Chapter 23: Arriving at the secret realm.
Chapter 23
In the dawn light, the orange-red sun above the horizon seems to be shyly hiding in the embrace of the morning glow, like a painting waiting to be revealed, revealing a hint of mystery and poetry.
In the square at the entrance of the Amaterasu sect, a bustling crowd gathered to create an extremely lively scene.
The Amaterasu Sect had a large number of disciples, but the percentage of those in the Foundation Establishment stage was small, with only approximately three thousand. Furthermore, those who had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment stage but had reached the eighth level of Qi Training were even fewer, with fewer than five hundred.
Because the Amaterasu Sect recruits only the most talented disciples, they hold a ceremony every three years, recruiting dozens, sometimes even hundreds, of disciples. Among these new disciples, a very small number reach the Golden Core stage by the time of the next round of recruitment. Nearly half of the new disciples have already broken through to the 2nd level of Foundation Establishment before the next round of recruitment, needing only the final step to enter the Golden Core realm.
Among the remaining disciples, some have reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, but have never been able to break through to the Golden Core stage, remaining confined to the Foundation Establishment realm for the rest of their lives. An even smaller number of them cannot even break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, remaining confined to the Great Completion stage of the Qi Training stage for the rest of their lives.
After years of accumulation, there are about 3,500 people who meet the sect's regulations and can sign up to participate in the Yanshui Secret Realm Trial.
Of the fewer than three thousand Foundation Establishment disciples, after excluding those currently in seclusion seeking a breakthrough to the Golden Core stage, others unable to participate due to other commitments, and some who had previously traveled to the Yanshui Secret Realm and did not wish to experience it again, fewer than a hundred people signed up for the Yanshui Secret Realm Trial.
Among those disciples who are above the eighth level of Qi training, including those who have not yet reached the foundation-building stage, there are very few applicants, only a dozen or so.
Together with the only three outer disciples in the foundation-building stage including Bu Xingjin, these more than one hundred people are the ones who entered the Yanshui secret realm from the Amaterasu Sect this time.
Bu Xingjin and Zhao Siwen humbly hid themselves among the many figures in the bustling crowd, waiting for the master of Fuhua Peak to show up and lead them on the journey to the secret realm of Yanshui.
With the golden sunlight emitted by the rising sun, the master of Fuhua Peak suddenly appeared in front of everyone at this shining moment, like a phoenix in the mountains and forests.
With a graceful flick of his finger, he pulled out a magnificent three-tiered cloud boat from his storage ring. Like a floating white cloud, the light blue boat descended from the sky, gently stopping before everyone's eyes, only half a meter above the ground.
This means of transportation was meticulously crafted by the head of the Amaterasu sect's Fire Refining Peak, with the original intention of enabling the boat to reach his destination quickly while also allowing him to rest within the boat during his journey.
In practice, he found that achieving this goal was not easy. In fact, although it is feasible in theory, the resources required for actual operation are too high. To build it just for the pursuit of temporary comfort during travel may not be worth the effort.
Finally, after careful consideration, the Fire Refining Peak Master cleverly shifted his thinking and designed a cloud boat. This cloud boat could not only accommodate up to 200 people, but its speed was only slightly inferior to that of ordinary flying monster beasts.
After the successful construction, the Cloud Boat was given to the Amaterasu Sect and became the exclusive travel tool of the Amaterasu Sect.
There were many disciples participating in the Yanshui Secret Realm Trial this time. In order to facilitate management, the leader of Fuhua Peak specially applied to the sect for the use of the cloud boat.
The head of Fuhua Peak stood on the deck of the Cloud Boat and said:
"The Yanshui Secret Realm will be opened this time, and I will lead you there. We will travel by cloud boat and arrive at our destination in one day and one night."
"We arrived at the entrance to the Yanshui Secret Realm. Many disciples from various sects who had come to participate in the Yanshui Secret Realm Trial gathered together. Everyone stood in the positions assigned by the Demon Subduing Immortal Sect's manager, waiting for the Yanshui Secret Realm to open before entering in order."
"The Yanshui Secret Realm is vast and boundless. Once you step into it, you will be transported to any corner in an instant. Perhaps you will appear in a monster's lair, or encounter rare treasures. All of this is possible, full of mystery and surprises."
"Since you have resolutely signed up to participate in this Yanshui Secret Realm Trial, you should have anticipated this. Undoubtedly, risk and reward are often directly proportional. Every time someone participates in the Yanshui Secret Realm Trial, a portion of them will remain in the Yanshui Secret Realm forever."
"My fellow disciples, please follow me aboard the Cloud Boat at this very moment. The top floor of the Cloud Boat is where I rest. Disciples above the fourth Foundation Establishment level may proceed to the second floor, while those below the fourth level may remain on the first floor."
As soon as the leader of Fuhua Peak finished speaking, he returned directly to the top floor of the cloud boat.
The disciples in the square stepped into the cloud boat one by one. In less than an incense stick of time, after everyone had boarded the cloud boat, the cloud boat took off into the air and rushed straight into the sky.
Bu Xingjin and Zhao Siwen were both cultivators below the fourth level of foundation building. They followed the crowd and slowly stepped onto the first level of the cloud boat.
The entire first floor is an empty space of more than 100 square meters, supported only by a few pillars as thick as a person.
There are green cushions placed on the ground. Their purpose is very simple. The time during the day and night of traveling can be spent through cultivation.
Bu Xingjin was carrying a small bamboo basket across his shoulder, with the little tree nestling safely in the basket.
This bamboo basket was given to him by Zhao Siwen when they met. It was the bamboo basket he mentioned when he saw Bu Xingjin holding the small tree in his hand.
It is really convenient to have this thing.
Bu Xingjin and Zhao Siwen chose two adjacent cushions near the wall and sat down one by one.
He sat cross-legged, tilted his head slightly and asked Zhao Siwen beside him: "Why don't you follow your master?"
The master of Fuhua Peak occupies a floor all to himself, and the environment there is so elegant and comfortable that it is certainly far superior to other places.
"Master doesn't need my help over there. Considering that you're alone here without anyone close to you, I came over to keep you company."
Zhao Siwen said with a smile.
He had originally planned to accompany Xing Jin to visit his senior sister, Zhong Wenxin, but his brother's death had been a profound shock to her. After waiting for her to calm down, they would prepare to depart for the Yanshui Secret Realm. Finally, he decided to put the matter on hold and discuss it again after returning from Yanshui Secret Realm.
"Well, you don't have to."
Bu Xingjin said modestly that Zhao Siwen had considered everything very carefully, and he felt unworthy of such thoughtful care, simply because he brought a piece of news.
"Are we friends?"
Bu Xingjin was stunned for a moment, then said, "Of course."
"That's all." Zhao Siwen shrugged and spread his hands outward.
"Yeah." Bu Xingjin nodded and smiled.
The two of them began to practice separately.
Bu Xingjin quietly started the system interface and saw that the sign-in tasks for the second and third days of the seven-day sign-in were clearly displayed as completed.
This was the result of his working day and night without rest.
The sign-in task on the second day was quite simple. Participants were required to stand still for up to one hour, with their whole body remaining still, not even the slightest tremor of their eyelids.
Bu Xingjin bravely attempted this challenge, but found it impossible to remain motionless for an entire hour without blinking. Reaching this level would be a severe test of both body and will. After considerable effort, Bu Xingjin could only manage a quarter of an hour without blinking, and then it became difficult to continue.
Finally, he came up with a plan, temporarily lifting the restrictions of the humanoid experience card, and after returning to his original form, he remained still for an hour. In this way, the mission was easily completed.
Obtain 1 Broken Ancient Rune Fragment.
After completing the sign-in task on the second day, Bu Xingjin waited patiently until late at night until the sign-in task on the third day appeared before him.
The sign-in task on the third day is a little bit difficult.
This level of difficulty is not difficult to achieve, but requires overcoming some complex details in the process of completing the task in order to succeed.
The check-in task for the third day is: to make a delicious dish.
After traveling through time and becoming a blade of grass, Bu Xingjin had not tasted food for a long time.
Before traveling through time, he would invite his friends to go out and enjoy delicious food every holiday to reward himself for his hard work.
Now it is a blade of grass, not knowing hunger. Even after turning into a human form, it has never thought about eating something delicious.
At this time, the task assigned to him was to cook a delicious dish, which was indeed quite challenging.
The small courtyard he lived in didn't even have a kitchen suitable for cooking, let alone a wide variety of ingredients. Furthermore, his cooking skills were limited to making basic dishes like egg noodles and scrambled rice. Even if he painstakingly prepared these dishes, would the system consider them gourmet?
Anyway, he himself doesn't think the fried rice with noodles and eggs is a delicacy.
After thinking about it, Bu Xingjin thought of a delicacy.
barbecue.
He resolutely chose this dish. Its simple preparation and wonderful taste were worthy of the delicacy he loved in his previous life. Crucially, it was easy to prepare. When he went out for a picnic with his friends, they all said that his barbecued meat was particularly delicious.
In the quiet of the night, Bu Xingjin rang the bell again and summoned a maid in green.
Seeing that the maid in green didn't look like she was awakened by the sudden ringing of the bell while she was sleeping, Bu Xingjin's face was filled with embarrassment, and he sincerely apologized to her: "I'm so sorry for waking you up so late..."
The maid in green clothes still maintained her elegant demeanor and asked respectfully, "Master, please let me know if you need anything."
Bu Xingjin said seriously, "Please help me get some meat that can be grilled, as well as spices, seasonings, and some charcoal fire. I want to make some barbecue for myself."
He didn't know if the maid in green could get beef, pork, or mutton late at night, and he didn't know if these animals existed in this world, so Bu Xingjin didn't specify which kind of meat he wanted, as long as it could be roasted.
"My Lord, if you want barbecue, I can have it prepared and brought to you." The maiden in green pondered for a moment. She racked her brains to figure out why this plant spirit, who didn't need to eat, suddenly craved barbecue in the middle of the night, but she couldn't find an answer. Ultimately, she decided to give up on the difficult question and offer a more thoughtful suggestion.
"No, I need to bake it myself."
"Okay, Immortal, please wait a moment. I'll prepare what you need and send it to you."
The maid in blue bowed and left immediately.
Bu Xingjin sat quietly in the courtyard, waiting patiently. Half an hour later, the maid in green came over with empty hands.
Just as Bu Xingjin hesitated, thinking his request might be difficult to fulfill, the maid in green pulled out an exquisite wooden table from her waist bag. She then took out a large piece of unknown meat in a wooden basin, followed by a dozen bottles and jars of spices and seasonings. She also took out a small pile of black charcoal and a mysterious stone, placing them on the table.
"Master, everything you need is ready."
Bu Xingjin pointed to the stone on the ground and asked, "What is this stone used for?"
The maid in green looked down and replied, "This is a flame stone. It will burn when spiritual power is injected into it, and will go out when spiritual power is withdrawn."
"What about this?" Bu Xingjin pointed at the meat in the wooden basin. "What kind of meat is this?"
"This is red rhino meat. It's tender and fresh, and contains a hint of spiritual energy. It can be somewhat nourishing for those who practice cultivation."
"Okay, I understand. Thank you for your hard work." Bu Xingjin thanked the maid in green.
"Then I won't bother you anymore, Immortal." The maid in green bowed and took her leave.
Bu Xingjin looked at the things in front of him and began to think about where to start.
Finally he decided to try seasonings and spices first.
After selecting the necessary barbecue seasonings such as salt, cumin powder, chili powder, etc., Bu Xingjin injected spiritual power into the flame stone, and ignited the charcoal after the flame stone burned.
Then he used the attacking technique he had just learned - "Purple Sun Wind Control Technique", summoned a wind blade like a knife to slice a thin piece of meat from the red rhinoceros, placed it on charcoal and roasted it.
The only pity is that he can only control one wind blade for the time being, so he can only use the wind blade to grill one piece of meat at a time.
If an outsider came into this courtyard, he would see a young man sitting by a charcoal fire, with a piece of meat floating in the air, turning over from time to time.
After the seasoning was sprinkled on, a mouth-watering aroma quickly spread. This aroma was extremely strong, as if it had an overbearing power, instantly seizing the thoughts of all who smelled it, making them eager to taste this delicacy.
Bu Xingjin impatiently put the first piece of barbecue into his mouth, as if he was tasting a delicacy for the first time, and the long-awaited sense of satisfaction spread in his heart.
The incredibly delicious barbecue was so delicious that even the sign-in mission was temporarily forgotten. It wasn't until he tasted three slices that a sense of initial satisfaction washed over him. At that moment, he opened the system panel and was pleasantly surprised to find that the sign-in mission had been successfully completed.
Obtain 1 Broken Ancient Rune Fragment.
…
Bu Xingjin swallowed softly, and couldn't help but feel the desire to taste the red rhino barbecue again. This time he hoped to invite Zhao Siwen to taste it with him.
Bu Xingjin gently closed the system panel, his eyes briefly fell on Zhao Siwen who was concentrating on practicing next to him, then he smiled slightly, closed his eyes and began his own practice journey.
Time passed quickly during cultivation. When Bu Xingjin was about to break through to the third level of foundation building, the voice of the master of Fuhua Peak spread throughout the Yunzhou.
"We have arrived at the Yanshui Secret Realm. Let's get off the cloud boat."
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The author has something to say: I wish you, who are reading this, good health, academic success, smooth career, a harmonious family, and uninvited wealth in the new year! Happy New Year! Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2023-12-31 15:44:08 and 2024-01-01 16:02:02~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: 7 bottles are in the balance payment (*^ω^*); 5 bottles of Huang Guoer; 1 bottle each of 42224191, Yan Mumu, and Orange is Not Sweet;
Thank you very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
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