Chapter 181

"Interesting."

Although Yunhe said he looked down on the artifact refiner who refined this magic treasure, the other party could imitate an ancient treasure to refine a magic treasure with similar function, so his artifact refining skill is actually not low.

After Qingling Xianzi left, Yunhe picked up this magic treasure and began to study it.

This flute was obviously refined by Qingling Xianzi, so there's no need to worry about it being taken away; not only does erasing its markings require a lot of time and effort, but any movement of the magic treasure's position cannot escape Qingling Xianzi's perception.

Yunhe made a hand seal with one hand.

Spirit Eye!

Hum—

A faint light appeared in his eyes.

Have to admit, the Spirit Fox clan's 'Spiritual Eye' is quite something; not only can it break through illusions, seals, and formations, it also has considerable utility in artifact refining, talisman crafting, and even pill refining, worthy of being called a divine auxiliary technique.

First, make a rubbing of the 'key' of the seal inside.

One month later.

Yunhe arrived at Small Cloud Island, about three to four days' journey from Douyun Island.

This originally remote place now sees quite a few cultivators coming and going, most wearing various sect attire or displaying waist plaques representing their sects and forces.

Of course, there are also many loose cultivators like Yunhe.

An endless stream.

This place is the entrance to the secret realm of that ancient pill master.

As for Yunhe's arrival, it obviously didn't attract much attention; before entering the secret realm, he took out the token prepared in advance by Qingling Xianzi, and after being inspected by several Core Formation cultivators managing this place, he smoothly entered the secret realm.

Although from the outside it appears to be just a small cloud island, upon entering the secret realm one discovers it contains a universe within.

It is said that such secret realms are either constructed by ancient cultivators using great power to carve out void, or they are the legendary cave-heaven treasures.

Gazing at the secret realm space that seemed like a miniature world, Yunhe clicked his tongue in wonder.

It is heard that during the era when ancient cultivators were active, the spatial barriers of the cultivation world were not as solid as they are now; many major powers or those possessing great power liked to place their sects or cave dwellings in an opened-up space, which was not only safe but also well concealed.

And among them, some ancient cultivators' forces have retained their inheritance, but many more have gradually faded away in the river of time.

This is how the term 'secret realm' came to be used by cultivators today.

Although resources in the modern cultivation world are not exactly scarce, they naturally cannot compare to those of the ancient cultivators' era; thus the treasures hidden in these leftover secret realms naturally become objects pursued and fought over by many forces and cultivators.

According to Yunhe's multiple inquiries and understanding in the market, he already has some knowledge of this secret realm.

Within this secret realm, the danger is not small; not only are there various dangerous seals and formations left by ancient cultivators, but there are also various monsters that were originally raised but have now become the 'masters' of this place, including some ancient species of monsters rarely seen in the modern cultivation world.

Of course, the greatest danger is actually the spatial rifts that may appear at any time due to the secret realm's instability.

Once caught up in it, not to mention Core Formation cultivators, even Yuan Ying cultivators could easily perish.

After Yunhe simply identified the direction, he flew toward a remote area covered by many huge ancient trees.

Soon.

He then arrived at an extremely dense forest.

The trees here are mostly over ten zhang tall, and their trunks require five or six people to barely encircle; calling it a primeval forest is not an exaggeration.

Before he even landed, the trunk of a thick tree glowed with a misty hue, from which two men and two women emerged, led by Qingling Xianzi; the other three were also early Core Formation cultivators, and the two male cultivators were known to Yunhe: the elderly Daoist Li Yuanfan and the red‑short‑robed sturdy man Fan Sanjin.

Huh?

After the ground gave a slow wriggle, another man in white robes, appearing refined and elegant, slowly rose from the soil; his gaze toward Yunhe also held a hint of surprise.

Middle Core Formation!

Yun Dao Friend has arrived. Li Yuanfan said with a chuckle.

Yun Dao Friend. Fan Sanjin also returned a salute.

The two were acquaintances of Yunhe, and Yunhe also smiled and returned the salute after landing.

Qingling, could you introduce us? the female cultivator beside Qingling Xianzi looked at Yunhe with curiosity; obviously she also noticed the attitudes of Li Yuanfan and Fan Sanjin toward Yunhe.

Upon hearing this, Qingling Xianzi smiled gently and then introduced:

This is Yunhe, Yun Dao Friend, the artifact refining master rumored to be from Douyun Island; we can try to open this seal, all thanks to Yun Dao Friend.

At the same time she didn't forget to introduce the other two to Yunhe.

Li Dao Friend and Fan Dao Friend are likely known to you, Yun Dao Friend. These two are Yu Ying Dao Friend and Fei Ling Dao Friend. Yu Xianzi is a pill master, quite renowned in Cloud Palace City, while Fei Ling Dao Friend comes from the Fei family of Jade Balance Island and is a middle Core Formation cultivator.

I have met the two Dao Friends. Yunhe clasped his hands slightly and said with a smile.

Jade Balance Island is one of the 'Seven Star Islands'; this Fei family ought to have considerable strength.

However, Yunhe inevitably harbored some doubts.

Surprisingly, Qingling Xianzi didn't invite any cultivator from the Azure Wood Sect; it seems her so‑called 'selfish motives' are not small.

"It's also possible that the Azure Wood Sect's internal unity isn't very strong."

This is also normal, after all, any sect inevitably has some factions internally; since it's for 'selfish motives', it's natural not to invite any sect member.

So it turns out Yun Dao Friend is that artifact refining master; little lady, if I ever want to refine artifacts, Yun Dao Friend, please don't refuse.

Yu Ying is evidently quite good at socializing; a few words left Yunhe with a favorable impression of her.

Fei Ling, however, flashed a hint of contempt and said:

Since everyone is here, Qingling, let's begin.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression became solemn.

Good. Qingling Xianzi nodded.

A party of six, including Yunhe, consisted of five early Core Formation cultivators and one middle Core Formation cultivator; such strength is not insignificant even in the entire Cloud Middle Realm.

Qingling Xianzi led the group to a huge gray‑white stone in the forest and took out the flute magic treasure that Yunhe had repaired.

As she placed the flute beneath the gauze, with the infusion of mana and its sounding, the flute immediately emitted a lingering, ethereal melody that made listeners feel a sudden coolness in their hearts.

And as the flute's sound rang out, ripples actually spread across the surface of the gray‑white stone that showed no signs.

The flute sound continued for a while.

A restriction.

It was undone!

"Let's go!"

The Qingling Fairy gave a soft shout, put away her magical treasure, and flew first toward the boulder.

Just then her figure flickered, accompanied by larger ripples spreading across the boulder, and she vanished from everyone's sight.

Fei Ling followed closely behind, then Yu Ying, and Fan Sanjin.

Li Yuanfan flicked his whisk, and before entering he laughed and said to Yunhe, "Daoist Yun, family cultivators like Daoist Fei naturally wouldn't look down on us loose cultivators, so don't take it to heart."

Having said that, he also entered the boulder.

Yunhe, hearing this, couldn't help but be speechless.

Sect cultivators look down on family cultivators, and family cultivators look down on loose cultivators—isn't this the usual "contempt chain" in the cultivation world?

He wasn't so easily angered by this; otherwise, he'd be annoyed before even seeking the Dao.

Shortly after, he flashed his body and entered the boulder as well.

Unlike the lush vegetation throughout the secret realm,

After entering this restriction, it felt more like entering a deeply buried mountain mass, and they stood in a wide tunnel whose ceiling was inlaid with neatly arranged glowing stones that illuminated the tunnel.

As soon as they entered,

they encountered obstruction.

Only to see dark brown, scorpion-like creatures drilling out from the surrounding rock walls and ground, crawling back and forth on the walls.

Their hanging tails bore a faint glow, giving a sense of threat.

"What is this?" Fan Sanjin gripped his stick tightly and couldn't help asking.

The others also didn't recognize it, wearing expressions of surprise.

"They should be 'shore scorpions,' a kind of ancient exotic insect, now extremely rare, surviving only in exceptionally special environments or cultivated in special formations. These scorpions mostly lie dormant; as long as they sleep they can survive for an extremely long time, but once awakened they can live at most three months. The longer their dormancy, the more dangerous they become, especially their tail stingers—if stung, they directly attack one's divine sense, causing intense pain, and in severe cases may even annihilate the divine sense." Fei Ling stared at the dense swarm of scorpions and explained slowly.

"Shore scorpions?"

After hearing Fei Ling's explanation, everyone's expressions changed involuntarily.

It actually is an exotic insect that can attack divine sense?

Moreover, according to Fei Ling, the longer their dormancy, the more dangerous their tail stingers' attack could be, so this group of shore scorpions here must have been asleep for

Yunhe couldn't help narrowing his eyes.

Actually, even without Fei Ling's explanation he recognized this scorpion, because he had also seen information about this ancient exotic insect on the Spirit Insect List.

If it weren't for their harsh survival conditions and short lifespan, their specialty of attacking divine sense would indeed be a very fine ability—not great for raising as offensive troops, but quite good for guarding a cave dwelling.

"'Being able to raise so many shore scorpions suggests that the treasures inside this restriction ought not be shabby.'"

Obviously, it wasn't only Yunhe who thought of that.

"Here they come!" Fei Ling gave a low shout, swept his hand across his waist, a fan appeared in his hand, and a light swing shot out numerous sharp stone spikes, pinning many shore scorpions in place.

The others also sprang into action, each producing their magical treasures or spiritual artifacts.

Yunhe also lightly opened his mouth and spat out the "Vermilion Bird Ring," ablaze with flames, smashing into the dense swarm of shore scorpions and killing many at once.

Although shore scorpions are quite special, their defensive ability seems lacking; even as they continually emerge from the rock walls and soil layers, facing Yunhe and the other six Golden Core cultivators, they still appear rather inadequate.

At the same time, in dealing with these shore scorpions, the various means and abilities each displayed also gave everyone a deeper understanding of one another's capabilities.

If this group of shore scorpions were encountered by just one or two early-stage Golden Core cultivators, it would indeed be troublesome, but with the six Golden Core cultivators present joining forces, they were quickly cleared out.

After clearing away the shore scorpions, everyone slowly proceeded into the tunnel.

Proceeding cautiously for a distance, aside from occasional stray shore scorpions suddenly darting out from the walls, there was no other danger.

Walking on, the view ahead gradually opened up.

A strand of soft light suddenly shone into the tunnel, causing everyone's vision to briefly blur.

And then, appearing before them, was actually a scene of a small bridge over flowing water beside a homestead!

The gentle light overhead resembled sunlight.

A murmuring small river extended from somewhere unknown and led to somewhere unknown.

By the riverbank stood a few willows that had grown for who knows how many years yet remained lush; a wooden footbridge spanned the river, and on the far bank stood what appeared to be an ordinary thatched cottage.

Within the view, besides a large expanse of grassland, there were also many fields resembling farmland, but long neglected, now overgrown with weeds.

"This is..." Fan Sanjin murmured.

"Spirit fields!"

Li Yuanfan flicked his whisk, and his spirited eyes flashed with light.

This place, to their surprise, was a vast medicinal field!

Although many spots were overgrown with weeds, they could still faintly smell medicinal fragrance, indicating that spiritual plants were still growing intact.

How many years have the spiritual plants in this ancient cultivator's secret realm medicinal field remained alive?

Yet even so, none of the few people present dared to move rashly.

Because everyone knew well that such spirit fields either harbor a powerful restriction or possibly have something guarding them.

"Let me do it," Yu Ying said with a cheerful laugh.

She flicked her sleeve, and a light purple gauze, like silk, flew out toward the nearest decent-looking spiritual plant.

Suddenly.

Pa—!

A sharp, crisp sound rang out in the area, and a seemingly thin but extremely fast vine suddenly lashed out, slapping away the gauze Yu Ying had swung.

Seeing this, everyone's faces changed slightly.

Immediately, the originally tranquil place suddenly changed.

A large number of vines sprang from the ground, twisting together into a thicker one, and lashed toward Yunhe and the others without hesitation.

"Those few willow trees!"

Yu Ying's smile had long faded; as the first to make a probing move, she was the first to notice the clue.

Willow trees?

Everyone not only looked toward the few willows by the riverbank, but they no longer had their former quiet appearance; dense willow strands fluttered about, and a rich demonic aura now permeated the air.

It turned out to be a rare tree demon!

(End of chapter)