Bathing once again in the slightly glaring sunlight of the secret realm's forest and breathing in the air tinged with the fragrance of plants and trees, the four of them felt a sense of lightness, as if they had broken free from some invisible shackles. However, the shadow brought by that trace of pure demonic energy residue in the cave's stone chamber clung to their hearts like a persistent affliction, still weighing heavily on each of them.
Mu Qingfeng took one last glance at the vine‑shrouded cave entrance, his gaze profound. He said gravely, "This place is strange; the matter of demonic energy is of great importance, beyond our ability to handle. Our primary task is to complete the secret realm trial, improve ourselves, and at the same time find Junior Sister Su Xuan as soon as possible. As for the demonic energy residue, after leaving the secret realm, we must immediately report it to the Temple Master for a decision."
Everyone nodded in agreement. The urgent priority was indeed to continue exploring, seeking opportunities and companions, and enhancing their strength. Only by becoming strong themselves could they gain a foothold in the possible storms ahead.
"Let's go. This secret realm is vast, and we've already delayed quite a bit of time." Liu Yun rallied her spirits and was the first to choose a direction that deviated slightly from the stream's course—a more open terrain where the spiritual energy seemed more active.
The team set off once more. Having undergone the trial of the cave's illusion array and the shock of the demonic energy residue, the rapport and trust among the four had grown stronger than ever. Mu Qingfeng still led the way, Liu Yun and Shi Jian guarded the flanks, with Xiao Qi in the center, vigilantly keeping watch behind them.
Leaving the stream area, the scenery before them changed again. The trees were no longer so densely packed as to be suffocating; instead, large expanses of exotic flowers and low shrubs spread out, among which were many plants radiating spiritual light—clearly not ordinary specimens. The concentration of spiritual energy in the air also seemed to have risen a notch; with each breath, they could feel their spiritual power growing faintly.
Along the way, they encountered several waves of demon beast attacks. There were Green‑Scale Snakes lurking in the grass, swift as lightning; packs of Razor‑Tusked Boars with sharp tusks; and even a Stone‑Armored Bear whose strength had reached the peak of first‑grade and could manipulate earth and rocks.
However, these demon beasts posed little threat to the four‑person squad that had already reunited and been tempered by the cave trial. Mu Qingfeng's swordplay was exquisite, often dispatching enemies with a single strike; Liu Yun's sword was fierce, her movements agile, tasked with clearing the fast and numerous targets; Shi Jian stood firm like a rock at the forefront, withstanding the assaults of power‑type demon beasts like the Stone‑Armored Bear, creating openings for Xiao Qi and Mu Qingfeng; Xiao Qi, using his increasingly proficient footwork and that wondrous frying pan, sometimes provided support, sometimes seized an opportunity to deliver a heavy blow to a demon beast—the solid, forceful impact often produced unexpected effects.
After several battles, Xiao Qi's application of the "Breeze Brushing Willow Sword Art" grew more adept, and his understanding of the "Way of the Pan" deepened a little more. More importantly, during the intervals between fights, while resting, he began to secretly practice the "Basic Purification Technique" he had just obtained.
This technique indeed suited him extremely well—or rather, resonated faintly with the jade pendant on his chest. The circulation route of the technique was quite peculiar; it did not directly strengthen spiritual power but guided it through several fine and obscure meridians, producing a strange "filtering" and "purifying" effect.
Following the method described in the jade slip, he carefully guided his own spiritual power along that specific route. At first it was rather awkward, the spiritual power moving slowly, but each completed cycle allowed him to clearly feel that the portion of spiritual power that had circulated seemed to become a bit more refined and condensed, as if certain extremely minute impurities had been removed, carrying a refreshing and clear sensation.
What delighted him even more was that when he circulated the "Basic Purification Technique," the jade pendant on his chest seemed to be drawn, spontaneously emitting strands of gentle, homologous energy that merged into the spiritual power he was circulating, doubling the purification effect and making his cultivation speed far exceed the normal rate described in the jade slip.
After only a few attempts at cultivation, he felt that his spiritual power seemed to have become lighter and more agile, and his perception of spiritual energy had sharpened a little. Although the total amount had not increased, the quality had improved slightly. Moreover, he faintly sensed that his perception of certain disharmonious energy fluctuations in the surrounding environment—such as the obscure aura in the cave earlier, or the faint toxicity emitted by some plants—had become much clearer.
"The 'Basic Purification Technique' is truly marvelous…" Xiao Qi inwardly rejoiced. This was only the incomplete basic part; if it were the complete inheritance, its effects would probably be unimaginable. He became even more convinced that this technique had a deep connection with his family.
He did not tell the others about practicing this technique, merely practicing silently, keeping it as a hidden trump card. After all, this technique involved the secret of his origins, and its nature of targeting demonic energy meant it was not advisable to expose it prematurely before the truth about that demonic energy residue was clarified.
The team pressed onward, reaping considerable gains. Not only did they obtain many materials from the demon beasts they repelled (demon cores, pelts, sharp claws, etc.), they also gathered a good number of valuable spirit herbs and ores, among which were several main‑ingredient herbs close to a hundred years old, earning repeated praise from Liu Yun that Xiao Qi "has a good eye."
Xiao Qi understood in his heart that this was partly due to the sensitivity he had cultivated in the abandoned herb garden, but it was also likely related to the enhanced perception of pure spirit plants after practicing the "Basic Purification Technique."
During this time, they also discovered several marks left by other fellow disciples, but they did not encounter any large groups, and Su Xuan's trail remained elusive.
Night fell once again, and the four found a place backed against a cliff wall, easy to defend and hard to attack, to make camp. The campfire danced, illuminating their somewhat tired yet richly rewarded faces.
Sitting beside the fire, Xiao Qi remained vigilant, listening to the surrounding movements while silently circulating the "Basic Purification Technique" within his body, feeling the spiritual power flow along that peculiar route, bringing purity and tranquility. The jade pendant on his chest emitted a warm, gentle heat, like a silent mentor guiding him step by step along this path of "purification."
The mystery of the cave remained unsolved, the shadow of demonic energy still lingered, and Senior Sister Su Xuan had not yet been found. But in Xiao Qi's heart, he was more determined than when he had entered the secret realm. He was growing at a visible speed—whether in cultivation, combat prowess, or the quietly mastered "purification" power that might be closely tied to his destiny.
The exploration of the secret realm continued. The road ahead might be even more perilous, but he was already prepared.