An Explanation

"This is the [Wu Earth Secret Realm]!"

Hua Chunning gazed at the strange world before her, filled with admiration.

The Xue Household of Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain was able to take control of the Immortal Alliance and stand firm for a thousand years in the Southern Edge Continent, where the Old Method had declined. This secret realm deserves immense credit for this.

Unlike the Grotto-Heaven where Supreme Mystery Sub-Courtyard is located, the [Wu Earth Secret Realm] is extremely rich in spiritual energy and has been divided into different areas where many Spirit Plant are planted.

No wonder there are no markets or shops on Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain.

"With such a secret realm in hand, how could I lack the resources for cultivation? There's no need to toil and worry about opening markets."

As Hua Chunning was marveling at this, she saw a large cauldron standing in front of her.

Beside the large cauldron stood an elderly man with a dignified and ancient face, dressed in a bright yellow Buddhist robe.

Hua Chunning immediately stopped and bowed respectfully. "Hua Chunning greets Senior. I will forever remember Senior's kindness in attaining enlightenment."

"Heh... the grace of attaining enlightenment..." The Xue Household patriarch sneered and shook his head, saying indifferently, "You are a descendant of Zhuohua, so you don't need to remember my kindness."

"Within this secret realm, some relics of the Zhuohua still remain. Let's see if you have the fortune to find them."

Hua Chunning was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Zhuohua of the Hua Household, was the last Foundation Establishment cultivator. He died from being burned by the Li Fire, which happened at least a hundred years ago.

It turns out that the Xue Household patriarch had a past relationship with Zhuohua.

This Mr. Xue must be quite old.

"Knowing to damage your Manifestation before entering the secret realm is quite shrewd." The Xue Household patriarch glanced at Hua Chunning, recited a lengthy Mnemonic, and slapped the large cauldron in front of him. "I'll give you one month. Remember, whether you succeed or not, I will throw you out of the secret realm after one month!"

"You'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, his figure suddenly disappeared.

The [Zhaoyao Four Seasons Cauldron] began to exhale pure energy, changing the weather in the secret realm to [Yang Spring].

Hua Chunning took a deep breath, feeling refreshed. She reached out and took out a wooden box from her Storage Bag.

The box was filled with countless pills of various colors, each emitting a fragrant aroma.

It was the fragrance of various flowers that had been collected earlier.

Gathering the Fragrance of a Hundred Flowers might be difficult for others, but it's not hard for the Hua Household.

When refining elixirs, there is a special technique called the "Pill Sealing Method," which is most suitable for preserving this kind of fragrance.

"The fragrance sealed in these sachets is a mixture of summer and autumn floral scents, and they all need to be replaced."

"The secret realm is full of rare and exotic flowers and plants of Spirit Plant quality. We should try our best to collect as many as possible; they are better than ordinary flowers."

Hua Chunning glanced at the secret realm and let out a long sigh, "If Heaven bestows something and you don't take it, you'll suffer the consequences. If the time comes and you don't act, you'll suffer the calamity."

"This time, we must press on with full force, achieve perfect Qi Gathering, and enter the Qi Ingestion!"

The [Wu Earth Secret Realm] opens, and the [Zhaoyao Four Seasons Cauldron] manipulates the heavens, all for a female disciple of Supreme Mystery Mountain!

This incident caused a huge uproar at Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain.

Even among the direct descendants of the Xue Household family, no one had ever enjoyed such treatment!

Hua Chunning's background was quickly spread by those with ulterior motives.

It actually comes from the Hua Household of Rejuvenation Valley!

The Hua Household has been mingling in the mortal world for a hundred years, making them a complete impoverished family in the cultivation world.

Hua Chunning was originally lacking in Manifestation and Fate, with no hope of cultivation, but somehow she climbed up to become the new leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain.

The new leader of Supreme Mystery Mountain, perhaps bewitched by beauty, somehow managed to improve her Manifestation, thus meeting the requirements for entering the Daoist path.

Then, at some unknown cost, Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain opened the [Wu Earth Secret Realm], and the [Zhaoyao Four Seasons Cauldron] changed the timing of the secret realm, just to make it easier for her to Qi Gathering!

The Xue Household disciples were outraged and complained, some even privately saying that Xue Yang was incompetent and their patriarch was muddle-headed.

The Wang, Lin, Jiang, and Yao families were actually happy to see the Xue Household make a fool of themselves.

In any case, the disciples of the four families were not qualified to enter the [Wu Earth Secret Realm].

But the one that caused the biggest stir was Gathering Worthies Mountain!

They were all impoverished individuals whose Dao Path cultivation had been cut off, and they were all trapped by insufficient Manifestation, unable to cultivate. So why was it that Hua Chunning was able to defy fate and soar to the heavens?

The lame foreman knew some members of the Xue Household and was very well-informed. He embellished the bits and pieces of information he had heard and spoke with great enthusiasm, drawing praise from the surrounding farmers and tenants, who were filled with envy, jealousy, and hatred!

Some people were also annoyed by the lame manager's boastful talk and attention-seeking, so they deliberately called out to a woman in a corner who was keeping her head down and not speaking, "Xiao Hu, you're not bad-looking, why don't you go to Supreme Mystery Mountain and give it a try? Maybe you can improve your Manifestation and enter the Daoist cultivation!"

Although Xiao Hu was dressed in coarse cloth, her beautiful appearance and refined temperament could not be concealed. Upon hearing this, she was taken aback, smiled, and remained silent.

The lame foreman immediately became agitated, glared fiercely at the man, and turned back to say, "Xiao Hu, don't listen to his nonsense!"

"Supreme Mystery Mountain is a notorious demonic sect, known for its unbridled actions!"

"If you go, you might become Human Pill!"

"By the way, the Hua Household originally cultivated [Yi Wood], and they were the best at refining Human Pill!"

"Your family's lineage is so strange that even the Supreme Mystery Demon Sect wouldn't dare accept you."

"Listen to your brother, stop dreaming. Just get married, have children, and save up some Spirit Stone. Even if your children can't cultivate the Old Method, you can send them to Azure Cloud Market to have their Spirit Root tested. Maybe they can cultivate the New Method!"

A few snickers came from the surrounding area.

The lame manager's intentions were common knowledge in the Gathering Worthies Manor, and no one bothered to hide it: he wanted to marry the young and beautiful Xiao Hu.

Although everyone felt sorry for Xiao Hu, they were too busy taking care of themselves to help her!

The lame manager, though holding some authority, would occasionally manipulate and torment Xiao Hu, then offer him small favors, waiting for Xiao Hu's temper to wear him down so he could finally win the heart of the beauty.

Xiao Hu seemed not to hear, only lowering his head and shrinking into the corner, remaining silent.

Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain was also very lively.

All the elders of the Xue Lineage actually set out to go up the mountain to see their ancestor.

The main problem is that this time the ancestor went too far. Not only did he not inform the clan beforehand about extracting spiritual resources, but he also caused many people to encounter setbacks in their cultivation.

Unfortunately, they hadn't gained any benefit from Supreme Mystery Mountain, causing an uproar throughout the Xue Household. They suspected that their ancestor had suffered a mishap in his cultivation and had damaged his mind, leading him to commit such an absurd act.

Xue Yang tried to persuade him several times, but to no avail. He was even scolded by several elders who pointed their fingers at him and called him the culprit and an incompetent fool.

I simply stopped trying to persuade them and just stood by with a cold expression.

Several wisps of rosy clouds on Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain transformed into various birds and beasts, flying and hopping to watch the spectacle.

The Xue Lineage elders knew this was a priceless treasure of the clan, and the thought of the glowing mark on Hua Chunning's forehead only deepened their anguish.

This should have been fortuitous opportunity for the Xue Household family!

They arrived at the cave abode.

The crowd suddenly fell silent.

Although the patriarch has not shown himself for a long time and has not paid attention to worldly affairs, he is, after all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator with profound prestige.

Before they arrived, they were filled with righteous indignation and chattered amongst themselves.

When they finally arrived at the cave abode, they looked at each other in bewilderment, and no one dared to speak.

"What a bunch of useless good-for-nothings!" Xue Yang noticed that several clan elders were looking at him and urging him to speak with their eyes. He couldn't help but laugh in anger, sighed, and simply closed his eyes to rest.

"Ancestor!" Finally, someone mustered up the courage to speak into the cave abode: "[The Wu Earth Secret Realm] is the Xue Household's most important clan treasure."

"As the pillar of the Xue Household, how our ancestor uses the secret realm is none of our business."

"However, I truly cannot understand why my grandson Changling, with his abundant Manifestation and extraordinary Fate, is a genius unseen in generations. Even our ancestor himself said that Changling possesses the potential to reach the Foundation Establishment stage!"

"However, Changling has cultivated diligently since childhood and has never received any preferential treatment from the clan!"

"Ten years ago, Changling was injured Meridian Opening. I wanted to send Changling into the secret realm to replenish his vital Manifestation, but the ancestor forbade it."

"Five years ago, Qi Gathering at Changling, I wanted a handful of soil from beneath the [Zhaoyao Four Seasons Cauldron], but the Ancestor still refused!"

"Now, at the crucial moment when Changling is about to break through to the Late Stage of Qi Refining, the Ancestor has drawn up all the spiritual treasures of the clan and used the [Zhaoyao Four Seasons Cauldron] to adjust the timing of the secret realm for an outsider!"

"Ancestor, I really can't understand it!"

I just can't understand it!

The old man from the Xue Household had white hair and beard and seemed to be a highly respected person. However, at the end, tears welled up in his eyes, and his voice was filled with sobs as he poured out the grievances and resentments that had been suppressed for decades.

For a moment, everyone on Rosy Clouds Resting Mountain felt a deep sense of unease.

Those who had similar experiences also sobbed softly.

The most intelligent ray of light transformed into a strange ape-like beast, standing aside making faces and mimicking the old cultivator's weeping.

The onlookers felt awkward, but dared not reprimand or drive them away.

The cave abode remained silent.

The old cultivator felt immense relief upon finally speaking the words he had kept hidden in his heart for so long. However, he received no response from his ancestor and became somewhat angry. Since he was already so old and didn't have many years left to live, he decided to throw caution to the wind and try to gain some benefits for his precious grandson. So he said resentfully, "A great upheaval is imminent in the Southern Edge Continent."

"Whether the Old Method represent a revival of fortune or a final burst of energy, this is the most crucial moment for the clan's members to cultivate themselves."

"Our ancestor disregarded his own clansmen while sparing no effort to help outsiders; this is unfair and cannot win the people's hearts!"

"I don't ask the patriarch to retract his order, I just want an explanation!"

A moment of silence fell over the crowd.

Asking the Foundation Establishment Ancestor for an explanation is truly unprecedented for the Xue Household!

"Heh... confess..." A cold laugh echoed from within the cave abode.

Some timid and cowardly individuals trembled and knelt on the ground.

The old man still had his neck stiff, as if he wanted to say something, but he could no longer speak; only coarse sand and gravel poured out of his mouth and nose.

Immediately afterwards, the soil and rocks beneath Lao Xiu's feet shifted, and he slowly shrunk down.

Upon closer inspection, it was discovered that the creature was not stuck in the mud, but rather its body was being slowly worn away by sand and gravel.

[Wu Earth] is Yang Earth, which is firm and dry, and is located in the center, so it can regulate Wood, Fire, Metal and Water, and transform Yin and Yang.

Therefore, it is extremely domineering when used to wear down a cultivator's physical body.

Regardless of which lineage of Daoism one cultivates, it will gradually wear down one's muscles, bones, flesh, soul, and consciousness.

This is the [Calamity of Wu Earth] that countless cultivators fear!