Chapter Ten: The Red Deer Mountain Secret Realm Opens

This...this looks like just an ordinary brick?

"This, this is...?" Han Wei stammered.

"brick."

Is there anything special about it?

“It’s really hard; you can use it to hit people,” Gu Qi chuckled.

Hearing this, Han Wei said speechlessly, "I'm wearing such an ethereal dress, and you want me to go and throw bricks at people? Don't you have any magic weapon that would match this dress better?"

Gu Qi thought for a moment, and then a jade flute appeared in his hand.

The jade flute was entirely emerald green, a magical artifact crafted from the finest spirit jade. Han Wei took a liking to it at first sight. However, Gu Qi glanced at her and then said:

"You're tone-deaf, giving you the instrument would be a waste. Forget it!"

After saying that, he actually took it back.

Han Wei: "..."

The sullen girl looked at the brick in her hand, really wanting to use the man's head in front of her to test its hardness.

————

Red Deer Mountain.

A month before the opening of the Red Deer Mountain Secret Realm, Red Deer Mountain was already very lively. On the day the Red Deer Mountain Secret Realm opened, the entire Red Deer Mountain became even more lively.

Everywhere there was a glimmer of spiritual light, and everywhere you could see cultivators either sitting cross-legged in meditation, talking, selling maps of secret realms, or selling spiritual medicines and magical treasures.

Han Wei transformed into a cold-looking man and sat on a rock, patiently waiting. Each time the Red Deer Mountain Secret Realm opened, a total of twelve doors would appear, each leading to a different area within the secret realm.

The monks can choose different doors to enter different areas.

For example, the Zimen corresponds to the Burning Heart Cave in the secret realm, a lava world with fire veins everywhere underground. Lava rivers surge, fire poison permeates the air, and many fire pythons and fire crows roam. This place is extremely dangerous, but it is also a growing area for many fire-type natural treasures, such as the Fire Spirit Mushroom and the Earth Fire Lotus.

The Rat Gate corresponds to the Heavy Water Abyss in the secret realm, a place filled with lakes and rivers, where the water is incredibly heavy and icy cold. Once cultivators touch the water here, their bodies become extremely heavy, making it impossible for them to fly.

If you fall into the water, you'll almost certainly die. The deeper you go, the stronger the water pressure becomes, enough to crush your body.

However, this is also where treasures such as Cold Jade and Nether Water Pearl are located, and many kinds of spiritual herbs that only grow in extremely cold and yin places can also be found in this area.

"Fellow Daoist, my surname is Cheng. I see that you are also a rogue cultivator. How about we travel together after entering the secret realm?" A seemingly simple-minded man, accompanied by a rather charming female cultivator, extended an invitation to Han Wei, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, to form a team.

Although you will be randomly placed in different locations after entering the secret realm, those who entered through the same door will definitely be in the same area, so it is still easy to find them.

Sects and families naturally have companions, so independent cultivators will seek out other independent cultivators to form teams.

Han Wei coldly said, "Get out."

After making a fool of himself, the other party turned and left with the charming female cultivator, cursing Han Wei in his heart.

Seeing Han Wei's aloofness, the others who wanted to invite her gave up.

Suddenly, a huge airship flew in from the horizon. Everyone looked at the airship, and Han Wei also looked up. She saw the flag of the Qingyun Sect.

"It's a ship from the Qingyun Sect."

"Great sects are truly impressive!"

"By the way, who exactly was the person who blew up the Qingyun Sect's fire vein three years ago?"

As soon as the people from the Qingyun Sect arrived, many people started talking about it.

Han Wei looked towards the ship of the Qingyun Sect and saw Song Xuan, Fang Jingbai, and Su Rumei standing on the deck.

On the deck, Song Xuan, as the team leader, gave everyone some detailed instructions, and then gave Fang Jingbai and Su Rumei some special instructions as well.

"Second Junior Brother, you must protect Mei'er well," Song Xuan said.

Fang Jingbai patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Senior Brother, even if I die, I will protect Mei'er."

Su Rumei said angrily, "Senior brothers, don't make me seem weak. Master has given me a lot of powerful magic treasures. Maybe I'll even be the one to protect Second Senior Brother."

Song Xuan and Fang Jingbai both laughed.

They had no idea that Han Wei, whom they hated to death, was watching the three of them.

After the Qingyun Sect appeared, disciples from many other major sects followed suit. Time passed quickly, and finally, the appointed time arrived.

As purple mist slowly appeared in the sky, everyone's gaze turned upwards. Then they saw the purple mist thicken, turning the entire sky into a vibrant, ethereal expanse, accompanied by the sound of celestial music.

Immediately, someone in the crowd shouted excitedly:

"It's open! The gate to the secret realm is about to open!"

Golden light shimmered in the sky as twelve giant gates, symbolizing the twelve Earthly Branches, appeared in the clouds: Zi, Chou, Yin, Mao, Chen, Si, Wu, Wei, Shen, You, Xu, and Hai. Each gate led to a different region, and when all twelve gates opened simultaneously, the entire Red Deer Mountain erupted in excitement.

The impatient cultivators immediately took to their swords and flew towards the twelve gates.

Suddenly, the entire sky was filled with the shimmering light of flying swords. One after another, figures flew into different giant gates like birds and then disappeared without a trace.

Han Wei watched as Fang Jingbai and Su Rumei flew towards the Maozi Gate together. She then leaped up on her sword and immediately followed behind.

————

In the secret realm.

In the primeval forest, ancient trees reach for the sky, a light mist hangs in the air, and beautiful flowers bloom everywhere.

All of these flowers are poisonous, releasing a miasma that can cause hallucinations. Furthermore, there are seemingly ordinary but incredibly dangerous demonic vines and trees that can suddenly erupt and launch a deadly attack.

This is the Misty Forest.

The area corresponding to the Mao Gate is the Misty Forest, which is the place with the most spiritual herbs in the entire secret realm, but it is also the most dangerous area with the most poisonous creatures.

Han Wei walked through the dangerous Misty Forest, surrounded by lush green vines that writhed like snakes, revealing piles of white bones. Those bones belonged to cultivators who had died here before, all killed by these demonic vines. Yet, as Han Wei walked, no demonic vines or trees attacked her, as if they had mistaken her for one of their own.

She possesses the body of a wood spirit and cultivates the "Myriad Manifestations of the Forest," a top-tier wood-attribute technique across all the heavens and myriad realms. When she harmonizes with the surrounding plants and trees, even demonic beasts will regard her as a blade of grass or a tree.

Han Wei stood atop a large tree, her dark eyes flashing with green light. A faint aura of the Wood element emanated from her, and she began to harmonize with the surrounding plants and trees. A green light seemed to surge and vanish on the surrounding vegetation. Han Wei's harmonizing range expanded rapidly, and soon she found someone:

Some twenty miles away from her, a handsome man in blue robes, holding a sword, was searching for someone.

Han Wei's eyes flashed with murderous intent as soon as she saw the figure.