Chapter 51: Dan Hua Zhan

Two spirit coins, not even enough for a single spirit stone—how could the grace I bestowed ever be so cheap? If the Dao brother knew, he'd surely laugh at me.

"The opportunity you missed is inside—retrieve it."

Xiao Fan dared not refuse and extended his perception into his storage ring.

All manner of souvenirs were piled together, like a small mountain.

So much stuff—did Elder Hu move an entire souvenir shop here? Soon, that familiar flutter returned; he focused his perception on a corner and willed it.

The souvenir cup he had returned to the clerk was pulled out.

"Infuse it with spirit energy."

Xiao Fan obediently complied, unwrapped the packaging, and infused spirit energy.

Ding~ As the thread of spirit energy entered, a soft glow ignited, and the cup's surface seemed to peel away.

In just a few seconds, the outer layer had completely shed.

Gone were the intricate patterns and the rustic shape; in their place stood a delicate, magnificent white jade cup, suffused with a faint aurora.

"Elder, what is this?"

"A cup."

Xiao Fan: "..."

The next moment, the blinding white space began to contract; the surroundings seemed to return.

Huh? No!

The returning scene was not outside the hospital—but... his own home.

Sunlight streamed through the window into the living room; on the coffee table sat half a glass of water he hadn't finished that morning.

"Go try—it's clear how to use it."

How could I possibly...

Just as he was about to speak, hazy, blurred images surfaced in his mind: strange figures holding jade cups identical to his, seemingly laughing aloud.

Xiao Fan walked forward dazedly, mimicking those strange figures in the vision, lifting his jade cup to gently catch the sunlight streaming in.

How could sunlight be caught in a cup?

Something that sounded utterly absurd became real in that instant.

The once-empty jade cup, after Xiao Fan's motion, was now filled with a pale golden, strange liquid.

Yang Jing Dan Xi.

He had never seen it before, yet he knew what it was.

To forge the Dao foundation, one must gather solar essence, condense lunar radiance, and refine stellar luminescence.

And this—was the purest concentration of solar essence.

"By day, the cup holds Yang Jing Dan Xi; by night, it cradles Su Po Zhen Hua." Xiao Fan murmured, then turned to Hu, "Elder, was it because of that drop of blood?"

This 'Dan Hua Zhan' cannot be used by humans.

Yet I can use it.

In that instant, Xiao Fan understood many things—like the grand voice that rang out when that drop of blood surged into his body.

To glimpse the secret of human creation... doesn't that mean I'm not human? Then what am I now...?

"Do not forget your heart—just remember always, you are human."

With that, Hu vanished.

He is no Dao brother, to patiently explain to a junior who gained grace—those who understand, understand; those who don't...

Hehe.

After all, it's just a kill.

………

"I'll take you somewhere later."

Xu Xing held a bowl, using chopsticks to lift several slices of fish and dip them into the boiling clear broth for a few seconds.

The translucent fish flesh changed color instantly—must be lifted quickly, or it would overcook.

Since it was only briefly blanched, the fish retained a slight chewiness, its spirit energy still intact, tasting refreshingly sweet.

Paired with Chi Jiuyu's dipping sauce, it became an entirely different flavor.

She really wasn't boasting.

"Huh? Where?"

Chi Jiuyu shoved a large mouthful into her mouth, her cheeks bulging like a hamster.

"I mentioned I prepared a gift for you—it's about time."

A gift?

She'd nearly forgotten. Chi Jiuyu chewed furiously, swallowed hard, and asked eagerly, "What's the gift?"

"You'll find out when we get there."

"..."

Playing riddles again.

………

Xuanjian City, outskirts.

Under Jiang Jing's guidance, Li Qingyang and the Return-to-Void elder arrived at the place where the Secret Realm had been opened.

Though he'd agreed to remove the corruption, Li Qingyang was still curious about the elder's "sword-nurturing Secret Realm," so he contacted several participants from that mission via the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Li Fengping had just been released—might not have seen the message.

Outer Sect steward Xu Sandao hadn't replied—probably busy with his own affairs.

So in the end, they only managed to contact Jiang Jing.

"This is it." Jiang Jing stopped.

The Reversal Void elder took out a talisman and stepped forward, ready to open the Secret Realm passage.

Meanwhile, Li Qingyang looked up at the sky, as if he had seen something interesting.

"Senior Uncle?"

"Interesting. It seems the swords within this Secret Realm are truly extraordinary."

"Did the Hall Master see it too?" Jiang Jing asked.

She was a disciple of the Sword Holding Hall; this form of address was most appropriate.

"Call me Deputy Hall Master," Li Qingyang corrected. "From the way you speak, you noticed it too?"

"Thanks to Senior Brother Xu Sandao's guidance," Jiang Jing said, knowing her own limits.

"Hmm." Li Qingyang gave a slight nod.

To have noticed this situation, that Xu Sandao, the outer sect steward, must indeed be capable. If there's a chance later, I might as well meet him.

If he truly is worthy, I could bring him into the Sword Holding Hall for training.

Hearing their conversation, the Reversal Void elder was bewildered.

Over the years, the corruption of his spiritual essence had grown worse, rendering his soul perception extremely blurred—he could not sense the sharpness above that faint green aura.

If he had been in this condition back then, he might never have discovered this Secret Realm at all.

"Begin," Li Qingyang said coolly.

He could already sense the subtle spatial fluctuations hidden within the void—this Secret Realm did not seem to be of the type that repelled outsiders.

Seeing that his Senior Uncle had no intention of explaining, the elder wisely said nothing more.

As he activated the talisman in his hand, just as before, an oval passage slowly unfolded, churning with gray mist and faintly glowing red.

"Senior Uncle, it's inside."

"Hmm."

As a Dao-Union cultivator, Li Qingyang did not hesitate—he stepped forward directly into the passage.

Inside the Secret Realm, a red moon hung high in the sky; a colossal sword-shaped mountain loomed at the world's center, bound by chains extending from unknown sources.

Beneath the sword mountain, a vortex opened, and Li Qingyang stepped out from within.

"So this is the Sword-Nurturing Secret Realm?"

His gaze swept across the endless Xuanyuan Grassland without pausing—perhaps precious to ordinary cultivators, but he found it beneath his notice.

Then he turned to the sword mountain beside him; Li Qingyang, who had been somewhat indifferent moments before, grew solemn.

The power contained within this mountain had already surpassed the Dao-Union boundary.

This Secret Realm was indeed no ordinary place.

Something was wrong…

The next moment, Li Qingyang snapped his head up, staring at the red moon hanging in the heavens.

"..."

Cold sweat broke out instantly.

He could not fathom it at all, yet his sword intent trembled—his clear sword heart seemed shrouded in a vast shadow, as if sensing an absolute supreme presence towering above it.

This was beyond any realm he could comprehend! "Li Qingyang of the Sword Sect, pays his respects to the Elder," Li Qingyang bowed respectfully.

Inside, he felt utterly speechless—as if he'd been bitten by a dog.

What the hell! You're a Reversal Void cultivator, and a half-dead one at that—how dare you think of subduing a sword of this level? You claimed the sword's master had perished, but the truth is, the master didn't even deign to notice you!

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