Jiang Huai felt the void beneath his feet, an irresistible force tearing at him as if trying to wrench him violently from this world and cast him into another unknown realm.
“You let go of me, I don’t think I can get away…” he gritted his teeth, struggling to break free from Zhu Siyao’s grasp so as not to drag her down with him.
Black Dragon Mark on his lower abdomen and the Spirit Sword Pattern below it simultaneously burst forth with scorching heat, a vast power surging out.
Faint, intricate dragon scale illusions shimmered beneath his skin, and sharp sword qi autonomously formed a protective shield around him.
Yet, all of this proved futile against the strange suction force crossing realms; his figure was still uncontrollably drawn backward, the space around him twisting inch by inch.
Though his strength was unmatched within this Secret Realm, he could not even protect himself at this moment.
The surging Demonic Beast Tide, having lost the full control of the Demonic Fox, gradually subsided.
Many beasts’ eyes dimmed from their red rage, regaining some instinct as they looked around bewilderedly, ceasing their frenzied attacks.
The Demonic Fox had poured every ounce of its power here into Jiang Huai alone, staking everything on exiling him to that distant Small World, completely severed from the Five Provinces Continent.
An invisible vortex formed around Jiang Huai, its terrifying suction dragging even Xiao Yue and Zhu Siyao, who clung tightly to him.
The entire Secret Realm began to tremble and collapse; many cultivators, unable to focus on their inheritances or immortal materials, gritted their teeth and fled.
Only Jiang Huai’s group was locked down by the Demonic Fox’s power, unable to break free.
Xiao Yue and Cang Ling each held tightly to one of Jiang Huai’s hands, desperately trying to pull him back.
Jiang Huai felt the suction force multiply. If delayed any longer, everyone would be dragged into an abyss of no return.
He clenched his teeth fiercely. A resolute gleam flashed in his eyes as his internal power exploded, shaking off everyone’s grasp.
In a flash, he quickly pulled out the Scarlet Sun Return Yin Grass from his Storage Ring and stuffed it into Zhu Siyao’s hand, speaking rapidly:
“You take this and go to the Nine Heavens Palace to give it to your mother…”
Unexpectedly, Zhu Siyao didn’t even look at the herb and casually handed it to Xiao Yue beside her before lunging forward again, shouting angrily, “Hah! You come back here! My mother already calls you her husband, and you’re just going to leave like this? No more flirting around—don’t you dare run off! Go back to my mother!”
She poured all her strength into holding onto this husband for her mother’s sake.
Xiao Yue wanted to grab his hand again, but the Secret Realm suddenly collapsed.
A warm light flashed on her body, forcing her to leave this realm.
Zhu Siyao, caught by the violent spatial shift, lost her footing and cried out as she suddenly fell into Jiang Huai’s arms.
How long passed, no one knew. Jiang Huai was the first to painfully awaken from unconsciousness.
He found himself lying on unfamiliar grass, his entire body aching as if his bones were scattered apart.
The black robe he wore was torn in many places, making him look disheveled.
Struggling to sit up, he looked around. This seemed to be the edge of a mountain wilderness; distant smoke curled into the sky.
“Ugh…” a painful groan came from beside him.
Zhu Siyao slowly regained consciousness, rubbing her throbbing temples as she sat up, looking around at the completely unfamiliar surroundings with confusion.
“Where is this…?”
“Not sure, but definitely not the Five Provinces anymore,” Jiang Huai’s voice was hoarse as he cautiously sensed the area around them.
No matter what, he was grateful to still be alive.
After exchanging a few brief words, both saw heaviness and unease mirrored in each other’s eyes.
After some rest, they decided to head toward what looked like a village ahead, at least to figure out where they were.
Jiang Huai tightly gripped his long sword; Zhu Siyao was clad in her red armor.
As soon as they entered the mountain village, a strange feeling swept over them.
“Something feels off,” Jiang Huai whispered to Zhu Siyao.
All the villagers were women, either farming or chatting idly.
When they saw Jiang Huai, every one of them displayed shock, then scrutiny, and finally unhidden disdain and pointed fingers.
Their gazes felt tangible, filled with a condescending judgment that pinned Jiang Huai down uncomfortably.
Some even shot doubtful and disapproving looks at Zhu Siyao, as if she should not be walking alongside such a man.
Zhu Siyao also sensed the pervasive eerie atmosphere and felt deeply uneasy.
Jiang Huai furrowed his brows, the ominous premonition growing stronger.
Then they overheard the women and children in the village openly gossiping without restraint.
“Where did that wild man come from? How dare he show his face here, dressed so indecently!”
“Why doesn’t he wear a veil when going out?”
“Whose family is that woman from? How could they allow such improper conduct?”
“Look at his appearance—he must be one of those who don’t uphold the Virtue of Men…”
In that instant, Cang Ling’s earlier description of the Extreme Matriarchal World felt like an ice-cold splash on both their hearts.
Jiang Huai finally understood: they had returned to the Small World that this Secret Realm originally belonged to.
This was the world Cang Ling had spoken of.
But since there were people here, it meant coming to this world might mean they could leave it as well, right?
Just then, several strong presences approached rapidly from afar.
Over ten women in matching sky-blue battle robes landed first, their expressions cold and stern. They quickly spread around, forming an encircling formation as they scanned Jiang Huai and Zhu Siyao warily.
They had sensed the huge disturbance here and had rushed from the Sect.
These women were all formidable cultivators, moving in unison like highly trained Sect disciples.
At the same time, a more overwhelming and vast pressure descended, making Jiang Huai feel the surrounding suppression deepen even further.
A woman appeared, surrounded by the blue-clad cultivators.
She was very tall, her posture erect like a pine tree, wearing a deep blue Sect Master robe embroidered with cloud patterns that accentuated her commanding presence.
Her facial features were sharp, her sword-like brows slanting toward her temples. Her phoenix eyes were as sharp as lightning, radiating the strong aura of a longtime leader and the imposing spirit of a cultivator.
The Sect Master’s expression was arrogant as she surveyed the scene with a look of judgment and indifference.
Finally, her gaze landed on the two uninvited guests in the middle.
“Who are you? Where did you come from? Just now, there was a strange celestial phenomenon here, and violent spatial fluctuations. Are you responsible?” Her proud eyes swept over Zhu Siyao but paused noticeably when they fixed on Jiang Huai, revealing a subtle, barely perceptible flicker.
A cultivatable man? Strange.
In this world, men were never allowed to cultivate, so how could there be one who could and still appear openly?
Years of wandering the cultivation world told her one thing: seize this man for the Sect.
Alarm bells rang loudly in Jiang Huai and Zhu Siyao’s minds as they exchanged a glance.
They couldn’t reveal their identities—for now.
Jiang Huai forced a polite bow, about to concoct an excuse.
But the Sect Master seemed to expect no answer, or rather, she had already sensed something from their reactions and from Jiang Huai’s uniqueness.
“This is no place for talk. You two will return with our Sect for further discussion.” Though her tone was calm, there was no room for refusal. It was a declaration, not a request.
At the Secret Realm exit,
Xiao Yue staggered into view, her face pale as she tightly clutched the Scarlet Sun Return Yin Grass.
Wu Zhaohua, who had been quietly sensing the situation with a faint trace of anxiety on her brow, suddenly appeared before her.
“Honored Master!”
Xiao Yue hurriedly said, “Jiang Huai Shigong, he…”
Wu Zhaohua interrupted her, her cold voice heavy with emotion, asking, “I sensed that in his last moments, he frantically activated the Spirit Sword Pattern. What happened? Why didn’t he come out?”