Chapter 1000: Taohua’s Secret Realm

Most importantly, Young Master Lü hadn’t hired them, and Ye Wenxin wasn’t generous enough to help for free.

“But I’m worried about Miss Yue. Celestial Master Ye, can’t you help me look for her?” Young Master Lü lingered, his thoughts circling back to Long Qingyue.

Ye Wenxin suppressed a sigh and forced a reassuring smile. “She might have realized how dangerous this place was and left already.”

Her words had the opposite effect. Young Master Lü’s hesitation vanished. Gritting his teeth, he declared to the group, “I’d like to hire you all as bodyguards again. Of course, I’ll pay you afterward.”

“For a woman? Do we have to?” The storyteller rubbed his temples in frustration. If everyone in the secret realm were friendly, bringing along Young Master Lü wouldn’t be an issue. But it’d be a battlefield, and who could say how vile human hearts could be?

“I know you’re worried I’ll hold you back, but I want to prove to Miss Yue that I have what it takes.” Young Master Lü clenched his fists, taking action for Long Qingyue again.

Ye Wenxin almost suspected that Long Qingyue had greeted him earlier as a ploy to shore up his resolve.

But if this deadweight tagged along and died by accident, how would she explain it to Sister Hong?

Ye Wenxin silently looked at Han Shanxue.

She didn’t have the time to take him. However, the second strongest person in the team might be willing to do it for the money.

“Master, what do you think?”

“10,000 spirit stones,” Han Shanxue replied coldly.

It was outrageous, but if Young Master Lü got lucky and brought something back from the secret realm, he could pay it off.

Young Master Lü reluctantly agreed. Ye Wenxin had to go along with it now. She wondered whether Han Shanxue was risking her life for the money or was that confident about this unknown secret realm.

Regardless of which, Ye Wenxin planned to stick to her and see if she could snatch some opportunities.

She felt much more at ease after confirming her goal in the secret realm.

An incense stick of time passed, yet hardly anyone had bowed out from the venue. Everyone wore the look of desperados, raring to enter the secret realm.

The Secret Guards reappeared to activate the mechanism.

A giant portal emerged. None could see what lay beyond the swirling vortex.

For an instant, however, Ye Wenxin caught the scent of flowers.

Her scalp tingled as an unnerving feeling settled in her gut.

“Thank you for waiting,” said the Secret Guard commander from earlier. “Please enter the portal in an orderly fashion.”

“Wait, which immortal’s secret realm is this?” asked someone curious to know more about the true nature of the secret realm.

The Secret Guard’s mask hid his expression, but Ye Wenxin could see the gloating in his eyes.

He slowly spoke, “The master of this secret realm is Immortal Lord Taohua.”

Even though Ye Wenxin had vaguely sensed Long Qingyue’s terrifying ambition behind this recruitment, she didn’t expect Immortal Lord Taohua to be involved again.

It now made sense why the Phoenix Feather Robe and the peach blossom demon had shown up here.

Since this secret realm belonged to Immortal Lord Taohua, and the peach blossom demon had inherited her memories, she would surely help retrieve her master’s treasures.

Long Qingyue also had an interest in Immortal Lord Taohua. She just hid it so well.

Ye Wenxin clenched her fists, feeling both love and hate toward her. A Long Qingyue who gave her too many surprises was too frightening.

Yet, Ye Wenxin trembled from excitement, not fear.

She didn’t know why, but her body seemed to resonate with this secret realm.

“Who’s Immortal Lord Taohua?”

“You don’t know? She was the first woman in history to have a harem of over a hundred beauties. Almost every one of them ascended to immortality.”

Some were unfamiliar with Immortal Lord Taohua, while others worshiped this legendary figure in many unofficial histories.

Ye Wenxin began to worry that Han Shanxue might lose control, so she focused more on her.

Han Shanxue sensed her gaze. “Stay with me the entire time. Don’t take a single step away.”

Seeing how much more serious she had become, Ye Wenxin could guess why she gave those instructions. “Master, should I take that to mean… this secret realm is perilous?”

“Since there’s still a bit of time, let me tell you about Immortal Lord Taohua.”

The storyteller smoothly slipped into storytelling mode, easing the crowd’s anxiety a little.

“A thousand years ago, there was a stunning woman named Taohua. She hadn’t ascended yet, but people already called her Immortal Lord.

“Immortal Lord Taohua excelled at everything. So whenever people ran into trouble, they would seek her help. Over time, she grew annoyed with them and told everyone she’d only help beauties.”

Ye Wenxin had never heard of this tale. She patiently listened as the storyteller continued.

“But the people who wanted her help only grew. Some even went out of their way to find beauties to offer to her, hoping to form a good connection. But here’s where it gets strange. Every beauty who approached her would fall helplessly in love with her.”

With his solid narration and a story everyone wanted to know, the storyteller easily captured everyone’s attention. He grew more animated. “Whether a powerful empress or a pure priestess, no woman could resist her. There’s even a verse for it: ‘One glimpse of Taohua ruins a lifetime.’”

Ye Wenxin thought it sounded like her when she had her cheat. But Immortal Lord Taohua was the final version.

She was a walking harvester. She didn’t even need to build favor. Women just threw themselves into her arms.

Ye Wenxin felt shameless at the thought. Yet deep down, she also envied it.

Immortal Lord Taohua had everything go her way because she had that ability. Wherever she went, people gifted her cultivation manuals, pills, and even themselves. Thus, she reached ascension at just twenty.

“And so, Immortal Lord Taohua began her blissful life,” continued the storyteller. “It’s said she could’ve ascended at twenty but kept suppressing it to wait for someone.”

The Immortal Lord Taohua in his story sounded like a Romeo waiting for her Juliet, different from the rumors Ye Wenxin had heard.

As for the truth of it, perhaps only Immortal Lord Taohua knew. Ye Wenxin refocused on Han Shanxue, worried she might lose control after hearing too much about the object of her grudge.

But Han Shanxue’s aura was far too calm, leaving Ye Wenxin wondering why.

—End of Volume 10: The Demon Lord’s Escape Progress is at 90%—