413: Chapter 413 Secrets

On the other side!

Inside the secret passage, the stone steps wound downward. The damp air was a stark contrast to the dry, scorching heat of the desert above, carrying a refreshing chill.

Faint etchings were visible on the walls on both sides. Upon closer inspection, they were actually the Formation runes of the Yuquan Void Palace from years ago. However, after years of erosion and a lack of maintenance, the Spiritual Qi had long since dissipated, rendering them obsolete.

The group followed closely behind the Sand-Devouring Rat, A-Qi, who was leading the way. Once they had acclimated to the dim environment of the secret passage, Chen Xuan leisurely asked, "You mentioned earlier that you were once a Cultivator of the Yuquan Void Palace. Why have you become like this?"

Yun Xuanxuan, Mu Wanqing, and the others followed closely, their ears perked as they waited for the answer to this long-buried Secret Lore.

A-Qi's figure paused, his claws making a soft "tap-tap" sound on the stone steps. His tone carried an indescribable bitterness: "Because we lost the battle against the Yao Race."

"This is the price of defeat."

He slowly turned around, his small, bead-like eyes reflecting the spiritual light emanating from the group. "It wasn't just me. All the surviving Human Race Cultivators at that time were subjected to a wicked secret technique by the Yao Race. Our Divine Souls were extracted and forcibly shoved into the bodies of these Sand-Devouring Rats."

A-Qi continued, "Those with low cultivation bases and fragile Divine Souls were quickly consumed by the beastly nature of the Sand-Devouring Rats, becoming crazed. Over time, they completely devolved into Yao Beasts that knew only how to kill. Those of us who were lucky enough to remain conscious were driven as slaves by the Yao Race, working day and night, enduring endless torture—a fate worse than death."

"Ah?"

A look of deep guilt instantly appeared on Xiao Lingxian's cold face. She subconsciously stopped in her tracks, her jade-like hands tightly clutching her skirt. Beside her, Yu Qingyan, Pavilion Master Shen, and the others also had complex expressions, their hearts filled with mixed emotions as they thought back to the Sand-Devouring Rats they had previously slain.

"So that means, those Sand-Devouring Rats we killed before..."

Mu Wanqing covered her mouth, her voice trembling slightly. The satisfaction she felt from slaying the Yao Beasts earlier had completely vanished.

"Senior Sister, you don't need to worry too much about it."

Yun Xuanxuan gently took the two of them by the hand and comforted them softly. "At that time, no one knew that the Divine Souls of Human Race Cultivators were hidden inside those Sand-Devouring Rats. Besides, for them, breaking free from the shackles of their beastly nature might actually be a form of release."

"No one wants to remain an anomaly in the eyes of others forever."

A-Qi couldn't help but look up at Yun Xuanxuan behind him. A flash of emotion crossed his bead-like eyes; her words had truly struck a chord with him.

If he hadn't been able to maintain his sanity back then and had devolved into a crazed Yao Beast, he probably wouldn't have wanted to live such a wretched life either.

He waved a claw, his tone becoming somewhat relieved. "The young lady is quite right... You all need not feel troubled. If I hadn't been able to maintain my sanity and had become crazed, I would naturally hope for a quick death to avoid the pain of being consumed by that beastly nature."

Having said that, he turned around to continue leading the way.

"Fellow Daoist, could you tell me what the outside world is like now? Is the Human Race still suffering from the incursions of the Yao Race?"

Hearing this, Chen Xuan spoke calmly: "The Human and Yao Races have been at war for thousands of years. Though there have been occasional setbacks, they have mostly ended in great victories for the Human Race."

"Especially five hundred years ago, two Human Race Heavenly Venerables joined forces and charged directly into the heart of the Demon Race Continent, the Heavenly Demon Mountain. They slaughtered the Yao Race until their hearts were filled with terror, eventually returning in triumph with the heads of two Demon Venerables. Since then, the Yao Race has restrained itself significantly, never again daring to easily invade the territories of our Human Race."

"Good! That is excellent, truly excellent!"

Upon hearing this, A-Qi's tone instantly became cheerful. Even the "tap-tap" of his claws on the stone steps sounded joyful. "Such a sight... I only regret that I couldn't see it with my own eyes and couldn't contribute more to the Human Race!"

Much of the resentment he had suppressed for years dissipated, and the way he looked at Chen Xuan became a bit more friendly.

Seeing that his mood had stabilized, Chen Xuan took the Opportunity to ask, "Since Fellow Daoist was once a Cultivator of the Yuquan Void Palace, you must be extremely familiar with this Secret Realm. I wonder, exactly how many Great Yao are there in this Secret Realm?"

Since the other party was once a Human Race Cultivator, Chen Xuan's use of "Fellow Daoist" was both respectful and appropriate.

As for the word "Senior," Chen Xuan wasn't in the habit of using it...

"Secret Realm?"

A-Qi was stunned for a moment. "To think that the former site of the Yuquan Void Palace has now become a 'Secret Realm' in the mouths of those who came after."

He paused, then said seriously, "As for the Great Yao, from what I know, there are four Yao Race cities in this great desert, situated like the horns of a bull to guard the four directions. Among them, the Camel Bell Ferry you visited before is guarded by two Mahayana Stage Yao Race. As for the specific situation of the other three cities, I have been enslaved by the Yao Race for many years and my information is limited, so I am not very clear."

"And the one commanding these four cities is none other than the Desolate Night Wolf Venerable you encountered. Its cultivation base has already reached the Tribulation Transcendence Realm, and its strength is unfathomable. In this Secret Realm, it can be considered a hegemon-like existence."

"Demon Venerable?"

"There are actually two Mahayana Stage Yao Race in the Camel Bell Ferry?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Qingyan and the other Tiangong Pavilion Disciples all stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with shock and apprehension.

Chen Xuan turned to look at them and said calmly, "There is no need to worry. Your Revered Master and the other two Pavilion Revered Masters are currently rushing this way. I expect we will rendezvous soon."

Hearing this, Yu Qingyan and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief, the solemnity on their faces easing slightly.

Chen Xuan now had a general expectation. The Camel Bell Ferry was only one of four cities, yet it had two Mahayana Stage Yao Race. Based on this calculation, there were at least eight Mahayana Stage Yao Race in this Secret Realm.

Combined with a Tribulation Transcendence Realm Desolate Night Wolf Venerable, the danger of this Secret Realm excursion far exceeded everyone's expectations.

It seemed that in this Secret Realm excursion, many Sect forces would suffer crushing defeats and bury their bones here.

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and continued to probe, "Then where are the locations of the other three cities? Does Fellow Daoist know?"

A-Qi slowed his pace, his claws tapping lightly on the ground as if trying hard to remember. "The other three cities are named Black Wind Valley, Yellow Sand Fortress, and Spirit Devouring Cave. They are distributed across the four directions of the desert, forming an encirclement around the former site of the Yuquan Void Palace. As for the exact coordinates, I was imprisoned in the Camel Bell Ferry for many years and can only remember the general directions. I will need to go to the secret chamber and retrieve the Sect Map from back then to give you precise guidance, Fellow Daoist."

"Fellow Daoist, do not be overconfident."

A-Qi suddenly turned his head and warned in a serious tone, "Even if your cultivation base is impressive, those Yao Race are all cruel and cunning, and their strength is formidable. If you underestimate them, it is very likely you will all be wiped out."

"As for your purpose here..."

He changed the subject. "Ahead of this secret passage is the Legacy site of the Yuquan Void Palace. Before the Sect was destroyed, many Cultivation Techniques, secret arts, and Heaven And Earth Treasures were hidden there. As for the Opportunities within, you all can take them based on your own abilities."

"Once you have finished collecting the Opportunities, I will send you away from this place of trouble."

Chen Xuan nodded and cupped his hands. "Then I thank you, Fellow Daoist."

A-Qi waved a claw dismissively and continued to urge, "After you leave, please inform the Human Race Heavenly Venerables of the intelligence within this Secret Realm as soon as possible. Since this world has reappeared in the form of a Secret Realm, those Yao Race will likely make a move soon. If they are allowed to charge out of the Secret Realm, I fear it will bring another catastrophe upon the Human Race."

Chen Xuan nodded in agreement, then shifted the topic. "Has Fellow Daoist ever heard of the guixu immortal ferry boat?"

"guixu immortal ferry boat?"

A-Qi's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. "Of course I have!"

He explained, "Back then, it was because Human Race Cultivators were lucky enough to step onto that boat and bring back many lost techniques and Divine Abilities that the overall strength of Human Race Cultivators was significantly boosted, giving us the capital to resist the Yao Race and eventually rise."

"Rumor has it that the ferry boat encompasses everything—Cultivation Techniques, Magic Treasures, or Heaven And Earth Treasures—it has everything you could imagine."

Chen Xuan pressed further, "Then does Fellow Daoist know any Secret Lore regarding this boat, or how one might board it?"

Hearing this, A-Qi's body shook violently. He stopped in his tracks again and turned to look at Chen Xuan in disbelief, his voice rising several octaves: "Could it be that your purpose for this trip is that guixu immortal ferry boat?!"