A red sun had gradually pierced through the dawn, slowly rising from the edge of the deep Nineteen Continents.

The shadows of the surrounding undulating mountains kept this stretch of riverbank still in shadow.

The marten supported its body on its two hind legs, its front paws crossed over its chest, seemingly startled by Jian Chou suddenly jumping in.

“Woo woo…”

Why hadn’t it gone in before, but suddenly gone now?

Seeing that vortex growing smaller after Jian Chou flew in, soon only a foot in diameter remained. The marten anxiously leaped with force and squeaked twice, then transformed into a streak of gray lightning, “whoosh” ing into the vortex.

After the marten’s figure disappeared into the vortex, it rapidly shrank and vanished in an instant.

Only now did the mountain shadows grow shorter and shorter, finally retracting like traces left by spilled ink. Thus, the entire moist riverbank was completely revealed in the light.

A hundred li of wild grass, thousands of grave mounds.

The river flow was vast, and the rope bridge was suspended in the air.

The Yashan disciples responsible for receiving new disciples all emerged from the Yashan Path after sunrise, forming two neat columns as they headed toward the high platform across the Nine-Head River tributary.

Upon reaching the platform, the group stopped, waiting for Senior Sister Jian Chou, who was supposed to oversee today’s events.

Back mountain.

Shen Jiu stretched lazily and stood before the small hut with the wooden plaque reading “Jian Chou.” He coughed and stepped forward to knock.

“Knock, knock, knock.”

“Senior Sister, it’s time to depart.”

Shen Jiu called out.

However, no one responded from inside for a long time.

“Senior Sister?”

At this moment, Jian Chou was no longer within Yashan and naturally couldn’t hear Shen Jiu’s voice.

Before her eyes was a silent void, with a stone-carved gate ten zhang tall standing in this space. On the right, it read “Heaven and Earth, One Finger,” on the left “All Things, One Horse.”

Jian Chou was startled.

These two lines had quite some artistic conception.

Then she looked up at the horizontal inscription above the gate—”Complete Nonsense!”

“Woo woo woo!”

The marten’s figure shot out from the nearly invisible vortex, landing directly on her shoulder, seemingly quite frightened.

Jian Chou withdrew her gaze from the couplet and turned to look, somewhat unexpectedly: “How did you follow me here too?”

The marten whimpered and extended its paw, pointing at the two great doors, then at Jian Chou’s side.

Pointing at the doors meant for Jian Chou to enter; pointing at her side…

Jian Chou instinctively looked over and saw that after the vortex behind her disappeared, the stone disc had reappeared in this dark void, emitting emerald light. After she looked over, the disc seemed to know her intent and floated toward her, hovering quietly one foot in front of her.

Seven of the eight horizontal lines on the stone disc slowly lit up, with only the one in the southeast direction remaining unlit.

Seven rays of light—six deep red, one emerald.

Jian Chou couldn’t understand and was pondering when she discovered that the other six deep red lights were slowly moving on the stone disc.

A deep male voice suddenly came from the stone disc: “What is this place?”

Jian Chou was startled, noticing that when this voice spoke, the light line in the due south direction brightened momentarily.

Then other voices came through.

“Damn it, this is strange…” Due north.

“Kunwu?” Northwest.

“Sin, sin…” Northeast.

…

Jian Chou suddenly remembered the voice she had heard before entering the vortex.

Gu Qingmei from Kunwu?

When she first entered, she hadn’t seen anyone and was rather puzzled. Now it seemed these voices were coming from within the stone disc.

What was going on exactly?

“How did you all get in here?”

That previous delicate shout rang out again, clearly carrying some anger.

When entering this void space, Gu Qingmei immediately checked the stone disc. Upon discovering seven lights had lit up on it, she nearly fainted from rage.

Her perfectly good plan had been disrupted, making her wish she could cut the holder of the Kill Disc into a thousand pieces!

Jian Chou listened from her side—wasn’t this the one who claimed to be “Gu Qingmei of Kunwu”?

Considering her own identity as a Yashan disciple, Jian Chou chose to continue listening.

This stone disc should be the key to entering this place.

The voices now coming from the disc should be from people who had entered this place simultaneously.

Jian Chou carefully observed the stone disc, noticing that each time someone spoke, a certain line on the disc would light up. The one that hadn’t said a word yet was due west.

After Gu Qingmei spoke, there was silence from within the disc for quite a while.

After some time, the deep male voice from due south finally responded: “I followed a stone disc in. When I entered earlier, I heard you say you were from Kunwu? My apologies, my apologies.”

“You’re too kind.” Hearing this, Gu Qingmei was extremely pleased. The name of Kunwu could probably get you anywhere in the entire Nineteen Continents. “This Shered Small Realm is a small cave dwelling left by Ancestor Luye. Today I came seeking Dijiang Guyu for my senior brother and don’t want anything else. I only hope everyone won’t compete with me for it—I’m determined to obtain this Dijiang Guyu.”

Oh.

So she hadn’t misheard.

Jian Chou raised an eyebrow. She stared at the stone disc and suddenly noticed that while these people were communicating, several red lights on the disc were moving inward.

Trying to walk forward two steps, Jian Chou discovered that the green light moved with her movement.

The entire disc was red except for herself being a single point of green. Jian Chou found this somewhat strange but understood that this green light represented her.

Just as she reached the gate, the ten-zhang giant door suddenly blazed with light!

Ethereal chanting seemed to come from ancient times, gender indistinguishable.

“Heaven and earth, one finger; all things, one horse. I live as the Dao lives, I perish as the Dao perishes. When their flowers bloom, my leaves bring a hundred deaths…”

The voice faded into the distance until it could no longer be heard.

Lines of text suddenly appeared from the stone disc.

Northeast.

The young monk looked up in surprise, staring at the text appearing on the stone disc.

“Shered Small Realm, killing all the chaotic red flying flowers in the world?”

Due north.

Qian Que, holding his golden abacus, rolled his eyes and stroked his mustache, also reading on.

“When this realm was first created, I built this realm to give cultivators of the world one opportunity. Enter my gates, brave my trials—once entered, no retreat; one retreat brings withered bones. Once gone, no return; once alive, no escape. Press forward without retreat—Shered Small Realm.”

“Those who enter this realm all have opportunity. Each trial passed brings opportunity, great or small.”

Northwest.

The man who was already exhausted to death, disheveled and seemingly mad, now had eyes full of spirit.

Immortal fate—his immortal fate had arrived!

“The first trial is called Chaotic Red Flying Flowers. At its end are three Green Lotus Spirit Fires, medium-grade spirit treasures, usable for pill refining, artifact forging, or consumption. Entering can remove impurities and preserve essence, strengthen sinews and bones—the foundation of cultivation.”

Due west.

A man in official robes, one hand behind his back, one at his waist, brows tightly furrowed with a cold expression, looked around but didn’t know where he had arrived.

Demonic disturbance?

Lines of text appeared, and he looked up.

“The second trial is called Flowers Fade to Remnant Red. At its end are three cups of Ice Vine Nectar, top-grade spirit treasures. Drinking it equals ten years of bitter cultivation and can clear the spiritual platform, purify the body.”

Due south.

The firewood on his shoulders had disappeared, leaving only the carrying pole, which the burly man shook in his hand, transforming it into a black dragon-carved long staff he gripped.

The text appearing on the stone disc was visible.

“The final trial is called One Emerald Topples the City, containing various magical treasures within, each according to their fate.”

Southeast.

Gu Qingmei’s gaze finally pulled away from that emerald light line and looked at the appearing text.

All of this was exactly as she had understood.

The Shered Small Realm had three trials total. Passing each trial would earn rewards that Ancestor Luye had long ago placed in this realm, and in the final trial was one particular item.

“Beyond One Emerald Topples the City, at its end lies Dijiang Guyu, formed from the third segment of Emperor Jiang’s spine bone, dug from beneath thousand-zhang cliffs and aged in the deep sea. This item is like chicken ribs to me, stored in the Shered Small Realm, awaiting the fated person.”

Dijiang Guyu!

It was here!

Gu Qingmei clenched her fists: She must obtain this Dijiang Guyu!

She flipped her palm, and a gray message token appeared in her hand. This realm seemed cut off from the outside world—wind messages and thunder messages couldn’t be used, so Gu Qingmei wanted to use the message token to tell Xie Buchen this good news.

Unexpectedly, when she tried to send a message, it failed.

Frowning, Gu Qingmei snorted coldly. Her palm flipped, and the token disappeared; her palm flipped again, and a blue spirit bead reappeared.

This was a spirit treasure-level communication device refined by sect elders, capable of cross-realm communication.

She didn’t believe this would work.

“Senior Brother Xie, I’ve already entered the small realm. Six annoying pests came in with me, and I don’t know their identities yet, but the Dijiang Guyu is definitely in the small realm. Senior Brother can rest assured.”

In the Kunwu mountain hut, Xie Buchen had sat back behind the long table, but unexpectedly heard Gu Qingmei’s voice from the communication spirit bead he had placed on the table.

After hesitating briefly, he said lightly: “The Shered Small Realm can only be entered by those below Golden Core. Junior Sister is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and should be fine.”

“Of course!”

This hit right at Gu Qingmei’s heart.

Gu Qingmei was a Kunwu cultivator with natural pride, and she happened to be at the highest cultivation level that could enter this Shered Small Realm. Logically, no one should be able to surpass her.

Even though this situation was somewhat unexpected, Gu Qingmei believed she could still handle it perfectly.

As for the holder of the Kill Disc?

Gu Qingmei looked down at that emerald light, a flash of killing intent crossing her eyes.

If she found out this person’s identity…

Hmph.

Snorting coldly in her heart, Gu Qingmei looked at the several light rays on the red disc—some people had already started moving inward.

The Dijiang Guyu was still inside and absolutely couldn’t be taken by these people first.

Thinking this, Gu Qingmei hesitated no longer and directly transformed into a stream of light, flying toward the stone gate.

Unexpectedly, just as she was about to push open the stone gate, it shot out an emerald light that blocked her back!

“What!”

Gu Qingmei was greatly shocked!

How could she not enter?

She looked down at the stone disc in surprise and found that the several red light lines that had been moving had all stopped simultaneously, seemingly all blocked like herself.

What was happening?

Gu Qingmei carefully examined the stone disc and finally discovered that due east, the one unique green light line that had never said a word wasn’t moving at all!

If she wasn’t mistaken, this represented the position of the person holding the Kill Disc.

Could it be…

Were there restrictions she didn’t know about?

She pushed hard against the great door—still wouldn’t budge!

Gu Qingmei nearly angrily smashed the stone disc!

Damn it!

Due east.

Jian Chou didn’t know she had already been hated by someone. She just looked at those lines of text, somewhat dazed.

The marten sat on her shoulder. Seeing her motionless for so long, it boredly covered its mouth with its soft little paw and yawned in a very human-like manner!

It brushed Jian Chou’s neck with its tail, as if urging her to hurry inside.

But…

Jian Chou’s mind was far from calm.

She…

What had she seen?

Shered Small Realm’s first trial, Chaotic Red Flying Flowers, with three Green Lotus Spirit Fires at the end!

Shered Small Realm’s second trial, Flowers Fade to Remnant Red, with three cups of Ice Vine Nectar at the end!

The “Human Artifact” body refinement method had nine layers.

The first layer focused on flesh and blood, using spiritual energy to refine flesh and blood, making flesh and blood spiritual, able to resist metal and iron common weapons.

The second layer focused on bones, using superior flames to enter the body and burn-refine the bones, melting and reshaping them to become hard and strong, removing all impurities, like jade—called Firm Jade Bones!

The third layer focused on internal organs. The body’s internal organs were the most fragile parts of the human body and couldn’t be heavily refined, so a warming method was used, requiring superior heaven and earth spiritual essences to be consumed, guiding their qi to warm and nourish the organs, called Heavenly Organs, Earthly Viscera!

The fourth layer focused on joints. Where sinews and bones connected were easily injured and needed spirit beads embedded to ensure difficulty in receiving damage during battle…

…

Jian Chou had already completed the first layer of the “Human Artifact” body refinement method, cooking herself in the great cauldron to develop strong flesh and blood. The next headache was finding high-quality flames.

Flames too weak couldn’t burn away impurities in the bones and couldn’t achieve refinement effects. However, truly superior flames were extremely hard to find—even in the cultivation world, one was hard to obtain.

However…

She never expected that opportunity had truly arrived.

Entering the Shered Small Realm had been in a moment of anger, to seize the “Dijiang Guyu” that Xie Buchen needed, but unexpectedly, the rewards from the first two trials here were both of great use to her!

Green Lotus Spirit Fire, medium-grade spirit treasure level, corresponding to the fifth level Out-of-Body stage for cultivators—one could see how precious it was; Ice Vine Nectar, top-grade spirit treasure level, corresponding to the sixth level Entering the World for cultivators—even more extremely rare.

One could supply Jian Chou with bone refinement; the other could supply Jian Chou with organ nourishment!

A great opportunity had arrived!

The strange look in her eyes grew heavier. Jian Chou couldn’t help but turn back to look at the marten crouching on her shoulder. For a moment, she felt this little thing looked cute no matter how she looked at it.

She couldn’t help but reach out to pet the marten’s little head.

At that moment, the marten froze, sitting rigidly as if it hadn’t expected Jian Chou to actively pet it.

However, this only lasted an instant.

The next moment, the marten excitedly stood up on Jian Chou’s shoulder, stretching its neck toward the sky and howling “awooooo”…

Learning to be a wolf again.

Jian Chou secretly suspected this marten’s breed, her mouth twitching as she withdrew her hand.

The Shered Small Realm seemed to be her opportunity.

However, her cultivation was only mid-stage Foundation Establishment—she didn’t know what cultivation levels the others here had.

Generally speaking, the faster one clears trials, the greater the chance of obtaining things.

Both Green Lotus Spirit Fire and Ice Vine Nectar only had three portions, clearly first-come-first-served.

Then…

She needed to hurry.

She had two goals: obtain the Green Lotus Spirit Fire and Ice Vine Nectar needed for cultivation, then—

Seize the Dijiang Guyu!

Mind made up, she unhesitatingly summoned the ghost axe. Immediately, the void filled with whistling sounds as Jian Chou charged straight toward the great door!

On the stone disc, that emerald light finally began moving.

The entire great door immediately emitted intense light, once again opening a vortex that absorbed Jian Chou’s figure.

The moment this vortex appeared, the gates in the other six directions finally became vortexes.

Gu Qingmei, standing before the vortex, first froze, then stared at the red disc and discovered that indeed the emerald light had moved first, and only then could the other red lights move forward!

Her heart immediately filled with extreme hatred!

This holder of the Kill Disc—neither opening early nor late, but opening just before her, bringing so many people to compete, and all with unknown identities. She believed Kunwu’s reputation could definitely intimidate many people, but not necessarily everyone!

The Dijiang Guyu still had to be fought for!

Moreover, being restricted by the Kill Disc when setting out—who knew if there would be other problems later?

Extreme imbalance suddenly appeared in Gu Qingmei’s heart.

Growing up in Kunwu, she had always been her father’s precious pearl. Being suppressed by someone today was a first!

Sharp cold light shot from her eyes, and an elegant ice sword suddenly appeared beneath her feet, carrying her as she killed into the vortex!

She absolutely wouldn’t allow anyone to be faster than her!

The red light from the southeast direction moved across the stone disc at a terrifying speed.

When Jian Chou had heard their brief conversation earlier, she had already determined that the southeast was Gu Qingmei. Now seeing her urgency, she immediately sneered.

Kunwu?

So what if it was Kunwu!

The white light of the vortex gradually faded, and a completely new world appeared before Jian Chou’s eyes.

Looking up, it was an endless field of flowers.

Blood-red flowers bloomed endlessly, filling the entire view.

In the distant front, a high mountain seemed to rise from the ground, reaching toward the clouds above.

Jian Chou now floated above the only small path in the flower field.

The marten sat steadily on her shoulder, its pair of bright black marten eyes sparkling as it extended a paw to point at the end of that small path, “woo-woo” ing.

“I know.”

The path was ahead.

But…

It looked too simple, too peaceful.

Jian Chou glanced at the stone disc. Currently, no one is moving forward, and even…

She saw that the green light due west was still stopped outside the gate, having not yet entered. This due west was the one who had never spoken—unknown what mysterious figure it was.

Everyone had stopped but were all listening with pricked ears, as if waiting for who in the stone disc would make the first move.

The marten “woo-woo” ed twice more, signaling Jian Chou to proceed.

Jian Chou couldn’t help but become suspicious: This marten seemed to know everything—what exactly was its origin?

“Woo woo woo!”

Seeing Jian Chou stare at it with a hair-raising gaze, the marten was furious, making all its fur stand on end as it made sharp sounds.

“Is this the friend from due east?”

Gu Qingmei’s voice suddenly came from within the stone disc.

Jian Chou froze—the marten’s cries could be heard by them, too.

“The voice sounds a bit strange, like some small animal?”

“Clack clack clack…”

Another puzzled voice mixed with the crisp sound of beads colliding.

“Could it be a demon?”

“Awooooo!”

The marten that could understand human speech immediately became furious, howling wildly at the stone disc, learning to be a wolf…

At this moment, the stone disc suddenly fell silent.

Five people had spoken, and now this extremely unique due east green light position kept making animal sounds…

Uh…

Could it not be human?

“Amitabha, all beings are equal.” A Buddhist invocation suddenly rang out, followed by a somewhat awkward voice: “Fellow cultivators, how should we pass this trial?”

“Pass?” The deep male voice from due south responded, “Haha, when entering the small realm earlier, I heard a Kunwu friend say they wanted the Dijiang Guyu. I do not need this item, so please rest assured, Kunwu friend.”

“Thank you, friend.” Gu Qingmei’s voice carried a smile.

At this time, the voice from the northeast that seemed to be a monk also spoke: “Though this monk dwells in the northwest, I’ve also heard the great names of the Central Domain’s two great powers, Kunwu and Yashan. Since the Kunwu female benefactor has used the Dijiang Guyu, this monk won’t compete and is willing to provide convenience for others.”

“Northwest?” Gu Qingmei’s knowledge was quite extensive. After hearing the other’s self-identification, she vaguely guessed their identity: “Could you be a high monk from the Northwestern Snow Region’s Esoteric Sect?”

“Sin, sin, this monk’s cultivation is shallow—just an ordinary monk. Please don’t flatter me, benefactor…”

Hearing this, the monk was nearly frightened by Gu Qingmei and quickly began chanting.

On the other side, Gu Qingmei snorted coldly in her heart.

If not from the Snow Region’s Esoteric Sect, then probably just an ordinary little monk. How dare such a thing compete with her?

However, she was somewhat satisfied in some respects.

Two people had already agreed to withdraw from competing for the Dijiang Guyu. It seemed Kunwu’s reputation was indeed useful. If she could settle all the people who entered at this time, this matter would be simple.

With this thought, Gu Qingmei immediately looked at the other light rays on the red disc.

“Now two friends have given face and agreed to withdraw from competing for the Dijiang Guyu. I wonder if the other friends could show Kunwu some face and provide convenience?”

Gu Qingmei was direct and spoke openly.

“I didn’t expect to accidentally enter the Shered Small Realm. Dijiang Guyu is useless to ordinary people, and from what you’ve said, it’s not even for your use. I have no improper thoughts about the Dijiang Guyu and dare not oppose Kunwu disciples, but… there’s something I’m quite curious about. The ‘Senior Brother Xie Buchen’ that Friend Gu mentioned—could it be the first among Kunwu’s new generation disciples, Xie Buchen?”

This was the voice from due north earlier, with a particularly mercenary and slick tone.

Hearing this, Gu Qingmei felt that this was a real shrewd person. Her mind constantly searched for suitable identities, already having some impression.

She replied with a smile: “Your insight is divine—it’s indeed my Kunwu Senior Brother Xie Buchen. This item is extremely important to him. I believe everyone in the Nineteen Continents has heard his name. Give me face, and it’s also giving Kunwu and my Senior Brother Xie face. I wonder what the other friends think?”

“…”

Complete silence.

Due west had no sound, and northwest also had no sound.

Looking over, Gu Qingmei’s brows furrowed deeply. The due east that she was most wary of also still had no sound.

After thinking for a moment, Gu Qingmei was still prepared to speak.

“Today we entered within—six people hold red discs. I wonder if the friend from due east holding the Kill Disc could provide convenience? If we leave this realm someday, Kunwu won’t forget this favor.”

Due east?

That meant her, right?

Jian Chou glanced at due west and northwest, feeling these two still had some backbone, unlike the others, who immediately expressed withdrawal from competition upon hearing Kunwu.

The Dijiang Guyu was useless to her, but…

Give it to Xie Buchen?

She’d have better luck dreaming!

Silently sneering, Jian Chou looked toward the flower field world ahead.

Wind blew, and petals flew up—truly “chaotic red flying flowers,” incredibly gorgeous.

The calmer it was, the more dangerous.

However, looking carefully at this stone disc, no one was moving forward first, probably all calculating to let others go first, maybe to scout the path or something…

But don’t count on her for that.

Too lazy to bother with Gu Qingmei, Jian Chou had no intention of speaking at all.

As long as she didn’t speak, others would have almost no way of knowing who she was.

She directly rode the ghost axe forward, slowly entering that world of chaotic red flying flowers…

On the stone disc, an emerald light line suddenly moved forward one division among all the stationary light lines!

This division was so glaring!

Gu Qingmei’s expression immediately changed!

The other party hadn’t answered her question but instead walked directly forward, clearly not wanting to acknowledge her!

She was representing Kunwu’s reputation—how many sects in the entire Nineteen Continents didn’t fear Kunwu? The other party dared to be so arrogant, so dismissive of Kunwu!

The other party’s behavior was like slapping her hard across the face, undoubtedly conveying only one meaning—

Give way?

Dream on!

The others in the Shered Small Realm couldn’t help but freeze upon seeing the situation on the stone disc.

This was…

Completely unexpected!

Qian Que, shaking his golden abacus, couldn’t help but have his eyes flash with brilliance: Interesting—it seems this due east fellow has quite a temper! Not even giving Kunwu face!