445: Chapter 445 The Secret Realm Undergoes a Change

"No matter."

Chen Xuan waved his hand.

"Earlier on the first deck of the cabin, I saw a woman participating in a trial. Is she an acquaintance of yours, Fellow Daoist?"

Xu Muchen nodded. "I dare not hide it from Senior; she took a fancy to a Magic Treasure after boarding, so she is striving for it. However, Senior need not worry. If this Junior's guess is correct, one can only take away a single Opportunity from this immortal ferry boat."

Hmm?

Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded. "Why do you say that, Fellow Daoist?"

Is he afraid that if our deal falls through, I'll abandon all benevolence and righteousness?

While I did have thoughts of killing and looting earlier, we're practically family now. Is there any need for such wariness?

Xu Muchen quickly explained, "Does Senior know the past history of this Secret Realm?"

"I know a thing or two," Chen Xuan said in a flat tone. "It was an ancient battlefield between the Human Race and the Yao Race. To win that battle, the Human Race designed a plan to pin down the main forces of the Yao Race here, isolating them from the Nine Provinces Continent."

"Exactly!"

After hearing this, Xu Muchen looked at the Man in White Robes with even greater respect. "And the reason the Human Race could accomplish this was by relying on the Cultivation Techniques, divine abilities, Magic Treasures, and Spirit Pills obtained from the guixu immortal ferry boat."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the runes drifting through the air. "But since people have explored this immortal ferry boat long ago, why are there still so many opportunities left on the first level?"

Chen Xuan's eyes lit up. "So that's how it is!"

"You mean, Fellow Daoist, that there's no need for us to do something as foolish as drawing blades against each other?"

Thinking about it, once Mu Wanqing and the others board, the best choice would be the god-rank magic treasures within those twenty-four dragon pillars. Medicinal Pills and rare treasures wouldn't benefit his Sect much, and as for Cultivation Techniques and divine abilities, they were even more optional.

Xu Muchen smiled slightly. "Junior simply feels that the Great Dao should not be so narrow."

If the person before him truly was the Sect Master of the Dao Seeking Sect, his chances of winning in a fight would be infinitesimal.

Seeing this, Chen Xuan gave a light laugh and cast his gaze toward the faintly visible light screen entrance deep within the boundary of black and white. He asked, "You are hesitating and observing here, Fellow Daoist; are you planning to head to the third level? For that Heavenly Book that knows all the secret affairs of the world?"

Xu Muchen's expression froze slightly, neither confirming nor denying it.

Shen Mutao, standing to the side, let out a sound of surprise. "Revered Master, you can't go up to the third level. I tried several times before, but I was bounced back by the light screen."

Chen Xuan rubbed the Little Girl's head and said calmly, "What a coincidence. I also came this time to see that Heavenly Book. You and I share a destiny, Fellow Daoist. Why don't we join forces?"

...

After enduring the Three Tribulations of Wind, Lightning, and Fire...

Mu Wanqing finally saw the staircase that connected heaven and earth slowly emerge. With a tap of her toes, her figure transformed into several streaks of light, landing steadily on the deck of the flying boat.

As soon as Mu Wanqing stood firm, she stood on her tiptoes to look around.

Just as she intended to see what kind of scenery was on this immortal ferry boat, a warm, large hand pressed down on her head.

"As the Eldest Senior Sister, you are so slack that you were the last to arrive after undergoing the three tribulations. Truly, where is your sense of decorum?"

A familiar scolding rang in her ears, and Mu Wanqing turned her head to look back.

"Revered Master!"

The young girl raised her almond-shaped eyes, a smile in them, and immediately offered a coquettish flatter: "As expected, these Three Tribulations of Wind, Lightning, and Fire are but a trivial matter to be dismissed with a snap of Revered Master's fingers. Disciple was just thinking that if Revered Master weren't here, we might have had to go through much more trouble. I didn't expect that just after passing the tribulations, I would sense Revered Master's presence. Revered Master, you are truly powerful and omnipotent!"

After finishing her flattery, Mu Wanqing finally dared to look around boldly, wanting to feast her eyes on the scenery.

"Eh, where is Junior Sister?"

Mu Wanqing scanned the area. Xiao Lingxian and Senior Brother Xie were both here, and that Miss Yu from Tiangong Pavilion was also standing to the side, but her Junior Sister Xuanxuan was nowhere to be seen.

Xiao Lingxian said with some uncertainty, "Junior Sister... might have failed the tribulation."

"Ah?"

Mu Wanqing's small face immediately fell. She turned to the Man in White Robes beside her. "Revered Master, this... how did Junior Sister..."

Chen Xuan waved his hand, his expression calm and unruffled. "You need not worry about Xuanxuan's matter; her life is not in danger."

He raised his hand and pointed toward the twenty-four dragon pillars ahead. "Within these dragon pillars are hidden god-rank magic treasures, the greatest opportunities on this immortal ferry boat. My requirement is simple: each person must seize one. If you fail, you will be sent to Danyun Hall to stay for a year upon returning to the Sect."

Hearing the words 'Danyun Hall,' even the cold-looking Xiao Lingxian couldn't help but frown, a flash of resistance appearing in her eyes.

But the words 'god-rank magic treasure' were like a shot of adrenaline, instantly igniting everyone's fighting spirit.

That was a god-rank magic treasure! Something countless people in the cultivation world dreamed of!

"Disciple obeys!"

Several Disciples responded in unison; even Mu Wanqing rarely refrained from acting spoiled.

Chen Xuan looked at Yu Qingyan and smiled. "Miss Yu, if you see an Opportunity you like, you may also strive for it yourself. However, it seems there is a rule for the opportunities on this immortal ferry boat: everyone can only obtain one. You should give it some thought."

Yu Qingyan quickly bowed, her voice crisp. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior. If I may be so bold as to ask, my Revered Master and Martial Aunt are nowhere to be seen. Does that mean?"

Chen Xuan nodded slightly.

Yu Qingyan asked no more.

...

Inside the underground ruins of the Yuquan Void Palace.

Yun Xuanxuan sat cross-legged on a relatively flat stone slab, her eyes tightly shut, a faint halo of spiritual energy swirling around her body.

She was currently concentrating on her cultivation, her eyes closed as she regulated her breathing.

Not far away, Dongfang Li was half-kneeling before a stone table. She held a brush made of goat hair, the tip soaked in ink, slowly writing on yellowed Xuan paper.

The tip of the brush glided across the paper, making a soft rustling sound.

Dongfang Li looked at the handwriting on the paper and sighed softly. She did not have the Immortal Talent to board the ferry; she figured that Peak Master Chen would surely have no problem. The tasks her Revered Master had entrusted to her could only be left to Peak Master Chen to complete.

As for Senior Brother Gu and Senior Brother Shen?

Dongfang Li shook her head slightly; she imagined their situation was likely not much different from hers. They might not have even passed the first Lightning Tribulation.

A moment later!

Dongfang Li withdrew her thoughts and concentrated on finishing the last character. Then, she took out a warm white jade pendant from her robes. The pendant was pure white, with two weak but pure wisps of aura swirling on it—the life aura left by her Revered Master before her passing.

She placed the jade pendant inside the letter and was about to take out the Chaos Void Jade.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind, accompanied by heavy panting. A disheveled figure stumbled into the Secret Realm.

The person's clothes were in tatters, hair stuck messily to their forehead, and they looked quite miserable.

"Senior Brother Gu?!"

"What happened? The injuries on your body... what danger did you encounter?"

Gu Yunshen leaned against a nearby stone pillar, gasping for air, his chest heaving violently. It took a long while for him to catch his breath.

He waved his hand, his voice hoarse and dry. "Junior Sister, outside... the sky over the entire Secret Realm has changed."