I'm Feng Aotian—And I’m Running Away from My Wedding - Chapter 5

Three days later.

Li Baiying stood at the forefront of the disciples, her back ramrod straight.

She had been looking forward to this day for a long time. It was no exaggeration to say that she had set her sights on the secret realm treasure hunt as a reward even before the martial arts competition began.

“Cousin, you seem to be in a good mood.”

A soft, ingratiating voice reached her ears, instantly dousing her soaring spirits.

“That’s right,” Li Baiying replied without turning her head. “My mood would be even better if no one spoke to me.”

Upon hearing this, Li Ruoruo gave an awkward smile and lowered her head uncomfortably.

This minor incident didn’t attract much attention. The Li family had always regarded Li Baiying with reverence and naturally sided with her unconditionally. However, the other two families, witnessing the scene, couldn’t help but whisper among themselves:

“Is that the young mistress of the Li family? Just as rumored, arrogant and dismissive.”

“Well, she does possess the Crimson Flame talent, after all. She’s different from us.”

…

Li Baiying paid no mind to the chatter, occasionally glancing up at the slanting sun to estimate the time. Meanwhile, Li Yue, standing behind her, suppressed his anger, wishing he could drag out the gossips and give them a sound beating.

Finally, the elders arrived belatedly.

“The slots for this secret realm training are based on the final rankings of the martial arts competition,” Wu Ling declared, looking down at the sea of disciples. Her face lit up with pride, especially when she noticed that half of the participants were from her own family. “As for the conflicts within the secret realm, everyone must rely on their own abilities.”

“Let me add one more thing,” the white-bearded elder chimed in, stroking his horsetail whisk. “Although the martial arts competition has concluded, the principle of showing restraint should continue. The three great families of Taichu Mountain share a common destiny and ought to support one another.”

“Elder Qin the Third speaks wisely.”

Li Anqing cleared her throat, and the elder’s expression darkened slightly at the mention of “Third Elder.” Unfazed, she swept her gaze over the Qin family’s ranks, pausing briefly on Qin Yixiao. “Since the rules of the martial arts competition were revised, why not add a wager to this treasure hunt as well?”

“Oh? What kind of wager?”

Wu Ling’s interest was immediately piqued. Having just benefited from the martial arts competition, she now wore an attentive expression.

“Patriarch Li, let’s hope your efforts don’t end up benefiting others again,” the elder remarked with a hint of sourness. Seeing the situation turning into a two-against-one dynamic, he felt powerless to intervene.

“It’s simple: whichever family retrieves the most treasures will be declared the winner.” Li Anqing produced a small vial from her sleeve, using her energy to levitate it mid-air for all to see. “I’ll wager a bottle of Creation Glazed Pills.”

“Creation Glazed Pills? The medicine that can save a life as long as there’s still a breath left?!”

Disciples in the know gasped in astonishment, though most looked bewildered, as if they had never heard of such a thing.

“Patriarch Li, isn’t this item a bit too precious to use as a wager?” Wu Ling suppressed the greed in her eyes and frowned.

Though she coveted the pills, she understood the principle of equivalent exchange. If she didn’t offer a treasure of similar value, she would inevitably invite criticism. With this thought, her initial enthusiasm cooled considerably.

“It is precious. But Elder Wu, are you lacking in confidence? Your elite disciples are the most numerous, after all.”

Li Anqing smiled faintly, retracting the pill into her palm, her tone so calm it hardly seemed like a provocation.

“Hah, as if I lack confidence!” Wu Ling’s expression sharpened. Gritting her teeth, she produced a gleaming long blade, holding it aloft as well. “The Serrated Wolf-Tooth Blade, a top-grade treasure artifact.”

Treasure artifacts transcended ordinary weapons, requiring a specialist to forge them over forty-nine days. They were indestructible. And top-grade? That represented the pinnacle among treasure artifacts, something most people would never lay eyes on in their entire lives.

In an instant, the breaths of several disciples quickened. This was likely the closest they had ever been to a treasure artifact.

Li Baiying also stared fixedly at the long blade, unable to suppress the excitement rising within her.

She had yearned for a majestic and razor-sharp weapon for a long time. Her purpose in exploring this secret realm was to find a suitable weapon. She never expected such an unexpected delight.

“Since both elders are so generous, I, Qin, shall join in the fun as well.” The white-bearded elder reluctantly produced an exquisite pill furnace, its nine dragon heads so lifelike they seemed ready to spew crimson mist that heated the air around them. “The Nine Revolutions Pill Furnace, its effects need no introduction, I presume? Nearly all perfect-quality pills are refined within this furnace.”

As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance toward his own disciples, his eyes brimming with earnest expectation.

“Enough, since the stakes are set, let’s hurry and open the secret realm.”

Among the three elders, Wu Ling was clearly the most confident. With those words, she was the first to unleash a surge of potent white internal energy.

The other two followed suit without delay, their own energies rushing forth to merge into the heavy stone gate.

“Creak…”

Before long, the massive door slowly shuddered, revealing a sliver of dazzling light.

Dust swirled, yet every disciple present watched the entrance with tense focus, muscles taut, ready for battle at any moment.

“Boom!” Fragmented light abruptly poured out, enveloping the area for a hundred miles.

…

Li Baiying awoke in a sea of vibrant, multicolored flowers.

The moment she opened her eyes, she sprang up like a carp leaping from water and crouched into the waist-high blossoms. If vigilance could take physical form, she would have been a wolfhound with ears perked.

The surroundings were so quiet she could only hear her own breathing and the rustle of wind through leaves.

Her luck wasn’t bad; it seemed no one else had been transported to the same location. In other words, if there were any treasures in this area, they were all hers for the taking.

After listening for a while, she shifted her attention to the brilliantly colored flowers. Their stems were as thick as a human thigh, and deep within the blooming buds lay rows of sharp teeth.

“Looks like I need to find my way out of here first.”

After a moment’s thought, Li Baiying clenched her palm into a fist and threw a punch at the menacing, toothy flowers.

A fiery red energy shot out like lightning, striking the sharp teeth. Instantly, the clanging sound of metal against metal echoed incessantly.

“Rustle, rustle…”

The flowers seemed awakened by the disturbance, shaking their stems angrily and summoning more of their kind to hunt down this uninvited guest.

In a flash, petals and leaves flew everywhere as terrifying, gaping maws lunged at her one after another.

“Bring it on!” Li Baiying gathered energy in her dantian, lightly tapped her toes, and shot forward like an arrow, weaving through the gaps in the vines.

In that critical moment, her speed surpassed even what she had displayed on the arena floor, leaving faint afterimages in her wake.

Thwack! Thwack!

The vines repeatedly slammed into the soil, kicking up clouds of dust. The bizarre giant flower, frustrated by its inability to strike the elusive little pest, gnashed its sharp teeth in agitation.

Just then, Li Baiying’s sharp eyes caught sight of a fiery red creature, writhing and struggling, trapped between the flower’s closing jaws.