"This is..."
Gu Yuan was momentarily stunned as he looked at the silver light rising from his waist.
"How could it be the Jade Key?"
On his waist, the source of the faint silver radiance was none other than the Jade Key to the Red Mist Secret Realm, which Ma Wu had offered him years ago.
The Red Mist Secret Realm is the residual realm left behind after the Golden Core Sect’s destruction, rumored to contain numerous treasures, including Artifact Fragments.
Gu Yuan had possessed this Jade Key for many years but had never found time to explore it.
Most critically, during this time, he had used Stone Liquid countless times, including in years when the Secret Realm was said to open, yet the Jade Key never showed any anomalies, with no sparkle of opportunity lighting up.
Why had it lit up this time?
The key point was, it was a faint silver line, capable of tugging at the thread of fate.
"Could it be that the opportunity item within the Secret Realm has just begun to appear?"
"Going earlier would have all been in vain?"
Gu Yuan speculated continuously in his heart.
At the same time, he realized he had been too careless and negligent earlier.
Logically speaking, even if one doesn’t enter the Red Mist Secret Realm, the Jade Key is still the crucial item linking to the Red Mist Secret Realm, and as long as there’s opportunity existent within the realm, it should at least shimmer with some light.
But previously, there were no reactions, implying that going before would yield no opportunity, and might even result in being unable to enter the realm at all.
However, he had always ignored this, assuming the Jade Key could open the Secret Realm to explore and seek treasures.
Normally, the sequence should be using Stone Liquid to examine the Jade Key and determine the size of the opportunity, then deciding whether to go to the realm.
After all, Stone Liquid is basically a cheat.
But for some unknown reason, he had inexplicably overlooked this.
For years, he had never purposefully used Stone Liquid to examine the Jade Key.
"Logically, it shouldn’t be forgotten..."
Gu Yuan felt slightly odd.
Having researched the use of Stone Liquid for years, he logically shouldn’t forget this straightforward sequence of examination, yet he never thought of it.
"But luckily, always being occupied, never setting out, is a form of serendipity..."
Gu Yuan pondered slightly, unable to figure out the answer, only blaming himself for negligence since even cultivators make mistakes and get angry, not being all-knowing.
Thankfully, due to a fortunate mistake, he was spared a pointless trip.
Seizing the last moments of the Stone Liquid, Gu Yuan focused his thoughts, quickly settling them on the Jade Key to examine it.
"Artifact..."
A faint thought emerged from the Jade Key, transmitting a message.
Then the world returned to normal, the Jade Key no longer shimmering with light, leaving the world utterly silent.
"Artifact-related opportunity? Pale silver spark, I wonder if it can increase the probability of breaking through a realm?"
Gu Yuan stroked his chin, pondering deeply.
...
...
Three days later.
Ma Wu, Songg Shan, and the Heart-devouring Insect steered their Escape Light, guiding a female cultivator wearing a pink long skirt, revealing her slender, white jade-like legs, as they flew over the vast waters to arrive outside Purple Sun Peak.
"Purple Qi comes from the east, the Spiritual Sun illuminates, truly worthy of a Tier Three Spirit Peak; the Spiritual Qi here is extremely dense."
Ma Wu looked enviously at the Spirit Peak, obscured by dense purple clouds and appearing faintly.
Typical Tier Two Spirit Peaks only have Spiritual Qi floating thinly like clouds, while before him, the Spiritual Qi at Purple Sun Peak was dense, forming thick clouds, almost tangible like a Flood Dragon coiled around the peak pillar.
"True Inheritance Chief, one per five hundred years, naturally invaluable!"
Songg Shan laughed heartily, pride showing on his face.
Though Gu Yuan had remained in Purple Sun Peak diligently cultivating and hadn’t returned to Red Moon River, their status had naturally risen.
Now, who in the Daoist School doesn’t know the power of Gu’s Clan?
As long as Gu Yuan achieves Golden Core, Purple Sun Peak will undoubtedly become a real pinnacle next!
At this moment, sensing the arrival of several people, faint ripples appeared in the Void outside Purple Sun Peak, then purple condensed, forming a purple Cloud Path leading to beneath their feet.
"Fairy, please!"
Seeing the Cloud Path offering guidance, Ma Wu hurriedly made way, allowing the female cultivator behind him to go first.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Ma."
The woman bowed slightly and, without hesitation, stepped onto the Cloud Path and headed toward Purple Sun Peak.
Ma Wu and others followed closely.