231: Chapter 230 Secret Realm Map

Qingyun Tower.

Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan to come here.

He sent Hu Nan to Qingyun Tower this time to gather detailed Intelligence on the Qingyun Ranking.

First, to confirm the Secret Realm entrance, the distribution of Yao Beasts, and the strength of the participating Cultivators, making full preparations for the upcoming competition;

Second, to collect various recent news from the cultivation world, looking for clues regarding Core Formation Medicinal Ingredients, qiankun tokens, and heavenly dao fragments;

Third, to keep an eye on Jiang Hui's movements and see if there was an Opportunity to trade for the qingling fruit from him.

Hu Nan raised his hand and pushed open the door to a fourth-floor private room, finding that over twenty Foundation Establishment Cultivators had already gathered there.

They were talking in low voices, occasionally mentioning the Qingyun Ranking and the Flowing Fire Sect, their expressions filled with anticipation.

When the crowd saw Hu Nan walk in, they all stood up and bowed to him.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Hu!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother Hu!"

"Senior Brother Hu, the first place on the Qingyun Ranking this time will definitely be yours!"

"Senior Brother Hu, please look after us in the future!"

Ever since Hu Nan became famous at the Exchange Meet the year before last, everyone had been very respectful toward him.

Surrounded by bows, Hu Nan only gave a slight nod before finding a seat and sitting down.

Seeing Hu Nan sit, the others also took their seats.

Hu Nan's gaze also shifted toward Jiang Hui.

He saw that Jiang Hui's expression was somewhat dejected, as if something was weighing on his mind.

Half an hour later, Jiang Lijuan, Senior Brother Wu Yong, Lin Hao, and the others arrived one after another.

This Foundation Establishment Gathering had officially begun.

"Recently, while tempering my spiritual power, I discovered that by deeply fusing spiritual power with my own Spiritual Root attribute, I can mobilize spiritual power to resist enemies faster even when facing high-level Yao Beasts. However, this Fusion method consumes a great deal of mental energy," a Wood Spiritual Root Cultivator said slowly, his tone carrying some of his insights.

"I, on the other hand, have some insights into state of mind cultivation. Cultivating immortality is not just about power, but also about the heart. Only with a stable state of mind can one remain clear-headed in the face of danger."

Everyone chimed in, sharing their cultivation insights one after another—techniques for tempering spiritual power, tricks for harmonizing Cultivation Techniques, and realizations about state of mind cultivation.

Hu Nan sat to the side, occasionally nodding slightly. He seemed to be listening calmly, but in reality, every word was clearly captured by Qin Changsheng. Qin Changsheng pondered secretly; although these insights were not as Heaven-Defying as his own System traits, they could still serve as references to aid his own cultivation.

About half an hour later, the sharing of cultivation insights gradually died down. Someone was the first to change the subject, turning the conversation toward the Qingyun Ranking.

These words instantly ignited everyone's interest. The atmosphere in the private room became increasingly heated as the conversation focused on the Qingyun Ranking, their eyes filled with anticipation and longing, mixed with a hint of hidden apprehension.

"Speaking of the Liuhuo Secret Realm, the most attractive thing is definitely the treasures inside!"

"I heard an Elder mention that within the Liuhuo Secret Realm, there are vast amounts of Heaven And Earth Treasures. Thousand-year Spiritual Plants and rare Ores can be found everywhere, and one might even encounter core Medicinal Ingredients needed for Core Formation. Finding just one could save years of bitter cultivation!"

"More than just Heaven And Earth Treasures! I've also heard that deep within the Liuhuo Secret Realm, there are divine abilities and Cultivation Techniques passed down from ancient times. These techniques are immensely powerful, far surpassing the basic ones we Cultivate now. If one were lucky enough to obtain one, their cultivation would surely advance by leaps and bounds, and they might even have hope of breaking through to the Golden Core Stage!"

"Everything you've said is true, but don't forget that within the Liuhuo Secret Realm, there are not only opportunities but also lethal dangers!"

"The Secret Realm is teeming with powerful Yao Beasts, from the Qi Refinement Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage. There are even rumors that Golden Core Stage Yao Beasts reside in its depths. They are incredibly strong; even a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator would have to avoid them. A slight lapse in judgment could lead to death!"

Hearing this, everyone's expressions turned solemn, their excitement now tinged with apprehension.

From the Liuhuo Secret Realm, the conversation moved to registration for the Qingyun Ranking, and then to the treasures of the Qingyun Ranking.

Qin Changsheng, far away in his small courtyard, noted down all of this information one by one.

Fifteen minutes later, seeing that everyone had stopped discussing the Qingyun Ranking, Jiang Lijuan stood up and said, "Fellow disciples, it is about time. Why don't we bring out the treasures we don't need and trade them?"

These words immediately piqued everyone's interest, and they all nodded in agreement.

On the path of cultivation, it is inevitable for Cultivators to have idle treasures, Spiritual Materials, or Cultivation Techniques. Rather than letting them go to waste, trading them with Fellow Daoists for things they urgently need is a good thing.

Moreover, with the Qingyun Ranking approaching, everyone wanted to prepare more resources to deal with the dangers of the Secret Realm.

Before anyone else could speak, Senior Brother Wu Yong was the first to stand up and say, "Everyone, I have a treasure here that I'm sure you will all find useful!"

"I have dozens of maps of the Liuhuo Secret Realm with detailed markings. With this map, we can avoid many dangers and locate treasures more accurately once we enter the Secret Realm. You can take one for just three Spirit Stones!"

"What? A map of the Liuhuo Secret Realm?"

"Is that for real? The Liuhuo Secret Realm has always been mysterious; how can there be a detailed map?"

As soon as Senior Brother Wu Yong finished speaking, a low exclamation rippled through the private room. Everyone's eyes instantly filled with urgency as they looked at him, their faces full of anticipation and inquiry.

The dangers of the Liuhuo Secret Realm were unknown. If they could have a detailed map, it would undoubtedly be an extra guarantee for their lives. Forget three Spirit Stones; even for ten, everyone would be willing to trade.

Without waiting for further questions, Senior Brother Wu Yong took a stack of yellowed maps from his Storage Pouch. Each one was marked with clear lines and emitted a faint fluctuation of spiritual power. They were clearly drawn on special material and were not easily damaged.

"Rest assured, everyone, this map is absolutely authentic. I obtained it by chance from a Senior. The places marked on it are all areas that have already been explored within the Secret Realm. It definitely won't mislead you!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd could no longer restrain themselves. They all stood up and crowded around Senior Brother Wu Yong, scrambling to produce three Spirit Stones to exchange for a map.

"Give me one!"

"I'll buy one too. Three Spirit Stones, exactly!"

For a moment, the private room became bustling as everyone vied to trade, their tones urgent, fearing they would miss out if they were too late.

Hu Nan also went to Senior Brother Wu Yong's side and spent three Spirit Stones to exchange for a map.

After getting the map, Hu Nan immediately put it into his Storage Space.

Far away in his small courtyard, Qin Changsheng also took the map out of his Storage Space.

Qin Changsheng slowly unfolded the map.

The map was very detailed. The locations of mountains, valleys, and spiritual springs within the Secret Realm were all clearly marked, and even the Ranks and numbers of Yao Beasts entrenched in different areas were noted.

From the gathering spots of Qi Refinement Stage Yao Beasts to the activity ranges of Foundation Establishment Stage Yao Beasts, everything was clear at a glance. With this map, he could precisely avoid the dens of high-level Yao Beasts after entering the Secret Realm and focus on finding treasures and slaying low-level Yao Beasts to earn Points.

But soon, Qin Changsheng noticed something unusual.

The northern region of the map was completely blank, without any markings. There were no lines for mountains or valleys, nor any descriptions of Yao Beast distribution, as if that area had never been explored, it felt somewhat mysterious and eerie.

Qin Changsheng wondered to himself: Was the map incomplete, or was the northern region too dangerous for anyone to have ever set foot there?

"Senior Brother Wu, why are there no markings for the north?" a Cultivator asked curiously.

"The north is too dangerous; it's better not to go there!" Senior Brother Wu Yong explained.

Hearing that the north was too dangerous, the expressions of many Cultivators shifted slightly, and they stopped asking. At the same time, they decided not to venture into the north to explore.

After putting away the map, Qin Changsheng turned his gaze toward Jiang Hui.

He knew that Jiang Hui possessed the qingling fruit.

This qingling fruit was one of the primary Medicinal Ingredients for Core Formation.

He saw Jiang Hui sitting there alone, a cup of untouched Spiritual Tea in front of him. His expression was dejected and his brow was furrowed, completely out of place with the bustling trade atmosphere around him.

With a thought, Qin Changsheng controlled Hu Nan to slowly stand up and approach Jiang Hui.

"Junior Brother Jiang, you look troubled. Is something the matter? If you're having difficulties, why not tell me? Perhaps I can help you think of a solution."

Jiang Hui glanced at Hu Nan and only shook his head slightly. "Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Hu. It's nothing major, just a small matter with my Family."

Seeing that Jiang Hui was unwilling to say more, it wasn't appropriate for Hu Nan to press further.

"Junior Brother Jiang, if you encounter any insurmountable difficulties in the future, feel free to come to me. As fellow disciples, we should look out for one another."

Hearing this, a flash of gratitude crossed Jiang Hui's eyes, but he still didn't say much. He only nodded slightly again and slowly lowered his head.

Seeing this, Hu Nan did not linger and turned to slowly return to his seat.