Mu Li trained only two hours a day at the edge of Thunder Tribulation Island. Her physical improvement was far less than Fu Qingzhou’s or Zou Chong’s. But she didn’t force it. She was a single wood-spirit root cultivator, her nature soft and yielding. Pursuing an iron-wall physique was unrealistic.
“The Sunheart Flame has been growing quickly lately. My alchemy speed and pill success rate have both improved a lot,” Mu Li murmured, watching the freshly refined pills in her furnace.
“Tsk, so being struck by lightning strengthens not only the body but even the spirit fire.”
She turned to see Duo Duo gulping down several pills as if they were free, and complained: “Look at you—always eating. Our alchemy materials are nearly gone, and you never help me find more.”
Still, despite her grumbling, her body refinement, spirit beast, and spirit fire had all advanced rapidly. Mu Li was deeply satisfied with this journey through the secret realm.
Three months passed leisurely. One day, while Mu Li was refining pills aboard the ship, Fu Qingzhou burst in excitedly: “Look! My body-refining technique has broken through again—I’ve reached the peak of Foundation Establishment!”
His chest was half-bared, clothes hastily thrown on, one sleeve lifted to show his newly strengthened muscles.
Mu Li stared, momentarily stunned.
Fu Qingzhou had always been refined and elegant, his demeanor befitting a noble family heir. Never before—neither in her acquaintance with him nor in the original novel—had he appeared so careless about his image.
Mu Li almost wanted to shout: Supporting male lead, you’ve broken character!
But instead, she politely said, “Fellow Daoist Fu, how impressive—congratulations on your breakthrough.”
Fu Qingzhou was so delighted he didn’t even notice how disheveled he looked before her. Only when Zou Chong appeared, giving them a knowing look, did Fu Qingzhou quickly pull his robe closed and return to his usual calm composure.
The atmosphere grew awkwardly silent until Mu Li spoke: “Since Fellow Daoist Fu’s body refinement has reached the peak, staying here is no longer useful. This secret realm is vast—I’d like to explore other places. Perhaps we’ll find more opportunities.”
Fu Qingzhou had no objection. Zou Chong was reluctant to leave such a perfect training ground, but still nodded. “Alright.”
The three packed up and sailed away. Fu Qingzhou even marked the island so they could find it again later.
This time, their luck was better. They discovered many rare spirit herbs and occasionally encountered other cultivators.
“Seems we’ve chosen the right direction. We’re running into more people now,” Fu Qingzhou remarked.
Mu Li nodded, watching a cultivator vanish into the sky on a flying treasure. Few traveled slowly by boat like them. Most used flying swords or spirit treasures, and at most glanced at their ship before moving on.
“I remember when we first entered, everyone traveled in groups. Why are we only meeting lone cultivators now?”
Her question sounded naïve. Fu Qingzhou chuckled before answering: “I told you—this secret realm is full of treasures. Even brothers will fight to the death over them, let alone strangers met along the way.”
Though Mu Li had read the novel, experiencing it firsthand was very different. She nodded, dropping the subject. “My alchemy improved a lot at Thunder Tribulation Island, but materials are scarce. Many pills I want to refine, I can’t.”
“I’ve always wondered—who taught you alchemy? I’ve never seen anyone refine so quickly, with such high success rates.”
Mu Li replied calmly: “I have no master. I just learned from books. Perhaps I’m simply a legendary alchemy genius.”
Fu Qingzhou clearly didn’t believe her, smiling and shaking his head.
Just then, a cultivator flew straight toward them on a sword, unlike the others who had avoided their ship.
“Is this Fellow Daoist Mu of the Ling City Mu family? I am Chen Jie, grandson of Chen Zhenhai. Might I join you aboard?”
Mu Li didn’t know this young man, but she knew Chen Zhenhai—a Nascent Soul cultivator of considerable standing in Ling City. The Mu and Chen families had little contact, so she wasn’t familiar with their members. Cautious by nature, she sensed Chen Jie’s unstable aura and suspected he was in trouble. She didn’t want to get involved.
Before she could speak, Fu Qingzhou said, “This is my ship, Fellow Daoist. Perhaps you’ve asked the wrong person.”
Chen Jie had approached only after sensing a late-stage Foundation cultivator aboard. Hearing Fu Qingzhou, he immediately bowed respectfully: “Greetings, Senior. I only wish to hitch a ride—may I trouble you?”
They were of the same cultivation stage; such deference was unnecessary.
Fu Qingzhou asked directly: “Why the rush? Who are you fleeing from?”
Chen Jie gave a wry smile. “I stumbled into an ancient ruin. On my way out, I ran into the Cliff Sea City young lord’s team. They insisted I’d taken some treasure and demanded I hand it over.” He shook his head. “There was no treasure inside. If there had been, I’d have run off with it already.”
“So arrogant, those Cliff Sea people?” Mu Li muttered. She already disliked the young lord after hearing Zou Chong’s stories.
“They have numbers,” Chen Jie explained.
“How many?” Fu Qingzhou asked.
“Over twenty in their group. Most are mid-to-late Foundation cultivators. Only two late-stage ones chased me.”
Two late-stage opponents were hardly daunting. Before entering the secret realm, the trio had already slain such foes at sea. With their current improvements, they were eager for another fight. Zou Chong especially, who bore old grudges against the city lord’s mansion, clenched his fists, body taut and ready for battle.
But after Chen Jie boarded, took healing pills, and rested for a long while, the pursuers never appeared.
“Fellow Daoist Chen, where exactly was this ruin?” Mu Li asked curiously.
“In the direction I came from. About a day and a half’s journey by ship. It’s a vast land, richer in spiritual energy than elsewhere. I only meant to cultivate there, but stumbled upon the ruin.”
Before Mu Li could ask more, Fu Qingzhou said decisively: “Then let’s go take a look.”