Inside the secret realm there was no distinction between day and night. Xiao Lingyu glanced at his timepiece; seven days had already passed since the opening of the Chu Tian Secret Realm. Since reuniting with Chu Mingwei, the two of them, relying on Zhu Yurun, had obtained quite a number of spiritual treasures along the way, so many that Zhu Xier trailing behind them was practically drooling.
Unfortunately, every time Zhu Yurun encountered a spiritual object, he would swallow it whole without leaving even a single thought for his own kind. Zhu Xier could only comfort herself with the thought that Zhu Yurun was, after all, a member of the Phantom Demon Realm. In a few more years, once Zhu Yurun returned to the Phantom Demon Realm, it would be her turn to follow him and sweep across the world for treasures.
Although they had encountered many dangers along the way—both from the various perils of the secret realm and from conflicts with other cultivators—with Chu Mingwei and Zhu Xier present, the journey had been relatively smooth.
Only now did Xiao Lingyu truly understand just how terrifying Zhu Xier’s demonic fire was. Watching a rogue cultivator who had tried to rob them being ignited from within by spiritual energy and burned alive, Xiao Lingyu felt both shock and lingering fear. If Zhu Xier had harbored hostility toward him back then, he likely would not have been able to escape that flame.
After realizing this, Xiao Lingyu inevitably became somewhat wary of Zhu Xier. But the moment he turned around and saw what was happening behind him, all that vigilance instantly vanished.
“This piece of pastry belongs to Little Pig. Little Pig won’t give it to you,” Zhu Yurun said angrily.
Zhu Xier rolled her eyes at him. “Who says? Clearly Xiao Lingyu gave it to me.”
“All of Xiao Monster’s pastries belong to Little Pig,” Zhu Yurun retorted fiercely.
Zhu Xier frowned. She thought to herself that it was beneath her to argue with a child like this. She turned instead toward Xiao Lingyu. “Xiao Lingyu, I’m about to starve to death. If you don’t let me eat, I won’t even be able to walk, let alone fight.”
Xiao Lingyu watched the two little pigs arguing over a single piece of pastry and felt a headache coming on. “Zhu Yurun, give her one. I’ll make it up to you later.”
Zhu Yurun immediately objected. “We agreed that everything belongs to Little Pig.” Seeing Xiao Lingyu’s brows furrow, he quickly added, “If she eats one piece, Xiao Monster must compensate Little Pig. One, two—” He counted on his little hooves for a while before confidently concluding, “Three pieces for one.”
Xiao Lingyu stared at his parted little hooves for a long moment, then looked at his earnest expression and silently agreed.
Satisfied, Zhu Yurun generously pushed the pastry toward Zhu Xier. Zhu Xier quietly ate while mentally recording yet another grievance against Xiao Lingyu.
Xiao Yurun actually cannot even distinguish between two and three. This is clearly because Xiao Lingyu has neglected his basic education. She must report this to the Demon Emperor.
Completely unaware that he had been “recorded against” again, Xiao Lingyu leaned comfortably beside Chu Mingwei, watching him skillfully roast a large spirit bird that radiated spiritual energy.
According to Old Ghost Head, this bird was called White Spirit Bird. It had no aggression, and its meat was exceptionally tender and rich in spiritual energy. In ancient times, cultivators loved it as food. Some even raised them in specially created caves just for consumption. Due to the Great Cataclysm, White Spirit Birds had long gone extinct in the cultivation world—yet here they were, thriving in the secret realm.
This time, they had accidentally caught one. Old Ghost Head was so excited he chattered endlessly about the countless delicacies he had once tasted in ancient times.
Xiao Lingyu and Chu Mingwei listened with great interest. According to his descriptions, Old Ghost Head had once been wildly impressive in ancient times, having tasted everything imaginable. He was in the middle of talking about a rare demonic race specialty fish when he suddenly fell silent and retreated back into the Netherworld Bracelet.
Chu Mingwei found this strange, but Xiao Lingyu immediately understood. Most likely, Old Ghost Head had once again been reminded of his tangled past with Jing Zhan and Qing Ming.
After finishing the roast bird, the group cleaned up and headed toward a nearby mountain peak Zhu Yurun had sensed something unusual about.
As they approached, Chu Mingwei’s divine sense detected restriction formations ahead. Their expressions brightened—this was likely a cave residence. Since entering the secret realm, they had encountered ruins and abandoned dwellings, but this mountain’s restriction was intact and stable. There was a high chance the interior was preserved.
Chu Mingwei carefully shielded Xiao Lingyu and struck out with the Thunder Mirror, breaking the formation.
Inside, however, the scenery shocked them.
From the outside, the mountain looked barren and lifeless. But once inside, it was transformed entirely—lush ancient trees covered the slopes, a grand waterfall cascaded down into a deep pool, and strange flowers bloomed around its edges. At the center stood a cluster of bamboo buildings connected together.
Xiao Lingyu immediately judged this to be a cave residence. And judging from its elegance, its owner must have been a refined and graceful person.
Chu Mingwei confirmed there was no one inside.
They carefully entered the bamboo residence. Xiao Lingyu was drawn entirely to its structure. The entire residence consisted of six interconnected pavilions, clearly arranged according to some formation. Everything inside was made of bamboo, faintly glowing with spiritual light.
Just by standing inside, they felt their minds becoming clear and their spiritual energy purer. Xiao Lingyu touched a bamboo chair and felt a cool energy seep into his body, refining his spiritual energy and sharpening his Dao heart.
He glanced around, amazed. Ancient cultivators truly lived in luxury—these materials alone would be priceless today, yet here they were used as ordinary furniture. He nearly wanted to move the entire structure away.
Chu Mingwei smiled. “If even the outer cave residence is this extraordinary, the inner treasures must be even more remarkable.”
But after searching thoroughly, they found nothing—only daily furnishings remained. In the central upper floor, they did find a painting.
The painting depicted a man in white robes, black hair flowing freely, skin like jade, features breathtakingly beautiful. His entire presence radiated an ethereal brilliance, like moonlight itself. Xiao Lingyu was stunned; even Leng Hanyuan could not compare to him.
Chu Mingwei lowered his head and gently kissed Xiao Lingyu’s forehead. “In my heart, you are the most beautiful. He cannot compare to even a strand of your hair.”
Xiao Lingyu smiled, his earlier disappointment fading completely.
At that moment, Old Ghost Head suddenly asked, “Do you recognize this person?”
Xiao Lingyu guessed jokingly, “Could it be Qing Ming?”
Old Ghost Head immediately fell silent again.
Soon after, Chu Mingwei decided to leave. As they exited, Zhu Yurun was circling the bamboo residence, sniffing curiously.
“This is strange… Little Pig clearly smells something very good, but can’t find it…”
Chu Mingwei’s eyes suddenly lit up. “Lingyu, could this entire residence actually be a magical artifact?”
Old Ghost Head finally spoke again, telling them this was Lingzhu Residence, a famous ancient spatial defensive artifact.
To activate it, one only needed to recognize its master using a blood-binding method similar to the bamboo house Xiao Lingyu had once encountered in the marketplace.
But before Xiao Lingyu could proceed, Old Ghost Head abruptly stopped him.
In the end, they left the bamboo residence untouched.
Moments later, a black-robed man tore through space and arrived. He pressed his hand against the bamboo wall, and countless fragmented images surged through his mind.
Finally, everything froze on a face—stunning, unforgettable. His gaze moved to the figure beside it, and then to the black Netherworld Bracelet on that person’s wrist.
The corners of his lips slowly curved upward.
He had finally found him.