30: Xuan Yangzi's shock

Gu Changge's body suddenly froze, his heart sinking.

This was bad.

That old man loved to meddle, and he had probably already noticed something amiss.

Shi Wanshan smacked his lips, then suddenly slapped his thigh and turned to run towards Qingyue Peak.

Gu Changge looked at his retreating figure, then at the direction of Qingyun Peak in the distance, and suddenly felt his temples throb.

He slapped his head. Well, his peaceful days were probably coming to an end.

"You little brats! All of you, get out here! Tomorrow, follow me to Zizhu Peak to 'visit' your Junior Martial Uncle Gu—"

"Detected that the host has not yet signed in today. Would you like to sign in?"

Gu Changge was sitting by the window of his bamboo house when the System's prompt suddenly sounded in his mind.

He silently chanted in his mind: "Sign in."

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing today's sign-in, gaining five thousand years of cultivation!"

"Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining the Azure Cloud Secret Realm!"

At the same time, a golden light appeared, transforming into a palm-sized bronze token, which materialized in the System space.

The token was carved with layers of clouds and majestic mountains, and the four ancient characters "Azure Cloud Secret Realm" shimmered with a faint glow on its surface.

The Azure Cloud Secret Realm was sealed within the token and could be released and placed at any time.

If one wished to move the Secret Realm, it could be re-absorbed into the token.

Gu Changge held the token, and a warm, moist sensation emanated from it, followed by the System's explanation appearing in his mind.

The Azure Cloud Secret Realm contained a hundred million li of Spiritual Land, with a Spiritual Qi concentration a hundred times higher than the outside world. Ancient treasures and immortal Legacies were hidden deep within.

This Secret Realm was not only an excellent place for cultivation but could also be used to store living beings and artifacts, much like a Small World carried on one's person.

Gu Changge toyed with the bronze token in his hand, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.

Today's harvest was good.

Qingyun Peak's Main Hall!

Xuan Yangzi was pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back, occasionally standing on his tiptoes to peer out of the hall.

Hearing the sound of the hall doors, he spun around abruptly, nearly tripping over the threshold.

"How was it? How was it?"

Xuan Yangzi rushed to Li Xuanfeng in a few steps, grabbing his arm and shaking him vigorously.

"You didn't make your Junior Martial Uncle Gu angry, did you? How was your harvest at Zizhu Peak? You didn't argue with Xiao Ruobai, did you?"

A barrage of questions left Li Xuanfeng dizzy. He glanced around and lowered his voice.

"Master, is your Immortal Cave... secure?"

"What's secure or not secure?"

Xuan Yangzi looked puzzled.

"My Qingyun Peak Main Hall is set with three layers of sound-insulating formations. Forget whispers, even if you set off a Heavenly Lightning, it wouldn't get out!"

His eyes darted around, then he suddenly leaned closer.

"What's wrong? Did you perhaps find some treasure at Zizhu Peak?"

Li Xuanfeng and Shen Jinghong exchanged a look, then simultaneously dropped their disguises.

The vast Spiritual Power of the Middle Stage Purple Mansion Realm erupted like a volcano, and a faint golden Spiritual Qi vortex swirled around Li Xuanfeng.

Shen Jinghong's side was even more astonishing; the clear radiance of her Innate Sword Body Awakening emanated from her, and the Sword Qi of her Peak Foundation Establishment Realm shot straight to the hall ceiling, making the hanging glazed lanterns clink.

Xuan Yangzi's mouth opened wider and wider, eventually wide enough to fit a fist.

He pointed at the two, then abruptly pulled his hand back to scratch his head, confirming three times before suddenly leaping three feet high and slapping the stone table—

"Crack!"

The hard bluestone tabletop actually cracked.

"Middle Stage Purple Mansion Realm! Peak Foundation Establishment!"

Xuan Yangzi's voice was trembling as he circled the two eight times.

He suddenly grabbed Li Xuanfeng's wrist to check his pulse, then pulled open Shen Jinghong's eyelids for a closer look, finally slumping onto the grand armchair, mumbling,

"You two... you crossed a major Realm in one day. Quickly tell me what happened?"

"Master, please calm down first."

Li Xuanfeng supported him and recounted the day's events in detail.

"Junior Martial Uncle Gu first had us eat breakfast, then he brewed a pot of tea, and we each drank a cup..."

"Hmm, your Junior Martial Uncle Gu has good tea."

Xuan Yangzi suddenly sat up straight.

Shen Jinghong added, "Later, Junior Martial Uncle Gu crushed a golden Medicinal Pill, took some powder, melted it into Spiritual Qi, and also dripped a few drops of milky white Spiritual Liquid, saying it was to help us solidify our Foundation..."

"There's such a miraculous Medicinal Pill, and a mysterious Spiritual Liquid?"

He suddenly stood up, pacing frantically around the hall, at one moment grinning foolishly while clutching his hair, at another bowing to the empty air.

"I knew Junior Martial Uncle Changge was hiding treasures! It was absolutely the right decision to have you go 'spar' with him!"

"After drinking that tea, the Bottleneck I was stuck at in the Late Stage Core Formation was like a window paper being poked through."

Li Xuanfeng still felt lingering fear remembering that cup of tea.

"That Golden Core powder was even more divine. All the Impurities in my Spiritual Power were completely removed. Now, when it circulates, it's more transparent than glazed glass."

Shen Jinghong also nodded: "When my Sword Body Awakened, those few drops of Spiritual Liquid flowed through my Meridians, as if washing away the dull pain that had settled in my bones. Now, I can casually swing my sword and stir the Heaven and Earth Sword Intent."

Xuan Yangzi was marveling at the two when he suddenly froze as if struck by Heavenly Lightning, his eyes widening abruptly. He fumbled in his robes in a panic.

"No! No!"

He muttered as he searched, "Your Aptitude..."

Before he finished speaking, a palm-sized grayish-white stone was clutched in his hand. The stone's surface was covered with intricate Spiritual Qi patterns—it was precisely the Spirit-Testing Jade used to detect Aptitude.

"Quick! Put your hand on it!"

Xuan Yangzi's voice was tight as he pushed the Spirit-Testing Jade towards Li Xuanfeng, his palms even breaking out in a thin sweat.

He recalled that when Li Xuanfeng tested as Heaven-Grade Medium Grade, he was already very satisfied. Now, if this boy's Aptitude had truly changed after crossing a major Realm in one day, what kind of scene would that be?

Li Xuanfeng and Shen Jinghong exchanged glances, both seeing tension in the other's eyes.

Li Xuanfeng took a deep breath, placed his palm on the Spirit-Testing Jade, and circulated the Spiritual Power within his body.

The next second, the Spirit-Testing Jade suddenly erupted with dazzling violet-gold light. Stars seemed to flow within the light, and four ancient characters appeared on the stone's surface: Saint-Grade Low Grade!

"Hum—"

The light from the Spirit-Testing Jade illuminated the entire Main Hall. Fortunately, Xuan Yangzi had always been cautious, and the light did not escape the Immortal Cave.

The Spirit-Testing Jade in Xuan Yangzi's hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," but he was completely oblivious, staring intently at the four characters, his lips trembling, unable to utter a sound for a long time.

The four characters "Saint-Grade Low Grade" struck his heart like a heavy hammer—that was a Realm that even Sect records only dared to vaguely mention, a legend that transcended Heaven-Grade and King-Grade!

"Saint... Saint-Grade?"

He mumbled to himself, then suddenly, as if insane, picked up the Spirit-Testing Jade and shoved it in front of Shen Jinghong.

"You! You test too! Jinghong, you were Heaven-Grade High Grade back then! The only Heaven-Grade High Grade among the younger generation of the Sect!"

Shen Jinghong's fingertips trembled slightly as she pressed her hand onto it.