Having harvested a large quantity of low-grade spirit stones and gained a deeper understanding of the rabbit spirit's mystical nature, Tang Xiaoqi was in excellent spirits. With this increasingly mysterious little companion, he continued pushing deeper into the central region of the secret realm.
As he advanced, the surrounding scenery quietly transformed. Ancient trees grew sparser, replaced by plants with peculiar forms that emitted spiritual light of various attributes. Rugged, grotesque rocks multiplied, and the terrain became undulating—sometimes requiring him to climb steep ridges, other times forcing him to traverse deep ravines. The spiritual energy in the air grew denser, yet also more violent, faintly mingled with fragments of chaotic thought, as if recounting the ancient and tumultuous history of this land.
Dangers escalated accordingly. Xiaoqi faced several waves of demon beast attacks: shadow leopards adept at stealth and ambush, iron-wire centipedes capable of spewing corrosive venom, and packs of red-eyed demon wolves that fought with reckless ferocity. Most of these demon beasts had reached the second tier; one iron-armored rhinoceros even approached the peak of second tier—thick-skinned, immensely strong, and tenacious. Xiaoqi expended tremendous effort, relying on the wok's tremor effect and his increasingly proficient sword techniques and movement arts, merely to repel it, sustaining some minor injuries himself.
Fortunately, the Purple Spirit Fruit continuously nourished his spiritual sense, keeping his mind clear and alert through high-intensity combat and vigilance, while his spiritual energy recovery rate far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators. The rabbit spirit, for its part, fully leveraged its speed advantage and early-warning ability, repeatedly detecting dangers in advance and allowing Xiaoqi to prepare or evade beforehand.
Though perilous, this journey yielded substantial rewards. Beyond accumulating combat experience, he gathered quite a few decent-quality healing herbs and several rare auxiliary materials for artifact forging. Occasionally, the rabbit spirit would also make discoveries, guiding him to one or two deeply concealed spiritual grasses. While not as precious as the Purple Spirit Fruit or Golden Heart Grass, they were still valuable supplements.
However, a peculiar sensation persistently lingered in Xiaoqi's heart. Ever since entering this central region, the jade pendant he always wore close to his body had maintained a constant, faint warmth, as if stirred by some kindred aura within this place. This feeling differed from the usual warmth during cultivation—it was more like a… resonance?
He didn't pay it much mind, simply attributing it to the dense spiritual energy of the secret realm activating some property of the pendant.
Until now.
Just after dealing with a troublesome group of snow-striped demon monkeys that could shoot ice spikes, as he sat on a bluestone meditating to recover, the jade pendant at his chest abruptly turned scalding hot without warning!
No longer a gentle warmth, but a near-searing heat that burned clearly through his clothing onto his skin!
"Hiss—" Xiaoqi gasped in surprise, instinctively reaching to grab the pendant.
But the next moment, his movement froze.
An incredibly clear, overwhelmingly powerful sense of guidance, like a torrent, surged from that scalding pendant, forcibly flooding his mind! It wasn't sound, nor images—rather a pure sense of direction, a tremor and call originating from the depths of his bloodline!
Pointing toward a deeper, more central location within the secret realm!
Simultaneously, a vague yet majestic scene flashed through his consciousness like a mirage—an ancient, towering, magnificent hall constructed entirely of unknown white jade, shrouded in misty spiritual fog, emanating an aura of antiquity, vastness, and a purifying essence that shared the same origin as his pendant, yet far more immense and pure!
The Heritage Hall!
These three words involuntarily sprang into Xiaoqi's mind. It was as if an ancient voice, transcending millennia, whispered directly into the depths of his soul, summoning him!
It's calling me! That Heritage Hall is calling me! No, more precisely, it's calling this jade pendant on me! Calling the Purification Source inherited through the Xu family bloodline!
Xiaoqi's heart pounded violently, his blood seeming to boil. Finally, he understood why the pendant had remained warm since entering the central region, why it was now acting so strangely! Within this Cloud Mist Secret Realm, hidden a Heritage Hall intimately connected to the Xu family and the Purification Source!
An opportunity! A tremendous opportunity! Yet equally, it signified unpredictable dangers!
Whoever could establish such a Heritage Hall and conceal it deep within this secret realm was certainly no ordinary cultivator. The trials within would inevitably be extremely rigorous. Moreover, would this powerful summoning attract other beings who also sensed it, or who coveted the Purification Source? Such as… the Shadow Snake Pavilion?
The rabbit spirit also seemed to sense the intense emotional surge from Xiaoqi and the peculiar energy radiating from the pendant. Restlessly circling at his feet, its red eyes filled with vigilance and confusion, it emitted low "wuwu" growls toward the direction indicated by the pendant, as if warning of something.
Xiaoqi took several deep breaths, forcibly suppressing the excitement and chaotic thoughts within. Reaching out, he grasped the scalding pendant at his chest. The burning heat felt like it could scorch his palm, yet the bloodline-deep call transmitted through it was irresistible.
He stood up, his gaze firm as he looked toward the direction of the summoning. There lay the core region of the secret realm, an area even marked on the sect's simple map as "extremely dangerous, enter with caution."
To go, or not to go?
The answer was self-evident.
Such an opportunity, right before him—if he retreated out of fear, he would regret it for a lifetime! Moreover, this concerned his origins, the mysteries of the Xu family inheritance—he had to go!
"It seems our destination needs to change," Xiaoqi said, looking down at the anxious rabbit spirit at his feet, his tone resolute. "What lies ahead may be very dangerous. Will you… still follow me?"
The rabbit spirit stopped circling, raised its head to look at Xiaoqi. Its ruby-like eyes met his for a moment. Then, unexpectedly, it didn't retreat but instead took two steps forward, gently nudging Xiaoqi's calf with its head, emitting a soft "gu" sound, as if expressing its determination to "go together."
A warm surge filled Xiaoqi's heart. He smiled: "Good. Then let's go together and brave this dragon's den and tiger's lair!"
Without further hesitation, he oriented himself toward the direction indicated by the pendant—so clear it seemed carved into his mind. He swallowed several Qi Recovery Pills, adjusting his condition to its peak, then activated the Light Body Technique. No longer cautiously exploring as before, he accelerated toward the direction of the Heritage Hall's call!
His figure sped through the mountain forests, stirring a gust of wind.
The jade pendant at his chest continuously radiated a scalding temperature and powerful guidance, like a beacon illuminating his path forward, drawing him into a destined whirlpool of turbulence, fortune, and calamity.
The call of the Heritage Hall had already sounded. And Tang Xiaoqi's response was to resolutely, without hesitation, rush toward this invitation spanning time and space.