Liu Shi stood at the foot of the mountain, quietly letting out a sigh.
In the end, he had chosen to follow Steward Jin's advice and prepare to enter the secret realm once more.
This wasn't his original plan. From the very beginning, his only thought had been to "join" Sancai Workshop in order to steal their alchemy and artifact-forging knowledge.
But Steward Jin's words had opened up a new path for him.
If it was truly possible for someone to use this secret realm to "change their face and identity," severing all pursuit from the Demonic Sect, then… couldn't his true body do the same, and completely escape the grasp of the sect?
Before this, Liu Ming had no choice. He could only pin his hopes on his avatars growing stronger, carefully treading step by step within the sect.
But now, the sect-wide competition looming a month away hung over him like a blade suspended above his neck. Qin Shuang's death had rung a warning bell in his heart—he had to seek out a real escape route.
For that, even if it meant sacrificing another avatar, he had to test this place with his own hands.
What's more, regardless of what Steward Jin's true identity was, or whether he was a spy planted by the righteous path, the man had helped him twice already—and had never once deceived him.
With the addition of the stone carving he had been given, this journey was worth the attempt.
"Hey, who are you?"
Liu Shi was still lost in thought when a wary voice suddenly called from behind.
He turned and saw two cultivators in green Daoist robes standing not far away, their expressions cautious.
His knowledge was limited, and he couldn't tell which righteous sect they belonged to. Still, it was obvious they hailed from one of them.
Liu Shi immediately plastered a smile on his face, cupped his hands, and said:"Fellow Daoists, I am here for the 'Yinxue' Secret Realm. May I pass?"
At his words, their brows furrowed at once. One of them gave him a probing glance."Speak honestly—where did you come from? Could it be… the Demonic Sect?"
A chill ran through Liu Shi's heart. It was true, after all—he had come from the direction of the Demonic Sect's territory. It wasn't strange they would guess so.
But he didn't admit it. Instead, he quickly brought out the stone carving Steward Jin had given him, offering it with a smile."I was recommended here by someone. Please, grant me some leniency."
The man accepted the carving, pretending to examine it, when suddenly his tone shifted coldly:"What is this supposed to be?"
Liu Shi's heart sank. Something was wrong.
This wasn't how Steward Jin had described it. Could it be these righteous cultivators… didn't recognize the token at all?
Just then, the other cultivator sneered coldly."Forget it. Whether he's righteous or demonic, killing him will solve everything."
Before Liu Shi could react, both men trembled slightly—and then an overwhelming surge of blood energy erupted!
The terrifying aura of the late Qi Refining stage pressed down without restraint!
Liu Shi was instantly pinned in place, unable to move.
Blood Feast Art!
He recognized it at once. These two were disciples of the Bloodfeast Valley!
What kind of joke was this!?
So, after all this, they weren't righteous cultivators at all, but fellow disciples of the Demonic Sect!
Liu Shi didn't wish to fight them, so he hurriedly said:"Ah, so it's senior brothers! My apologies for not recognizing you. I am also of the Demonic Sect, under the Xuanpin Gate. My master is—"
But before he could finish, one of them cut him off with a cruel laugh."Demonic Sect disciple? You're exactly the kind we kill!"
"You think we don't know why you're headed for the secret realm? Traitors—all deserve death!"
A freezing dread spread through Liu Shi's body. Now he understood. These two were executioners dispatched by the sect itself, tasked with hunting down those like him who sought to defect!
He tried to speak further, but the two had already taken positions, flanking him, launching their strike in perfect unison!
Their coordination was seamless—one leading the assault, the other reinforcing. Though their techniques seemed simple, they sealed every path of escape.
No matter how he dodged, he would fall into one of their attacks!
At that critical instant, Liu Shi could only shut his eyes—
Boom!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
In a blinding flash, a barrage of golden light exploded before him. The metallic clang of blades and the roar of bursting spiritual energy filled the valley!
The two Bloodfeast Valley disciples were struck as though by heavy hammers, their bodies flung back like broken kites, crashing hard into the distant mountainside.
It turned out that in the moment he closed his eyes, Liu Shi had thrown out more than a dozen fifth-grade Sharp Gold Talismans in desperation!
Each one carried the force of a full-powered strike from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. The two men had never expected that a mere Xuanpin Gate slave could unleash so many talismans at once. They hadn't even mounted proper defenses before the storm of golden energy crashed down upon them!
One smashed into the cliffside and slid lifelessly to the ground, his chest blown open in a bloody hole—dead on the spot.
The other clung to life, but his eyes bulged wide with disbelief."You… you're just a menial slave. How could you possibly have so many Sharp Gold Talismans? Even I… I could never afford them…"
Liu Shi sneered.
Of course he couldn't afford them. Even in Sancai Workshop, fifth-grade talismans weren't cheap.
Such things weren't made by the muddle-headed cultivators of the sect. A single talisman could rival several Sancai Coins.
But Liu Shi hadn't bought them. They had all been painstakingly crafted by Liu Jiu.
Once the two were dead, Liu Shi calmly searched their corpses. First, he retrieved his stone carving, then found a few spirit stones.
But no trace of Sancai Coins. Instead, he found only common pills, talismans, and some scraps of talisman-making materials—remnants from failed attempts at crafting eighth-grade talismans.
It seemed one of them had been studying talisman craft, but he hadn't succeeded even once before dying.
Liu Shi realized then: most disciples of the sect were dirt-poor.
Only because the pills sold in Sancai Workshop were so cheap did they even manage to survive at all.
Some tried to learn crafts themselves, but with poor talent, their low-grade talismans cost more to make than workshop pills—and couldn't be sold. As for high-grade talismans, they lacked both the skill and time.
Once again, Liu Shi was struck by how pitiful life was within the sect. Without background or backing, one had no chance of overturning their fate.
Even with his Ten Thousand Forms Body system, his avatars were nothing more than sacrificial scouts, each dying like the "Calabash Brothers saving their grandfather"—rushing to their deaths one after another.
The average lifespan of an avatar was barely two days.
So, yes—he had to explore this secret realm. Only there might he find a real chance to escape the Demonic Sect.
Continuing on his way, Liu Shi encountered no further obstructions. At last, as he neared the secret realm, he saw a group of cultivators in various-colored Daoist robes, standing guard in its vicinity.
Steadying his breath, he silently thought: These ones… surely they must be true righteous cultivators.
But just then, a soft breeze swept past.
He turned sharply—and froze.
A graceful female cultivator of ethereal temperament now stood beside him. In her hand was the stone carving he carried, which she was calmly inspecting.
A cold shiver ran through Liu Shi. The aura she radiated was beyond the Qi Refining stage. Even his fifth-grade Sharp Gold Talismans would likely be useless against her.
He instinctively stepped back, when suddenly a clear, crisp voice rang out:"You're from the Demonic Sect, aren't you?"
Without thinking, Liu Shi nodded.
Only afterward did he realize what he had done, and sweat drenched his back.
Why had he admitted it so thoughtlessly?
What now?
Would she cut him down on the spot?
But instead, she spoke again:"Go in. As long as you abandon your demonic arts, the secret realm will accept you."
Liu Shi blinked, stunned, then immediately rushed toward the secret realm.
True enough, none of the cultivators guarding its perimeter made any move to stop him.
He reached the entrance, stretched out his hand, and pressed against the invisible barrier.
"I willingly relinquish… all of my cultivation!"