Finding the Secret Realm

The warm light of the sun faded behind the dense foliage as Xian Tian Di and Ying Yue ventured deeper into the Black Wind Forest.

Their goal was clear: locate the mysterious valley and the source of the venom that plagued her brother.

Xian Tian Di's mind worked incessantly, piecing together every clue, analyzing Ying Yue's descriptions, and recalling his vast theoretical knowledge of alchemy and arrays.

Earlier, at the inn, Xian Tian Di had examined Ying Yue's brother carefully.

The boy's condition was critical—his veins blackened from a potent poison that halted the flow of Qi.

While the healing pill he offered couldn't cure the venom, it bought them precious time by stabilizing his condition.

Ying Yue, though grateful, remained skeptical. "Are you sure this will work?" she asked, her voice tinged with doubt.

"It's a temporary solution," Xian Tian Di admitted.

"But if your account of the serpent is accurate, there may be an antidote where it dwells."

With the boy safely resting at the inn, they had set off.

Now, surrounded by the eerie quiet of the forest, Xian Tian Di's senses remained sharp, his eyes scanning for any signs of danger.

---

It wasn't long before danger presented itself.

A pack of Shadow Claw Wolves emerged from the underbrush, their glowing red eyes locked on the pair

. Each wolf was a low-tier demonic beast, but their numbers made them formidable.

"Stay behind me," Xian Tian Di ordered, stepping forward.

His calm demeanor did little to reassure Ying Yue, who clutched her satchel of herbs tightly.

The first wolf lunged, its claws shimmering with Qi.

Xian Tian Di sidestepped fluidly, his palm striking the beast's side with a burst of force.

The wolf yelped, collapsing in a heap.

Using a combination of footwork and precise strikes, he dispatched the pack one by one.

Despite their Qi-enhanced strength, the wolves were no match for his martial prowess.

Ying Yue watched in awe, her earlier doubts beginning to waver.

"Let's keep moving," Xian Tian Di said, his voice steady as if the encounter had been nothing more than a mild inconvenience.

---

As they approached the valley, the sound of rustling leaves and low murmurs alerted Xian Tian Di to another threat.

A group of rogue cultivators emerged, their leader smirking confidently.

The man, clad in tattered robes adorned with a crude emblem, exuded the aura of a middle-stage Qi Condensation cultivator.

A faint image of two beast spirits—an Iron-Tusk Boar and a Flame Serpent—hovered behind him, signifying his rank.

With a breakthrough in a major cultivation realm, one can awaken another beast spirit.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" the leader sneered.

"A little Qi Refinement brat and a helpless herb gatherer. Hand over everything you've got, and I might let you live."

The other bandits laughed, their weapons glinting menacingly.

Ying Yue instinctively stepped closer to Xian Tian Di, her fear palpable.

Unfazed, Xian Tian Di met the leader's gaze. "Leave now, and I'll spare you the humiliation."

The bandits erupted into laughter, their leader taking a step forward.

"You've got guts, boy. Let's see if they'll still serve you when I—"

Before he could finish, Xian Tian Di struck. His movements were a blur, a precise kick sending the nearest bandit flying into a tree.

*Bang!*

The leader growled, summoning his beast spirits. The Iron-Tusk Boar charged, its massive form barreling toward Xian Tian Di.

With a fluid motion, Xian Tian Di evaded the attack, his palm striking the boar's projection.

The spirit wavered, its connection to the leader weakening.

The Flame Serpent lashed out, but a well-timed Qi blast from Xian Tian Di dispersed it entirely.

The other bandits attacked but their attacks were uncoordinated and they were much weaker than their leader so it took little to Xian Tiandi to take care of them.

The leader, now pale and trembling, fell to his knees. "Please… spare me!" he begged.

Xian Tian Di's cold gaze bore into him. "Where is your hideout?"

The man stammered, providing directions to their camp.

Satisfied, Xian Tian Di knocked him unconscious with a single blow.

"Bandits thrive on preying upon the weak," he muttered. "I'll deal with them later."

'Maybe I might gain a little bit?' he thought.

----

Finally, they reached the valley. Standing at its edge, Xian Tian Di observed the strange currents of wind swirling below.

The sight confirmed his suspicions—this place was no ordinary terrain.

Ying Yue pointed to a cluster of herbs clinging to the cliffside.

"That's where I saw the Fire Spirit Herbs," she said, her voice shaking.

It was the same herb that Zhou Kang had asked her to get for him.

Xian Tian Di frowned. If she had attempted to climb down, she would have fallen to her death.

'Was this her original fate?' he wondered, recalling her eventual rise as a renowned alchemist in his past life.

"Hold on," he said, pulling Ying Yue close. Before she could protest, he leaped over the edge.

"Ahh!" she screamed, clutching him tightly as they descended.

Using his Qi to control their fall, Xian Tian Di maneuvered between jutting rocks, landing gracefully at the valley floor.

Setting Ying Yue down, he scanned their surroundings.

The air was thick with Qi, and an unnatural stillness pervaded the area.

As they moved cautiously, Xian Tian Di's keen eyes caught a faint shimmer in the distance.

"An array," he murmured.

Approaching the source, he examined the intricate symbols etched into the ground.

The array was designed to conceal something, its power emanating from an ancient source.

"This is a Concealment Array," he said. "Breaking it will require precise manipulation of Qi."

"You know about arrays?" Ying Yue asked in shock.

"I have some superficial knowledge," said Xian Tiandi.

Xian Tiandi was appearing more mysterious in her eyes making her curiosity to be stirred.

He focused, channeling his Qi into the array's weak points.

*Tap, Tap, Tap!*

Beads of sweat formed on his brow as the strain tested his limits. With a final surge of effort, the array shattered, revealing a hidden entrance.

---

The entrance led to a cavern illuminated by faintly glowing crystals. Inside, the air was dense with spiritual energy.

At the center of the chamber stood a jade stone bed, its surface smooth and pristine.

Nearby, a tiny cauldron rested on a pedestal, its craftsmanship exquisite.

Ying Yue gasped, her eyes widening at the sight. "What is this place?"