68: Chapter 68 Seeking a Gap to Enter the Secret Realm, First Exploration of the Star Forest

Cuiping Mountain, with its towering peaks and layers of ridges, was shrouded in ethereal mist.

Ye Qing left the noisy crowd at the canyon entrance and quietly slipped into the dense forest on the flank.

He restrained his aura, his Divine Sense spreading like mercury poured onto the ground, carefully perceiving every subtle fluctuation in the surrounding space.

The spatial distortion coming from the direction of the Spiritual Qi vortex was the most intense, like a lighthouse in the dark night.

But what Ye Qing was looking for were those "undercurrents" that were relatively weak but more concealed.

He moved slowly up along the steep cliff, avoiding several dens where low-level Yao Beasts might be entrenched, and finally arrived in front of a cliff wall completely covered by thick vines.

The cliff wall looked ordinary, with mottled rocks and hanging vines.

But in Ye Qing's perception, the spatial barrier here, compared to the surrounding area, presented an extremely unstable, subtle ripple like a stone thrown into water.

The center of the ripple was inside the rock wall where the vines were densest.

"This is it. A naturally formed weak point in space, or perhaps a crack caused by an ancient Restriction that has fallen into disrepair."

He pushed aside the vines, revealing the slippery rock wall. He condensed a trace of Chaos mana at his fingertips and gently tapped the center of the ripple.

Hum.

The surface of the rock wall rippled like water, revealing a pale silver, twisted light gate only wide enough for one person to pass through sideways.

The light gate was extremely unstable, its edges constantly fluctuating as if it would collapse at any moment.

The scene inside the gate was blurry; only twisted light and shadows and chaotic currents of Spiritual Qi could be seen.

"It really is a Secret Realm crack. It's unstable and risky, but it saves me the five hundred Spirit Stones for the 'passage fee'."

Ye Qing pondered for a moment without hesitation. He first swallowed a "void concealment pill" to reduce his presence to the minimum.

Then, a faint Chaos spiritual light rose around his body, protecting him.

With a flicker of his figure, he activated "Void Step", turning into a blurry shadow, and at the moment when the light gate fluctuated most steadily, he dashed into it.

The light and shadows before his eyes shifted, and a sense of spatial pulling came over him.

However, Ye Qing had a deep understanding of spatial power and was protected by the Void Dao Seed, so this brief transmission did not have much impact on him.

A moment later, his feet touched the ground.

The scene before him suddenly opened up, completely different from the lush greenery of Cuiping Mountain outside.

The sky was an eerie dark red, with no sun or moon, only a few phantom stars emitting pale light hanging high, and the light was dim.

On the earth, there were no ordinary plants or mountains, but an endless, strangely shaped "forest".

These "trees" were dark silver or grey-black, their texture neither gold nor wood, more like some kind of solidified, twisted mixture of metal and rock. The branches were twisted and coiled, the surfaces covered with natural, star-like markings, emitting a faint power of stars and the aura of metal and iron.

The ground in the forest was covered with thick, dark gravel shimmering with starlight. The air was dry and cold, the Spiritual Qi thin and chaotic, filled with a depressing sense of silence, as well as ubiquitous, subtle, chaotic spatial fluctuations.

"Is this the interior of the Cuiping Mountain Secret Realm? It really is related to the stars. These 'trees' look more like rocks or metal veins that have mutated after being radiated by some intense stellar power for a long time. This place... calling it 'Star Forest' is more appropriate."

Ye Qing felt a sense of awe in his heart. His Divine Sense instantly spread out, maintaining a range of fifty zhang around him, vigilantly scanning this strange forest.

The forest was dead silent; there were no insects or birds, nor the aura of any Yao Beast activity.

Only the "rustling" sound, like metal rubbing against metal, which set one's teeth on edge, was emitted when a light breeze blew through those metal "tree" trunks.

He tried to touch the nearest dark silver "strange tree" with his Divine Sense.

When his Divine Sense touched it, he could clearly feel a trace of pure but violent stellar power contained within the trunk, as well as a rich aura of metal and iron. The tree body was extremely hard, far exceeding ordinary steel.

"These strange trees themselves might be excellent Artifact Refining Materials, or perhaps they can be refined to extract Star Iron Essence and Metal Fiend Qi. But they are not easy to harvest, and the movement might be quite significant."

He did not act immediately but carefully observed the environment and identified the direction first.

In the distance, deep within the Secret Realm, several auras of varying strength could be faintly felt, mixed with sporadic explosions of spiritual power and shouts. Clearly, some people had already entered from the main entrance and were active in the depths, or even engaged in conflicts.

"Find a relatively safe place first, get familiar with the environment, and then make plans."

Ye Qing selected a direction slightly deviated from those aura fluctuations, activated "Wind Spirit Wings", and flew low against the ground, while restraining his aura to the extreme, moving through the strange metal forest like a ghost.

After flying for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a relatively open "forest clearing" appeared ahead.

In the center of the clearing, there was a dilapidated, simple stone house ruin built with the same dark silver metal rock.

The ruins were not large, with only broken walls remaining, but the architectural style was primitive and rough, completely different from the buildings in places like Liuyun City today, exuding a desolate and ancient atmosphere.

"There are architectural ruins... It seems that ancient Cultivators did indeed operate here, or it may be related to the original owner of this Secret Realm."

Ye Qing landed on the edge of the ruins without approaching immediately.

He first scanned every inch of the ruins with his Divine Sense to ensure there were no hidden Restrictions or signs of life.

Then, he walked in slowly.

The interior of the ruins was empty, with only thick starlight gravel and some metal debris.

Under a collapsed stone slab in the corner of the wall, he found a few dull-colored metal fragments with almost dissipated Spiritual Qi, which seemed to be the remains of some object and had no value.

Just as he was about to leave, his gaze swept across the floor in the center of the ruins and suddenly paused.

There, covered by starlight gravel, there seemed to be an extremely vague pattern trace carved with a Sharp Weapon.

He brushed away the gravel, revealing a circular pattern about a foot in diameter.

The pattern's lines were simple, with a point in the center, surrounded by several concentric arcs, and several unidentifiable, twisted ancient symbols marked on the arcs.

The entire pattern faintly exuded a trace of extremely weak, almost dissipated spatial fluctuation meaning related to "positioning" and "guidance".

"Is this... some kind of simple star positioning array map? Or a spatial coordinate marker?"

Ye Qing squatted down and carefully identified those ancient symbols. The symbols were incomplete and difficult to interpret, but two of them were somewhat similar to a certain symbol representing "distance" and "gathering" that he had obtained from the star comprehension fragments in the stone house at the bottom of Zhuixing Lake.

"Perhaps, it is some kind of road sign or contact marker left by an ancient Cultivator? Pointing to a specific location deep in the Secret Realm?"

He pondered in his heart, firmly remembering the shape of this pattern, the symbols, and the characteristics of that trace of spatial fluctuation.

He searched the ruins carefully again and found nothing else.

Just as he was about to stand up, his ears suddenly twitched.

In the distance, in the metal forest about a few miles away, came a faint, urgent sound of breaking through the air, and a few angry shouts.

"Chase! Don't let that kid run away!"

"He's injured, he can't run far!"

"The item must be on him!"

Someone was coming in this direction, seemingly in pursuit.

Ye Qing's eyes flashed, and his figure instantly merged into the shadows of the ruins, his aura completely restrained, blending into the surrounding environment.

The effect of the "void concealment pill" was still present, combined with his understanding of spatial concealment, as long as he didn't expose himself actively, ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find it difficult to detect him.

A few breaths later, the sound of breaking through the air approached rapidly.

Two escape lights, one after the other, swept rapidly from above the metal forest and landed not far outside the ruins.

The person in front was a young Cultivator wearing cyan tight-fitting clothes, with a pale face, blood at the corner of his mouth, and cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. At this moment, he was leaning on a broken Flying Sword, staggering backward, his eyes filled with terror.

The two chasing from behind both wore uniform dark red robes with flame emblems embroidered on their chests. One was at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage, and the other was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, with ferocious smiles on their faces as they slowly approached.

"People from Chiyan Valley?" Ye Qing recognized the style of the robes. Chiyan Valley was a small Sect near the Cangyun Mountain Range known for its fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques, with an overbearing Sect style and ruthless actions.

"Kid, hand over the 'Star Marrow Iron', and I will spare your life!" the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage Chiyan Valley Cultivator shouted coldly, with firelight spitting from the crimson long knife in his hand.

"I found it first!" the cyan-clad Cultivator gritted his teeth, covering his chest with his hand, blood seeping through his fingers, clearly seriously injured.

"Hmph, items in the Secret Realm belong to those with virtue. A Loose Cultivator like you, are you worthy of possessing such a spiritual item? Seeking death!" The other Chiyan Valley Cultivator sneered, raising his hand to cast a crimson fireball, whistling toward the cyan-clad Cultivator.

The cyan-clad Cultivator struggled to block with his broken sword.

Bang!

The fireball exploded, and the cyan-clad Cultivator let out a miserable groan, was knocked backward by the shock, hit the broken wall of the ruins where Ye Qing was hiding heavily, vomited a mouthful of blood, his aura withered, and the broken sword in his hand flew out of his grip.

"Stubborn!" The Foundation Establishment Mid Stage Chiyan Valley Cultivator's eyes flashed with fierce light, and he raised his long knife, about to end the other's life.

Just at the moment when the blade light was about to fall.

A sudden change occurred.

In the shadow of the ruins behind the cyan-clad Cultivator that looked ordinary, a shadow so faint it was almost invisible emerged silently.

The shadow raised his hand and flicked his finger at the Chiyan Valley Cultivator who was raising the knife.

A point of Chaos star light arrived first, and in the astonished eyes of the Chiyan Valley Cultivator, it sank into his brow.

The Cultivator's figure stiffened suddenly, the light in his eyes dissipated rapidly, the raised long knife hung down powerlessly, and with a thud, he fell to the ground, his aura completely gone.

The other Chiyan Valley Cultivator was terrified, and before he could see the person who attacked, he felt a coolness on his neck.

A Void Blade, thin as a cicada's wing and almost transparent, had slashed across his throat at some unknown time.

He covered his spurting neck, making a "he-he" sound in his throat, his eyes full of fear and disbelief, and slowly slumped down.

From Ye Qing's attack to the death of the two Chiyan Valley Cultivators, it was just a blink of an eye.

The cyan-clad Cultivator sat slumped under the broken wall, dumbfounded, looking at the cyan-robed Cultivator with a plain aura who had suddenly appeared before him, and the two pursuers who had died instantly, his mind completely blank.

Ye Qing ignored him and walked to the two corpses first, skillfully looting the bodies.

In the Storage Pouches of the two Chiyan Valley Cultivators, there were many Spirit Stones, Medicinal Pills, and Materials, as well as a few Jade Slips recording fire-attribute Cultivation Techniques. That crimson long knife was a decent Medium Grade Magical Artifact.

He put away the valuable items and put the corpses into the spatial waste area.

Then, he turned to look at the seriously injured cyan-clad Cultivator.

"Many... many thanks to Senior for saving my life!" The cyan-clad Cultivator reacted, struggling to get up to salute, which aggravated his injuries, causing another fit of coughing.

"Star Marrow Iron, what is it?" Ye Qing asked, his voice plain.

The cyan-clad Cultivator was stunned, not daring to hide anything, and quickly took out a metal Ore the size of a fist from his bosom, entirely silver-grey, with natural star river-like patterns on the surface, emitting pure stellar power and sharp metal and iron aura, and offered it with both hands.

"Reporting to Senior, this item is Star Marrow Iron. Junior found it in a ground crack on the east side of the Secret Realm, but did not expect to be bumped into by people from Chiyan Valley, who chased me all the way here. The stellar metal Qi contained in this item far exceeds ordinary star iron, and it is an excellent main material for refining top-grade metal and star-attribute Magic Treasures. Junior is willing to offer this item to Senior to repay the kindness of saving my life!"

Ye Qing took the Star Marrow Iron, feeling slightly heavy and cold in his hand, and the stellar power contained within was pure and condensed, indeed of very high quality.

The space within his body sent a clear, strong desire for this Star Marrow Iron.

"This item is useful to me, so I will accept it." Ye Qing nodded, not being polite. He saved the other's life, and taking this as reward was only right and proper.

He put away the Star Marrow Iron and took out a small Jade Bottle, poured out a High Grade "Rejuvenation Pill" he had refined himself, and flicked it to the cyan-clad Cultivator.

"Take it, it can stabilize your injuries. This place is not suitable for staying long, leave quickly."

The cyan-clad Cultivator took the Medicinal Pill, and just smelling the medicinal fragrance, he knew it was extraordinary. Grateful in his heart, he quickly took it. The pure medicinal power dissolved, and his injuries immediately stabilized a lot.

"Many thanks to Senior for the medicine! Junior will leave right now!" He struggled to get up, bowed deeply to Ye Qing, did not dare to ask more, and staggered away towards the edge of the Secret Realm, soon disappearing into the metal forest.

Ye Qing watched him leave, then took out the Star Marrow Iron and examined it carefully.

"It really is excellent stellar metal. After the space absorbs it, it will definitely benefit the Foundation of metal and star attributes. Moreover, the appearance of this item in this Secret Realm shows that there are indeed high-quality star mineral deposits here."

He sent the Star Marrow Iron into the spatial waste area.

The space immediately sent a joyous fluctuation and began to decompose and absorb it rapidly.

The feedback energy brought a clear true meaning of stellar eternity and metal sharpness, nourishing the Dao Foundation and strengthening the Physical Body.

The grey fog at the edge of the space seemed to have condensed a bit more, and the movement of the phantom stars above also vaguely accelerated by a fraction.

"Not bad, a good start."

Ye Qing was in a good mood, and his gaze fell back to the vague star positioning array map in the center of the ruins.

"Star Marrow Iron... Chiyan Valley... pursuit... It seems that in the depths of this Secret Realm, the struggle has already begun. I need to be more careful, but it also means there are more opportunities."

He remembered the array map, stopped staying, selected a direction, and his figure merged into the shadows of the metal forest again, quietly sneaking towards the deeper part of the Secret Realm.

Inside his body, the two hundred and eighty zhang Cave Heaven vibrated slightly due to the newly acquired Star Marrow Iron, continuously feeding back pure energy.

The cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Late Stage Perfection was already touching the deepest part of that invisible barrier in the constant accumulation and polishing.

The exploration of the Cuiping Mountain Secret Realm had just begun.