Starting with the creation of the Immortal Clan through the compilation of the family genealogy.

Chapter 52 Treasure Hunt in the Secret Realm, Encountering Enemies While Breaking Through Realms

Deep within the secret realm, spiritual mist swirls, ancient trees with gnarled branches intertwine, and three Moonflower Grasses grow beside a blue stone. The grass leaves gleam with a faint silver light, and when the spiritual dew that drips from the tips of the leaves falls to the ground, it causes the surrounding spiritual energy to tremble slightly.

Yun Songzi took the jade pendant from Meng Xihong. His fingertips touched the cool jade surface, and when he saw the two characters "Dongtian" (洞天) appearing on it and glowing with the flow of spiritual energy, his pupils suddenly contracted.

"It's actually a fragment of the Cave Heaven Key!" He stroked the edge of the jade pendant, his tone becoming more solemn. "The original owner of this secret realm was quite thoughtful. He probably broke the key into several pieces and hid them among spiritual objects. If we can collect all the fragments, we might truly be able to control the entire secret realm."

Upon hearing this, Meng Xihong's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly stepped forward, saying, "What you say is absolutely right, senior. Please take this Moonflower Grass first. You have just taken Yan Wei as your disciple, and you need this to nourish your soul. Please keep the three three-hundred-year-old ones, and the rest..."

As he spoke, he stuffed the less than 100-year-old Moonflower Grass into Meng Yanwei's arms, saying, "Yanwei, quickly put it away. You have just guided your Qi into your body. This grass, when boiled into a soup, can strengthen your foundation and is much more effective than ordinary spiritual materials."

Meng Yanwei's arms were piled high with gifts, his little face flushed: "Dad, I don't need this much..."

“If you don’t need them, just keep them safe. Our Meng family has just established itself in Qingyang City and is in dire need of these spiritual materials that can be passed down through generations.” Meng Xihong patted his son’s shoulder, then turned to Yun Songzi and smiled, “Senior, you don’t need to be so formal. You are Yan Wei’s master, and therefore a benefactor to our Meng family.”

Yun Songzi nodded in satisfaction: "You little rascal, you're quite the smooth talker. I only took on a disciple, I didn't sell myself to your Meng family."

“In this way, I will take five Moonflower Grasses that are over a hundred years old, and the rest will be divided between you and your son. Yan Wei’s foundation is still shallow, so let’s leave him two more.”

"I'll do whatever you say, Senior. You care for Yanwei so much, even more than I do for your own father. As the saying goes, 'A teacher for a day is a father for life.' Now you're practically Yanwei's father. What father doesn't live with his child? Senior doesn't have a fixed place to live right now, but our Meng family has some newly built empty rooms. I'll use the Azure Agarwood Mother to set up a few spirit-gathering formations for you. If you move in, it will be convenient for you to teach Yanwei, and you can also enjoy the dishes made from the spiritual plants that Yunniang grows. The taste is amazing..."

Seeing that Yun Songzi's cultivation was unfathomable, Meng Xihong had long since thrown all pretense of face to the wind.

At this juncture, what's the point of talking about high morals and dignity? Shamelessness knows no bounds! The most important thing right now is to bring Yun Songzi back to the Meng family! He's only been with us for a short while and has already benefited so much; if we can really keep him here…

"Enough, enough!" Yun Songzi raised his hand to interrupt. "Let me think about it some more. If I listen to you any longer, it'll feel like I'm signing a lifelong contract." Even so, he carefully put the Cave Heaven Key into his storage bag, unable to hide the smile in his eyes.

The three of them ventured deeper into the secret realm, where the spiritual energy grew increasingly dense, almost tangible.

Glowing spirit vines entwine the branches of ancient trees, and fragments of spirit crystals are occasionally seen on the ground. Even the wind blowing through the forest carries the refreshing spiritual energy of the plants.

The spirit beasts they encountered along the way became increasingly powerful, some even emanating an aura that reached the late Foundation Establishment stage.

There were towering red-eyed bears and venomous green-scaled snakes, but Yun Songzi only needed to lightly tap his fingertip, and a gentle spiritual energy made the red-eyed bear obediently shrink into a ball and retreat to the side, while the green-scaled snake coiled up in a circle and dared not move.

Meng Xihong became even more determined to use Meng Yanwei as a link to lure Yun Songzi over. Since he had already gone so far as to be shameless, he might as well go all in. This way, at least the Meng family would have someone protecting them and could develop in peace for a while, without having to walk on thin ice anymore.

After walking for half an hour, a hot spring with steaming white vapor came into view.

The hot spring water shimmered with a pale blue luster. On the green stones on the shore, a golden spiritual fruit hung from a branch, its peel adorned with fine golden patterns. Its fragrance wafted for miles, even tinging the surrounding air with a sweet scent.

"Golden Scale Fruit!" Yun Songzi's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped forward and circled the spiritual fruit twice. "This fruit takes thirty years to flower, thirty years to bear fruit, and another thirty years to ripen. Judging from its color, it probably has the medicinal effects of ninety-nine years! Taking it can help Qi Refining cultivators break through their realm barriers. Xi Hong, aren't you stuck at the peak of the seventh level of Qi Refining? This fruit is rightfully yours."

Meng Xihong was overjoyed, but still pretended to decline, saying, "Senior's cultivation is higher, so perhaps..."

"What use would I have for this Qi Refining stage spiritual fruit?" Yun Songzi rolled her eyes at him, picked the fruit, and stuffed it into his hand. "Quickly consume it to break through. Yan Wei and I will protect you. Don't delay. The spiritual energy flows quickly in the secret realm. If you delay, the medicinal effect will easily dissipate, and it would be a pity to waste this good thing." Meng Xihong no longer refused. He sat cross-legged by the hot spring and put the Golden Scale Fruit into his mouth. The fruit melted instantly in his mouth, and a warm current spread throughout his body. Countless tiny spiritual threads seemed to be traveling through his meridians.

He immediately activated the "Green Wood Nourishing Body Technique" and the "Thick Earth Technique," causing the spiritual energy in his dantian to suddenly boil and circulate wildly along his meridians, repeatedly impacting the barrier of the eighth level of Qi Refining.

The spiritual energy around the hot spring was suddenly stirred, condensing into a visible white vortex. Meng Xihong was gradually covered with golden light, and his hair and clothes moved without wind.

Meng Yanwei clenched his small fists, nervously standing by his side, his eyes wide as he watched the golden light emanating from his father grow ever brighter. He couldn't help but whisper to Yun Songzi, "Master, is my father about to succeed?"

"It'll be soon." Yun Songzi stroked his beard, his eyes full of approval. "Your father's wood-type technique suits him very well, while this earth-type one is a bit weaker. However, with the effects of the Golden Scale Fruit, his breakthrough in both wood and earth elements should be a certainty."

He changed the subject, looking at Meng Yanwei with a more serious tone, "Remember this well: on the path of cultivation, both opportunity and hard work are indispensable. If you get an opportunity, you must cultivate diligently and not always think about playing around, lest you neglect the important matter of cultivation."

He secretly pondered: This Meng Xihong is a rare individual with all five elements of spiritual roots, and unlike those with mixed spiritual roots, the five elements are perfectly harmonious and mutually reinforcing.

This is clearly the kind of miraculous effect that only the legendary "Innate Five Elements Dao Body" can produce!

Such talent would be considered exceptional even in ancient times. It's a pity that he only cultivated the wood and earth elements.

If Meng Xihong knew his thoughts, he would probably burst into tears. It's not that he doesn't want to, it's that he simply can't!
After reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining, each breakthrough in a new cultivation technique requires more than thirty low-grade spirit stones, and cultivating two techniques simultaneously costs twice as much.

Moreover, he has a large Meng clan relying on him for support. The path of cultivation is paved with spiritual resources, which is exactly what he lacks most.

Meng Yanwei nodded hurriedly, and was about to ask another question when he saw Meng Xihong's spiritual energy surge, and an aura far exceeding his previous strength suddenly erupted. He opened his eyes, a golden light flashing in them, and as he stood up, the vortex of spiritual energy around him slowly dissipated.

"Qi Refining Level 8! Success!"

Meng Yanwei jumped up with joy and grabbed his father's sleeve. "Dad, can you defeat that bad guy who drove us out of Wufeng County now?"

Meng Xihong laughed heartily and patted his son's head: "Not yet, but given time, let alone Lin Lang, even stronger cultivators will be no match for your father. Your father will never let such a thing happen again."

Meng Xihong stood up, feeling the surging power within his body, and said with joy, "Thank you for protecting me, senior. If it weren't for the abundant spiritual energy here and the miraculous effects of the Golden Scale Fruit, I wouldn't have been able to break through so smoothly."

"No need for thanks, it's all fate... Hmm?" Yun Songzi suddenly frowned and looked into the depths of the secret realm. "There is the aura of living people, and the yin energy is eerie. They seem to be from the Yin Sha Sect."

Before the words were finished, three dark figures appeared not far away like ghosts. The young man in the lead was pale-faced, dressed in black clothes embroidered with skull patterns, his triangular eyes narrowed, and his tone was sinister: "Where did this rogue cultivator come from, daring to touch the spiritual fruits of my Yin Sha Sect's secret realm?"

He waved the small banner shrouded in black mist in his hand, from which faint, mournful howls emanated: "But you've come at the perfect time. Perfect for testing the power of my Hundred Soul Banner. This banner already contains the souls of a hundred cultivators; today, I'll let you all enter it as well!"

A cold glint flashed in Meng Xihong's eyes, and his spiritual energy surged: "One Qi Refining Level 5 and two Qi Refining Level 6, yet they dare to spout such nonsense here?"

(End of this chapter)