"Sorry for making you all worry about me!" Ye Qingci said to Fang Chen and the others, looking a little ashamed.
Fang Chen looked at Ye Qingci and asked, "Qingci, why did it take you so long to get through those checkpoints?"
Fang Chen knew Ye Qingci was probably a Reincarnated Immortal. Her Talent was beyond question; she had the potential to become an Immortal. The checkpoints in the Ninth Secret Realm should have been a breeze for her.
Ye Qingci said, "The Eighth Layer and Ninth Layer checkpoints in the Ninth Secret Realm weren't very hard for me. But I don't know why—I got sleepy as soon as I went in, then fell asleep. When I woke up, I started clearing the checkpoints and passed them easily. I never imagined I'd slept for hundreds of years!"
At that, shame showed on Ye Qingci's face.
Fang Chen's eyes narrowed slightly. He still didn't fully understand the secrets of the Ninth Secret Realm, and something about the Realm Master struck him as strange.
Fang Chen worried that the Realm Master might have done something to Ye Qingci.
He asked Ye Qingci silently, Could anyone have harmed you while you were asleep, Qingci?
Ye Qingci immediately understood his concern. She replied silently, No. When I fall into a deep sleep, blue Ice Crystals form around my body. They're extremely tough. With them protecting me, no one in that Secret Realm could hurt me. If anyone had tried, I would definitely have known!
That's good.
Hearing her answer, Fang Chen finally felt at ease.
He knew how unusual Ye Qingci's body was. After all, he had once been sealed together with her inside blue Ice Crystals.
Ye Qingci asked, "Fang Chen, where's my brother?"
Fang Chen answered, "Your brother went into the Ninth