Huli Jing
Entering the cave, Xue Bai was met with a huge pond. From an outsider's perspective, they would assume that this was the end of the cave. But Xue Bai knew differently.
Taking off his shirt, revealing a lean physique, Xue Bai took a deep breath before jumping in.
Though Xue Bai wasn't sure if the pond was the first trial or not, it still served as a great method of filtration. In order to pass through, you needed to hold your breath longer than any Muscle Nourishing Realm cultivator could. So there were only two ways to pass through, either have the lung vein to be able to enhance your lung capacity or be in the Qi Sea Realm and speed through the pond before he even lost his breath.
However, with the Secret Realms limit being the Muscle Nourishing Realm, it made sure that only people who knew the Immortal Realm cultivation System could enter.
Diving into the pool, Xue Bai immediately felt the cold water piercing his skin. However, after conjuring a layer of Spiritual Qi to protect himself, he felt the effects subside.
"My breath can only last half an hour, but my shield can last only half of that. I'll freeze to death if I don't find the entrance in 20 minutes." Xue Bai thought to himself.
He knew that the entrance was only about 10 minutes away, but that was only if he knew the exact path toward it. If he calculated the amount of time he needed to find the correct one from all the duds, he would freeze to death long before reaching his goal.
Xue Bai didn't know the exact path to this Secret Realm, as when he found this, he was at the Peak of the Immortal Ascension Realm. And he blew through the pond at the speed of sound instead of swimming through it.
So with his life on the line, Xue Bai swam as fast as he could, checking all the pathways in the underground pond. Thankfully he found it on his third try in under ten minutes. Though the Spiritual Qi shield blocked most of the cold, it couldn't block it all, and he was starting to get really cold.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtJumping out of the pond, Xue Bai first went to dry himself with some towels he had brought along with him in his spatial ring. After doing so, he put his shirt back on and looked around at his surroundings.
In front of Xue Bai was a ruined palace. The palace was about the size of the Imperial palace in The Great Xuan Empire. However, it was made from much better materials. Though Xue Bai could only see them rusted and falling apart, he could still recognize some of the metals from legends.
"Nebula Ore, Stardust Gold, Even Celestial Diamond, holy sh*t, forget the Bloodline. If I take all of these, I could become the richest man in the Baishen Plane." Xue Bai thought to himself.
Going to a collapsed wall, Xue Bai was about to pick up an ore before he realized something. The Nine-Tailed Foxes were known for their illusion art, and he didn't remember this from when he explored it during the game. His encounter with the first trial was seeing an enemy he had during that time weakened and on the verge of death, and not a ruined palace.
"I almost fell for the oldest trick in the book." Xue Bai mused while unsheathing Pale Blue.
Now instead of greedily picking up the Nebula Ore in front of him, Xue Bai swung his sword, infused with the Space Element, towards it. Normally if his Middle Yellow Grade Sword would clash with the Middle Earth Grade Nebula Ore, his sword would shatter on impact. However, Pale Blue went right through it before the illusion wore off, showing the Nebula Ore to be a normal rock.
After seeing through the illusion, Xue Bai's real surroundings were shown. He was currently still in a cave. However, unlike the previous cave, which was empty except for the pond, this one was overgrown with greenery. The walls were covered in vines, and mushrooms covered every rock.
However, that wasn't of Xue Bai's concern. What was of his concern was a silver door and pedestal.
Walking up to the pedestal, Xue Bai read the text on it, "Enter the silver door to start the second trial."
Following the directions, Xue Bai walked towards the Silver Door. The door was as tall as the cave's roof, reaching easily over five meters tall. And was made of very strong and resilient material, but through years of disregard, it had begun to deteriorate from its once prestigious appearance.
When Xue Bai reached the door that was as tall as a house, he pushed it open with all his might and revealed what was within.
A pure white room that resembled a psyche ward from Earth was shown to Xue Bai. The only difference was inside. Instead of padding, the floor was completely flat.
Feigning a curious look, Xue Bai walked around the room in awe, waiting for something, which didn't take long. Then, as the space in front of him wobbled, a handsome middle-aged man in pure white robes manifested. He floated in the air and overlooked Xue Bai as if trying to look through him.
"You don't have to fake that look. I know you know where you are." The man spoke deeply.
Jumping back in fright, Xue Bai pulled out his sword looking to defend himself.
"Who are you?" Xue Bai asked as he put a serious look as if he was ready to fight with his life on the line.
"Child, I am not going to be fooled by your act. If I couldn't see through this ploy with all my years of experience, I might as well kill myself with a block of tofu." The apparition spoke.
Hearing that, Xue Bai was a little disappointed. 'These ancient relics are too sharp!'
Putting away his scared look, Xue Bai looked at the apparition levitating in front of him with calm eyes.
"Xue Bai greets Senior Huli Jing." Xue Bai greeted with a bow.
"You even know my name, too, huh? I had watched you single this place out ever since you entered my Secret Realm. But I didn't think you'd also know my name." Huli Jing mused before he lost his smile and asked with cold eyes, "So are you going to tell me how you know all of this, or will you die where you stand."
Xue Bai just smiled at the threat, not taking it seriously, "Senior, I can guarantee that if you kill me, there will be no one that will be able to find this Secret Realm ever."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm"Are you threatening me, child?" Huli Jing said deeply.
"No, how could I threaten you, an Immortal? Though you have died and are only a remanent soul, I know that you could easily destroy half of the Baishen Plane should you choose to fight." Xue Bai shook his head.
"I'm only informing you of the situation outside. Cultivators are getting worse with every generation, and the chances of someone knowing the Immortal Worlds cultivation system are already close to zero. But them also coincidentally finding this Secret Realm. Impossible."
Agreeing with Xue Bai, Huli Jing spoke, "But what does that have to do with you finding out who I am."
"I wasn't planning on answering that, Senior. A man must always keep secrets. I only came here to tell you that I can help you take revenge." Xue Bai said.
"HA! A mortal Child like you want to kill my enemies! Do you know how strong the people who killed me were?" Huli Jing laughed. He didn't take Xue Bai's claim seriously.
Shaking his head Xue Bai didn't know their exact strengths. But Huli Jing, before dying, was an Immortal Cultivator with a Middle Heaven Grade Bloodline, so his enemies should at least have been in the God Great Realm.
"While I can't now, I have the capital to do so in the future." Xue Bai said while extending his arm out to Huli Jing.
Knowing what Xue Bai was implying, Huli Jing grabbed the extended arm and poured his spiritual sense into Xue Bai.
"A Low Heaven Grade Martial Vein. Not bad for a mortal plane like this. However, this still isn't enough to avenge me. A Middle Heaven Grade Martial Vein is needed at the minimum, while I was hoping for a High Heaven Grade!" Huli Jing said as he released his spiritual sense.
"But if Senior gives me him Bloodline Inheritance, I could also have a Middle Heaven Grade Bloodline." Xue Bai persuaded.
"No, I wanted my Bloodline to be the supplementary aid to their potential. Not the one to take the lead. I don't wish for my successor to follow in my footsteps." Huli Jing denied it.
Huli Jing, while having a Middle Heaven Grade Bloodline, only had a Peak Earth Grade Marital Vien, which made him a high-value target as he could never reach the God Great Realm with his potential but had a Bloodline that would make one in that realm jealous.
Seeing such a look on Huli Jing's face Xue Bai knew this old relic would be a hard nut to crack, so Xue Bai pulled out his trump card, "Then Senior do you know what a Bloodline Core is?"