Mortal: Junior Sister Song Yu

Three days before the opening of the Yunmeng Secret Realm, Li Xiao and Song Yu arrived together at the temporary residence of the Luoyun Sect in the Yunmeng Mountains.

Li Xiao's cultivation had reached the Great Perfection of the thirteenth level of Qi Refining. In his dantian, the thirteen drops of golden-red liquid mana were like living things, chasing and playing with each other, full of spirituality, representing the perfect state of the Qi Refining stage.

He can go into seclusion to cultivate his foundation at any time.

Song Yu's progress was even more astonishing. His aptitude for the Heavenly Spiritual Root was fully unleashed under the catalysis of the Heavenly Spiritual Milk. In just one year, he also reached the Great Perfection of the Thirteenth Level of Qi Refining. His foundation was just as solid as Li Xiao's.

Both of them stood at the end of the Qi Refining stage, just one step away from leaping over the dragon gate.

However, with the opening of the Yunmeng Secret Realm imminent, they made the same decision without prior agreement—to postpone their Foundation Establishment and enter the Secret Realm first!

The base was located atop a precipitous mountain peak, where array formations shimmered and isolated the miasma and roars of beasts from the mountains.

The two were on their way to pay their respects to their master, Song Zhi, and their grandmaster, Elder Zhao.

Inside the quiet room, Song Zhi looked at the two perfect people standing side by side in front of her, her eyes so tender they almost melted.

She was already a pseudo-core cultivator, her aura ethereal, like a banished immortal, yet the maternal love she possessed remained undiminished.

"Xiao'er, Yu'er, are you really sure? Aren't you going back to the sect to establish your foundation first?"

Song Zhi's brows furrowed slightly, her words revealing her unconcealed worry.

"With your current accumulation of knowledge and skills, the chance of successfully establishing your foundation is as high as 80%. The secret realm is fraught with danger at every turn, so why not prioritize safety first? Once you've successfully established your foundation, you can enter the secret realm again with much more ease, won't you?"

Li Xiao shook his head, his gaze clear and firm, reflecting Song Zhi's worried face.

"Master, you once taught me that the path of cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't fight, you perish."

"Junior Sister has a Heavenly Spiritual Root. Her future is as vast as the stars. Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and even the legendary Divine Transformation Realm are not out of reach."

"Although I have now reached the pinnacle of the Qi Refining stage by sheer luck, if I want to stand shoulder to shoulder with her and see all the scenery on the mountaintop, I cannot slack off in the slightest."

His voice was calm, yet carried a resolute determination.

"The opportunities within the secret realm may allow us to walk more steadily and go further after we establish our foundation. If we retreat now, our Dao heart will be clouded, and I fear I will live in regret for the next fifty years."

"How many fifty-year periods does one have in a lifetime to wait for?"

These words left Song Zhi speechless.

Elder Zhao, standing to the side, stroked his beard, his eyes gleaming with admiration.

"Good! Well said!"

"Cultivating immortality is all about struggle! Struggling against fate and destiny! With such ambition, Xiao'er, what is there to fear in not achieving the Great Dao!"

The old man flipped his hand, and a talisman, entirely golden, appeared in his palm. On the surface of the talisman, a miniature golden knife phantom floated, its sharp edge revealing itself as it cut through the surrounding air.

"This is a talisman, which I obtained in exchange for a batch of top-grade pills. It can unleash the full power of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Take it; in a moment of crisis, it might carve a path to your survival!"

Li Xiao was deeply shocked.

Talisman!

This thing is far more valuable than ordinary magical artifacts; it's a true life-saving trump card!

He solemnly accepted the gift with both hands, bowed deeply, and said, "Thank you so much for your generous gift, Master!"

Seeing this, Song Zhi stopped trying to persuade him, but sighed softly and took out a jade bottle and handed it to Song Yu.

The bottle is crystal clear and engraved with mysterious water ripple patterns.

"Yu'er, this is a bottle of 'heavy water' that your mother retrieved for you from the deepest part of the spring at Tianquan Peak."

"A single drop carries the weight of a thousand pounds. If one faces a life-or-death crisis, activating this water to protect the body will make one invincible within the Foundation Establishment stage."

Song Yu took the jade bottle; it felt cold and heavy in her hand, and her eyes instantly reddened.

"Thank you, Mother... Thank you, Father."

The two bid farewell to their elders and returned to their assigned rooms.

Inside Li Xiao's room, he sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his sea of ​​consciousness, beginning to take stock of his trump cards.

The ancestral Tang sword that had been with him for ten years, with the Li family crest engraved on its blade, had been transformed into a top-grade magical weapon under the nurturing of golden-red magic power. Its sharpness was now concealed, and it could replace the standard long sword he usually carried at any time.

He reached up and touched his chest, where he wore a jade pendant close to his body. It was icy cold to the touch, the Ice Heart Pendant given to him by Song Yu, which could suppress inner demons and stabilize his mind at all times.

There is also an inner armor made of iron essence and red copper ore, which fits tightly against the skin and is strong enough to withstand a full-force attack from a Qi Refining cultivator.

Pills, talismans, spirit stones... the accumulation over the years transformed into streams of information flowing through his mind, giving him more confidence for the upcoming journey to the secret realm.

Just then, there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Senior brother, are you there?"

It was Song Yu's voice.

Li Xiao got up and opened the door, and her eyes were suddenly lit up.

Song Yu changed out of her usual long dress and put on a well-tailored blue-green outfit that perfectly accentuated her slender figure.

Her long, black hair was tied high in a ponytail. She lost her usual ethereal beauty but gained a touch of heroic spirit, making her uniquely captivating.

"Try this."

She handed over a storage bag, a faint blush on her cheeks.

Li Xiao probed in with his divine sense.

For a moment, his breath caught in his throat.

Inside the storage bag lay ten talismans, lying quietly!

Each one possessed astonishing spiritual pressure. On the pale blue talisman paper, intricate lightning patterns were drawn with pure water-attribute magic, as if sealing a small thunder swamp.

"Ruoshui Heavenly Thunder Talisman?"

Li Xiao's voice was somewhat hoarse.

These are top-tier talismans recorded in the "Ruoshui Divine Canon," each one capable of posing a fatal threat to a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the early stages! In terms of value, each one is worth no less than a hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and they are priceless and impossible to buy!

"Yes! I drew it!"

Song Yu's voice was barely audible, and he lowered his head somewhat embarrassed.

"As you know, senior brother, I haven't been learning talisman making for long, and my success rate has always been low... This is all the results I accumulated during my travels in Fengri City. I thought it would be good to be more prepared since the secret realm is dangerous."

A warm current suddenly exploded in Li Xiao's heart, instantly flowing through his limbs and bones.

He knew all too well how terrifying the consumption of divine sense was when drawing talismans of this level!

Behind these ten talismans are countless sleepless days and nights of her life!

Li Xiao carefully put the storage bag into his bosom, his movements gentle, as if he were collecting a priceless treasure.

"Thank you, junior sister."

"And this..."

Song Yu then took out another jade slip and handed it to him.

"This is the map of the secret realm that I compiled. I have integrated all the records about the Yunmeng Secret Realm from the sect's classic texts, from the notes of my predecessors to the records of previous explorations."

"It marks areas where treasures might be found, indicates various known danger zones, and... it also shows the routes that disciples from major sects usually take. In case... in case we get separated by teleportation, you'll have something to refer to, Senior Brother."

Li Xiao took the jade slip and immersed his consciousness into it.

A vast amount of information flooded my mind in an instant.

Where might the spiritual herbs needed for Foundation Establishment grow? Where might powerful spirit beasts dwell? Where might ancient restrictions exist? Where might senior cultivators have discovered clues about inheritance caves?

All information is presented in the finest detail, and everything you need is included!

The value of this map cannot be measured in spirit stones!

"Junior sister, you..." Li Xiao's throat bobbed, overwhelmed with emotion.

"We are... we are Daoist partners, that's only right."

Song Yu's voice grew softer and softer, her cheeks flushed red as if they were about to bleed, but her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, filled with unwavering determination.

Li Xiao couldn't resist any longer. He reached out and gently ruffled her hair, his gesture full of affection.

"Yes, we are Daoist partners."

That night, the two sat side by side on the roof of their camp, gazing up at the starry sky.

The starry sky over the Yunmeng Mountains is even more dazzling than that of the Luoyun Sect. The silhouettes of the Three Wonders Peaks stand majestically in the night, and the colorful spiritual clouds on the mountaintops flow with a dreamlike luster under the moonlight.

"Senior brother, what is your hometown... Jin Yan City like?" Song Yu leaned on his shoulder and asked softly.

Li Xiao fell silent.

His thoughts drifted back to that blue planet, which, though devoid of spiritual energy, was equally dazzling.

"My hometown..."

He spoke slowly, his voice carrying a hint of distant memories.

"The people there don't understand cultivation, and their lifespan doesn't exceed a hundred years. But with their wisdom, they created iron chariots that can travel ten thousand miles a day, iron birds that can soar through the sky, and 'mirrors' that can transmit people's images and voices to the ends of the earth..."

"Though their lives were short, they lived incredibly brilliantly."

Song Yu listened quietly, then suddenly looked up and stared intently at Li Xiao.

"Senior brother?"

"Um?"

"After we reach the Foundation Establishment stage, how about we visit the Li family's ancestral land?"

She bit her lip, her voice carrying a hint of pleading.

"I want to...I want to go and offer incense to my uncle and aunt, so they can see me."

Li Xiao's heart was struck hard by those words, and instantly softened completely.

He looked down at the sensible girl in his arms, whose understanding was so touching, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"it is good."

The gentle moonlight cast long, long shadows of the two people.

Three days later, at dawn.

Outside the Cloud Dream Secret Realm, in a huge valley, people thronged.

Disciples from the Luoyun Sect, the Ancient Sword Sect, and the Hundred Crafts Academy gathered here, numbering over three hundred. An atmosphere of both solemnity and fervor permeated the crowd.

In everyone's eyes burned ambition, desire, and vigilance against unknown dangers.

Li Xiao's gaze swept across the crowd, and he saw several familiar faces.

Lin Feng, a genius of the inner sect of Luoyun Sect and the personal disciple of Yue Rushan, the "Green Pine Sword," is also at the Great Perfection of the thirteenth level of Qi Refining. Carrying an ancient sword, he is like a sharp sword that has been drawn from its sheath.

Tian Ling, the little sword immortal of the Ancient Sword Sect and the granddaughter of the Core Formation Elder Tian Feng, may only be at the twelfth level of Qi Refining, but her condensed sword intent has made many cultivators at the thirteenth level of Qi Refining take notice.

There's also Fu Yun, the puppeteer from Baiqiao Academy, who is said to be able to control five puppets at the same time, comparable to those at the tenth level of Qi Refining. He is a team all by himself.

But these people are ultimately a minority.

There were over two hundred people in the arena, all of whom were Foundation Establishment cultivators, and some even had profound auras, clearly indicating that they were already in the late Foundation Establishment stage!

"It seems that the Yunmeng Secret Realm is ultimately a hunting ground for Foundation Establishment cultivators," Li Xiao thought to himself. "We Qi Refining cultivators will probably only be able to get a taste of the spoils on the outskirts."

"quiet!"

A sharp shout, like a thunderclap, rang out as the late-stage Core Formation elder of the Ancient Sword Sect, who was in charge of opening the secret realm, stood in mid-air, his imposing aura as solid as a mountain.

"Remember, the secret realm will only be open for ten days! After ten days, no matter where you are or what you have gained, you must activate the teleportation ring on your hand to leave, otherwise you will be swept into the spatial turbulence and perish forever!"

"Within this secret realm, opportunity and death coexist! Whether you are a dragon or a worm, fate will decide!"

"Go then, pursue your destiny in the immortal realm!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the three elders simultaneously made hand seals, and their immense magical power poured into the center of the valley.

Om-!

Space twisted violently, and a huge vortex with a diameter of a hundred feet appeared out of thin air. Colorful spatial power flowed wildly within it, emitting terrifying fluctuations that made one's soul tremble.

"Walk!"

Li Xiao and Song Yu exchanged a glance, and without the slightest hesitation, they leaped into the bottomless whirlpool.

The world is spinning!

It was as if I had been thrown into a giant drum, and the concepts of time and space became blurred.

After an unknown amount of time, Li Xiao's feet suddenly gave way, and he landed heavily on the soft ground.

The moment he landed, a dense, almost liquefied spiritual energy rushed towards him, penetrating every pore of his body!

He breathed deeply, feeling his magical power increasing with each exhale.

What a wonderful secret realm of Yunmeng!

Ancient trees reach for the sky, their massive canopies cutting the sky into countless fragments.

In the distance, the roars of monsters rose and fell, filled with a primal and wild quality.

He instantly spread his divine sense and immediately detected a familiar aura approaching him from a hundred feet away.

It was Song Yu! They weren't separated by too much distance!

"Junior sister, I'm here!" he immediately transmitted his voice.

Soon, the blue-green figure emerged from the trees and came into his sight.

Seeing that Li Xiao was safe and sound, Song Yu visibly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Senior brother, what's next..."

Before she could finish speaking, the ground beneath her feet suddenly trembled!

Boom!!!

A nearby ancient tree, which required several people to encircle, was uprooted by a tremendous force and slammed to the side!

From the shadows of the forest, a colossal creature emerged.

That was a golden demonic ape that was three zhang tall!

Its golden fur stood on end, gleaming with a metallic sheen. Its bulging muscles resembled coiled dragons and crouching tigers. Its scarlet eyes stared intently at Li Xiao and Song Yu, filled with savagery and hunger.

A level-two peak demonic beast! Its strength is comparable to the early stage of Foundation Establishment!

Li Xiao's eyes instantly sharpened.

Clang!

The Tang sword was drawn, and golden-red flames danced and swirled across its blade.

"It seems that if I want to explore in peace, I'll have to use it as a sacrificial offering for the knife first."

"Senior brother, let's attack together!" Song Yu's Azure Wave Sword was also drawn, emitting a clear and melodious sword sound.

"Attack together!"

Li Xiao nodded, the tip of his knife pointing diagonally at the ground, standing shoulder to shoulder with the girl beside him.

Golden blade flames intertwined with emerald water, transforming into a dazzling curtain of light that faced the ferocious demonic ape radiating overwhelming power.

This was the first time in their eighteen years of arduous training that they had truly faced an opponent at the Foundation Establishment level.

This is also their first battle as Daoist partners, fighting side by side!

"roar--!"

The demonic ape pounded its chest and roared, its massive body transforming into a golden lightning bolt as it pounced forward!