Chapter 997: Teaming Up with a Beauty

Those who entered a secret realm must pass trials until they inherited all the manuals and treasures within.

Of course, ascendants possessed immense wealth. Most had amassed astronomical amounts during their mortal life, except for the impoverished, pedantic priest Celestial Master Zhong.

For this reason, secret realms were under strict control. The Ten Great Immortal Sects shared each discovered secret realm among them.

The Golden Age Dynasty was giving away wealth by presenting a secret realm as their recruitment trial. Ye Wenxin thought Long Qingyue had lost her mind. However, considering her many collections, using a secret realm for fun was nothing unusual.

Still, how many more secret realms, manuals, and treasures Long Qingyue possessed remained a thought-provoking mystery.

Right now, Ye Wenxin had only one thought.

“Evil rich people!”

The words, however, came from the storyteller beside her.

After several days of Sister Hong’s brainwashing, the storyteller became a loyal supporter of the emperor’s faction. He regarded Long Qingyue as a demon upon witnessing her display of wealth.

But Long Qingyue was even more terrifying than any demon or ghost. No one ever knew what move she would make next.

The only certain thing was that this secret realm would bring even more surprises.

Ye Wenxin suddenly felt a bit more anticipation. She didn’t hide her fondness for secret realms.

The crowd was lively. Riding the carriage for an incense stick of time, the group eventually reached the special passage.

They weren’t the only ones receiving special treatment. Lavishly dressed young masters and ladies were everywhere. Cultivators from noble families and even members of the immortal sects had come to join the excitement.

Ye Wenxin didn’t spot the peach blossom demon or Liu Churan. There were too many people.

Knowing those two, they were probably struggling somewhere in the crowd of over 10,000.

Ye Wenxin looked at Han Shanxue. She hadn’t said a word since arriving at the venue. Maybe thanks to absorbing her blood, Ye Wenxin felt like she could see through that cold exterior. Though Han Shanxue was always quiet, something was different about her silence this time.

Assuming she was nervous, Ye Wenxin tried to lighten her mood.

“Master, have you ever been to a secret realm?”

“A few times,” replied Han Shanxue. Fei Chai wanted to chime in but didn’t dare be as bold as Ye Wenxin. Not knowing when his master’s aura might freeze everything around her, he kept a safe distance.

“What are secret realms like?” Ye Wenxin asked another question.

Han Shanxue fell silent.

Perhaps because describing a secret realm required too many words, she chose not to say anything.

Ye Wenxin had already gotten used to Han Shanxue’s personality. She joined the others in conversation.

Han Shanxue remained fixated on the massive gate ahead, lost in thought. She seemed out of place amid the excited crowd.

“As expected of the Golden Age Dynasty, they went all out for their recruitment.”

“This is a secret realm. Who knows which great figure left it behind? We’ll hit it big if we find some rare treasure there.”

“But you all know how dangerous secret realms can be. Once inside, stick with us and don’t wander off.”

Everyone quickly started forming groups for safety. The storyteller and Fei Chai also pulled in a brother and sister pair who hadn’t found a team yet.

Sister Hong couldn’t participate in the selection. The age limit was under fifty, so everyone’s cultivation level was at the Golden Core stage or lower.

Ye Wenxin spotted only three Nascent Soul cultivators after scanning the crowd.

The first was a black-clad swordsman with a dangerous aura, the second an axe-wielding girl, and the third a flamboyant young master with a folding fan.

All three looked young and might be top contenders for this recruitment.

But this was only the first round. No one would reveal their full abilities so soon. Besides, secret realms were meant to test one’s survival ability.

The storyteller and Fei Chai were still trying to make connections while Young Master Lü squatted off to the side, picking at the grass. Seeming out of place among the confident participants, he questioned why a weak Qi Refining stage cultivator like him was even participating.

A silvery laugh rang out. “Young Master Lü, what are you doing?”

Ye Wenxin felt dread the moment she heard that voice.

Young Master Lü got up excitedly, looking toward the beauty with surprise.

The woman wore a warm smile, her light purple dress lending a touch of mystery. In her hand was a jade flute, which seemed to be her chosen weapon for this recruitment.

Her smile, gestures, gaze, voice, and appearance—everything about her was bewitching, exuding gentleness and elegance.

Yet, Ye Wenxin felt none of that charm.

The woman was none other than Long Qingyue, the Golden Age Dynasty’s Eldest Princess. Ye Wenxin had been wondering why she had opened the secret realm. So, it turned out she’d be sneaking in as well.

Suppressing the numerous complaints in her mind, Ye Wenxin said, “Miss Yue, what brings you here?”

“Oh, just joining in the fun.” Long Qingyue smiled. Twirling the jade flute, she turned toward Ye Wenxin.

As if to show their closeness, she walked over and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“I came to see how a queen like you will pretend to be a bronze-tier rookie.”

Ye Wenxin chuckled, glancing meaningfully at the jade flute in her hand. “You’re the real queen here. You even brought that thing out. I wonder how many people will die this time.”

The flute had no name. Long Qingyue already had it when Ye Wenxin first met her. Everyone knew her as a master of talismans, but she also had exceptional talent in music.

However, as her opponents grew weaker, she rarely revealed this weapon. If she intended to use it, she acknowledged the opponent as worthy of a serious fight.

Long Qingyue leaned in and whispered, “I’m just worried Immortal Lord Taohua would eat you alive.” She didn’t sound guilty, her breath tickling Ye Wenxin’s ear.

It gave Ye Wenxin goosebumps.

A wild thought suddenly popped into her head. “You haven’t seen my whole body, have you?”

“Well, I had to bathe.”

They were talking about the day they’d swapped bodies. And just now, Long Qingyue had targeted the one spot Ye Wenxin hated being touched. Ye Wenxin never told anyone, yet she had gone straight for her ear. So Ye Wenxin figured Long Qingyue had figured her out.