Chapter Twenty-Seven: Entering the Secret Realm

Ke Rongzi’s lips curved ever so slightly, but when he saw that the youth remained perfectly calm, his smile gradually widened. In a deep voice, he said, “Not bad. Though you won by luck in this bout, you must continue to work hard on your cultivation in the future.”

A violent clash had been forcibly recast as a friendly sparring match. Who among those present would dare to voice any objection?

Just then, the golden-plumed eagle slowly regained consciousness. It flapped its wings and flew out of the massive pit, immediately provoking a wave of laughter.

All its former majestic bearing was swept away; scorched black by the Vermilion Bird’s divine fire, its feathers had been reduced to ash and its body was left bare and comical.

“So that’s the terrifying beast? Turns out it’s just a roast golden eagle!”

Someone shouted, and the crowd burst into laughter.

Mo Lin’s gaze turned cold and deep as he snapped, “Eagle, come back.” Ignoring the mocking stares, he returned in embarrassment, fists clenched tight. Malicious thoughts churned in his heart: That arrogant brat—once inside the secret realm, I’ll be sure to end his life.

“Senior Brother Mo, are you alright?” A soft, delicate voice sounded from behind.

Mo Lin hastily composed himself and turned, only to see a pitiful-looking female cultivator before him. Disappointment surged through him. His gaze drifted past the crowd to the striking woman in red, only to find she hadn’t even glanced his way. The realization was as bitter as it was disheartening.

If not for trying to win her favor, would he have ended up in such a predicament?

Nian Ciyun spoke gently to comfort him, “Senior Brother Mo, Senior Sister didn’t mean it. She still cares for you. It’s just… In any case, she specifically asked me to come check on you…”

Mo Lin’s eyes grew colder, tinged with sarcasm. “Don’t waste your efforts. Even if Hongshang were gone, my Dao companion would never be someone like you.”

Nian Ciyun lowered her eyes, hiding the resentment within, though her voice trembled as if she might cry, “Senior Brother Mo, that’s not what I meant. I only hope you and Senior Sister Hongshang will be well.”

“Oh, really?” Mo Lin sneered, a twisted smile at his lips. “Then do something for me…”

The group rested for the night.

The next day, the sky was overcast and heavy mist hung in the air.

“What rotten luck, having to set out in this damned weather,” someone spat. “Not a good omen at all.”

Before departure, Ke Rongzi couldn’t help but remind Shen Luo again, “There are restrictions in the secret realm; we may be teleported to different locations. I’ll find you as quickly as I can. Before then, no matter what, don’t get into conflict with anyone.”

Shen Luo replied earnestly, “Uncle Ke, you must be careful as well.”

Watching the two of them step one after the other into the secret realm, Mo Lin’s eyes grew even colder as he quietly led others in pursuit.

The Qishan Secret Realm was famed for its unpredictable teleportation arrays. It was divided into eight different trial domains, each with its own challenges and opportunities.

As soon as they entered the secret realm, powerful spatial forces pressed in from all sides.

Suddenly, countless ghostly vine-hands shot out from the swirling white mist. Before anyone could react, they were ensnared and dragged away.

Shen Luo instinctively clutched the white spirit beast in his arms. Just before he lost consciousness, he saw the bluebird desperately flying toward him.

“Fengxi…”

So, the juice from those ghostly vines had hallucinogenic properties.

Su Li, carefully protected by Shen Luo, managed to stay conscious throughout. The ghostly vines dragged them along for an unknown length of time before, all at once, a bright light appeared, and they were flung down from the sky.

They plummeted rapidly.

Suddenly, a surge of pure spiritual energy burst from Shen Luo’s chest, wrapping tightly around them.

“Splash!”

They landed in the center of a massive flower’s stamen, sending yellow pollen flying everywhere.

After a moment, Su Li wriggled free from Shen Luo’s arms. She first checked on the youth and, finding he’d only fainted, set her worries aside and began to observe their surroundings.

She froze.

As far as the eye could see, an endless field of enormous yellow spirit flowers bloomed. Each bud was as long as a pair of arms, their pale yellow stems rising a full ten feet, bristling with backward-facing barbs.

Looking closer, Su Li saw that piles of bleached bones lay beside every flower. The bones seemed to be embracing the stems.

There was something deeply unsettling about the scene.

Su Li summoned the Tiger Spirit from the Divine Tiger Stone Talisman and asked with puzzlement, “Do you know what these are?”

The Tiger Spirit observed for a long while, then said gravely, “They look like Double-Faced Five-Petal Nether Mallow—a rare flower that sleeps by day and acts by night. These flowers are truly sinister. Only at night do they fully bloom, their petals glowing faintly as their scent lures nearby living creatures to their deaths, turning them into nourishment. Do you see those skeletons beneath? Those are their weapons.”

Su Li was surprised. “You mean they can command the skeletons to fight?”

“Worse yet, these skeletons can reassemble even after being severed—unless they’re burnt to ash, they will never stay down. That’s why the Double-Faced Five-Petal Nether Mallow is also called the Skeleton Ghost Grass.”

Su Li’s expression turned grim. “We already inhaled the pollen…”

The Tiger Spirit was unconcerned. “Split open the flower’s stamen—the juice inside can neutralize the toxin.”

A feline paw swiped the thick stamen, releasing a sweet fragrance. The thought that the Double-Faced Five-Petal Nether Mallow fed on living things made Su Li’s stomach turn. She forced down her discomfort and swallowed a few mouthfuls.

To her surprise, the nectar was clear and refreshing.

Su Li refrained from drinking more, broke off another stamen, and fed some juice to Shen Luo. Once done, she looked to the Tiger Spirit and continued her questioning, “How do we subdue them?”

The Tiger Spirit’s voice was low. “Take down the king of the Double-Faced Five-Petal Nether Mallow. The Flower King’s roots are the strongest, its bloom the brightest, its fragrance the richest, and its color the most vivid of all. At night, when it pulls its roots from the ground, you’ll spot a round fruit among the tangled roots—cut that fruit off. Ah, the Nether Mallow Fruit is precious indeed. Ever heard of the Grade-Nine Bone Renewal Elixir? It can restore flesh, regrow bone, and fuse blood. The fruit is the main ingredient.”

Su Li’s eyes lit up with understanding. “If it can renew bone and blood, could it work on spirit beasts as well?”

The Tiger Spirit shook its head. “The fruit of an ordinary Flower King does nothing for me.”

Though disappointed, it was deeply touched—its leader always had it in mind.

That was enough.

After a moment’s thought, Su Li said, “We must at least try.”

Shen Luo awoke to find the sun already setting.

He sat up suddenly, seeing the white spirit beast sprawled lazily across a flower bud. Relieved, he immediately thought of the missing bluebird, and his mood turned heavy.

Su Li leapt into his arms, rubbing her fur against his arm.

Swallowing, Shen Luo smiled, “I’m alright. Thank you for staying by my side.”

At his words, the fluffy tail arched high, its tip swaying, a clear sign of good spirits.

Seeing that Shen Luo had composed himself, Su Li patted his chest.

With a nod from the Tiger Spirit, she relayed their earlier conversation and plans to him.

Shen Luo agreed, “If there’s hope, we must do our best to seize it.”

The Tiger Spirit was deeply moved.

Now, the question was—how to obtain the Nether Mallow Flower King’s fruit?