Yun Xi approached the irregular black stone, smiling as she said: "Li Chang has already been severely injured by me and kicked out of the secret realm by you. I suppose he will not have a good ending. Please honor your promise."
A streak of light flashed across the black stone. Moments later, Xiao Xian transmitted telepathically:"Master, the realm spirit is sending us to where the spiritual veins are located. I, the Xianling Grass, will handle the collection."
Yun Xi nodded and looked at the black stone in front of her: "Evil cultivators have already set their eyes on this secret realm. Make sure you stay hidden. Luck will not always favor us."
The black stone shimmered again, and Xiao Xian transmitted: "Master, why not merge this secret realm into your space? That way, evil cultivators will not covet it, and your space would expand."
Yun Xi dismissed the idea decisively: "This secret realm has already developed its own consciousness. It may not wish to become my subordinate. My space is under my control. If I forcibly merge the realm, I would be no different from the evil cultivators, only covering it with a pretense of protection.
I only handle what I should and can. It is better to avoid such troublesome matters. People should not be too greedy. Including the two spiritual veins you previously helped collect, I now have four veins from this secret realm. That is enough to advance my cultivation to Divine Transformation. This is more than sufficient."
Yun Xi was clear-headed. Everyone has desires, but controlling them is important.
Hearing her words, Xiao Xian replied with slight regret: "Very well. Since you have made your decision, I will not interfere. I only suggested it because the realm spirit is currently weak. If you wish, I could help you."
Yun Xi immediately understood. Xiao Xian had been planning to take advantage of the realm spirit's weakness to help her kill it and become the new master of the secret realm. She had no intention of doing so.
Beyond avoiding the temptation of greed, the secret realm had already registered in the Spirit World. If she truly absorbed it, endless trouble would follow. She only wanted to cultivate diligently, change her fate, and follow her own path to immortality, not make enemies everywhere.
Having reached an agreement with Xiao Xian, Yun Xi prepared to leave.
At that moment, the black stone flashed with light again, and a black conical object detached from its core, floating in front of Yun Xi.
She did not take it immediately, instead releasing divine sense to examine it. Xiao Xian transmitted in time: "Master, this is an extra gift from the realm spirit."
"What is it?"
"This item is similar to a Boundary-Breaking Cone. It can pierce any restriction, barrier, or spatial wall. This is a unique property of the realm stone. It is quite extraordinary but can only be used three times. Each use consumes a third of the cone, so please use it cautiously."
"Indeed, it is a valuable item."
Yun Xi waved her sleeve, storing it in her storage ring. A spatial rift appeared at her side. Without hesitation, she stepped into it, disappearing into the space opened by the realm spirit.
As she entered the rift, Yun Xi activated her full-body defenses, leaving nothing to chance. She did not want any accidents in a hidden trap. Xiao Xian transmitted: "Master, the Boundary-Breaking Cone is a gift from the realm spirit in gratitude for not erasing its consciousness. It was separated from its core. It is indeed rare. Make sure to keep it safe."
Yun Xi laughed: "You must have threatened the realm spirit, otherwise it would never damage itself just to thank me."
"Hehe! Master knows. This is what you deserve. After all, you resolved the matter with the Witch Tribe, caught the evil cultivator, and even spared him from being refined. You have every right to accept the gift. I only argued with the realm spirit, presenting facts and reasoning."
Yun Xi smiled faintly. She thought there was a lot of exaggeration in Xiao Xian's "presenting facts and reasoning."
Once the telepathic exchange ended, Yun Xi stepped solidly on the ground. Darkness surrounded her. Water from all directions surged toward her. She raised a barrier, then probed her surroundings with divine sense, discovering she was at the bottom of a lake, standing on a protruding rock.
Xiao Xian trembled its leaf and transmitted: "Master, there is a supreme spiritual vein here."
"Good. Guide us to collect the reward."
"Yes."
Following Xiao Xian's guidance, Yun Xi arrived at a slope at the bottom of the lake. It appeared ordinary, with only a few moss-covered rocks. Before Yun Xi could ask, Xiao Xian floated over and anchored its roots into the moss.
Moments later, Xiao Xian began emitting a steady light, seemingly absorbing something from the moss. The process lasted only half an incense stick. Satisfied, Xiao Xian returned to Yun Xi's hand.
Watching Xiao Xian finish, Yun Xi understood why she had not noticed when Xiao Xian collected the Witch Clan's spiritual vein before. The speed was incredible.
As Yun Xi prepared to leave, the lake suddenly churned. Something stirred the sand and stones at the bottom, muddying the water and alarming other lake-dwelling creatures.
Yun Xi had already seen the culprits through divine sense: a swarm of silver swordfish, numbering in the thousands, baring their sharp, glinting teeth as they swam toward her.
"Tsk, they come with ill intent. This must be their lair. We took the spiritual vein, and now they are retaliating."
Yun Xi noticed the lead silver swordfish was fourth-tier, and most of the others were third-tier, well-nourished by the lake's spiritual vein.
"Master, shall we collect some for our space?" Xiao Xian asked.
"Collect what? My meridians were already damaged from fighting Li Chang. If it weren't for collecting the reward, I would have healed by now."
Yun Xi immediately began ascending. In moments like this, retreat was wise.
Three breaths later, Yun Xi broke the water, hovering above the lake. She realized she was in an oasis in the heart of a desert.
A silver flash streaked toward her ankle. She dodged and swung a wind blade, colliding with the silver flash. The metallic clash rang in her ears, and the flash fell back into the lake—the fourth-tier silver swordfish leader.
After forcing it back, Yun Xi vanished into the forest near the lake. Now was not the time for combat; she had only collected half the reward.
"Xiao Xian, where is the next spiritual vein?" Yun Xi asked telepathically.
"Master, the realm spirit said it is at the edge of the desert. We should act swiftly. Soon, you will be returned to your original location."
Yun Xi flashed away from the lake, leaving the silver swordfish behind.
"Xiao Xian, why will I return to the previous valley?"
"This is a training ground for Golden Core cultivators. After advancing to Nascent Soul, you cannot stay here long."
"I see. Then let's move quickly."