After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 40

The intelligence network constructed by Lin Feng and Zhao Xiaoyi, though still nascent, had already quietly spread like a spider’s web, beginning to capture the subtle currents circulating within the sect for Ye Li. And just as Ye Li was preparing to “attend” the appointment at the Miasma Rain Forest, a piece of news officially released by the Hall of Merits was like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, instantly causing a massive sensation among the Outer Sect and the lower levels of the Inner Sect of the Profound Cloud Sect!

“Sect Edict: The ‘Cloud Mist Secret Realm,’ which opens once every ten years, will appear in one month! All Inner Sect disciples and outstanding Outer Sect disciples may register to participate!”

In front of the announcement jade wall, disciples drawn by the news were three layers deep, the scene bustling with noise. Excitement, agitation, longing, and nervousness were mixed on everyone’s faces.

“The Cloud Mist Secret Realm! It’s finally opening again!”

“Ten years! I’ve waited a full ten years! This time, I must seize the opportunity!”

“I heard there are spirit herbs everywhere inside, and even cultivation methods and treasures left behind by predecessors!”

“The danger is also great, though. The fog never dissipates, limiting spiritual sense, and there are various strange demonic beasts…”

“What is there to fear! Seeking wealth amidst danger! This is a chance to change our fate!”

The clamor almost lifted the roof off the Hall of Merits. The Cloud Mist Secret Realm was an independent minor world controlled by the Profound Cloud Sect, rumored to be a fragment of a shattered ancient continent. The spiritual energy inside was dense, giving birth to a large quantity of rare spirit herbs and medicines, while also concealing many unknown dangers and opportunities. Due to its spatial instability, it could only open once every ten years and could only accommodate disciples below the Spirit Sea Realm.

For countless disciples stuck at the Spirit Opening and Vein Condensing stages, this was undoubtedly the best time for a carp to leap over the dragon gate! Any gains within, whether for their own cultivation or for exchanging contribution points with the sect, would be enough to bring about a rapid increase in their cultivation!

On the high platform, the attendant disciple responsible for the announcement channeled spiritual power and loudly suppressed the crowd’s noise, beginning to read the specific rules:

“The Secret Realm will be open for one month! The entrance is located in the Cloud Mist Valley!”

“Upon entering the Secret Realm, life and death are up to fate! The Sect will not be responsible for the injuries or deaths of any disciple!”

“All gains in the Secret Realm belong to the individual disciple. If you wish to turn them over to the Sect, you may exchange them for massive contribution points based on their value!”

“Internal conflict and harming fellow disciples are strictly prohibited! Violators will be severely punished upon discovery! However, monitoring is difficult within the Secret Realm, so act wisely!”

“Registration begins immediately and ends in three days! Those who wish to participate must prepare beforehand!”

After the rules were announced, the crowd surged again, rushing to the registration point.

The news quickly reached Ye Li through Zhao Xiaoyi.

“The Cloud Mist Secret Realm?” Ye Li’s eyes flickered. This was a pleasant surprise. Secret Realms often contained rare resources hard to find outside, which might provide an opportunity to quickly enhance her strength or even repair the fragments of the Reincarnation Mirror. Moreover, the complex environment of the Secret Realm was the perfect place to settle certain grievances and evade certain conspiracies… For example, the killing plot in the Miasma Rain Forest could perhaps be introduced into the Secret Realm to be resolved, making it even easier to cover up.

She decided to participate with practically no hesitation.

Soon, Lin Feng delivered a jade slip with more detailed information about the Cloud Mist Secret Realm through his channels, which he had clearly compiled and analyzed overnight:

“Internal Environment of the Secret Realm: Thick fog year-round, severely limiting the range of spiritual sense detection (estimated to be no more than ten zhang for Vein Condensing Realm cultivators). Complex terrain, with many swamps, confusing valleys, and ancient forests. Very few known safe zones.”

“Known Resource Points: Azure Cold Pool (possibly cold-attribute spirit herbs), Crimson Sun Slope (fire-attribute minerals, spirit plants), Wind Howl Canyon (suspected to have wind-attribute demonic beasts and materials), Ruined Ancient City (high danger, rumored to have remnants of a predecessor’s cave dwelling, but many restrictions)…”

“Main Dangers: Fog Stealth Mantis (expert at stealth and sneak attacks), Bewitching Heart Demonic Flower (emits hallucinogenic pollen), Swamp Poison Viper, and… disciples from other sects (must be especially wary of hostile forces like Battle Maniac Peak and the Heaven Fiend Sect).”

“Experience Summary from Past Disciples: Recommended to form a team, but absolute trust is necessary; Detoxification Pills, Miasma Warding Pills, and Clear Heart Talismans are essential; must prepare guiding-type artifacts or talismans; do not be greedy, act within your capabilities…”

This information was far more detailed than the Sect’s vague announcement. It was clearly compiled and analyzed by Lin Feng, synthesizing the fragmented knowledge passed down over the past ten years, making it highly valuable.

Ye Li read it carefully, raising her estimation of Lin Feng’s worth once more. This person’s talent for intelligence analysis and compilation was indeed outstanding.

While the entire Sect was buzzing about the Secret Realm, Ye Li made a trip to the Hall of Merits and signed up for the Secret Realm exploration. Afterward, she went back to the “Exotic Items Pavilion” in the Myriad Forms Hall.

The white-haired old man seemed to have anticipated her arrival and smiled with squinted eyes, “Little girl, the Secret Realm is about to open. Want to acquire some good things?”

Ye Li nodded and went straight to the point, “I need means to defend against hallucinations and severe poison, as well as… good things for ambushing people.” She didn’t hide her needs.

The old man chuckled and pulled out a few items from under the counter: “A ‘Clear Spirit Jade Pendant,’ Tier 2 Mid-grade, can effectively resist spiritual illusions, five hundred contribution points. ‘Hundred Poisons Repelling Pills,’ three pills, can cure a hundred poisons, effective for six hours, three hundred contribution points per bottle. As for ambushing…”

He lowered his voice and took out an unremarkable black small gourd: “‘Confusing God Miasma,’ a one-time use artifact. Upon activation, it releases a colorless and odorless poison miasma. Cultivators below the Vein Condensing Realm will instantly collapse, and those at the Vein Condensing Realm will experience blurry spiritual sense and sluggish movements. Eight hundred contribution points.”

He also produced a stack of talismans as thin as a cicada’s wing: “‘Shadowless Needle Talisman,’ upon activation, shoots out three invisible and formless energy poison needles, specifically designed to penetrate protective spiritual energy. Very insidious. One hundred fifty contribution points per talisman.”

The prices were astonishingly high, but the effects were certainly worth the cost. Ye Li, now financially well-off, bought the Clear Spirit Jade Pendant, one bottle of Hundred Poisons Repelling Pills, and two Shadowless Needle Talismans without hesitation. The Confusing God Miasma was good, but the price was too high, and she had other methods of her own.

After leaving the Exotic Items Pavilion, she replenished a large quantity of materials for making talismans and medicinal liquids. Supplies would be difficult to replenish within the Secret Realm, so she had to bring enough.

Back at Cloud Pill Peak, Ye Li began her final sprint before closing her doors for preparation.

She first utilized the newly purchased materials, combined with ancient records and her own understanding, to attempt drawing a talisman more suitable for the Secret Realm’s environment—the “Fog Breaking Talisman.” This talisman could temporarily disperse the thick fog in a certain area. Although its effect was not as good as a specialized artifact, its cost was low, allowing for mass production.

After several failures, she successfully drew ten usable Fog Breaking Talismans.

Next, she began refining large quantities of “Cold Marrow Quenching Liquid” and “Boiling Blood Spirit Burning Liquid.” She further purified and concentrated a portion of the Quenching Liquid to create the more potent, yet more dangerous, “Ice Marrow Toxin,” which she applied to her short sword and specially made steel needles, ensuring they would kill on contact with blood.

She also specifically crafted a scabbard for her strengthened short sword. The inner wall of the scabbard was inscribed with miniature Breath Concealment Runes, allowing it to better hide the sword’s sharpness and cold intent.

Finally, she attempted to create a simple array disc—the “Small-Range Early Warning Array Disc.” With limited materials, its effect could only cover a few zhang in radius, but it could issue a slight tremor warning when an unfamiliar aura intruded, useful for warnings while resting in the Secret Realm—better than nothing.

While she was busy preparing, Su Wanyun came to visit.

“Sister Ye Li, have you heard about the Secret Realm?” Su Wanyun had a mix of worry and anticipation on her face, “The Secret Realm this time is full of danger. Would you… be willing to travel together? It would be good to look out for each other.”

Ye Li looked at Su Wanyun’s sincere eyes, pondered for a moment, but slowly shook her head: “Senior Sister Wanyun, I’m afraid I cannot travel with you this time.”

A hint of disappointment flashed in Su Wanyun’s eyes.

Ye Li explained, “I fear I will be surrounded by strong enemies on this journey, and the crisis is lurking everywhere. Traveling with me will inevitably implicate you. Furthermore…” She paused, “I am used to acting alone, and some methods are not convenient to use in front of others.”

Su Wanyun understood her concerns, and though disappointed, she didn’t insist, gently saying, “I understand. Then, please be careful, Sister! If you encounter danger in the Secret Realm, you can send a signal. If I am nearby, I will surely come to your aid!” She handed Ye Li an exquisite Hundred Flowers Signal Talisman.

“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Ye Li accepted the signal talisman, feeling a slight warmth in her heart.

After seeing off Su Wanyun, Han Li and Chen Mo also came, expressing their interest in forming a team, but Ye Li declined them both with similar reasons. Han Li was boisterous and expressed understanding, even shoving a few bottles of “powerful” and “special efficacy” but unreliable-looking pills at her. Chen Mo just nodded, left a single word of “prudence,” and departed.

It was clear that everyone understood the Cloud Mist Secret Realm meant immense opportunity but also deadly danger. Teaming up could increase the chances of survival, but it could also lead to a quicker death due to unequal distribution or being stabbed in the back.

Ye Li trusted her own strength and preparation more.

The day before the registration deadline, Lin Feng sent over his final intelligence summary. It highlighted that Gao Sheng, Shi Feng, and others from Battle Maniac Peak had also registered, and they seemed to have had contact with several disciples from the Heaven Fiend Sect (a sect with historically poor relations with the Profound Cloud Sect). Furthermore, he listed the names of some disciples in the Outer Sect who had a good reputation and might be worth temporary cooperation or trading with.

Ye Li memorized all this information.

All preparations were complete. The necessary talismans, medicinal liquids, and array discs were all ready, and her contribution points were mostly spent.

She stood in her small courtyard, checking the supplies in her storage ring one last time: pills, talismans, medicinal liquids, poisons, the short sword, the early warning array disc, the Clear Spirit Jade Pendant, and the mysterious beast skin and mineral that she still couldn’t decipher…

Her gaze was serene, sharp as a blade.

The Cloud Mist Secret Realm was both a dangerous place and a hunting ground.

She lifted her head, looking toward the Cloud Mist Valley.

The Secret Realm would open in one month.

By then, perhaps all grudges should be settled.