184: The Holy Maiden of Yaochi, A Promise in the Secret Realm

In the side hall of Lingxiao Sect during the hour of Shen, sunlight filtered through the carved window lattices, spilling onto the blue-white jade floor and casting dappled shadows. The furnishings within the side hall were simple and elegant: an ancient Eight Immortals table, four carved chairs, and a pot of fragrant Immortal Ganoderma in the corner. The air was filled with a faint Spiritual Qi, standing in stark contrast to the clamor of the Dao Discussion Platform.

Lu Chen and the other three had just left the Dao Discussion Platform when they were led here by a Lingxiao Sect Disciple. The Disciple said respectfully, "Fellow Daoists, our Sect Master requests your presence." Just as he finished speaking, a green figure walked gracefully in from outside the door; it was none other than the Yaochi Saintess, Luo Shui Xian.

She wore a pale green gauze dress embroidered with exquisite lotus patterns. As she walked, her hem swayed like a Fairy amidst green waves. Her black hair fell like a waterfall, tied up with a jade hairpin to reveal a smooth forehead. Her brows were like distant mountains, her eyes like autumn waters, and her cheeks bore a faint blush, making her appear more gentle and bashful than she had on the Dao Discussion Platform.

"Fellow Daoist Lu Chen, and the three young ladies, please forgive my intrusion." Luo Shui Xian walked before the four of them and bowed slightly, her voice soft and pleasant like a flowing spring. In her hand, she held a jade pendant of the same Origin as the holy spirit token. The jade pendant glowed with a soft spiritual light under the sun, faintly echoing the holy spirit token at Lu Chen's waist and emitting a subtle resonance.

Lu Chen's heart stirred as he clearly felt the two powers of the same Origin attracting each other. It seemed there was indeed an unknown connection between this jade pendant and the holy spirit token. He cupped his hands and said, "Miss Luo is too polite. May I ask what business you have with us?"

Luo Shui Xian looked up, her gaze falling on Lu Chen. A flash of shyness crossed her eyes before she regained her composure. "Allow me to introduce myself. This humble one is Luo Shui Xian, the Yaochi Saintess. Just now on the Dao Discussion Platform, I saw your extraordinary skills and your loyalty, and I felt great admiration. I have come today to discuss an important matter with you."

"The Yaochi Saintess?" A flash of surprise crossed Yu Lan's eyes. Yaochi was one of the top powers in the Nine Heavens Immortal Realm, equal in fame to the Lingxiao Sect. She hadn't expected this gentle woman before them to be the Saintess of Yaochi.

The Sea Cultivation Saintess also nodded slightly. Yaochi was famous for its expertise in healing and purification techniques and possessed immense strength. As the Saintess, Luo Shui Xian held an exalted status; it was truly unexpected for her to take the initiative to seek them out for discussion.

Luo Shui Xian smiled slightly and continued, "I presume you are aware that there is an ancient Secret Realm in the Nine Heavens Immortal Realm called the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm. This Secret Realm opens once every thousand years and contains countless ancient Legacies, rare immortal materials, and a supreme treasure called 'immortal source dew'."

"immortal source dew?" Lu Chen's heart skipped a beat. He vaguely recalled seeing records of it in the <guide to the nine heavens immortal realm>. The immortal source dew was the core treasure of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm, containing pure Origin Power. It could purify the Impurities within a Cultivator's body, stabilize their Origin, and even help a Cultivator break through a Realm Bottleneck.

Luo Shui Xian seemed to see through his thoughts and nodded. "Exactly. The immortal source dew can not only help one break through their Realm but also purify foreign Origins within the body. Although the Holy Spirit and Evil Energy within your body can coexist, there is ultimately a slight rift. If you can obtain the immortal source dew, you can surely allow the two Origins to achieve a perfect Fusion, completely resolving the hidden dangers brought by your mixed-blood Physique."

Lu Chen was filled with joy. He had always been troubled by the fact that the Holy Spirit and Evil Energy in his body could not fully fuse. He hadn't expected the immortal source dew to have such an effect. For him, this was undoubtedly a massive Opportunity.

"I am deeply grateful for Miss Luo's kindness," Lu Chen said, cupping his hands. "However, the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm is so important that the threshold for entry must be extremely high, and it must be fraught with danger, right?"

"You are absolutely right," Luo Shui Xian nodded. "To open the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm, one must gather the Five Elements Spirit Keys—the Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth spirit keys. Only those holding a spirit key can enter the Secret Realm. Furthermore, there are not only powerful Yao Beasts guarding the interior but also competition from other Cultivators. It is indeed very dangerous."

She paused and took out two spirit keys from her Storage Pouch. One was golden, engraved with metal-attribute runes, and the other was green, engraved with wood-attribute runes. "This humble one was fortunate enough to find the Metal Key and the Wood Key. I have heard that the Sea Cultivator Tribe once possessed the water key. I wonder if it could be borrowed?"

The Sea Cultivation Saintess's heart stirred. When her Sea Cultivator Tribe migrated to the Immortal Realm, they had indeed brought their tribal treasure, the 'deep sea profound pearl', and this deep sea profound pearl was precisely the water-attribute spirit key. "The water key is indeed with my tribe, but it is a Legacy item of our people. I need to return and discuss it with my clansmen."

"That is only natural," Luo Shui Xian smiled. "As long as the Sea Cultivation Saintess is willing to lend it, I am willing to exchange it for a supreme treasure of Yaochi. Furthermore, after entering the Secret Realm, the treasures obtained will be split equally among the five of us, and the immortal source dew will be given to Fellow Daoist Lu first."

Lu Chen looked at Luo Shui Xian's sincere eyes and then at the three women beside him, and he made his decision. The immortal source dew was crucial to him, and the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm might also hold clues about his heritage; he truly could not miss it. "Miss Luo, thank you for your invitation. We are willing to go to the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm with you, gather the Five Elements Spirit Keys, and seek the Opportunities within the Secret Realm."

Hearing this, a flash of joy appeared in Luo Shui Xian's eyes, and the blush on her cheeks deepened. "That's wonderful! With the help of Fellow Daoist Lu Chen and the three ladies, I am sure we will be able to enter the Secret Realm smoothly and obtain the immortal source dew."

Yu Lan saw the affection in Luo Shui Xian's eyes and understood. She stepped forward and said to Luo Shui Xian with a smile, "Miss Luo, since we are going to the Secret Realm together, we are companions. There's no need to be so formal in the future; you can just call us by our names."

The Sea Cultivation Saintess also nodded. "That's right. When we are out and about, we should look out for one another."

Although the Ice Clan Saintess did not speak, she also nodded at Luo Shui Xian, acknowledging her presence.

Luo Shui Xian felt a wave of warmth in her heart. She could feel the goodwill of Yu Lan and the other two women, and she realized they had already noticed her feelings for Lu Chen but didn't expose them, instead accepting her. "Thank you, ladies," she said softly, her eyes full of gratitude.

With that, Luo Shui Xian took out an ancient map from her Storage Pouch and handed it to Lu Chen. "This is the <Map of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm>. It marks the general terrain of the Secret Realm, the possible locations of the spirit keys, and some dangerous areas. I hope it will be of help to us."

Lu Chen took the map and unfolded it. The map showed the outline of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm, with mountains, rivers, and the entrance to the Secret Realm all clearly marked. In a corner of the map, a small altar was drawn. The totem on the altar faintly echoed the origin imprint on his forehead, causing his heart to stir.

"Thank you, Miss Luo." Lu Chen put the map away, thinking to himself that the altar in the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm might have some connection to his heritage.

At that moment, a golden light flew out from the <Map of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm> and landed in Lu Chen's hand, turning into an ancient booklet. It was the companion secret technique for the <Map of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm>, detailing the methods to disarm various traps and mechanisms in the Secret Realm, as well as the distribution of rare immortal materials.

"I didn't expect such an Opportunity." Lu Chen was secretly delighted. With this secret technique, their safety in the Secret Realm would be much more guaranteed.

Luo Shui Xian looked at Lu Chen with expectation in her eyes. "Fellow Daoist Lu Chen, I wonder when you will be ready? The Myriad Immortals Secret Realm will open in one month, and we need to gather the Five Elements Spirit Keys as soon as possible."

Lu Chen thought for a moment and said, "We only need to return to Lingxiao City to pack up, and then accompany the Sea Cultivation Saintess to the Sea Cultivator Tribe to retrieve the water key. We can set out in about ten days. I wonder if it is convenient for Miss Luo to wait here?"

"Of course it's convenient," Luo Shui Xian smiled. "I will wait for everyone at the Yaochi branch in Lingxiao City. In ten days, we will meet at the branch and head out together to find the other spirit keys."

"Good," Lu Chen nodded. "In ten days, we will definitely arrive on time."

Luo Shui Xian bowed to the four of them once more and said, "Then this humble one will not disturb you further. We shall meet again in ten days." After saying that, she turned and walked toward the door. As she reached the entrance, she couldn't help but look back at Lu Chen, her eyes filled with a touch of reluctance and expectation, before she transformed into a green light and disappeared into the distance.

Watching Luo Shui Xian's departing figure, Yu Lan said to Lu Chen with a smile, "Lu Chen, this Miss Luo is truly devoted to you."

Lu Chen's cheeks turned slightly red as he said helplessly, "Don't talk nonsense. Miss Luo is just being kind and wants to cooperate with us."

The Sea Cultivation Saintess laughed. "Whether it's just cooperation, you know best in your heart. However, Miss Luo is indeed a good person—noble status, impressive strength, and kind-hearted. She actually suits you quite well."

The Ice Clan Saintess also nodded. "Suits..."

Lu Chen shook his head and didn't argue. He had to admit that Luo Shui Xian's gentle and generous nature, as well as her sincerity and kindness, had indeed won his favor. Furthermore, the jade pendant in her hand shared the same Origin as the holy spirit token; perhaps she could also help unravel part of the mystery of his heritage.

"Alright, let's return to Lingxiao City first," Lu Chen said. "After packing our things, we'll follow the Sea Cultivation Saintess to the Sea Cultivator Tribe to get the water key, and then we'll make other plans."

The three women nodded one after another, and the four of them left the Lingxiao Sect side hall together, heading toward Lingxiao City.

On the way, Lu Chen took out the <Map of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm> and studied it with the three women. The information on the map was very detailed. Besides the locations of the spirit keys, it also marked potential dangers in the Secret Realm, such as powerful Yao Beasts, ancient Restrictions, and ambushes from other factions.

"It seems this Myriad Immortals Secret Realm is indeed not that easy to traverse." Yu Lan looked at the "Fifth-Rank Yao Beast guarding the immortal source dew" marked on the map, a flash of worry in her eyes. A Fifth-Rank Yao Beast was equivalent to the strength of a Mahayana Stage Cultivator. Defeating them to obtain the immortal source dew would be no easy feat.

The Sea Cultivation Saintess said, "However, if the four of us work together along with Miss Luo, we should be able to handle it. Besides, we have the <Four Symbols Concentric Art> and the <Demonic Path Restraint Art>. Our strength is not weaker than the teams from other factions."

Lu Chen nodded. "That's right. We still have a month. we can use this time to consolidate our cultivation and familiarize ourselves with the secret techniques to be fully prepared for entering the Secret Realm."

By the time the four of them returned to the Lingxiao Inn, it was already dark. Seeing them return, the innkeeper hurriedly and warmly welcomed them, preparing a sumptuous meal of spiritual food.

After eating, the four of them returned to their respective rooms to Cultivate. Lu Chen sat in the spiritual pool, operating the Holy Spirit Myriad Manifestations Art while studying the secret techniques from the <Map of the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm>. He could feel that the Holy Spirit and Evil Energy within his body had become more active due to the temptation of the immortal source dew, both seemingly craving that pure Origin Power.

Yu Lan, the Sea Cultivation Saintess, and the Ice Clan Saintess did not slack off either. They knew that after entering the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm, they would face numerous dangers. Only by constantly improving their strength could they survive in the Secret Realm and help Lu Chen obtain the immortal source dew.

Meanwhile, at the Yaochi branch in Lingxiao City, Luo Shui Xian stood by the window, holding the jade pendant of the same Origin as the holy spirit token, her eyes full of yearning. She thought of Lu Chen's heroic bearing on the Dao Discussion Platform, his firmness in refusing True Man Lingxiao, and the tacit understanding between him and the three women. The feelings in her heart grew even stronger.

"Lu Chen, I hope we can successfully gather the spirit keys and obtain the immortal source dew in the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm," she murmured softly. "And I also hope... we can have a deeper fate together."

What Luo Shui Xian didn't know was that her fate with Lu Chen had already been closely linked from the moment she took out the jade pendant. And the altar in the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm not only echoed Lu Chen's origin imprint but also hid an ancient secret between Yaochi and the Holy Spirit Guards.

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. Lu Chen and the other three packed their gear and set off with the Sea Cultivation Saintess to the Sea Cultivator Tribe to retrieve the water key. Luo Shui Xian had also made her preparations at the Yaochi branch, waiting for their arrival. An adventure centered around the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm was about to begin. Would the Five Elements Spirit Keys be successfully gathered? What dangers and Opportunities would they encounter in the Secret Realm? How would the feelings between Lu Chen and Luo Shui Xian develop? All the answers would be slowly revealed within the Myriad Immortals Secret Realm.