A Moment of Tenderness

The space, filled with Spiritual Qi, seemed to transport everyone to a world beyond the Hidden Nether Realm.

A demonic bird adorned with colorful plumage flew overhead, its long tail feathers trailing behind it, its clear cry momentarily disorienting them.

This is a magical place; the originally cramped space instantly becomes incredibly vast after passing through that stone gate.

At a glance, the distant, continuous mountain range clearly told everyone just how vast this hidden realm truly was.

At this moment, not only outsiders like Sang Ying, but even those like Liu Duanyue who had lived in Moonless City since childhood were stunned by the scene before them.

"I never knew there was such a vast world within the hidden realm," Liu Duanyue murmured softly.

Although Wuyue Qing didn't speak, the surprised expression on her face corroborated this fact for everyone else.

The stone gate behind them closed again, completely separating the secret realm from the outside world. No one could leave this place until the competition ended.

"Our Yin Mountain Sect has stated beforehand that this is merely a competition between two families. It will only be a contest of luck fortuitous opportunity, nothing else. Cultivators from both sides may compete, but no one may take a life. Otherwise, the side that takes a life will lose." Liu Duanyue quickly regained his senses and relayed the words his father had repeatedly told him before he left to the Moonless Household.

Wuyue Qing knew that his words were deliberately meant for her, and she couldn't help but want to laugh.

Did the Yin Mountain Sect really think they could win this battle by using such a foolish method?

However, Liu Duanyue quickly spoke again, "Of course, everyone should not think of deliberately using human lives to frame our two families. Our Yin Mountain Sect is not as wealthy as the Moonless Clan, but we have prepared Image-Retaining Stone for everyone entering the realm. During the secret realm, everyone's Image-Retaining Stone will remain open, recording our every move. No one can cheat in this competition."

As she finished speaking, Liu Duanyue glanced sideways at Wuyue Qing.

"Heh, your clan has really gone to great lengths for this competition," Wuyue Qing couldn't help but sneer.

Liu Duanyue immediately retorted, "Unlike the Moonless Clan, who dare to gamble away even five years of control. The Moonless Clan must be absolutely certain of victory in this competition, right?"

Wuyue Qing's expression turned completely cold. She didn't answer Liu Duanyue's question, but just snorted and led her group in one direction.

Since the two sides were, after all, hostile forces, and Wuyue Qing had chosen one path, Yin Mountain Sect naturally followed suit and took the other.

But after looking at the map provided by the Yin Mountain Sect, Liu Duanyue's junior brother gritted his teeth and cursed, "What kind of people are they? They actually stole a good path!"

As shown on the map, the path that Wuyue Qing and the others had chosen first contained many treasures. Not only were there spiritual herbs and spirit beasts, but there was even a small spiritual spring.

However, these items are extremely valuable, and are guarded by high-level Demon Beast. Even if Wuyue Qing and her group find them, they may not be able to obtain them.

Sang Ying didn't seem too bothered by this. "So what if we got a good route? It only counts if we can actually get those treasures. Instead of complaining here, we should hurry up and find more treasures to earn points for the Yin Mountain Sect."

Liu Duanyue agreed, and then asked Sang Ying, "What do you think we should do now, Fellow Daoist Sang?"

Sang Ying paused for a moment, then said, "We've all come here for the treasure. This secret realm is so vast, and with only fifty of us, searching it will be troublesome. Perhaps we should split into smaller teams and search separately. That way, we might encounter more fortuitous opportunity."

She had one more thing she didn't say: this way, the team members could avoid turning against each other over the fortuitous opportunity.

Liu Duanyue understood what Sang Ying hadn't finished saying. He had originally wanted his fellow disciples to come here and get some good stuff, but he was also worried about the guest elders specially invited by the Yin Mountain Sect, and he was concerned that there wouldn't be enough stuff to distribute.

Upon hearing her suggestion, Liu Duanyue immediately made up her mind. "Let's do as Fellow Daoist Sang says. We'll go in groups of three or two, heading in different directions. Whoever finds the item will keep the treasure. If we encounter any danger, we can use communication talismans to stay in touch."

"Oh, by the way," Liu Duanyue added, "Everyone, please remember to activate the Image-Retaining Stone. Given my long-standing relationship with the Moonless Household, they are definitely not the kind of people who would follow the righteous path. Be careful and guard against these people using underhanded tricks!"

Even those who weren't disciples of the Yin Mountain Sect were somewhat aware of the feud between the two families. Since Liu Duanyue had spoken so bluntly, these people naturally knew the gravity of the situation and immediately agreed.

After giving some simple instructions, the few dozen people quickly split into dozens of small groups, each with their close relatives or friends.

Sang Ying was among the last to say goodbye to Liu Duanyue. Before leaving, Liu Duanyue told her to "be careful."

Jiang Zhuoxue, who was following behind Sang Ying, wanted to roll her eyes after hearing this. She thought he should wait until he had Sang Ying's abilities before coming to warn her to "be careful."

Now that the teams had split up, Sang Ying no longer needed to hide her thoughts.

There are many secrets between the two, so Sang Ying hasn't opened the Image-Retaining Stone yet. She'll wait until she gets the spiritual herb she wants before opening it.

Jiang Zhuoxue was, after all, an injured boy, and was not as tall as Sang Ying to begin with. Walking on the uneven road, he couldn't keep up with Sang Ying's pace at all.

But he was stubborn and refused to bring it up with Sang Ying.

When Jiang Zhuoxue fell again because she didn't see clearly, he suddenly felt resentful towards Sang Ying and simply sat on the ground, refusing to move.

Seeing this, Sang Ying turned around and pulled him onto her back.

Jiang Zhuoxue had never been so intimate with anyone before, especially since she was a female cultivator. She was so frightened that she wanted to jump down immediately. "What are you doing? Men and women shouldn't touch each other!"

Sang Ying didn't see Jiang Zhuoxue's face suddenly turn red, nor did she notice him quietly curling up, not daring to touch his own fingers.

"Don't move!" Sang Ying snapped. "Hold onto my neck, or you'll fall."

Hearing this, Jiang Zhuoxue finally calmed down. He tentatively reached out to Sang Ying, but because he couldn't see, his hand accidentally touched her soft neck.

As if her hand had been burned by a raging fire, Jiang Zhuoxue abruptly withdrew her fingers.

But Sang Ying didn't seem to notice.

Realizing this, Jiang Zhuoxue felt a secret delight.

He reached out again, gently embracing Sang Ying as if she were his most precious treasure.

If she's willing to stay with him forever, then being "Jiang Zhuoxue" for life isn't so bad.

He told himself this, unaware that this brief peace and happiness was about to be taken away.

A note from the author:

I'll take a few days off and save this draft.

See you tomorrow~