Qin Feng. Disregarding Di Qiu and his cohorts, he addressed Han Qianxue, "Let's not squander time on beasts. We're leaving."

Han Qianxue covered her mouth, her laughter light and knowing. She was well aware of Jiang Fann's fearless nature, and she found his boldness quite to her liking.

Without hesitation, she swallowed the treasured pill and dove into the lake alongside Jiang Fann, with Qin Feng right on their heels. The trio set off without a second thought, leaving a group of stunned cultivators gaping on the shore.

Di Qiu snapped out of his shock, his expression twisted in rage. "Damn it. I'll kill you!" he spat, and bolted toward the Heaven Pavilion, clearly intent on seizing that pill for himself.

"You—"

He was cut off mid-sentence as the elder, Zhuo Lin, his face darkening, unleashed a formidable aura that bore down on Di Qiu.

Di Qiu stumbled backward, a chill racing up his spine, and he quickly came to his senses. There were certain people he dared not cross, and this imposing elder was definitely one of them.

Zhuo Lin glanced at the trio from Lingloong Pavilion but chose not to pursue Di Qiu further. Instead, he urged the young man beside him to take the pill and make haste into the Loongze Lake Secret Realm to seek their fortunes. After all, there's truth to the adage, 'He who hesitates is lost.'

Underwater, Jiang Fann led the way. Having reached the Innate Stage, he could hold his breath for extended periods, allowing them to move freely beneath the surface.

Yet, the lake's murky depths, dark as pitch, presented a challenge—they could hardly discern any direction.

Jiang Fann gripped Han Qianxue and Qin Feng, guiding them down toward the lakebed.

Qin Feng's voice reached Jiang Fann's mind, "Legend has it that the entrance lies atop a stone mountain at the lake's bottom, but we're blind down here. Proceed with caution!"

Han Qianxue remained silent.

Jiang Fann reassured them, "The Loongze Lake Secret Realm is designed for the youth; its entrance won't pose too great a danger. Stick close, I have a plan."

The entrance to the Secret Realm, perpetually sustained by the spiritual strength of its protective formations, was sure to be surrounded by spiritual herbs. Utilizing the Arts of Pill Dao and invoking the Universe Creation Art, Jiang Fann could detect these precious plants, which would lead them straight to the secret entrance.

This was far easier than searching for a needle in the ocean.

For a full hour, the trio's swimming pace had diminished considerably. If they stayed underwater much longer, they'd need to surface for air to avoid danger.

An eerie silence enveloped them, as if they were wandering endlessly in a dark void. With no destination in sight and their location unknown, the sensation was unsettling.

Yet Jiang Fann navigated freely; his mind held a map of every aquatic herb's location, allowing him to keep them on the right path.

Han Qianxue, less adept in the water, tugged at Jiang Fann's clothes, signaling her need to surface for air.

Simultaneously, Jiang Fann sensed the presence of two spiritual herbs, his spirits lifting.

"Don't surface yet. Just a little longer. We're only a hundred meters away."

Han Qianxue's brow creased as she peered into the darkness above. Reluctantly, she nodded and telepathically urged, "Hurry, I can't last much longer."

Jiang Fann surged ahead, quickly covering dozens of meters.

As they closed in on the spiritual herbs, a potent force signaled the proximity of the secret realm's exit.

But just then, a gaping maw emerged from beneath them, snapping at the trio.

This creature, devoid of any detectable aura, had been camouflaged in the watery depths, lying in wait to engulf them whole.

Jiang Fann's reflexes kicked in first. Using his aura for propulsion, he whisked his companions out of harm's way. The thwarted predator receded into the lakebed, ready to ambush the next unwary travelers.

The shock, however, caused Han Qianxue, already at her limit, to expel the last of her breath, her body flailing in panic.

Jiang Fann was determined to reach the Entrance to Secret Realm posthaste, but just then, he felt a soft body entangle with his.

Jiang Fann was taken aback as a small, supple mouth pressed firmly against his lips.

He recognized her instantly—it was Han Qianxue.

Once he collected his thoughts, Jiang Fann understood her intention. He quickly shared his breath with her, allowing her to persevere a bit longer, though her soft form was enough to momentarily distract him.

Qin Feng's eyes bulged at the sight, then he grabbed both of them and swam swiftly towards their destination.

The entrance to the Loongze Lake Secret Realm loomed ahead. They plunged in and were immediately caught in a dizzying whirl, eventually tumbling to the ground.

Jiang Fann, concerned, looked at Han Qianxue as she struggled to catch her breath.

"Are you okay?" he inquired.

Qin Feng watched them with an odd look on his face.

Han Qianxue shot Qin Feng a chilling glare. "If you even think about spreading a word of this, I'll kill you!"

Qin Feng hastily responded, "Rest assured! My lips are sealed!"

Jiang Fann had no interest in their exchange. Surveying the surroundings, he marveled at the Loongze Lake Secret Realm—a self-contained world, a microcosm unto itself.

The expanse was boundless, the horizon out of sight.

The area teemed with lush vegetation, and the air was thick with Spiritual Strength, making it an ideal place for cultivation.

Qin Feng couldn't help but express his awe. "To create such a world... the senior who did this was truly in harmony with the forces of nature. I wonder how many of us will ever attain such a level."

Jiang Fann offered a reassuring smile. "We take it one step at a time. The journey of a cultivator is unpredictable; no one ascends to the heavens in a single bound."

Han Qianxue rose to her feet, her clothes clinging to her drenched form, leaving little to the imagination with her striking figure.

Qin Feng averted his gaze promptly, while Jiang Fann looked her over without concern, his gaze clear and devoid of any impropriety.

"Got your fill?" she challenged.

With an awkward chuckle, Jiang Fann replied, "This secret realm opens but once every six months. Are you aware of the treasures and triumphs past cultivators have found within?"

Han Qianxue shot Jiang Fann a withering look and, without a word, headed straight for the nearby woods—presumably to change her clothes.

Qin Feng spoke up, "The Loongze Lake Secret Realm opens only once every few hundred years. I did some research before coming, and it turns out no one from the last batch of cultivators who entered managed to secure the final inheritance."

"However," he continued, "those who survived the realm all experienced some level of improvement. The most remarkable was Di Shang of Lingloong Pavilion. He entered at the Innate Stage and, within mere months, broke through to the Spirit Refining Stage, becoming a master. He made a name for himself by defeating several opponents in this very secret realm!"

Curious, Jiang Fann inquired, "Do you have any idea what the final inheritance inside this secret realm might be?"

"It's rumored to be a black dragon crystal, but sadly, no one has ever laid eyes on it. Who knows if it's fact or fiction," Qin Feng mused.

Jiang Fann felt his throat go dry with excitement. The allure of this inheritance was irresistible. The black dragon crystal was said to be a remnant of the black dragon's ascension to the Dao, shedding its mortal coil, imbued with profound divinity.

In Jiang Fann's hands, it could be used to enhance pills, infusing them with a hint of dragon essence, significantly boosting their potency. While the black dragon crystal might not rival the value of an immortal root, it was nonetheless highly coveted by an alchemist at Jiang Fann's level.

As Han Qianxue disappeared into the distance, Qin Feng sent a telepathic message to Jiang Fann.

"You two... don't tell me you're... involved in that way?"

Jiang Fann shook his head. "Does it look like that to you? I was merely lending her a hand. Without my help, she wouldn't have made it to the entrance!"

Qin Feng, feeling slighted, pressed, "Both of us were there—why did she choose you over me?"

Jiang Fann touched his face, a playful smile on his lips. "Do you really need to ask? Spare yourself the humiliation."

"Damn it!" Qin Feng, who prided himself on being a gentleman, couldn't help but let out an expletive in his frustration.