One day later, above a secluded ocean, a remarkably elegant Daoist monk sat cross-legged on the sea’s surface, quietly meditating, as if waiting for something.

Before long, a bolt of lightning arrived in an instant, landing on the sea’s surface.

As the lightning dispersed, it revealed a woman in a black robe, her face obscured.

"Daoist brother, you are indeed a man of your word. Qingqing is a step late, please forgive me."

The woman’s voice was somewhat hoarse, as if very tired, and she bowed to the Daoist.

"No matter, I have just arrived myself!"

Gu Yuan stood up and waved his hand toward the person before him, though his gaze instinctively glanced at the face hidden under the black robe.

The fleeting glimpse a day earlier was still vivid in Gu Yuan’s mind.

Since embarking on his cultivation journey, few women could leave such an impression on him, yet this woman before him, with her unparalleled beauty, seemed like a fairy descended to earth, innately graceful, unforgettable upon sight.

Gu Yuan vaguely sensed something unique about her physique, otherwise, he wouldn’t have felt this way.

But since this was a private matter, Gu Yuan refrained from asking more and focused on the mission at hand.

"Thank you, Daoist brother, for your understanding. In that case, let’s depart as soon as possible!"

Cen Qingqing bowed to Gu Yuan once more, then conjured her Escape Light and flew toward a hidden location.

Seeing this, Gu Yuan also conjured his Escape Light and followed.

...

...

Half a day later, two streaks of light arrived together at a place in the Ten Thousand Islands Sea known as the Extreme Yin Sea Realm.

"Daoist brother, this is the place!"

A hoarse female voice sounded from within the streaks of light.

Gu Yuan looked around, seeing only an endless expanse of sea and sky, profoundly deep, with white mist drifting like clouds above the sea. Below the surface, cold currents seemed to flow incessantly.

Yet within the vast sea realm, Gu Yuan’s Divine Sense and Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye found no anomalies.

However, he knew Cen Qingqing would not act without reason, so he simply waited quietly without asking.

"This place should be a Secret Realm, hidden within the Void, undetectable without forming a Golden Core."

"Without my father’s Soul Lamp to guide me, I would never have found this place."

Cen Qingqing’s tone was somewhat melancholic, then she took out a golden lamp, upon which a flickering, blood-colored flame was shining intermittently. Once they entered this area, the flame brightened slightly, as if recognizing its source, and drifted continually toward a direction.

"It’s there!"

Cen Qingqing put away the Soul Lamp, smiled at the empty Void above the sea, then turned to Gu Yuan and said:

"Daoist brother, shortly I’ll use the Secret Treasure to break open the Void and forcibly enter the Secret Realm. The power of the Secret Treasure is limited, accommodating only two cultivators at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. During this period, do not use Mana, or you’ll risk falling into chaotic Void currents!"

As she spoke, she took out a palm-sized Silver Shuttle, studded with numerous dazzling runes that sparkled brilliantly. The entire sea area seemed to suddenly freeze, as if space itself was suspended.

High-grade Spiritual Artifact!

Gu Yuan’s eyes narrowed, his heart filled with awe.

What kind of identity must Cen Qingqing have to wield so many treasures, not only possessing a high-grade Spiritual Artifact but also an exceedingly rare Void-type Artifact?

With the addition of the "Forbidden Technique Thunder Spirit Evil-Breaking Seal," Gu Yuan felt her wealth surpassed even his.

If the daughter is so extraordinary, then her father must not be lacking as well. Why then is he trapped within a Secret Realm?

For some reason, Gu Yuan suddenly felt less optimistic about this mission.

But at this point, he couldn’t just leave.

"Daoist brother, calm your mind and Qi, and do not use Mana!"

Cen Qingqing had already activated her Mana to energize the Silver Shuttle.

"Whoosh!"

In an instant, countless silver runes moved like swimming fish, covering the Void. The Silver Shuttle maneuvered and spun, as if breaking through an invisible barrier.

Gu Yuan immediately calmed his mind, retracting his Mana back into his Dantian.

Yet, the Seven-Phase Exquisite Tower was poised and ready, his vigilance at its peak.

"Swish!"

Just then, a powerful force struck from behind, making Gu Yuan feel as if mounted on a swiftly launched Flying Sword, reaching an incredible speed.

"Boom!"

Before him, space was forcibly pierced by an extremely sharp aura, and countless runes shimmered brightly, wrapping around Gu Yuan and Cen Qingqing, suddenly pulling them into a new space.

...

...

All this seemed slow in narration but happened in a flash.

Gu Yuan felt as if the world shifted around him, the surroundings changed, and the icy cold aura surged like tides, stinging his skin.

"Gugugu!"

Before he could steady himself, Gu Yuan heard a piercing cry, as if some creature was attacking him.

"Zing!"

Before his eyes even opened, a brilliant sword light arose, carrying an extremely sharp aura toward the approaching foe.

"Puff!"

The sound of sword penetrating flesh rang out, and the strangeness surrounding Gu Yuan finally vanished. His Divine Sense and Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye surged forth, revealing the attacker.

It was a bizarre ape with black Qi emanating from its entire body, its eyes blood-red, bone spikes protruding, and wings beneath its ribs, but judging by its aura, it seemed only at the Qi Refining Realm.

The sword light easily twisted and killed the ape within moments.

"Something’s not right..."

"This place seems to be tainted with Demonic Qi."

Cen Qingqing’s voice came from beside him, and Gu Yuan looked up to see they had landed on a black island.

The island was vast, resembling a beetle standing on the sea.

Countless cold auras permeated, forming a fog that blotted out the sky. Within the fog, the forest appeared charred, the ground beneath as black as if scorched by black flames.

Within the black forest, numerous strange Demon Beasts gazed with blood-red eyes at the two.

Winged primates, foxes with six legs... each Demon Beast seemed mutated, looking bizarre and fierce in their eyes.

Even though the aura of Gu Yuan and Cen Qingqing was obviously stronger, these beasts had lost their instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm, roaring as they charged at the two.

"Zing!"

Gu Yuan’s sword light ascended, and a rain of blood fell instantly before his eyes.

Despite this, the beasts seemed mindless, fearlessly charging toward the dazzling sword light like a Great Sun ahead.

Frowning, Gu Yuan could only kill while retreating.

"Be careful!"

At that moment, Cen Qingqing suddenly warned.

Gu Yuan glanced up to see three massive predatory birds soaring from the distant sky. Judging by their aura, they were Demon Beasts at the Earth Demon Realm.

Most crucially, three figures stood atop the three predatory birds, apparently cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage.