A low-level monster realm?
Li Qingqiu frowned. His first instinct was to feel a hint of danger—but then he reconsidered. Fortune Opportunities never led to harm. They guided him only toward places of benefit, where great rewards awaited.
'What can monsters bring me? Alchemy ingredients? Materials for forging?'
What intrigued him most was the location itself. Where exactly was this so-called monster realm? Could it be one of those forbidden zones mentioned in mortal legends—mysterious places no one dared enter?
He had encountered a monster before—the Thousand Spirits Tree was a tree demon, hidden deep within the mountains. Clearly, such beings existed in the world, though rare, and not numerous enough to pose a threat to mortal kingdoms.
Without hesitation, Li Qingqiu accepted the Fortune's guidance. His consciousness drifted into a dreamlike vision.
An hour later, he opened his eyes, his frown easing.
The so-called monster realm was indeed hidden deep in the mountains, sealed off by an ancient formation. The creatures within weren't particularly powerful—just stronger than ordinary beasts. A cultivator at the second layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm could handle them with ease.
The reason the realm had never been discovered was simple—the formation could only be opened with spirit stones. Ordinary mortals couldn't even recognize such stones, much less use them.
Not too dangerous, he concluded. He could bring Li Dongyue along safely.
If the realm could breed monsters, its spiritual energy must be unusually rich. He had even glimpsed many spiritual plants growing there.
This Fortune Opportunity was far more valuable than any he had received before. And since the realm lay within Guzhou, it wasn't too far away.
Still, distance wasn't everything. If trouble arose, it would be difficult to send word back immediately. That made Li Qingqiu yearn even more for a working teleportation array.
Of course, that was only a thought for now. Qingxiao Sect wasn't yet capable of constructing one. He wasn't in a rush either—he enjoyed the slow, deliberate building of his sect, the step-by-step strengthening of their foundation. The process itself fascinated him.
As the moon fell and the sun rose, morning came.
Li Dongyue had already prepared breakfast early, waiting for him to emerge.
Li Qingqiu stepped out dressed in his blue Sect Master's robe, the Tianhong Sword hanging at his waist. He sat down at the table, calmly enjoying the food she had made.
The higher his cultivation grew, the less his body depended on food. He could easily survive on pure vital energy now. Eating was merely for the comfort of taste, a small reminder of humanity.
Li Dongyue sat beside him and asked curiously, "Eldest Brother, where are we going today?"
"I sought guidance from an immortal in my dream," Li Qingqiu said with a faint smile. "He pointed me to a blessed land that could help our sect prosper."
"That sounds… mystical," Li Dongyue said, though her tone carried skepticism. In her heart, she assumed he must've discovered something while returning from Martial God Pass and simply needed an extra pair of hands.
"Should we bring a few trusted people along?" she asked.
"No need for now. Let's first scout the place ourselves," Li Qingqiu replied casually. "If it's safe, you can send others later. The blessed land itself will belong under your Spirit Treasury Hall's management."
Having seen the realm in his vision already, he wasn't particularly excited.
After breakfast, he didn't head for the monster realm immediately. Instead, he stopped by the Heavenly Works Hall to inspect Mingguang's Spirit-Gathering Array.
Mingguang grew nervous the moment the Sect Master appeared, stammering as he answered Li Qingqiu's questions.
The array was basic, yet effective. It could increase the speed of absorbing vital energy by roughly 50 percent—one day of cultivation inside it equaled one and a half days outside. That was no small improvement, and Li Qingqiu was pleased.
After a few words of encouragement, he left.
…
The monster realm was located in the deep northern mountains of Guzhou, just beyond the ridges that bordered Dongling Prefecture.
Li Qingqiu and Li Dongyue rode on Xiao Ba. For her, it was the first time seeing the world from the sky. She leaned over the side, eyes wide with awe, excitement bubbling in her voice. She was like Li Sijin in those moments—curious and full of life—asking him question after question.
He had chosen her for this trip precisely because she rarely left the mountain. He knew she carried quiet curiosity for the vast world beyond Qingxiao Sect's peaks. This journey would be a chance for her to relax as much as to learn.
As for Li Sijin—she was too impulsive to bring along this time. He would find another opportunity for her later.
After half an hour of flight, Li Qingqiu signaled Xiao Ba to descend. They landed on an open stretch of grassland nestled between slopes. As soon as they dismounted, Xiao Ba flapped his black wings and soared away, vanishing beyond the peaks.
Li Dongyue turned back and sighed. "Eldest Brother, I swear Xiao Ba's growing more human by the day. He reminds me of Sixth Brother's Qilin."
Li Qingqiu smiled. "He's cultivating too, after all."
Following the route he remembered from his vision, he started walking.
Li Dongyue followed behind, asking, "Can non-humans also cultivate the Supreme Purity and Primordial Harmony Sutra? Is it really a martial art?"
"It isn't martial arts," he replied.
"Then what is it? Could it be an immortal cultivation method?"
She laughed lightly. "You know, I used to think you were joking about this whole immortality thing—but lately, I'm starting to believe it."
"Haha, then believe it," Li Qingqiu said with a chuckle.
The two walked leisurely through the wilds. The monster realm was still several dozen li away, and the sun was high. Rather than rush straight in, he decided to take their time. Going directly there would seem too deliberate—better to pretend they had stumbled upon it by chance.
The mountains here were beautiful, the terrain gentle and open. A cool breeze rolled down the slopes, carrying the scent of pine and wild herbs. The peacefulness settled into their hearts.
As they walked, Li Dongyue began to speak about her plans for the Spirit Treasury Hall. Li Qingqiu listened attentively, occasionally giving quiet, thoughtful advice as they followed the winding trail deeper into the mountains.
Li Qingqiu suddenly realized something—this was the first time in his life that he'd ever gone traveling alone with Li Dongyue. Ever since he was young, there had always been other junior brothers and sisters accompanying him.
Among all his junior siblings, if Zhang Yuchun was the most composed and capable, then Li Dongyue was undoubtedly the gentlest. She never lost her temper. Whenever conflicts arose among the disciples, it was always she who stepped in to mediate.
Since the day she joined Qingxiao Sect, she had never asked for anything, always calm and considerate.
Li Qingqiu could still remember the little girl clinging shyly to their master's back all those years ago. Now, she had grown into a graceful young woman—composed, intelligent, and capable of managing an entire hall by herself.
When it came to administrative ability, she was second only to Zhang Yuchun. Even Jiang Zhaoxia couldn't compare.
Li Dongyue might not have any single trait that stood out above all others, but she also had no clear weaknesses. Like her position in the sect, she always remained steady—balanced between extremes.
As they walked, Li Qingqiu asked casually, "Fourth Junior Sister, Sifeng seeks brilliance in a single lifetime, while I pursue the path of longevity. What about you? What's your goal in this life?"
Li Dongyue tilted her head and smiled softly. "Then I'll pursue longevity too."
He chuckled. "You don't doubt whether longevity truly exists?"
"You said you're pursuing it," she replied seriously. "Before we reach the end of our lives, how could I deny that it's real?"
Then she quickened her pace, pointing toward a distant mountain. "Eldest Brother, look at that mountain. It's stood there for thousands, maybe tens of thousands of years, perhaps even longer. For the people of the world, isn't that also a form of longevity?"
Li Qingqiu couldn't help but be struck by the quiet wisdom in her words.
His heart lightened. If his junior brothers and sisters all sought fame or fleeting glory, he might have felt lonely walking this endless road. But hearing her say this brought a small, genuine smile to his face.
"You're right," he said softly. "Longevity is everywhere—we just need to figure out how to reach it."
The two of them talked as they walked, drifting from one topic to another. They spoke of everything and nothing—setting aside the Qingxiao Sect, setting aside cultivation, simply enjoying the rare peace of the present moment.
After walking for more than ten li, they entered a forest where faint mist began to rise from the ground. Li Dongyue grew more cautious, scanning their surroundings.
She was now at the fourth layer of the Nurturing Essence Realm, and with her Eldest Brother beside her, she wasn't truly afraid—but her instincts still stayed sharp.
"Hey, don't go any further!"
A voice called out from a distance. Both of them turned to look and saw a young hunter standing on a nearby hill.
He looked about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a straw raincoat, a bamboo basket hanging from his waist, and a hatchet in hand.
Li Dongyue's eyes narrowed in surprise—she hadn't sensed his approach at all.
Her spiritual perception was far beyond that of an ordinary person; normally, she could detect even the slightest movement within a thirty-zhang radius.
Li Qingqiu looked up at the youth and smiled. "Why shouldn't we go any farther?"
The young hunter gazed down at them from the slope. "This place is called Mount Tianji. If you go deeper, the trees grow thicker until you can't even see the sky. Even climbing won't help—you'll lose sight of daylight. Once night falls, it's easy to get lost. Many people went in and never came out."
Li Qingqiu asked calmly, "Then why are you here?"
"I live about ten li away with my grandfather," the boy answered. "He warned me since I was small—never to go near Mount Tianji."
"Your grandfather? There doesn't seem to be a single village for hundreds of li around. Why do you live out here?"
"My grandfather passed away two years ago," the boy said quietly. "Now it's just me. I don't know where else to go, so I stay here. It's fine."
Hearing that the boy was an orphan, Li Qingqiu and Li Dongyue exchanged a meaningful glance—both thinking the same thing.
Li Dongyue spoke softly, "Eldest Brother, if he can approach us without me noticing, he might have some talent."
Li Qingqiu thought the same. Of course, he had sensed the youth's presence all along, but the fact that Li Dongyue hadn't proved the boy's movements and aura were extraordinary.
"Since you have nowhere to go," Li Qingqiu said, "why not join us? We're from the Qingxiao Sect. It's on Qingxiao Mountain, with thousands of disciples—many of them, like you, have no family left."
The hunter boy blinked, visibly stunned. His sun-darkened face showed hesitation.
After a short pause, he asked, "Where is this Qingxiao Sect?"
"It's far," Li Qingqiu replied. "But once we finish our task, we can take you there."
"What task? Are you really planning to go into Mount Tianji?"
"We are," Li Qingqiu said simply. "We know martial arts. It won't be dangerous. What I need to know is—do you want to join us or not?"
"Martial arts?"
The boy's eyes lit up with interest. "If I join the Qingxiao Sect, can I learn martial arts too?"
"Of course," Li Qingqiu said with a smile.
"Then I'll join!"
The boy nodded eagerly and started walking toward them.
As he approached, Li Qingqiu summoned the Dao Lineage interface. Within moments, the boy's information appeared clearly before his eyes.
[ Name: Yang Xuan ]
[ Gender: Male ]
[ Age: 15 years ]
[ Loyalty (to Sect Master / Sect): 62 / 45 (Max 100) ]
[ Cultivation Aptitude: Excellent ]
[ Comprehension: Excellent ]
[ Fate: Human Dao Patriarch, Heart of Heaven and Earth ]
[ Human Dao Patriarch: Upon reaching adulthood, by chance obtains the inheritance of an ancient immortal cultivator, steps onto the immortal path, and spreads the Dao across the mortal world, later revered by future generations as the Patriarch of the Human Dao. ]
[ Heart of Heaven and Earth: Possesses a unique sensitivity to all things in nature, capable of sensing the will of plants and trees and communicating with unawakened living beings. ]