The Xiaochongshan Secret Realm is located in the Liu Ming Mountain. When the Floating Sky Immortal Ship of the Xuanxu Sword Sect arrived at the mountain gate, it was just around noon.

Liu Ming Mountain is a major sect of immortals, different from the Xuanxu Sect, which focuses on the way of the sword, and the Fanyin Temple, which devotes itself to Buddhist cultivation. Liu Ming Mountain integrates numerous sects of cultivation, similar to a comprehensive university.

In the mountains, immortal clouds swirl, and lakes are abundant. When the sunlight falls into the water, it creates glistening and bright specks of light, like fragments of a shattered sun falling to the mortal world, making the mountain appear radiant.

Among the mountain forests, immortal cranes leisurely roam, and beautiful pavilions and towers stand on layer upon layer of mountain peaks. The glistening water reflects white walls and glazed tiles, resembling a paradise on earth.

“This place is so huge!”

He Zhizhou jumped off the immortal ship and, to express his excitement, exclaimed a string of direct expressions like a 21st-century straight man: “Awesome! Invincible! 666!”

After being called by the elders to the Qingxiao Hall, it took great effort to explain that he only detected the demonic energy in Pei Ji and was attempting to investigate his identity. As for the “dark and thick thing,” it was just a small, broken demon-slaying knife.

Ji Yunkai opened his mouth in silence, and Shi Jingyi shed tears when she heard the explanation.

It is said that the elders collectively remained silent for a long time, and it was Tian Xianzi who pretended to cough and said, “Yes, yes! We called you here to discuss this—we shouldn’t discriminate against those with demon bloodlines! Pei Ji didn’t do anything wrong, and he ended up with such a father; who can blame him? Zhizhou, you need to understand our intentions!”

So the matter was left at that, and He Zhizhou’s evaluation when he complained to Ning Ning was that those people shouldn’t have meals; they should have consumed decontamination powder instead.

“The Xuanxu Sword Sect has arrived!”

The middle-aged man standing at the mountain gate smiled warmly, took a step forward, and was followed by several disciples in blue robes with bound hair. He said, “It’s been a long time since we last met, and it’s a pleasure to welcome you!”

The person was none other than He Xiaochen, the head of Liu Ming Mountain.

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a wave of excitement in a calm male voice beside him: “When does the sect leader have time to spar with me?”

Surprisingly, He Xiaochen didn’t decline and immediately turned to face the challenger, Zhen Xiao. His dark eyes shone, and he said, “Right now! Come, I’ll take you to a good place!”

“Leader.”

One of his disciples spoke from behind, “This is the time to welcome the major sects. If you leave now…”

He Xiaochen waved his hand and said, “Just say I got too excited about welcoming guests and nearly lost my temper. I’m not feeling well and need to rest in my room.”

Then he turned to Zhen Xiao and said, “Let’s go!”

The two sword shadows transformed into light and disappeared.

Seeing He Xiaochen’s refined and scholarly appearance, no one expected that he was also a battle enthusiast like Zhen Xiao.

“Please don’t mind.”

The blue-robed disciple who spoke earlier smiled politely and gracefully. He stepped aside, creating a wide path, and said, “I am Xie Jiuming from Liu Ming Mountain. The secret realm will open tomorrow, and today our sect has prepared a feast for you. Please follow me.”

The Xuanxu Sword Sect had fifteen disciples present, and the ones Ning Ning recognized were Lin Xun, Pei Ji, He Zhizhou, and Qin Shu.

The banquet was set up at the peak of Xuanji Peak, with clouds and mist rising, and a variety of exquisite dishes filled the tables, giving the feeling of a heavenly feast.

Ning Ning and Lin Xun were two unlucky children who were used to eating dirt. They hadn’t seen such a spread of delicious dishes in a long time. Especially for Ning Ning, who had come from another world, each type of food seemed exceptionally novel, and she dug in without much thought.

Xie Jiuming was slightly taken aback.

While the previous banquet before the secret realm’s opening was called “rest and recuperation,” the main purpose for disciples from various sects was to gather information and assess the strength of their peers.

But these people were all wholeheartedly indulging in the food.

Ning Ning ate with a smile on her face and said, “It’s so soft and cool, with a silky smooth texture. When you take a bite, the cool sweetness seems to turn into water and flow into your stomach. This white jade cake is the best in the world!”

Lin Xun’s eyes turned red. “This fish soup is tender and delicious. It must have been made with high-quality spring water to remove the fishy smell. When you taste it, the rich aroma is unmatched.”

Xie Jiuming:…

“Don’t you know that this banquet isn’t meant for eating at all?”

Finally, someone who understands

Xie Jiuming turned his attention to the person who had spoken. It was He Zhizhou in white, with handsome features and a carefree demeanor. He was undoubtedly a charming young man.

Ever since they arrived at Xuanji Peak, he had been carefully observing all the disciples from different sects, likely planning and preparing strategies in his mind, waiting for an impressive display once the secret realm opened.

After a momentary pause, He Zhizhou stared wide-eyed and spoke even faster: “There are so many handsome guys and beautiful girls here, my God! Why don’t you hurry up and feast your eyes on them!”

Xie Jiuming:…

Impressive. Truly worthy of the Xuanxu Sword Sect.

Lin Xun was extremely shy, too embarrassed to even scrutinize others in public. Only Ning Ning raised her head honestly, nodding enthusiastically, “Really, really! So many beautiful sisters! ”

She picked up another dessert, her eyes shining as if she had discovered something new. “The sister in the blue dress is the best!”

In a corner of the banquet, there sat a young girl dressed in a long aqua blue dress. She had phoenix-like eyes and vermilion lips, with skin as smooth as condensed fat. At this moment, her whole body seemed to be enveloped in faint sunlight, making her appear even more translucent.

The young girl had eyes like artwork, like smoke, and when she sat alone on the side, it was as if even the wind around her had slowed down, making her surprisingly quiet.

“That’s our junior sister, Yun Duanyue, from Liu Ming Mountain. It might be challenging to strike up a conversation with her,” Xie Jiuming honestly said. “It’s not that she’s overly confident or difficult to approach, but Junior Sister Yun is naturally reserved. Except when she’s with close friends and family, she rarely speaks.”

Doesn’t that mean she’s even more socially anxious than Lin Xun?

Ning Ning nodded in thanks and shifted her gaze to the other side.

In the bustling crowd, there was another figure that stood out.

Unlike the solitary Junior Sister Yun, this person was surrounded by quite a few disciples from various sects, indicating that he was quite popular.

He was a young monk, exceptionally handsome.

The young monk wore a white robe, had a tall figure, and his almond-shaped eyes always carried a smile. Under his tall nose, the corners of his pale pink lips curled upward.

He had an outstanding appearance, a brilliant red mark on his forehead, and when he smiled, it was like a snow lotus that seemed unattainable as a heavenly mountain, exuding a unique charm.

“That’s Mingkong from the Fanyin Temple.”

Xie Jiuming followed her gaze and patiently explained, “A young genius with a compassionate heart.”

Just as he finished speaking, a clear, youthful voice from beside him, filled with a lazy and playful tone, scratched gently at their eardrums. “Who here isn’t a young genius?”

The voice was pleasant, and Ning Ning, with a pastry in her mouth, rolled her round black eyes.

Then she heard He Zhizhou exclaim, “Wow!”

The newcomer was a boy of about sixteen or seventeen, and his level of attractiveness was in no way inferior to Mingkong.

In fact, in terms of being “charming,” he surpassed even Mingkong.

The boy was dressed in fiery red, which stood out among the black, white, and blue attire of the disciples from various sects.

His ink-black hair flowed freely behind him, accentuating his porcelain-like face and shockingly red lips. His slender, almond-shaped eyes were brimming with a playful smile. He appeared nonchalant, but with just a slight arch of the corner of his eye, he exuded countless seductive and alluring qualities.

Not to mention the slight upward curl of his lips, as if he were naturally born with an alluring charm.

Xie Jiuming snorted, “A bewitching cultivator from Niguang Island.”

Many disciples from these major sects didn’t hold the bewitching cultivation method in high regard. Bewitching cultivators: the more beautiful they were and the more talented, the higher their status. This young boy had already reached the Golden Core stage at such a young age, indicating how exceptional his appearance must be.

He ignored Xie Jiuming’s attitude and smiled, tilting his lips towards Ningning. “I assume you are a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. I am Rong Ci from Niguang Island.”

“I’m Ning Ning.”

Ning Ning swallowed her pastry and smiled. “This is my first time seeing a bewitching cultivator. Do you practice on the island? How is the scenery on Niguang Island? You’re so handsome; you must be very powerful.”

This time, Rong Ci seemed to pause momentarily with an almost imperceptible expression. Most sect disciples either regarded them with coldness or felt too embarrassed to respond after a greeting. Someone like her, who openly complimented him after a greeting, was a first.

It was a bit foolish.

“What is the scenery on Niguang Island like…”

Bewitching cultivators were straightforward in their temperament. When they spotted their prey, they would strike without hesitation. His smile deepened, and he took a step closer to the young girl at his side. “Come with me to take a look, and you’ll find out. Miss Ning Ning, with your extraordinary beauty, if we could be—”

Ningning was listening to him very seriously.

Be what?

“Sister!”

However, in the middle of his sentence, someone interrupted him.

Pei Ji appeared out of nowhere, raising his eyebrows slightly.

The male lead was indeed the male lead, and even when compared to Rong Ci’s stunning appearance, he didn’t fall behind.

Pei Ji had a naturally beautiful appearance, and his black attire made him stand tall like a bamboo swaying in the wind or a sharp, unsheathed sword, radiating an irresistible aura.

The indifferent murderous intent was crushed at the corners of his eyes, condensing into a deep red teardrop mole at the end of his eye. He was currently looking at the red-clad, bewitching cultivator with a half-smile, inexplicably exuding a hint of danger.

He seemed to raise an eyebrow, showing a hint of provocation. Although he was speaking to Ning Ning, his gaze was fixed on Rong Ci’s face. “Our master is about to take us to our rooms for the night. If you don’t hurry, you’ll miss it.”

Rong Ci squinted his eyes and responded with a smile, not uttering a word.

“Oh! I’m coming right away!”

Ning Ning said, then glanced at Rong Ci. When he looked back at her, he put on that harmless smile again and heard her say softly, “I’ll go ahead then! We can continue our conversation next time.”

She paused. “But the next time we meet, it will probably be in the secret realm.”

“Yes,” the red-clad bewitching cultivator replied with a faint tone, containing a hint of anticipation. “By that time, we’ll be competitors.”

Liu Ming Mountain lived up to its reputation as a major sect for immortals. Even the guest rooms were exquisitely decorated, and each room came with an alchemy furnace.

At the sight of the alchemy furnace, Ning Ning remembered a certain not-so-good memory and couldn’t help but feel pain in her body. But the successors of New China were not easily defeated by such minor setbacks! If you fall, you must rise from where you fell. She still didn’t believe that she couldn’t handle a furnace.

“What? Cooking with an alchemy furnace?”

He Zhizhou blinked for a moment and then grinned approvingly. “Of course! This alchemy furnace is like a cultivator’s version of a microwave. Not only can it control the heat by itself, but the things it makes also have their own aura. If you use it to make food, you might even be able to make something shocking.”

In truth, there were no technical or theoretical obstacles to cooking with an alchemy furnace. It’s just that in the eyes of cultivators, furnaces were meant for refining precious elixirs, and using them to cook food was seen as somewhat extravagant.

But Ningning thought differently.

Back in her previous world, she used to make some desserts by herself. Since arriving here, she rarely had the opportunity to visit the kitchen, and tasks like lighting fires and washing pots were quite cumbersome. If she could turn the alchemy furnace into a portable oven that she could put in her storage bag, she could make cultivator versions of green bean cakes, osmanthus cakes, egg yolk puffs, and even sushi!

The two of them just did what they said. Due to the lack of ingredients, they decided to make caramelized bananas using the sugar syrup and starch from Ning Ning’s storage bag and the apples, bananas, and pears on the guest room table.

Qin Shu, who shared a room with Ning Ning, watched them bustling around with their preparations while holding a sword. “What is caramelized banana?”

“It’s a delicious delicacy! Junior sister, you’re in for a treat tonight!”

He Zhizhou gave a thumbs-up. “After the sugar syrup solidifies around the cut bananas, when you eat it while it’s hot, the sugar becomes crunchy and crispy, and the inside of the banana is soft and tender, releasing a sweet and warm fragrance from the inside out—exquisite!”

Qin Shu said, “Oh, why did Senior Brother Lin Xun turn pale and run into his room when he saw me?”

Ning Ning replied, “My junior brother is shy and gets nervous around strangers. I’ve bought him a practice partner to work on his conversation skills. Hopefully, he can improve.”

The first banana, coated with oil and starch, was placed in the furnace. Ning Ning was almost choked by the smoke and nearly dropped the chopsticks.

Just then, she suddenly noticed a shadow passing in front of her, blocking the thick white smoke.

It was Pei Ji who raised his left hand to shield her from the smoke with his sleeve and, without asking for permission, took the chopsticks from her hand. “I’ll do it.”

The touch of their hands only lasted for a very short moment.

Pei Ji’s palm was as cold as dark iron, while her hand was soft and warm. When they made brief contact, it sent a chill down Ning Ning’s spine, and she blinked in surprise.

By the way, he was born with a cold body, and his health was not very good.

Pei Ji was clever and quickly grasped the process of making caramelized bananas, expertly flipping and pinching with his long, nimble fingers. In no time, an entire cut banana was placed in the alchemy furnace.

Unlike Ning Ning, He Zhizhou didn’t usually act mischievous unless he was doing tasks assigned by the system. Otherwise, he was quite friendly in his interactions with Pei Ji.

As a former acting student who had once dreamed of winning an Oscar, he maintained a malicious persona with professionalism. He snorted coldly. “I didn’t expect it, but your sword skills are lacking, and your culinary skills are decent.”

Of course, he didn’t.

Ningning thought that Pei Ji had always been neglected by his mother, and if he didn’t learn how to cook for himself, he would probably have starved to death a long time ago.

All the bananas were in the furnace, and now they faced a very important question.

Ningning scratched her head and looked quite serious. “So… how long should we wait for them to be ready?”

=====

“…Gathering intelligence?”

Evening, in a guest room at Liu Ming Mountain.

A young woman in plain attire sat at a wooden table. Although she was engaged in conversation with the person next to her, her gaze remained fixed on the “Nine Styles of Taiqing Sword” she held in her hand.

She was Su Qinghan, a direct disciple of the Wanjian Sword Sect.

“Indeed! The secret realm will open tomorrow, and since we have some free time, why not go and see what disciples from other sects are like?”

The young man on the side said, “Senior sister, the Xiaochongshan Secret Realm only opens every few years, and many Nascent Soul stage cultivators treat it as a place for trials and competition. As the saying goes, knowing yourself and your enemy ensures victory. So why don’t we—”

“Xu Ye, as a sword cultivator, you should not be interested in such crooked and deviant paths.”

Su Qinghan’s voice was calm, devoid of any inflection. “No matter who they are, when they face our swords, there is no difference.”

In other words, when it came to cutting down grass, every blade was the same.

This senior sister was quite formidable.

The young man known as “Xu Ye” was so disappointed that he had to say goodbye and exit the room. He said his goodbye and left the room, but Su Qinghan’s refusal didn’t mean he would give up halfway.

His senior sister always said he had too many wild ideas and didn’t seem like a proper sword cultivator. But Xu Ye thought that it wasn’t about having too many wild ideas; it was about having strategic tactics.

After all, he had been taken care of by his senior sister for so long, so he needed to make her see his preparations for the upcoming battle in a new light tomorrow.

With the Xiaochongshan Secret Realm about to open, many sect disciples were diligently studying the rules of the secret realm. Some had even spent a fortune to acquire information about the secret realm and were now cramming knowledge. It was as if they were preparing for a final exam, with the atmosphere becoming increasingly intense.

Xu Ye looked around and eventually arrived at the guest room of the Xuanxu Sword Sect.

The first few rooms seemed quite normal. Disciples were either practicing swordsmanship, reading, or idly passing the time. However, when he reached a particular room, he was astonished.

In that room, the window was slightly ajar. Through a small gap, he saw the profile of a man.

This man had dragon-like horns and handsome, gentle features. He was speaking softly to someone in front of him and seemed quite shy. “Miss, my name is Lin Xun, and I am a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. May I know your name?”

But there was no response.

Yet it was as if he had received an answer, and he lowered his head, blushing and smiling. “Is that so? That’s a beautiful name. Miss, what brings you here?”

Then there was a long silence.

However, this Lin Xun, who was a member of the Dragon Clan, looked like he was listening intently to something, nodding occasionally in agreement.

Xu Ye was puzzled and changed his angle to get a clear view of the person Lin Xun was addressing.

Upon doing so, his scalp almost exploded.

He…he…he…he—

The person he was talking to was not a person, but a scarecrow with simply painted human facial features!

This is too scary! Why would someone talk to a scarecrow and keep talking back and forth! Is this fellow cultivator not mentally right? Does it really matter if he goes to participate in the secret realm like this?

But this is not over yet.

Lin Xun, in the room, frowned. “No… this won’t work.”

He was not speaking to a human but to a simple straw man with human features that was intentionally prepared by Ning Ning as a tool for her junior brother to practice conversation.

What he didn’t know was that Lin Xun was only doing this because he found it unrealistic to talk to thin air and thought it wouldn’t be an effective practice. To make it more effective, he decided to imitate his “conversation partner.”

The only thing Xu Ye witnessed was the seemingly mentally distured Dragon Clan member experiencing a second awakening and repeating that nightmarish line, “Miss, my name is Lin Xun, and I am a disciple of the Xuanxu Sword Sect. May I know your name?”

Then he saw Lin Xun pause and turn around.

Then, with a shy smile and gentle words, he said, “This one is called Xiaohua. May I inquire, sir, what brings you to this place?”

The situation became even more bizarre than Xu Ye could have ever imagined.

Xu Ye rolled his eyes and almost vomited from shock.

He heard a cold, mocking laughter from the room.

Lin Xun’s face contorted, and before he could change his expression, he chuckled crookedly, his nose and mouth askew. “I have come to this place to vanquish demons.”

Xu Ye: Damn it.

Xu Ye: Damn, damn, damn, damn, damn!!!

This person’s condition is getting worse and worse! He has started talking to himself! Please, just be a little more normal! He’s just a kid, and he’s really scared!

What is he doing? What is this?!

There’s no demonic aura in the room, so the only explanation is that this person has a problem with his head.

Xu Ye was so terrified that he fled in a hurry and came to another room.

After that heart-pounding drama he had just witnessed, he now felt at home everywhere he looked, and everything seemed familiar.

In this new room, the windows were wide open, and he could easily see inside. Xu Ye was eager to see something normal to cleanse his eyes, so he raised his gaze without hesitation—

Then his expression stiffened completely.

There were four people in the room: two men and two women.

An odd odor he had never smelled before wafted out of the room. One young man in white held a pair of chopsticks and plucked something from the alchemical furnace.

No, Xu Ye could roughly guess what it was.

It was a cylindrical object, deep brown in color, emitting a strange aura.

How could someone put this thing in an alchemical furnace?

His young mind suffered a strong shock.

Ning Ning exclaimed, shaking her head repeatedly, “Truly astonishing, it defies the passage of time and captivates all living beings. With this appearance, it is undoubtedly worthy of becoming the top delicacy in the cultivation world.”

He Zhizhou restrained his nausea and disgust, saying, “This doesn’t look like something to eat, it looks like what you get after eating something—a reverse aging process. Have you seen ‘Return to Youth’? Without getting any younger, you just become an old man straight away, just like this.”

Qin Shu, with an unchanged expression, took a step back and blurted out, “Amitabha.”

Even someone as strong as her couldn’t withstand such a visual shock.

Pei Ji: “…”

“It might be because it was in the alchemical furnace for too long; that’s why the color is a bit dark.”

Ning Ning patted He Zhizhou on the shoulder. “The taste should be fine. We are the first ones in the entire cultivation world to make it, so a small mistake is normal.”

Well, you are indeed the first ones to make this thing.

Xu Ye trembled, really wanting to ask, What are you guys aiming for?

“I don’t understand why you’re going through all this trouble,” said Qin Shu. “Is there any difference between this and eating it directly? This way, it’s completely unappetizing.”

Damn it.

Is there really an appetite to eat it directly?

Your Xuanxu Sword Sect is truly invincible.

After that, the young boy witnessed an image that would be etched into his memory for a lifetime.

The white-robed sword cultivator from the Xuanxu Sword Sect picked up the cylindrical object, his face filled with confusion, and took a bite.

Xu Ye saw his expression transform from initial disgust and revulsion to gradually soften, revealing a faint smile that eventually turned into unparalleled enjoyment.

Yes, he was actually enjoying it.

“Well, I didn’t think anyone would eat this thing.”

He Zhizhou slowly raised a thumbs-up. “Even though it looks ugly, it’s beautiful to the soul!”

This is no longer about looking ugly! It has issues at its core—real issues!

Who would have thought?

As one of the top martial sects in the world of cultivation, disciples of the Xuanxu Sword Sect were either talking to themselves in a terrifying manner, bursting into strange laughter, or gathering in their rooms to cook using the alchemical furnace.

Xu Ye was on the verge of tears.

His psyche had suffered a double blow, and he couldn’t handle it all alone.

The communication talisman in his arms flashed with a faint light, and he saw a message from a senior martial brother: [How’s the investigation? The Xuanxu Sword Sect is our arch-enemy; I wonder how they are doing?]

Xu Ye was so frightened that he had tears in his eyes. He used his trembling right hand to take out a brush from his storage bag and wrote down a few crooked words.

The last three exclamation marks in that message each contained his endless tears.

[It’s terrifying; don’t get close!!!]

 

(T/N: 666 (pinyin: liùliùliù) represents 溜溜溜 (pinyin: liùliùliù); or smooth/slick -comes from Chinese gaming slang, where gamer would put ‘666’ in the chat after seeing another showing an impressive skill/awesome)