First Entry into the Secret Realm

“Om—!”

The moment she stepped inside, Lu Qiancha felt her connection with heaven and earth suddenly severed.

Lu Qiancha frowned and cursed “damned Heavens” in her heart.

There was no lightning, nor was there thunder; the interior of the secret realm remained as tranquil as ever.

It seemed the Heavenly Dao’s perception of her had also been cut off.

Lu Qiancha slowly suppressed the strange feeling in her heart and looked around with vigilance.

The scene that greeted her eyes, however, caused a stir of surprise in her heart.

Before her lay a boundless grassland, where thick, soft meadows covered gently rolling slopes.

Herds of cattle and sheep were like clouds inlaid upon a green carpet, pacing leisurely. Sometimes they buried their heads to graze on fresh grass laden with dew; other times they stopped chewing to look up and let out a few “Moo~” or “Baa~” sounds, flicking their tails.

Not far away, several snow-white steeds were stretching their necks and neighing, followed by a galloping herd of horses. Their manes flew in the wind, their hooves striking the ground with dull thuds.

The warning bells in Lu Qiancha’s heart did not fade, and she subconsciously gripped the Trickery Cube tightly in her paw. Its cold, hard texture brought a trace of imperceptible reassurance.

She turned her gaze to the five accompanying members of the Frost Ice Camp, forcing a humble smile of a junior onto her face: “Big brothers, this little brother is new to this place and only knows a little about its mysteries. I wonder if I could trouble you to explain the situation of this secret realm to me?”

As she spoke, her paw reached into her sleeve and fished out five medium-grade spirit stones, which were rich in spiritual energy and glowed with a restrained luster.

Her movements were fluid and natural, precisely flicking them towards the five soldiers without a trace.

“A small token of appreciation, just some tea money for troubling you all with my protection. I hope you won’t refuse.”

Lu Qiancha’s voice was clear and sincere.

The silver-armored captain in the lead swept his gaze under his helmet over the incoming spirit stone.

He did not raise his hand; he merely tilted the angle of his helmet slightly. The spirit stone shot towards him hit his armor with a light “ding” and bounced onto the ground.

The other four, however, flipped their wrists the moment the spirit stones flew in front of them. They precisely tucked the incoming objects under the armor at their chests.

Seeing this, Lu Qiancha said nothing and simply picked up the spirit stone that had fallen to the ground.

Then, a slightly lean soldier among the five chuckled and said, “I am Yong Huai. Thank you for the generous gift, Young Master. Since the Young Master has asked, Yong Huai will naturally tell you everything I know.”

“I’ll trouble Big Brother Yong Huai to enlighten me.”

Lu Qiancha’s heart moved slightly, and her face became even more humble.

Yong Huai cleared his throat and lowered his voice a few notches: “The mountains, rivers, birds, beasts, tall grass, and flying warblers that the Young Master sees…”

He pointed vaguely at the leisurely grazing cattle and sheep and the galloping horses, continuing, “They seem vivid and lifelike, within reach, but in reality, they are all bubbles and shadows. They are all but a great dream.”

“Oh?”

Lu Qiancha raised an eyebrow and looked at Yong Huai behind her, asking, “What does Big Brother mean by this?”

“Anyone who dies in this realm will not truly die, but their soul will return to the entrance.

“Everything gained, every experience, will vanish like smoke and clouds. It will be like waking from a dream, a busy effort for nothing.”

Yong Huai said with a smile.

“Then according to Fellow Daoist, isn’t everything produced in this secret realm like the moon in the water? A big dream?”

Lu Qiancha’s heart sank; she was still counting on this secret realm to produce the Shapeshifting Stone for her.

“No, no.”

Yong Huai raised a finger and wagged it repeatedly, a smile piling up on his face again: “One can catch the moon even in bubbles. Young Master, remember this: if you bring an item from the secret realm out alive, then that item will transform from the void into reality.”

Hearing this, Lu Qiancha felt much more relieved. She continued to ask, “Can Big Brother tell me more about this secret realm?”

“Naturally, I will answer everything I know.”

Yong Huai nodded and continued, “The Heavenly Secret Camp uses dreams as a metaphor for the realm, dividing this secret realm into three layers, named the Shallow, Mid, and Deep Dream Domains.”

“Please, Big Brother, describe the secrets of these three Dream Domains in detail for this little brother.”

Lu Qiancha immediately took out another medium-grade spirit stone and naturally stuffed it into Yong Huai’s outstretched palm.

Seeing another spirit stone in his hand, the smile in Yong Huai’s eyes deepened, almost narrowing into a slit: “Young Master is straightforward. Yong Huai will naturally tell you with all sincerity.”

He paused and continued, “Where we are now is the Shallow Dream Domain.

“Just as the Young Master sees now, it is like first waking from a dream, peaceful and serene, without wind or waves.

“But this is only the appearance. Young Master must not let down your guard.”

His tone suddenly became solemn:

“Further back is the Mid-Dream Domain. The water is deep and the dream is heavy. There, it is grotesque and colorful, with fierce creatures lurking in the dark. Killing intent is everywhere.”

Yong Huai paused and turned solemnly to Lu Qiancha: “Once we step inside, I ask the Young Master to follow us closely. Do not act alone, or the consequences will be unimaginable.”

“Fellow Daoist, rest assured, this little brother is not a reckless person.”

Lu Qiancha understood and nodded steadily. She didn’t intend to linger in this secret realm anyway.

“Young Master is reasonable.”

Yong Huai smiled even more enthusiastically, then continued, “As for the deepest part, the Deep Dream Domain, it is the true core of this realm. Yong Huai does not know the scenery within, nor do I dare to speak rashly. There is only one thing known to all: those who enter have a slim chance of survival and are in extreme danger.”

Saying this, Yong Huai calmly glanced at Lu Qiancha. Seeing her expression remain indifferent as usual, without a trace of shrinking fear, he continued, “Therefore, if the Young Master has ever had the thought of stepping into the Deep Dream, it is best to dispel it as soon as possible.”

Hearing this, Lu Qiancha shook her head calmly.

Her voice was clear and powerful: “To be honest with you all, this little brother came here for the Shapeshifting Stone. If the Shapeshifting Stone is hidden in the core of the secret realm, then I must venture into this Deep Dream.”

“Hahaha!”

Yong Huai suddenly let out a relieved laugh. His voice rose abruptly, full of confidence: “So that’s it. Young Master need not worry. The main breeding ground for the Shapeshifting Stone is located in the Myriad Phantoms Hinterland of the Mid-Dream Domain. There is no need to go to that desperate place of certain death. Besides…”

Before his voice had fallen, the silver-helmeted man who had been silent in the front suddenly spoke: “Besides, without a Sacred Artifact, even if you search every inch of the Mid Domain, it is absolutely impossible to step half a step into the Deep Dream. It is better to give up on this idea early.”

Hearing this, Yong Huai smiled awkwardly and said to Lu Qiancha, “We are just martial artists, and our speech is inevitably crude. I hope the Young Master will not take offense.”

Lu Qiancha merely shrugged slightly upon hearing this, her voice calm and waveless: “It’s fine.”

She then stepped forward to keep up, as if the captain’s harsh words were nothing but a breeze brushing her face.

During the march, Lu Qiancha used spirit stones to clear the way and engaged in conversation whenever possible…

She forcefully tore an opening in the iron-bucket-like cold five-person squad, and the atmosphere with the other four, except for the captain, gradually heated up.

The sound of talking and laughing, interesting anecdotes mixed with the friendship of clinking spirit stones, actually diluted the originally solemn and cold atmosphere a bit, even bringing a hint of relaxation.

Only the silver-armored captain remained silent as a moving iceberg.

The gaze under his helmet vigilantly scanned every shadowy corner of the grassland that might hide danger, silently opening up a safe path ahead.