Chapter 027: You're Not as Good-Looking as He Is

The disciples who had previously mocked Xiao Jihan fell silent at once, their eyes now watching him with a complex array of emotions. Only Qiu Shuoran’s gaze burned with even greater hatred; his hand, hidden in his sleeve, had clenched into a fist, the neatly trimmed nails digging white marks into his palm.

Meng Yu glanced at Xiao Jihan, took a deep breath to quell the bitterness in his heart, and looked away.

As for Xiao Jihan, now the focus of everyone’s attention, his expression remained unchanged. He looked at the porcelain vial in his left hand, then at the heart-protecting mirror in his right, furrowing his brow slightly. After a moment’s hesitation, he finally stowed the items back into his mustard seed pouch.

Seeing him put away the gifts, Liu Zhiqing felt a faint relief. After all, it was their little junior sister who owed him; though these things could hardly make up for it, at least they expressed their remorse.

He withdrew his gaze and called out to the group, “Let’s depart!”

The Nine Provinces Continent consisted of nine regions: Eastern Fence, Southern Ridge, Nether Province, Cloud Province, Han Province, Central Province, Sea Province, Southern Sky, and Mourning Province.

The Brahma Heaven Secret Realm was located in Southern Ridge Province, home to the Brahma Heaven Sect. Unlike other sects, Brahma Heaven was a Buddhist sect, its members all cultivators of the Way of Buddha, abiding by the principle of universal compassion and salvation. Thus, they were generous enough to allow all sects across the continent to enter the secret realm for trials.

Had it been another sect, perhaps such generosity would have been rare.

Yet because Brahma Heaven Sect set this precedent, the major sects of the Nine Provinces established an unwritten rule: secret realms were to be shared, and what one could gain from them depended entirely on their own skill and fortune.

However, unlike Brahma Heaven, other sects discovering a secret realm on their own grounds would first let their own disciples try it, and only after some time would they inform the other sects.

Currently, besides the Brahma Heaven Secret Realm, the known realms included the Radiant Secret Realm, the Two Forms Secret Realm, the Six Ren Secret Realm, the Twin Moons Secret Realm, and others.

Each secret realm had different entry conditions and opening dates. Brahma Heaven allowed only those below Nascent Soul cultivation. Radiant Secret Realm admitted only women. Two Forms required a pair, one male and one female. Six Ren mandated teams of six to enter.

In short, the restrictions were myriad, and the rules within even more bizarre, but all secret realms shared one trait: treasures of the world, countless and wondrous.

Although Southern Ridge bordered Cloud Province, even flying by sword would take two or three days to reach. To avoid alarming ordinary folk, Liu Zhiqing cast an illusion; only cultivators could see their group.

The major peak masters had not taken new disciples in decades. This time, apart from Xiao Jihan, all those heading to Brahma Heaven Secret Realm were inner disciples—some had joined in recent years, others decades ago—but all were below Nascent Soul, the highest only mid-stage Golden Core.

Intent on tempering them, Liu Zhiqing kept the flying pace brisk. At first, everyone managed easily, but gradually some disciples began to fall behind.

Yet Xiao Jihan, whom everyone regarded as useless, remained at the front of the group, showing no sign of fatigue.

Xiao Jihan’s unusual stamina naturally drew attention. One disciple, lagging at the rear, couldn’t help but exclaim, “What’s with that waste? We can’t keep up, but he’s not affected at all!”

“Why bother comparing yourself to him? He may be useless, but Elder Yan favors him. He must have some treasure to replenish his spiritual energy, or at least reduce consumption.”

“That’s right, we can’t compete with him. He even has Elder Liu’s Qi Replenishing Pills.”

Their hearts grew ever more complicated—damn, they were feeling even more envious!

Qiu Shuoran, though he had nearly reached the threshold of Golden Core, was still not quite there, and he too began to feel his energy waning. Glancing at Xiao Jihan at the front, seemingly unaffected, he gritted his teeth and pressed on.

Yan Shu stood outside the main hall, always watching the sky overhead. After a while, thunderclouds indeed appeared. She hurriedly called out, “Don’t mess with me! I get it! Just show me the way!”

The rolling thunderclouds seemed to pause, then reluctantly traced a bolt of lightning to indicate the direction.

Yan Shu mounted her sword and departed.

As she flew, she negotiated with the thunderclouds, “Look, we’re so familiar now—can you stop striking me all the time? Let’s talk things through.”

The thundercloud gave a muffled rumble, as if to say, “Hmph!”

Yan Shu ignored its disdain, declaring unilaterally, “That’s settled, then.”

Before the thundercloud could respond, she immediately took out her Mystic Spirit Mirror and sent a message to Liu Zhiqing.

The new disciples quickly could not keep up, so Liu Zhiqing ordered a landing for rest.

No sooner had they landed than the Mystic Spirit Mirror responded. Liu Zhiqing took it aside, “Little junior sister.”

Yan Shu replied, “Third senior brother, where are you now?”

“We set out two hours ago. The new disciples are exhausted and resting,” Liu Zhiqing answered, noting she was flying by sword, slightly surprised, “Are you coming?”

She had no choice but to go. Internally cursing, Yan Shu nonetheless smiled brightly, “Yes, I haven’t left the sect in ages. Last time was decades ago, when a few senior brothers took me down the mountain.”

Hearing this, Liu Zhiqing felt a twinge of sadness.

Little junior sister had been brought to Xuan Tian Sect not long after birth, spending every day cultivating. Though still a child, she always wore a stern expression.

Unable to bear it, they took her out of the sect for a tour among mortals.

Later, she developed inner demons; not only did she never leave the sect, she wouldn’t even leave the main hall.

Now, with her inner demons gone, though she still appeared cold, her temperament had become livelier. She was willing to open up to them and no longer bore everything alone.

Thinking thus, Liu Zhiqing allowed himself a smile, “Perfect. The disciples need to recover anyway. Come join us.”

He severed the connection and stowed the Mystic Spirit Mirror. Beside him, Meng Yu suddenly asked, “Elder Yan is coming?”

Liu Zhiqing nodded, “Yes, she hasn’t left the sect in ages. It’s a good chance to see the excitement together.”

Upon hearing this, Meng Yu glanced back at Xiao Jihan, who sat meditating alone, his gaze darkening.

About an hour later, Yan Shu arrived.

Her appearance stunned the disciples.

Elder Yan, who never ventured out, had suddenly left the sect? Was she here to support Xiao Jihan, to protect him?

Their gazes toward Xiao Jihan brimmed with even greater envy.

A female disciple couldn't help but whisper, “Heavens, Elder Yan really dotes on Xiao Jihan!”

“If only Elder Yan pampered me like that, I’d happily be called useless too!”

“Don’t even dream. First, you’re a woman. Second, you’re not as handsome as Xiao Jihan.”

“…”