Chapter 4 The Rejected Girl – Xiao Yueying

Early the next morning, just as the sky began to lighten, Xiao Yueying was already fully dressed and practicing her fist techniques in the open yard. With every punch she threw, thunderclaps rumbled in the air, as if her very bones were forged from refined steel.

Uncle Liang stood at a distance, watching. Only when Xiao Yueying finished her set and retracted her fists did he step forward.

“Miss… your cultivation has already reached the Ninth Heaven of the Foundation Establishment Realm?”

His voice trembled with excitement, unable to conceal his emotion. Three years ago, ever since Feng Hen came to the Xiao family to cancel their engagement, Xiao Yueying had left home to cultivate.

It was only a few days ago that she returned, saying she intended to venture into the Vast Mountains in search of opportunities. Having watched her grow up, Uncle Liang had volunteered to be her guide.

But never in his wildest dreams did he imagine that Xiao Yueying would advance from the third level of the Qi Refinement Realm to the Ninth Heaven of the Foundation Establishment Realm in just three short years!

Such an astonishing cultivation speed would shake the entire Chixiao Divine Dynasty if word got out. If Xiao Yueying had been considered a top-tier prodigy before losing her cultivation, then now, she was nothing short of a once-in-a-century monster!

Xiao Yueying smiled faintly but said nothing. She knew exactly how she had achieved her current level of strength. Part of it was her own tireless effort, but much of it was thanks to that person’s help.

Uncle Liang said with excitement, “With your current cultivation, even the Grand Elder would have to show you respect. Others wouldn’t dare speak down to you. Why risk venturing into the Vast Mountains for some elusive opportunity?”

Xiao Yueying replied calmly, “Those in the clan who bully the weak and fear the strong have never been worth my concern. The only one I want to face… is Feng Hen. And with my current strength, I’m still no match for him.”

She had already found out that Feng Hen had broken through to the third level of the Core Formation Realm just last month and had even condensed the Supreme Purple Core, earning him the title of the number one prodigy of the Chixiao Divine Dynasty!

There was an insurmountable chasm between the Foundation Establishment Realm and the Core Formation Realm. No matter how monstrous one’s talent was, it was impossible to fight across such a vast gap in cultivation.

What was more, Feng Hen was the personal disciple of the Sect Master of the Immortal Spirit Ancient Sect—his inheritance was no weaker than hers. That was why only by breaking through to the Core Formation Realm would she stand a sliver of a chance to defeat Feng Hen.

But breaking through to the Core Formation Realm was no easy feat. In the entire Chixiao Divine Dynasty, Core Formation cultivators were rare and few, with many being regional lords or nobles who held great power.

To break through safely within a single month was nearly impossible. She had no choice but to venture into the Vastmount Mountains in search of a rare opportunity.

Uncle Liang sighed and said, “Since you’ve made up your mind, miss, this old servant won’t try to dissuade you. The Vastmount Mountains have existed for countless ages—perhaps even before the Ancient Epoch. There are countless fortunes hidden within. Throughout history, many have stumbled upon great encounters within and soared to greatness. This old servant believes that with your luck, you will surely obtain what you seek.”

A spark of excitement flashed in Xiao Yueying’s beautiful eyes as she walked toward the mountains, asking, “The Vastmount Mountains really existed before the Ancient Epoch? I thought all history before the Ancient Epoch had vanished?”

Uncle Liang replied, “Mountains and stones—lifeless things—are eternal. The Vastmount Mountains indeed date back to before the Ancient Epoch, though no one has ever found traces of the Mythical Era within. Perhaps those who did chose to keep it hidden. Such a powerful era couldn’t have been completely erased.”

But Xiao Yueying didn’t think so.

The vast and boundless Cangmang Mountain Range had long been known for the countless fortuitous encounters people had within it—surely not everyone kept theirs a secret?

If there truly were clues left behind from the Mythical Era, wouldn’t it have already caused a massive stir? So why is it that, even now, everything about that era remains a blank?

The two of them continued their ascent and, in the blink of an eye, had already been walking for over half an hour. Beads of sweat gradually appeared on Uncle Liang’s forehead as he muttered in confusion, “Strange… why is it so hot here? It’s already autumn.”

Xiao Yueying, being a cultivator, could withstand temperatures over a hundred degrees without issue, so she hadn’t immediately noticed the change in heat.

But Uncle Liang was just an ordinary mortal. He could clearly feel that the temperature in this dense forest was over ten degrees higher than in other areas. And the closer they got to a certain direction, the hotter it became.

Once Xiao Yueying became alert, she quickly noticed the difference in temperature as well. The two of them followed the direction the heat was coming from and arrived in front of an ancient tree.

“Is this tree the source of the heat?”

Uncle Liang stared at the ancient tree in astonishment.

Xiao Yueying narrowed her eyes slightly and raised her hand to reach toward the tree. Her palm sank right into it and disappeared without a trace!

“Miss, this… this is…”

Uncle Liang was so overwhelmed with excitement he could barely speak.

Xiao Yueying nodded, suppressing her excitement, and said, “This is a secret realm!”

The term “secret realm” was no stranger to cultivators of the Xuanxian Continent—in fact, it was considered a sacred land longed for by all. Because a secret realm meant treasures!

Since ancient times, countless peerless powerhouses had risen, and behind them were always traces of secret realms. It was said that the founding ancestor of the Chixiao Divine Dynasty had once stumbled upon a secret realm, which caused his cultivation to soar rapidly, eventually leading to the founding of the dynasty itself.

For those who were neither descendants of great clans nor extraordinary geniuses, finding a secret realm was often their only path to power. This was why so many people risked everything, venturing deep into the vast Cangmang Mountains one after another.

Xiao Yueying hadn’t expected to discover a secret realm less than an hour after entering the mountains. Taking a deep breath, she solemnly said, “Uncle Liang, stand behind me. This secret realm could be dangerous.”

Uncle Liang nodded nervously.

The two of them, one in front and one behind, stepped straight through the trunk of the ancient tree and entered an entirely different world.