Chapter Fifty-Two: Departure from the Secret Realm

After resting for a while, Hong Jian regained her energy and asked Shi Qingxiang, “How much longer will you, the personally taught disciple of the Sect Leader of the Talisman Diagram Sect, stay here at our Pill Cliff Sect? Does Sect Leader Dai truly have a solution for your cultivation method?”

“The four of us are staying only until we enter this secret realm. Once we leave, it will be time to head to the Talisman Diagram Sect.” Shi Qingxiang shifted two steps sideways, leaning his back against a slender bamboo by the pond. There was little to gain during the Qi Refining stage in these deep mountains. Having overcome the trial of inner demons, his participation in the Pill Cliff Sect’s secret realm could be considered complete, so he wasn’t in a hurry to leave, accompanying Hong Jian in leisurely conversation.

“Are the two disciples Elder Jin of our Pill Cliff Sect took also going?” Hong Jian asked with curiosity. She had only met those two youths for the first time last night and had found them quite likable.

“That’s right. I heard the Talisman Diagram Sect will open some of their archives to us, as well as share some foundational methods for creating talisman scripts. Not only we four, but the two who were taken to the Endless Sea by Xing Wuyia will be joining us as well.”

“Wow, that’s wonderful.” Hong Jian listened, her eyes sparkling with envy. “Hey, how can you just call it ‘Talisman Diagram Sect’ so casually? That’s improper! Be careful not to let others hear you. Do you still think you belong to the Dancing Clouds Sect?”

Shi Qingxiang smiled, saying nothing.

Hong Jian did not notice his reaction, as she was wholly engrossed in what Shi Qingxiang had just said. The talisman scripts of the Talisman Diagram Sect had always been tightly guarded secrets. It was one thing for Shi Qingxiang, as Sect Leader Dai’s disciple, but even Elder Jin and Xing Wuyia’s disciples could enjoy such fortune.

But then her heart sank, and she couldn’t help but ask, “What happens after you’ve mastered it?”

Shi Qingxiang gave a bitter smile. “Most likely, we’ll be sent together to train for a while under Xing Wuyia at the Endless Sea. My Demon-Suppressing Vine will also be thoroughly dismantled at that time. We’ll all learn the slaughter techniques of the great Xing of the Divine Transformation. What happens next, I don’t know. As friends, let’s wish each other good luck.”

Such elaborate arrangements clearly meant they would soon be put to some important use. But who knew how dangerous it might be...

Hong Jian nodded seriously. “I wish you good fortune.”

Shi Qingxiang lowered his head, his long fingers gently stroking a vibrant green bamboo leaf. Then he shrugged his shoulders and laughed softly. “Fang Hong Jian, you’re truly interesting. I’ll remember you. Take care of yourself.” He straightened, turned, and walked up the hillside, leaving the woods.

For some reason, at that moment, Hong Jian felt the youth’s departing figure was quite desolate. She stood up and shouted after him, “Hey, you’ve got to work hard!”

Shi Qingxiang waved back from afar, signaling that he understood. He reached the crest of the hill and began descending, slowly disappearing from sight.

As for herself, knowing that the road ahead would inevitably be arduous, she resolved to work a thousand, ten thousand times harder than before. Hong Jian encouraged herself, trying to lessen the shock brought by Jian Hui’s death. She emptied everything from Jian Hui’s storage pouch, first sorting the spirit herbs and pills, which she carefully put away. The rest were only a few spirit stones—if this was all of Jian Hui’s wealth, he truly wasn’t a rich man.

Hong Jian sighed quietly, feeling complicated as she deeply buried the storage pouch that might be recognized by others. Having finished her rest, she resumed searching for spirit herbs in the mountains.

The remaining day passed quickly. When the time in the secret realm was up, Hong Jian suddenly felt her body lose control, as if wings sprouted and she glided high into the air, then plummeted abruptly. That instant was extremely brief, and when she regained her senses, she was already standing at the entrance to the valley where she had entered the secret realm three days prior, surrounded by other foundation-building disciples with similarly dazed expressions.

Sect Leader Ling Xuzi personally presided. After a Nascent Soul elder with a wood spiritual root counted the disciples, he frowned in confusion and reported to Ling Xuzi, “Sect Leader, one person is missing. Jian Hui from Evening Tide Peak did not return.”

The crowd, newly emerged from the secret realm, had not yet realized what had happened. All the Nascent Soul and Golden Core elders present wore grave expressions. There was only one possibility when someone failed to return: that person had lost their life and would remain forever trapped in the secret realm. It had been countless years since a foundation-building disciple died in the Pill Cliff Sect’s secret realm.

Ling Xuzi’s gaze swept coldly across the group, his voice solemn. “Who saw Jian Hui inside?”

Hong Jian and Shi Qingxiang had discussed this matter in advance within the secret realm. Both remained silent. Hong Jian was not worried about Shi Qingxiang; she only feared she might betray herself under the powerful spiritual sense of the Nascent Soul elders. She discreetly adjusted her breathing, striving to maintain a calm expression.

At this moment, three foundation-building disciples stepped forward, stating that they had seen Jian Hui searching for spirit herbs in the mountains on the first night, but observed nothing unusual.

A Nascent Soul elder nearby remarked in surprise, “So no one saw him after the morning of the second day?”

Hong Jian felt a chill sweep over her, a tremendous sense of oppression bearing down on her mind. She instantly realized that a great expert was scrutinizing each person for signs of abnormality. Her heart tightened, grateful that Shi Qingxiang had been cautious, leaving anything conspicuous within the secret realm. She only hoped the jade slip he took was well hidden and would not be recognized.

Fortunately, after the ordeal in the secret realm, Hong Jian’s mindset had matured considerably. She was no longer the timid girl who had faced the monster Ji Youyun in the Hall of Splendor. Now, she could feign composure under the relentless sweep of spiritual senses.

After a pause, Ling Xuzi’s voice rang out, “Notify Yan, the uncle from Evening Tide Peak, to come. You three stay behind; the rest may disperse. When you return, don’t focus solely on spirit herbs. The sect’s secret realm opens only once every four years. Cherish the opportunity and reflect well on what you’ve learned.”

Everyone bowed to receive the order. Hong Jian resisted the urge to search for Shi Qingxiang among the crowd. For him, the matter was over, but for herself, a great trouble awaited; she could not afford to relax.

As expected, after washing up and changing clothes at her Snow Cliff residence, barely settled in her seat, her master Yan Changqing, who had hurried back after seeing Ling Xuzi, summoned her for questioning.

Hong Jian took a deep breath. No matter what, she must never admit to any connection with Jian Hui’s death. She would see what Yan Changqing wanted to ask. This was indeed a crisis, but if handled well, it might also be an opportunity to truly understand her master’s true nature.

Hong Jian went to Yan Changqing’s quarters, respectfully knelt and greeted him. Yan Changqing did not permit her to rise. Hong Jian stole a glance and saw his face was dark and his gaze ominous, making her heart skip a beat.

After a long silence, Yan Changqing finally spoke. “You entered the secret realm and advanced to the seventh layer of Qi Refining. You must have gained much.”