Lu Sangjiu turned her head and saw Ye Zhiyao smiling at her, as gentle as a spring breeze.

She hesitated, then said, "And... I think I just heard you talking about... a cultivation partner?"

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

’Crap, Ye Zhiyao heard me!’

Although she wasn’t afraid of Ye Zhiyao, she had no desire to get mixed up in the male and female leads’ romance. It was just too much trouble.

So she immediately explained, "We just happened to run into each other the day before yesterday, that’s all. We don’t know each other at all!"

However, as soon as Lu Sangjiu finished speaking, before Ye Zhiyao could say a word, her own senior sister called her out.

Luo Linlang: "Why don’t you say that again while looking at the Sword Talisman in your hand from Sword Master Bu Gui?"

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

She looked down and only then remembered she was still clutching the Sword Talisman in her hand.

’This is...’

Seeing the slight change in Ye Zhiyao’s expression, Lu Sangjiu maintained her smile. "If I said Sword Master Bu Gui only gave it to me to protect myself because he thought I was too weak, would you believe me?"

Then, before Ye Zhiyao could speak, Luo Linlang chimed in again, "There are plenty of people weaker than you. Why did he only give it to you and not them?"

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

’Second Senior Sister, you’re a real pal!’

Ye Zhiyao forced a smile, but her gaze toward the Sword Talisman was filled with unconcealable envy.

"Junior Sister Lu, you’re so fortunate... If it’s possible, could you introduce me to Senior Brother Gu next time?"

"I’ve heard he’s the strongest Sword Cultivator of this generation. I’d really like to spar with him."

Lu Sangjiu was speechless. ’Why is she asking me to be her matchmaker?’

’But... it’s not like Ye Zhiyao needs me to be a matchmaker, does she?’

With that in mind, she simply said, "Perhaps you’re fated to meet in the Secret Realm? Maybe you won’t need me to connect you at all."

After she said this, a Female Cultivator standing next to Ye Zhiyao, who seemed to be on good terms with her, became displeased.

"Senior Sister Ye just wanted you to help with an introduction. If you don’t want to help, fine, but why say something like that to brush her off?"

"Or is it that nothing has even happened between you and Gu Jue, yet you’re already treating him like he’s your man, afraid someone else will snatch him away?"

Ye Zhiyao quickly interjected, "Ning Wan, please don’t say that. Junior Sister Lu, she..."

She hesitated for a moment, biting her lip slightly. "...I’m sure that’s not what she meant."

Lu Sangjiu: "..."

’Here we go again.’ She could already imagine what Ning Wan would say next.

Sure enough, Ning Wan immediately grew exasperated. "Senior Sister Ye, how can you be so naive? If you go out into the world like this, people will take advantage of you and eat you alive!"

Lu Sangjiu’s lips twitched. ’Of course...’

’Right, right. Ye Zhiyao is kind and naive, so everyone else must be at fault.’

She secretly rolled her eyes and was about to speak when Luo Linlang cut in first. "The two of you, putting on this little performance... are you bullying us because our master isn’t with us and we have no one to back us up?"

While Li Qiancheng and Shen Yuzhao couldn’t easily interfere in a squabble between female cultivators, Luo Linlang had no such reservations. She certainly wasn’t going to let her Little Junior Sister be bullied.

Lu Sangjiu immediately played along, her eyes welling with tears. "Second Senior Sister, please don’t start a conflict with Senior Sister Ye. Martial Uncle Bai Heng is right here."

"If you get blamed by Martial Uncle Bai Heng because of me, my guilt would be immense."

"It’s just a few idle words, a small misunderstanding, right? It’s fine. As long as you and my other senior siblings understand me, that’s all that matters!"

Luo Linlang’s eyes instantly filled with tears. "Oh, my poor, ill-fated Little Junior Sister! You’re so pitiful!"

"Unlike others who have their masters to back them up, you can only swallow your grievances. It breaks my heart!"

Ye Zhiyao: "..."

Perhaps Luo Linlang’s teary-eyed appearance reminded her of some unpleasant memories, as her expression instantly became a little unnatural.

Then, before they could continue their act, she hurriedly said, "Junior Sister Lu, that’s really not what we meant!"

"But the Secret Realm is about to open, so I’ll find a chance to explain later!"

With that, Ye Zhiyao grabbed Ning Wan and fled without looking back.

Luo Linlang, who had tears dangling on the verge of falling, instantly sucked them back in the moment they left. She rolled her eyes and said, "Tsk, she runs pretty fast."

Lu Sangjiu praised her sincerely, "Second Senior Sister, you’re the best!"

’I’ve discovered that whenever I put on an act with Luo Linlang backing me up, the effect is more than doubled! She’s truly my perfect partner.’

The moment the gate to the Qingyu Secret Realm opened, the sky and earth changed color. It was a spectacular sight.

Then, people from all the various Sects, large and small, lined up in an orderly fashion and began walking toward the gate.

However, not even half of them could actually enter. Those who were blocked could only turn around, dejected, and return to their places in line.

Soon, it was Lu Sangjiu’s group’s turn. The senior brothers and junior sisters exchanged a look, their expressions somewhat grave.

Li Qiancheng, as the first senior brother, gave them some final instructions.

"The Secret Realm teleports you randomly, and Communication Talismans won’t work. Everyone, be extremely careful!"

"Don’t forget to leave the signs we agreed on. If you really can’t find anyone, remember to protect yourselves above all else."

Then, the group stepped forward from the line and walked toward the Secret Realm’s gate together...

"Hiss..."

Lu Sangjiu felt as if she had slammed into a wall of solid bronze. She clutched her forehead in pain.

But this was no time to cry out in pain. More importantly... she had been rejected by the Secret Realm!

Li Qiancheng and the other two were no longer beside her. They had clearly gotten in, while she alone had been blocked...

Lu Sangjiu panicked. ’If I can’t get in, then won’t Li Qiancheng be doomed to die?’

At that moment, the other disciples who failed to enter had already turned away in disappointment. Only she remained standing before the gate in a daze.

Seeing this, Master Qian He, who was not far away, couldn’t help but speak up. "Lu Sangjiu, you have no affinity with this Secret Realm. You should head back..."

Before he could finish, he saw Lu Sangjiu suddenly walk forward again!

Such things were a common sight today.

Those who couldn’t believe they lacked the good fortune would always try again, defying the odds. But without exception, they were all blocked at the gate.

Moreover, on their second attempt, the Secret Realm, which had already gained sentience, would impatiently fling them away.

Master Qian He knew that Lu Sangjiu’s group wanted to enter to find Hell Grass. Seeing her so unwilling to give up, he couldn’t bear to watch her get thrown back.

In the next moment, however, his eyes widened abruptly!

Everyone present who witnessed that scene gasped in unison.

Because Lu Sangjiu, who had been rejected by the Secret Realm on her first try, had actually entered on her second attempt!

Staring at the spot where Lu Sangjiu’s figure had vanished, Master Qian He wore a look of utter disbelief, and an uproar broke out among the others.

"How is that possible... She actually got in?"

"I’ve never heard of anyone rejected by the Qingyu Secret Realm getting a second chance to enter!"

"Did something malfunction?"