After walking for a long time, Li Shifan couldn’t help but ask, "Are many of the houses in your clan abandoned now?"

Zhang Deming followed Li Shifan’s gaze and glanced around. He had already gotten a general idea of the situation earlier, so he wasn’t particularly surprised.

Qing Xiaolu nodded with a dejected expression. "Fewer and fewer of our clan members are undergoing Spirit Awakening."

Just then, a green building appeared before the three of them.

In the middle of a glittering Snow Crystal Forest, such a green building was incredibly conspicuous; it was hard not to notice.

Although there was no one to be seen here either, they could finally feel some signs of life. It wasn’t quite as desolate anymore.

It was a treehouse, or perhaps, a vine house.

The entire structure was woven from a type of green vine. The vines were alive, and in the very center of the room, a living tree served as its support.

Although made of vines, they had clearly been meticulously treated and woven by someone, not just left to grow haphazardly.

Thus, from a distance, it possessed a unique and peculiar beauty.

Qing Xiaolu led Zhang Deming and the other man to the front of the treehouse, then dashed inside, calling out, "Aunt Hong, look what I brought back for you!"

From within the treehouse came an old but reproachful voice.

"Didn’t I tell you not to run too far when you go out searching? And that you’re strictly forbidden from spending the night outside the forest...?"

The words had barely faded when a delicate-looking woman, about a meter tall, walked out from an inner room of the treehouse.

Upon seeing the two men who had followed Qing Xiaolu into the house, the woman’s expression froze. She stood there, stunned by the two humans who had suddenly appeared.

"Aunt Hong, do you see? They’re from the Human Race! I found humans, something we haven’t seen in hundreds of years!" Qing Xiaolu said, pointing at Zhang Deming and Li Shifan as if showing off a prize.

Zhang Deming and Li Shifan nodded slightly at Qing Danhong. Although the treehouse was large, it was large for Flower Demon Elves.

For two men like them, both around six feet tall, a house with ceilings just over two meters high was a bit too short, making it somewhat inconvenient to move around.

As the two men nodded, the old woman, Qing Danhong, finally snapped back to her senses. She said respectfully, "I am Qing Danhong of the Cyan Wood Flower Demon Clan. Greetings, Upper Immortals."

’Seeing Qing Danhong bow, she’s treating us like we’re from the Five Elements Blessed Land.’

’Oh? After being separated for who knows how many years, she’s planning to act like a vassal race the moment we meet?’

’If she isn’t asking for anything, that’s hard to believe!’

Zhang Deming paused for a moment before speaking. "I think you’ve misunderstood something. We are not Blessed Land Disciples."

Qing Danhong replied, "You jest, Upper Immortal. Although my clan has not seen humans for several hundred years, we still know some of the rules.

A few days ago, we did sense that the Secret Realm had connected to the outside world, but today, we haven’t sensed anyone successfully registering to challenge the trials.

Therefore, it’s impossible for you to be newcomers who entered through the Entry Level assessment, yet you were able to come directly into the Secret Realm.

Besides Blessed Land Disciples, no other outsiders should be able to do this."

Hearing this, Zhang Deming didn’t continue to argue. There was no need to.

Qing Danhong looked at the two of them and said, "Upper Immortals, please, have a seat outside!"

Zhang Deming nodded. It was indeed a bit inconvenient inside the house.

The two went outside, and Qing Danhong had them sit at a small wooden table. She then said,

"Our clan hasn’t seen humans in a very long time, so we haven’t built any residences specifically for your kind. Please forgive us for the inadequacy, Upper Immortals."

Zhang Deming smiled. "It’s no trouble."

Qing Danhong turned to Qing Xiaolu. "Go and bring out some Snow Crystal Fruits."

Qing Xiaolu replied, "But..."

Before they could finish, Qing Danhong interrupted, "Go now!"

Seeing this, Qing Xiaolu, though very reluctant, obediently ran back into the house.

A moment later, they came out carrying a plate of blood-red, plum-sized fruits.

A faint, fresh fragrance and a dense fluctuation of Spiritual Power emanated from them.

Qing Xiaolu unhappily placed the Spirit Fruits on the table and retreated.

Qing Danhong smiled. "Our clan doesn’t have much to offer, only these Snow Crystal Fruits are halfway decent. Please, try some, Upper Immortals."

Zhang Deming glanced at Qing Xiaolu’s sullen face with a faint smile, and without hesitation, he picked up a Spirit Fruit.

Spiritual Power surged slightly in his eyes, but he found nothing wrong. 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

He silently exchanged a look with Li Shifan, who also apparently found nothing wrong, before popping the Spirit Fruit into his mouth.

An exquisite freshness and aroma, along with dense Spiritual Power, transformed into a warm current in his mouth and flowed into his stomach.

’Setting everything else aside, the taste of this fruit is excellent.’

’Even though it’s not a High-Star Level Spirit Fruit, with a taste like this, it would definitely sell well on the market.’

’But judging by Qing Xiaolu’s reaction, there’s clearly a serious problem with its yield.’

"Not bad. It’s delicious," Zhang Deming said.

"I’m glad you like them, Upper Immortals," Qing Danhong replied with a smile. "May I ask... what brings you to the Cyan Wood Secret Realm this time?"

Zhang Deming paused. ’Why am I here?’

’I originally thought this was a ruined Secret Realm, so of course I came in to find some loot.’

’Who knew that, from the looks of it, the Cyan Wood Secret Realm is still functioning perfectly well.’

Li Shifan, however, just smiled faintly and replied, "The method to open the core of the Inner Realm should still be in your hands, right?"

Zhang Deming paused and looked at Li Shifan. ’Looks like this guy really knows a thing or two about the Five Elements Blessed Land—at least he knows more about the Cyan Wood Secret Realm than I do.’

Qing Danhong nodded. "Although the Upper Immortals have not appeared for many years, our clan’s Inheritance has been preserved from generation to generation.

The clan has indeed preserved the method for opening the Inner Sect core trial."

Li Shifan said, "In that case, I’ll have to trouble you to open the Inner Sect core trial. My senior brother here came specifically for it. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?"

Zhang Deming glanced at Li Shifan’s indifferent expression and didn’t interject.

Qing Danhong froze at Li Shifan’s words, unsure how to respond for a moment.

’Apparently, she’s no cunning old monster. Being so isolated from the world, her shrewdness is a bit lacking.’

After a long moment, Qing Danhong suddenly knelt down. "I beg you, Upper Immortals, please save my clan!"

Li Shifan said sarcastically, "What, are you done with the act? Weren’t you the ones who preserved your traditions, the good little vassal race of the Blessed Land?

What’s this now? Are you going to set conditions for my senior brother to open the Inner Sect core trial?"

Qing Danhong lowered her head. "We wouldn’t dare!"

Li Shifan retorted, "What wouldn’t you dare? That’s not what you said a few hundred years ago.

Several thousand years ago, when the Five Elements Blessed Land fell, all its Disciples were annihilated, and the Cyan Wood Secret Realm went into hiding. Is your clan unaware of this?

You must have been thrilled, having a whole Secret Realm to yourselves!

When my ancestor came here a few hundred years ago, under the leadership of your Royal Race, not a single one of you admitted to still being vassals of the Human Race.

Your arrogance back then, the way you postured as if the Secret Realm didn’t welcome outsiders... you were just short of attacking to Kill.

Now that you’ve run into a disaster, you suddenly remember the Human Race?

Suddenly you’re the vassal race of Cyan Wood again?

Suddenly you don’t know that the Five Elements Blessed Land fell, that all its Disciples were annihilated, and that the Secret Realm went into hiding?

The Cyan Wood Secret Realm was successfully hidden for so many years. Are you saying your clan had no part in that back then?

And now, the Secret Realm suddenly opens right when your clan is facing a crisis of extinction. Heh, what a coincidence, isn’t it?

Am I right, Flower Demon Clan Leader?"