C19 Protective Spirit Beast

"I heard that two days ago, they both took a special pill, crafted by a young man who's already made his way into the Secret Realm ahead of time."

"That young man is quite the stranger; no idea where he hails from. Maybe he's a prized pupil of some alchemist. Your Myriad Treasures Tavern ought to have some intel on him, considering he was brought in by Han Qianxue!"

The elder ran his fingers through his beard.

"I'm well aware of who he is. He's not from an alchemical lineage; he's a Jiang Family member. But that's about all the information we have. He might make a name for himself in the future, yet as things stand, he poses no threat to Chu Zhan and the rest."

"The Jiang Family? Why didn't they bring their own disciples into the Secret Realm? They're renowned for their solidarity. You're not pulling our leg, are you?"

The old man replied irritably, "If you don't believe it, that's your problem. Besides, I'm only betting on Han Qianxue from Myriad Treasures Tavern. She's bound to rise to great heights at Loongze Lake."

Opinions among the various factions' powerhouses were divided. As the lake became crystal clear, the youths dived in one by one, scouring the depths for the hidden entrances to the Secret Realm, embarking on a six-month odyssey of discovery.

Each young person had their own agenda. None of those who had gained entry to the Loongze Lake Secret Realm were over twenty years old.

Di Qiu's face twisted with malice. "That jerk with Han Qianxue, your days are numbered. You better hope I don't find you!"

...

Jiang Fann and Shi Chengtian made their way through the dense forest, finally shaking off the Black Armored Ants' territory.

Shi Chengtian was brimming with excitement, delighted by everything he saw. Next to him, Jiang Han appeared quite small, standing beside his roughly three-meter-tall companion.

"Don't your kind have a plethora of innate powers? Can't you make yourself a bit shorter?"

Shi Chengtian replied, "But don't I look more imposing this way?"

Jiang Fann felt awkward. "I'd rather not have to crane my neck to talk to someone. It's really annoying!"

Without objection, Shi Chengtian reined in his aura, and his body began to shrink slowly, stopping when he reached a more approachable height of two meters and thirty centimeters.

He quipped, "This is as short as I can get. Any shorter and I'd have to saw off my legs!"

Jiang Fann chuckled in response. "Let's skip the leg-sawing. This height is an improvement. How have you been feeling lately? When I examined you, I noticed many of your meridians were severed. It's astonishing that you've managed to maintain such a level with your body in this condition."

"I've tried using Spiritual Strength to heal my bones and meridians, but the results have been disappointing. Do you have any suggestions? If I can regain my cultivation, it would be advantageous for you, with no downsides."

Jiang Fann was well aware of the benefits, but concocting the necessary elixirs was no easy task. It would take at least twenty hours, nearly two full days. With time being of the essence, halting his journey to craft the pills would be irresponsible towards Han Qianxue.

Jiang Fann's plan was to rendezvous with Han Qianxue first, then figure out the next steps. Besides, Han Qianxue was sure to possess some healing holy medicine, which would make things easier for him.

Traveling with Shi Chengtian made the trip far less tedious.

Demons have a straightforward way of thinking and act decisively, which Jiang Fann found liberating.

Shi Chengtian, eager to assist Jiang Fann in gathering herbs, had learned of his skills as an alchemist. Ever since, he'd been eagerly awaiting Jiang Fann's help with his meridian issues. Jiang Fann had previously promised to lend a hand, and Shi Chengtian trusted that he would find a way.

On the third day, something suddenly came to Shi Chengtian's mind.

"Jiang Fann, I've visited this place in the past. It's changed a bit, but I remember it well. I once encountered a spiritual treasure around here, but it was snatched by an immortal crane. I pursued it until it reached a mountaintop, but due to pressing time, I gave up the chase."

Jiang Fann surveyed the area, spotting only a mountain that soared into the clouds.

"Over there?"

He nodded. "Exactly. If that immortal crane is still alive, it's undoubtedly a formidable demon, and quite elusive."

Jiang Han inquired, "What kind of spiritual treasure was it?"

"I'm not sure. It was only about the size of a fist when it flew out of the mountain."

Jiang Fann raised an eyebrow. "Flew out on its own? Could it be a precious artifact that's developed a spirit?"

Shi Chengtian's eyes gleamed with anticipation. "I'm not certain about the details, but we have plenty of time. Why don't we climb up and have a look? If we do find a treasure, this trip to the secret realm will have been well worth it."

Jiang Fann gazed at the towering peak and chuckled, "Shall we make the journey? But if you're pulling my leg, you can kiss your dreams of reaching the Spirit Refining Stage goodbye."

Shi Chengtian nodded vigorously.

The two picked up their pace, heading for the summit.

Upon reaching the base, Jiang Fann felt an eerie resemblance to the main peak of Nine Peaks Mountain, though this one was far steeper.

Looking up, Jiang Fann said calmly, "If the Spiritual Treasure originated from here, it would have come from the summit. We'll need to climb."

Shi Chengtian approached the cliff, his hand morphing into a claw and effortlessly piercing the rock face as if it were soft tofu.

He looked back with a wide grin. "Climbing up shouldn't be an issue."

Jiang Fann gave it a try and found it surprisingly easy.

They were having a blast, while numerous youths had entered the secret realm, each heading in different directions. Yet, regardless of their destination, they all had to traverse the dense forest.

These youngsters were bound to stumble upon the chaos Jiang Fann and Shi Chengtian had left in their wake.

In the forest, swarms of black-armored ants were on the hunt for the duo, ready to be encountered by the newcomers. The young adventurers were immediately thrust into battle upon their arrival.

Meanwhile, Chu Zhan, the Little Heavenly King from Leehuo Academy, led several Innate Stage cultivators in a relentless assault through the woods, slaying nearly a hundred black beetles.

Their slaughter of the beetles eventually drew out the Ant Queen herself.

Even Chu Zhan knew when facing the Ant Queen, the only option was to flee.

After several days of intense combat, the Black Armored Ants were surprisingly driven back into their nest by bands of young warriors.

At that moment, the indigenous people were deep in slumber, with no one available to lend a hand.

The Ant Queen, fearing a significant weakening of its forces—especially with the Ant Eater Dragon lurking nearby, eyeing it with predatory intent—reluctantly ordered the retreat of the Black Armored Ants into the nest. This half-year respite would at least offer the colony a chance to rest and recover.

Meanwhile, Jiang Fann and his companions had exerted tremendous effort to reach the mountain's summit.

Upon standing, Jiang Fann was taken aback.

The mountaintop was far more expansive than he had envisioned, dotted with an array of structures. It was unclear whether this place had once been inhabited.

Shi Chengtian started towards the buildings, but Jiang Fann quickly pulled him back.

"There's a trap here, a formation. One wrong step and you could be ensnared."

While explaining, Jiang Fann tossed a stone from the ground into the formation.

Instantly, the stone was shredded by multiple forces, as though it had been cast into a grinding wheel.

Shi Chengtian recoiled, his heart racing with alarm. He turned to Jiang Fann and asked, "How did you know about the formation?"

Jiang Fann was at a loss for words.

To reach the buildings, they would have to navigate through the formation, and Jiang Fann was determined not to be deterred.

As he pondered their next move, a crane's call pierced the silence from above.

Looking up, Jiang Fann spotted an ethereal crane soaring overhead, its eyes seemingly cautioning them against proceeding.

Shi Chengtian, upon seeing the crane, erupted in anger, "So you're still alive! You thief of my spiritual treasure, and to top it off, you defiled me with your droppings before fleeing."

As if in retort, the crane released a dropping from the sky. Shi Chengtian nimbly dodged and grabbed a stone to retaliate, but the crane had already flown toward the buildings, eventually disappearing into the architectural cluster.

Shi Chengtian clapped his hands together eagerly, "Jiang Fann, how do we get in? I owe you a meal of that immortal crane meat—it's a serious boost to one's vitality."

Instead of responding directly, Jiang Fann edged closer to the formation. Suddenly, a powerful suction force hit him, causing him to stagger back two steps in alarm.

"The core of this formation must be inside. There's no breaking through it as it stands. Only with overwhelming force could we shatter it. Unfortunately, even our combined efforts wouldn't suffice."

Shi Chengtian frowned in frustration. "Is there really no other way?"

Jiang Fann glanced skyward, then pointed. "That fellow just flew over from above. The aerial part of the formation probably doesn't extend that far. We can enter from up there."

Shi Chengtian grumbled, "But we're not birds. How do you propose we fly in?"

"Wings or no wings, it doesn't matter. You've got the muscle—that's enough. Give me a boost over, and I'll figure out how to deactivate the formation from the other side to let you through."

Jiang Fann had clearly thought this through.

With no better plan, Shi Chengtian had to trust in Jiang Fann's strategy.

He positioned himself, allowing Jiang Fann to get a running start. Jiang Fann stepped onto his outstretched hands, and with a mighty heave, Shi Chengtian launched him into the air. How Jiang Fann would land was no longer Shi Chengtian's concern.

Jiang Fann, having chosen this tactic, was ready for what came next.

Shi Chengtian spared no effort. As Jiang Fann's feet found his hands, he propelled him skyward with all his might.

Jiang Fann had underestimated Shi Chengtian's strength; he soared through the air, covering a great distance before plummeting toward the ground.

He harnessed the Qi within him to maneuver his descent, aiming for a smooth landing.

Upon touching down, the world before Jiang Fann transformed.

Where buildings once stood, now there were only caves, shadowy and foreboding, their contents a mystery.

Turning back, Jiang Fann caught Shi Chengtian's excited expression. He was eager to join Jiang Fann and delve into the unknown.

The reality here matched Jiang Fann's expectations. The sights outside the formation were mere illusions. From this vantage point, the formation's core lay exposed, ripe for unraveling.

Jiang Fann quickly deciphered the formation with his keen insight.

As the formation unraveled, Shi Chengtian hurried over, his face a picture of astonishment as he gazed at the caves, unsure of his next move.

"Was that all just an illusion?"

Jiang Fann surveyed the caves and murmured, "The formation was merely a smokescreen to conceal these caves. There's definitely treasure hidden here."

Shi Chengtian eagerly responded, "The treasures are all yours. I just want that clumsy bird."

Jiang Fann chuckled. "That celestial crane certainly made a lasting impression on you! But it's no ordinary creature. If I'm not mistaken, it's likely a guardian beast placed here to protect a treasure. It must be here for a reason."

"A guardian beast?"

Jiang Fann affirmed with a nod, "Exactly. A guardian beast. It's here for a purpose, and we shouldn't trouble it. If you really must, then wait until I've secured the spiritual treasure."

Relieved by Jiang Fann's words, Shi Chengtian exhaled deeply.

"No problem!"