"Qiao Yi! Why did you use the Thousand Miles River Flag on them? Isn't that a waste!"
The Thousand Miles River Flag was the treasured artifact of the Qiao family, a prominent clan in the Purple Yellow Middle World. Legend had it that the golden river summoned was a segment of the Heavenly River from the Divine Realm, possessing earth-shattering power.
However, the Thousand Miles River Flag had limited uses, initially three, and now only two.
Thinking that such a precious resource was being used on such a weak group of people, Cai Zhi felt a pang of heartache and regret.
Qiao Yi explained calmly, "Don't underestimate them. One less opponent is one less opponent."
Seeing Cai Zhi about to speak, Qiao Yi said coldly, "Or do you want to share the treasures within the secret realm with the people of the Chongyuan Middle World?"
Cai Zhi immediately fell silent.
The Universe Secret Realm's divine light pierced the heavens and connected the earth, causing tremors throughout the entire Divine Revelation.
The disciples of various sects had barely recovered from the temporary cessation of the righteous and demonic war, only to rush headlong into this celebratory frenzy with an unknown outcome.
In the Divine Revelation Minor World, countless teams were dispatched to quell the unrest and riots caused by the opening of the secret realm. Simultaneously, innumerable cultivators, seeking wealth through perilous means, converged from all directions.
Qishan Pavilion, Fengyuan Sect, Jinxia Sect… names known and unknown, all the major sects arrived in unison. Above the Qianlian Sea, they completely surrounded Qian Ying, Yue Bufan, and Xuan Nu.
"Dao Lords, give us a definitive answer. Are you going to let us in or not?"
Before anyone could reply, someone from their ranks shouted loudly.
"You can't possibly expect us to stand by while you hoard all the benefits and deny us any share!"
"You!" Yue Bufan was so enraged his mouth was about to twist, but being no adept debater, he could only sputter out four words after much sputtering, "Utter nonsense—"
"Sect Master Yue, please calm down," Qian Ying said. "Don't bother with these ungrateful people."
After speaking, she didn't give the other sect leaders a chance to respond. With a scoff, she said coldly, "If you wish to enter, then enter. But let me be clear, once you are inside the secret realm, you are responsible for your own life and death."
"Dao Lord Qian Ying, this..."
Xuan You watched as vast swarms of cultivators, seemingly gone mad, rushed towards the area where the five-colored divine light was most intense, not uttering another word after Qian Ying finished speaking.
She hesitated, "Perhaps we should try to persuade them? So many people..."
"Good advice is hard to offer to a ghost intent on finding death," Qian Ying said, her red lips curving into a smile that was nonetheless chillingly indifferent.
"The demonic cultivators are lying low, so it's understandable that these sects are getting antsy," Lin Qingyu said as he approached. "However, Dao Lord Qian Ying is correct. If they insist on seeking death, let them. Not everyone can enter this Universe Secret Realm."
As if to verify Lin Qingyu's words, the group of cultivators led by Qishan Pavilion had barely approached the Universe Secret Realm when they began screaming in succession.
"Ahhh!"
Cultivators whose cultivation had not reached the Nascent Soul stage were directly repelled by the secret realm's divine light, dissolving into wisps of smoke that vanished into the air.
"Disciple!"
"Senior Brother!"
"Junior Sister!"
...
Various cries mingled with the screams, rendering the scene both grand and tragic.
"Amitabha, the Universe Secret Realm is intrinsically linked to the divine. How could it allow just anyone to enter?" Zen Master Ku Lian, leading numerous Mahayana cultivators, stood guard above the path of no return, able to observe all that transpired in mid-air. He slowly shook his head, his expression compassionate. "These sects are too impatient."
"It should be said that the treasures within the secret realm have made them too eager."
A clear voice drifted from afar. Bai Shengyi, clad in red, flew towards the crowd.
"Little Junior Sister, you're back!" Qian Ying rushed forward first, her voice filled with concern. "How is it? Do you have any other solutions?"
She was asking if Bai Shengyi had any insights into Bai Qingjiang's condition.
Although Bai Qingjiang was barely clinging to life, his situation was dire. Xu Ye had taken over his body through a method of soul possession. Bai Qingjiang's spiritual consciousness had been utterly destroyed. When Qin Si rescued him, Qian Ying had believed him to be already dead.
It was only when her master, Qing Lan, discovered a sliver of his life force that she managed to stop the Bai family members who were attempting to bury him.
"No."
Bai Shengyi's expression was grim. While she didn't have a deep emotional connection with Bai Qingjiang, just as she had tirelessly sought precious medicinal herbs for Yue Shuxin's treatment, she couldn't simply stand by and watch Bai Qingjiang die.
Qian Ying patted her shoulder. "Don't overthink it. Master and I will help you."
"I heard you called Feng Wuya away. What did you call him for?" Qian Ying asked again.
Bai Shengyi replied, "To refine some pills."
As she spoke, she produced several blue porcelain bottles and handed them to Qian Ying. "Mother-Child Gu Pills. Each pill is divided into two halves. One half for each person. After consumption, they can communicate mentally, similar to the function of Mother-Child Gu. Take these, Senior Sister, and distribute them to those who will enter the secret realm later. As for whether they use them, that is up to them."
Qian Ying was both surprised and delighted. She winked at Bai Shengyi. "We were worried about losing contact once we entered. I never expected you to come up with this! Little Junior Sister, you truly are a natural alchemist!"
The ability to use elixirs to such an extent, this innovative capacity, far surpassed both hers and Zheng Wuxin's.
However, Qian Ying felt no jealousy. On the contrary, she was overjoyed for Bai Shengyi.
Amidst Qian Ying's praise, Bai Shengyi calmly took out a second, then a third... a total of eight bottles of various colored pills. Including the one in Qian Ying's hand, there were nine in total.
"Little Junior Sister, I love your method of distinguishing pills!" Qian Ying felt her aesthetic sensibilities had found a kindred spirit. She couldn't even contain her curiosity about the pills, rushing forward to embrace Bai Shengyi and rub against her affectionately.
Qin Si saw this scene as he approached the entrance to the secret realm.
"Qin Si, you're here." Qian Ying calmly greeted Qin Si and gave him a portion of the pills Bai Shengyi had provided. "These are from Little Junior Sister. For their specific effects, ask Little Junior Sister. I'm going to distribute pills to others."
With that, she quickly slipped away.
It was a joke, but she understood the situation.
After Qian Ying left, the others didn't approach either. The Divine Revelation Minor World also wished to enter the secret realm, for it couldn't bear the risk of the secret realm descending upon Divine Revelation without gaining any benefit.
However, due to issues concerning the secret realm's descent and the arrival of external cultivators, sufficient preparations were needed in the early stages.
The sky gradually dimmed, and the dazzling multicolored light became even more brilliant in the darkness.
Qin Si stood in the shadow, his features indistinguishable. Bai Shengyi only sensed his low spirits.
"Ayi, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said you were 'making a fuss.' It was my careless words that day..."
Bai Shengyi suddenly leaned forward, her slender fingers pressing against his lips.
"Ayi?" Qin Si's phoenix eyes flickered with confusion.
Bai Shengyi's other hand naturally wrapped around his waist. She tilted her head back and said, "You've already apologized. Let this matter rest. Qin Si, I never felt like a fledgling under your wing."
Beneath the colorful light, her eyes shone brighter than the stars.
"I am an eagle in the sky, capable of standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you, or even surpassing you."