90: Chapter 90 The Apprentice Goes Down the Mountain

Xuan Yangzi, with Li Xuanfeng and the other three, left in a hurry, preparing to select accompanying Disciples and gather the Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts needed for the Secret Realm.

Before Shi Wanshan left, he patted Xiao Ruobai's shoulder and gruffly instructed, “When you get to the Secret Realm, don’t act like your Master, who looks down on everything; if you see good things, grab them!”

Soon, only Gu Changge and his two Disciples remained on Zizhu Peak.

Gu Changge turned around, looking at the straight backs of his two Disciples, his tone showing a bit more Masterly concern.

“The two of you are going to the Secret Realm alone. I’ll give you three practical pieces of advice; make sure you remember them.”

Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu immediately composed themselves and responded in unison, “Please enlighten us, Master!”

“First, safety is paramount.”

Gu Changge raised a finger, his eyes serious.

“Don’t underestimate those with low cultivation; there might be old schemers hidden among them, just waiting to pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger! If you encounter someone who looks difficult to deal with, don’t hesitate, turn around and run.”

“When you see others fighting tooth and nail for a Legacy, just squat in the nearby bushes and wait to pick up the scraps—remember, only by surviving do you have a chance to seize an Opportunity.”

Fang Hanyu was stunned and couldn’t help but ask, “Master, what if someone actively seeks trouble with us?”

“Good question.”

Gu Changge’s lips curved into a smile, but his tone grew colder.

“Second, if you really have to fight, leave no one alive.”

A wisp of Spiritual Qi condensed on his fingertip, and with a gentle flick, it shattered a nearby bluestone into dust.

If others don't offend me, I won't offend them. If others offend me, I'll grind them to dust!

“After killing someone, grind their bones into ashes, then sprinkle them into the river to wash clean, leaving no trace for the other Sect to investigate.”

“If you don't cut the grass by the roots, you’ll bring a lot of trouble back to me.”

Xiao Ruobai’s heart tightened, and he quickly nodded, “Disciple understands, I will leave no future troubles!”

“Understanding isn’t enough; you need the ability to run.”

Gu Changge raised his hand, and two streaks of spiritual light drilled into their foreheads respectively.

“This is a movement technique I’ve been working on recently, ‘Can't Catch Me.’ The name is straightforward, but the effect is good.”

“It has only one advantage: it’s incredibly fast.”

“Even ordinary King Realm Cultivators, no matter how hard they try, won’t even be able to touch your shadows, let alone catch up to you and attack.”

Xiao Ruobai felt countless movement technique essentials appear in his mind. He tried to gather his Qi and took two steps, his figure soaring several zhang away with a “whoosh,” landing without even disturbing a blade of grass.

“Master, this footwork is too miraculous! Its speed far surpasses the Shadow Step I practiced before!”

Fang Hanyu also tried it, his sword-like brows unfurling. “With this footwork, even if we encounter a powerful enemy, we can retreat safely.”

“The last point—your life comes first, Opportunity second, and Face is the least valuable.”

Gu Changge glanced at Little Black, who was perched on a bamboo tip. Little Black chirped, flapped its wings, and landed on his shoulder, rubbing its head against his cheek.

“Let Little Black accompany you two this time.”

Gu Changge stroked its feathers and smiled, “This little fellow is much more clever than you two.”

“Go, go back and pack your bags. Don’t bring too many burdens, but prepare more healing Medicinal Pills.”

Gu Changge waved his hand.

The two acknowledged and turned to leave.

Little Black flapped its wings, circling twice above their heads.

Gu Changge watched their retreating figures, his fingertips subtly moving. Two soft golden imprints quietly emerged, like willow catkins, silently merging into their bodies, disappearing in an instant.

These were heart-guarding imprints Gu Changge specially left for them, primarily for stability. They contained one percent of his own cultivation power. Not to mention King Realm Cultivators or Saint Realm powerhouses, even if a Great Emperor came and attacked fiercely for a day, they wouldn't be able to break through.

Gu Changge watched the figures of the two and the bird disappear at the end of Zizhu Peak’s stone steps, the lingering wisp of spiritual energy on his fingertip slowly dissipating.

He raised his hand and rubbed his glabella. A rare trace of gentle wistfulness flickered in his usually unperturbed eyes.

The fledgling birds, with their wings now strong, were finally about to flap their wings and fly out of the nest, to Face the winds and rains outside.

Even though he knew they were protected by the heart-guarding imprints and Little Black, and understood that tempering was an essential path to growth, he couldn't help but feel a lingering concern in his heart.

He turned and walked to the bamboo pavilion, sitting down. With a light tap of his fingertip on the stone table, two small silhouettes quietly appeared on the tabletop, showing Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu descending the mountain.

Xiao Ruobai was practicing the “Can't Catch Me” footwork in the air, while Fang Hanyu was chasing behind. Even Little Black perched on Fang Hanyu’s shoulder, pecking at his hair tie, was clearly visible.

The old yellow ox by the spiritual field had approached at some point, rubbing its head against his arm, as if comforting him.

Gu Changge patted the ox’s back, then turned and picked up the cold tea from the stone table in the bamboo pavilion, taking a sip. The coolness of the tea slid down his throat, and the emotion in his eyes gradually faded, returning to his usual calm.

Young eagles must fly over the cliff themselves to truly learn to soar. As their Master, guarding the rear was enough.

Inside the Sect Master's Hall, Xuan Yangzi finalized the list of participants for this Secret Realm expedition.

Shi Wanshan would lead the team, assisted by three Elders, along with Li Xuanfeng, Shi Jingxian, Lin Mochen, and Shen Jinghong, plus ten young Disciples selected from various peaks, forming an expedition team of nineteen people.

After the list was confirmed, Xuan Yangzi had people distribute the prepared healing Medicinal Pills, restriction-breaking Talismans, and maps. He then briefly informed them of the assembly time and dismissed everyone to prepare.

At this time, the Peak Masters of Azure Profound Sect no longer had their usual enthusiasm for competing for Secret Realm slots.

Ever since the Azure Cloud Secret Realm appeared, Azure Profound Sect had abundant resources, and all the Peak Masters had focused their energy on Cultivating, staying in the Secret Realm all day and refusing to come out. For “small Secret Realms” like Luoxia Valley, they had long lost interest.

And the hundred Disciples previously selected from the entire Sect had already been arranged to Cultivate in the Azure Cloud Secret Realm.

The dense Spiritual Qi and rich Cultivation resources in the Secret Realm allowed these Disciples’ cultivation to visibly improve, and many had already broken through long-standing Bottlenecks.

Outside the mountain gate, Shi Wanshan stood at the front, with nineteen Disciples behind him, carrying their travel bags, their Faces full of excitement.

Lin Mochen couldn't help but poke Shi Jingxian’s back with his axe handle: “Senior Brother, do you think we can snatch a King-grade Magical Artifact?”

Shi Jingxian rolled his eyes at him: “First, take care of your own life!”

Li Xuanfeng smiled, playing peacemaker: “Stop arguing, following Martial Uncle Shi is definitely the right way.”

The morning light shone upon them, and the team, kicking up dust, headed southwest towards the Secret Realm.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu hurried along the mountain path, with Little Black circling at low altitude above their heads, occasionally letting out a clear “chirp.”

When they were less than a hundred li from Luoxia Valley, where a faint purple mystic light surrounding the Secret Realm’s periphery was vaguely visible ahead, Xiao Ruobai suddenly raised his hand, signaling to stop.

Fang Hanyu paused, following his gaze into the distance. Many Cultivators had already gathered at the Secret Realm entrance, their eyes filled with vigilance towards each other.

The two exchanged glances, instantly understanding each other’s thoughts. Xiao Ruobai condensed a wisp of spiritual energy on his fingertip and brushed it across his cheek, lightly exclaiming, “Can't See Through Me!”

As soon as he spoke, a faint halo appeared around him, and his originally handsome youthful Face changed at a visible speed.

His cheeks became square and dark, and his physique grew a size larger out of nowhere. In a blink, he became a rough man with a scarred Face, and even his blue Sect uniform changed into ordinary gray short clothes.

Fang Hanyu then followed suit, also circulating his spiritual energy to activate the “Can't See Through Me” technique.

He deliberately restrained his aura, suppressing his cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Realm, and his appearance transformed into a handsome young man with a hint of timidity, looking like a Loose Cultivator who had just entered the cultivation world.

“The Secret Realm is a mixed bag; Myriad Law Pavilion, Burning Heaven Palace, and even Demonic Path Cultivators are there. There’s no guarantee there won’t be people targeting our Azure Profound Sect.”

Xiao Ruobai lowered his voice, his rough, hoarse tone completely different from his original voice.

“By changing our appearance like this, even if we really get into a conflict, the other party won’t know our origins, saving the Sect from trouble and reducing unnecessary entanglements.”

Little Black landed on Xiao Ruobai’s shoulder, tilting its head and observing him for a moment, then chirped twice, as if praising the idea.

Xiao Ruobai patted his shoulder, a smile appearing on his rough Face: “Let’s go. Don’t stick with Martial Uncle Shi and the others. We’ll go around from the side. Remember Master’s words: keep a low profile, observe more, and staying alive is paramount.”

The two exchanged glances, and while the attention of the Cultivators ahead was on the Secret Realm’s mystic light, they quietly detoured into the dense forest on the side, using the trees for cover, and stealthily approached the Secret Realm entrance.

Little Black, meanwhile, flapped its wings and flew high, transforming into a black shadow that merged into the clouds, observing the surrounding movements from above, warning the two of potential dangers.