Zong Ziqi looked at Jiang Xu, who was joking with him to ease his worries, and a wave of warmth washed over his heart.

Ever since he’d lost all his cultivation, all the fawning sycophants who used to follow him around and cater to his every whim had disappeared.

There were also plenty of people who kicked him while he was down.

Relying on his master’s influence, he hadn’t come to any real harm.

But he was still left all alone.

Even his master, under pressure from the Sect, had been forced to dissolve their master-disciple relationship.

The Sect would never allow a Foundation Establishment Elder to keep a disciple who had lost their cultivation and become a cripple.

Doing so would only make them a laughingstock.

Yet a cripple like him had actually found a friend who could treat him normally.

Fate truly plays tricks on people.

Zong Ziqi was silent for a long time before he spoke:

"Do you know about the Secret Realm exploration team?"

"Of course I know about it. It’s the talk of the entire Sect; who doesn’t know? Why do you ask? Don’t tell me you’re planning to join?" Jiang Xu was very surprised. ’Zong Ziqi doesn’t lack Spirit Stones.’

Zong Ziqi shook his head, a bitter smile on his face.

"It’s not me... sigh. It’s my master who’s joining."

"Your master? No way, isn’t your master a Foundation Establishment Elder? Oh, right, I heard the Sect was sending two Foundation Establishment Elders to participate. So one of them is your master!"

"Yes, that’s right."

"So what if your master is joining? Why are you so worried? Are you afraid he’ll be in danger?"

Zong Ziqi nodded, then shook his head.

"Yes, and no. I’ll just be direct. My master is going to the Secret Realm to find a Treasure Medicine for me, to heal my Qi Sea.

My master isn’t just going to the Inner Area of the Secret Realm; he’s heading for the core region.

In the Inner Area, with a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s strength, there’s a high probability of being safe. But the core region is a different story.

I tried to persuade my master for a long time, but he wouldn’t listen. I even told him that I could still achieve something as a Body Cultivator, but he wouldn’t buy it.

In the end, he even gave many of his belongings to me, as if he were putting his affairs in order."

After hearing this, Jiang Xu didn’t know what to say to comfort him.

Their master-disciple bond ran deep. As an outsider, what could he possibly say?

"This... is actually a gesture of your master’s kindness. Look, since you can’t persuade him, why not just accept it? You can always repay him generously in the future. That’s probably what your master would want to see."

"But I’m afraid I’ll never see my master again. He’s an old man; he should be enjoying his later years in peace. Instead, he’s risking his life for me to do something so dangerous. How can I be at ease?"

Jiang Xu opened his mouth, but no words came out.

’If it were me, I wouldn’t be able to accept it with peace of mind either.’

A teacher for a day is a father for life.

In his previous life, it would be like the agony of watching his parents work themselves to the bone day and night to earn money, while he was paralyzed at home, completely helpless.

"Actually, I also applied to join the Secret Realm exploration team, but my master used his authority to kick me out directly..."

Hearing Zong Ziqi’s words, it seemed he knew a fair bit about this Secret Realm. Jiang Xu decided to ask:

"Fellow Daoist Zong, are you very familiar with this newly discovered Secret Realm? Is it really that dangerous inside?"

Zong Ziqi heard this and said:

"I wouldn’t say I’m familiar with it; this is all from my master. This Secret Realm is actually a clan territory carved out by an Ancient Cultivation Clan. They used a Great Divine Power to place a Restriction on it.

It’s just that the Restriction has weakened recently, revealing the realm. A Tier Three Array Master from our Profound Origin Sect managed to break a small part of the Restriction, allowing some people to enter.

But even though we can get in, there are still many problems. It needs to be cracked bit by bit, and it also requires some... Explorers... to sacrifice themselves to break the Restrictions."

A chill ran down Jiang Xu’s spine.

’They’re really just gathering cannon fodder.’

’Although the Sect claims participation is voluntary, they haven’t disclosed all the information. This is tantamount to tricking disciples into signing up.’

’But in the end, it’s the disciples’ own greed at play. They’re actually well aware of the risks in their hearts.’

’It’s a case of one being willing to strike and the other willing to be struck.’

’After all, the Sect has nurtured them for so many years. It’s about time they sacrificed themselves for the Sect.’

"But if the Sect needs cannon fodder, why not look for Loose Cultivators from the outside? Hiring them to risk their lives would be much more cost-effective than using our own disciples!"

"What makes you think the Sect hasn’t already done that?" Zong Ziqi retorted.

"Uh..."

Jiang Xu was speechless.

’So they’ve already done it.’

"I asked my master the same thing at first. He said they initially recruited Loose Cultivators to scout the way, but those Loose Cultivators are all as cunning as ghosts. They eventually figured out something was wrong, and not many came forward. Only then did the Sect turn to its own disciples.

Actually, the danger this time isn’t just within the Secret Realm. Besides our Three Sects, other Golden Core Sects have also learned of the realm’s existence and are all clamoring for a piece of the pie.

With so many sects thinking this way, the Three Sects had to compromise and give up some spots. So, once inside the Secret Realm, we’ll also have to be on guard against people from other sects trying to backstab us."

"...It seems it’s still safest within the Sect."

After saying all this, some of Zong Ziqi’s inner turmoil dissipated.

He stood up and resumed his sword practice.

’Right now, I’m powerless to stop any of this, and it’s all because I lack strength.’

’If I were strong enough, my master wouldn’t have to take this risk.’

Jiang Xu also began to practice the Vajra Pillar, standing in the stance while lost in thought.

’So this Secret Realm really does have good stuff inside.’

’Treasure Medicine... that’s a Tier Three item, something from the Golden Core Stage, and they have it in there.’

’The clan territory of an Ancient Cultivation Clan... just how much good stuff must be in there?’

’Things like a Scripture Pavilion, Medicine Fields, a Treasure Vault, Alchemy Rooms... it’s incredible to even think about...’

’Could there even be things from the Nascent Soul Realm inside?’

Jiang Xu suddenly jolted.

’If there really are things from the Nascent Soul Realm, or even higher...’

’Can the Profound Origin Sect and the other two of the Three Sects really handle that on their own?’

’There probably isn’t, right?’

Jiang Xu had read in the Ancient Texts he got from Shen Ji that there weren’t many major Cultivation Clans in the Great Qi region...

The more he thought about it, the more uncertain he felt.

’Even if there’s only a one-in-ten-thousand chance, I have to be fully prepared.’

’If a Nascent Soul Elder Monster were to show up, it wouldn’t be up to small fry like me to face them. The Profound Origin Sect’s Golden Core Ancestors would be the ones to bear the brunt of it.’

’Still, it’s never wrong to plan ahead. I need to make some preparations. My cultivation and strength are still too low.’

...

"What?! Brother Ding, you’re joining the Secret Realm exploration team too?"

Jiang Xu almost thought he had misheard.

"What do you mean, ’too’? Are you joining as well?" Ding Shiping asked, puzzled.

"No, no, no, I’m not joining. I only said that because someone I know is. By the way, Brother Ding, what made you decide to join this team? I didn’t think you were short on Spirit Stones, and you’re already an Inner Sect Disciple."

"I’m not doing it for Spirit Stones. To be honest, I’m only joining because I saw Chairman Yan’s name on the list of participants."