Chapter Fifty-Three: Entering the Secret Realm

The voice that came from the Universal Jade Register, its tone, was as familiar as ever.

“Tong, what brings you here?” Xu Zhe spoke up, his tone light and teasing.

There was a sudden silence on the other end.

Standing by, Qu Hongxiu’s small ears were pricked up, eavesdropping furiously, yet she was left utterly bewildered.

Uncle Xu calls Master “Tong”? Doesn’t that make him Master’s younger brother? By seniority, I’d have to call him Martial Uncle—if we ever got married and had children, wouldn’t the world disapprove? And what would our child call Master?

Qu Hongxiu’s thoughts ran wild.

At that moment, Chu Xiaotong’s voice finally came through again.

“Tch, I haven’t heard your voice in thousands of years. It feels strange all of a sudden.” Chu Xiaotong laughed, with a hint of nostalgia in her tone.

“Well, you’re not like me. I still find it perfectly normal to hear your voice.” Xu Zhe replied calmly.

“So, how does it sound? Pleasant?”

“It’s a bit more hoarse than before. I heard you became a general. You must do a lot of yelling these days?”

“What do you know? My voice is charming as ever. Even the demon kings drop to their knees when they hear me.”

“……”

It was as if the two had been transported back to the old days, chatting idly with no particular purpose.

After a while, Chu Xiaotong finally got to the point, her voice grave: “Are you really going to enter the Stoneflame Secret Realm?”

“You all have sharp ears. I thought I’d hidden my tracks well,” Xu Zhe answered with a smile.

“You call that hidden? Maybe don’t take out a group of Golden Core assassins in a single move next time!” Chu Xiaotong retorted, then continued, “Once Zhu Chongli gave you the secret realm jade, word started spreading. Most people know you’re probably heading for the Stoneflame Secret Realm.”

“It doesn’t matter. I never really intended to keep it secret. I just don’t like trouble. And too much killing isn’t good for anyone.”

“So you’re growing bold, Xu Zhe? Lin Keyi told me you’ve changed, and I didn’t believe her. Now listen to you, so arrogant!”

“Arrogant? Really?” Xu Zhe was genuinely startled, unable to see how he’d sounded arrogant.

There’s no way!

“Forget it. Let’s focus. I’ve received word that at least five well-known assassin organizations, including ‘Godshocker,’ are preparing to target you inside the secret realm. The Northern Continent is sending people too. Some promising descendants from the Mo family will also be there for the trial. Any of them might try to kill you,” Chu Xiaotong said, her voice low.

“I know.”

“You know? And you’re still going?”

“Yes, I—”

“Alright, you don’t need to explain. I’m not going to stop you—I couldn’t even if I tried. Just promise me one thing.”

“Hmm? What is it?” Xu Zhe asked curiously.

“When you’re in the secret realm, stay with Qu Hongxiu. Don’t go wandering off.” There was a trace of nervousness in Chu Xiaotong’s voice, as if she feared Xu Zhe would refuse.

Xu Zhe was taken aback, then nodded and smiled. “Alright.”

Taking care of Qu Hongxiu wouldn’t be a problem—as long as she didn’t run around, he could protect her just fine.

Little Qu, you have a good master!

Xu Zhe glanced at Qu Hongxiu, who was still lost in thought, and felt a surge of emotion.

“Good.” Chu Xiaotong seemed relieved and continued, “And when the secret realm is over, come to Southern Heaven Continent with Qu Hongxiu. Dongqian isn’t safe.”

Xu Zhe hesitated. Escort Qu Hongxiu back to Southern Heaven Continent as well?

Isn’t this a second request? I thought we agreed on just one?

“Forget it—come if you want.” Hearing Xu Zhe’s silence, Chu Xiaotong seemed annoyed, muttering under her breath, “Not like I’m going to eat you.”

“Hm? Eat what?” Xu Zhe hadn’t caught it.

“It’s nothing. Just… be careful in the secret realm—come out alive.”

“Of course.”

“Give the jade to Hongxiu. I want a word with her.”

“Alright.” Xu Zhe promptly held out the Universal Jade Register to Qu Hongxiu.

The dazed Qu Hongxiu was so startled her chest trembled, complaining, “Old man, what are you doing?”

“What?” Xu Zhe’s eyes widened.

Old man? I’m just over ten thousand years old, that’s not old, is it?

“Ah, nothing… Uh, Master, you’re still there?” Qu Hongxiu quickly waved her hand and, seeing the jade still glowing, hurriedly took it.

She then listened intently, nodding repeatedly.

“Yes, Master.”

“I understand, Master.”

“No problem, Master.”

…

Half an hour later, Xu Zhe and Qu Hongxiu had followed the directions to the entrance of the secret realm.

Qu Hongxiu was still listening to Chu Xiaotong’s instructions and replying from time to time.

After bidding farewell, Ji Dali and the others headed toward a building outside the grounds, which, rumor had it, was invested in by the “Home Chicken Restaurant.”

Once the area was cleared, only the secret realm trialists holding round jade tokens remained in the open space.

Xu Zhe extended his spiritual sense and scanned the area.

Nearly all the participants were at the Golden Core stage—about eighty percent. The rest, ninety-nine percent, were at the Nascent Soul stage.

And the remaining tiny fraction—just one in ten thousand—was at the Foundation Establishment stage. That was Xu Zhe himself.

“There’s basically no danger. Keeping Qu Hongxiu safe won’t be an issue, as long as she doesn’t wander off.”

Xu Zhe quickly sized up the situation.

“Everyone, the entrance to the secret realm is about to open. Hold your entry jade and channel your spiritual energy into it—you’ll be transported inside.”

A resonant, bell-like voice rang out, carrying across the area.

All the cultivators present produced their round jade tokens.

“Uncle Xu, take out your entry jade. Let’s leave an imprint on each other’s tokens.” Having just finished her conversation with Chu Xiaotong, Qu Hongxiu moved closer to Xu Zhe.

Xu Zhe nodded, pressing his round jade token to Qu Hongxiu’s. With a brief flash of light, a red dot appeared on each.

“Once we enter, we’ll be scattered to different locations. Don’t wander off—find a safe place to hide, and I’ll come find you using the mark,” Qu Hongxiu instructed.

“Alright.”

Xu Zhe nodded.

After entering, not only did he have to protect Qu Hongxiu, he also needed to search for any passages to the two Great Domains. There was no time for aimless wandering.

With a thunderous boom, the entrance to the secret realm appeared before them—a towering stone gate, its center like a lake rippling with waves, the void beyond growing hazy.

A scorching wind blasted toward them.

Through the entrance, one could vaguely see raging flames roiling, as if a volcano was about to erupt.

“Uncle Xu, let’s go!” Qu Hongxiu cried in excitement, channeling spiritual energy into her jade token. Arrays on the ground lit up beneath her feet, and with a flash of white light, she vanished.

One after another, flashes of white light reduced the crowd on the field.

Xu Zhe glanced around, gripped his jade token, and sent spiritual energy into it. Instantly, a pulling force wrapped around him and he vanished from sight.

Behind him, a group watched his disappearance, then pulled out their own jade tokens.

“Have you locked onto his location?”

“Yes, but we have to move quickly—the mark will vanish in a moment.”

“Let’s go!”

…