You can do anything to me

Bringing Gong Ning to crack the secret realm wasn’t random.

In her youth, Gong Ning had many wild ideas.

But she understood that practice required a solid foundation—so she often used her advantages to accumulate capital.

The sources of her artifacts and techniques were always rumors dismissed by others, or stories passed from mouth to mouth.

Yet Gong Ning had an exceptional ability to discern truth from falsehood.

Secret realms were no different.

During her travels, she had discovered six secret realms.

Most were depleted and worthless once used.

But the Seven-Layer Heart Inquiry Domain—the one Long Hanxi mentioned—was a realm of infinite value.

Its feature was similar to Xuantian Sword Sect’s Path Inquiry Stairs—but a hundred times stronger.

Cultivation talent came second.

Dao heart was paramount.

Countless cultivators longed to enter to test their hearts and pursue enlightenment.

But entry required qualification from Xuantian Sword Sect.

That single slip of paper was traded at sky-high prices.

Xuantian Sword Sect profited immensely.

And as the first to unlock the realm, Gong Ning never lacked for wealth.

No one knew who Gong Ning was.

But who hadn’t heard of the Seven-Layer Heart Inquiry Domain?

As its master, she could grant entry at will.

At Long Hanxi’s words, all eyes turned to Gong Ning.

The elegant beauty was now seen as a rich elder sister who could feed them for life.

“Just old history.

Let’s focus on the present.

This is a crowded area—there may be demonic sect spies.

Governance Institute, seal the area. No one leaves.

As for us—we enter the realm.”

After her cultivation reset, Gong Ning’s aura had dulled.

Now, under the gaze of admiration, she reclaimed her long-lost presence.

Master Jichen clasped his hands again.
“Thank you. On behalf of Yuqing Sect, I thank you, young friend, for your aid.
If you ever face hardship, come to us. Jichen will support you without hesitation.”

He turned to Long Hanxi.
“Madam Tingzhu, I ask one favor.
The Xuan Yuan Sect is our enemy.
Please assist the Governance Institute in capturing any demonic cultivators here.”

Everyone understood.

He didn’t want her entering the secret realm.

After all, Gong Ning had once claimed her realm.

Even if not openly hostile, it created tension.

By speaking up, he was taking a stand—willing to make an enemy to protect his allies.

Long Hanxi didn’t react.

She only gave Gong Ning a deep, lingering look.
“You should visit my Cold Moon Court one day… cultivator of the Su’e Nine Luminaries True Scripture.”

Gong Ning froze.

Just as she was basking in triumph, her secret was exposed.

No wonder Long Hanxi’s gaze had felt so strange all along—she’d already seen through her.

“Never mind her. Enter the realm.”

Jiang Yuyao stepped beside Gong Ning, blocking every stare.

With a powerful ally—someone so close—Gong Ning instantly felt safe.

“Alright.”

With the Sword Immortal at her side, there was nothing to fear.

Gong Ning stepped into the formed portal.

It wasn’t what she expected—no traps, no demonic cultivators running rampant.

But it wasn’t pleasant either.

Bone-chilling cold pierced through, as if entering a frozen abyss.

The entrance led to a cliff.

The spiritual energy here was liquid-like—yet not quite.

But the experienced cultivators instantly recognized it.

“Ice Spirit Secret Realm!”

The world’s spiritual energy was based on the Five Elements.

From them, rare special energies could emerge.

Ice energy was one such rarity.

They stood on a lone peak.

Two stone bridges extended to the edges.

Below seemed like a bottomless chasm—the source of the cold.

Gong Ning, in her dress, felt the chill on her legs.

She was about to step forward—when the Sect Master suddenly cried out, “How did you get in?!”

She turned.

Tang Qiaohuan, mischievous as ever, had somehow slipped in.

“How? Can’t I take a look?”

Skilled in stealth, of course she could sneak in.

She had been here in her past life.

Back then, this was the lair of the Vessels of Calamity, Demoness.

Secret realms weren’t only opened by solving puzzles.

Some, if not naturally formed, could be entered using a Secret Realm Key crafted by the creator.

That was the Xuan Yuan Sect’s method.

In her past life, she hadn’t participated.

She didn’t know how to solve it.

Tao Lingling didn’t either.

She didn’t even know her own lair had once been a Xuan Yuan Sect base.

She just slaughtered a city, took the key, and moved in.

This place held a secret—the reason Xuan Yuan Sect had kidnapped the healers.

And Tang Qiaohuan would claim it.

“Get out. This isn’t for you.”

“Why not? That Qi Refining Layer Two over there can come. Why not me?
And you found this place because of me. You’re not keeping it all, are you?”

Two sentences, and the kind, honest father was speechless.

She darted to Gong Ning’s side.
“Elder, when there’s an opportunity—take me with you, won’t you?”

Gong Ning sighed.

She knew the girl’s stubbornness meant she had an agenda.

And if her mother was a fox spirit, she likely knew things Gong Ning didn’t.

“You may come.

But you must stay behind the Sword Immortal.”

“Got it!”

Always with the cheeky replies.

Ignoring the interruption, Gong Ning led the way forward.

Secret realms were perilous.

No one knew what lay ahead.

Water dripped—drip, drip—like a countdown to death.

With three Nascent Soul cultivators present, there was little to fear.

Outside, the Governance Institute was on alert, experts rushing in.

If the Xuan Yuan Sect was all here—this could end it in one strike.

Gong Ning stepped forward.

Just as she was about to take the next step, her senses flared.

She pulled back, threw a talisman onto the ground.

A formation instantly revealed itself.

“A Splitting Formation—meant to scatter us, then pick us off one by one.

Everyone, break it first. We can’t proceed otherwise.”

Gong Ning’s voice was calm, authoritative.

Yet there was always someone with ill intent.

And here, there happened to be someone not exactly team-oriented.

“Hm? Really that powerful?”

Tang Qiaohuan, as if curiosity had exploded, stepped onto the formation.

Gong Ning sensed disaster.

She tried to pull her back.

But the force was wrong—like the girl was pulling her in.

Even Jiang Yuyao didn’t react in time.

She never expected Gong Ning couldn’t stop a little girl.

In an instant, both vanished.

Gong Ning felt a dizzying spin—then fell onto something soft.

She felt her chest’s softness being wildly jostled—Tang Qiaohuan, pinned beneath her, was struggling.

Gong Ning’s face flushed.

She scrambled up—only to see Tang Qiaohuan pressing a finger to her lips.

Be quiet.

At that moment, two figures passed by—patrols—yet didn’t notice them at all.

After a long while, Tang Qiaohuan exhaled.

She was flushed, eyes hazy, lips glistening—almost intoxicating.

“Elder… you’re too impatient.

But if you want… you can do anything to me, you know?”