Secret Realm Opens

A fierce palm wind came howling in.

Xu Ziqing's Eight Wastelands Roaming Dragon strike was perfectly executed, having grasped all its essence.

Chu Huai Xu watched from the side, his gaze sharpening slightly.

He wasn't particularly surprised, just a little gritting of teeth.

"Damn it! Truly damn it!"

He seriously suspected that Xu Ziqing's Character Panel read: Pseudo-Spirit Fetus, but Comprehension 10.

This was a cultivation world, not a martial arts one, so there was no such thing as true qi. Mortal Martial Arts were essentially just learning the forms. Yet, after a few glances, he had it down.

With that thought, he muttered inwardly again: "Damn it, truly damn it!"

"Should I charge him ten taels of tuition?"

After withdrawing his palm, Xu Ziqing stole a glance at Chu Huai Xu.

The youth harbored a small scheme, deliberately showing off.

In return, all he got was a bland: "Mm, not bad."

Han Shuangjiang stood nearby, also noticing their exchange, and was secretly startled.

But the Cold-faced girl was always impassive, keeping her little face stern, so nothing showed.

This left Xu Ziqing feeling a pang of disappointment.

"Sure, in front of a cultivator, this means nothing."

"You're just a mortal who picks up martial arts at a glance—it's not like you grasp cultivator techniques instantly. What's so special?"

Xu Ziqing was troubled, unsure how he could ever get a chance to cultivate.

Burdened by a blood-deep vendetta, his mood was tangled, his thoughts chaotic, and he wanted to show off his strengths more.

He was even grasping at straws in desperation.

Chu Huai Xu could guess what he was thinking.

But now wasn't the time.

He himself was just a Registered Disciple, with no authority to teach others techniques—that would violate a Sect Taboo!

"I just wonder if Old Niu can pull some strings?" he thought.

At this moment, Chu Huai Xu felt quite emotional.

If not for a twist of fate that let him take Xu Ziqing's spot to ascend the mountain, he'd either have to find another path or follow the original plan and be an undercover handyman in the Outer Sect.

"If that were the case, I'd probably be racking my brains to show off too, angling for a chance to cultivate."

He looked at this World Protagonist and thought of something else.

"He and the old me are both Pseudo-Spirit Fetus."

"And according to the original character line, he'll pull out that sword."

"So, could the 'Sword Refining Art,' which suits me so well, also fit him perfectly?"

Chu Huai Xu started having Wild thoughts, but the more he thought, the more plausible it seemed.

--Misery loves company.

The utterly dejected Qingxiu Handyman was oblivious to all this.

"Maybe I should just go clean the latrines," he thought.

The sun was about to Descend the mountain.

Even with an extra handyman in the house, Han Shuangjiang still handled the meals.

The reason was simple: Xu Ziqing's cooking was barely passable, truly awful, and he had no talent for it.

At least the dishes were no longer her chore—the handyman took care of them.

This situation fit Chu Huai Xu's standard for taking in a lackey: Stick with me, and as long as I have a meal, you'll have a bowl to wash.

Xu Ziqing's bedroom was naturally arranged in Chu Huai Xu's Bamboo House.

The Bamboo House had one large and one small room.

Don't let the decent living conditions of a Registered Disciple fool you—remember, starting next month, they'd have to pay rent to the sect.

That night, Chu Huai Xu didn't practice the Sword Refining Art.

He'd just broken through three levels in a row and still had a shadow of fear, not wanting to court trouble in the dead of night.

But with no entertainment options available, he felt a bit bored.

"No wonder cultivation emphasizes wealth, methods, companions, and location."

"With a dao companion, maybe it wouldn't be so lonely."

With nothing to do, Chu Huai Xu started planning based on his experience as a player.

But he was still in the Aperture Opening Stage, so his options were limited.

"I need to reach the First Realm as soon as possible."

The night deepened. Chu Huai Xu shed his robes, accustomed to sleeping naked.

At midnight, he suddenly opened his eyes in bed, looking at the Storage Token resting on his clothes.

An indescribably mysterious aura emanated outward from it.

Chu Huai Xu got out of bed naked, picked up the token to examine it, and retrieved an item from within.

The Pill King Token Fragment, smooth as mutton-fat jade, lay in his palm.

At this moment, it emitted a very faint glow.

"Is the Secret Realm about to open?" Chu Huai Xu's pupils contracted, and his heartbeat quickened.

He put on his robes and pushed open the door.

At the same time, Han Shuangjiang stepped out of the neighboring Bamboo House, also holding a Pill King Token Fragment in her hand.

"Perfect. I was just about to ask you to verify this," Chu Huai Xu said to her.

"It seems this Secret Realm really is opening!" He smiled slightly.

Han Shuangjiang nodded faintly, glancing at the Jade Token Fragment in her palm. Her emotions were a mix of excitement and nervousness.

"So, do we head to the Cold Pool now?" she asked.

"Didn't expect you to be so impatient," Chu Huai Xu chuckled.

Hearing this, Han Shuangjiang pursed her lips and said nothing more, afraid of being teased again.

"No rush. We need to prepare. Who knows how many days we'll be stuck in the Secret Realm," said the experienced companion.

Back then, many wealthy older sisters loved to commission dungeon runs from him—strong enough to carry the team, and the atmosphere was always good when it was just a man and a woman alone.

Kind of like teaming up for a cultivation-world version of an Escape Room?

"Didn't Steward Niu say we need to assemble the full Pill King Token for the Secret Realm to open?"

"So there's no hurry. Without the two of us there, they can't get in either." Chu Huai Xu waved a hand.

As he spoke, his eyes narrowed. "Besides, those surnamed Liu are probably holding a little meeting to discuss how to move in the Secret Realm."

Medicine Mountain, Liu Family.

Liu Chengqi still hadn't slept, having just finished his exertions.

A warm, soft, fragrant body lay in his arms. The woman's delicate toes lightly traced circles on his calf.

"Senior Brother Liu, you're amazing." The woman's breath was like orchid, and she gently nuzzled his neck, her voice soft and languid.

"Is that so, Junior Sister Chen? Then who's better—me or him?" Liu Chengqi asked, his palm sliding down her spine to the curve of her backside.

Truly, this Cao Thief's tastes never changed. He always loved this kind of game.

"Of course it's you! He can't compare to you! Tonight, you're even better than the last few times. It's like... like..."

"Like what?" Liu Chengqi squeezed her plump rear firmly, his tone laced with pride and anticipation.

"Like you've taken a pill."

At Junior Sister Chen's words, Liu Chengqi's large hand suddenly froze, and his face darkened.

Because he had indeed taken a pill.

Just then, he felt something was off.

His gaze eventually fell on his own Storage Token.

Liu Chengqi quickly got up and retrieved the Jade Token Fragment from within.

Staring at the mysterious faint glow, his eyes brimmed with boundless joy, and he couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"Finally! The Secret Realm is finally open! Hahaha!"

He had been waiting for this day for a long time.

He just hadn't expected Chu Huai Xu and Han Shuangjiang to be so lucky—getting the Pill King Token right as the Secret Realm opened.

"If it had been a few days earlier, they wouldn't even have had a chance to enter!" Liu Chengqi's eyes clouded with gloom.

Such a stroke of fortune—he truly didn't want to share it, but there was no choice.

The woman who had been lying on the bed immediately rose, beaming. "Congratulations, Senior Brother Liu!"

Clearly, she also knew about the Secret Realm.

The reason was simple: this female disciple at the peak of the Aperture Opening Stage was one of the nine carefully selected by Liu Steward to accompany his beloved son into the Secret Realm. They would be given Token Fragments later.

But since two fragments had been given to outsiders, there was no need for nine protectors—only seven would go down.

"Wait here for now. You can head back first. I need to report this to my father." Liu Chengqi began to dismiss her.

He had taken the pill, so normally he wouldn't let Junior Sister leave after just one round—he'd keep going until he was spent.

But now, business came first.

Besides, she was already satisfied.

"I am a naturally born Blazing Fire Spiritual Embryo, ranked top-grade!"

"Once I recover, the supreme Dao awaits me!"

"So what if this Chu Huai Xu has the Sixth Elder backing him now? As long as I enter the inner sect and my cultivation soars, I might even become an elder's disciple—or apprentice myself to the sect master!"

"As for Han Shuangjiang..." Liu Chengqi, still under the drug's effect, licked his lips.

For now, it all depended on whether the Secret Realm held what he sought.

Liu Chengqi immediately set off to find Liu Tianfeng.

But Liu Tianfeng was not at home.

He still had seven fragments in his Storage Token, and he had long sensed something amiss.

At this moment, the Old Man stood by the Cold Pool.

Even with his cultivation, the chill at the pool's bottom was hard to endure for long.

Liu Tianfeng extended his divine sense downward and immediately detected something.

"The cold aura... it's almost completely dissipated."

"No—it's been entirely absorbed!"

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