After leaving the Section Head’s office, we entered Ling Xuan’s room.

  The senior’s room on the second floor was slightly smaller than mine, but it was more than spacious enough for three people to sit and talk.

  After glancing at the seniors’ faces, which were clearly filled with excitement, I deliberately asked as if I knew nothing.

  Since I was an outsider and a wandering cultivator, it would be suspicious if I already knew about the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm.

  “Um… by the way, what exactly is the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm?”

  The two of them, who had been lost in their own thoughts, seemed to recall my background and showed awkward expressions.

  “Aigoo, I’m sorry, Junior Xuanyuan. We should’ve explained earlier, but we got too excited…”

  I accepted the apology as if it were nothing.

  Then Senior Ling Xuan began explaining.

  “The Heavenly Palace Secret Realm is a fragment of the upper realm that opens once every hundred years.”

  A fragment of the upper realm referred to a piece that had fallen from a higher plane.

  No matter how small the fragment was, it still contained far richer spiritual energy than the Qingxiu True Realm, and various spiritual herbs were well preserved within it.

  Occasionally there were dangerous areas, but because people could obtain opportunities such as Dharma Treasures or spirit treasures, whenever one appeared even high-ranking cultivators would grow restless.

  “What makes the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm different from others is that only Qi Refinement cultivators can enter it.”

  I tilted my head and asked.

  Pretending to be ignorant until the very end was important.

  “That’s precisely the mysterious aspect of the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm. Cultivators at Foundation Establishment or above have already completed their meridians, so their energy clashes with the aura of the secret realm. Each secret realm originally has its own laws. In the case of the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm, that’s its law.”

  Yang Dongwu senior nodded in agreement.

  “That’s right! Qi Refinement cultivators are still like blank paper since their foundations aren’t fully formed yet, so they can accept the energy there without problems. They say it’s the only secret realm Qi Refinement cultivators can enter.”

  Ling Xuan continued his explanation.

  “That’s why the Heavenly Palace selects the most outstanding geniuses among its Qi Refinement disciples and sends them into the secret realm. There are countless people who successfully reached Foundation Establishment through opportunities obtained there, and there have even been those who succeeded in Core Formation… It’s truly a dreamlike place.”

  Suppressing my excitement as much as possible, I asked,

  “But it must be dangerous, right?”

  Yang Dongwu swallowed and answered.

  “Of course. It’s a fragment of the upper realm. The land inside is completely unpredictable. Danger lurks in every region, and you don’t even know where you’ll start.”

  Ling Xuan added with a solemn expression.

  “But the most frightening thing is still people. A limited space, limited resources… Because of that, you can’t trust even fellow sect members inside. Killing each other and stealing resources happens all the time. They say the survival rate is only half.”

  “Even so, everyone still wants to enter, it seems.”

  Yang Dongwu smiled weakly.

  “Well, of course. Among the fifty who return alive, thirty come back with opportunities. I might become one of those thirty.”

  Expectation and excitement were mixed across both seniors’ faces.

  Given their unusual backgrounds, they surely had their own methods of survival.

  Their expressions clearly showed they wanted to go no matter what.

  Well, the same was true for me.

  Though my reason was a little different.

  “From what I’ve heard, it sounds like a very ancient place. Are there still resources left?”

  Ling Xuan laughed heartily.

  “Of course. From what I’ve heard, new items always appear. And those who return from there have their temperament tempered and their Dao heart strengthened. They say those who experience the Heavenly Palace Secret Realm have a ninety percent chance of reaching Foundation Establishment, so it’s only natural everyone is anxious to go.”

  “Then why does it only open once every hundred years? Wouldn’t it be better if it opened every year?”

  Yang Dongwu let out a sigh.

  “Well… since it’s a fragment that fell off, it’s unstable. They say that once every hundred years, a gap barely large enough to enter appears.”

  “Then what happens if someone goes in but can’t come out?”

  I asked the most important question.

  As casually as possible.

  “Well, they just grow old and die inside. The next time it opens is a hundred years later. And they can’t reach Foundation Establishment inside anyway. There was once someone who got left behind. He was discovered by juniors a hundred years later and died three days afterward.”

  So even if someone remained inside the secret realm, nothing would immediately happen.

  A triumphant smile appeared inside my mind.

  I would never grow old and die.

  If I simply entered and hid inside while enduring, everything remaining in the secret realm would become mine.

  Yang Dongwu’s expression turned somewhat nostalgic.

  “It’s truly a great opportunity. In the past they selected ten wandering cultivators as well and gave them a chance. But this is the first time the opportunity has reached the Qingliu City direct staff.”

  Ling Xuan nodded.

  “It’s probably to comfort Qingliu City after the damage caused by that demonic cultivator incident. Still, an opportunity is an opportunity.”

  Wandering cultivators could also receive a chance?

  Then things were even better.

  Among the wandering cultivators who entered the secret realm, someone would surely meet with an accident.

  If I transformed into that person and came out, it would be perfect.

  If I waited two thousand years, wouldn’t a golden opportunity eventually arrive?

  Once I came out, I could simply leave.

  By the way…

  “But when exactly will the secret realm open? And what does it mean that there will be another selection even after becoming first place?”

  The Section Head said there was still time, but he hadn’t said how much.

  Please let there be plenty of time left!

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Ling Xuan answered with a stiff face.

  “The secret realm will probably open in about five years. The selection will likely be decided through a martial contest five years from now. If each department’s first place forms twelve groups, that makes thirty-six in total…”

  Even Yang Dongwu, who was usually carefree, now showed determination.

  “Out of those, perhaps twenty to thirty will be selected. First we must take first place in the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion’s sales, then cultivate with all our might. Let’s all do our best!”

  Both seniors were filled with determination.

  That meant the opportunity was truly valuable.

  I also steadied my heart.

  Five years was perfect.

  But at the same time, a faint sense of unease arose.

  I could roughly guess why the Heavenly Palace was doing this.

  It was to attract as many talents as possible.

  Which meant—

  War was truly approaching.

  If I was selected as the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion’s first-place team and even returned from the secret realm, leaving Qingliu City would become even harder.

  Another reason had been added for me to escape through the secret realm.

  ***

  The sales of Formation Plates went smoothly.

  The 150 Formation Plates brought on the second day also sold out completely.

  The same thing happened the following day.

  From the fourth day onward, others began competing, so the number sold decreased slightly, but by then the gap had already widened considerably.

  While selling Formation Plates and cultivating, I didn’t forget to visit the Plum Blossom Elder whenever I had time.

  After he stopped cultivating, the Plum Blossom Elder’s face shrank more with each passing day.

  It made me uneasy, as if he might leave the world at any moment.

  Eating meals with him, chatting about various things, and exchanging information was extremely enjoyable.

  Even though his body was gradually dying, his wit remained as sharp as ever.

  Whenever I looked at him, I felt both sadness and happiness.

  Was this what friendship was?

  For someone like me, who had never had anyone I could call a friend, the Plum Blossom Elder’s existence was incredibly significant.

  The seniors looked at me as if they couldn’t understand why I associated with an old man.

  But what could I do?

  My heart was old as well.

  On the fifteenth day after we started selling, we finished visiting every village and comfortably took first place.

  The total number of Formation Plates sold was 779.

  The Section Head warmly encouraged us and generously handed over our share of the sales profits.

  Considering most had been sold in installments, it was an incredibly generous decision.

  After the final calculation, my share came to 500 mid-grade Spirit Stones.

  It even included recognition for discovering how to use the Formation Plates and introducing the Plum Blossom Elder.

  Meeting seniors like these in a world of cultivators filled with swindlers and greedy people was truly a great blessing.

  “Since we earned such a big profit thanks to everyone, dinner tonight is on me! Let’s also treat Jiang Aoye and the Plum Blossom Elder.”

  “Thank you for that. Then I’ll enjoy the meal.”

  I led the seniors into Huami Inn.

  But for some reason, the Plum Blossom Elder’s expression looked unusual.

  For some reason, he looked extremely sad.

  After signaling the seniors with my eyes, I approached him.

  “Um… Elder brother. I was thinking of treating everyone to a meal today. Is something wrong?”

  The Plum Blossom Elder, who had been staring out the window, wiped the corner of his eyes with his sleeve.

  Then he forced a bright smile.

  “Ah, this old man is being foolish in his old age. It’s nothing. My granddaughter was chosen today as an inner disciple of the Heavenly Palace.”

  Ah.

  So that was why—his granddaughter had left.

  I had already heard that many sects had made offers to her.

  In the end, she had chosen to enter the Heavenly Palace.

  Since she became an inner disciple, she wouldn’t be able to leave until she achieved some degree of accomplishment.

  Considering the Plum Blossom Elder’s age, today might very well be the last day he would ever see his granddaughter.

  Without saying anything, I sat across from him and gently patted his hand.

  He deliberately laughed loudly.

  “It’s a good thing. A very good thing. Not just some random sect—such a great sect personally came to take her away. That means our family will now only prosper. Isn’t that right?”

  Seeing the Plum Blossom Elder smiling brightly made my chest ache for some reason.

  The seniors and Jiang Aoye, who had been watching the situation from behind with their necks stretched, quickly approached and congratulated him.

  From their perspective, it was indeed something worthy of celebration.

  “Congratulations. Becoming an inner disciple of the Heavenly Palace—what great fortune.”

  “Congratulations, elder brother. Your fate will now shine brightly.”

  “Hoho, thank you. Thank you.”

  Looking at the Plum Blossom Elder smiling with his wrinkled face, I thought that perhaps this too was simply the natural order of things.

  Hiding the faint unease in my heart, I laughed loudly and congratulated him.

  “I was planning to treat everyone today anyway, and now there’s even more good news. Let’s really eat to our hearts’ content! Congratulations, elder brother.”

  With a joyful mood, we ordered dishes and even drank spirit wine until we were full.

  The seniors, stuffed with food and pleasantly drunk, chose to sleep in the inn instead of returning to the dormitory.

  After they went upstairs, I remained on the first floor with the Plum Blossom Elder and spoke with him for a long time.

  I couldn’t honestly tell him everything about my past, but at least I could convey my heart.

  With reddened eyes, the Plum Blossom Elder grasped my hand.

  “This old man never imagined he would gain a friend like you in his later years. Though we didn’t spend a long time together… you understand my heart, don’t you?”

  I felt the same way.

  Even though we had known each other for less than a year, it felt like we had been friends our whole lives.

  “Of course I do. I also feel very close to you, elder brother.”

  “…Perhaps it’s because I’m old, but I’ve developed a bit of an eye for judging people. I have a feeling you’ll become a great figure someday. No… perhaps you’re already a great figure.”

  After finishing his words, the Plum Blossom Elder looked at me with a gaze that seemed to see through everything.

  Feeling burdened, I tried to lower my head.

  But the Plum Blossom Elder shouted.

  “Don’t avoid it! Look at me properly.”

  Startled, I lifted my head.

  The Plum Blossom Elder, who always smiled, was now staring at me with a solemn expression.

  So… was it really like that?

  My chest suddenly felt heavy.

  Straightening my back, I looked directly into his eyes.

  “If you have something to say, please say it, elder brother.”

  Soon the Plum Blossom Elder smiled kindly.

  It was the very same smile he had shown the day we first met.

  “I have nothing left to wish for now. I raised my granddaughter well and sent her into the greatest sect of the Qingxiu True Realm, traveled across mountains and rivers, and even earned the title of Qingliu City’s greatest information broker.”

  His face was filled with relief.

  He looked at me with an incomparably warm smile.

  “It was a fairly happy life. If there is one regret… it’s that I never reached a high realm and looked down upon the world. I have one request for you.”

  It felt like tears might fall.

  Biting my lip tightly, I focused on his words.

  “Instead of me… would you climb to the highest place? For some reason, I feel like you can.”

  After saying that, the old man smiled brightly.

  “It may sound strange, but after buying and selling information for 150 years, I developed some ability to judge people. You’re special.”

  Did he truly sense something?

  Or was it simply intuition?

  Without saying a word, I grasped his hand.

  Holding my hand tightly, the Plum Blossom Elder spoke slowly, as if carving each word.

  “My name is Zhang Bai. When you one day reach the supreme position… will you remember me?”

  I nodded silently.

  The Plum Blossom Elder smiled brightly at me once more.

  And with that same smile, he passed away.

  For a long time, I looked at his wrinkled face, memorizing every line.

  Tears streamed down my face.

  In a long life, I knew that someday I would face the death of someone I knew…

  But I never imagined that moment would come so soon.

  Do not worry, Plum Blossom Elder.

  No—Zhang Bai.

  I will remember you forever.

  ***

  After delivering the Plum Blossom Elder’s body to the Heavenly Palace, I lived each day busily.

  As if trying to erase the emptiness in my heart and the longing for that bond.

  I cultivated.

  I purchased seeds and saplings of spiritual herbs.

  I also didn’t forget to buy a bottle of Bigu Pill every day.

  After completing one transformation of the Wood spiritual root, drinking Spirit Spring water alone was enough to satisfy hunger—but who knew what might happen inside the secret realm?

  I also learned every Dao Art available in the Qing Script Pavilion that I could study.

  At first, the librarian who had treated me warmly gradually began looking at me as if I were a monster.

  Perhaps he thought I was some mad collector of Dao Arts with spirit stones to burn.

  Still, it couldn’t be helped.

  Inside the secret realm, conflicts would inevitably occur.

  Being able to quickly master Dao Arts using the system was a benefit of its own.

  To survive, I had no choice but to use everything available.

  From time to time, I also bought talismans.

  If I bought too many at once, it would arouse suspicion, so I purchased them slowly over time and stockpiled them.

  And so—

  Five years passed.