Qin Ruqing sorted through the harvest from this medicinal garden.

The biggest gain was undoubtedly the Spirit of the Earth. This thing was crucial for a family of alchemists.

Next were those high-grade spirit herbs.

These herbs, which were rare outside, were growing here in clusters.

Qin Ruqing speculated that these high-grade spirit herbs should have been accumulated over thousands of years in Small Floating Island and cultivated here by the families of the Celestial Bureau, leaving only a little for the outside world.

There was one more thing that puzzled Qin Ruqing.

It was a misty purple gas. What was remarkable was that this gas was actually formed on a tree.

Trees don’t grow fruit, but they grew a clump of gas instead.

That was enough to pique one’s curiosity.

Qin Ruqing had seen that particular tree being cultivated separately in the garden, not much different in location from the little mound where the Spirit of the Earth resided.

She had a strong feeling that this thing was valuable.

These two things should be the greatest gains of this medicinal garden, and even the entire trip to Small Floating Island.

After finishing the organization of the garden, Qin Ruqing and the others stood at the exit, but the atmosphere was somewhat quiet and contemplative.

Lu Wei glanced at them, and a sense of uncontrollable fear emerged in their hearts.

The Celestial Bureau naturally collected and restricted resources in the secret realm.

They had ventured deep into it, peeking into the arrogant and secretive secrets of the Celestial Family, and even took away things marked as theirs.

They didn’t regret or feel ashamed of taking these actions, but they deeply felt the vastness of the mountain.

They stood at the foot of the mountain and felt genuine fear and dread from within.

In a very light voice, Lu Wei said, “Little Sister, are we going to the remaining places?”

Among them, Qin Ruqing was the calmest. Upon hearing this, she even smiled lightly and said nonchalantly, “Of course, why not?”

Her face was calm, her tone was calm, “From the very beginning, I knew this wasn’t about more or less. The Celestial Bureau won’t appreciate my restraint just because I took fewer things or only took from one place. On the contrary, some things are considered offenses just by touching them!”

“A single garden, two gardens, a Small Floating Island, two Small Floating Islands—these are nothing more than a drop in the ocean for the Celestial Families . But for us?”

“Do you know how much is in just this one garden today? Take our Qin family as an example. The things in this one garden are enough for our Qin family to practice throughout the entire stage after reaching the Silver Grade.

Remember, the entire stage, whether it’s the lower or upper Silver Grade, it’s completely sufficient.

Not to mention the Spirit of the Earth, which even a Golden Grade family would covet.”

“So many resources are fenced in here by the Celestial Bureau. Before today, we families couldn’t touch them, couldn’t even imagine them.”

“West Ridge seems to have only one Small Floating Island, but who knows? Maybe there’s more? South Ridge seems to have only unearthed one Secret Realm, but who knows? Maybe there’s more? How much of these worldly things occur naturally, and how much are manipulated by humans, we know nothing about.”

“Up until today, I’ve come to realize that there are things in this world that are far beyond our understanding. Our level is too low. To understand these things, or even To break free from being despised and controlled by others, we need to become strong ourselves.”

“And to become strong, we need resources.”

Qin Ruqing looked ahead.

In front of her was a medicine garden, now bare.

“I understand very well that once we leave Small Floating Island, even if we wait decades or centuries, our Qin family will never be able to touch these resources again.”

“Since this one and only chance is right in front of us, why should I hesitate and worry about every little detail?”

“This is a huge gamble. Since we’ve already started, I’m going to bet everything to gain the most for our Qin family.” Qin Ruqing’s tone was calm, but it carried an unprecedented determination.

“However,” she softened her sharp gaze and looked at Qirong, Lu Wei, and Tang Zifeng, “I’m not a dictator. What I just said is my own opinion. I also want to hear your thoughts. If you think this is too risky…” Qin Ruqing nodded seriously, showing her willingness to consider their views, “I’ll listen to you too.”

“Even now, it’s still possible to back out. These resources may seem valuable to us, but to the Celestial Bureau, they’re not much.

It’s mainly about pride and dignity.

At worst, I can beg for forgiveness from the Director, or even work for them for decades.

I have my Elder’s token, so my life will be safe. And the Qin family, being in the Southern Ridge, isn’t under their control.”

Qin Ruqing seemed to be tempting the others to back out, “You see, there’s still a chance to back out.

We can spit out the meat we’ve bitten into, clean it, and be fine.

It’s up to you. Qirong, Third Sister, and Tang Zifeng, you’re also an honorary elder of the Qin family. Let’s decide now. Should we go for it or not?”

“If not, we spit out the meat and stop now. If we do, we’ll go all the way and never look back!”

“Let me be clear, if even one of you votes no, I’ll stop.”

After finishing, Qin Ruqing looked at the two and a half Qin family members, waiting for their reactions.

After a moment of silence, Qirong was the first to raise his hand, “I agree.”

Facing three curious gazes, Qirong honestly said, “I’m not very smart, but I understand one thing: once you’ve bitten the meat, you don’t spit it out. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we give up, we would be foolish.”

Luwei thought for a while, then seriously looked at Qin Ruqing, “I used to think that as cultivators, we should take steady steps forward, and we wouldn’t go wrong. But now I realize I was wrong, or rather, I oversimplified things. Taking steady steps doesn’t necessarily mean we’ll go far.”

“Today, everything I’ve heard and seen has taught me one thing: if our Qin family wants to go further, following the rules won’t work. Resources and opportunities are limited, and most are controlled by the powerful. Now that we’ve caught a bit of luck, we must hold on to it tightly and never give up.”

Lu Wei looked at Qin Ruqing warmly yet firmly, “I believe that even if our ancestors and elders were here today, they would support us. So, Fifth Sister, go ahead and do it boldly.”

Qin Ruqing looked back at Lu Wei with starry eyes. Third Sister was just too gentle and kind. As for whether the ancestors and elders would object, Qin Ruqing didn’t even need to think about it.

Someone like the ancestor, with her iron-fisted, general-like demeanor, wouldn’t hesitate for a second. She’d only think they were acting too slowly.

This kind of opportunity to get rich quickly is something you can’t even hope for. Why would you hesitate? Of course, there are risks, and big ones at that, since they’re snatching food from the mouths of the Immortal Registry. But in this world, what’s without risk? Fighting monsters has risks, and so does competing with noble families.

Back when the Qin family ventured into the southern primal forests, nearly half of the senior members died, all for resources. Compared to that, the current risks and rewards make this endeavor seem like a great deal.

After Lu Wei and Qirong stated their opinions, it was Tang Zifeng’s turn. But when Tang Zifeng pressed his lips together without speaking, Qin Ruqing felt her heart skip a beat.

Hey, hey, normally Little Tang is the most obedient and self-disciplined. He wouldn’t purposely oppose her today, would he? He shouldn’t, right? He’s the least likely to oppose this plan.

Under Qin Ruqing’s nervous gaze, this usually expressionless person actually smiled.

With a faint smile on his lips but a serious tone, he said, “Of course I agree.”

“I’m a local of Xiling, and I should be the most furious about this. To enter this secret realm, the Xiling noble families fought fiercely and even had to pay an entry fee because the Immortal Registry needed resources to bring Xiaofukong here. But now, the Immortal Registry is pulling these underhanded tricks…”

He met Qin Ruqing’s gaze and said solemnly, “Don’t worry. It’s not just your Qin family; my Tang family is in this too. Although I haven’t returned to my family, without Tang Biao and with the Artisans’ Guild restricting our crafting rights, I’m the only famous craftsman left in the Tang family. My words still carry weight there.”

While Lu Wei and Qirong understood the unfairness and anger of the situation and decided to fight for it, Tang Zifeng fully grasped the confidence behind Qin Ruqing’s bold actions.

She was never one to make unfounded decisions. She dared to take this huge gamble because the moral high ground wasn’t with the Immortal Registry.

The Immortal Registry was in the wrong.

Publicly, it’s supposed to manage Xiling’s public secret realms but secretly hoarded resources. They could do this because they had the power, and as long as no one found out, who could challenge them?

But such actions had to remain hidden. The Immortal Registry wouldn’t dare make them known. If the truth came out, their claim of neutrality and non-interference in noble family affairs would crumble.

The Immortal Registry, despite its name, is still a noble family. By claiming the authority to manage this continent, they are essentially betraying all the other noble families for their gain.

If the Qin family was truly determined to go all out and expose this, the cost to the Immortal Registry would be far greater than to the Qin family.

That’s why Qin Ruqing had always…

The stakes were high, and the Qin family dared to gamble everything for this opportunity. Would the Immortal Registry dare to do the same? The weight of the Qin family and the Immortal Registry were worlds apart.

That’s why Tang Zifeng said that even if the Qin family wasn’t enough, they still had the Tang family. If the Qin family’s strength wasn’t sufficient, the Tang family would add to it.

After hearing Tang Zifeng’s words, Qin Ruqing was silent for a moment before suddenly smiling and nodding to herself, “I feel the happiest thing in my life is having people like you who understand me.”

Hearing this, Lu Wei, Qirong, and Tang Zifeng were all moved. Qin Ruqing was usually playful and rarely spoke so emotionally.

Lu Wei, feeling soft-hearted, was touched. She was about to hug her Fifth Sister and say something comforting, but then Qin Ruqing suddenly changed her tone, “Oh, saying it’s the happiest thing feels a bit absolute. Let’s say it’s one of the happiest things, that’s more accurate.”

Lu Wei paused and then pushed her lightly in mock annoyance. “Fifth Sister, you really have a bad mouth.”