The conclusion of the Immortal Elder’s birthday banquet marked the true beginning of the main event.
While the older generation continued to revel in the feast, clinking glasses and chatting merrily, the younger generation, who were to undertake the trial in the secret realm, were led by several direct descendants of the Xi family to the entrance of the Flower-Fruit Mountain secret realm.
At the entrance, Xiyou’s second uncle was already waiting to greet them.
“Everyone, welcome to the Flower-Fruit Mountain secret realm. We sincerely hope each of you will return with bountiful gains. In our secret realm, you can summon mounts. You may choose to summon them now before entering or do so inside the realm as needed.
“Before we open the secret realm, let me outline the rules. First, from the moment the realm opens, you will have a total of five days to harvest the Peaches of Immortality. After five days, the realm will automatically close, and everyone inside will be teleported back to the entrance.
“Once you enter the secret realm, unless the time limit expires and the realm ejects you, even if you return to the entrance on your own, you won’t be able to exit. In other words, everyone will spend a full five days inside the realm—please keep this in mind.
“Although the secret realm is home to various magical beasts that can be roasted for sustenance, some are poisonous. Therefore, before entering, please ensure you carry enough water, food, and antidotes. If you haven’t prepared in advance, you can purchase supplies from us.”
Second Uncle Xi gestured to the small stalls set up by his disciples nearby. “Sleeping bags, water flasks, rations, antidotes, and storage soul tools—we have everything you need. As honored guests of Flower-Fruit Mountain, all items are sold to you at a 10% discount off the market price.”
Market prices were always inflated, so even at a 10% discount, Flower-Fruit Mountain stood to make a tidy profit.
Zhao Li smirked inwardly. These monkeys were shrewd businessmen indeed.
Second Uncle Xi continued, “Flower-Fruit Mountain imposes no restrictions on the number of Peaches of Immortality you may harvest. Any peaches you gather within the realm belong to you. However, the magical beasts in the realm are fierce by nature, so please be cautious of their ambushes while harvesting. Though the peaches are beneficial, don’t risk your lives for small gains.”
The unspoken message was clear: how many peaches you could take depended entirely on your own abilities.
“However, these peaches are not easy to cultivate. If groups of spirit masters above level 40 were to harvest them, the entire realm would likely be stripped bare within two days. Therefore, we’ve imposed certain restrictions on levels and group sizes. As you all know, the peaches offer no benefits to spirit masters above level 30. To ensure they truly aid those in need, only spirit masters below level 30 are permitted to enter.
“Each spirit master below level 30 may bring up to two Spirit Lord-level spirit masters as escorts. Most beasts in the realm do not exceed level 40, with only those in the deepest regions surpassing that threshold. Thus, two Spirit Lord-level escorts should suffice to handle most threats.
“As for the deepest parts of the realm, to be frank, even our ape-monkey clan has never ventured there. So, I must advise everyone not to wander into those depths. The peaches in the outer and middle regions are more than enough to meet your needs.”
“In order to prevent high-level spirit masters from forcibly entering, we will test the actual rank of each spirit master before they enter the secret realm. Only those who meet the standard will be permitted entry. Once inside, as a rule, unless the secret realm becomes unstable, our Ape Clan will not interfere or enter.
“However, all of you are guests of Flower-Fruit Mountain, and we do not wish to see any casualties on either side. Therefore, our venerable ancestor, the Immortal Elder, has placed several restrictions on the secret realm. This is the Spirit-Sealing Stone, forged from fragments of the Heaven-Mending Stone. It cannot be destroyed by external forces and will help us monitor and record your spirit techniques.
“Once an attack is launched against another spirit master, each use of a spirit technique will temporarily seal 20% of your spiritual power for twelve hours. If a spirit technique is used more than five times, all spiritual power will be completely sealed. This measure was implemented to prevent indiscriminate killing and chaos within the realm. Our ancestor had no choice but to resort to this, and we ask for your understanding.
“Of course, attacks against magical beasts will not be affected at all. Once inside, we hope everyone will exercise self-restraint and prioritize harmony. If disputes do arise, we encourage resolving them through non-violent means and avoiding physical conflict whenever possible.
“Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the Spirit-Sealing Stone is required to harvest the Peaches of Immortality. If the stone is discarded, the moment anyone approaches a peach tree, all the peaches will turn to stone. The Spirit-Sealing Stone will immediately lose its effectiveness if it leaves the host’s body, so please do not attempt to set it aside temporarily and retrieve it later—such tricks will not work.”
Second Uncle Xi swept his gaze over the murmuring crowd and said sternly, “Furthermore, we must emphasize that the Peach Trees are the treasures of Flower-Fruit Mountain. If the peaches petrify, the tree will be rendered useless and will never bear fruit again. The secret realm exists because of these trees—if even one tree turns to stone, the realm will immediately close, ejecting everyone inside. And at that point, we will hold the culprit accountable for the destruction of the Peach Tree. Even if it means declaring war and making lifelong enemies, Flower-Fruit Mountain will not hesitate!”
Someone in the crowd called out, “The Peaches of Immortality have benefited so many young spirit masters. If anyone causes the destruction of a Peach Tree and forces everyone to leave prematurely, our Wolverine Clan will not let them go unpunished! We will stand with Flower-Fruit Mountain in condemning them!”
“Our clan as well!”
“Us too!”
A cold smirk curled at Hei Zhe’s lips. Flower-Fruit Mountain’s method of preventing indiscriminate killing seemed feasible on the surface, but there were still loopholes to exploit.
Each group typically consisted of three people. If one person discarded their Spirit-Sealing Stone, their spirit techniques would no longer be restricted. As long as that person was kept away from the Peach Trees, it wouldn’t matter.
After all, flying mounts could be used within the secret realm. They could simply keep the person airborne, ensuring the Peach Trees remained unharmed.
Moreover, for true experts, even with the Spirit-Sealing Stone’s restrictions, a single lethal strike was still possible.
After that, losing 20% of their spiritual power for a day would be inconsequential.
Still, if Flower-Fruit Mountain hadn’t implemented this measure, a large number of deaths within the secret realm would have left them accountable as hosts. This approach served two purposes—providing some protection for their guests while also giving themselves a way to absolve responsibility.
Flower Fruit Mountain had already prohibited death duels between spirit masters, so if someone died at the hands of a magical beast, it couldn’t be blamed on the mountain, right?
Hei Zhe sneered coldly. These clever monkeys were indeed cunning.
However, whether or not there were restrictions from the Spirit-Quelling Stone, that damned fox was someone he was determined to teach a lesson.
Given the level difference between them, even if he were constrained by the Spirit-Quelling Stone, it wouldn’t matter.
His gaze swept sideways toward Zhao Li’s group as he asked the spirit master beside him, “Can the two of you tell what level those two men next to the damned fox are at?”
Zhao Li had already reunited with Niu Tai and Zhu Qing, the young masters of their respective clans. Seeing them chatting and laughing, Hei Zhe assumed Zhao Li had invited the rhinoceros and porcupine clans’ fighters as bodyguards, believing her own clan lacked capable warriors.
The black-clad spirit master glanced over and bowed slightly. “Your Highness, judging by their spiritual energy fluctuations, their levels are likely lower than ours. However…”
Hei Zhe raised an eyebrow. “What?”
“However, the rhinoceros and porcupine clans have always specialized in defense. Though their levels are low, their defensive capabilities shouldn’t be underestimated. If those two-stick close to that little fox girl, even if both of us attack together, we might not break through their defenses. And with our spiritual power sealed, we’d be the ones at a disadvantage.”
Hei Zhe scoffed. “As a speed-based attack clan, we spirit cats specialize in countering defense types. Are we supposed to fear them? Use your brains! Can’t you lure the tiger away from the mountain? As long as you two draw that ox and boar away, I’ll handle the damned fox myself!”
As a level 25 Spirit Transcender, dealing with a level 8 weakling would be effortless. A single strike would be enough to make her cry!
The two spirit master guards replied awkwardly, “Understood…”
While they were whispering among themselves, Second Uncle Xi continued, “The Spirit-Quelling Stones will be distributed after testing your levels. If there are no further questions, I will now open the secret realm.”
To open Flower Fruit Mountain’s secret realm, the blood of the Xi family was required as a catalyst. After explaining the rules, Second Uncle Xi bit his finger and condensed his blood before flicking it toward the gate.
The massive doors rumbled open, revealing a distorted magnetic field glowing with an eerie purple light—the barrier of the secret realm.
A Xi family disciple approached Second Uncle Xi, holding a silver crystal orb. “This is the Spirit Light Orb for level testing. Please line up in an orderly manner, place both hands on the orb, and your level will be displayed. Only those who meet the requirements may enter through the gate.”
A crowd surged forward, scrambling to form a line.
For weaker spirit masters, entering the secret realm earlier was more advantageous.
Zhao Li, however, wasn’t in a hurry. The person she was waiting for hadn’t arrived yet.
Hei Zhe had originally planned to follow Zhao Li inside and deal with her immediately upon entry. Seeing her lingering, he assumed she was afraid of being exposed as a mere level 8 during the test, not wanting to embarrass herself by going last.
Fine. He’d go in first and set an ambush—he could still teach her a lesson.
By the time most of the crowd at the entrance had entered, Yelan finally appeared.
Spotting her from afar, Zhao Li turned to Niu Tai and Zhu Qing. “Wait here for me, brothers.”
She hurried over to Second Uncle Xi, tugging at his sleeve and whispering, “Uncle, since there are no outsiders here now, could we waive the level test for Miss Ming of the Asura Clan?”
The Xi family had always been as close as kin with the Zhao family of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Foxes. How could Uncle Xi refuse the little girl’s coquettish request?
With a chuckle, he said, “You little rascal, why are you suddenly pleading for an outsider? Weren’t you just drooling over them earlier? Has your old habit flared up again?”
Unless a fox spirit had already found a lifelong partner, their tendency to swoon over beauty was simply uncontrollable—especially for the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Foxes.
Zhao Rui’s cheeks flushed pink as she pouted, “Uncle~ I’m just trying to be nice, okay?”
Families wishing to enter the secret realm were required to register their intentions with the Xi family before the birthday banquet. This was to ensure that, in case of any mishaps within the realm, Mount Huaguo would immediately know who hadn’t made it out.
Yelan had already registered long ago.
At the time, Uncle Xi had been utterly shocked. Even if this Lady Ming Ye was of a low rank, what celestial treasures did the Asura Clan lack? Why would they covet Mount Huaguo’s Peaches of Immortality?
Now, with Zhao Rui’s mention of “being nice,” he understood her deeper meaning.
It was best not to expose Lady Ming’s true rank. To spare her dignity and maintain good relations between the Asura and Monkey clans.
The Asura Clan was renowned for their formidable strength, especially the Twelve Great Asura Families. Their descendants inherited powerful bloodlines, born with abundant spiritual energy. By the age of two or three, when their spiritual roots awakened, they typically reached the level of a Transcendent Spirit Master right away.
Just imagine—barely toddlers, yet already possessing strength surpassing level 20. What heights would they reach after a few more years of cultivation?
No wonder the Twelve Great Asura Families produced talents above level 80 in every generation. In the entire Boundless Realm, there were fewer than a thousand Spirit Saints—how many of them belonged to the Asura Clan?
They simply had superior genes and bloodlines, something other races could only envy.
However, even the mighty Asura Clan occasionally produced one or two with mutated spiritual roots.
Take Zhao Rui, for example. If her spiritual root was defective, no matter how exceptional her bloodline, her cultivation would stagnate due to its influence.
This Lady Ming was truly unfortunate. Born into such an illustrious family, yet cursed with a mutated root. Even now, she hadn’t broken through the level 30 barrier, making her a disgrace among the Asura. She must have faced relentless ostracism within her clan. What a pity.
Uncle Xi silently shed a tear of sympathy for her.
“Alright, since there’s no one else around, just pretend you didn’t see your uncle bending the rules.”
Zhao Rui covered her mouth, giggling. “See what? I didn’t see anything!”
Then she scampered off to find her sworn brothers, Niu and Zhu.
Just then, she brushed past Yelan.
But neither greeted the other, maintaining the pretense of being strangers.
This was part of Zhao Rui’s carefully planned script. It wasn’t yet time for them to “deepen their bond.”
Until the overall strength of Qingqiu improved, Zhao Rui wouldn’t display excessive intimacy with Yelan to avoid accusations of social climbing. Not even a glance passed between them.
After all, too many eyes were watching.
When she eventually married Yelan, Zhao Rui wanted a grand, glorious wedding—one where no one could belittle Yelan for taking home such a “low-tier” bride.
Qingqiu might never stand as equals with the Asura Clan, but at the very least, it needed to rise above the Flower Tribe’s status.
“Zhao Rui.”
Hearing the familiar voice, she halted and turned toward its source.
Xiyou was seen approaching with two young ladies in tow.
Zhao Li curled her lips into a smile. The person she had been waiting for had finally arrived.