Chapter 61: The Hidden Secret of the Trial

Looking for Situ Jing was merely Ji Yao's way of making a final confirmation.

Since this journey had already been decided, the four reasons Situ Jing had mentioned needed to be carefully investigated.

Moreover, the most recent information concerning the secret realm would certainly be most comprehensive on Gu Qiu’s end, and the rest would come from Ji Yao’s own sources.

Based on what she’d learned, it wasn’t difficult to deduce that Situ Jing might not have truly entered the Awakening Immortal Secret Realm. So how had the matter of the Heart of Wood been confirmed?

Entering the secret realm and completing the sect’s mission was, in fact, secondary for Ji Yao, for she was only an auxiliary member in the Law Enforcement Hall's plan—the true executors of the mission were not her.

Should the dispatched disciples fail to complete the mission or be unable to deliver their findings, Ji Yao would become the final contingency in the entire plan. This was the actual purpose behind that special mission token.

At that time, her task would be to safely carry out the last information received by the token from the Awakening Immortal Secret Realm. From any perspective, this journey contained countless secrets.

What she had thought would be a moderately challenging trial turned out to be fraught with twists and turns, compelling Ji Yao to alter her initial assumptions and approach the secret realm with greater caution.

The latest information from Situ Jing revealed that the matter of the Heart of Wood had been relayed by her disciple, Mu Tianheng. Yet this founding ancestor of Lingyun Sect had never left a record of this news for the sect.

At the same time, another previously insignificant piece of information returned to Ji Yao’s attention: Dongfang Shun had proactively registered for this trip to the Awakening Immortal Secret Realm.

Initially, she had assumed Dongfang Shun signed up for the secret realm to build his foundation. Now, however, she didn’t think so.

According to the “main character’s law,” the more complex the plot, the more opportunities the protagonist finds to seize fortune or outshine others. Ji Yao hadn’t forgotten that Dongfang Shun possessed his own “cheats.”

Though Ji Yao had some reservations about Dongfang Shun’s possible identity, at this moment, he was an excellent ally.

Within the Awakening Immortal Secret Realm, other secrets unknown to the world must exist. Those living now may not know—but what of those from ancient times? Like Situ Jing, and more importantly her disciple Mu Tianheng, a master of the Five Elements Chaos Spiritual Root.

At that time, Situ Jing, gifted only with a single Thunder Spiritual Root, might not have needed to enter the secret realm in search of opportunity. But Mu Tianheng surely had entered; otherwise, how would he know such hidden matters as the Heart of Wood?

As far as she knew, Mu Tianheng’s status as a Chaos Spiritual Root was not public knowledge at first; he was long mistaken for a pseudo-spiritual root, until he met his master.

Stranger still, Mu Tianheng’s master left no name in the cultivation world, nor any widely told deeds, aside from taking Mu Tianheng as a disciple.

Even the chronicles of Lingyun Sect contained little record—appearing only a handful of times as “Mu Tianheng’s master.”

The chronicles noted that his master ascended to the Immortal Realm before Mu Tianheng himself. Yet, for such a momentous event as someone ascending, no one knew the full story of his master, as if an invisible hand had deliberately erased it. It was too bizarre.

Had it not been for Situ Jing’s own admission, Ji Yao would never have linked the two together.

Upon careful consideration, Ji Yao had even more reason to believe that Dongfang Shun’s “cheat” also originated from ancient times, and he must also know a certain secret of the Awakening Immortal Secret Realm.

Ji Yao suddenly felt a sense of “king not meeting king”—could the secret treasure bound to Dongfang Shun be similar to her own?

Upon further thought, it seemed unlikely—not all secret treasures could repair and preserve one’s soul for countless millennia. Such treasures, from ancient times to the present, could be counted on one hand.

As for the Heaven and Earth Disk, a true artifact, Ji Yao could guess even without Situ Jing’s confirmation—it must have been born with a spiritual consciousness. With a spirit, the artifact could sense if similar entities were nearby.

She had met with Dongfang Shun neither too often nor too seldom. If he possessed a true artifact, Situ Jing would have noticed and warned Ji Yao by now.

But since it had never been mentioned, Dongfang Shun’s secret treasure must be inferior to the Heaven and Earth Disk; the artifact’s spirit would not deign to pay attention, a habit cultivated from long being a superior. Even the highest-level spirits acted the same.

Yet this did not change Ji Yao’s judgment: Dongfang Shun’s treasure could not nurture the soul, but it could impart knowledge. Clearly, it was a spirit that had existed for ages.

Dongfang Shun, guided by its advice, entered the Awakening Immortal Secret Realm, and so did she, each with their own motives. Whether their pursuits would coincide remained to be seen.

With these thoughts, Ji Yao resolved to seek out Dongfang Shun personally. When dealing with clever people, directness was often more effective than circuitousness, and the information obtained more reliable.

Leaving Sword Tempering Forest, Ji Yao headed toward the outer edge of Tianlu Peak. Gu Qiu, returning from the Sect Affairs Hall, spotted her from afar.

He assumed Ji Yao was going down the mountain to purchase supplies for the trip at Lingyun Sect’s market, but unexpectedly, she turned toward Qingjing Peak, where the outer disciples resided.

Gu Qiu paused, then followed at a distance, appearing casual as he walked.

Ji Yao, preoccupied, did not notice Gu Qiu nor imagine he was trailing her.

She walked up to the small courtyard where Dongfang Shun lived and directly triggered the restriction outside. The formation fell away, and Dongfang Shun, along with another disciple who shared his courtyard, appeared within.

This was Ji Yao’s first time actively seeking out Dongfang Shun, so none of the outer disciples here had ever seen her.

Dongfang Shun’s roommate, upon seeing Ji Yao in her inner disciple attire, gave Dongfang Shun a knowing smile, full of admiration, then quickly excused himself, leaving the courtyard in a few steps and vanishing at the end of the path.

With such obvious behavior, Ji Yao could hardly fail to understand. She almost wanted to palm her forehead, but her eyes sparkled with an idea. After all, Dongfang Shun’s romantic reputation was so widespread!

Had she not noticed that, in just a short time, a crowd had gathered outside, eager to witness the scene—some even casting covertly jealous looks, and all of them women.

Ji Yao flashed a radiant smile. “Brother Dongfang, long time no see. Are you surprised to see me? So happy you don’t know what to say?”

Her words brought a momentary hush, followed quickly by murmurs and whispers, and glances that smoldered with jealousy now edged into anger.

That tone, tinged with affection, was clearly heard by all those watching.

Yet only Dongfang Shun, standing before Ji Yao, and Gu Qiu, who had been observing her, noticed her smile that didn’t reach her eyes and the mischief glinting within.

Dongfang Shun, true to his potential as a protagonist, was only momentarily stiff before recovering his usual hearty demeanor, even following her lead.

“Sister Yao, your brother is absolutely delighted!” he declared, striding out with an air of joyful indulgence.

Tsk, tsk—Dongfang Shun had never really caught her attention before!

Gu Qiu, hiding his presence, stroked his chin as he watched the two enter the courtyard and, soon after, activate the formation to shut out the outside world.

It seemed earlier investigations were mistaken; Ji Yao’s relationship with this Dongfang Shun was decidedly not as simple as mere acquaintance.