34: Secret Journey

In the early morning of Lingmiao Market, thin fog enveloped the bluestone-paved streets, and the air was filled with a faint scent of Spirit Medicine.

Xu Qi'an stood at the entrance of the Qingzhu Market, his gaze sweeping over the familiar street scene, a trace of emotion rising in his heart.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, you've waited a long time."

A clear, cold female voice came from behind him; Water Lingmiao walked gracefully towards him, accompanied by a young girl in a pale green long dress.

The young girl had picturesque eyebrows and eyes, and her eyes sparkled with agile light.

"This is my Disciple, Shui Ling'er."

"Fellow Daoist Chu probably didn't see her last time; Ling'er was in seclusion then."

Water Lingmiao smiled slightly, her tone carrying a hint of indulgence, "Ling'er, this is Chu Senior."

Shui Ling'er blinked her eyes and gave a playful bow: "Greetings, Chu Senior! Master often mentions you, saying you are the most powerful Sword Cultivator in Yue Country!"

Xu Qi'an was slightly startled and carefully observed the young girl before him.

The young girl named Shui Ling'er looked about seventeen or eighteen years old, appearing quite delicate and lovely, her every frown and smile full of youthful charm, easily evoking feelings of tenderness.

He shook his head and smiled: "Miss Shui is too kind."

"On the contrary, Miss Shui's talent is outstanding; her bone age is probably less than thirty, yet she has already reached Foundation Establishment. Her path to immortality is promising!"

Shui Ling'er blinked her eyes, a slight smile on her lips, and casually linked her arm with Water Lingmiao's, saying with a cheerful smile.

"Chu Senior looks young too, and my Revered Master is only sixty years old!"

This sentence was a bit meaningful, causing Water Lingmiao to be slightly startled. Her gaze lowered a little, and she pinched Shui Ling'er's delicate skin, scolding softly.

"Ling'er, don't be impudent!"

Xu Qi'an's expression was a bit strange, so he turned his head away and did not respond.

Shui Ling'er made a face and stood to the side, saying nothing more.

Water Lingmiao looked at the sky and said: "It's getting late, let's depart now."

The three of them boarded the flying boat and sped towards Qingzhu Market.

On the flying boat, Shui Ling'er chattered non-stop, sometimes asking Xu Qi'an about the essentials of sword techniques, and sometimes narrating interesting anecdotes from her time in the Qingzhu Market.

Although Xu Qi'an didn't talk much, he occasionally responded, making the atmosphere harmonious.

"Chu Senior, I heard you are a Cultivator from outside Yue Country. Ling'er has never been outside Yue Country. What is it like?"

Xu Qi'an chuckled awkwardly, glossing over the question.

He didn't know what things were like outside Yue Country, so he just said something vague.

However, Shui Ling'er's words did remind Xu Qi'an that things outside Yue Country rarely circulated within their own country.

It was as if it was deliberately avoided, and Xu Qi'an couldn't figure out why.

"When my cultivation level is higher in the future, I can go take a look."

"But for now, let's focus on this Foundation Establishment Mystic Realm!"

It took about a day for Xu Qi'an and his group to reach their destination.

The outline of Qingzhu Market gradually became clear. Xu Qi'an stood on the flying boat, looking at the familiar buildings in the distance, a trace of complex emotion rising in his heart.

Ten years ago, he was just a low-level Spiritual Farmer here. Now, returning to this old place, he was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

He inexplicably felt that things had changed and people were no longer the same.

The flying boat slowly landed on the central square of Qingzhu Market.

Water Lingmiao put away the flying boat and led Xu Qi'an and Shui Ling'er towards the main council hall.

In front of the hall, several Cultivators in green robes had been waiting for a long time. The one in the lead was the lord of Qingzhu Market - Lu Guangtian.

"Daoist Shui, it's been a long time."

Lu Guangtian smiled slightly, his gaze sweeping over Water Lingmiao and Xu Qi'an, a hint of scrutiny flashing in his eyes.

Water Lingmiao nodded and said lightly: "Market Lord Lu, this is Fellow Daoist Chu Du, my friend."

"Since you are Fellow Daoist Shui's friend, I, Lu Guangtian, welcome you greatly." Lu Guangtian's face held a smile, his tone carrying a hint of probing, "I just don't know where this Fellow Daoist Chu hails from?"

"Fellow Daoist Chu looks quite unfamiliar to me!"

Xu Qi'an's current appearance was naturally after changing his form, not his original Spiritual Farmer appearance.

However, there were only so many well-known Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage in Yue Country, so Xu Qi'an's appearance aroused Lu Guangtian's curiosity.

Xu Qi'an's expression remained unchanged, and he said lightly: "Just a rogue Cultivator, no need for Fellow Daoist Lu to worry."

Hearing this, Lu Guangtian's smile paused but quickly returned: "Since that is the case, please wait for a moment. Once the people from Jinshi Bazaar have arrived, we will discuss matters concerning entering the Mystic Realm."

Xu Qi'an nodded, his gaze sweeping over the crowd in the hall, when he suddenly glimpsed a familiar figure - Lu Anhe.

She stood behind Lu Guangtian, and when her gaze met Xu Qi'an's, there was also a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

"Lu Anhe has also reached Foundation Establishment! Well, that's normal; Lu Anhe's Aptitude was originally quite good."

"However, Lu Anhe is currently only at the second layer of Foundation Establishment cultivation, whereas I am already at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment cultivation!"

"Things are different now!"

A sense of amusement rose in Xu Qi'an's heart.

He glanced again and saw an old man in the corner; it was precisely Li Wanggao.

"Unexpectedly, Li Wanggao has also reached Foundation Establishment. That's a surprise, though only at the mere first layer of Foundation Establishment."

Li Wanggao seemed to sense Xu Qi'an's gaze as well, was slightly startled, and smiled kindly towards Xu Qi'an.

Xu Qi'an smiled back kindly.

"Old geezer, your revenge hasn't been taken yet!"

Three days later, the people from Jinshi Bazaar finally arrived.

Leading them was a burly middle-aged Cultivator, the lord of Jinshi Bazaar - Jin Yuanjiu.

Beside him was a young man with a stern face; he was his younger brother, Jin Yuanshen.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Daoist Shui, it's been a long time."

Jin Yuanjiu cupped his hands, his tone carrying a hint of arrogance.

Lu Guangtian smiled slightly and said: "Market Lord Jin, you've come a long way, it was hard work. Since everyone has arrived, let's begin the discussion."

Inside the main council hall, the three Market Lords sat around a large round table, while Xu Qi'an and the others stood to the side, listening.

Lu Guangtian spoke first: "The Foundation Establishment Mystic Realm that opens once every three years, everyone knows the rules, so I won't say more."

Water Lingmiao nodded.

Jin Yuanjiu, however, snorted coldly and said: "The treasures in the Mystic Realm are obtained by one's own ability, but if anyone tries to trip others up in secret, don't blame me for being impolite."

Lu Guangtian smiled and said: "Naturally, but for this opening of the Foundation Establishment Mystic Realm, other Fellow Daoists of the Foundation Establishment Stage in Yue Country also wish to enter. I wonder if everyone agrees."

"As you all know, only people from our three Qingzhu Markets entered the previous Foundation Establishment Mystic Realms, which has already caused dissatisfaction among many Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage in Yue Country."

"I fear if we don't open up the access further, it might attract the attention of Floating Cloud Sect. And by then, if Floating Cloud Sect takes over the Foundation Establishment Mystic Realm, I'm afraid neither you nor I will even be qualified to get a share."

Water Lingmiao and Jin Yuanjiu fell silent; they also knew this situation would occur.

Up until now, the Foundation Establishment Mystic Realm had not been taken over by Floating Cloud Sect, and they already had quite a few suspicions in their hearts.

Was there some problem within Floating Cloud Sect?

Xu Qi'an, meanwhile, stood to the side, listening carefully to the trio's conversation.

Five days later, the Cultivators from the three Qingzhu Markets gathered at the foot of Xiao Langlang Mountain.

Xu Qi'an stood among the crowd, his gaze sweeping around, secretly on guard in his heart.

He discovered that there were now over a dozen auras of Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage around Xiao Langlang Mountain.

"It seems there are quite a few more Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage in this Foundation Establishment Mystic Realm!"

"Perhaps even some Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage who have been in seclusion for years have rushed here!"

Xu Qi'an roughly sensed the crowd; those at the early Foundation Establishment Stage accounted for the majority, those at the middle Foundation Establishment Stage were few, and there were none at the late Foundation Establishment Stage.

At this moment, Water Lingmiao walked to his side and whispered: "Fellow Daoist Chu, after entering the Mystic Realm, we will be randomly teleported to different locations. This is a partial map of the Mystic Realm, keep it safe."

Xu Qi'an took the map, swept it with his spiritual sense, and found that it marked several dangerous areas and Spirit Medicine distribution points.

Water Lingmiao continued: "After entering the Mystic Realm, find my location and meet up as soon as possible."

"There are many more Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage this time, so some conflicts are inevitable."

Xu Qi'an nodded and said lightly: "Understood."

Just then, the three Market Lords simultaneously took action, their spiritual power converging into a brilliant pillar of light that shot straight into the sky.

Within the pillar of light, a huge portal slowly opened, emitting dense spiritual energy fluctuations.

"The Mystic Realm is open, please enter!" Lu Guangtian announced loudly.

Xu Qi'an took a deep breath and stepped into the light portal.

Everything went black before his eyes, and then became bright again; he was already in an unfamiliar mountain forest.

The roars of demonic beasts came from afar, and the air was filled with a faint smell of blood.

"It seems this trip to the Mystic Realm won't be too easy."

Xu Qi'an muttered to himself, then unfolded the map and quickly headed towards the location marked by Water Lingmiao.