Chapter 336: The Secret Realm Theory – The Array of Intent

“It’s not exactly a deep-seated grudge,” Lu Qing said calmly. “Just a minor conflict with Xuan Kong Shan not long ago—cut down a few of their monks, that’s all.”

His tone was light, almost casual, as he briefly recounted the dispute between himself and the sect.

Yan fell silent, utterly stunned.

So you’ve slaughtered their disciples, and that’s not a major grudge?

Yet he quickly realized the root of the conflict lay firmly with Xuan Kong Shan themselves.

He sighed inwardly. “Back in the ancient times, Xuan Kong Shan may have been ruthless in their ways, but at least they were still considered a legitimate sect of the righteous path. Who would’ve thought they’d sink so low—twisting truth, harboring corruption and filth.”

Lu Qing smiled faintly, saying nothing.

He hadn’t lived through the ancient era, so he couldn’t judge its past glory. But as for now, there was only one truth: between him and Xuan Kong Shan, only one could remain.

Given how those Xuan Ming monks had acted—aggressive, merciless—Lu Qing had no doubt that even if he hadn’t sought them out, they would have come after him. They wouldn’t let such a provocation go unanswered.

“Still, don’t worry, young master,” Yan reassured him. “That secret sanctuary of Xuan Kong Shan is likely just a run-of-the-mill Secret Realm. With the current state of Tian Di Bian Hua, even if a Spirit Artifact is used to stabilize the realm, the hidden cultivators within wouldn’t be too powerful. Otherwise, the moment their presence triggered the Heaven and Earth Laws, a heavenly calamity would descend, destroying the entire realm. Even now, the evolution of the Heaven and Earth Laws hasn’t reached a point where ZHU JI-level masters can move freely. So even if Xuan Kong Shan seeks revenge, the disciples they send won’t be strong.”

Yan spoke with quiet confidence.

Lu Qing nodded. “We’ll set that aside for now. You mentioned earlier—this world once saw many Secret Realms?”

“Indeed,” Yan replied. “Secret Realms are essentially small worlds and spaces born and destroyed alongside this world. During the Ancient Cultivation Era, new realms emerged and vanished constantly. Most were tiny—barely large enough to hold one or two people—and lasted only a few hours. Some vanished within a single day. These fleeting, miniature realms usually had little value. They were dangerous too—anyone careless enough to enter might be caught in the collapse, trapped forever or even fatally injured.”

“Because of this, only medium or larger realms were worth exploring. And if a medium or large realm appeared, it would inevitably draw the attention of powerful sects and top cultivators. Securing such a realm—stabilizing it with a Treasure Artifact Array—would make for the perfect hidden base, a safe haven for retreat. And inside, rare treasures often formed, offering priceless cultivation resources.”

Yan explained, detailing everything he knew about Secret Realms.

“Secret Realms born and destroyed… constantly giving rise to treasures…” Lu Qing repeated slowly, deep in thought.

“Exactly,” Yan affirmed. “From the middle of the Ancient Cultivation Era onward, Secret Realms became crucial. After centuries of relentless exploitation, the cultivation resources of the main world had grown scarce. Only these unstable, ever-changing realms deep within space could continue to spawn rare treasures. Whenever a medium or large unclaimed realm appeared, it would spark a bloodbath across the cultivation world—fierce battles for control.”

“What about the Lihuo Sect back then…” Lu Qing asked.

“The Lihuo Sect once held a medium-sized Secret Realm,” Yan said. “But don’t bother thinking about it. After Qi began to wane in the ancient era, even the most powerful sects’ realms started showing signs of collapse. The only way to prevent it was to fully integrate a Spirit Artifact into the realm—something that could stabilize it. But Spirit Artifacts are exceedingly rare. Only the most elite, wealthiest sects could afford such extravagance. The Lihuo Sect only had one such artifact—me. So that realm must have vanished long ago, thousands of years past.”

“Shame,” Lu Qing murmured, a hint of regret in his voice.

If that realm still existed, controlling it would have given him a powerful edge. A secure retreat path, in case of dire emergencies.

“Don’t be so downhearted,” Yan chuckled. “I just said—Secret Realms are born and die with this world. With Tian Di Bian Hua and Qi Lu Fu Su now progressing, when Qi becomes dense enough, new realms will inevitably appear. Given your talent, young master, acquiring one or two won’t be difficult.”

“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Lu Qing replied, shaking his head. “We’ll deal with that when the time comes. Who knows how long it’ll take for this world to evolve enough for new realms to manifest? If it takes hundreds or even thousands of years, thinking about it now is pointless.”

Still, Yan’s words had given him valuable insight. He now knew Xuan Kong Shan’s strength wasn’t as overwhelming as he’d feared. If their secret sanctuary housed a horde of ancient, millennia-old monsters, he’d have had to seriously consider fleeing. But now, that fear had lessened.

He pressed on, asking Yan about other ancient cultivation world developments—each revelation broadening his understanding even further.

Finally, he stowed away the Lihuo Ding and prepared to return to the village.

This time, however, having mended his bond with Yan, he didn’t seal off the artifact’s perception. Instead, he let it remain open, allowing it to sense the outside world.

“Who would’ve thought such a remote place would hide a base of the Divine Seal Sect,” Yan mused, stepping out into the valley. “Since I fell into slumber, the cultivation world has clearly undergone many changes.”

“Was the Divine Seal Sect truly that powerful in ancient times?” Lu Qing asked.

“Of course,” Yan said. “Though their numbers were small, every disciple was a true genius—far surpassing even the core disciples of other top sects. The sect was shrouded in mystery, following a philosophy of learning from all things in the universe. They were especially gifted in Talisman and Array arts. The same spell or array, when wielded by their disciples, would be far more potent. In those days, the Divine Seal Sect was one of the most powerful forces in the cultivation world—so formidable that few dared to provoke them.”

Hearing this, Lu Qing immediately recalled the Shen Hun Fu Lu within his brow Qi Cavity.

He understood now—its divine nature granted immense enhancement to talismans and arrays. That was why their power surged so dramatically.

But he didn’t speak of it. Instead, he changed the subject.

“Master Yan,” he said, “once we return, I’ll need your help. I’m planning to craft some tools for constructing arrays…”

When Lu Qing returned to Jiu Li Village and entered the Half Mountain Small Courtyard, he was met with an unexpected surprise.

A black figure suddenly shot out from the courtyard, leaping into his arms and rubbing its head against his chest.

“Xiao Li, you’re awake?” Lu Qing held her, delighted.

“Mm-hmm,” came her soft, sultry voice in his mind. “I woke up this morning. Slept like a dream.”

“You slept well, I see,” Lu Qing teased. “But you’ve made Xiao Yan worry half to death.”

“Huh? Nighttime Spirit Fox?” Yan’s voice echoed in Lu Qing’s mind, filled with astonishment.

Lu Qing’s heart stirred, but he didn’t reply immediately. Instead, he carried Xiao Li into the courtyard.

There, Xiao Yan sat at her desk, studying. Old Doctor and Wei Shanhai were seated at a stone table nearby, engrossed in a game of Go.

As Xiao Yan grew older, her studies had become heavier—more demanding than before.

“Brother!” she exclaimed, her face lighting up. “You’re back! I knew it was you when Xiao Li suddenly ran off.”

"Just got back," Lu Qing nodded, then bowed to the elders. "Master, I'm back. Wei Senior, good to see you."

“How did it go? Any findings from the mountain?” Old Doctor paused his game, asking.

He knew Lu Qing had gone to scout the mountain’s condition.

“The changes in the mountain are significant,” Lu Qing said, his expression turning serious. “The creatures there have undergone various transformations. Especially the Poisonous Insects and Snakes—poison levels have increased dramatically. Even ordinary martial artists would struggle to survive a bite.”

“Serious?” Old Doctor’s face darkened. “That’s bad news for the local villagers.”

Many nearby villages, like Jiu Li, lived by farming. But others relied on gathering herbs or hunting in the mountains. If the mountain truly had turned so dangerous, it would be a disaster for them.

“The mountain itself isn’t the main concern,” Lu Qing said. “It’s sparsely populated. As long as people don’t go too deep, they’re safe. What worries me is… if, in a few weeks, these poison creatures develop enhanced spirituality and start migrating outward—then it’ll be truly dangerous.”

Old Doctor’s heart lurched. He knew Lu Qing wasn’t exaggerating.

If the creatures were merely more venomous, it wouldn’t be a major threat—such creatures rarely left their territory. But if they gained spiritual awareness under the influence of Qi, all bets were off.

“What do you plan to do, A Qing?” Old Doctor asked.

He knew Lu Qing was the one most knowledgeable about Qi matters.

“I intend to set up an array around the village,” Lu Qing said. “For early warning and defense. Prevent any surprise attacks—especially if those poison beasts come out.”

“An array?” Old Doctor raised an eyebrow, surprised. “Are you sure you can manage it?”

He was no longer a novice. After reviewing the jade slips Lu Qing had given him, he understood many cultivation basics. He knew that constructing an array capable of encircling the entire Jiu Li Village was no small feat.

“I can’t promise absolute success,” Lu Qing admitted. “But I’ll give it a try.”

“Still, I’ll need help from Wei Lao Qian Bei,” he added.

“Oh?” Wei Shanhai, who had been intrigued by the idea of an array, perked up. “How can I assist, young master?”

“I’ll need a supply of refined iron, jade stones, and…” Lu Qing listed off the materials he required. He then pulled a sheet of paper from Xiao Yan’s notebook and scribbled a list.

“If possible, I’d appreciate it if you could gather these as soon as possible.”

Wei Shanhai took the list and nodded. “Don’t worry, young master. I’ll have everything ready within three days.”

The materials weren’t particularly rare—just needed in large quantities, which meant a significant expense. But for Wei Shanhai, money was no issue.

Now, in this turbulent era of Tian Di Bian Hua and Qi Lu Fu Su, no one knew what the future held. Though his Wei Family had two Xian Tian Jing masters, Wei Shanhai knew it wasn’t enough.

To survive in such uncertain times, one had to find a strong patron.

And Lu Qing—was undoubtedly the strongest one he knew.

Over the past two days, he’d learned from Wei Zian everything about their Zhong Zhou journey, especially the events in Sheng Cheng. He now understood just how extraordinary their journey had been—Lu Qing had crossed the Heavenly Tribulation using only his body, breaking through to Xian Tian Jing. Then, single-handedly, he had slain countless disciples of Xuan Kong Shan. Even the Third Holy Lord, atop Sheng Shan, had fallen before him.

No one in Sheng Cheng dared speak a word.

Even now, recalling it, Wei Shanhai felt his spirit tremble.

Such a powerful cultivator? He had to do everything he could to cultivate this relationship.

After Wei Shanhai left to issue orders for gathering the materials, Lu Qing turned his attention back to Xiao Li.

She seemed unchanged, but Lu Qing sensed a profound transformation in her life aura—something fundamental had shifted.

Just as he was about to activate his abilities to investigate her current state, Yan’s voice rang in his mind again.

“Remarkable. Your luck is extraordinary. You’ve managed to tame a Nighttime Spirit Fox.”

“Master Yan,” Lu Qing replied mentally, “do you know Xiao Li’s origin?”

“Xiao Li is her name? A fine choice,” Yan said. “Nighttime Spirit Foxes are fire-aligned—‘Li’ meaning ‘fire’—a fitting name.”

He paused, then continued. “From what I can guess, she’s likely a descendant of the King of Darkness—the Twelfth Demon King under the Supreme Demon Emperor of the Ancient Cultivation Era.”

“King of Darkness?” Lu Qing’s heart gave a sudden jolt.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end