"Hmm? How did those in the Body Refining Realm get in?" An elderly woman, who seemed to have guarded the Secret Realm entrance for hundreds of years, emerged from the shed and stood on the boat, giving Shi Hua a glance before saying, "All aboard."
After getting on the boat, Shi Hua understood why a bridge wasn’t built.
In fact, this so-called river was not a river, but rather a Qu Realm, something outside the Secret Realm barrier. The Secret Realm discovered by Celestial Academy is different from the Secret Realm hidden by East Lake Second Vortex Vortex Divine Artisan’s treasures, though it shares similarities with the Bright Land Trial Secret Realm of Bright Mirror Lake. The former’s entrance is hidden, so the Qu Realm is invisible unless you directly break through the Secret Realm barrier. The latter’s entrance is visible, and the Qu Realm is at the entrance.
When Immortal Sect’s disciples entered Bright Mirror Lake’s Bright Land Trial, the Super Sect System directly transported them, so there’s no need to elaborate on the Qu Realm.
Regarding the Qu Realm, the elderly woman spoke to everyone on the boat, but only lightly touched on the subject, eventually issuing a warning, "The Qu Realm is extremely dangerous; once you fall into it, survival is impossible."
The next moment, the wooden boat submerged in water without letting any in, as the Dragon Wall Text illuminated on the sides blocked the water from entering.
After a dozen or so breaths, the Secret Realm was reached.
This was a place not much different from the outside world; if there was any difference, it would be the temperature. The warmth here caused a slight stinging sensation on the body, though very mild.
"You have only one year here. In a year, if your Spirit Body doesn’t reach Minor Success or Great Success, your accomplishments in this life may halt at Profound." Having said that, the elderly woman paddled away.
Shi Hua stood on the shore, turned to look at the world before her, and felt an ecstatic joy surge through her heart.
Every breath here was a refinement of the body.
After a year, she could at least reach the 11th level, maybe even the 12th.
And by then, she’d only be nineteen.
Even at Bright Mirror Lake, that was quite talented.
Though helping Wenping seemed a distant goal, at least she was progressing.
As long as she was progressing, she could reach the places she longed for.
...
The next day.
The first ray of morning sunlight penetrated the clouds and fell on Ji Liangping’s face by the stone window, amplifying the worries hidden beneath his furrowed brow.
The second day’s arrival meant the Dragon God Sect’s people were coming.
He had pondered all night and decided he couldn’t hand Shi Hua over; otherwise, he’d fail to account to Wenping. Though the Dragon God Sect was formidable, Wenping was not someone to be taken lightly. For Shi Hua, Wenping had slain many high-ranking figures, and if Ji Liangping handed Shi Hua over, Wenping would certainly blame him. Furthermore, he didn’t want the Inner Courtyard disciples to face threats of death, which left him in a dilemma.
But fortunately, the letter had already been sent.
All he needed now was to hold on until Wenping arrived.
Until then, he just needed to find ways to stall or feign ignorance.
Knock, knock, knock!
The door was knocked on.
A voice reminded him from outside, "Dean."
Ji Liangping immediately turned to look at the woman standing by the distant wall behind him, a self-mocking smile slowly appearing on his face, especially when he saw that resolute gaze she gave him, causing bitterness in his heart. Because she was the child he had rescued from the hell of slave traders with his own hands, and had kept by his side all these years, but now he had to send her to another hell with his own hands. Though she verbally claimed it was her duty, Ji Liangping felt uneasy.
But to protect Shi Hua, he had no choice.
"Let’s go."
Ji Liangping pushed open the door with his own hands, knowing that once it opened, he’d send an innocent person into hell with his own hands.
However, he thought the Dragon God Sect shouldn’t harm her.
After all, they had gone to great lengths to find Shi Hua only to use her to threaten Sect Leader Wen.
But just as he approached the plaza, a steward from the Inner Courtyard suddenly rushed over, panting heavily, "Dean, Elder Hua and the Inner Courtyard disciples are heading to the back mountain."
" Elder Hua and the others aren’t..."
"The Dragon God Sect let them all out."
"Damn!"
Ji Liangping’s face changed; he knew the elders and stewards disliked Shi Hua, and those disciples found his treatment of Shi Hua unjust. Their aim in heading to the back mountain was quite likely to look for Shi Hua.
The Dragon God Sect played a deft trick of sowing discord!
Turning him, the dean, into someone "betrayed by all" in an instant!