Hearing Fu Qingzhou’s words, Chen Jie hesitated and tried to dissuade him: “The people from Cliff Sea City have been guarding that place all along, and there are many of them.”
Fu Qingzhou replied casually: “We’re only going to take a look. If Fellow Daoist Chen doesn’t wish to go, just point us the way and leave.”
Chen Jie gave an awkward smile and said no more. The late-stage Foundation cultivator before him was clearly strong, and even the early-stage one looked formidable. He wanted to follow them, but facing so many enemies was too dangerous—he didn’t want to throw his life away.
Mu Li was racking her brain, trying to recall the original novel. Among the many secret realms explored by the male and female leads, the Cliff Sea Secret Realm wasn’t particularly rare. She had remembered Thunder Tribulation Island only because Fu Qingzhou had named it outright. As for this ruin, she had no clue.
*Serves me right for skimming the book! A million-word epic, and I barely remembered the protagonists and a few key supporting roles. Untangling their relationships was hard enough…*
In the end, Chen Jie didn’t separate from them. His protective talismans and treasures were nearly spent, and if he ran into enemies again, he’d have no chance of escape. Following Mu Li’s group at least gave him hope—if they encountered Cliff Sea cultivators, Fu Qingzhou could shield him.
Guided by Chen Jie, the three soon reached the land he had mentioned.
Before their ship even touched shore, Mu Li sensed several hostile gazes fixed on them.
“It feels like more than one group,” Fu Qingzhou remarked.
Mu Li’s spiritual sense far outstripped her cultivation. Concentrating, she nodded: “Far more than twenty or thirty people. Likely other cultivators heard about the ruin and rushed here too.”
Fu Qingzhou turned to Chen Jie. “Did you tell others? Or did you fabricate this story to lure us here?”
“I wouldn’t dare deceive you, Senior,” Chen Jie said, face pale. “Their numbers are large. Someone must have leaked the news.”
Fu Qingzhou glanced at him but said nothing more.
Mu Li asked quietly: “Should we still go?”
“Of course. Why not? With so many people, it’ll be lively.”
But clearly, not everyone wanted them to join the fun. As their ship drew closer, a white-haired cultivator suddenly appeared, blocking their way. He was late-stage Foundation Establishment. After scanning the group, his gaze settled on Fu Qingzhou. “There are already enough people here. Fellow Daoist, why not head elsewhere?”
Fu Qingzhou smiled and shook his head. “But I don’t want to go elsewhere. I want to see this place.”
“Hmph. Young men should heed the advice of their elders.” The white-haired cultivator’s face hardened. He summoned his weapon and attacked Fu Qingzhou without warning.
Mu Li, standing beside Fu Qingzhou, hadn’t expected him to strike so quickly. She tried to throw talismans, but it was too late. Fu Qingzhou reacted instantly, pulling her behind him and meeting the attack head-on.
Naturally, the white-haired cultivator wasn’t alone.
Seeing the fight begin, two mid-stage Foundation cultivators rushed in to join him.
Chen Jie fled the moment Fu Qingzhou clashed with the white-haired man, leaving six combatants—three against three.
Mu Li faced one of the mid-stage cultivators. It was her first real battle since arriving in this world. Her opponent underestimated her, thinking an early-stage cultivator would be easy prey. He opened with a killing move, intending to finish her quickly and then assist his allies.
But Mu Li, seemingly the weakest, proved the hardest to deal with. While the other two pairs fought strength against strength, her battlefield was filled with talismans and treasures flying everywhere.
Though such items consumed vast amounts of spiritual energy, Mu Li’s wood-spirit root meant her qi flowed endlessly. And when it ran low, she had pills to replenish it. She was tense, her mind taut, knowing her talismans would eventually run out. Lacking combat experience, she mostly defended, rarely finding chances to strike. Gradually, though, she found her rhythm—calmly parrying attacks, snatching moments to swallow pills and restore her energy. Her opponent grew furious. He wasn’t suited for drawn-out battles, preferring swift victories. The more impatient he became, the worse his performance.
Finally, Mu Li spotted an opening. She unleashed the Sunheart Flame, incinerating him to ash in an instant. The flame was heavenly fire, strengthened further at Thunder Tribulation Island. Ordinary cultivators couldn’t resist it.
With her opponent gone, Fu Qingzhou’s duel with the white-haired man neared its end.
“Fellow Daoist, this is just a misunderstanding. Why kill without mercy?” the man pleaded, realizing he was outmatched.
But Fu Qingzhou ignored his begging. His sword pierced the man’s chest, ending him.
The mid-stage cultivator fighting Zou Chong, seeing both allies dead, seized the chance to flee.
Zou Chong scowled. “Damn, he got away.”
“Let him,” Fu Qingzhou said calmly. “He’ll spread word that we’re not easy to provoke. That’ll save us trouble later.” He turned to Mu Li with a smile. “Who would’ve thought Miss Mu was so strong? I thought I’d finish off the old man and come help you, but you beat your opponent first.”
Zou Chong was equally astonished. “I always thought alchemists were weak in combat, the lowest among cultivators of the same rank. Yet you killed someone stronger than you.”
Mu Li’s legs trembled, her heart pounding. Experiencing firsthand the brutal law of the jungle in the cultivation world was far from pleasant. Hearing their praise, she steadied herself and replied: “I am, after all, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
After burning the corpses, Fu Qingzhou, Mu Li, and Zou Chong stowed their ship and stepped onto the land.
“Chen Jie ran off. What now?” Mu Li asked, frowning.
Fu Qingzhou straightened his slightly disheveled robe and said: “No rush. Let’s find a cave dwelling and settle in first.”