Returning to the Sect

In any case, Lu Yu felt somewhat relieved at this point.

Still... even if Chen Xuan was telling the truth, she didn't really want to reveal what the Secret Realm Seal could do.

Lu Yu fell into thought.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan deliberately said, "Senior Sister, I've already been honest with you. If you can't give me an explanation, then for the sake of the sect, I'll have no choice but to report this to the Supreme Elder."

"Don't... All right, I can tell you. I can even take you along. Whether you go or not is up to you, but no matter what you decide, you can't let anyone else find out."

Lu Yu took a deep breath. After weighing it over, she decided to tell Chen Xuan.

She wanted even less for this matter to be reported to the sect.

"All right."

Chen Xuan nodded in agreement.

"Since you know about the Secret Realm Seal, you must know that it can be made into a Secret Realm Token.

"Several years ago, I came across an ancient ruin by chance. After exploring it, I learned that it was a cave dwelling left behind by an ancient cultivator.

"The cave dwelling had appeared so long ago that it predated the Cloud Sea Sect itself.

"After years of research, I finally found a way to open it. I need three 'keys'—the Secret Realm Tokens from the Three Great Secret Realms in Jing Province."

Lu Yu explained her purpose.

Chen Xuan listened and nodded slightly. If that was the case, then it was possible.

After all, Secret Realm Tokens could serve as tokens of proof, so it made sense that they could also be used as keys to open a ruin—a cave dwelling from ancient times.

There were still a few points that didn't add up, though.

According to Lu Yu, she had stumbled upon the ruin and found a way to open it after only a few years of research.

If it had really been that easy, wouldn't someone have discovered the ruin and figured out how to open it before now?

So perhaps the ruin was a trap left by an ancient cultivator. Or maybe someone had already explored the cave dwelling, and there was nothing good left inside.

Chen Xuan voiced his suspicions to Lu Yu.

"I found a way to open the ruin because the Library Pavilion holds all kinds of books. From them, I learned that an ordinary sect wouldn't have found the way in so easily.

"As for whether anyone has already explored the cave dwelling, I can't say for certain. But whatever the case, I'm going. If you're worried, you don't have to come. Just keep this secret for me."

Lu Yu's tone was firm.

She didn't have a special constitution. Among the Cloud Sea Sect's cultivators, only a few with Mortal Bodies reached the Dao Foundation Realm, fewer still reached the Purple Mansion Realm, and Nascent Soul cultivators were rarer still.

If she wanted to go further, she needed more resources and opportunities.

She had finally come across an ancient ruin, and the keys to opening it were the Secret Realm Tokens from the Three Great Heavenly Dao Secret Realms in Jing Province. That filled her with great expectations for what the ruin might hold.

She had worked toward this opportunity on her own all along, without even reporting it to the sect.

Reporting it to the sect would certainly earn her a reward, but exploring it herself might bring her even more.

To put it bluntly, she was taking a bit of a gambler's chance.

But what if she won?

A cultivator with a Mortal Body had to struggle, strive, and take risks. Otherwise, how could they reach the Purple Mansion Realm, form a Nascent Soul, or go further?

Who wouldn't want to be like those disciples with special constitutions, who only had to practice in peace for their realms to rise like a cloud into the sky?

"Understood, Senior Sister. Give me some time to think it over."

Chen Xuan nodded, but didn't say whether he would go.

He was interested in ancient ruins and the cave dwellings of ancient cultivators.

But he was also worried there might be a catch.

So he hadn't decided yet.

"All right. Take your time. I'm in no hurry either. I'll need at least half a year before I can officially head out to explore the ruin."

Lu Yu nodded.

At least half a year?

Chen Xuan considered it. By then, he should be close to reaching the Purple Mansion Realm. If he prepared a few more ways to save his life, perhaps he really could consider going to explore it.

Forget it. He'd think about it later.

Chen Xuan put the matter aside.

The two completed their patrol mission and returned to the exit of the Secret Realm.

On the way, Lu Yu asked Chen Xuan about his Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

She truly hadn't expected Junior Brother Chen to be so formidable.

Not only had he achieved success in body cultivation, he had even cultivated the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye through the Cloud Sea Heaven-Observing Technique.

That was one of the reasons she had told him about the ruin.

If she could, she really did want to explore the Secret Realm together with Chen Xuan.

After all, Chen Xuan was powerful and had the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye.

She knew how formidable the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye was. With Chen Xuan's help, they would have a much better chance of gaining an opportunity.

"Senior Sister, I'd appreciate it if you kept the Heaven-Observing Divine Eye a secret for now."

Chen Xuan made sure to remind her.

"No problem."

Lu Yu agreed at once.

Now, each of them held one of the other's little secrets.

Though neither secret would cause much trouble if it got out, Lu Yu felt as if they had become comrades fighting side by side.

It was a nice feeling.

Compared to when she had been plotting alone over the ruin, she felt much more at ease.

She had also prepared herself for the worst.

Even if Chen Xuan ultimately didn't go with her, and something happened to her in the ruin so that she failed to return for a long time, it would at least be a comfort to know that she wouldn't die without a trace. At the very least, someone would know where she had died.

Thinking of this, Lu Yu spoke with a touch of emotion. "Junior Brother Chen, if you don't go and something happens to me in the ruin, and I'm gone for a long time, please report the ruin to the sect.

"Then the sect can explore it. Perhaps they'll even find my bones. If I'm lucky, I might only be trapped somewhere, and still be alive."

As she spoke, Lu Yu smiled.

Chen Xuan nodded without a word.

He knew Lu Yu wasn't joking.

The Cloud Sea Sect was powerful, but its disciples still met with accidents outside and perished on the path of cultivation.

Cultivators couldn't expect everything to go smoothly forever.

The two soon returned to the Secret Realm's exit.

Wu Xun and the others had already arrived.

"Everyone, our mission is more or less complete. Let's go."

Wu Xun spoke with a hint of a smile.

Although they had been sent to take part in the patrol mission, this time it had been well worth it.

The Supreme Elder had personally said that they would be rewarded when they returned to the sect for helping the Flying Sword Sect.

The reward certainly wouldn't be anything shabby.

The seven soon left the Secret Realm.

After leaving, the seven went to see the Supreme Elder and inform him before returning to the sect.

After they had done so, the Supreme Elder told them that he had already reported their deeds to the sect. Someone would give them their rewards once they returned.

On the way back, the seven piloted their flying boat at full speed the entire time.

They were all looking forward to what rewards the sect would grant them.

Chen Xuan was no exception.

He thought he had acquitted himself quite well while helping the Flying Sword Sect.