"Yang Xiao is an orphan, without backing or resources. Everything he’s achieved is through his own efforts. If he wasn’t ruthless or didn’t resort to underhanded tactics, could he have survived until now?"
"If you lack a magic artifact, you can just pick one from the Sect Treasure Vault. What about him? Who could he turn to? He can only fight and kill for others’ magic artifacts. If he’s killed instead, it’s just his bad luck, and no one would care about his fate."
"That’s why I often advise you to avoid making enemies of those loose cultivators in the martial arts world. They’re different from us; they’re all desperados. If you hurt them or take an artifact that should have been theirs, they’ll hold a grudge against you for life."
"To forgive where forgiveness is due, holding righteousness in your heart and rcy under your sword, is also a form of cultivation."
"It was indeed my fault for judging these two with the mind of a villain. When this matter is settled, if Yang Xiao ever cos to us with an issue, rember to tell . I owe them a favor, and I will repay it."
"Moreover, the matter of Yang Xiao and Nalan Shuo possessing a Nether-level Magical Artifact must absolutely not be leaked. Only you, I, and Shouzhuo know, not a fourth person. Otherwise, it would bring them mortal danger," the Great Elder sternly instructed.
"Understood, don’t worry." Shao Changyin Ji weighed the gravity; she didn’t like Yang Xiao personally, but she would certainly not harm him.
Regarding Jiang Qingluan, she also felt she owed Yang Xiao a favor.
There’s no denying it; given Yang Xiao’s character, he’d definitely confront her demanding justice.
One day later, under Shao Changyin Ji’s arrangent, Yang Xiao and Nalan Shuo arrived at a hospital room. It was Jiang Qingluan’s room, and her condition had improved considerably. She was undergoing rehabilitative training.
"How are you feeling?" Yang Xiao asked with concern after sitting down.
"Much better. Master said in about a week I should recover to 70-80%, but still lacking for a fight." Jiang Qingluan answered honestly. The Yi Sect spared no expense in her healing, but her injuries were severe, and she had unfortunately been caught in the Nightmare World, missing the best recovery period.
"Director Nalan, thank you for the trouble." Jiang Qingluan sincerely thanked Nalan Shuo. She learned from her Master that Yang Xiao and Nalan Shuo would accompany her into the Secret Realm.
The Secret Realm was extrely dangerous. Jiang Qingluan originally didn’t want to burden others, but Yang Xiao inford her that he and Nalan Shuo had reasons beyond her rescue to go.
"This woman killed my brother, took hundreds of innocent lives, and threw our Rongcheng Patrol Division into chaos. I need to find her and take her out." Yang Xiao seriously declared, holding a picture of the Japanese female apostle.
"Tell us about the situation inside the Secret Realm," Yang Xiao said. This was also Shao Changyin Ji’s request, as no one knew the Secret Realm better than Jiang Qingluan.
Originally there were two survivors; Jiang Qingluan was one, but the other succumbed to severe injuries soon after returning.
It’s understandable; not everyone could receive the special attention Jiang Qingluan did. The cost of treatnt was too great, leading to inevitable abandonnt.
It’s harsh but realistic.
"The Secret Realm is mountainous, mostly small hills rather than high mountains, extending endlessly."
"Vegetation on these hills is sparse, more like barren hills."
"Also, there’s no distinction between day and night in the Secret Realm. It’s perpetually grey, with occasional fog—a chaotic mist that appears quickly and lingers, though fortunately non-toxic."
"The Secret Realm can be viewed as an exceptionally peculiar supernatural event. It’s rooted in a high-level ownerless resentful eye, but over the years it has changed, making it nearly impossible to seize or control."
"Our goal this ti is rely to reach the Secret Realm Core Area for training, without trying to obtain the resentful eye."
Pausing, Jiang Qingluan emphasized, "We all share a blood feud with those guys. I also want revenge, but Master instructed us to avoid confrontation unless absolutely necessary. By the way, those Japanese Apostles are near the Core Area too."
"How many of them are there?" Yang Xiao inquired carefully.
"There were initially 8, we’ve taken out 3. Now there are at most 5 left, including one heavily injured. Not sure about their current status." Jiang Qingluan recalled the bloody battle, a massacre etched in her mory.
"What’s the strength of these remaining 5?" Nalan Shuo quietly pursued, knowing that understanding both friend and foe ensures safety in nurous battles.
"None are weak. The weakest almost reaches the Ghost Level Middle, and the strongest is the woman who injured —yeah, the one in the photo, plus a man with a backpack. These two possess strength slightly above Ghost Level Middle. Most of my team perished at their hands." Recalling the scene made Jiang Qingluan’s heart clench; without soone covering their retreat, leaving was impossible.
"Besides the Japanese, are there others in the Secret Realm?" Yang Xiao asked further.
"I’m not very clear about that. We haven’t encountered any, but Master ntioned that this Secret Realm has multiple entrances, so others entering isn’t out of the question. However, even if new entrants appear, they aren’t likely organized—probably accidental arrivals."
"By the way, the Secret Realm restricts the spiritual power of Apostles, the maximum is only slightly above Ghost Level Middle. Anything stronger can’t enter." Jiang Qingluan added.
Yang Xiao had already guessed; the two helpers summoned by Yi Sect from the Chamber of Comrce were just at this level, selected to match this maximum standard.
Nalan Shuo was about the sa level; Yang Xiao himself a bit lower, not quite Ghost Level Middle. Yet for actual combat prowess, Yang Xiao felt confident against anyone in this endeavor.
Not to ntion his arsenal of evil magic tools and a companion Mirror Ghost. Along with the armor taken from the Magic Sect’s Vajra, ordinary Ghost-level Apostles would struggle to break through his defense.
"However..." Jiang Qingluan seed to have another thought, gradually biting her lip, "Inside, the situation might be more complex."
"What do you an?"
"The Secret Realm enhances spiritual power; the longer the stay, the closer to the core, the better the boost. Those Japanese Apostles have been there for so ti, likely progressing in spiritual power intensity. It’s a concern of mine."
"Isn’t there a restriction within the Secret Realm?" Yang Xiao rembered Jiang Qingluan ntioning earlier that the maximum was Ghost Level Middle.
"It’s not as you think. The restriction is only for those entering through a Secret Realm gap. Once inside, there’s no restriction. The Secret Realm itself imposes no limits on Apostles." Jiang Qingluan clarified.
"So, these Japanese Apostles could have leveled up inside, and we might end up getting overpowered when we go in?" Yang Xiao’s expression darkened. Though skilled in battling higher-tier opponents, this wasn’t sothing he wanted. Plus, their numbers weren’t inferior to theirs either.
Noticing Yang Xiao’s troubled expression, Nalan Shuo reassured, "Little Yang, don’t worry too much. Achieving significant gains in the Secret Realm is imnsely challenging without so fortuitous encounter, which is extrely unlikely."
Nalan Shuo was a veteran Director at the Patrol Defense Office, well-versed in the myriad of myths surrounding Secret Realms.
With the Director’s words, Yang Xiao’s face eased, feeling sowhat relieved.
He entered the Secret Realm for vengeance, not to et his end. Especially with his Director accompanying him, he couldn’t be careless.
"Additionally, the Secret Realm is initiated by the ownerless resentful eye, essentially a unique ghostly domain harboring a Source Ghost," Jiang Qingluan suddenly ntioned.
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