Chapter 101: Return with a Full Load

The storage bag left at the Bone Hall in the center of the lake was by far the most valuable of all. Every other treasure was only one or two pieces, nowhere near matching a relic like the satchel left by one of those legendary-tier giants.
Who could guess how many treasures it actually held?
Le Feng was plainly frustrated and helpless; if he could not open it now, and the elders took it away later, he would end up with nothing.

By contrast, Brother Jiang beside him remained far more composed, his eyes deep and unreadable, occasionally flashing with a strange light that was hard to read.
Xu Xuan was curious too—what exactly was inside, and what fortune could it buy?
Yet, unfortunately, the remnant spirit of his former life seemed to have fallen asleep, and in this realm’s rich atmosphere he had to make the most of the time to replenish his vitality.

That day, Xu Xuan felt a fierce surge of spiritual energy from the girl beside him, and the other disciples of the Wind-Feather Immortal Sect turned to watch.
“Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement!”
“Shi Mei has truly not wasted her top-tier spiritual-root gift. She was not yet in the Third Layer before entering the secret realm, and now she has already broken into the Fourth.”
The disciples of Wind-Feather buzzed with admiration and disbelief.
At such speed, even the new talent auras around Yuanhang Yun and Le Feng had begun to fade.

“Even faster than expected,” Yuanhang Yun said, his gaze flickering. “Even with a top-tier spiritual-root gift, no one rises this fast.”
He glanced at Xu Xuan and thought to himself: with that girl’s disposition, even if her talent surpassed mine by half a grade, it still would not threaten my standing.

Brother Zhong and Yumo had both suffered mental injuries, but fortunately Yuqin had a pill that healed spirit wounds, and she repaired them immediately. No serious harm remained.
Yang Xiaoqian’s beautiful eyes, so bright a moment ago, were now dim and heavy with disappointment. Some things are simply beyond envy.
She seethed inwardly: Why is Heaven so unfair? As women, she had gained her present rank through beauty and wit after years of effort, yet still had to stand behind one who seemed blessed by destiny without lifting a finger.
“Congratulations, Sister Yuqin, on reaching the Fourth Layer of Qi Refinement.”
Xu Xuan offered the first congratulations, truly joyful.
He knew well that the Fourth Layer was a significant dividing line: below it, low-tier immortal adepts had little power, their spells narrow and feeble.
In truth, Yuqin’s rapid rise had not only come from talent but also from the spring-eye elixir that day, which had “watered” her breakthrough.
In the Heart-Lake Sanctum, to save her, Xu Xuan had nearly soaked Yuqin’s body entirely with that sacred spring fluid, and the effect had been extraordinary. That is why she could break through in the last days of the realm so smoothly.

“Thank you, Brother.”
Yuqin showed small, pearl-white teeth, and her smile made her cheeks glow like dawn. She did not have a beauty that could topple kingdoms, yet her pure, flawless smile could outshine every other loveliness. Even as she rose, a soft halo of rosy light still clung about her.
Many male disciples went briefly numb.
Le Feng’s eyes shifted strangely, flashing an odd shine before he quickly hid it, but Yang Xiaoqian noticed and grew inwardly angry.
Even Xu Xuan was slightly dazed; perhaps after growing in the secret realm, the once-innocent girl had passed beyond mere pretty surface and returned to a purity like fine jade.

“Truly my dream maiden.”
Zhong Hong stared blankly for a heartbeat, his face bright with joy.
“Ha, Brother Zhong has splendid taste,” one Sword Sect disciple teased. “She has endless potential. She’s only thirteen or fourteen—who knows what beauty she’ll become.”

“Congratulations, Sister Yuqin. Advancing to the Fourth Layer so quickly makes you the foremost prodigy of both sects.”
Many disciples came forward with congratulations.

After a moment, Zhong Hong hesitated, then stepped up too.
“Little sister, congratulations.”
He tried to soften his smile, but his adoration was impossible to hide.
“Thank you.”
Yuqin nodded with the same polite ease she used for everyone else. That made Zhong Hong feel nothing but loss. He left in a muttered displeasure and, before he departed, gave Xu Xuan one hard look.
Xu Xuan almost laughed at how easily this man blamed all of his emotional frustrations on him. He breathed once and thought, Then this grudge is sealed. Let him fear what he will—am I really more than a little stronger?

Two days later, with the deadline in the secret realm nearing, disciples of both sects stood before the shattered wall.
Before that moment Yuanhang Yun had taken the count: fifteen Wind-Feather disciples had entered, and only eight remained.
Nearly half were lost.
Among them, familiar names—Wan Fushan, Brother Lin, Brother Fei—were all dead in the realm.
Brother Lin died to the demonified Bat King. Brother Fei was killed by a counterstrike from a shattered ancient sword.
As for Wan Fushan… as far as Xu Xuan could remember, he was the last seen in the Heart-Lake Sanctum, swallowed by a spiritual-qi storm. No one could save him. In a crisis of life and death, most people could barely save themselves.
Wan Fushan’s death in the realm spared Xu Xuan one burden; if he returned to the sect, killing him again would not have been easy.

Then, at one moment, a familiar presence came from the broken wall.
A deep vibration.
Strong violet currents rose across its surface, and their force drove everyone back.
For a moment the violet flow surged like a storm; around it, a white, misty ring trembled, and faint howling winds made everyone’s blood run cold.
All waited breathless, full of anticipation. No one in this expedition was poor in loot, and every face held excitement.

The wind-shaking rumble lasted briefly; then on the ancient wall suddenly opened a passage of three-colored luminous specks, radiant and clear.
The familiar aura of Xiaoyu-space poured out, oddly intimate.
“Wind-Feather disciples, return quickly!”
“Starfall Sword Sect disciples, prepare to return to the mountain!”
From the other end came urgent voices from both Sect Masters.
This passage would not last long, so they hurried into the three-hued light.
“Go!”
Xu Xuan and Yuqin shared a glance and leapt into the channel.

After going on for a while, they suddenly felt as though they had passed through some barrier and entered another layer of space.
Just after leaving the secret realm, many disciples frowned in discomfort.
Outside, the qi of the world was far poorer than in the realm—like the difference between air in a dark room and air in an open grove.
Still, though less rich than the realm, this was still territory of the sect, their own home, and felt like it.

As when the realm had opened before, Sect Masters from both factions were present.
At Lotus-Moon Immortal Aunt’s call, the Wind-Feather disciples moved toward the former Jade-Water Skiff, while the Starfall disciples went to their own white cloud-silk formation.
“Brother Xu.”
A male voice sounded behind him.
Xu Xuan turned. It was Niehan of the Starfall Sword Sect.
“Any advice, Brother Nie?”
“Not advice,” Niehan replied steadily. “That day at the Lakeheart Sanctum, thank you for your courtesy. You let me obtain this ancient sword as I had wished.”

Niehan’s tone was even, almost without emotion, but rare enough in him to sound sincere.
“Brother, it’s no trouble. I have no interest in the sword path at all. That ancient sword suits Brother Nie better.”
Outwardly, Xu Xuan answered this. Inwardly he smiled bitterly. It was not that he did not want the sword: first, he did not want to expose his secret way of drawing in outside objects through Star-Sea means; second, Niehan’s strength was overwhelming. At that moment he had already stepped half a rung beyond the Tenth Layer, and there would have been no true contest. From a practical view, the higher-value satchel had been the better choice.

“Be careful of Zhong Hong.”
Niehan said quietly as he left.

Zhong Hong?
Even as Xu Xuan stepped onto the Jade-Water Skiff, the thought stuck with him. Zhong Hong’s strength exceeded his by far; he was not someone easy to deal with.
As if noticing Xu Xuan’s gaze, a great cloud mass lifting before him seemed to carry Zhong Hong’s fierce stare. It was a clear display of intimidation.
Xu Xuan took it lightly. Even if the other man was stronger, he would not dare strike openly.

Soon the Jade-Water Skiff carried everyone back above the Infinite Abyss. Xu Xuan quickly caught sight of the long-missed North Cliff Pavilion and felt a trace of warmth—this was his own small den.
“First, everyone to the Hall of Heaven and Earth,” Lotus-Moon Immortal Aunt said with a smile.
Xu Xuan shivered inwardly. They had gained a great deal in the secret realm, and the elders might seize the most valuable treasures.
“Ugh… I have stomach pain. I’ll go relieve myself first.”
Brother Jiang said, face tight with discomfort.
“Go and return quickly. You must be on time in the Hall.”
Aunt’s brows knit slightly, but Jiang was a direct disciple of a senior elder, so no one would fault him.

Soon they arrived at the Hall of Heaven and Earth, where the Sect Master and several elders had already gathered.
“This opening of the secret realm was no small undertaking. Yuanhang, speak briefly on the results and what you gained.”
The Wind-Feather Sect Master spoke evenly.
Then, as Xu Xuan had expected, the elders’ spiritual vision swept through everyone’s storage bags.
When they asked questions, the Sect Master cared most about the gains, not the process or details.

The satchel of the Condensing-Core-tier strong disciple that Le Feng had gained in the Heart-Lake Sanctum was surrendered, and so were other important relics obtained by fellow disciples.
At least the other goods—spiritual tools, second-grade spirit materials, Purple-Rock Crystal Ore—were not confiscated.
“There is little use for high-level treasures for you with your current cultivation, and they could invite trouble and bloodshed. Of course, the sect will provide proper compensation.”
The Sect Master explained calmly.

Xu Xuan silently agreed. For ordinary resources, most were kept by the disciples. Higher-grade artifacts submitted to the sect were compensated properly.
For two sects to open a realm at such cost and receive such treatment was by no means bad.

Xu Xuan had two empty hands—no satchel at all. He had put ordinary things in Yuqin’s satchel.
When the third-grade spirit material called the Crimson Serpent Fruit was brought out, the elders’ eyes brightened, and for the moment Master Lu took it.
Yuqin moved to Master Lu and spoke softly. He looked at Xu Xuan oddly, then exclaimed with surprise, “You did truly break through to the Ninth Layer of Body Tempering during this expedition and rendered great service. Very well. As Yuqin wishes, this Crimson Serpent Fruit is awarded to you. As for that demonified young bat, this elder will keep it.”
Ninth Layer of Body Tempering?
The other elders all turned and studied Xu Xuan with surprise.
“Thank you, Master Lu.”
Xu Xuan bowed respectfully, took the fruit, and sent Yuqin a look of thanks, secretly thrilled.
Both hands were still empty; not even one satchel.
No elder suspected or questioned him further.

No one could guess that the true “big winner” who truly returned laden beyond measure had already slipped away under everyone’s eyes.