How could Qin Jue miss such a heaven-sent opportunity? He hurriedly said with trepidation, “Rest assured, Immortal. This junior will exert himself to the utmost and go through fire and water to complete the trial you have bestowed.”
The white-clad woman stopped there, then changed the topic as she pleased. “So many people have suddenly entered the Minor Cloud Interval. This seat asks you, how did you discover the entrance to the Minor Cloud Interval?”
Qin Jue replied, “Speaking of which, it was thanks to that fellow who snatched the Fire Cricket from this junior. That fellow found clues to the Minor Cloud Interval entrance in an ancient tomb. All parties found their way here by tracking him.”
The white-clad Immortal seemed very puzzled. “Having found clues to the Minor Cloud Interval entrance, why would he publicise it everywhere? Would it not be better to come privately? Why has it been stirred up into such a furore?”
“Perhaps it was the burden of fame, or perhaps he himself was too ostentatious and brought trouble upon himself. In fact, everyone originally thought he had died in the ancient tomb. If he had come quietly, truly no one would have known…”
Qin Jue did not conceal anything from her and recounted the general situation. The process of how the Wen Family Literary Gathering had exposed everything was naturally an unavoidable focal point.
After the white-clad Immortal finished listening, her usually indifferent face actually revealed an expression of barely concealed fury. “Fool. To actually attract so many people!”
Qin Jue lowered his head slightly and did not see the expression on her face. He chimed in, “That A Shiheng truly is good-for-nothing!”
The white-clad Immortal was silent for a moment, then said, “Very well. You cannot stay long. If you remain too long, your companions will grow suspicious. Go back.”
“Yes.” Qin Jue assented, then tried asking, “If I obtain the Fire Cricket, do I return here to find you?”
The white-clad Immortal said, “When you have obtained it, this seat will contact you of my own accord. If there is no contact by the next day, it will not be too late for you to come here again. Very well, go.”
“Yes.” Qin Jue kowtowed once more, then stood up and withdrew with his head lowered.
When he reached the doorway, he picked up the torch he had abandoned. Behind him, darkness fell abruptly. He turned to look, and it was pitch black. The Immortal’s figure had also vanished.
Fearing he might give offence and disturb the Immortal, he did not dare to look around too much. He lit the torch and left quickly.
After returning to Long Xingyun and Cui You’s side, he sat down cross-legged again and signalled Cui You to continue resting.
Cui You indicated it was unnecessary and volunteered to stand watch for him, but was refused.
After Cui You entered a meditative state, Qin Jue’s emotions were still secretly surging with excitement. He had never imagined, truly never imagined, that he had actually connected with a legendary Immortal. What was this if not destiny?
Thinking of the several teeth he had lost, he no longer felt aggrieved. He felt everything had been worth it.
If he had not racked his brains to get in, if he had not refused to give up despite suffering, if he had not persevered, how could he have obtained such a heaven-sent opportunity?
He himself did not know how long he had been excited. It was nearly time to change watch, yet he did not call for a replacement, still immersed in his own exhilaration.
Only after his emotions finally calmed with great difficulty did he sink into worry again. How was he to complete the Immortal’s trial?
The three parties were keeping Yu Qing under close watch. If anyone from one party approached, the other two parties would immediately stick close. Even the three parties themselves found it difficult to speak with Yu Qing alone, let alone him. He had no opportunity to make a move at all.
What to do? He stared and stared, constantly fretting…
Five days. A full five days passed before the three parties had searched the entire ruins thoroughly, not even letting a single tile slip by, and found nothing of value.
The aftermath was a group of people being searched one by one, on guard against anyone concealing something privately.
Tian Yu, Xiang Lanxuan, and Meng Po each squatted before piles of ancient objects bearing inscriptions, flipping through them in hopes of finding some useful clue. In the end, they found no hope. However, these ancient objects bearing inscriptions or patterns were not discarded carelessly. They were all gathered up to be taken out and handed over later. After all, no one dared to completely guarantee they were useless.
Each of the three families collected their own finds. Whoever found something kept it. There was no looting. It was not worth fighting over things of unknown purpose.
Beneath a large tree at the edge of the mountain, Yu Qing and his two martial brothers were undisturbed, meditating and cultivating in the shade.
They were not allowed to leave, nor were they allowed to assist. Left aside, it was dull for them to foolishly watch others being busy, so they could only do this.
Crack, crack, crack…
A series of muffled popping sounds of joints burst forth from Nan Zhu’s body.
Yu Qing and Mu Aotie, sitting cross-legged beneath the tree facing different directions, both opened their eyes and turned to look at Nan Zhu.
After Nan Zhu slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath, Yu Qing asked curiously, “Breakthrough?”
Nan Zhu’s face showed excitement. He smiled and nodded. “Yes. Finally broke through.”
After struggling for so many years, he had finally broken through to the Superior Martial Realm. It was indeed worth celebrating.
It was also thanks to the two Immortal Peaches he had eaten. After refining and absorbing the spiritual energy within, they had helped him break through to the Superior True Martial Realm in one go.
Of course, his own cultivation had already reached the threshold of the Superior Martial Realm. The two Immortal Peaches had merely served as the final kick at the door, helping him push it open in one move.
Mu Aotie also offered congratulations. Just two words. “Good thing.”
Yu Qing called out to him, “Martial arts fanatic. Your whole family is left with only you still in the Initial Martial Realm.”
Mu Aotie sat down, stretched out one palm, and held up three fingers. “Feeling-wise, about thirty more should be enough.”
Yu Qing and Nan Zhu exchanged a glance. They understood his meaning. This was the trio’s little secret. Ninth Brother was indicating that eating about thirty more Immortal Peaches should be enough for a breakthrough.
However, in the present situation, they were not allowed to leave at all. Where would the opportunity come from to eat more Immortal Peaches, let alone thirty of them? Even if there were occasional chances to go out, even if given a whole day, it would be difficult to fit thirty such large peaches into one’s stomach. Could they carry a bag back and eat in front of everyone?
For the current situation, they could only wait until an opportunity arose. Moreover, there might be a big trouble before long. If these fellows could not find the treasure, they might resort to torture to extract confessions.
The three sat down again. After closing their eyes to meditate for a while, they suddenly sensed an abnormal disturbance. It seemed a strong wind had risen.
The three opened their eyes one after another and discovered the sky had already darkened. Dark clouds filled the heavens. Looking at the momentum of this gale, it was clearly a change of weather and a heavy rain was coming.
Those who had opened their Dharma Eyes could discover dark red mixed within the dark clouds filling the sky.
Upon being reminded, over at the Sinan Mansion side, Meng Po, who had been sitting with eyes closed casting a spell, suddenly opened his eyes. His piercing gaze stared upward.
He was using his own cultivation to open his Dharma Eyes. Using the “Blue Enchantress” was also opening Dharma Eyes, merely by borrowing an external object.
After brief observation, Meng Po said in a deep voice, “It seems this rain cloud has absorbed the evil qi drifting in the high sky. This evil qi is likely to descend upon the earth with the rain. Notify everyone to be careful.”
Soon, those who had finished being searched descended the mountain in groups to find caves where they could shelter from the rain.
Although Yu Qing and his two martial brothers were not afraid of the evil rain, there was no need to resist it in the open. Thus, they also applied to descend the mountain to take shelter from the rain.
They would not be hindered in this matter. The three parties did not want the three of them to die now, so permission was naturally granted.
Not long after the three hid in a cave, a torrential downpour fell.
Half a shichen later, personnel from all three parties had finally finished being searched and returned to the cave in the rain.
No one knew when the rain would stop. Most people took the chance to rest well.
“This evil rain explains why the vegetation here has been contaminated by evil qi. So this is how it happens. Evil qi falls with the rain, then evaporates with water vapour and rises into the sky. The cycle repeats endlessly, constantly being absorbed by vegetation.”
“Perhaps we should be grateful that the vegetation has absorbed so much. Otherwise, I think it would be very difficult to stay long in this Minor Cloud Interval.”
“You think it is easy to stay long now? This is obvious. The water in the Minor Cloud Interval cannot be drunk. Nothing that grows here can be eaten. The exit is sealed again.”
“That is nothing. With everyone’s cultivation, one can be moderate with food. Eating a mouthful every three days or so is no matter. As for water, with everyone’s cultivation, one can feed on the wind and drink the dew, absorbing clean moisture from the air to replenish water without problem. For those whose cultivation is insufficient, there are experts present. Casting a spell to condense a bit of thirst-quenching water from the moisture in the air is no problem. So, whether it is food or drink, enduring for a year, enduring until the exit opens, is no problem.”
“Let us hope it goes smoothly. In short, this Immortal mansion feels somewhat sinister. Everything about it is evil. The animals one can see are all reduced to skeletons. There is not the slightest feeling of an Immortal mansion.”
“Indeed. No one knows what exactly happened in this Immortal mansion. It could not have been like this from the very beginning of its creation, could it?”
Qin Jue, sitting distractedly in the crowd, had his eyes brighten after hearing the crowd’s discussion. He had received inspiration.
After brief thought, he was secretly delighted. The solution he had been unable to think of had actually brought hope because of this heavy rain. Truly, it was a gift from heaven.
After mulling over the plan in his heart and preparing his words, he suddenly leaned slightly to the left and said to Long Xingyun beside him, “Third Brother, I have a plan that can resolve the Third Cave Master’s vexation. Would you be willing to go and win the Third Cave Master’s delight?”
“Oh?” Long Xingyun, who had been feeling bored, immediately became interested.
Qin Jue got up and signalled. Long Xingyun understood and immediately got up and left with him.
The two passed through the crowd and found a quiet corner in the cave. Only then did Qin Jue whisper a series of words into Long Xingyun’s ear.
As Long Xingyun listened, he gradually understood. His brows gradually relaxed. There was something of a delighted expression about him. After finishing, he actually could not resist giving a small punch to Qin Jue’s chest, then cupped his hands in a gesture of thanks.
Qin Jue patted his arm in a manner that said, “Don’t mention it. We are close as brothers.”
Long Xingyun beamed with joy. With a flick of both sleeves, he immediately swaggered off.
He did not go anywhere else. He went directly to Tian Yu’s side and called out, “Third Uncle.”
Tian Yu was talking with his subordinates. He turned his head to glance at him and asked, “What is it?”
Long Xingyun sighed. “Third Uncle, I see the area of this Minor Cloud Interval is not small at all. It is in no way inferior to the area of the Sea Market. At the rate we are searching bit by bit, how long will it take before we can be done?”
Tian Yu immediately rebuked him. “I told you to leave and you would not. Now you know it is tedious. What were you doing earlier? I think you simply need a beating!”
Long Xingyun put on a helpless look. “Ah, Third Uncle, you underestimate me. I am not bored. I just feel that using such a foolish method, who knows how long it will take to mess about, and it is also very inefficient. Is it not also somewhat laughable?”