Chapter 153

Chapter 153: The Secret Realm of the Scorchfire Wasteland

At that table sat four people: two at early Foundation Establishment and two at the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Curious about the “secret realm” they mentioned, Rong Shu quietly pricked up her ears to eavesdrop.

One man said with rising excitement: “This is a great opportunity. If we can get our hands on a treasure or two in that secret realm, we’ll make a killing.” Another muttered doubtfully: “I’ve heard of the Scorchfire Secret Realm too, but is it really that mystical?”

The group’s only bald cultivator, flushed with impatience, declared: “Of course! Two hundred years ago, Daoist Xun accidentally obtained the inheritance of a fallen great cultivator inside that secret realm. From then on he left the era’s prodigies in the dust, and his pill refinement and fire-controlling arts reached such mastery that few could compare.”

The black-faced cultivator across from him chimed in: “I’ve heard that Daoist Xun acquired a few torn pages back then. If someone were to find other, more complete treasures in the secret realm, even a cultivator with terrible aptitude could soar to the heavens and become a peerless heaven-favored genius!”

The bald cultivator extended an invitation to the other three: “In the next few days I plan to gamble on the Scorchfire Secret Realm. Brothers, want to go with me?”

The other three were clearly tempted and agreed one after another: “Hahaha! Just what I had in mind. Let’s travel together.” “Count me in.” “…”

Rong Shu took a fruit from her Storage Pouch and passed it to Little Hamster, then, after thinking it over, rose and walked to their table: “Fellow Daoists, pardon the interruption. What’s the origin of the secret realm you were discussing?”

The four, who had been eating meat and drinking happily, were suddenly approached by a stranger and looked at her with puzzlement and caution. Meeting their eyes without fluster, Rong Shu gave a shy smile: “I just set out to temper myself, so I’m not very familiar with most things in the cultivation world.”

The bald cultivator, the strongest of the four with a mid Foundation Establishment aura, answered on their behalf: “So that’s how it is. Anyone who’s spent a little time in our world knows that two hundred years ago, a secret realm appeared on the Scorchfire Wasteland.”

He went on: “It’s said to be the cave residence of a fallen great cultivator. Naturally it’s full of rare treasures, and after long years of evolution it became a small world of its own.”

Rong Shu voiced a doubt: “If the secret realm is that wonderful, would it really be left for us rogue cultivators to fight over the chances? Wouldn’t the big sects guard it and claim it for themselves?”

Among the four, a sharp-chinned cultivator downed a bowl of spirit wine, wiped his mouth, and said: “As if the big sects wouldn’t want to. But the Scorchfire Secret Realm has two peculiarities that break any plan to monopolize it.”

Rong Shu cupped her hands politely, doing the junior’s courtesies as she said sincerely: “Which two? Please enlighten me, fellow Daoists.”

The bald cultivator smiled: “It’s no secret; I don’t mind chatting about it.”

He seemed very talkative, though the other three stayed rather aloof. Seeing this, Rong Shu smiled and said: “A chance meeting is fate; allow me to treat you to this round.”

The bald cultivator laughed heartily: “Hahaha… you’re too kind, little brother.” The other three looked surprised for a moment, then their expressions eased; after all, they’d been chatting happily when a stranger butted in, and that is never pleasant. Since Rong Shu was so considerate, they could not keep scowling.

The bald cultivator began to explain the Scorchfire Secret Realm: “First, no matter who goes in, no matter how powerful, everyone’s cultivation is suppressed to below the Golden Core Stage. Even Talismans and arrays you bring in won’t display power beyond the Golden Core Stage.”

He continued: “Second, the Scorchfire Secret Realm has no fixed entrance. If you are within five hundred li of where it opens, the realm will randomly select people and pull them in.”

Rong Shu asked curiously: “Random? Then how do you make sure you get in? If your luck is bad, wouldn’t you never enter?”

The black-faced cultivator took over the explanation: “Little brother, that’s where you’re mistaken. The so-called random selection has a prerequisite: only those carrying Scorchfire Ore on their person can be chosen by the realm. Carry Scorchfire Ore and you’ll be drawn in within a day. Scorchfire Ore is everywhere on the Scorchfire Wasteland, and that wasteland is the main training ground for rogue cultivators. The big sects can’t possibly seal off the whole wasteland, and doing so would look ugly and stir public anger, so they leave it alone.”

Rong Shu nodded in dawning comprehension: “So that’s how it is. Thank you for telling me, fellow Daoists.”

The one who had spoken least—a white-haired elder—finally asked, his tone meaningful: “Little brother, are you thinking of going to the Scorchfire Secret Realm too?”

Rong Shu admitted a little sheepishly: “I’m tempted and want to give it a try.”

The old cultivator warned slowly: “The Scorchfire Secret Realm may be good, but you need the life to go in and the life to come back out. You’re only at the third layer of Qi Refining; if you run into a Foundation Establishment cultivator, you might not even be able to run.”