Chapter 177: The Heaven-Grade Pill Secret Realm Incident, An Encounter at the Treasure Pavilion
“Heaven-grade pill secret realm?” Luo Xue paused slightly. “Is it… the Nangong clan’s?”
“Hmm? Aren’t you here for the secret realm?”
The innkeeper was surprised and looked at Luo Xue again.
Luo Xue wasn’t concealing her peak Foundation Establishment cultivation. That’s why the innkeeper assumed she, like other cultivators, had come to the Sacred Land after hearing about the Heaven-grade pill secret realm.
Luo Xue took out two standard spirit jades and placed them on the counter, pushing them towards the innkeeper. These were treasures refined from spirit stones, similar to Qi Condensation Pills, but purer and with fewer side effects.
In the Great Qin Immortal Dynasty, these were hard currency.
The innkeeper pocketed the spirit jades and said,
“This Heaven-grade pill secret realm, it was originally only for members of the Nangong clan. You should know, the ancient clans are, after all, ancient clans, always acting arrogantly… ahem, I digress. Anyway, under normal circumstances, outsiders can’t enter.”
Luo Xue nodded. This was consistent with what she knew.
Earth-grade pill secret realms were easier to deal with. Some cultivators, with enough resources, could buy entry from the Nangong Sacred Land… although in recent years, due to a certain someone, the quotas for Foundation Establishment secret realms were almost impossible to sell.
But the Heaven-grade pill secret realms, which produced Heaven-grade pill energy, were firmly controlled by the Nangong clan.
“So, there was an accident?” Luo Xue raised an eyebrow and asked.
“Indeed, three days ago, the secret realm suddenly collapsed, and almost all the Nangong clan disciples inside are trapped, their fate unknown.”
The innkeeper lowered his voice.
“But this secret realm can only accommodate cultivators below Core Formation. Those at Core Formation or above might cause the entire secret realm to collapse upon entering.”
Luo Xue understood.
The Nangong clan’s Foundation Establishment disciples were trapped inside, unable to leave through the gate.
Because of the realm restriction, only Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter, and the Nangong clan naturally wouldn’t risk their own disciples.
Therefore…
The Nangong clan opened the secret realm, allowing outside cultivators to enter, to rescue their trapped disciples.
The conditions they offered didn’t require much thought from Luo Xue. It was most likely the Heaven-grade pill energy.
“On the path of cultivation, one must always seize opportunities. Once a Heaven Core is formed, any faction would value them greatly. It’s practically a one-way ticket to success.”
The innkeeper couldn’t help but add, a hint of envy in his eyes.
But it was just wishful thinking.
Heaven-grade pill energy wasn’t something just anyone could merge with. Besides competing with other cultivators, one also needed the approval of the will within the Heaven-grade pill energy.
If one’s aptitude was insufficient, even swallowing the Heaven-grade pill energy directly wouldn’t help.
“So that’s how it is…”
Luo Xue touched the token in her pocket. She had originally planned to use it to sneak in, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Heaven-grade pill secret realm… Luo Xue had also heard of it in the nine provinces and four domains. The two ghost cultivators back then wanted to stand out in the Heavenly Cluster Sword Tomb, a Heaven-grade pill secret realm, which was why they risked obtaining the Evil Ghost Subduing Pestle.
In the nine provinces and four domains, Heaven-grade pill secret realms appeared only once every few thousand years. They must be incredibly valuable here in the Ancient Demon Lands as well.
It seemed… she had a reason to go now.
The innkeeper, seeing Luo Xue’s slightly dazed expression, knew what she was thinking and sighed, saying in a worldly tone,
“Little guest, it’s not easy to become a Heaven-grade pill cultivator… Not to mention this secret realm, even if there were no problems, the Nangong disciples inside are not to be trifled with…”
“Really?”
Luo Xue scratched the back of her head. When she listened to Nangong Mian’s boasting, she had the impression that the other Foundation Establishment disciples weren’t that strong.
“The resources enjoyed by Nangong disciples are on a completely different level from us ordinary people.”
The innkeeper seemed eager to give this naive little girl some advice.
“For example, you’re still looking for an inn in the Sacred Land, while even the most down-and-out Nangong disciple, as long as they can prove their identity, can directly stay in the most luxurious Treasure Pavilion in the Sacred Land.”
“Really?”
Luo Xue raised an eyebrow, a hint of joy in her eyes.
This Treasure Pavilion… why did it sound so familiar…
“Of course, why would I lie to you? Everyone here knows that the Treasure Pavilion is a property of the Nangong clan.” The innkeeper said. “Little girl…”
“Can I use this token?”
Luo Xue took out the token Dugu Xue had given her, which was imprinted with her soul and the alias “Nangong Jiao,” and placed it on the counter.
“Of course, the Nangong Token… wait…”
The innkeeper’s eyes widened, and he looked at Luo Xue with a dumbfounded expression.
What was going on?
Was the young mistress of the Nangong clan deliberately messing with him?
And… hadn’t he just badmouthed the Nangong clan?
The innkeeper broke out in a cold sweat.
“As long as it works,” Luo Xue breathed a sigh of relief and muttered, “such a good deal, after visiting eighteen inns.”
She hadn’t expected the token to be useful here, not for entering the secret realm.
“Thanks, boss.”
Luo Xue took out another spirit jade, tossed it to the innkeeper, and turned to leave.
“This…”
The innkeeper held the spirit jade, a bit at a loss.
This girl was different from the Nangong disciples he knew…
Those ancient clan disciples were always arrogant and haughty, rarely well-mannered.
“Truly… rare.” The innkeeper put away the spirit jade and sighed.
…However, this was actually the innkeeper’s prejudice.
Well-mannered disciples of ancient clans wouldn’t come to such a place, and even if they did, they wouldn’t reveal their identities.
Only those arrogant dandies who relied on their family backgrounds would constantly flaunt their Nangong surname, making them memorable to others.
After leaving the inn, Luo Xue took out the map, intending to find the Treasure Pavilion.
Then she noticed that there were quite a few peak Foundation Establishment cultivators nearby, probably here for the Heaven-grade pill secret realm.
Luo Xue had initially thought that although the Nangong Sacred Land wasn’t as developed as the Imperial Capital, there seemed to be more cultivators here.
Now it seemed that it was just because of this incident.
“Treasure Pavilion… oh right, there’s one here, a bit far.”
Luo Xue found the Treasure Pavilion’s location on the map, but… the more she looked at its marker, the more familiar it felt.
She put down the map, thought carefully for a moment, then slapped her forehead.
“Damn, it’s Shangguan Yu’s place!”
Indeed, it was the mysterious organization run by Shangguan Yu in the caged world, spread throughout the nine provinces and four domains, mainly involved in intelligence gathering and selling magical treasures.
Such a large organization naturally wasn’t run by Shangguan Yu alone. Luo Xue later learned that the Treasure Pavilion actually belonged to Liu Lian, Phoenix Venerable’s servant, so it could also be considered Phoenix Venerable’s property.
And in the Ancient Demon Lands, the Treasure Pavilion was a property of the Nangong clan…
There had to be a connection…
“Well, Phoenix Venerable is on good terms with me, it’s not a big deal to use her place…”
Luo Xue felt relieved and headed towards the Treasure Pavilion marked on the map.
…
“The accident in the secret realm… it’s not entirely my fault…” Nangong Mian said with a pitiful expression. “No, it has nothing to do with me! I wasn’t even in the secret realm!”
“It’s true that it’s not your fault, but we can’t blame the other elders either, can we?” Nangong Ling glanced at Nangong Mian and sighed softly.
This incident indeed had nothing to do with Nangong Mian… but unfortunately, with such a serious accident, the protectors outside the secret realm had to take some responsibility.
And this responsibility ultimately fell on Nangong Mian, the weakest among them.
Although she wasn’t punished according to clan rules, she was forbidden from entering any secret realms for a hundred years.
…Although Nangong Ling felt that this was a deliberate act by the clan elders, who had long wanted to find a reason to stop Nangong Mian from plundering the secret realms.
With her invincible strength at the Foundation Establishment Realm… the other disciples couldn’t gain any experience or resources.
However, this ban wasn’t without its benefits. At least, Nangong Mian didn’t have to be confined within the Sacred Land and could go out.
Nangong Ling felt guilty. If she hadn’t pushed the position of protector onto her sister, the clan elders wouldn’t have had a reason to punish her.
It was too late for regrets now.
Nangong Ling could only compensate Nangong Mian by bringing her to the Treasure Pavilion to choose some items.
Although the Treasure Pavilion was a Nangong clan property, it didn’t mean that clan disciples could just take whatever they wanted. They still had to pay, just with a discount.
“What exactly happened?”
Nangong Ling’s expression turned serious. It had been a while since the incident, and the elders were still helpless.
Besides allowing outside Foundation Establishment cultivators to enter, trying to find a way to break the secret realm, they had no other options.
If they failed, not to mention the loss of ten strands of Heaven-grade pill energy, more importantly, the hundred or so peak Foundation Establishment disciples within… might all die in the secret realm.
This was an unacceptable outcome.
Nangong Mian was one of the few who had witnessed the entire incident.
“At the time…”
Nangong Mian recalled carefully and said slowly,
“I was arguing… I mean, chatting with a few elders, when the gate of the secret realm suddenly became unstable, and then it exploded. Oh right, before the explosion, I seemed to have sensed sword intent…”
“Sword intent?” Nangong Ling was slightly stunned. “Was the accident caused by a sword cultivator? But… sword cultivators who can manifest sword intent only existed in the ancient era…”
“I don’t know.”
Nangong Mian shook her head.
They had arrived at the entrance of the Treasure Pavilion, and the sharp-eyed manager, seeing Nangong Mian and Nangong Ling, immediately put on a welcoming smile, walked out from behind the counter, and greeted them.
“Ladies Nangong, how have you been?”
Nangong Mian’s reputation preceded her. Although her image wasn’t very good…
The other woman in the wheelchair was even more extraordinary. The renowned War God, Nangong Ling, had single-handedly defeated the legendary otherworldly demons, keeping them out of the Great Thousand Worlds.
It was because of this that she suffered irreparable soul injuries, her legs crippled.
“We’re fine, very well.” Nangong Mian became excited upon entering the Treasure Pavilion. “Manager, what good stuff do you have here? Bring them out, let me take a look!”
“This…”
The manager hesitated, glancing at Nangong Ling. He didn’t act immediately.
Nangong Mian’s reputation… was a bit… problematic. Was it safe to bring out the most valuable treasures of the Treasure Pavilion before her?
“Bring them out, I’ll exchange them with my accumulated points.”
Nangong Ling smiled gently at the manager.
If the Nangong clan hadn’t officially announced Nangong Ling’s achievements, it would be hard to imagine such a gentle woman being called “War God.”
“Yes, yes… please wait a moment, I’ll have someone prepare a private room for you.”
The manager nodded and bowed repeatedly, just as he was about to turn around, he saw a small, sneaky figure lurking near the Treasure Pavilion, seemingly peeking inside.
He frowned slightly, then quickly relaxed.
The two Nangong ladies were here, he couldn’t let them see such an unseemly sight.
Soon, Nangong Mian and Nangong Ling were led inside.
After some time, the manager returned to the counter and saw that the sneaky little figure had approached.
She looked ordinary… not like a member of an ancient clan, and her behavior was so suspicious…
The manager was a bit displeased, but the customer was always right, so he stood up patiently and asked,
“Customer, can I help you?”
“Can… people stay here?” The small figure asked a strange question.
“…The Treasure Pavilion is a place for selling heavenly materials, earthly treasures, magical artifacts, and spiritual artifacts. It’s not an inn.”
The manager’s brow twitched. Where did this girl get the idea that the Treasure Pavilion was an inn?
“I also thought so… but someone told me that I could stay here with a token.”
The small figure scratched her head and took out a token, placing it on the counter.
“This one, can I?”
The manager found it both funny and annoying. The Treasure Pavilion wasn’t an inn, what token could let her stay here… Holy crap, a Nangong Token!
“Mi-, Miss Nangong Jiao, of course you can…”
The manager forced a smile.
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