Translator: CinderTL

Hong Yi hovered in mid-air, scanning her surroundings, but Song Wen was nowhere to be seen. A hint of unease crept into her mind. She couldn’t figure out where he had gone.

However, she didn’t rush to leave. She decided to wait a moment longer. After all, Gou Jun had shown her kindness.

After waiting for about fifteen minutes, Gou Jun finally appeared. But he wasn’t alone. A burly native man accompanied him.

The native wore only a beast skin wrapped around his waist. His bronze skin gleamed under the sunlight, and his well-defined muscles rippled with each breath. His hair was a mess, but his face was sharply defined, giving him a raw, untamed handsomeness.

Gou Jun was using his spiritual power to levitate the native, who was clearly experiencing his first time flying. He looked utterly terrified, his mouth twitching constantly, but he couldn’t open it. Gou Jun had likely sealed his mouth with spiritual power.

"Fellow Daoist Hong Yi, I apologize for keeping you waiting. Please forgive me," Song Wen called out from afar.

Hong Yi paid no attention to Song Wen’s words. Her gaze was fixed on the native. As Song Wen approached, she asked, "Gou Jun, where did you capture this native?"

Song Wen said, "Just now, a flying beast swept past from afar, carrying this person in its claws. I noticed that he had never cultivated, yet his Qi and Blood were incredibly robust, and his physical strength rivaled that of a foundation establishment cultivator. This piqued my curiosity. So, I tracked the flying beast all the way here, rescued him, and decided to bring him back for thorough investigation. Perhaps we can glean some physical cultivation techniques from him."

Hong Yi’s eyes twitched slightly, clearly disbelieving his words.

The Southern Nether Region was rich in Spiritual Qi, rivaling any other major region. Though no Tribulation Crossing Stage great powers remained, this was due to certain circumstances, not a lack of Spiritual Qi.

This abundance of Spiritual Qi had nurtured countless cultivators with sky-piercing cultivation levels, and it had also given rise to powerful mortal martial artists.

Despite lacking spirit roots and being unable to cultivate, these mortals had honed their skills through mortal martial arts, achieving remarkable strength. Some of the strongest among them could even pose a threat to foundation establishment cultivators.

Yet Gou Jun had specifically brought a native whose physical strength rivaled a foundation establishment cultivator away from the Turbid Spirit Realm. His motives were far more complex than a mere desire for physical cultivation techniques.

If he were solely seeking physical cultivation methods, he could have simply sought out mortal martial artists and their techniques. Why go through such elaborate measures?

Moreover, what use could a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator’s body-refining technique possibly have against a Void Refinement Stage cultivator?

Hong Yi gazed at the native’s sharply defined muscle lines, a look of understanding dawning in her eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, everyone has their preferences... Rest assured, I won’t hold this against you. I’ll keep your secret safe and never reveal it to anyone."

Song Wen was taken aback, unsure how to respond.

Seeing this, Hong Yi assumed Gou Jun was overwhelmed with shame and quickly changed the subject.

"There’s no one guarding the exit of the Turbid Spirit Realm. You can leave without worry."

"Have you searched thoroughly?" Song Wen added. "It’s not that I don’t trust you, Fellow Daoist, but I’m concerned that someone from the Myriad Swords Pavilion might be hiding in the shadows."

"I searched the area within ten thousand miles of the exit very carefully. I’m certain there’s no one there," Hong Yi replied.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist. If that’s the case, shall we head to the exit as soon as possible?" Song Wen suggested.

The two cultivators soared through the air, quickly reaching the exit.

The exit was a massive vortex suspended high in the sky. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Within the vortex, pitch-black darkness reigned, devoid of any light.

As Hong Yi had said, there were no cultivators guarding the vortex.

Without hesitation, Song Wen, carrying the native, plunged directly into the vortex.

Hong Yi followed suit.

Cloud Passage Mountain Range.

The mountain valley where the entrance to the Turbid Spirit Realm was located.

The vortex in the valley suddenly churned violently, spitting out three figures.

The force of the vortex’s eruption was immense. Song Wen had to exert all his spiritual power just to stabilize himself in mid-air. But before he could catch his breath, a powerful pressure descended upon them.

Song Wen looked up at the source of the pressure, seeing three figures suspended in the sky above—the three Body Integration Stage cultivators who had worked together to open the entrance in the first place.

The three cultivators scanned the three figures who had just emerged from the vortex. Two of them wore expressions of disappointment.

"Fellow Daoist Fan Kang, those are from your Spirit Jade Palace," said Zhao Ce of the Profound Sky Sect.

A smile appeared on Fan Kang’s rosy, childlike face. "You two, come here. I have questions for you."

Song Wen and Hong Yi quickly ascended, approaching Fan Kang. As for the native, Song Wen used his spiritual power to send him to a nearby peak overlooking the valley.

"There are still more than ten days until the Turbid Spirit Realm closes. Why have you returned so early?" Elder Fan asked.

"Reporting to Elder Fan," Hong Yi replied, "this disciple encountered some unexpected events in the Turbid Spirit Realm. My spiritual power was completely depleted, and I suffered internal injuries, nearly losing my life. Fortunately, Fellow Daoist Gou Jun saved me, allowing me to escape safely. That’s why I had to leave the Turbid Spirit Realm as quickly as possible."

"So that’s how it is," Fan Kang nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to Song Wen. "Gou Jun, Bai Wei mentioned your situation to me. Since you saved Hong Yi, you’ve earned merit with the Spirit Jade Palace. Your joining the sect won’t be a problem. However, we must still adhere to sect rules. Hand over the treasures you obtained in the Turbid Spirit Realm. I’ll take half."

The matter of Song Wen joining the Spirit Jade Palace was merely a pretext Bai Wei had used to bring him into the Turbid Spirit Realm.

"Thank you, Elder Fan, for your generosity. This is all I obtained on this journey. Please examine it, Elder."

As Song Wen spoke, he handed a storage pouch to Fan Kang.

Fan Kang accepted the pouch and probed it with his divine sense. His expression immediately darkened.

"The Turbid Spirit Realm is isolated from the outside world, teeming with rare treasures. Aside from the two Divine Transformation Stage cultivators who first discovered it, you are among the first to enter. How could you have only gathered so little?"

Inside the storage ring, there were only a dozen or so fifth-tier Spirit Herbs, all auxiliary types—common, inexpensive varieties.

"Elder, you are wise. This is indeed all I obtained," Song Wen replied.

During this trip, Song Wen had focused solely on searching for the Pure Origin Heavenly Dew, with no intention of seeking other spiritual objects.

The dozen or so Spirit Herbs he had obtained were from killing Ying Deng and Leng Zhi. They were indeed from the Turbid Spirit Realm, bearing a unique spiritual essence—a result of the realm’s long separation from the mystic realm.

"You wouldn’t have secretly kept some treasures for yourself, would you?" Fan Kang questioned, his gaze sharp.

Song Wen’s expression tightened, and he immediately bowed with clasped hands. "This junior would never dare!"

Fan Kang’s piercing gaze swept over Song Wen, as if trying to see through his flesh and into his heart.

"Elder Fan, Gou Jun saved this disciple’s life. He’s unlikely to be someone driven solely by greed," Hong Yi interjected suddenly.

Fan Kang sneered, his tone laced with mockery. "Throughout history, neither cultivators nor mortals have ever escaped the clutches of ’greed and desire.’ Perhaps he saved you precisely to feign loyalty and compassion, so he could exploit your connection to deceive me at this critical moment."

Fan Kang paused briefly before continuing. "Gou Jun, since you claim you’ve concealed nothing, do you dare hand over your storage ring for my inspection?"

(End of the Chapter)

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