After Faking Her Death and Escaping, the Junior Sister Fell to the Demonic Path - Chapter 130

The night was silent, yet Qin Qingyi was wide awake.

She hadn’t slept all night.

The communication completely cut off after a piercing shriek from Shangguan Yu’s end. Shangguan Yu clearly hadn’t finished speaking, but the connection was abruptly severed.

The noise on the other side sounded distinctly chaotic and loud, and listening closely, there was the sound of air being sliced by a swinging sword, suggesting a battle was taking place.

But the communication was already broken. She tried to use a new communication bamboo slip to contact him, but no matter how much spiritual power she injected, there was no response. The other party wasn’t picking up.

What on earth could have happened that even her Martial Uncle didn’t have time to answer a call?

Her mind was a jumbled mess, constantly replaying the information Shangguan Yu had given her. She didn’t know what else she could do, but since she couldn’t reach her Martial Uncle, she could only ponder if there was a deeper meaning in his words.

She tossed and turned in this agony until dawn.

It wasn’t until two days later that the team sent to investigate the mountain fissure’s glow finally returned.

Zhou Zhixue, clad in a flowing, brilliant robe, stood in the center of the Hall of Deliberation and recounted all the information they had uncovered within the mountain fissure.

“When we arrived, there were already spies from several sects present. After some discussion, each sect sent people down to investigate… In the end, deep within the fissure, after passing through the brilliant light, we found an entrance to a Secret Realm.”

Xie Su, seated in the place of honor, grew interested. He signaled Zhou Zhixue to continue: “What kind of Secret Realm is it? Are there any restrictions?”

Zhou Zhixue’s eyelashes fluttered slightly, and her voice remained calm: “The Secret Realm was left behind by an ancient Ascended Cultivator. The entrance has restrictions, only allowing young cultivators under the age of one hundred who have reached the Nascent Soul stage and above to enter. We entered with several disciples from other sects and found that the spiritual energy inside the Secret Realm is more than ten times denser than that of the Xuantian Realm. Immortal herbs and spiritual medicines are as abundant as cattle hair. However, the Secret Realm is fraught with numerous illusions, so we did not venture deep inside, only picked a few immortal herbs before withdrawing.”

After speaking, Zhou Zhixue poured out the immortal herbs and spiritual medicines stored in her Qiankun bag. They cascaded onto the ground, piling up into a small mountain that reached her knees.

Gasps of astonishment echoed all around. Many elders couldn’t even keep their teacups steady, spilling the warm tea all over their wrists, looking rather dishevelled.

The reason was simple: the pile of immortal herbs Zhou Zhixue produced were all extremely rare and hard-to-find treasures in the Xuantian Realm, worth a fortune.

Yet, such precious items were not only carelessly dumped on the ground but also piled up into a small mountain.

It was no wonder they were so agitated and lost their composure.

Only Zhou Zhixue remained standing there, her expression unchanged.

She had already witnessed the reactions of these elders the moment she entered the Secret Realm.

Zhou Zhixue lowered her gaze, recalling yesterday when they first entered the Secret Realm.

At the time, they had waited outside the Secret Realm for the Elders leading the teams from each sect to negotiate how many people each sect could send in. Only then did she lead the Sword Sect disciples inside.

However, as soon as they entered, they were separated from the disciples of the other sects. The Secret Realm was shrouded in deep, poisonous mist. It took them a long time to pass through the mist, only to discover that the very ground they were walking on was covered in priceless immortal herbs and spiritual medicines.

All the disciples went crazy. They lost the usual reserve and arrogance of Sword Sect disciples, instead behaving like greedy gamblers, frantically snatching the immortal herbs and spiritual medicines from the ground.

Due to the necessity of exploring the Secret Realm, Zhou Zhixue also picked some, collecting three or two stalks of every kind she saw.

These were the herbs she had taken out just now, three or two stalks of each kind, forming a small mountain.

Xie Su took a moment to recover from the immense shock the scene before him had caused.

The surrounding elders also began to talk amongst themselves.

“That Secret Realm… it actually holds so many treasures.”

“The appearance of the Secret Realm must be a blessing from Heaven.”

Feeling that she had finished her report, Zhou Zhixue found a seat for herself, sitting next to Xie Su’s right.

Seeing her return, Hu Yu was naturally exceedingly solicitous: “Junior Sister, did you see any other treasures in that Secret Realm?”

His eyes were shining, clearly extremely curious about the Secret Realm.

Zhou Zhixue glanced at him and said coolly: “No.”

She clearly didn’t want to bother with him.

“Oh.” Hu Yu was quite perceptive. He knew Zhou Zhixue must be exhausted after coming out of the Secret Realm to report, so it was normal for her not to want to talk to him.

However, his gaze immediately turned back to Xie Su, who was discussing the Secret Realm with several elders—his Senior Brother, the current “Sword Bearer” of the Sword Sect.

After watching for a while, perhaps Xie Su noticed a gaze constantly fixed on him. He turned his head in their direction.

Zhou Zhixue naturally had no interest in him. Her eyes were lowered, and her fingers kept stroking the Chang’an Sword at her waist, lost in thought.

But when Xie Su’s gaze shifted to the other person, Hu Yu realized he was looking at him. Hu Yu immediately grinned and gave Xie Su a small wave.

Like an idiot.

Xie Su twitched his mouth, then emotionlessly turned his head, signaling the elders to continue their discussion.

He should have known that at this moment, the only person who would constantly stare at him could be his unusually pure and straightforward Junior Brother.

Xie Su couldn’t help but wonder, how could someone maintain such an innocent heart after going through so much?

Hu Yu was still smiling, while simultaneously harassing Zhou Zhixue: “Junior Sister, what else is in that Secret Realm? Tell me about it.”

Zhou Zhixue looked at him, showing no impatience, but her words completely shut down any further attempts from Hu Yu to speak: “Want to know? Go see for yourself.”

“A cultivator under one hundred years old and above the Nascent Soul stage—aren’t you one? Just ask Senior Brother to arrange for you to go.”

Hu Yu slapped his forehead: “You’re right!”

However, in the end, Hu Yu was not on the list of people going to the Secret Realm.

The news of the Secret Realm’s appearance, and the abundance of heavenly treasures within, spread throughout the Xuantian Realm within half a day, causing a stir across the entire realm. After figuring out the rules for entering the Secret Realm, all the sects began to screen disciples suitable for the trial in the Secret Realm.

To prevent the collapse of the Secret Realm, the Xuantian Realm stipulated that each sect could only bring a maximum of fifty disciples, regardless of whether they were a large or small sect. A maximum of fifty people were allowed to enter.

In addition to the sect quotas, the sects jointly placed restrictions on the number of rogue cultivators. Finally, the Sword Sect made the final decision, setting the rule at three hundred rogue cultivators. Using the Sword Sect disciple trial as the qualification criterion, three hundred lucky rogue cultivators who met the entry requirements for the Secret Realm were selected within three days.

As for Qin Qingyi, after hearing that only disciples above the Nascent Soul stage were allowed to enter the Secret Realm, she immediately adjusted her cultivation to the early Nascent Soul stage overnight.

Yan Li’s previous cultivation was only at the late Golden Core stage. If she hadn’t made the adjustment, she wouldn’t have been qualified to enter the Secret Realm.

But Shangguan Yu had instructed her that she absolutely must enter the Secret Realm and find the Demon God’s torso. Although Qin Qingyi didn’t know how to look for it, if she couldn’t even enter the Secret Realm, the subsequent plan would be impossible to complete. She had no choice but to do this.

Fortunately, her actions were effective. The quota the Sword Sect reserved for its disciples was forty Inner Sect disciples and ten Outer Sect disciples. Qin Qingyi successfully secured a spot among those ten lucky Outer Sect disciples.

Holding the freshly issued Sword Sect token specially made for entering the Secret Realm, Qin Qingyi curved her lips into a smile.

Early the next morning, she got up early and arrived at the agreed-upon assembly point.

Today was the day they were to depart for the Secret Realm.

Qin Qingyi tightened her wrist guards a little. To facilitate movement, the surrounding disciples heading to the Secret Realm had all changed into narrow-sleeved robes suitable for action.

Except for one person—

Zhou Zhixue.

At this moment, she stood facing the wind, quietly allowing the wind rising from the cliff below to billow her robes and tousle the stray hairs near her temples.

Qin Qingyi stood in the crowd, looking at her Junior Sister at the very front.

Junior Sister had also become somewhat different.

The Sword Sect had many inner peaks, and almost every peak had sent a few Inner Sect disciples. Cangxue Peak was naturally no exception.

Hu Yu also wanted to enter the Secret Realm, but in the end, Xie Su kept him behind, using the excuse that “if he goes, no one will guard Cangxue Peak.”

That excuse wasn’t entirely wrong. Xie Su was busy with daily affairs, often working until late at night, and frequently slept at the Sword Bearer Peak. He rarely returned to Cangxue Peak.

He also added that if Hu Yu were to leave as well, and an emergency occurred at the Sword Sect, he wouldn’t have anyone capable to turn to. With the matter framed this way, Hu Yu naturally compromised.

However, Zhou Zhixue scoffed at this.

Wouldn’t have anyone capable to turn to?

He was lying.

She might have believed that three years ago, but now, she wouldn’t believe a single word.

Her Senior Brother had transformed into a deeply scheming monster over the past three years.

He seemed to have been driven to perversion by the suppression from the Sword Sect Elders. Now that he had turned the tables, he smiled without sincerity every day, which was unsettling to watch.

Zhou Zhixue recalled that after she had broken into the Nether Ghost Realm and finally crawled out of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave, Senior Brother Xie Su was standing at the edge of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave, looking down at her.

The Nether Ghost Realm had no sun, only a blood moon eternally suspended in the sky. No matter when one looked, it was always the gloomy twilight of night.

Xie Su stood there, his expression unreadable.

He had said: “Junior Sister, have you found Senior Sister’s soul?”

Zhou Zhixue didn’t know how he had managed to evade the numerous eyes of the Sword Sect to reach the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave. She had just survived a harrowing experience in the boiling oil cauldron of the Ten Thousand Ghost Cave, covered in scars left by ghosts and demons. Her clothes were tattered and hanging on her, making her look no different from a street beggar.

In contrast, Xie Su wore a completely different embroidered black robe with gold trim, looking composed and at ease.

Since that day, Zhou Zhixue had maintained a degree of wariness toward her ghost-like Senior Brother.

Elder Xiao Wei stood at the front, her face taut. She was leading the team again this time. Looking at the fifty disciples before her, all filled with anticipation for the Secret Realm, she unhurriedly went over the points to note inside the Secret Realm.

“Once you enter, the Secret Realm will separate you. Remember, the first thing you must do is find your companions. Absolutely do not act on your own, and do not become distracted by the immortal herbs and spiritual medicines… Once you find your companions, you must move in groups of at least three. Once inside, if you are unsure about anything, ask your Senior Sister Zhou. Have you all remembered?”

The disciples nodded in unison, and Qin Qingyi joined in, saying: “We’ve remembered.”

Elder Xiao Wei’s expression finally softened, and she straightened her back, announcing loudly: “Very good, then let’s set off!”

Including Elder Xiao Wei, a total of fifty-one people, all riding their swords, flew towards the Secret Realm entrance. In just half an hour, they arrived.

By this time, many sects were already waiting there. Seeing the Sword Sect finally arrive, the people from the other sects gathered around.

Most of these people were acquainted with Elder Xiao Wei, so their conversation was quite polite.

However, before they could exchange more than a few words, a discordant voice came from a distance.

“The Sword Sect sure puts on a show, making so many of us wait for you.”

The tone was extremely sarcastic.

The grating voice caused everyone to look in the direction of the speaker.

It was a young rogue cultivator.

Seeing so many people looking at him, he didn’t feel constrained at all. In fact, he lifted his chin, feeling that he hadn’t said anything wrong.

“Isn’t that true? So many of us waited here since yesterday, and the Sword Sect is the last one to arrive. What a pretentious display.”

The words were extremely unpleasant, causing many elders and disciples from the surrounding sects to frown.

Even the few people near him felt that his words were inappropriate, but since they weren’t close to him, they quickly distanced themselves a few meters away to avoid getting into trouble.

Qin Qingyi stood in the crowd of Sword Sect disciples and clearly felt the surrounding disciples glaring at the man with anger. However, because Elder Xiao Wei hadn’t spoken, they didn’t dare to act rashly.

They were truly obedient children.

Seeing that no one refuted him, the man became even more arrogant: “The Sword Sect is only influential. Are they going to become enraged just because of a single sentence from me? Moreover, I didn’t say anything wrong. The Sword Sect was indeed the last to arrive. All the surrounding sects are too afraid to speak due to the Sword Sect’s power, but I’m just a rogue cultivator. I have nothing to fear.”

Elder Xiao Wei finally smiled.

She looked at the young rogue cultivator and said slowly: “If I recall correctly, you were once an Outer Sect disciple of the Sword Sect, but were eventually expelled and driven down the mountain for violating the Sword Sect’s rules. How is it that today you managed to secure a spot to enter the Secret Realm, only to come back and pick a fight with my Sword Sect?”

“You’re saying the Sword Sect is nothing special now. Are you suggesting that you find the fact that you once belonged to the Sword Sect particularly disgusting?”

At her words, the people who had followed the conversation suddenly realized what was happening.

So, he was a disciple who had been expelled from the sect before.

Looking at that face, Qin Qingyi suddenly remembered too. Wasn’t this the disciple who used to bully Junior Sister and was eventually kicked out?

Now he was making a scene in front of the Sword Sect. Did he think that after more than ten years, no one in the Sword Sect remembered him?

Seeing his identity exposed, the young rogue cultivator was immediately infuriated. He yelled and argued that Elder Xiao Wei had mistaken him for someone else, claiming he had never been a member of the Sword Sect.

But his obstinate denial only invited more mockery.

Laughter erupted all around. After a short while, the man couldn’t bear it anymore. He covered his face and fled, hiding in a place where no one could see him.

This incident was just a small interlude, not worth dwelling on.

The Sword Sect was a major power. Why would it care about a disciple who had been expelled from the sect years ago?

Elder Xiao Wei only remembered his plain face because she happened to have a good memory.

Elder Xiao Wei turned around nonchalantly and smiled at her colleagues from the various sects: “Everyone, since all the people have arrived, shall we begin?”

The various sects naturally agreed.

The many elders stood together, simultaneously injecting spiritual power into the mountain fissure’s glow. Before long, the light burst into brilliance, and then a suspended opening, swirling with black and silver shattered light, gradually appeared.

This was the entrance to the Secret Realm.

As spiritual power was continuously injected, the opening expanded, growing from a size barely larger than a fist to one that could accommodate several people.

“Now, hurry in!”

Elder Xiao Wei shouted loudly.

The Secret Realm entrance consumed a great deal of spiritual power. Just maintaining its open state had already depleted most of her spiritual power, let alone the other elders whose cultivation was not as high as hers.

Following her command, Zhou Zhixue no longer hesitated. She immediately led the Sword Sect disciples and flew towards the Secret Realm entrance.

As the leading major sect of the Xuantian Realm, the Sword Sect disciples naturally had the privilege of entering first.

Even though they were the last to arrive.

This was a privilege, and also reality.

——————

As an Outer Sect disciple, Qin Qingyi naturally followed behind the Inner Sect disciples. Her position was far from Zhou Zhixue, separated by two or three people. She could only see her Junior Sister’s robes from a distance.

This situation continued until they entered the Secret Realm.

Upon entering the Secret Realm, everything changed.

The world instantly turned pitch black. She couldn’t see anything around her.

Qin Qingyi pursed her lips, not daring to make any move rashly.

She had never been here before, so she had to be cautious.

Until a rustling sound suddenly appeared next to her.

Qin Qingyi instinctively reached out towards the source of the sound. The moment she lifted her hand, she touched something soft.

“Why are you touching me?”

A cool and familiar voice spoke.

Qin Qingyi’s heart leaped with joy. She subconsciously wanted to call out “Junior Sister,” wanting to ask why the person had suddenly appeared next to her.

But the next moment, she realized that her current identity was Yan Li, and she couldn’t call her “Junior Sister.”

“Senior Sister Zhou?” Qin Qingyi tentatively spoke.

The other person replied coolly: “It’s me.”

Qin Qingyi breathed a sigh of relief.

But then, she heard the other person say, with a slightly gritted-teeth voice:

“Now, immediately, take your hand off me.”