As one of the Four Great Sects, the Broken Blade Sect had several trial secret realms of its own. The Burning Heart Secret Realm was one of them.
Most of these secret realms were opportunities and treasures that Sect Master Li Xiushan had discovered during his travels over the years. To help the sect’s disciples gain real combat experience, he would open an entrance to these realms within the Broken Blade Sect and send a group of disciples inside each year for training.
Although the secret realms were dangerous, the top three disciples with the highest scores could choose a magical treasure from the second floor of the Treasure Pavilion as a reward.
Because of this, disciples competed fiercely every year to win first place.
…
In her previous life, Zhu Mingyan had entered many secret realms.
After Riyun was taken from her, she lost interest in fame and rankings.
Each year, she would simply bring one of her young spirit beasts into the realm, spend some time finding a field of spiritual plants for it to run wild in, then hide nearby and relax.
After leaving the realm, she would hear comments such as the following:
“She is the Sect Master’s direct disciple…”
“She’s really fallen far now…”
“Don’t be discouraged. You still have a chance.”
Then the matter would be over.
This year was different.
After her rebirth, Fuchuan had appeared as an unexpected variable.
She needed to bring him into the secret realm and see what he could do.
Ning Qiubai continued talking without noticing her thoughts.
“Master said the secret realm will open soon, so he told me to gather some spiritual plants from Sighing Peak.”
“I also refined a few Foundation-Building Pills and wanted your spirit beasts to try them, which is why I invited you.”
“I see.”
Zhu Mingyan smiled apologetically.
“Sorry. My injuries delayed me.”
“Are you still going to Sighing Peak? I’ll get ready and go with you.”
Ning Qiubai nodded.
“Hurry up. I’ll wait outside.”
Not long afterward, Zhu Mingyan changed clothes, tied up her hair, and prepared to leave.
Then she suddenly remembered something.
She opened a drawer and took out the plainest-looking collar from yesterday.
When Ning Qiubai saw her come out, she immediately started complaining.
“You’re so slow…”
She instinctively reached for Zhu Mingyan’s arm.
But when she saw the collar, she froze.
Her voice trembled.
“What are you planning to do?!”
Seeing Ning Qiubai’s shocked expression, Zhu Mingyan sighed.
“Listen to me. This is for a spirit beast.”
“A spirit beast?”
Ning Qiubai’s expression became even stranger.
“Is it a normal spirit beast?”
“And aren’t all your spirit beasts still young?”
“Why would they need something like this?”
She stared at the collar.
“Mingyan, this thing looks like… like…”
“It doesn’t look like anything!”
Zhu Mingyan immediately covered her mouth.
“It’s just a normal dog collar!”
Ning Qiubai blinked.
“A dog collar…?”
“Oh heavens…”
Zhu Mingyan: …
The more she explained, the worse it sounded.
How had she never realized Ning Qiubai was like this?
…
Under Ning Qiubai’s complicated gaze, the two finally arrived at Sighing Peak.
After gathering spiritual plants from the fields, they carried their storage bags toward the Beast Garden.
Along the way they saw many scenes:
Some disciples chased spirit beasts while waving sticks and shouting curses.
Others sat on the ground crying because their spirit beasts had eaten their homework assignments.
A few alchemist disciples held spiritual plants while crying tears of joy and shouting,
“It worked! It finally worked!”
The two girls could only shake their heads sympathetically.
Ning Qiubai sighed.
“I used to complain that being an alchemist was difficult.”
“Now it seems herbal cultivators have it even worse.”
“They suffer for no reason.”
Zhu Mingyan nodded.
“It can’t be helped.”
“This is the place on Sighing Peak with the richest spiritual energy.”
“When spirit beasts and spiritual plants are kept too close together, things like this happen.”
…
Suddenly, Ning Qiubai remembered something.
“I heard that Si Huizhou locked you in confinement because he claimed your spirit beast ate some spiritual plants.”
“Although the Sect Master later declared it was a false accusation, the previous rumors were never properly cleared up.”
“Those herbal cultivators might still secretly resent you.”
Zhu Mingyan replied casually,
“They equally resent every cultivator who keeps spirit beasts here.”
But inwardly, she was thinking.
The old incident was difficult to prove.
She would need to find a way to clear her name in the future.
While chatting, they soon arrived at the Beast Garden.
Zhu Mingyan placed two fingers against her lips and let out a sharp whistle.
Not long afterward, a shrill cry echoed through the air.
A crimson figure streaked past them and landed steadily on the ground.
Only then did they notice it was carrying a gray creature in its mouth.
Zhu Mingyan stared in shock.
“Hongzhui!”
“I left you here to train!”
“How did you end up giving birth to a baby fox?!”
After Riyun was taken away, Zhu Mingyan searched everywhere for new spirit beasts.
Powerful beast tamers could directly tame fully grown spirit beasts.
But after losing her cultivation, she could only collect young spirit beasts and raise them from childhood.
Hongzhui was a Scarlet Fox she had carefully selected.
She had raised him for two years.
Although his combat ability was not particularly strong, he could easily protect himself in a secret realm as long as he avoided trouble.
Hongzhui seemed offended by her words.
He angrily dropped the little fox onto the ground, leaped onto Zhu Mingyan’s shoulder, and let out several sharp cries as if filing a complaint.
Zhu Mingyan stroked his fur and cast a Spirit Communication Spell.
Hongzhui’s angry voice immediately appeared in her mind.
“I didn’t give birth to it!”
“That’s my little sister!”
“I see.”
Everything became clear.
Among fox clans, Scarlet Foxes had especially strong family ties.
Even members who left the clan were often expected to help care for younger relatives.
Zhu Mingyan bent down and picked up the gray fox.
The little fox had only recently been born.
Its eyes were still dark blue-black.
It looked extremely cute.
As she gently stroked its back, she casually asked,
“How about becoming my spirit beast too?”
The little fox looked confused.
Its newly grown white teeth lightly nibbled on her finger.
Hongzhui immediately bit her earlobe.
“Don’t get ideas about my sister.”
“Ow!”
Zhu Mingyan pulled back.
“Can you talk properly?”
“Why are all you canine animals so obsessed with biting people?”
“You have another spirit beast?!”
Hongzhui instantly caught the important part.
He leaned closer suspiciously.
Zhu Mingyan looked guilty.
She quickly pushed him away.
“Haha, what are you talking about?”
“I meant that both you and your sister like biting people.”
“Anyway, I came here for something important.”
Ning Qiubai stepped in at the perfect moment.
“I wanted your spirit beast to test a Foundation-Building Pill I just refined!”
She poured a black pill from a porcelain bottle.
Hongzhui sniffed it and swallowed it in one bite.
While waiting for the medicine to take effect, he casually asked,
“The Burning Heart Secret Realm opens in a few days.”
“Are we using the same plan as before?”
“Actually…”
Zhu Mingyan smiled awkwardly.
“That’s the other thing I wanted to discuss.”
“I want to bring another spirit beast into the secret realm.”
The air fell silent.
Hongzhui immediately exploded.
His claws nearly came out.
But Zhu Mingyan had prepared for this.
With a wave of her hand, she threw out the collar she had brought.
Caught completely off guard, Hongzhui was instantly trapped.
He froze.
Then he slowly lowered his head and stared in disbelief at the dazzling, colorful collar now hanging around his neck.