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Chapter 95.1: Six Wheel Secret Realm pt. 1
(TN: For this chapter, there is a differentiation between ‘xiandan’ 仙丹= immortal pill/elixir, and normal  dan 丹 = pill)
“Genesis Elixir.”
Jing Yue’s calm words were like a thunderstorm.
Rumble!
Thunder exploded in Fairy Kushui’s mind as she staggered two steps back. She lowered her head and made no sound for a while. When she raised her head again, her eyes were already bloodshot, filled with jealousy and greed, which eventually transformed into thirsty fervor.
The effect of the Genesis Elixir was very simple. If an absolute level Foundation Establishment cultivator consumed this when they tried to break through to the Golden Core stage, it could increase the rate of core formation by more than 50%. Even if it didn’t succeed, it could still produce a pseudo-core. In other words, with this pill, the Golden Core stage was certain!
Although the residual detritus of this pill was very severe and many talented cultivators may not want to take it, for most cultivators in the Haotian Realm, it was the supreme treasure!
Here, a Golden Core cultivator could reign supremacy and wield control. Even if the cultivation progress ended here, it was more than enough!
However, the Genesis Elixir only existed in ancient scrolls. At least for ten thousand years, this pill had never appeared in the Haotian Realm and had become a legend.
No wonder so many Foundation Establishment cultivators had entered meditation. It was recorded in ancient books that when the furnace was opened, the fragrance of the Genesis Elixir contained strong medicinal power. Even a whiff would be of great help to cultivation!
Back then, Fairy Kushui relied on the Golden Lotus Elixir to achieve golden core stage. A large amount of detritus was also deposited in her body and she would have no hope of advancement in this lifetime, but the golden core formed was far less solid than the one produced by the Genesis Elixir.
If only she had this pill back then…
With a wave of Fairy Kushui’s sleeve, the originally cracked furnace completely shattered, and she took the pill from the furnace in her hand. As soon as she touched it, she felt a surge of spiritual energy, compelling her to take the Genesis Elixir for her own, and all those who competed with her would die!
“Sect Leader Kushui, it’s time to announce the end of the competition.”
Jing Yue’s reminder pulled Fairy Kushui back to her senses. When the latter recalled all the crazy thoughts just now and realized that she had almost suffered a Qi deviation, cold sweat instantly drenched her entire back and she went limp.
After a while, Fairy Kushui respectfully handed the pill back to Jing Yue and bowed to him, thanking him for waking her up in time and prevented her from falling into the deep end.
Jing Yue nodded slightly, closed his eyes, and adjusted his breathing.
To daunt everyone this time, he really went all out. Forcibly refining the Genesis Elixir with his Foundation Establishment cultivation was still too overwhelming. At this time, the spiritual energy in his body was completely drained as if the whole person had been hollowed out, and he was exhausted.
The reason why Jing Yue chose the Genesis Elixir was precisely because of its influence on the Haotian Realm.
In the World of Seven Continents, although this pill was rare, it was not sought after by many cultivators, because golden core cultivators had limited power in this big world, so why would they be willing to stop the progress at this level? However, in this realm, Golden Core was already the pinnacle. Since they couldn’t see the future, they were naturally willing to exchange the obscure future for a Genesis Elixir.
When he opened his eyes again, Qin Yanzhi had come to his side and wiped the sweat from his forehead very ‘virtuously’.
Jing Yue was about to thank him when an old man walked up to him and bowed to him three times.
“I’m Wu Changzi of Bluecloud Valley. I want to thank Sect Leader Jing for giving me this chance encounter.” Wu Changzi sincerely thanked him. He had entered the meditative state just now and his cultivation base had grown slightly. No matter how much progress he made, he owed a debt to Jing Yue.
Jing Yue, “You’re welcome.”
Wu Changzi stepped aside. Another young man walked up to Jing Yue, also bowed three times, and expressed his gratitude. After this person, dozens of others came one after another. All of them had gained something and willingly bowed to Jing Yue.
Jing Yue accepted their thanks one after another and took it as the completion of this karma. After all, this was unintentional.
Fairy Kushui looked at this scene and felt exasperated. This competition was meant to create fanfare for Xu Fenglan, but now, who cared what pill Xu Fenglan had refined? She had wanted to suppress Mini Frostcloud Sect, but even Tianshui Palace was convinced of Jing Yue's attainments in the art of alchemy. As long as Mini Frostcloud Sect didn’t snatch the business from Tianshui Palace, they would protect the other party. They still needed the recipe from him, right? Even if they couldn’t get the Genesis Elixir, maybe Jing Yue had other recipes?
In short, they really went out for wool and came back shorn. But not only was she not angry, she even felt that she had gained something somehow. It was quite tragic to think about it.
Although the Genesis Elixir that Jing Yue made that day was only a medium grade, he still won first place without dispute.
As soon as the competition was over, news of the appearance of the Genesis Elixir quickly spread throughout the cultivation world, and many cultivators hurried to Flying Blossoms Mountain to seek for one.
In the past, many people thought that Mini Frostcloud Sect only relied on talismans and Daoist Tian Luo’s support to occupy a spot in the cultivation world. Even if they had taught Tiangang Sect a good lesson, people didn’t think that they possessed the strength comparable to the Five Great Immortal Sects, and could only make a rival out of Tiangang Sect.
Now, with the emergence of the Genesis Elixir, no matter what they thought of Mini Frostcloud Sect, most of the forces were subdued. Especially those cultivators who were about to break through the barrier, who wouldn’t want an additional 50% chance of golden core formation rate?
They wanted the Genesis Elixir, while Mini Frostcloud Sect was not a sect that could easily be bullied, so what else could they do? They could only hold them in the palm and protect them.
Besides, other than the Genesis Elixir, Mini Frostcloud Sect had another product that cultivators couldn't refuse, which was the fetal sculpting talisman. Due to the scarcity, each talisman was enough to set off a bloody storm.
In this way, the prestige of Mini Frostcloud Sect had multiplied, no longer weaker than any of the five great immortal sects. In just a few years, the size of the sect had also expanded nearly ten times, with as many as four or five thousand disciples.
It was also during this period that Jing Yue achieved some success and finally entered the upper-level of Foundation Establishment stage.
Hidden Mountain, Bluecloud Valley.
Smoke from incense lingered in the main hall. The elders of Bluecloud Valley sat on both sides, while the sect leader sat at the top, and said slowly, “Are you saying that Tiangang Sect and Bodhisattva Yu want to make a move against Mini Frostcloud Sect?”
A disciple in green replied, “It’s just speculation. According to the scouts, the two factions have been having frequent private dealings lately, apparently making big moves. Tiangang Sect has always had a grudge against Mini Frostcloud Sect, while the sect leader of Bodhisattva Yu personally went up to Flying Blossoms Mountain six months ago to seek medicine for his disciple, and it is said that he had a very unpleasant look on his face when he came down from the mountain, so…”
The Sect Leader smiled lightly, “Counting the days, the hundred-year deadline is approaching, and the Six Wheel Secret Realm is about to open.”
The disciple in green was startled. “What the sect leader means is that they are not going to deal with Mini Frostcloud Sect, but are preparing to join forces in the Six Wheel Secret Realm?”
“At least, they don't have the energy to provoke Mini Frostcloud Sect before the secret realm opens.” The sect leader’s smile disappeared. “Notify all disciples in the sect, one month later, the sect competition will select outstanding disciples to enter the Six Wheel Secret Realm.”
Disciple in green, “Yes!”
After the disciple in green received the order and withdrew, an elder said, “The map that our disciples have brought back with great difficulty last time has been sorted out. This time, we are sure to reap some rewards.”
Sect leader, “The six wheel secret realm is both a test and an opportunity for us. Properly executed, we will gain a hundred years of progress. Otherwise, like Lion Mountain and Bodhisattva Yu, we’ll suffer for a hundred years!”
Everyone in the hall looked serious. An elder suddenly asked, “In that case, should we inform Mini Frostcloud Sect this time?”
The sect leader paused and fell into silence.
Happy Mountain, Bodhisattva Yu.
In the gorgeous palace, the sect leader in red stepped barefoot on the smooth back of a naked girl as he said to his eldest disciple below, “Zhao Ying, you will lead your fellow disciples to the Six Wheel Secret Realm this time. Last time, those bald donkeys from Cihang Gate and the hypocrites from Bluecloud Valley joined forces to trap us. This time, let’s make sure no one gets out!”
The Zhao Ying he referred to was a handsome young man, and he replied, “Rest assured, sect leader, this disciple will avenge the humiliation we suffered!”
Lion Mountain, Tiangang Sect.
Hatred flashed in the eyes of the sect leader as he gritted his teeth and said, “Mini Frostcloud Sect, as long as you dare to turn up, hmph!”
On the east summit of Flying Blossoms Mountain, Jing Yue was practicing the seven sword styles together with Qin Yanzhi. They had been in this world for 20 years, and Jing Yue had also practiced the seven sword styles for 20 years. Unless under special circumstances, he could say that he didn’t stop for a single day.
Now, he was more acute to the sword style. Just an ordinary movement contained just the right touch of beauty as if he was one with the nature of heaven and earth.
As for Qin Yanzhi, he was born to practice swordsmanship. In just 15 years, his progress was no less than Jing Yue. He was no longer the little chubby who couldn’t even hold the sword steadily back then. Every strike he made conformed to the origin of the sword as if forged by nature. What was even better was that the sword spirit in his dantian had almost absorbed the malefic energy of the nine heaven rift, and the sharp Qi was even more intense than before.
Ten days ago, he suddenly entered into a meditative state during practice, and ten days later, he had successfully reached the Foundation Establishment stage.
In this way, Jing Yue could finally rest easy. Qin Yanzhi could not advance for a long time and he had been worried if he was guiding him in the wrong direction, and kept asking him about it. Blue phoenix said that his behavior was like some parents in the small world urging their children to marry and have children, and that anxiety was all for nothing.
After practicing for another half a day, Jing Yue retracted his sword and exchanged a smile with Qin Yanzhi.
At this time, the strong winds had receded, and a gentle breeze blew. One big and one small stood still and looked at each other, with the tacit understanding and closeness in their eyes that only they could understand.
Blue phoenix finally flew up staggeringly from the bottom of the mountain. After so many years, it still couldn’t withstand the strong winds and was no longer thick-skinned enough to brag about it. It slumped on Jing Yue’s shoulder, sobbing silently.
When they returned to the temple, Wu Zhongchun happened to be waiting at the door and said to Jing Yue as soon as he saw him, “Sect Leader, Tian Luo-zhenren has something to discuss.”
A few moments later, Jing Yue found Tian Luo and asked, “Why are you looking for me?”
Without further ado, Daoist Tian Luo said, “I just remembered something. It’s like this…”
It turned out that 1,000 years ago, Haotian Realm discovered a secret realm called Six Wheel, which opened once every hundred years, and only Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter.
“There is only one white jade building in the secret realm with six floors. The higher you go up, the more difficult it is, and the greater the reward. So far, no one has passed the fourth floor but for a disciple of Bluecloud Valley who stepped into the fourth floor a century ago. However, there were heavy casualties, and only one disciple escaped back.” Daoist Tian Luo said solemnly. “It is also said that there is a curse in the secret realm. People who enter may be unconscious at any time and fall asleep forever.”
Jing Yue nodded slightly. “It sounds very interesting. May I ask which floor have you reached?”
Daoist Tian Luo’s expression froze for a moment and reluctantly said, “Hmph, only 20 people can enter the secret realm each time and they are divided by the five immortals. How do rogue cultivators like us stand a chance?”
An uncanny smile appeared on Jing Yue’s face. “Then why are you telling me at this time?”
Daoist Tian Luo, “I just can’t stand their domineering ways. Now that Mini Frostcloud Sect has the strength to compete, why not share a piece of the pie?”
Jing Yue deliberately said, “But this piece of pie may be poisonous. Only Yanzhi and I are at Foundation Establishment stage in the sect, and Yanzhi is unwilling to be separated from me. Are you hoping for us to get trapped in the secret realm and inherit our legacy?”
Daoist Tian Luo said angrily, “Am I such a person?”
Jing Yue, “Who was the one who snuck into the talisman hall in the middle of the night the day before yesterday and stole the fetal sculpting talisman?”
Daoist Tian Luo, “…”
Jing Yue sighed. “If not for the hidden formation I’ve placed outside the talisman hall, you’d have succeeded.”
Daoist Tian Luo buried his face in his hands, too ashamed to see anyone. “What are you going to do then?”
Jing Yue, “If I went with Yanzhi, and I don’t know when we’ll return, the sect cannot be left without a leader. I hope that Zhenren can officially join my Mini Frostcloud Sect and guard the sect for me as an elder.”
“This…” Daoist Tian Luo paused briefly. Thinking back on the days he had spent in the sect, it seemed pretty good, right?
As a guest resident, apart from being ordered to go to Lion Mountain to provoke them at first, he had never done anything for the sect since then. All he needed to do was to study the talisman every day and there was no need to worry about spirit stones. Moreover, the fellow disciples were friendly and harmonious, and the relationship was not as complicated as he had imagined before, so it could be said to be free of any worries.
Besides, after being here for such a long time, he knew that Jing Yue’s methods were formidable. Any factions with the guts to make trouble up the mountain would return with their tails tucked between their legs like Tiangang Sect. If not for the fact that Jing Yue found it bothersome, he didn’t need Daoist Tian Luo’s presence at all.
To put it bluntly, Mini Frostcloud Sect borrowed his prestige but he received more favors in return.
At this moment, Tian Luo-zhenren made the wisest decision of his life.
“Okay then, I agree.”
Jing Yue laughed softly. “In that case, I shall trouble you then, Elder Tian Luo.”
After saying goodbye to Daoist Tian Luo, Jing Yue took a stroll around the temple. The moon hung high in the sky at this moment. He looked up at the stars in the night and suddenly thought of the World of Seven Continents.
20 years had passed now. Based on his current cultivation progress, without a chance encounter, it might take two to three hundred years before he could return. With the opening of the six wheel secret realm, although there might be many unknown dangers, it could also be a chance encounter for him.
In any case, since he knew about this matter, he would definitely go.
However… Jing Yue sneered. Mini Frostcloud Sect seemed to have been forgotten by the five immortal gates.
Chapter 95.2: Six Wheel Secret Realm pt. 2
Two days later, the sect leader of Bluecloud Valley received a transmitted message from Mini Frostcloud Sect.
“The six wheel secret realm is about to open. I heard that the five immortal gates each have four spots. My Mini Frostcloud Sect has only been established for 15 years, so I am embarrassed to ask for too much. You may just simply give me two spots.”
Jing Yue's laughing voice echoed in the hall and an elder said angrily, “He really doesn’t know his limits! Shameless! He really thinks we are afraid of him!”
“Exactly! He actually asked for two spots at once! How do we divide the remaining 18 spots?” Another elder also found it absurd. He was puzzled and said, “They only have one Foundation Establishment cultivator in the whole sect. Why do they need two spots?”
The hall was filled with discussion. In the end, the sect leader asked, “So, what do you suggest?”
The crowd looked at each other and someone said, “I don’t think the message from Mini Frostcloud Sect is only sent to Bluecloud Valley, right? The other four sects should also have received it. Why don’t we wait for their reaction before we decide?”
The disappointment in the sect leader's eyes flashed and he said coldly, “Fool! The five immortal gates are already suspicious of each other. Don’t you think the other sects will also share the same thought? If we drag things on, it will only offend Mini Frostcloud Sect.”
An elder huffed, “So what if we offend them? Should we be afraid of them?”
“Afraid? When has Bluecloud Valley ever been afraid of anyone? However, don’t you want the Genesis Elixir anymore?” The sect leader sneered, “I’ve already reached the Golden Core stage and don’t really care about it, but how about the rest of you? Don’t you need it?”
Seeing that no one answered, he added, “You may say disdainful words now, but who really dares to do anything to Mini Frostcloud Sect? They are not weak and they also possess the Genesis Elixir and fetal sculpting talisman. If they just spread a little news out, countless practitioners are willing to work for them! With their strength today, it's okay if they don't know about the secret realm. Once they know about it, they’d definitely share in a piece of the pie.”
An elder said dejectedly, “Are we just going to allow Mini Frostcloud Sect to take advantage?”
“That's not a matter of choice, but it’s still too early to say whose advantage they are taking.” The sect leader smiled subtly, “Since Mini Frostcloud Sect only asked for two spots, the remaining 18 spots won’t be evenly distributed among the five immortal gates, but someone will still get four spots. With the strength of Bluecloud Valley, it’s not difficult to get four spots. Isn’t it the same as before? Since we can be generous at the expense of others, why don’t we help Mini Frostcloud Sect and earn this favor?”
The elder was delighted. “Yes, I got it all wrong before! Now that Tiangang Sect and Bodhisattva Yu have joined forces against us, with Mini Frostcloud Sect stepping in, we may even try to pull some aggro! Hehe, not to mention the dangers of the secret realm. If anything happens to Sect Leader Jing in the secret realm, I wonder if Mini Frostcloud Sect can still hold on to their secrets?”
Everyone pondered. Since Bluecloud Valley wouldn’t suffer any losses, they said, “We respect the sect leader’s command.”
Ethereal Town.
The waiter put up the wood panels, casually slung the white cloth towel over his shoulder, and yawned as he prepared to go back to the room to clean up.
Suddenly, he felt the ground shake slightly. The waiter’s squinted eyes suddenly popped wide open. Was he too sleepy that caused the dizziness or did the ground move? He was hesitating whether to hide when he saw a red light shining through the gap of the carved window. The waiter jolted and took out a wooden door panel, only to see the blood-red sky like a sea of flames.
The immortal realm had opened!
The sounds of cheers came from Ethereal Town. They learned from ancient books or their ancestors that the immortal realm would open once every 100 years and immortals would come to this town by then. Anyone with the fate of an immortal could follow the immortals and live in the immortal mountain. Thus, this town was called Ethereal Town.
But a thousand years had passed and no one with the fate of an immortal had appeared in this town.
There was a small hill 50 miles outside Ethereal Town where the red light emitted. When the cultivators from surrounding areas noticed it, they thought a heavenly treasure was born and came from all directions.
But when they arrived at the hill, there were already people waiting there.
“Huh? It's someone from Tianshui Palace.”
“There’s also Bluecloud Valley, Tiangang Sect… all the five great immortal gates are here!” The person who spoke gasped. “Could it be the Six Wheel Secret Realm?”
“Who are the other two? They don't seem to belong to the great five.”
“Are you stupid? Of course it’s Mini Frostcloud Sect!”
At this moment, the six major factions stood in clear separation, with three people from Bodhisattva Yu and Tiangang Sect respectively, and four from the other three immortal gates. Only Mini Frostcloud Sect consisted of Jing Yue and Qin Yanzhi.
The three disciples of Tiangang Sect stared at Jing Yue viciously as if they wanted to eat him alive. Jing Yue was not afraid and grinned at them. “How have you been doing?”
He recognized that two of the three disciples had ‘visited’ Mini Frostcloud Sect as ‘guests’ before. One was surnamed Luo, who seemed to be a Shishu, while the other had a face full of pockmarks, and seemed to be surnamed Yu.
The muscles on Luo Chenghai's face trembled. His hatred for Mini Frostcloud Sect was bitter to the bone. He was somewhat surprised to see the other party turn up with two people. He thought that Jing Yue deliberately asked for two places to annoy others.
He sized up the other Foundation Establishment cultivator next to Jing Yue and saw that his bone age was only 20. Foundation Establishment at 20? It was impossible even if he started cultivation from his mother’s womb!
Jing Yue, “Most disciples of Mini Frostcloud Sect have excellent talent. Not any stinky fish or shrimp can join just to fill the numbers.”
Luo Chenghai was so angry that he was about to pull out his twin hammers. “You!”
Next to him, Pockmarks Yu tugged at him. “Shishu, ignore them. Let’s go in first before we say anything else.” After speaking, he looked around suggestively.
Seeing the rest of the sects peeking this way, Luo Chenghai grunted in exasperation, loosened his hold, and sneered, “Yes, let’s go in before we say anything else.”
Once they got in, don’t think of getting out!
But the fire in his heart had not been dispelled, so Luo Chenghai said to a few prying cultivators, “Tiangang Sect is on official business here, so get lost!”
The onlookers immediately scattered.
Luo Chenghai was finally happy, a hint of disdain in his glee. That should be the way! He was a member of the five immortal gates! Much more prestigious than Mini Frostcloud Sect!
At this moment, Qin Yanzhi was looking at the sky of red, and a door was faintly visible within. He suddenly felt that his chance encounter was right behind this door.
Speaking of which, he recalled that since his Foundation Establishment, his brother had found a bunch of sword techniques for him, but he always felt that they were not suitable for him, and he was afraid and worried that the other party would get angry. But his brother reassured him that his chance encounter had not arrived yet, and told him that once it appeared, he would know that it was his sword.
Thinking of this, Qin Yanzhi felt a surge of warmth and couldn't help calling out to him.
Jing Yue smiled as he looked over, and it was more beautiful than the morning sun against the red light.
At this time, everyone heard the clear sound of Daoist scriptures as if tens of thousands of Daoist priests sat around chanting together. The door in the red light finally revealed a gap, and a white jade stairway fell down.
A disciple from Bluecloud Valley approached and said to Jing Yue, “Sect Leader Jing, I’m Wang Yingfeng from Bluecloud Valley. The secret realm is now open. After you, please.”
Jing Yue, “Thank you.”
He touched his chest, exchanged glances with Qin Yanzhi, and stepped up the stairs with him.
When the twentieth person ascended the white jade steps, the red light dissipated and peace was restored.
Chapter 95.3: First Level pt. 1
With purple mist lingering at his feet, Jing Yue stepped on the white jade stairs and saw a six-story tower in the distance. A jasper plaque hung on the gate where the name ‘Six Wheel’ was written, and it was surrounded by scattered golden lights, full of celestial aura.
Jing Yue was a little surprised. He had thought that a small world would at most possess an ordinary secret realm, but this six wheel secret realm looked quite extraordinary. The more unusual, the more lurking crisis, but the danger must be accompanied by a turnaround.
He touched his chest again and said in a low voice, “Bear with it a little longer.”
Jing Yue walked up the white jade stairs one step at a time. It wasn’t that long, seemingly only a thousand steps, but Jing Yue felt that he had walked for a long time. And the longer he walked, the farther the tower seemed to get.
But he was not flustered in the slightest, just a step behind the crowd. It couldn’t go wrong if he followed the veterans. At the same time, he also remained vigilant. He didn't know if there was any danger along the way and people from the other sects would not share their experience with him. Some might even want him dead in the secret realm.
Since he didn’t know anything, he should be more observant and stay alert.
Fortunately, the journey was smooth. When he thought that the end was still far away, he suddenly took a step, and they had already arrived at the gate of the tower.
At the same time, the tightly closed door suddenly opened wide, and a suction force swept everyone in.
Bang!
The heavy door shut again, also announcing that there was no turning back for the twenty people. They would either die or wait until the secret realm’s teleportation array opened in ten years and send them away.
The scene that entered the eyes was a pool of clear water. Pieces of crushed ice floated on the water, and they were standing on top of a huge piece of crushed ice.
Very cold.
This was Jing Yue’s first thought. It was so cold that even as a single water spiritual root, he could hardly withstand it. Suddenly, his body was covered under a layer of spiritual energy to help him resist the cold. Jing Yue didn't need to turn his head to know that it was Qin Yanzhi.
“Ge, this place is very cold.”
Jing Yue, “Mm, this water is quite unusual.”
He lowered his head and saw many colorful fishes swimming in the water. It was beautiful, but the prettier it was, the more dangerous it was likely to be.
Jing Yue looked at the surroundings again and found only this water on the first floor. The surface of the water was vast and no end could be seen in all directions. The extreme ends were shrouded by the purple mist, and he wondered what lied behind the mist.
However, he was never a curious cat. Daoist Tian Luo had told him that the Six Wheel Secret Realm would be repaired and restored to its original form every time it was closed. In other words, everyone else knew how to deal with it, and he just had to follow suit.
The disciple of Bluecloud Valley, Wang Yingfeng, walked toward Luo Haicheng. “Do you have more Bloodred Pearls? If you don't have enough multicolor ore later, you can exchange it with that.”
Luo Haicheng's face changed and he sneered, “If you throw in your Bluecloud Valley’s Lichen Sword, I’ll reluctantly accept it.”
The two sparred verbally while the others laughed lightly. Only Jing Yue and Qin Yanzhi couldn't understand a word, but they were not in a hurry, so they stood quietly and waited for the others to act.
Naturally, they couldn’t hide their intentions from everyone. Luo Haicheng glanced at Jing Yue with a sneer and winked at the other two disciples of Tiangang Sect. The three of them then jumped onto another piece of floating ice, took out a fishing rod from the Qiankun bag, hung the bait, threw the rod into the water, and sat down to fish.
The others followed suit. Only Xu Fenglan of Tianshui Palace gave Jing Yue an apologetic look before she left.
Jing Yue had expected that he would be ostracized, but he remained calm and relaxed, patting his chest and saying, “Come out.”
A small blue chicken poked its head out and chirped twice, “Ji-ji is finally free!”
But the blue phoenix did not leave Jing Yue's embrace because it also felt the unbearable cold just now. Ji-ji always had extraordinary wisdom on how to escape danger.
This movement naturally attracted the attention of others and Luo Haicheng was shocked. “What did you bring in?”
Apart fromthe twenty of them in the six wheel secret realm, it should be impossible for any other living creatures to enter!
Jing Yue, “Divine beast.”
Unfortunately, no one would believe Jing Yue even if he told the truth. Luo Haicheng mocked, “A little chick like that is a divine beast? In that case, I’m a heavenly god!”
Jing Yue, “Alas, I understand you, because I doubt this fact many times myself.”
Blue phoenix, “…”
In fact, Jing Yue didn’t want to bring blue phoenix along to this risky adventure, but Ji-ji made a big fuss. He also wanted to test if the suppression of the secret realm had any effect on divine beasts, and it turned out that it didn’t.
Blue phoenix, “Jing-jing, there are colorful fish in there!”
Blue phoenix, “Ji-ji likes it!”
Blue phoenix, “Can you catch it for Ji-ji?”
When Jing Yue was about to speak, he saw Pockmarks Yu, the disciple of Tiangang Sect, lift his pole excitedly, and a small colorful fish hung on the hook. After catching it, he observed for a long time, sighed, and threw the fish back into the water.
Wang Yingfeng mocked, “Hehe, do you want to succeed on the first try? You must be dreaming.”
After saying that, a disciple of Bodhisattva Yu lifted his pole, and there was also a colorful fish on the hook. After he carefully looked at it, he suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed wildly. “Just for today, I have practiced for fifty years. Heaven rewards my diligence and good luck shall remain with Bodhisattva Yu!”
Everyone, “…”
Jing Yue watched as the youth cut open the belly of the fish and took out a colorful stone from it, before putting it into the Qiankun bag carefully. Apart from the few happy faces of Bodhisattva Yu’s disciples, the rest of the people looked at the youth with eyes full of jealousy and scorn.
He had some guesses in his mind, so he spread his divine consciousness and plunged into the water.
There were a lot of colorful fish underwater that swam in groups very quickly. They were not vigilant about the bait and would always bite whenever they saw the hook, but they were quick to react and rarely got caught. Even if they got hooked, they could break away most of the time, and when the angler lifted the fishing rod, it would be empty.
And among these fish, some were different. Other fish had colorful fins and tails while they had gorgeous scales. As the colored fish were very small, only as wide as a little finger, when the fish were mixed in groups, this subtle difference was difficult to detect with the naked eye. Even by using divine consciousness, it required precise control to discover it.
From the rest of the people's words and actions, Jing Yue judged that they should be trying to catch the fish with the colored scales and obtain the colored stones. Although he didn’t know the role of those colored stones, he just needed to execute the principle of ‘imitation’.
For others, catching the colorful scaled fish was up to luck, but for Jing Yue, it was a breeze with his divine consciousness as an aid.
Thus, he said to blue phoenix, “I’ll catch it for you.”
Jing Yue glanced at Qin Yanzhi. The latter knowingly followed and the two also chose a piece of floating ice and jumped on it.
Luo Haicheng noticed their movements and sneered inwardly. Even if Jing Yue found the clue, so what? Did he really think the colorful scaled fish was so easy to find? Jing Yue didn’t even have a fishing tackle. Was he going to go into the water to catch fish? Haha, if he really entered the water, that would be a good show to watch. The water looked very shallow but was in fact bottomless. Moreover, the temperature of the water was extremely low, which could quickly consume the spiritual energy of the practitioner without realizing it. When the practitioner realized, it would be too late, and could only freeze to death.
If the leader of Mini Frostcloud Sect died on the first floor, that would be good, right? Even if he didn't die, he could only make an exchange with valuable items if he wanted to enter the second level. In that case, should he demand the fetal sculpting talisman or the Genesis Elixir later?
Luo Haicheng was intoxicated with mirth when he suddenly heard Jing Yue say, “Over there!”
Immediately after, he saw the youth beside Jing Yue draw his sword and stabbed it nonchalantly into the water, splashing water in the icy lake. When the other party brought his sword up, there was a colored fish stuck to the tip of the sword.
Jing Yue, “Cut it open.”
Under everyone’s incredulous gaze, Mini Frostcloud Sect got their first colored stone from the belly of the fish.
Luo Haicheng, “…”
Others, “…”
The feeling of being bludgeoned!
However, the blow didn't end there. Before they could recover, Jing Yue said, “Southwest, six feet.”
Qin Yanzhi urged his sword. The sword light was like a shooting star and another colorful fish landed in his hand.
In this way, one person looked for it and the other stabbed at it. The person looking for it didn’t need to be very precise about the location but the other could accurately find the target from thousands of fish. The Jing and Qin duo worked perfectly together and caught six or seven colorful fish in just a short while.
Blue phoenix was so happy that it kept flapping its little wings. “The more fish Jing-Jing catches, the more he loves Ji-ji!”
After several times, the others finally awakened from the petrified state. When Jing Yue once again shouted out the direction, everyone headed in that direction with their heads lowered and flicked their fishing rods frantically. If they hadn’t learned from the records of their ancestors that they couldn’t enter the water, they really wanted to jump down and grab it!
Hence, such a scene was seen on the water surface—a dozen fishing lines entangled in one area, tossed about ten feet northeast, while another one flew northwest.
Jing Yue silently looked at a young monk named Yong Ming from Cihang Gate as the other party recoiled the line with a red face. The secret that had been hidden for so many years was exposed overnight, making him afraid to face it.
His shixiong shook his head, put his hands together, and recited a mantra.
At this time, a whooshing sound was heard. A sword was launched later but struck first, reaching into the water for only an instant before it was withdrawn again. A colorful fish was stuck on the tip of the sword, hovering in midair for a moment, before it returned to Qin Yanzhi's hands again.
As for the rest? What was the point of fishing when all the lines were tangled up in a mess?
The heck?
It didn’t make sense! How could this be!
The crowd wanted to cry and it took them a long time to untangle the mess of lines. They had to split up again and also wrap their divine consciousness around the fishing line to control where the hook fell. Some people even threw the fishing rod away and directly used the weapon, but unfortunately, they did not have the tacit understanding between Qin Yanzhi and Jing Yue, let alone the speed of Qin Yanzhi, and couldn’t catch anything at all.
Seeing Jing Yue harvesting the colored scale fish one after another, everyone got more anxious.
Jing Yue observed them and speculated that there were probably only 20 colorful-scaled fish, and the colorful stone in the belly might be the pass to the second floor, one for each person.
If any sects didn’t get enough colored stones, they had to use treasures to exchange with the sect that had a surplus of stones, which resulted in the conversation between Luo Haicheng and Wang Yingfeng earlier.
In that case, he wouldn’t leave them with any at all!
Jing Yue’s plan was well thought out, but luck was a mysterious thing, and some people were occasionally favored by lady luck.
Take Luo Haicheng for example. When he watched Qin Yanzhi getting another colorful fish again, he was so angry that he vented with his fishing rod. The fishing line made an arc through the air and fell into the water, exactly where Jing Yue just found a colorful-scaled fish, and it just happened to hook the back of the fish.
Jing Yue's eyes constricted and he said to blue phoenix, “Ji-ji, do this…”
In his arms, blue phoenix nodded fiercely with excitement, “Jing-jing, don’t worry. Ji-ji will fight for the sake of your face!”
At this time, the colorful fish at the bottom of the lake struggled frantically and pulled the float. Luo Haicheng, who was still in anger, hadn't noticed yet. He stared at Jing Yue fiercely when he heard Pockmarks Yu saying, “Fish! Luo-shishu, fish!”
“Huh?”
“You have fish on the hook!”
Although Luo Haicheng thought that the possibility of catching a colorful scaled fish was slim, he was still delighted to have a fish on the hook. What if?
He turned around, lifted the rod fiercely, and a colorful fish flew up in the air. Luo Haicheng's pupils dilated, his nostrils stretched, and his mouth widened. With his ape-like arms, he was about to catch the fish.
Twang!
The fishing line was cut by a leaf, slithering like a snake, and fell into the water together with the colored fish, disappearing in a flash.
The most fearsome was the sudden silence that came after, followed by an eruption of anger. Luo Haicheng's eyebrows were raised and his eyes were red. “Who! The! Hell! Is! It!”
His first target was Jing Yue and the latter calmly said, “Don't look at me. All of you are staring at me and Yanzhi. You may ask your fellow disciples if I did anything.”
Luo Haicheng again turned his gaze to Pockmarks Yu. Pockmarks was shocked by his expression, gulped nervously, and his voice changed a little. “They didn’t move.”
Luo Haicheng recalled that he didn’t feel any spiritual energy fluctuation from Jing Yue’s direction just now, so he glared at the other party viciously, and turned his aggression to the others.
“It's you!” He roared at Wang Yingfeng. “The spiritual energy fluctuation came from your direction. You snuck an attack on me!”
Wang Yingfeng looked innocent. “Fellow Daoist Luo, did you misunderstand something? Although we are competing against each other, the elders of our sects have warned that the secret realm is full of danger. Everyone must help each other and avoid internal conflict, otherwise, it will be harmful to everyone. I think that after a thousand years, the five immortal gates have reached a tacit understanding.”
Luo Haicheng was even more furious when he heard that. “Are you still pretending? You bunch of hypocrites from the Bluecloud Valley talk better than singing, but have you ever followed it? The last time and the time before that, you made it till the very end, and why was that? It’s because you have a conniving heart! Hmph, in the past, you’d still make a show out of it, but this time, you can’t even control yourselves at the first floor!”
His words immediately drew echoes from the disciples of Bodhisattva Yu. “Well said! Help each other? When has Bluecloud Valley never acted like a rabid dog at the end?  Grabbing everything in their sight!”
Wang Yingfeng was also angry now. “How dare you insult my elders?”
Luo Haicheng, “So what if I insult them? The person who made the first move is at fault. Who told you to harm my fish in the first place?”
“In the past, the five immortal gates vowed to advance and retreat together, but Tiangang Sect was narrow-minded and betrayed the covenant, and was the first to attack my ancestors. If you want to say that the fault lies with the first person, the fault lies with you!”
“That’s none of our business. We also told you 10,000 times before that Tiangang Sect has fallen to the trap set by those baldies from Cihang Gate back then!”
“Master Luo…”
The five immortal gates bore grudges for many years and the old debts were being overturned like an endless tide. When they got excited, they even came to blows.
But they were still afraid of disturbing the fish after all and controlled themselves to only using hands and legs, every strike to the flesh. However, no one noticed that the little blue chicken in Jing Yue's arms had wiggled into his clothes, revealing only a small bit of fluff on its head.
“Jing-jing, you must never give Ji-ji up! You have to protect me!”
“Obedient Ji-ji, don’t be afraid. No one will find out.”
Blue phoenix’s leaf blade could conceal spiritual energy fluctuations. He had intended to let Ji-ji snatch the fish unknowingly, but unfortunately, Ji-ji’s skills were too inferior. Moreover, coupled with the heavy responsibility to participate in the rare face-slapping session, in a moment of emotional excitement, the leaf blade that it spat out slightly leaked a trace when passing by Wang Yingfeng.
Although he was targeted first, and Wang Yingfeng was purely collateral damage, Jing Yue would not take the initiative to own up to it. He felt guilty for a moment and secretly said, “Live and fight another day. Brother Wang, I’m sorry about this!”
An hour later, everyone's anger finally calmed down. Except for the female cultivators from Tianshui Palace who were in a better condition, the others either had messy hair, disheveled clothes, bruised faces, or panting and glaring at each other.
Luo Haicheng was about to make another harsh threat again when he heard the voice that made his teeth itch with hatred.
“Fellow Daoists, according to my observation, there are no more colorful scaled fish in the lake. I caught a total of 19, plus the one that Bodhisattva Yu has gotten, the total is 20.” Jing Yue asked sincerely, “So, is 20 the maximum number? Is there no more fish for you?”
Everyone, “…………”