Volume One, Chapter 19: A Chance Encounter in the Secret Realm

Ye Qinghan watched Dongfang Jue slowly step into the secret realm and wanted to say, Master, please do not worry! Qinghan has already dealt with the Saintess Li Shiyao; now it’s time to handle Princess Dongfang Jue!

Since there’s danger inside the secret realm—ha! What danger isn’t danger? The presence of the eldest disciple of the Lingxian Hall is her greatest threat!

When the time comes, just have Cheng Liang save her. At worst, leave her half dead as a gift for Cheng Liang.

In Ye Qinghan’s eyes, Dongfang Jue posed even less of a threat than that foolish Saintess. As long as they weren’t competing for Master, everything was manageable!

“Qinghan, I’m a bit uneasy. Perhaps I should accompany you,” her master said.

“No need to worry, Master. I will take care of myself,” Qinghan replied firmly.

[It’s not that I fear for your safety. I’m afraid once you’re inside, they’ll be in danger!]

Heh, her master truly had foresight! At the very least, Ye Qinghan had no intention of letting Shangguan Rou leave alive. As for Dongfang Jue, Qinghan was determined to break her down thoroughly—no mercy! But poor Shiyao, she wasn’t planning to trouble her; after all, her future days were destined to be spent as Cheng Liang’s plaything—life wouldn’t be easy for her either.

Thinking this, Ye Qinghan felt she was truly kind-hearted!

Yet her actions were calculated, not impulsive. After refusing her master’s kind offer, Ye Qinghan resolutely stepped into the secret realm.

Master has already defied heaven to alter my destiny; Dongfang Jue, you want to bask in that glory too? What kind of person are you?

Who isn’t a princess these days? I, Ye Qinghan, also bear royal blood. Am I proud? Am I boastful? No, you’d better obediently go be Cheng Liang’s plaything!

The secret realm wasn’t as Ye Qinghan expected. Instead of a dark, damp cave, it was a dense forest—still dark and humid. The specks of starlight above were likely just an illusion created within.

Though confident in her strength, Ye Qinghan dared not be arrogant. This was a secret realm left by immortals; even someone as powerful as her had to proceed cautiously.

Soon, low-level enemies appeared, bringing with them the stench of death—a horde of skeleton soldiers charged from the forest depths.

They seemed to be the remains of cultivators who had died here, their skeletons still draped in tattered cloth.

If formed by immortal magic, they probably wouldn’t be clothed.

Just as Ye Qinghan reached for her sword, a childlike voice sounded—an annoying pest was here!

Unexpectedly, even inside the secret realm, she had to babysit!

“My sister is weak. Shiyao will protect you! Mere low-level soldiers, don’t hurt my sister!”

Ye Qinghan couldn’t help but smile at the little figure standing before her, about her height.

“Sister, you’ve come just in time! Together, let’s wipe out these disgusting creatures!”

Ye Qinghan had few prejudices against Li Shiyao. Though a bit foolish, she clearly had no ill intent.

Originally planning to instantly slay the skeleton soldiers, Ye Qinghan decided to see how much Shiyao knew about the secret realm.

The two fought together—though the battle wasn’t fierce. The skeleton soldiers, though many, were mostly low-level fodder. Even half-hearted, Ye Qinghan could cut down dozens with a single strike.

Li Shiyao surprised Ye Qinghan slightly. Despite her simple mind, she had some skill, her golden light weaving through the killing formation, only slightly less effective than Ye Qinghan on the opposite side.

The warm-hearted Shiyao occasionally tried to help Ye Qinghan, which to Ye Qinghan seemed more like a provocation.

The skeleton soldiers, with cultivations only at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Condensation, were no match for these two killing gods and were soon reduced to near extinction.

“Sister, your skills are amazing! No wonder the elders told me to be careful around you. You’re truly formidable!”

Ye Qinghan crossed her arms, rolling her eyes silently—then thought, “Well, you should obediently listen to the elders!”

“You surprised me too,” she added.

Li Shiyao, seemingly not hearing, rummaged in her backpack and pulled out a steamed bun, offering it to Ye Qinghan with bright, hopeful eyes full of kindness.

Ye Qinghan was speechless. Even if Li Shiyao were admitted to Lingxian Hall, she probably wouldn’t catch Master’s favor and would likely pester Ye Qinghan daily!

With that brain, even if cured, she’d still drool!

“Don’t give me that look. It’s not cute, really...” Ye Qinghan said.

“Really? The elders say I’m very cute, and men like girls like me,” Li Shiyao replied.

“The elders are just lying to make you feel better,” Ye Qinghan said.

Li Shiyao nodded uncertainly, then pushed the bun closer, almost pressing it against Ye Qinghan’s face!

This girl wasn’t listening at all!

Ye Qinghan took the bun and immediately discarded it—not because she wasn’t hungry, but because they were in a secret realm, and she couldn’t risk this little fool playing any tricks.

Ye Qinghan cared little for the rare treasures here; she just didn’t want to disappoint her master.

So even though she doubted this little fool would do anything poisonous, she remained cautious.

“Sister, you eat so fast! Is it delicious?”

“Yes, very tasty. The meat is fresh, sister likes it a lot.”

Ye Qinghan glanced at the half-eaten meat bun in Shiyao’s hand and answered casually, then turned her attention to the mechanisms ahead.

They had reached a cave where the mechanisms likely formed the second trial.

“But Shiyao gave sister a vegetarian bun. Even though sister is kind to Shiyao, Shiyao really can’t bear to part with the meat bun...”

“You little stingy thing!”

“Sister didn’t eat it. She saved it to eat later,” Li Shiyao reasoned.

She figured Sister was right—Su Cheng was a big bad guy and probably often went hungry.

After much hesitation, Li Shiyao produced another bun and offered it to Ye Qinghan.

“One is enough, you keep it for yourself.”

Ye Qinghan didn’t even look, keeping her gaze fixed on the intricate formation before her. The mechanism was indeed mysterious, but not unsolvable.

She just needed a quiet environment.

Hearing Ye Qinghan’s refusal, Li Shiyao immediately withdrew her hand nervously, as if afraid Ye Qinghan would change her mind.

“Sister, what now?”

“Piece of cake. Don’t talk for now.”

“Does this formation sense when Shiyao speaks? So amazing!”

“No, it doesn’t. This is a barrier formation, and it seems to have an enemy-triggered mechanism. Just don’t speak, let me study it.”

“So amazing! Maybe Shiyao can help sister.”

“No need. You just stand aside.”

“But Shiyao wants to help sister!”

“...”

Ye Qinghan felt the sword’s frostlike killing intent guiding her—it was the essence of slaughter! She wanted nothing more than to kill this brainless saintess.

But thinking that soon this girl would be Cheng Liang’s plaything, she held back.

“Good girl, Shiyao. Just wait quietly. Sister will solve this formation quickly.”