“Is what they’re doing against the rules?”
“I don’t think it counts.”
“Why wouldn’t it? The fight is over. What’s the problem with friends catching up a bit?”
Outside the Secret Realm, the Venerables were debating a certain matter.
The cause of the argument was simple: after defeating Linglong, Hua Jian hadn’t actually knocked her out of the Secret Realm.
Instead, she had chatted with her and let her stay inside.
It was true that Linglong had lost, but Hua Jian’s exploit—refusing to let Linglong leave—made it difficult for the Venerables to score her performance in the Forbidden Land.
The enemy wasn’t technically eliminated, which made the scoring tricky.
However, for once, Fenghua Venerable and the Lingcai Peak Master stood on the same side, believing that Hua Jian had done nothing wrong.
This was a display of sincere friendship between companions—a good thing! She deserved extra points!
“Stop arguing. It’s not like this kid belongs to any of your Sects anyway. I think her performance was excellent, and that’s enough,” the Lingcai Peak Master said, raising a hand to signal for silence. None of them could recruit Hua Jian anyway.
At the end of the day, Hua Jian’s score was merely symbolic—a way to let everyone know exactly how powerful she was.
During the battle, although Linglong and Hua Jian had held back slightly due to their prior relationship, it didn’t affect the big picture. Hua Jian’s strength was extremely convincing.
“But that Xia Hui seems a bit strange. Is she really that powerful?”
The Lingcai Peak Master turned to Fenghua Venerable.
In the previous battle, the most outstanding performer besides Hua Jian was Xia Hui, who had served as the core of the logistical support.
If she hadn’t gathered everyone’s power and distributed it to Hua Jian and Shiqi, and then used her barrier to block the shockwave of the Thunderbolt, Hua Jian might have still won—but the cost would have been all her companions being sent out of the Secret Realm by the storm.
It could be said that Xia Hui alone had saved most of the team. Her contribution was no less than that of Hua Jian, who had defeated the BOSS.
“I’ve seen her a few times. It’s only been a few months; she shouldn’t have become that powerful.” Fenghua Venerable shook her head.
When Hua Jian had saved Xia Hui’s mother, she had been watching. She had some impression of the girl.
At best, the girl’s strength was decent, but it definitely hadn’t reached the heights displayed just now.
Even if the Lingcai Peak Master hadn’t brought it up, she would have suspected there was something wrong with the girl’s identity.
‘Did someone from Myriad Flower Valley sneak in?’ she whispered to herself.
Aside from Yaochi and the Wanling Sect, there was another faction in the world very interested in Hua Jian.
Perhaps they intended to use the Ascension Gathering as an opportunity to abduct her?
After being saved by Hua Jian’s group, Xia Hui had arrived at Ascension City quite some time after them.
During that interval, her whereabouts were unknown.
Perhaps she had been swapped during that period.
With Myriad Flower Valley’s ability to hide identities, the Venerables felt that the arrangements made in the Outer City really couldn’t stop them.
“It’s hard to say. Maybe she had some sort of fortuitous encounter,” the Tiandao Sect Venerable said, shaking his head.
“Your Yaochi disciples already suspect Hua Jian is from Myriad Flower Valley. It’s normal to suspect Xia Hui too. With your disciple watching her, nothing should go wrong.”
“That little girl’s knowledge of Myriad Flower Valley is only superficial. If she encounters a real Myriad Flower Valley Cultivator, she’ll probably be played like a fiddle,” Fenghua Venerable snorted, showing no intention of saving face for her own disciple.
The fact that the girl was so determined to view Hua Jian as a Myriad Flower Valley Demonic Cultivator was proof enough.
To expect that little girl to keep an eye on Xia Hui, it would be better to rely on Linglong… Hey, thinking about it that way, Hua Jian was right to keep Linglong around.
With Linglong there, Xia Hui wouldn’t be able to stir up any trouble.
“On the contrary, Linglong knows quite a bit about Myriad Flower Valley. With her by Hua Jian’s side, she can keep an eye on Xia Hui.” Fenghua Venerable was quite satisfied with her own reasoning.
The various Venerables looked at each other, unable to find a reason to refute her for a moment.
Thinking about it, it did seem to be the case.
“Then let’s stop talking about this side for now. They are at least doing their jobs. How do you plan to handle the infighting on the other side?”
Seeing this, the Penglai Venerable decisively changed the subject.
Hua Jian’s side was fine with Linglong watching, but the other side was practically beating each other’s brains out. Weren’t they going to do anything?
The Saint Sect had arranged this Secret Realm to have the participating Cultivators cooperate to defeat the enemies within, not to pick on their own people.
Although the Secret Realm looked like PVPVE, the Saint Sect preferred to see PVE rather than PVP.
While Hua Jian’s progress was gradually getting on track, the other side had completely gone astray.
If they didn’t intervene, those two groups would likely keep fighting until the Secret Realm ended.
“Then let them feel the power of the Magic Path first. Let them learn that in the face of the Magic Path, they have no choice but to join forces,” the Sword Sect Venerable said coldly.
His idea was simple. If those two groups of Cultivators didn’t want to cooperate, he would make them cooperate. If they didn’t, they could die.
If they couldn’t distinguish between what was important and what wasn’t in the face of something as significant as a Demonic Path invasion, then there was no point in the Saint Sect taking such disciples.
“I have no objection.” The Tiandao Sect Venerable was the first to agree.
The other Venerables looked at one another and cast their votes of approval.
Fenghua Venerable and the Lingcai Peak Master took an indifferent stance.
They only cared about Hua Jian’s side; they couldn’t be bothered with how much trouble was being stirred up elsewhere.
Seeing that everyone agreed, the Penglai Venerable went along with it. Besides, the Sword Sect Venerable’s proposal did make some sense.
Relying on the two warring parties to realize the Saint Sect’s good intentions on their own was impossible.
They would have to use external force to make them understand the importance of unity.
“Then it’s settled. The main direction of the invasion will be the west. The time will be 1 day from now. Get it arranged.”
……
“Looking at everyone’s condition, I’m afraid we won’t be able to explore the other Forbidden Lands for the next few days.”
Sitting within the now-stabilized Thunder Forbidden Zone, Hua Jian whispered to herself while stroking the Little Blue Dragon’s head.
She had successfully conquered this Forbidden Land, but the price was that almost all the Cultivators who had followed her in were overextended and had lost their combat effectiveness.
Forget about tomorrow; they might not even return to their original state by the day after.
And while she had successfully convinced Linglong to stay, she certainly couldn’t count on Linglong to help her conquer more Forbidden Lands.
Staying as a companion was already pushing the limits of cheating; if Linglong actually took action to help, it would be an outright violation. Linglong definitely wouldn’t do that.
Looking at it this way, Hua Jian felt that she basically had nothing to do for the next 2 days.
“Maybe I should go scout out the other Forbidden Lands tomorrow?”
Hua Jian might not be great in other areas, but when it came to her health bar, she was an authority.
After the big battle with Linglong, only about half a day had passed, yet she felt like she had already recovered about seventy or eighty percent.
“I really envy your bottomless energy,” Shiqi, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, said as she opened one eye to complain.
Her condition was among the best in the group, as she had only overextended herself slightly.
Even so, she felt she wouldn’t recover for at least 2 or 3 days.
As for the Cultivators in worse shape than her, they were even worse off. Hua Jian would likely have to wait.
Among them was the girl who had just put in a massive effort before blending back into the crowd.
In fact, she might be the most seriously injured of them all.
Once she was certain that Hua Jian had secured victory, the exhausted and injured Xia Hui could no longer hold on and collapsed directly onto the ground. She still hadn’t woken up.
It made Hua Jian’s heart ache. This girl was truly giving her all, to the point of dying for her. She was touched.
As for the other “tools,” Hua Jian didn’t care as much. As long as they weren’t dead, it was fine.
Fighting a BOSS always involved risks. Since they followed her in, they had to bear that risk.
“I’m not human, after all. Oh, right, Linglong, can you tell me who is in the other Forbidden Lands?”
“I don’t know. However, I can tell you one thing: there are a total of five Forbidden Lands in this Secret Realm. If the five Stone Pillars in those Forbidden Lands are returned to their proper places, something unexpected might happen.”
Linglong shook her head, indicating that the guardians of the five Forbidden Lands didn’t meet.
She didn’t know who her companions were, but the number five was very suggestive.
It was exactly five. So far, of the two Forbidden Lands Hua Jian had entered, one was guarded by a Penglai disciple and one by a Yaochi disciple.
It wasn’t hard to guess who would be waiting for them in the other three.
“So that means there are Senior Brothers and Sisters from the Wanling Sect, the Sword Sect, and the Tiandao Sect waiting for us… Ugh, I’m getting a headache just thinking about it.”
And according to Linglong, finishing the five Forbidden Lands might not even be the end. There were surprises prepared afterward.
It was no wonder the Ascension Gathering lasted for a full 15 days. It was to give everyone enough time to conquer the Forbidden Lands.
Hua Jian had conquered two Forbidden Lands in 3 days.
If the other Cultivators united, even if they couldn’t match her speed, taking one every 3 days shouldn’t be a problem, right?
Thinking about it, all the Forbidden Lands would likely be conquered by the time 4 or 5 days remained in the Secret Realm. That was when the true test would begin.
She wondered what the final test would be.
“I think you should stop worrying about that. I have some good news: besides these two Forbidden Lands, the others haven’t even been touched.”
The Yaochi Maiden, who had been following and monitoring Hua Jian, emerged from the shadows.
She bowed respectfully to her Saintess and then spoke to Hua Jian with a look of displeasure.
Seeing her Saintess get along so well with Hua Jian made her wonder if her suspicions were wrong.
But things had already come this far, and she couldn’t bring herself to back down, so she had to maintain her suspicion of Hua Jian.
However, her attitude had softened slightly; she wasn’t as aggressive as before.
She hadn’t appeared for any other reason but that she had received a message from above to relay to Linglong.
“Junior Sister Linglong may remain in the Secret Realm, but she is not allowed to interfere with the process of the Ascension Gathering.”
“Question!” Hua Jian immediately raised her hand.
The Yaochi Maiden glared at her. ‘You’re so much trouble!’
“What is it?”
“How strict is this ‘no interference’ rule? Is it absolutely zero interference, or can there be a tiny bit?” Hua Jian asked very seriously.
To ensure the Yaochi Maiden understood her meaning, she gave two examples.
Linglong directly participating in combat was definitely out, but what about logistics?
“If I chat with her and ask questions that have nothing to do with the Ascension Gathering, that should be fine, right?”
“Probably.”
“Then, if I’m tired one day and want to use her lap as a pillow while I sleep, that shouldn’t be a problem either, right?”
This question made the Yaochi girl’s face flush. She glared fiercely at Hua Jian. ‘How can you ask such a question? Do you have no idea that you’re profaning the Saintess?’
“It’s not a problem, but it is a problem!”
Both yes and no—that was enough to give anyone a headache.
It was only after the girl explained further that Hua Jian understood what the answer meant.
In truth, the Saint Sect elders weren’t that strict with Linglong, as long as she didn’t directly participate in the battles.
Whether something was a violation or not was up to this Outer Disciple from Yaochi to judge.
If she felt it wasn’t a violation, then it wasn’t. If she felt it was, she would come out and remind Linglong.
The question was, did she dare to be strict with Linglong?
Of course not.
This was essentially leaving a back door wide open for Linglong, allowing her to stay in the Secret Realm to accompany Hua Jian.
As long as they didn’t do anything too excessive—like rushing out to kill the enemies for Hua Jian—it was fine.
Other things, like giving some Alchemy Pills or offering advice, didn’t matter.
Therefore, whether Hua Jian used Linglong’s lap as a pillow was no one’s business, but the Yaochi Maiden herself felt it was unacceptable.
‘The suspicion that you’re from Myriad Flower Valley hasn’t been cleared yet, and you already want to sleep on my Saintess’s lap? In your dreams!’
Today, she would act as a guardian of morality and suppress this demon!
“She and I are both willing. What right do you have to stop us?” Hua Jian questioned righteously.
As soon as those words left her mouth, Linglong tapped her on the head.
“Don’t talk nonsense.” Linglong had no solution for Hua Jian’s habit of running her mouth.
She claimed to like her, yet in practice, she didn’t act like she liked her at all.
If Hua Jian acted this way elsewhere, she would be called fickle and heartless.
But what could Linglong do? She couldn’t truly cut ties with Hua Jian.
If they couldn’t be fellow disciples, they could still be friends. That was fine too.
“Fine, fine, I’ll stop talking nonsense. So, can I sleep on your lap?”
Linglong thought for a second and then decisively knelt on the ground. She reached out and patted her lap, which was covered by her skirt. Her meaning was clear: ‘Come if you want.’
Now that she was being so open about it, Hua Jian started to feel timid. This was the classic case of someone with the courage to plot but not the guts to act.
“Ahem, I’m not tired right now. I should probably focus on cultivating.” She waved her hand, indicating she was just joking.
Why was Linglong taking it so seriously?
“Mm-hmm?” Linglong cast a glance toward her Outer Disciple Senior Sister.
The meaning was roughly: ‘See? This one is just a loser. She can’t do anything truly bad.’
The Yaochi Maiden was speechless. If that was the case, she really didn’t need to worry about her Saintess’s virtue.