58 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

Chapter 58 With the same method she used initially, Yan Zhu Guang reopened the stone door using the beast blood stored in her backpack, allowing both of them to exit the secret realm. They did not immediately leave the underground. Yan Zhu Guang turned back to gaze at the stone door, deep in thought. "I no longer sensed any demonic energy within the stone door," Yun Mi Xue noted. "Looking at it now, one wouldn't immediately suspect it to be a secret realm set up by a demonic cultivator." Yan Zhu Guang replied, "The secret realm can only be entered once. When the former sect leader entered, the Heavenly Heart Five Petal Lotus still had ten years left to mature. This means that at the time of entry, it was at least ten years ago. If the lotus had matured earlier, it could be even longer." "If the demonic energy around the stone door cannot regenerate, it proves that when the sect leader entered the secret realm, the stone door had not yet been constructed. And after it was built, no one else entered." Yun Mi Xue nodded. When they arrived, the demonic energy within the stone door was still so dense that it deceived them. After opening the door and letting the demonic energy dissipate, it had not returned even after they exited the secret realm, suggesting that this energy, used to intimidate, might be a one-time effect. "Then, the stone door’s depiction on that silk cloth must have been added when the sect leader revisited the secret realm three years ago and discovered this additional door?" Yun Mi Xue could relax if this were true. Involvement with demonic cultivators is a problematic affair. As long as the former sect leader had no connections with demonic cultivators, the situation would remain uncomplicated. Yun Mi Xue considered the broader interests of the Fenghua Immortal Sect. Personal issues, like the former sect leader's illegitimate daughter, were easier to resolve. It would certainly be preferable for the late sect leader to have a romantic escapade than to be connected with demonic cultivators. Yan Zhu Guang wasn't as optimistic as Yun Mi Xue. Why did the Dripping Blood Demonic Domain inexplicably construct a stone door here, seemingly only for intimidation, without using other methods to completely eliminate people's desires for it? There might be something more hidden within. Furthermore, they came to investigate the sect leader's death, yet discovered only some trivial gossip. The true cause of the former sect leader's death remained elusive with no clear leads. Everything they saw now was merely the surface; they hadn't genuinely touched the truth. Their current understanding was like seeing flowers in the fog—deceptive and indistinct, demanding more work ahead. How troublesome it was that one sect leader’s affairs could unravel so much. His death cleared things for him, yet it left the senior disciple constantly busy with inquiries—truly enough! Without further clues to obtain here, they didn't linger. Leaving behind the now empty stone door without its secret realm, they returned to the Linggan Immortal Sect’s residence in Tianyu City. When they returned to the small courtyard, the elders who had accompanied Yun Mi Xue for the investigation had already arrived back. "Liang Ji has returned. We have important news for you. We were unable to reach you when we tried to communicate earlier as you seemed unreachable." On their way back, Yun Mi Xue had conferred with Yan Zhu Guang. Yan Zhu Guang didn’t mind her revealing the presence of the secret realm to the people of Fenghua Immortal Sect. As long as information about the Heavenly Heart Five Petal Lotus remained undisclosed, the eminence of a large sect would not covet the fortunes of a young disciple. When the elders inquired, Yun Mi Xue explained, "Liang Ji and Zhu Guang went to explore a secret realm accessible only to those at the Gold Core stage. My cultivation was suppressed to the Gold Core stage level, and communication within the realm was impossible, which might explain why I couldn't be contacted." A secret realm limited to Gold Core stage was of little interest to the elders, whose strength was at least at the late-stage Nascent Soul level. Yet mentioning Yan Zhu Guang reminded them of the prodigy who three years ago refused to apprentice under a master but insisted on staying by Yun Mi Xue's side. Such observations had them a bit astonished. In a mere three years, she had progressed from the fourth level of Qi Refining to the late-stage Foundation Establishment! Such cultivation speed was truly alarming. Upon closer inspection, there was no trace of impatience or superficial advancement unlike one's usual path, just steady and solid progress—how could it not astonish? "You, young girl," an elder couldn't resist saying, "your cultivation speed is remarkably quick. Is this the optimal pace due to a harmonious match between spirit root and physique?" If she could maintain this speed, it might not be long before Yan Zhu Guang joins the ranks of core disciples. Perhaps, ascension to greatness was not far off. The Fenghua Immortal Sect desperately needed a disciple capable of significant ascension. For a moment, the elders eyed Yan Zhu Guang with fervent anticipation. Standing before the elders, Yan Zhu Guang still wasn't at the point where she could freely speak, so Yun Mi Xue spoke on her behalf, "This relates to the inheritance from the secret realm that Liang Ji mentioned, which Zhu Guang received." In truth, Yan Zhu Guang had reached the late-stage Foundation Establishment before gaining the inheritance, but Yun Mi Xue’s words shifted the context, making the elders believe Yan Zhu Guang’s newfound strength was acquired post-inheritance. Who says being a nice person means you can't have a sly approach? Changing perceptions is merely an art of words. The elders, realizing the context, found Yan Zhu Guang’s cultivation speed less surprising, though they remained very hopeful about her future. Following that, it was time for Yun Mi Xue and the elders to discuss important matters, and Yan Zhu Guang wisely excused herself. Yun Mi Xue, after some thought, agreed and didn’t keep her there. Revealing everything about the secret realm might drag in the Heavenly Heart Five Petal Lotus and the conspiracy of the Dripping Blood Demonic Domain, which they needed to keep hidden. Both Yun Mi Xue and Yan Zhu Guang wished to avoid that outcome. The secret realm's intel was best selectively disclosed, especially the Dripping Blood Demonic Domain matter, which needed to be reported to the sect. As for how, they intended to evaluate circumstances first. As Yan Zhu Guang left the hall and walked back to her room, she crossed paths with Yun Chang Yue and Chu Ning Yan, who were coincidentally returning from outside. As soon as Chu Ning Yan saw her, she asked, "Senior Sister is back?" "Yes," Yan Zhu Guang replied. "In just a few days, you've already broken through to the late-stage Foundation Establishment?" Yun Chang Yue exclaimed as she examined her. "Little Zhu Guang, your cultivation speed is incredible." Chu Ning Yan hadn't initially noted Yan Zhu Guang’s level, but Yun Chang Yue’s casual remark brought to light the source of her earlier sense of discord. She frowned slightly, lost in thought, before finally asking, "Where did you and Senior Sister go?" Yan Zhu Guang feigned innocence, "The disciple stumbled upon a secret realm. Having never explored one before and lacking knowledge, I asked Senior Sister to accompany me." "So Senior Sister said she was investigating leads about the previous sect leader and was actually with you exploring a realm? Seems like you acquired some good treasures there," Yun Chang Yue remarked. Yan Zhu Guang observed them out of the corner of her eye. Chu Ning Yan, who had always been indifferent toward her, exhibited a nonchalant attitude. Now that she heard Senior Sister “abandon sect duties to explore a realm with her,” disapproval flickered in her eyes. Her gaze shifted from mild dislike to considering Yan Zhu Guang a 'femme fatale'. For some reason, seeing that look of disapproval in Chu Ning Yan’s eyes, Yan Zhu Guang felt not anger but a slight sense of delight. Yun Chang Yue, on the other hand, was ordinarily unfriendly towards Senior Sister, yet now she appeared merely curious, her gaze calculating something. Had Yan Zhu Guang not noticed her subtle eye shift, she might have believed it. Chu Ning Yan gave Yun Chang Yue a look of unfathomable meaning and impatiently asked Yan Zhu Guang, "Where is Senior Sister now?" "Senior Sister is discussing important matters with the elders, seemingly related to clues we found in that secret realm." Chu Ning Yan was taken aback. She had assumed Senior Sister was completely bewitched by Yan Zhu Guang into neglecting her duties, yet there were indeed clues in the secret realm? Gazing at Yan Zhu Guang’s innocent face, Chu Ning Yan suddenly felt she had been played by this young girl. She didn’t believe for a second that Yan Zhu Guang truly knew nothing! Yet Yun Chang Yue asked, "What clues? What did Senior Sister discover in the secret realm?" Yun Chang Yue’s tone carried a trace of urgency, but Yan Zhu Guang had no intention of explaining. Instead, with justified curiosity, she answered, "This is classified, how would a disciple like me know?" Yun Chang Yue regained her composure, acknowledging her misstep, smiled at Yan Zhu Guang and said, "Sister, my apologies, thank you, little Zhu Guang." She then addressed Chu Ning Yan, "Sister Chu, we also have some findings to report to Senior Sister and the elders. Let's proceed." Chu Ning Yan did not object, "Let’s go." She gave Yan Zhu Guang a hard look and cautioned, "Stay within the courtyard, focusing on stabilizing your breakthrough. Don’t get into trouble and cause unnecessary worry to Senior Sister." Yan Zhu Guang’s mind spun a little, but she replied compliantly, "Yes, I understand." Under Chu Ning Yan's watchful gaze, Yan Zhu Guang obediently returned to her room. Once the door was closed, she immediately set up an array around her to block any spiritual probing. Now at the late-stage Foundation Establishment, the defensive array she laid out could easily withstand spiritual scans from a Gold Core stage cultivator. Sitting by her bed, she seemed to speak to herself, but in truth, she was addressing someone else, "Something must be happening outside." The System responded, "You're suggesting that Chu Ning Yan's warning not to roam freely was because of some incident?" Yan Zhu Guang nodded in agreement. "The calm never lasts, does it?" The System felt its metaphorical head spin. Despite the fact that missions seemed more easily completed with this host, their complexity had significantly increased. Being a host was certainly no easy task. "This secret realm journey wasn't without its gains." Yan Zhu Guang had already formulated some thoughts. Slightly excited by her insight, the System quickly asked, "What do you know?" Although Yan Zhu Guang found the System's excitement a bit excessive, she tolerated it because she was the only one who could hear the System's voice. It had never truly embarrassed her. "Su Qian Er's body is inherently flawed, weak and often ill, yet eludes any diagnosis. Even the myriad spiritual medicines of the cultivation world can't cure her. Do you know what this suggests?" "What?" "She might very well be a child of a celestial and a demon." "A child of a celestial and a demon? That sounds formidable." "In our world, a celestial-demon child refers to the offspring of high-level celestial cultivators and demonic cultivators above the Nascent Soul stage. The auras of cultivators and demonic cultivators are as incompatible as water and fire. Their children are either prodigies or born with defects. The former is one in a million, but the latter is the norm." The System inhaled sharply, "Are you implying that Su Qian Er is the illegitimate daughter of the former sect leader and a demonic cultivator?" Yan Zhu Guang nodded, "The possibility is very high."