Baohua City
At this moment, nearly everyone walking through Baohua City was a Golden Core cultivator. The few Foundation Establishment cultivators that remained moved cautiously, and Qi Refining cultivators were nowhere to be seen.
Ye Yirui had already reunited with the people of Medicine King Valley and was presently speaking with an aged elder.
"Young Valley Master," the elder asked respectfully, "did you happen to cross paths with the successor of Yixian Gate this time?"
Ye Yirui's voice was cool as she replied,
"I struck up an instant rapport with that Wei Daoyou. She has already agreed that once the secret realm closes, she will come to Yaowang Valley in the Central Region as a guest."
"Excellent. As long as she visits Medicine King Valley, we can properly discuss the matter of Yixian Gate's inheritance."
A flicker of displeasure passed through Ye Yirui's eyes, and she countered,
"Elder Wang, from what I've learned, Wei Daoyou worried that she could not protect Yixian Gate's legacy. She submitted it to her sect in exchange for a chance to advance.
When I last saw her a few days ago, her cultivation had already reached late Golden Core. Judging from her bone age, she is no more than twenty years old. She did not come to this secret realm expedition at all and has remained in her sect to enter closed-door cultivation.
With a genius of such caliber, do you really think her sect would leave her without protection?"
Elder Wang's aged eyes flickered, then he forced a genial smile. "We only invite Wei Daoyou to Medicine King Valley as a guest, for an exchange of alchemy skills and to foster ties between our two regions. There is no intent to force her."
Ye Yirui exhaled three cold words. "That is best."
She then found an excuse about needing to prepare for the secret realm and courteously dismissed him.
When Elder Wang returned to his quarters, his smile vanished into a grim expression. His purpose in coming along with the Central Domain's airship had been twofold: to seize an opportunity for Divine Transformation in the secret realm, and, with Ye Yirui's hand, to "retrieve" Yixian Gate's inheritance.
Now it was clear the Young Valley Master did not share his intentions. He would need to make other plans.
Ye Yirui, meanwhile, could already guess at his designs, but she had no intention of going along. She had her own aims. After sending him away, she laid down a barrier around her room to prevent disturbances. She truly did need to prepare before entering the secret realm.
Not far away, another inn housed the cultivators of the Central Domain's Hua Xian Sect, the foremost sect of that land. Their strength was unquestionable, and among those who had come were many elite disciples. At this moment, they were reviewing intelligence on the sects of the Western Domain.
They understood clearly that once inside the new secret realm, their greatest opponents would not only be the beasts within but also the cultivators of the Western Domain. Since the realm had manifested in Western Domain, Western cultivators would enter in greater numbers. To be forewarned was to be forearmed.
Other regions were doing the same: the Buddhist cultivators of Yunmen Temple in the Eastern Domain, the demon cultivators of Kunmo Sect in the South, and the spell cultivators of Extreme Cold Sect in the North. These were the foremost sects of each region, and they would be the main forces entering the secret realm.
Yet in all this intelligence gathering, one name was overlooked—Yun Xi. Not only was she not entering the secret realm, but her rise to fame had been too recent; much of the information about her was incomplete.
Three days later, the Haoran Sect's airship descended directly into the inner range of the Baohua Mountains. This act left the White-Browed Old Ape of Baohua Mountain rather displeased. Still, displeasure was one thing; a pact had already been made with the human cultivators. He turned a blind eye, warning the mountain's beast cultivators not to flaunt themselves lest they end up captured and flayed by humans.
Most of the high-level beast cultivators had gathered in the mountain's core. They too wanted to explore the secret realm and had allied themselves with the human sects. Each sternly warned their descendants not to stir up trouble.
Thus, when the Haoran Sect's airship landed, only a few fourth-rank white-browed apes appeared to receive them and led them to a temporary encampment.
Hao Hui and Hao Qing did not stand on ceremony. With a sweep of their sleeves, they stowed the airship away and followed the apes to the section allotted to their sect.
Haoran Sect's encampment happened to be right beside Mingjian Sect. Mingjian Sect's leader this time was also a Divine Transformation Zūnzhě. Upon seeing Hao Hui and Hao Qing, he cupped his hands."Hao Hui, Hao Qing, it has been a long time. Both of your cultivations have advanced again."
The two Haoran cultivators returned the gesture. "Ming Hong Zūnzhě's presence is as dazzling as ever. For us, catching up would be like trying to sprout wings. Our strength falls short, so we had no choice but to come together as two leading elders."
Ming Hong Zūnzhě laughed heartily and waved them over. "Hao Hui, your tongue is as quick as always. Come, let me pour you both a drink. We can properly catch up."
Hao Qing cupped his hands politely. "Ming Hong Zūnzhě, let Senior Brother Hao Hui accompany you first. I will see to settling our disciples, then join you for the merriment."
Ming Hong chuckled. "Very well, but hurry. Otherwise your senior brother will drink all the good wine without you."
"Agreed."
With that, the three split off to their duties—Hao Hui for socializing, Hao Qing for arranging their disciples.
His instructions were simple. He told them not to wander from the camp, lest they clash with Baohua Mountain's beast cultivators, and to remain wary of disciples from other sects.
"Within the next day or two, the disciples of the other four regions will arrive. Do not act too ostentatious. If you want to compete for glory, wait until we are inside the secret realm."
"Yes, Zūnzhě!"
The disciples of Haoran Sect answered respectfully before dispersing. Some sat to meditate and regulate their breathing. Some gathered with acquaintances to converse. Others began searching for temporary teammates.
Wei Yunqing was among the latter.
She approached Sheng Yuhong with a bright smile, clearly trying to join his group. Yun Xi, watching from nearby, thought there was no way she would succeed. Sheng Yuhong already had two female cultivators at his side—Du Yuling and Mu Ningzhu, both of whom Yun Xi recognized. Each was at early Golden Core, the minimum level allowed for entry.
Yun Xi could not hear what Sheng Yuhong said, but Wei Yunqing's smile turned strained. Du Yuling, on the other hand, wore a smug look and spoke with casual arrogance, successfully driving Wei Yunqing away.
Mu Ningzhu, for her part, stayed silent throughout. Though she seemed disapproving, with Sheng Yuhong present she said nothing.
Wei Yunqing forced a polite farewell, then turned to approach lone Golden Core cultivators, abandoning Sheng Yuhong's group for now. But Yun Xi was certain she had not given up.
As Yun Xi was still happily watching the drama unfold, Wei Yunqing suddenly walked straight toward her.
"This Senior Brother, I am Wei Yunqing of Spirit Beast Peak. Might I form a team with you to enter the secret realm?"
Yun Xi brushed a sleeve of her elder's robe with deliberate distaste and said,
"Your cultivation is too low. You would only slow me down. I am entering the secret realm in search of a Nascent Soul opportunity, not to play bodyguard. Even if you are a personal disciple, I will not take you."
Wei Yunqing drew a deep breath, forced a perfunctory salute, and walked away without further pestering.
Only after she left did Yun Xi beckon to Song Ke in the distance. Though somewhat puzzled, Song Ke still hurried over and bowed respectfully.
"Elder, what instructions do you have for this disciple?"