Chapter 73: Exploring the Secret Realm: Blood-Colored Netherflower

Under stars and moon, entering Holy Province.

Feasting on wind, lodging in dew, drinking dew drops.

I heard that the secret realm contains a holy artifact.

In the end, they harvested a black dog.

Lin Bai watched the shameless little black dog that had followed them.

Feeling somewhat helpless, he immediately composed a poem.

Haha, Brother Lin Bai's literary talent keeps getting better.

Su Yaoyao laughed from the side.

In the short month since she met Lin Bai, this humorous youth has already composed over a hundred poems.

Interesting.

Indeed, wherever you go, there's never a shortage of interesting people.

His trip to the Eastern Region for training wasn't wasted.

Shi Hao, hearing this, also laughed embarrassedly.

Besides being humorous, this junior fellow is a bit more handsome than him and has held girls' hands.

The only flaw is that his poems are terrible.

Tch, having this Emperor is your blessing.

These youngsters are still too young.

Rest assured, as long as you help this Emperor with a small favor.

If there's anything, this Emperor will settle it for you.

The Black Emperor shook his body and said disdainfully.

Danger lurks everywhere in this secret realm; with my current cultivation, it's still better to hitch a ride.

Lin Bai and the others also ignored it.

If it wants to follow, let it follow.

And still helping them settle affairs, just look at how frail this little black dog is.

This is practically a tiny dog.

Never mind it; let's continue forward to search.

We've been out on sect training for over a month.

Don't let it be that when we return to the sect, our cultivation as direct disciples is still lower than that of the inner and outer sect disciples.

By then we'll embarrass the master.

Although their cultivation has risen rapidly over the past month, their strength is incomparable.

But they know the sect is formidable, with all kinds of treasures and immortal arts; if the inner disciples work harder, they won't fall behind.

When Shi Hao spoke of serious matters, Lin Bai and the others became solemn.

Senior Brother is right; when those disciples first entered the sect, I noticed several with high talent.

Among them, there were even two heaven-defying prodigies with eight chime resonances.

But their talent is even higher; nine cauldron nine resonances can be said to surpass all disciples of the Qingyun Sect.

They started late, but with heaven-defying talent, they have cultivated for just over a month and already surpassed many who trained ten years.

Shi Hao's Supreme Saint Body was stripped, his cultivation abolished; after reforging the Supreme Body, he only needs to restore his cultivation, so his cultivation is the highest among the three.

But if things go badly, he could still be surpassed by the sect's heaven-defying prodigies.

No way, you three have such high talent and cultivation isn't lacking; why worry about being surpassed?

Su Yaoyao asked, puzzled.

She is the eldest daughter of the Su family of the Southern Region; her cultivation is only at the peak of Nascent Soul, just two minor realms higher than Lin Bai and Hua Qingyu.

Even so, she is the top genius of her generation in the Su family.

Shi Hao and she, being about the same age, have already reached the Cave Void Realm.

It's simply terrifying!

If they still fear being surpassed, just how strong are the heaven-defying prodigies of the Qingyun Sect!

She has also long heard them three speak proudly of their sect, the Qingyun Sect.

Within the sect are countless experts; the Sect Master's cultivation reaches the heavens, and even looking across the Five Regions, they fear no one or any force.

These four, over this month of travel, have also often heard the prestige of the Qingyun Sect.

Sweeping the Four Sacred Beasts, intimidating the Three Great Holy Lands.

Of course, within our Qingyun Sect there are likewise countless heaven-defying prodigies; once we let up, we could be surpassed at any time.

Hearing Shi Hao say that, she now wants to ascend to Qingyun to pay homage.

Such a sect, who wouldn't yearn for it?

Then Shi Hao brother, when will you return to the sect? Yaoyao also wants to join your Qingyun Sect.

Hehe, this young lady's talent isn't enough for a core disciple; being an inner sect disciple will do.

Having stayed in the Southern Region, being able to join a powerful Eastern Region sect for cultivation is not bad.

Cough! The Dao is not yet accomplished; how can one return home?

Shi Hao sighed.

As for Su Yaoyao's suggestion of joining the sect, it still depends on the sect's decision.

Currently the sect is only just beginning large-scale recruitment of disciples on the mountain; it's estimated they won't recruit again in the short term.

Soon.

Shi Hao and the four of them arrived at another natural cavern outside the secret realm.

All that could be seen was billowing blood‑red vapor rising from inside the cavern.

The cavern is huge; looking far off, it seems an endless abyss, as if it never ends.

Outside the cavern, withered grass and rotting leaves lay piled together, a scene of desolation.

They withered and died after long exposure to the blood‑red mist.

"This mist is wrong; could there be some secret inside?"

Lin Bai frowned outside the cavern and said.

"Hey, kid."

"I, the Emperor, advise you not to go in if you don't want to die; this is no good place."

The Black Emperor curled his lips; although his divine sense could only extend a meter, upon touching that red mist he sensed it was nothing good.

To ensure he could leave the secret realm safely, he still spoke up to warn these several little juniors.

"All you do is talk big, trying to scare people."

"Not a good place? No good things, why are they all rushing in?"

"They can go, we can go too."

Lin Bai pointed at a group of people approaching not far away.

Just a moment ago, quite a few people had already gone in.

"How would I, the Emperor, know? Anyway, it's no good place; whether there are good things, I, the Emperor, don't know."

Seeing those few juniors not heeding advice, let them go as they wish.

At worst I'll just go fool around… finding someone else is the same.

"Junior brother, we just need to ask someone."

After saying that, Shi Hao walked over to the two men nearby and patted his shoulder.

"Brother, may I ask what place this is?"

"This is our first time entering the secret realm; we're not very familiar."

Those two men were discussing something.

Suddenly someone from behind patted his shoulder, startling him.

He immediately turned his head and cursed: "Who's your brother? What the hell are you patting me for?"

"Get lost, don't bother me."

But after saying that, he saw the young man before him had an extraordinary aura, likely of considerable background.

"Don't provoke a strong enemy for no reason and bring trouble to your clan."

Thinking that, he quickly changed his expression.

"Oh, it's you, sir; sorry, I offended you just now."

"You ask about this place? This is the forbidden zone of the secret realm."

"Forbidden zone?"

Shi Hao murmured upon hearing it, his eyes narrowing, still somewhat puzzled in his heart.

"Since it's a forbidden zone, it must be as the little black dog said—not a good place—so why are they all rushing in?"

"Yes, inside there is a huge blood pool that constantly boils, so the mist is blood‑red."

"That cavern is deep, and inside there are many demon bats."

"However, the more dangerous the place, the greater the opportunity; that blood pool gives birth to a blood Netherflower every ten thousand years, which is a priceless holy medicine."

"The opening of this secret realm coincides with the holy medicine's maturation, so everyone rushes in despite the danger."

"He also wanted to enter, but his strength is insufficient—going in would only mean death; do you think the blood in that pool comes from nowhere?"

"Still, many self‑proclaimed talented geniuses go there, unaware they become nourishment for each blood Netherflower."