Chapter 485 - 264: Secret Realm Training, Teaching the Way of Laying Low

Su Qingxue’s mission was not difficult.

Deep within the Ancient Wood Secret Realm, there was a Cold Evil Well.

This well was quite peculiar; every thirty years, it would birth a Treasure called "Earth Cold Fiend."

This Treasure was a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object that could increase the chance of Foundation Establishment Success by ten percent.

Su Qingxue’s mission was to obtain this Earth Cold Fiend.

With her Foundation Establishment Power, seizing a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object that only increased the odds by ten percent should have been almost no problem.

But Su Yuyan was still worried and asked Li Chang’an to go with her.

"Brother Li, thank you."

"It’s nothing. Besides, it’s been a while since I’ve been out and about."

Li Chang’an smiled, his tone easygoing.

After a moment, Su Yuyan departed as a streak of Spiritual Light.

In the courtyard on Changqing Mountain, only Li Chang’an and Su Qingxue remained.

Su Qingxue asked, "Elder Li, when are we leaving for the Ancient Wood Secret Realm?"

"Let’s go today."

Li Chang’an had no desire to delay.

「Soon.」

The two of them transformed into two streaks of Spiritual Light and left Changqing Mountain.

Along the way, Su Qingxue informed Li Chang’an of the mission’s specific location.

"Elder Li, I’ve carefully studied the map of the Ancient Wood Secret Realm. Our route will take us through forty-four dangerous areas..."

Even before leaving the Sect, Su Qingxue had investigated everything thoroughly.

Thus, she was very confident.

She believed she could complete the mission even if she were alone and didn’t need Li Chang’an’s protection.

After all, the Ancient Wood Secret Realm was one of the earliest to be discovered, and many of its dangers had long since been marked.

With her Foundation Establishment Power, she would be fine as long as she was careful.

’I probably won’t run into any trouble on this trip.’

Su Qingxue thought to herself, stealing a glance at Li Chang’an.

She planned to use this trip to the Secret Realm to sound out Li Chang’an and see if he had any intention of settling down and starting a family.

’Master has waited for so many years; she can’t wait any longer. They’re both over a hundred years old. They can’t just die alone!’

Su Qingxue made up her mind to do everything she could to bring the two of them together.

「Before long.」

The pair entered the Ancient Wood Secret Realm.

The Secret Realm was unchanged, just as before, filled with towering ancient trees.

Li Chang’an asked, "Qingxue, is this your first time in the Ancient Wood Secret Realm?"

"Yes."

"Can you sense a feeling of sorrow?"

"Sorrow?"

Su Qingxue was taken aback.

She looked all around, trying to sense it for a moment, but she couldn’t feel the sorrow Li Chang’an had mentioned.

"Elder Li, you’re not having hallucinations, are you?"

"No. Let’s keep moving."

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly but didn’t explain.

He was somewhat special when it came to this Ancient Wood Secret Realm.

He could always sense a feeling of sorrow here, an experience no one else shared.

Li Chang’an had found it strange at first, but over time, he had grown used to it.

「In the days that followed.」

The two ventured deeper into the Ancient Wood Secret Realm, successfully avoiding all sorts of traps along the way.

Although they were attacked by Demon Beasts a few times, they were all just Tier One Minor Demons and posed no threat.

’Just as I thought, it’s going smoothly. I could handle these troubles by myself.’

Su Qingxue thought to herself.

After that, whenever the two of them rested, she would always, intentionally or not, ask about Li Chang’an and Su Yuyan.

"Why are you asking about this?"

Li Chang’an found it a bit strange but didn’t overthink it, earnestly recounting the events of the past.

Traveling intermittently, the two gradually neared their mission objective.

The Cold Evil Well was located within a stretch of Ancient Ruins.

「Before long.」

A sprawling expanse of an Ancient Sect’s ruins appeared before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

Su Qingxue said, "Elder, the Ancient Wood Secret Realm was discovered quite early on. These Sect ruins have long been explored, and there are no Treasures left. Let’s just go straight to the Cold Evil Well."

"Mm."

Li Chang’an nodded slightly.

The two entered the ruins and headed straight for the Cold Evil Well.

All they saw along the way were the collapsed pavilions and halls of the Ancient Sect, dilapidated and desolate, filled with the marks of time.

About an hour later.

A cry for help suddenly reached their ears.

"Is there a fellow Daoist nearby? I’m trapped in an Array, severely injured, and I can’t get out. If any fellow Daoist can hear me, please, help me..."

The voice belonged to a woman, and it was laced with pain and despair.

Su Qingxue froze, her gaze shifting toward the area where the voice originated.

"Elder, someone’s trapped. Let’s go take a look."

"No, wait a moment."

Li Chang’an stopped her.

"Qingxue, you can’t be too kind-hearted outside the Sect. Hasn’t Yuyan told you that?"

"But..."

Su Qingxue hesitated for a moment.

Just then, the cry for help rang out again, tinged with even more despair.

She hesitated no longer and rushed over as a streak of Spiritual Light.

"Elder, let’s just go and see. If something seems wrong, we can leave immediately."

Li Chang’an frowned and shook his head slightly.

’This young lady really is inexperienced.’

He activated his Fake Pill Divine Sense and scanned the area, immediately detecting several hidden presences.

’Just as I expected!’

This kind of situation was nothing new to Li Chang’an.

He followed as a streak of Spiritual Light and soon saw the person who had been crying for help.

It was a slender woman.

She was covered in injuries, her aura was weak, and she looked utterly pitiful. Large patches of her clothes were stained red with blood as she sat slumped against a large rock.

Around her, an Array flickered in and out of view.

As soon as she saw the two of them, she hurriedly cried out, "Fellow Daoists, please wait!"

Su Qingxue drew closer. Seeing how heavily injured the woman was, her doubts vanished.

She shifted her gaze to the Array and observed it for a moment.

"It looks like a Tier Two Low Grade Array. Fellow Daoist, how did you get trapped inside?"