I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

Chapter 282: Chapter 246: Treasures in the Jade Tower, Demon Beasts Guard the Mountain

"Tier Three High-grade Secret Realm?"

Gu Yuan’s interest was piqued.

Secret realms are more precious than ordinary Spirit Peaks or Spirit Islands.

They are complete little worlds.

The so-called Tier Three Spirit Peaks or Tier Three Spirit Islands are merely a mountain or an island.

But in a Tier Three Secret Realm, there could be several, dozens, or even hundreds of Tier Three Spirit Peaks.

Just like the Purple Sun Secret Realm of the Cyan Peak Daoist School, which contains ten Tier Three Spirit Peaks, serving as one of the school’s foundations.

However, secret realms are all little worlds, and their ability to restore and nurture Spiritual Qi is far inferior to the Four Domains Great World, so they must be closed occasionally to restore the Spirit Meridian.

Otherwise, over time, there is a risk of Spirit Meridian exhaustion and the collapse of the secret realm.

The Purple Sun Secret Realm is no different; after the last True Inheritance cultivator perished during a realm-breaking attempt, it took centuries to nurture it before granting access to Gu Yuan and others again.

As for the Red Mist Secret Realm, although it’s also a secret realm, it contains only one Tier Three Low-grade Spirit Peak, while the rest are merely Tier Two Spirit Peaks.

Yet even so, it is a treasure ground of the Red Mist Sect, inaccessible to ordinary disciples.

"Master, please look!"

The Heart-devouring Insect flicked its wings, and another green Memory Stone floated out, projecting a vast, boundless scene.

Stretching for thousands of miles, lush green mountains, a colossal winding mountain resembling a dragon sprawled across the land.

Though it’s just one Spirit Mountain, it stretches for miles, vast beyond measure, far larger than ordinary Spirit Peaks.

Within, the Spiritual Qi drifts ethereally, mist arises, and Immortal Qi abundantly flows.

"What a majestic Spirit Mountain!"

Gu Yuan, seeing this, couldn’t help but be amazed.

A typical Spirit Mountain is only a few hundred feet tall, with the more grand ones barely reaching a thousand feet, but this mountain, towering for several thousand feet, rises from the ground like a massive blue dragon soaring straight into the sky.

Within the mountain, numerous demon beasts and spiritual insects roam.

Even from the Memory Stone’s images, several Earth Demon Realm fierce birds can be seen circling, majestic and powerful.

"Bang!"

Just as Gu Yuan wanted to observe more closely, the Memory Stone suddenly shook violently, the image quaking and shuddering continuously.

"Hmm?"

The Heart-devouring Insect lowered its head in shame: "In this Spirit Peak, there are many demon beasts. It was a Tiger Demon in the Earth Demon Realm that attacked us, and during the magical combat, it’s unavoidable that the Memory Stone couldn’t be taken care of."

"Most of the images in these Memory Stones are from our magical combat and escape scenes. Master may look directly at this one."

The Heart-devouring Insect flicked its wings again, and a verdant Memory Stone lit up, projecting another scene.

A White Jade Small Tower stood on the mountainside, but oddly, the tower’s tip was pointing downward, and the base was facing up, as if the whole Jade Tower was suspended inverted in the air.

Fine strands of golden light continually flowed down the tip of the tower.

On either side of the Jade Tower, two white jade foxes lay comfortably curled beneath, appearing extremely at ease.

"These two white jade foxes are exotic species at the late stage of the Earth Demon Realm, immensely powerful."

"If not for the gold-attribute magical power bestowed by my master, I fear I might have perished there!"

Looking at these adorable, seemingly auspicious white foxes, the Heart-devouring Insect’s face showed a hint of lingering fear.

"But fortunately, in the end, I succeeded in slaying these two jade foxes and obtained the golden talisman from the tower!"

"However, my strength was severely diminished as a result, causing me to miss the window to return from the secret realm and be trapped for twenty years."

"During those twenty years, Ma Wu and I discovered the remains of some Red Mist Sect disciples, gaining some information and gradually piecing together the origin of the secret realm."

The Heart-devouring Insect slowly relayed the information it had obtained.

Ma Wu, standing by, supplemented with details.

And with the explanations from the creature and the insect, along with the images in the Memory Stone, Gu Yuan gradually unraveled the origins of this secret realm.

Though the Red Mist Sect was once a Golden Core Sect, it had no powerful secret techniques, and after their only Golden Core cultivator passed, the sect was left in a state of decline.

It was during this time that a disciple of the Red Mist Sect stumbled upon the token.

After the Red Mist Sect’s explorations, they discovered the token’s purpose.

It was a key that could open another Tier Three Secret Realm!

But the token would slowly open the path to the secret realm every few decades, requiring an array to stabilize the void, and they must return within half a month, or be trapped inside.

The Red Mist Sect used years of sect reserves to barely set up the void-stabilizing array, only to encounter turmoil on their first simple exploration.

An internal strife of significant scale swept through the Red Mist Sect.

Along with schemers fueling the flames, the vast Red Mist Sect was overthrown in a very short time, with the last custodian of the jade key, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, escaping into the wilderness, where he died, his legacy falling into Ma Wu’s hands.

"Such a vast Golden Core Sect, with considerable foundations, was wiped out just like that?"

Gu Yuan gently rubbed the jade key, unable to help but feel a sense of lament.

"Without the Golden Core, the Red Mist Sect was like lambs to the slaughter; how could it guard such vast spiritual land?"

Ma Wu also sighed deeply, feeling a sense of lament.

But these are old matters, with details impossible to pursue, and Gu Yuan isn’t concerned with the reasons for the Red Mist Sect’s destruction.

He is only interested in the secret realm connected to the token.

"Apart from the Tribulation-avoiding Dragon Talisman, are there any other treasures?"

Gu Yuan asked while flicking his hand.

Dozens of Memory Stones all burst into brilliance, transforming into numerous projections, floating mid-air.

His eyes flashed with golden light, and in a moment, he had browsed through all the images.

"Jade Towers..."

In the unintentional frames of the Memory Stones, one can vaguely see several jade towers hovering above the majestic Spirit Mountain, radiating spiritual light.

"Master has sharp eyes!"

"This secret realm seems to be a trial treasure ground. Jade towers are located at intervals, each guarded by a powerful demon beast."

"But if you can defeat the beasts, you can seize the treasures within the jade towers!"

"I found that Tribulation-avoiding Dragon Talisman in the third jade tower!"

"Though I lacked the strength to ascend further, I spied from afar. Above the Spirit Peak, there are higher-level jade towers, surely containing even more precious treasures!"

The Heart-devouring Insect pointed to the distance-view frames in the Memory Stones, reporting to Gu Yuan.

"Jade towers hiding treasures, demon beasts guarding the mountain, where does this secret realm originate?"

Gu Yuan was slightly puzzled.

"I’m not certain, but from what I’ve seen, this secret realm might not belong to any sect, but left by a loose cultivator!"

The Heart-devouring Insect speculated.

But its guess wasn’t without reason.

If a sect had captured the secret realm, there would be prominent artificial traces on the Spirit Peak; even if ordinary disciples could not enter freely, there would be medicinal gardens, halls, and other facilities present.

But on the Spirit Peak of the secret realm, there is almost no sign of man-made structures, as if all secrets lie at the mountain’s summit.

This perfectly suits the scenario of a solitary cultivator, dwelling atop the mountain, watching the clouds drift by.

"A loose cultivator, eh..."

Gu Yuan pondered slightly.

In this world, it is extremely difficult for loose cultivators to attain Dao, but if they succeed, their achievements are often astonishing.

The Tribulation-avoiding Dragon Talisman is evidence of such potential.

"There’s no hurry in this matter; it can be discussed later!"

Gu Yuan stored away the jade key, not intending to explore the secret realm just yet.

Having just broken through to the Golden Core stage, he lacks sufficient means and must cultivate in the Daoist School for a while.

Moreover, with the Stone Liquid in hand, he can first investigate the concentration of opportunities before taking further action.