A journey to an alien world [two chapters combined]

In the Night Mist World was as dark as an abyss, and the city flickered like candlelight.

This plateau is no exception; only the areas where the Fire Spring gush forth have light.

There are no Fire Spring in the Secret Realm, yet it is not dark. It is like the "twilight" described in Ancient Texts. Everything is brought by light mist, with various colors, mainly crimson clouds, which permeate the forest.

People felt small, while mountains and rivers seemed to grow larger.

From the outside, the ground is covered with "moss," but what you see before your eyes is quite unusual: the enormous flowers are large enough for several people to lie inside, and could easily serve as houses.

The foxtail grass was thick and long, like a dragon's tail drooping in mid-air.

"Are we standing on a planet from beyond the heavens?" Zhao Muyao from Pure Yang Institute asked, carefully examining the area.

Jiang Ruoli from the Bodhi Academy said, "Thinking about it carefully, it really is quite a dream. A celestial body has fallen to this place. It looks very small, but it is so extraordinary. It once hung high in the Outer Domain. We are standing on an alien planet."

The men here are more pragmatic, lacking any lofty ideals or ethereal sentiments.

Little Wu tugged at the giant foxtail grass and said, "Fairies, why don't you swing on a swing on this alien planet and experience some Foreign Domain charm?"

Suddenly, the place fell completely silent.

Qin Ming quickly pulled him aside. This guy was too naive. Even if he was rejected by that group of people, he shouldn't have talked such nonsense.

Clearly, Little Wu was still somewhat resentful, determined not to lose face verbally.

Not far away, everyone—from the two women who had spoken earlier to Lin Qianyi, Xiao Yaqin, and others who were about to speak—shut up, their faces darkening slightly.

Their daydreams of a secluded paradise and their beautiful sentiments have been completely shattered; that atmosphere is gone now.

The old man who had led them in turned to leave without Say More.

"Senior, our teams are either from the previous generation or new disciples of this generation. Do we think we can compete for the Immortal Seed here?" Gan Jincheng of Sky Roc Dao Field asked.

Overall, they were all "newcomers" who had never experienced anything like this before.

The other old disciples did not join them. In addition, Beyond the Mundane, Esoteric Sect, and other heretics, making the participants a diverse group.

The old man replied, "The Secret Realm is vast, and those entering from different areas are extremely far apart, making it difficult for you to encounter it."

Then, he smiled slightly and said, "Do you think that the strange substances and extraordinary elixirs you've seen are the greatest fortune, something that requires you to fight and scramble for them? You're wrong."

"Huh?" Everyone was taken aback and quickly asked him to explain in detail.

The seniors in the academy didn't mention any of this, because this was a newly conquered Secret Realm, unlike any other.

The old man said, "Don't rush, you'll find out soon enough. Then you won't be in the mood to compete with others. This place is special; you need to savor it carefully. The benefits will be considerable."

His explanation piqued the curiosity of the teams, who then humbly sought his guidance.

He smiled and said, "This is a test of your keen spirituality. Observe and grasp it yourselves. I'll just say one thing: even powerful figures like Pu Heng and Sky-Pillar's disciples have come here and gained something."

The group of people were stunned. Who was Pu Heng? Cao Qianqiu's eldest disciple!

Furthermore, the fact that even a Young Ancestor of the Sky Bearing Sect has come to investigate this place indicates that it is definitely not a simple place.

"Perhaps even Old Senior Sun himself visited," the old man said in a low voice.

Everyone was stunned. The "Old Senior Sun" he mentioned must be Sun Taichu ever graced their presence?

Immediately, the group of people were excited and thrilled, and some of the teenagers almost shouted out loud.

They quickly calmed down.

"Won't it be dangerous?"

For such a powerful figure to be interested, this place must be extraordinary, perhaps even terrifying.

The old man shook his head and said, "Don't worry, it varies from person to person. Besides, you can't trigger those things anyway. Even if I pointed you in the right direction, you wouldn't be able to follow in the footsteps of your Old Senior."

A large group of people were mesmerized, carefully pondering his words and deciphering the valuable information contained within them. This fragment of starlight must be extraordinary.

After the old man finished speaking, he prepared to leave, but then noticed a young boy digging for jade in a stone and stuffing it into his pocket. He couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing?"

Qin Ming gave an awkward smile and said, "If we can store these stones in a mustard seed, I wonder if we can use them for storage."

He dug out two pieces of jade and tossed one to Little Wu.

The old man said, "You're clever, but you won't be able to use it even if you take it out. Even the Old Senior above had to put in a lot of effort to create this alternate dimension."

Then, he looked Qin Ming over and over again, and said, "You're actually New Life Evolver. It's a pity you lack in the Spirit Domain. Here, you need keen spirituality, and you're not up to it. You're in for a tough time."

After saying that, he stepped out of the area and quickly disappeared.

"That old man!" Little Wu said, pursing his lips.

Everyone except the New Life Evolver was delighted, because the elder had once again hinted at something valuable to them.

Wang Lijie of the Dragon Elephant Dojo said, "Everyone, there must be some amazing fortune here, otherwise why would Senior Sun have come, and why would Young Ancestor and Pu Heng have come in person? Let's think about it, which direction should we strive in, and what exactly is going on?"

Su Junlin of the Great Dream Dao Field said, "Let's just proceed and explore. However, we shouldn't split up at the beginning. After all, the academy's teachers warned us that this place is not peaceful, and some crises will require a whole team to fight."

For a moment, many people looked at Qin Ming and Wu Yaozu, whose teams were too "thin" and "simple," it was simply a joke.

The group of teenagers all felt that if the two didn't follow them, they probably wouldn't even make a ripple and would soon disappear, dying in the Secret Realm.

Immediately, some people grimaced, while others chuckled.

Little Wu said, "What do you mean? Are you looking down on our elite team? Don't come crying to me and my brother later!"

Let's see how long you can keep up your stubbornness!

"Can either of you survive without us?!"

Some people expressed their dissatisfaction, saying this.

Some even suggested driving the two away and preventing them from following.

Suddenly, a commotion arose ahead, and then people rushed out quickly, because they smelled a fragrance in this lush green place, and the fragrance gradually became stronger as they went forward.

"Golden Orchid!" someone exclaimed.

The trees here are often hundreds of meters tall, and vines as thick as water vats are very common.

Just ahead, there was a large cluster of orchids, so fresh and vibrant, almost dripping with golden water, bright and dazzling. Two teams rushed towards them.

Two of them were particularly aggressive, leaping up and lunging at the Golden Orchid.

This is a very precious elixir, mixed with other minerals to form a golden liquid that has miraculous healing effects, allowing people to recover quickly.

"It has a wonderful fragrance! This is a mutated golden orchid!" someone exclaimed in surprise.

However, someone soon screamed in pain.

The two who pounced on it sank in, and then staggered out of the place, covered in a strong "fragrance".

Everyone stared in disbelief, then quickly backed away.

Qin Ming and Little Wu were also dumbfounded, and quickly covered their mouths and noses and ran backward.

"Corpse rice!" Little Wu shouted unkindly, because he felt extremely disgusted.

A patch of Golden Orchid had taken root in a huge pile of corpse rice, its fragrance masking the stench below. The two boys, now covered in filth, were absolutely furious.

Three other girls collected the golden orchids, but immediately felt they no longer smelled good. They were ashamed, angry, and resentful, so they quickly threw them away, rubbing their fair palms together as if they wanted to peel off a layer of skin.

No one expected that they would be "educated" as soon as they entered. It was too brutal. The two main parties involved were covered in sticky residue and felt that it was more painful and devastating than being killed.

"You've gone too far! Not only did you steal my medicinal herbs, but you also destroyed my herb field! This is outrageous!" In the distance, a giant dung beetle pushed a "ball," its fury truly palpable.

It was two or three times larger than the tabletop, its body seemed to be cast from black gold, making a cracking sound, and its claws tore apart some vines along the way.

Gan Jincheng looked at the members who had been affected, then at the black beetle, and, unwilling to fight it, said, "It's a misunderstanding, we'll leave immediately."

"I came from the plateau to this land and painstakingly cultivated these medicinal herbs for five years, only to have them destroyed by you! Pay with your lives!" the black beetle roared.

Then, it suddenly spread its black armor, flapped its wings, and came flying as fast as black lightning.

Everyone realized that there was no way to resolve this peacefully. Disturbing its medicinal fields was merely an excuse for it to start a war. This creature was a demon from the plateau, and now the two camps were going to war; they would fight whenever they met.

"Ah..." The two who were hit earlier screamed in agony, sending chills down the spines of many. The two men were severed, and blood splattered everywhere.

Although the two were out of control, they acted quickly and with all their might when they saw the danger, but they couldn't stop it and were torn to pieces.

No one expected that the black beetle was very strong, having already entered the Second Realm, its body harder than refined iron, and it was by no means a minor demon.

Most terrifyingly, a piercing, unpleasant sound, like iron plates rubbing together, kept ringing out, giving one goosebumps. Eight black beetles appeared, transforming into black lightning bolts as they flew in, all within the Second Realm.

"One team will hunt down one enemy, while the rest of the teams will provide support," Zhao Muyao shouted.

Wang Lijie said, "Don't panic. These demons from the plateau are just waiting here to ambush us. There's nothing to be afraid of. Just kill them."

Each team has experts, and once organized, dealing with the Second Realm anomalies is not too difficult.

In an instant, Consciousness Spirit Light burst forth, Divine Wisdom surged, and various Spirit Artifact flew about, colliding violently with the beetles that looked like they were cast from black gold, causing sparks to fly everywhere, which shows how tough they were.

Qin Ming thought this alien trip was really bad; they encountered such foul-smelling bugs right from the start.

"What do you mean by 'from a planet in the sky'? It's not romantic or beautiful at all!" Little Wu complained.

Those nearby were furious. How dare these two comment? Especially the leading women, such as Jiang Ruoli and Zhao Muyao, who had been daydreaming about a secluded paradise, now glared at him.

"You two are no help at all, and you're just making sarcastic remarks. You're a burden. Shut up!" Su Junlin scolded.

"That's all? Just a few beetles!" Little Wu scoffed.

"Then why don't you go and take them down!" someone mocked. They had stabilized the situation, and some of the black beetles had been killed.

"Surely a master has to be there to back things up, right? Actually, it's mainly because they smell so bad," Little Wu said.

"Two drags!" some people complained.

Liu Hannya said coldly, "Don't tell anyone that you two are from my Mountain River Academy. I don't know you!"

Just then, screams rang out, and a snow-white beetle flew in, cutting the five people in half as it passed by, with tremendous killing power.

They've only just entered the Secret Realm, and seven people have already died—it's a bloody journey. At this rate, who knows how many more will perish.

The silver beetle was even stronger; although there was only one, it severely damaged one of the teams.

Such speed is simply too fast. It caused such a situation as soon as it appeared, and even Qin Ming and Little Wu didn't have time to react.

Then, it swooped down towards Liu Hannya and the others.

With a clang, the Spirit Artifact that Liu Hannya summoned only shook it off. Its terrifying claws, as if cast from refined gold, cut several cracks in her armor with the slightest touch, almost drawing blood.

This was only the initial collision, and it was already like this. Her face turned deathly pale. If it were a fierce confrontation, she might be torn apart as well.

The silver beetle is actually smaller than other black beetles, only about the size of a tabletop, but it is fast and powerful. Its silver wings vibrate, and the buzzing sound is like thunder. Wherever it passes, trees, vines and other vegetation are cut down or even exploded.

Many people realize that this is a Strange Insect, and if it can grow, it could become Sacred Beetle!

"Clang!"

It swooped down a second time, Liu Hannya staggered backward. The Spirit Artifact in her hand was damaged, and the armor on her shoulder shattered. Fortunately, there was an inner layer of armor inside, otherwise her shoulder might have been torn apart.

Many people were shocked, because they knew she was actually very powerful and had been noticed by an elder of the Immortal Land; her talent was extraordinary.

Clang!

Little Wu made his move. Although he was not one to back down verbally, he would not stand idly by and watch someone die. He threw the Iron Spear he was carrying, which struck the silver beetle.

To Liu Hannya's surprise, the beetle shook violently in mid-air.

Little Wu threw another Iron Spear.

At the same time, Qin Ming also made a move, because this silver beetle was indeed very strong, and if it was left unattended, more people would probably die. He threw an iron hammer.

The others also unleashed their Spirit Artifact and attacked together.

With a bang, the silver beetle exploded.

Liu Hannya was shocked. She felt that although many people had made a move, it was ultimately Little Wu's Iron Spear and Shen Wubing's powerful hammer that shattered it, and it had nothing to do with anyone else.

"Thank you!" she said, stepping forward to express her gratitude, feeling ashamed of what she had said earlier.

"You're welcome, Shanhe Number Two." Little Wu turned his back on her.

Liu Hannya's expression froze.

Qin Ming smiled and said, "Let's help each other out."

"Thank you!" Liu Hannya whispered.

All the beetles had been killed, and this was only the beginning; seven of them had already died. This was a truly bad start, and the atmosphere immediately became somewhat somber.

For a moment, the teams remained together, without separating.

Those who were close enough just now were already beginning to doubt the true strength of the two boys.

Liu Hannya, being a witness, has confirmed that these two are unfathomable, and she misjudged them earlier.

Gan Jincheng frowned and asked, "Where does the strangeness and extraordinary nature of this place lie?"

This work was compiled and uploaded by [author's name].

After walking ten miles, they encountered no further danger, but also made no special discoveries.

Jiang Ruoli said, "That senior has already hinted quite clearly that we need keen spiritual senses. New Life Evolver have no chance here. It's highly likely that we need to use our Divine Wisdom and Consciousness Spirit Light to find our way at all times."

Then, everyone except the New Life Evolver did the same.

"Hiss!"

After traveling another two miles, they made a discovery: the whole world seemed different, with an inexplicable and mysterious aura.

Moreover, not long after, they heard barking dogs, not stray dogs, but dogs that seemed to be kept in the village, and they could also faintly hear the crowing of roosters.

Many people were surprised to see something they shouldn't have seen ahead.

However, the New Life Evolver in each team were completely bewildered, because they couldn't see or hear anything.

Those who walk the Immortal Path or the Secret Sect Path, if they do not use their Divine Wisdom or Consciousness Spirit Light, will only see towering ancient trees and thorny bushes ahead, without anything unusual.

"Is that Near-Immortal Being, or Godlike being?!" As they drew closer, the scenery became clearer, causing some to tremble.

Ahead, there was a thatched hut, with the aroma of tea wafting from a bluestone table, and piles of bamboo slips.

A stunningly beautiful woman was reading a bamboo book. Her hair fell down and touched the bamboo slips, emitting a brilliant light. She seemed to hear someone calling her, and then she rode away on a cloud of five colors.

"She left, without drinking the freshly brewed tea. Is it possible for us to approach her? Could it be the legendary elixir of enlightenment?"

"Those bamboo slips..." Some people's Divine Capital trembled, a mixture of excitement and trepidation, as if it were a dream.

Is this the fortuitous opportunity the old man hinted at? It seems to exist outside of the normal real world.

Meanwhile, far away, Xiang Yiwu was stunned, for he saw a dilapidated temple, and a Golden Cicada engulfed in flames staring at him.

The sudden chirping of cicadas ahead nearly caused the burly, Tathagata's Abandoned Disciple to explode. He shuddered, staggered backward, and his mouth was full of blood and saliva.

Further away, Li Qingyue's black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, making her appear like an immortal descending to earth. The ribbon around her slender waist fluttered in the wind as she walked along a path paved entirely with black and white stones.

An eight-sided Bronze Lamp emitted light, illuminating her path. Soon after, she saw a palace standing ahead, engraved with Bagua (Eight Trigrams) symbols.

In another place, Cui Chonghe, wielding a Nine-Colored Sword, cut through thorns and brambles, finally ascending to the heavens along a bluestone path, heading towards the clouds.

"She's back. Did she see us?"

In the distance, a group of teenagers watched, their hearts filled with unease. What they saw was quite eerie. Were those real people and scenery, an illusion, or perhaps a remnant of something that had happened in the past?

They couldn't help but approach, and moved forward involuntarily.

"Brother, did you see that?" Little Wu asked secretly.

"I saw it." Qin Ming nodded.

Little Wu's expression turned solemn as he said, "This is truly strange. It doesn't feel like a place of Spirit Travel, yet it feels so real. I can even smell the aroma of tea, and my mind is clear and empty. If I were to take a sip, I might even attain enlightenment!"

Qin Ming nodded and said, "The aroma of the tea is indeed very tempting, and my mind resonates with it. The key is that those bamboo slips are even more extraordinary."

As they drew nearer, more and more scenery came into view.

After the woman returned, an elderly couple came along, as did a young child. A young couple gradually came into focus, and a house with blue bricks and gray tiles appeared on one side of the thatched hut.

They seem like a family.

Immediately, the scene shifted rapidly, revealing an elderly couple who appeared to be the woman's parents, a young couple who were her brother and sister-in-law, and a child who was her nephew.

In the courtyard where the blue-brick and gray-tiled houses are located, there is a yellow dog wagging its tail and an old hen wandering around, which is very down-to-earth.

As the years Pass By, the stunningly beautiful woman in the other hut remained unchanged, while everyone else grew old.

Finally, she stood up from the stone table, her whole body glowing, and an endless rain of light enveloped her, the thatched hut, and everyone else.

"It's like a story: one person attains enlightenment, Rising on Rosy Clouds, and even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven..." someone whispered.

However, the final result was different from what everyone expected.

As the woman lifted her family off the ground, they burned fiercely, eventually turning to ashes. A faint rain of light rose up, but then exploded.

Everyone turned to ashes and died just like that.

On the spot, only remnants of thatched huts and gray-tiled houses remained; bamboo slips were burned, leaving only a few; only the tea set remained undamaged.

A gentle breeze blows, ashes rise, green bamboos sway, a thin mist swirls, and colorful clouds gather and dissipate, as if telling the story of how difficult it is to Near-Immortal, that even such a beautiful woman failed and brought trouble to her family.

Ashes, rubble, a bluestone table, and teapots and teacups left over from who-knows-how-many years ago—a very unusual scene lies before you.

Some people couldn't resist any longer and strode forward, then suddenly covered their heads, their Consciousness Spirit Light flickering and uncertain, unable to get any closer to the spot.

As he stepped back and gasped for air, he was astonished to find that he could see nothing at all. No matter how hard he tried to capture the scenery with his Consciousness Spirit Light, it was no use.

"I've failed. I can't get any closer?" he muttered to himself, and then, feeling nothing, he continued onward.

This time, he was able to walk towards that area, but felt nothing as he passed through it.

Others noticed that he seemed to drift past the ruins like a shadow.

In the real world, that place was a thicket of thorns; he only encountered vines and ancient trees.

"Let me try!" Another person stepped forward, only to clutch his head and yell.

Then, someone, without moving their physical body, extended their Consciousness Spirit Light to try and approach the place, but was struck as if by lightning, their soul light was knocked back, and it took them a long time to regain their senses.

He felt a wave of fear wash over him and said, "It felt like being struck by Worldly Heavenly Light; the pain was excruciating!"

Lin Qianyi, Wang Lijie, and others stepped forward one after another, but all failed.

Even the local celebrities, such as Gan Jincheng, Jiang Ruoli, and Zhao Muyao, turned pale and retreated when they reached the ruins of the courtyard.

The Pure Yang Body was also in the group, named Lu Dao. He entered the courtyard under immense pressure, seemed to have heard something, and finally withdrew, saying, "This place is not meant for me."

Next, Ling Yu and Xin Youdao also successfully stepped inside, and many people watched nervously.

The two frowned and stepped back.

Everyone except the New Life Evolver tried, but to no avail.

Luo Lianqing, the "Fairy Flower" of the Ascension Academy, spoke up, "It's alright. There are bound to be more wondrous sights and even more amazing opportunities ahead. There will always be a place suitable for us."

Everyone nodded.

"Why don't you give it a try? Wu Yaozu, aren't you practicing both paths simultaneously?" Liu Hannya whispered.

"Brother, let's give it a try too!" Little Wu said.

"Okay!" Qin Ming nodded.

Then, just like the others, as they approached each other, their bodies jolted and they both let out a muffled groan.

"This... one is cultivating both paths simultaneously, while the other is just a simple New Life Evolver, right? How can they still sense each other?"

"You actually believe that? Of course it's an act!"

Some people observed and discussed from behind, but unfortunately, they could no longer see that strange sight; the ruins of thatched huts, the bluestone table, the tea set, and so on were all gone.

"I don't believe they actually went in!" Zhao Muyao said.

At this moment, Qin Ming and Little Wu took another step, and they were only slightly hindered before successfully entering the ruins of the courtyard.

Xiao Yaqin said, "I think they're just putting on an act; they'd never actually set foot in front of the Near-Immortal's thatched hut."

"Pure Yang No. 2, Alienation Avoidance No. 2, quiet down," Little Wu said, surprisingly having the leisure to remind those people.

Zhao Muyao and Xiao Yaqin both glared at the figure's back. They were being referred to as "Number Two"—that guy was really going too far.

Qin Ming and Little Wu heard a sigh, as if a woman was speaking, saying that they were not suited for this path and should leave as soon as possible.

The two ignored it and wandered around, when they encountered immense pressure as five-colored clouds surged forth, trying to drive them away.

However, the two stood there like nails, resisting the immense force like a mountain, and refused to move an inch.

Little Wu said, "She vanished long ago and can't do anything to us."

Qin Ming walked towards the bluestone table, grabbed the teapot, and shook it, making a sloshing sound as the tea sloshed inside.

Soon, Little Wu, despite the immense force, also walked over.

"This tea isn't spoiled, is it?" he muttered.

"No, it smells delicious!" Qin Ming said with certainty.

"Those two are really good at pretending! They're quite convincing!" someone outside commented.

Wang Lijie said, "They must have remembered the location of the bluestone, and now they're pretending to pick up the teapot!"

Lin Qianyi said, "They're still pouring tea. Is this acting even meaningful?"

Qin Ming was indeed surprised and astonished. So many years had passed, yet the tea in the pot hadn't spoiled; it still had a fragrant aroma that was quite enticing.

Unfortunately, there was very little tea; he could tell as soon as he shook it—it was probably less than half a cup.

The stone table was spotless, and the teacups looked brand new and were very clean.

Qin Ming poured tea into the two cups, and sure enough, there was only a little. Although it didn't cover the bottom of the cups, the tea was only about an inch deep.

It is clear, crystal clear, and faintly glowing, unlike ordinary tea. Just smelling it makes one feel enlightened.

"Let me try it first to see if it's bad tea," Little Wu said. He then tasted a little, immediately put it down, and exclaimed, "Good tea, I'm getting drunk!"

However, this kind of intoxication was a state of deep absorption; he had a feeling of attaining enlightenment.

Qin Ming also drank some, and his mind immediately cleared. He gained many insights and wanted to go into seclusion here to cultivate!

"These two are addicted; they're starting to look more and more alike!" someone muttered.

Qin Ming looked at the bamboo slips preserved on the table and was immediately shocked. He was sure he hadn't misread them. Staring at the text and patterns on the bamboo slips, he couldn't believe it!

Little Wu picked up a few bamboo pieces, froze on the spot, and said, "I'm... no, God is punishing me! This is a gift from our Old Ancestor!"

Although he was in a state of enlightenment, he was also on the verge of madness.

His fingers trembled as he fumbled for the bamboo slips, his excitement palpable.

Qin Ming felt the same way; he felt the bamboo slips were as heavy as mountains.

The tea and bamboo slips were a perfect combination. He closed his eyes, pondered, and then looked at the bamboo slips again, gaining even more insights. This place truly was a wondrous place!

Please don't wait for the late-night chapter anymore; both chapters have been combined and updated.