Chapter 100: Sealing the Magic Surge and Rising Clouds

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Lu Ming’s burst of laughter darkened Gu Qiu’s face beyond recovery.

“Can a man be described as beautiful?” Ji Yao detected the bitterness in Gu Qiu’s words.

Glancing at Lu Ming, who was still uncontrollably chuckling, then at Gu Qiu’s expression, Ji Yao playfully lifted the corner of her mouth. “Of course! The word ‘beautiful’ applies to all things.”

She raised her hand in a gesture. “Look at Senior Brother Da, smiling like blossoming flowers, truly a sight to behold.”

A sudden cough interrupted Lu Ming’s laughter—whether startled by Ji Yao’s words or choked by his own saliva, he abruptly stopped.

Gu Qiu’s expression shifted from gloomy to bright. Though silent, a smile blossomed on his face.

“Alright, let the beauty prolong our years. Now that everyone has smiled, it seems Second Senior Brother’s spirits have lifted. Why then, a usually composed man like you, find yourself in such a mess this time?”

Though Gu Qiu had entered the secret realm with a mission, like Ji Yao, he was not the one leading the action. He adapted to the situation, but with his cultivation level, he need not take the forefront.

Ji Yao’s words had already been careful to save face for Gu Qiu. This time, his predicament was more than just embarrassing—any misstep could cost him his foundation.

Otherwise, Ji Yao would not have risked exposure by producing a drop of the Eternal Azure Essence, precisely because Gu Qiu’s injuries had been suppressed for too long and could no longer be delayed.

Given Gu Qiu’s status, he should possess life-saving treasures, yet he was gravely wounded to the point of forced suppression. This showed how serious the matter was.

This was also what Lu Ming wanted to know. Having watched this junior brother grow up, he understood his awkward nature and knew Gu Qiu might not wish to elaborate.

Now that Ji Yao brought it up, Lu Ming was curious to see how his junior brother would respond—perhaps this time it would be different.

After all, Ji Yao’s temperament was unlike the other women around, and with no female disciples at Tianlu Peak for a long time, it was time for Gu Qiu to set aside the shackles he had imposed on himself.

Gu Qiu glanced at the two, their concern unmistakably similar—one sharp-witted, the other imposing in martial strength. Knowing he could not evade this today, he found a chair and sat down, preparing to recount the tale carefully.

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The true upheaval began half a month ago, on the day the sealing array at the heart of the Qixian Secret Realm activated. At that moment, the beasts within the Yunqi Secret Realm erupted in chaos.

When they first entered Yunqi, expectations were set; though the number of beasts was high, it was within reason. Despite the danger, they could still act prudently and protect themselves.

Cultivators entered Yunqi primarily to explore, so the first task was to regroup with companions and advance together toward the center.

The closer to the center, the more numerous the sixth-rank beasts, though these tended to act alone. Once united, each team had its strengths, making the challenge manageable.

“Along the way, we encountered many spiritual plants and herbs unknown in the current cultivation world. At the moment of teleportation, I even fell into an extreme cold zone and obtained a cluster of Ice Flames.”

Ji Yao watched as a crystal-clear ice shard flickered in Gu Qiu’s palm, a cold blue flame glowing within, chilling the entire room and frosting the air.

This was the flame’s dormant state; its true power against enemies was unimaginable.

“Because of this Ice Flame, I broke through to mid Foundation Establishment as soon as I entered the realm,” Gu Qiu said, withdrawing the flame.

This precarious balance of opportunity and danger persisted until all teams gathered at the center and proceeded inward as planned.

Though Gu Qiu’s narration was calm, Ji Yao, having experienced such trials, deeply empathized. The beasts in Yunqi were high-ranked, and with the interference of sixth-rank beasts, there was no place untouched by flight or earth-shattering power.

The skills of Foundation Establishment cultivators could handle matters comprehensively, but they were outnumbered by beasts.

In fact, fewer entered Yunqi compared to Qixian, yet the quantity and quality of beasts far exceeded Qixian’s. Facing hundreds or thousands of beasts, mistakes were inevitable.

“You dashed out because the Ice Flame was protecting you?” Ji Yao said, though disbelief tinged her tone.

Gu Qiu shot her a glare before continuing, “The only time I used the Ice Flame, it attracted the attention of an ice-attribute sixth-rank beast. During our breakout from the beast horde, I was separated by three sixth-rank beasts, cut off from the group.”

Indeed, sixth-rank beasts had basic intelligence and coordinated attacks.

Lu Ming interjected, “Your injuries must have come from then. If I’m right, that Ice Flame was nearly swallowed by the ice beast, causing damage to your foundation and destabilizing your realm.”

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Gu Qiu smiled wryly. “Exactly.”

At root, the alien flames tamed by humans reside in the dantian. Being forcibly torn away risks injury there. Half of Gu Qiu’s cultivation power derived from the alien flame’s energy, so damage to the flame affected its master.

No matter what, that he survived intact against three sixth-rank beasts with only recently advanced mid Foundation Establishment was fortunate. This showed that Second Senior Brother was no ordinary elite cultivator—his combat prowess was among the best.

Without the Ice Flame, this disaster would never have occurred. Now both were preserved, and with proper use, his power would undoubtedly rise further.

Gu Qiu’s misfortune was also a blessing in disguise—fortune concealed within calamity, calamity nestled in fortune—there was no cause for complaint.

Ji Yao glanced at Senior Brother Da Lu Ming; they exchanged looks, each understanding the unspoken implication. Ji Yao nodded, prompting Lu Ming to ask, “What about the beast uprising you mentioned earlier?”

It was said that on the day the sealing array of the Qixian Secret Realm first activated, the beasts in Yunqi seemed to sense something. They hurried en masse toward the center, making the already difficult progress for sect teams feel like a tidal wave of beasts, doubling their pressure.

Even when new sixth-rank beasts appeared, they could not quell the actions of these Foundation Establishment beasts, as if some force was summoning them, relentlessly surging forward.

Gu Qiu pondered before explaining, “Since midnight that day, the beasts’ purpose appeared to be to prevent the closure of that breach. The beasts crowding the center repeatedly threw themselves into what looked like a chasm.”

Those beasts that jumped in never emerged again, as if sacrificed. Oddly, scanning with spiritual senses revealed no corpses or blood traces inside the chasm.

They suspected the beasts had fallen into the Qixian Secret Realm, fearing widespread casualties there, so they fought desperately to kill the beasts charging toward the chasm.

About ten days ago, a blood-red demonic aura erupted from the chasm, flowing like a reverse tide into nearby beasts, driving them mad. They began attacking indiscriminately, friend or foe. People then fought mainly for survival.

Ten days ago? Ji Yao recalled that was right after she and Dongfang Shun used formation talismans, which gradually sealed the breach.

Combining Gu Qiu’s account, the breach seemed inhabited by a living entity—specifically, a demonic creature belonging to the demon clan, devouring heaven and earth, growing stronger through temptation.