Because of the rich water spiritual energy within the Ling Sea and the Qingyun Sword in her hand, Ruan Lan’s strength had increased greatly. Her blue-tinted sword-qi illuminated the surrounding darkness; everywhere the blade-light touched, the shadows shattered abruptly. Hidden behind the darkness was a high platform, where an array similar to the one in Nanshan appeared before them. The pillars of light emitting a faint white glow looked exceptionally surreal beneath the water.
“This sword…” Lin Qin looked at the Qingyun Sword in Ruan Lan’s hand in astonishment, unable to help herself from asking: “Is it a Celestial Artifact?”
Ruan Lan nodded. She handed the sword to Lin Qin and said in a low voice, “I obtained it at Nanshan. It is called the Qingyun Sword, left behind by an immortal.”
Lin Qin took the sword, examined it carefully for a few moments, and handed it back to Ruan Lan. She said softly, “This sword is extraordinary. With it, you can go to the Qingluan Secret Realm ahead of time and see if you can obtain the Qingluan Blood.” She paused slightly, looking up at the pillars of light with worry in her tone. “Ruan Lan, perhaps you are the hope of the entire cultivation world.”
Hearing Lin Qin mention the Qingluan Secret Realm, Feng Qi’s heart stirred. She tucked her small paws in and listened intently.
“If the other two Little Immortal Realms have similar arrays, the spiritual energy of the cultivation world will completely disappear within a thousand years,” Lin Qin said solemnly. “When that time comes, the world will fall into chaos, and in a few more millennia, cultivators will cease to exist.”
Ruan Lan frowned. “Is it truly that severe?”
Lin Qin’s experience far exceeded Ruan Lan’s, so she recognized the lethality of this array at a glance and even had theories about its creator. “This is an array laid down by disciples of the Qianji Sect. The Four Little Immortal Realms act as the array eyes for each other, and their purpose is to gather the spiritual energy of this world. As for where the pillars of light lead… it should be the Immortal Realm.”
The Qianji Sect was famous for its superior array-crafting. However, this sect had always been reclusive. Since the trouble began in the cultivation world, they had essentially vanished from public view.
“How can this array be broken?” Ruan Lan tried attacking the barrier protecting the array with her sword-qi, but this barrier was on a completely different level than the previous one. Seeing it remain motionless, she helplessly sheathed the Qingyun Sword.
Lin Qin frowned. “It can only be deactivated from the Immortal Realm. I don’t know the specific method; perhaps someone from the Qianji Sect would know.”
As they spoke, Yu Qi and Ji Manqiu—who had found nothing inside the Crystal Palace—returned. Yu Qi stared at the pillar of light and, hearing Lin Qin’s words, interrupted with a frown: “But no one has successfully ascended in a very long time.”
“Because they cannot withstand the power of the Lightning Tribulation,” Lin Qin sighed. “Initially, we thought the failures of the Tribulation Transcendence stage cultivators were due to the thinning spiritual energy, but now it seems the Immortal Realm might be behind it.”
“That’s impossible…” Yu Qi was unwilling to believe those in the Immortal Realm would do such a thing. She opened her mouth to argue, but hearing Ji Manqiu’s soft chuckle nearby, she fell into silence.
“The Qingyun Sword in your hand is the key to resisting the Lightning Tribulation.” Lin Qin turned and stepped onto the tortoise, saying heavily, “I will contact the other sects regarding the Four Little Immortal Realms. You all should return to Misty Valley first and await your Sect Leader’s arrangements.”
The group left the seabed. By the time they emerged, a crescent moon hung overhead. Ruan Lan declined Lin Qin’s hospitality to stay the night and left the Lingyun Sect immediately under the cover of darkness.
…
Ruan Lan didn’t fly directly back to the inn but stopped outside the city. Seeing that only the two of them were there, Feng Qi asked, “Master, are we not going back?”
Ruan Lan identified the direction and turned toward the woods with the little black cat on her shoulder. “We’ll go back in a bit.”
They walked until they reached a river sparkling under the moonlight. Ruan Lan sat on a bluestone and pointed at the silver water. “Catch two fish.”
The black cat’s eyes lit up. “Are you going to grill fish for me?”
“En.”
What an unexpected surprise! Feng Qi immediately ran to the riverbank. Though her paws were short, it didn’t stop her. She swiped at the water, and a large fish leaped out, landing right in front of Ruan Lan.
Ruan Lan watched the kitten, who was nearly falling into the river, and took out a dagger to skillfully clean the fish. After catching four, Feng Qi washed her paws in the water and ran behind a nearby rock.
A moment later, Feng Qi returned in her human form, adjusting her clothes as she sat by Ruan Lan. Looking at the grilling fish, she asked, “Master, what is the Qingluan Secret Realm Lin Qin mentioned?”
“During the peak of the cultivation world, five spirit beasts appeared; the Qingluan was one of them. The founding leader of Misty Valley was a pure Water-Spirit Root cultivator. She subdued the Qingluan and later used its blood to awaken her own lineage, becoming a Half-Immortal body. Only pure Water-Spirit Root cultivators can enter to take the blood,” Ruan Lan explained.
“Master is a pure Water-Spirit Root!” Feng Qi said excitedly. “If Master gets the blood, you can surely awaken your lineage too.”
“Not necessarily. Others have failed before,” Ruan Lan said calmly.
“Master definitely can.”
“You are so sure?” Ruan Lan glanced at Feng Qi and shook her head slightly at her conviction.
Of course I’m sure, you’re the female lead, Feng Qi thought. She smiled and said, “Because Master is the best.”
Ruan Lan’s heart stirred. Under the flickering firelight, the person beside her looked radiant, her smile providing a sense of warmth that was the polar opposite of Ruan Lan’s own cold nature.
“Master, can you take me with you to the Qingluan Secret Realm?” Feng Qi tested.
Ruan Lan frowned. “Reason.”
“I’m curious.”
“Denied.”
Ruan Lan handed the grilled fish to Feng Qi. Feng Qi was so stunned by the rejection that she absentmindedly turned the stick until the fish fell into the dirt.
Ruan Lan’s eyes narrowed. “Is this an expression of dissatisfaction?”
Feng Qi stiffened and picked up the fish. Ruan Lan took the dirty fish away, wiped Feng Qi’s palms clean with a handkerchief, and said softly, “The secret realm is forbidden to other disciples, and it is full of danger.” She handed her a fresh one.
“I’m just worried about the Master,” Feng Qi lied, sighing. The secret realm was her goal for coming to Misty Valley; if Ruan Lan wouldn’t take her, she’d have to find another way in.
Ruan Lan patted her hair. “I will come out alive.”
…
By the time they returned to the inn, the sky was turning white. Yu Qi was waiting at their door with her arms crossed. “Senior Sister, where did you go?” She looked at Feng Qi with a look that said ‘Why aren’t you in seclusion?’
“Nowhere,” Ruan Lan said. “Is something wrong?”
“I have something to ask,” Yu Qi said, pulling Ruan Lan into the room. Feng Qi, trying to be invisible, was pulled in by Ruan Lan as well.
Inside, Yu Qi hesitated before asking, “Can… Can Ji Manqiu come back to the sect with us?”
“But she isn’t a disciple,” Feng Qi blurted out. Yu Qi glared at her, and Feng Qi made a ‘zipping my lips’ gesture.
“Why bring her?” Ruan Lan asked.
“I want to take her to see the Master,” Yu Qi said honestly.
Feng Qi: “?”
Ruan Lan realized what Yu Qi meant. “Her background is still unknown.”
“I don’t think she’s a bad person,” Yu Qi argued.
“If you wish, bring her,” Ruan Lan said after a silence. “But as for the matter of a Dao Companion, more observation is needed.”
Feng Qi: “??”
After a blushing Yu Qi left, Feng Qi asked in a daze, “What’s this about a Dao Companion?”
“Ji Manqiu is the candidate Yu Qi has chosen as her Dao Companion.”
Feng Qi was shocked. This was a disaster. Ji Manqiu was the Right Protector of the Demon Realm! If she was just playing with the pure-hearted Yu Qi, the fallout would be catastrophic for future relations between the demons and Misty Valley.
Feng Qi hurried to Ji Manqiu’s room and cornered her. “What is going on between you and my Junior Aunt? She’s a righteous cultivator!”
“And aren’t we ‘righteous’ too?” Ji Manqiu teased.
“We are fakes!” Feng Qi hissed. “Yu Qi is serious. Don’t toy with her.”
“I haven’t done anything,” Ji Manqiu smiled. Just then, Yu Qi knocked and entered, seeing Feng Qi there.
“What are you doing here?” Yu Qi frowned, then turned to Ji Manqiu, handing back the little fox. “Keep an eye on your pet.”
“Sorry for the trouble,” Ji Manqiu said softly.
“It’s no trouble,” Yu Qi said, masking her face with her usual pride. “My Senior Sister said you can come to Misty Valley. You’re lucky; outsiders are rarely allowed in.”
Feng Qi watched as her Junior Aunt, who acted so fierce, was actually being quite the pushover. After Yu Qi led the way out, Feng Qi sighed.
“Our identities will be exposed eventually,” Feng Qi warned. “With Yu Qi’s personality, she will hate you to death.”
“We’ll see when that time comes,” Ji Manqiu said indifferently.