Chapter 569: Ready-Made Meeting Gift

Those of the Deification Stage, even at their lowest ranking among the various clans, formed the core backbone, possessing considerable influence; some were even clan patriarchs, flocked to by numerous Nascent Soul cultivators, wielding overwhelming power. Bound together, such a force could be said to run rampant in the Demon Realm, disregarding all rules.

—At least, that was how it appeared in the eyes of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators; to them, the Deification Stage was the heavens themselves.

Yet those of the Deification Stage knew that compared to true cultivators, they were nothing more than ants.

Just as now, the legendary Demon Voice Heavenly Maiden had appeared, rendering every single one of them completely immobile in mid-air with but a single move. They could only watch helplessly as the three before them chatted and laughed, utterly devoid of any recourse.

"In the past, when I traveled the Demon Realm, quite a few mishaps occurred, and I relied entirely on Eldest Senior Sister to clean up after me. Now that my cultivation is different from days gone by, I no longer need Eldest Senior Sister; I can handle this on my own,"

The Third Senior Sister smiled; this was what growth meant.

"As for you all..."

Third Senior Sister turned her head; though her eyes were bound, she could still keenly perceive the movements of the outside world.

"You have all struggled and crawled in the Demon Realm for so many years, so you understand its rules. He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword. Since you moved against my Junior Brother, there is no longer any need for you to live."

"Wait—"

The expert of the Qiongqi clan struggled desperately to break free from the restraint, wanting to beg for mercy, but the moment he uttered a single word, he heard Third Senior Sister pluck her zither strings once more.

The sound waves transformed into invisible, slender threads, slicing the Deification and Nascent Soul cultivators in the sky into countless pieces. Severed flesh fell pattering down, drenched in blood.

Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou swallowed hard; Third Senior Sister's methods were truly ruthless.

"What of it? Back in ancient times, that was exactly how people were killed," the Immortal Fairy stepped forward to testify. The ancient era was far more perilous than the current Demon Realm, with countless cultivators and demons perishing every single day.

Those recently awakened Foundation Establishment and Golden Core demons stood dumbfounded. The high-and-mighty Deification Stage experts had been slaughtered so easily; their minds could not process such an immense amount of information all at once.

After a few seconds, a demon finally shrieked, fleeing the place like mad. The remaining demons woke as if from a dream, all scrambling to escape outward.

Never mind where they ran, as long as they could get far away from this place!

Third Senior Sister had no interest in these minor lackeys and allowed them to leave.

With the motley crowd either dead or gone, Third Senior Sister then resumed observing Lu Yang. Perceiving his solid foundation, she felt somewhat moved.

She shook out a tablecloth, spreading it on the ground, and motioned for the two of them to sit down and not be too constrained.

"Your cultivation progress is fast enough. I heard that when you entered Master's lineage, it happened that Master went missing, so Eldest Senior Sister taught you personally. What wonderful luck."

"I wished to be taught by Eldest Senior Sister as well, but unfortunately, I didn't catch the right time."

"I asked Eldest Senior Sister to send a fellow disciple well-versed in ancient history, but I never expected her to send you. To think that at such a young age, you have become an ancient history scholar recognized by Eldest Senior Sister."

Lu Yang offered a forced smile: "It's all luck, all luck."

Third Senior Sister waved her hand, encouraging Lu Yang: "How can you call it luck? Do not disparage yourself. Luck is only a part of it; for you to achieve what you have today, it must also be inseparable from hard work."

Upon reflection, Lu Yang realized that was indeed the case. If he hadn't worked hard to pass the Fairy's trials, he wouldn't even be alive today.

Third Senior Sister then faced Meng Jingzhou, speaking in a slightly teasing tone: "Since he is Lu Yang, then you must be the Eldest Young Master of the Meng family?"

"I heard from Eldest Senior Sister that as a Single Spiritual Root, you have the courage to innovate and forge ahead, forming two Single Golden Cores, and even mastering the True Fire of Nirvana to accelerate your cultivation, completely unafraid of losing your mind from an unyielding willpower. Even demonic cultivators wouldn't dare do such a thing; by this heart of seeking the immortal path alone, you surpass everyone else!"

"As your Senior Sister, meeting for the first time in such a rush, I don't have much of a meeting gift on hand. How about this, I will open this secret realm and take you two to find some good things."

A senior sister had to act like one and could not mistreat them.

The entrance to the secret realm lay right beneath their feet. She summoned the white jade plate floating in the air.

"This secret realm should have been left behind by a Deification Stage expert of the Suanni clan. Back then, he was a renowned Deification cultivator in the Demon Realm, considered a genius, high-spirited, and unyielding. Following his whims, he wiped out several small tribes. Unfortunately, he later provoked a powerful existence he shouldn't have. Attacked by a formidable enemy, the Suanni was no match and died with regret in the north. His defensive treasure, the white jade plate, was shattered by the powerful foe, breaking into three pieces that drifted across the Demon Realm."

Third Senior Sister sighed: "I also tried to look for the pieces of the white jade plate before but could never find them, so the matter was shelved. To think that today, you two little fellows would gather the complete white jade plate."

"...Yes, I didn't expect to gather the white jade plate either."

Lu Yang could speak with a clear conscience that he had done nothing; the white jade plate had run into his hands on its own.

"Senior Sister, don't secret realms usually have realm restrictions? Can you enter a Deification-level secret realm?"

Third Senior Sister shook her head: "What you're referring to are secret realms left behind as blessings for posterity, which have realm restrictions set so that descendants who pass the trials inside can obtain rewards. This secret realm is the Suanni's own private vault; as long as it can be opened, one can enter and leave at will without any restrictions."

"So that's how it is."

"Secret realms for posterity's blessings are relatively rare in the Demon Realm but quite common in the Great Xia. It's not your fault you have such a mistaken impression."

"Why are they common in the Great Xia?"

"There are two reasons. First, some cultivators emphasize destiny and prepare for their future cultivation; if a junior can gain benefits from their secret realm, they forge a good karmic bond with that junior, which can lessen the harm they receive when crossing the heavenly tribulation in the future."

"And the second reason?"

"Great Xia stipulates the payment of an inheritance tax. Some cultivators are unwilling to pay it, so they choose to set up a secret realm for those destined. This counts as a gift and is not taxed."

Lu Yang: "..."

Meng Jingzhou: "..."

Third Senior Sister weighed the white jade plate: "This plate is actually quite useful, but its level is too high for the two of you to use, otherwise I would just give it to you."

She couldn't be like Eldest Senior Sister, setting several layers of seals on the white jade plate so that each time Lu Yang's cultivation grew by a layer, a layer of the seal would unlock.

The entrance to the secret realm was a black vortex speckled with starlight. If one intruded rashly without a key, even if they weren't shredded by the vortex, they would be forcibly teleported to an unknown region, which was very dangerous.

As if she already knew how to use the white jade plate, Third Senior Sister activated it. The white jade plate connected with the entrance of the secret realm, and with a gentle twist, the entrance to the secret realm opened.

"Done."

"Senior Sister, you seem very familiar with how to use the white jade plate?" Lu Yang asked uncertainly.

"What of it? When I fought that Suanni, he used this plate the entire time. I learned it just by watching a few times."

"...Was this Suanni killed by you?"

"Did I not say that before? Oh right, I said he provoked a powerful enemy. It all means the same thing."

The second update will be at eleven o'clock.

(End of chapter)