Saving the White Moonlight Chapter 58

They used the same method as when they first entered. Yan Zhuguang used the beast blood stored in her inventory to open the stone gate, and the two left the hidden realm.
They did not leave the underground immediately. Yan Zhuguang turned back and looked thoughtfully at the stone gate.
“Inside the stone gate, I no longer sensed that demonic energy,” Yun Mixue said. “Looking at this stone gate now, it no longer gives the first impression that it is a hidden realm set up by demonic cultivators.”
Yan Zhuguang said, “The hidden realm can only be entered once. When the former sect master entered the hidden realm, the Heavenly Heart Five-Glow Lotus still needed ten years to mature. In other words, he entered the hidden realm at least ten years ago. If the Heavenly Heart Five-Glow Lotus had already matured long ago, then it may have been even longer.”
“If the demonic energy in this stone gate cannot recover by itself, then that proves when the sect master entered the hidden realm, this stone gate had not yet been built. And after this stone gate was built, no one else entered.”
Yun Mixue nodded.
When they had come, the demonic energy inside this stone gate had been very dense and had fooled both of them.
After they opened the stone gate and scattered the demonic energy, all the way until they came out of the hidden realm, the stone gate’s demonic energy had not recovered. Perhaps the demonic energy used to frighten people was a one-time thing.
“Then the stone gate pattern on that silk cloth was added by the sect master when he returned to this hidden realm three years ago and discovered this extra stone gate?” If that was the case, Yun Mixue could feel a little relieved.
Being involved with demonic cultivators was not a good thing. As long as the former sect master had no connection to demonic cultivators, that was enough. The matter would not be too complicated.
Yun Mixue was thinking about Fenghua Immortal Sect’s overall situation. As for a private matter like the former sect master’s illegitimate daughter, that was easier to handle. One more romantic scandal involving a dead sect master was far better than being connected to demonic cultivators.
Yan Zhuguang, however, was not as optimistic as Yun Mixue.
Why would the Dripping Blood Demon Domain suddenly build a stone gate here? And why use it only to scare people instead of using other methods to fully cut off people’s greed?
There was probably something hidden here.
Also, they had come to investigate the sect master’s cause of death. In the end, they had only uncovered some gossip. They still had no clue how the former sect master had died.
But everything they had seen now was only surface-level. They had not yet found a true chance to touch the truth. Right now, they were only looking at flowers through fog. There was still plenty to do.
One sect master had dragged out so much trouble. It was truly annoying. He had died and been done with it, yet Senior Sister still had to run around investigating him. Enough already.
Since they could not obtain more clues here, the two did not delay. Leaving behind this empty stone gate that no longer held a hidden realm, they returned to Fenghua Immortal Sect’s residence in Tianyu City.
When they returned to the courtyard, the elders who had come with Yun Mixue to investigate had also just returned.
Seeing Yun Mixue return, their attention first landed on her. “Lianji, you are back. Good timing. There is important news to tell you. Earlier, we sent you messages, but who knew where you were? We could not contact you at all.”
On the way back, Yun Mixue had discussed it with Yan Zhuguang. Yan Zhuguang did not mind letting Fenghua Immortal Sect’s people know about the hidden realm. As long as news of a heaven-defying thing like the Heavenly Heart Five-Glow Lotus did not leak, she believed a grand sect would not covet a young disciple’s opportunity.
Now that the elders asked, Yun Mixue said, “Lianji and Zhuguang went to explore a hidden realm that only Core Formation-level cultivators could enter. My cultivation was suppressed to Core Formation, and messages could not be sent inside the hidden realm. Perhaps that is why I did not receive them.”
A hidden realm restricted to Core Formation cultivation would have limited-quality treasures inside. It was not enough to arouse the interest of these elders, whose strength was at least late Nascent Soul.
However, after Yan Zhuguang was mentioned, they remembered this little genius who had refused to take a master three years ago and insisted on staying by Yun Mixue’s side. When they looked her over, they were instantly surprised.
Only three short years had passed, yet the little girl who had only been at the fourth level of Qi Refining was now at late Foundation Establishment. This cultivation speed was truly shocking.
Looking closely, they could not find the slightest sign of unstable haste on her. Instead, her foundation was solid and steady. How could that not surprise them?
“You little girl,” one elder could not help saying, “your cultivation speed is truly fast. Is this the cultivation speed of a spiritual root and physique perfectly suited to each other?”
If she could keep this cultivation speed, perhaps before long, Yan Zhuguang could step into the ranks of core disciples.
Perhaps reaching Great Ascension and ascending was also within sight.
The current Fenghua Immortal Sect truly lacked a disciple who could reach Great Ascension and ascend.
For a moment, the gazes of the elders toward Yan Zhuguang became rather heated.
Before these elders, Yan Zhuguang did not yet have the right to speak. Yun Mixue explained for her, “It is related to the hidden realm Lianji mentioned. Zhuguang obtained that hidden realm’s inheritance.”
In truth, Yan Zhuguang had broken through to late Foundation Establishment before receiving the inheritance. But with Yun Mixue saying it this way, those elders thought Yan Zhuguang had accepted some inheritance power after receiving the inheritance, which brought her to her current strength.
Who said good people had no little thoughts? To change the meaning, one only needed a bit of verbal art.
The elders suddenly understood and were no longer as surprised by Yan Zhuguang’s cultivation speed. Of course, they still thought very highly of Yan Zhuguang’s future.
Next, it was time for Yun Mixue and the elders to discuss important matters. Yan Zhuguang very tactfully asked to leave. Yun Mixue thought for a moment and agreed, not asking her to stay.
If they fully explained the hidden realm matter, it would inevitably involve the Wall-Wind Formation and the Heavenly Heart Five-Glow Lotus. At that time, Yan Zhuguang might not be able to keep the Heavenly Heart Five-Glow Lotus secret. That was something neither Yun Mixue nor Yan Zhuguang wanted to see.
The hidden realm’s information could only be revealed selectively. At least, the matter of the Dripping Blood Demon Domain had to be reported to the sect. As for how much to reveal, they would have to see the situation first.
Yan Zhuguang left the main hall. On the way back to her room, she happened to meet Yun Changyue and Chu Ningyan, who were returning from outside the courtyard.
The moment Chu Ningyan saw Yan Zhuguang, she asked, “Senior Sister is back?”
“Yes,” Yan Zhuguang answered.
“It has only been a few days, yet you already broke through to late Foundation Establishment?” Yun Changyue looked Yan Zhuguang up and down and exclaimed, “Little Zhuguang’s cultivation speed is so fast.”
Chu Ningyan had originally not noticed Yan Zhuguang’s cultivation. Only after Yun Changyue seemed to casually exclaim did she realize what had felt off earlier.
She could not help frowning, thinking about something. After a while, she said, “Where did you and Senior Sister go?”
Yan Zhuguang seemed innocent and carefree. “This disciple happened to discover a hidden realm. Since I had never explored a hidden realm before and did not understand them well, I asked Senior Sister to accompany me and take a look.”
“Senior Sister said she had learned a clue about the former sect master and went to investigate privately. I did not expect she was accompanying Little Zhuguang to explore a hidden realm? It seems Little Zhuguang obtained quite a few good things there,” Yun Changyue said with a sigh.
Yan Zhuguang observed their expressions from the corner of her eye. Chu Ningyan had never liked her much and had always treated her neither warmly nor coldly.
Now, hearing that Senior Sister had “put aside sect business to explore a hidden realm with her,” disapproval appeared in Chu Ningyan’s eyes. And the look she gave Yan Zhuguang rose from simple dislike to the level of “beauty that brings disaster.”
For some reason, seeing that look did not make Yan Zhuguang angry. Instead, she felt secretly pleased.
Yun Changyue was different. This woman, who had always resented Senior Sister, now looked completely normal, as if she were only curious about Senior Sister’s whereabouts. If Yan Zhuguang had not seen the slight flicker in her eyes, which seemed to be calculating something, she might have believed it.
Chu Ningyan glanced at Yun Changyue with unclear meaning, then asked Yan Zhuguang in a bad mood, “Where is Senior Sister now?”
“Senior Sister is discussing important matters with several elders. It seems to be related to clues discovered in that hidden realm.”
Chu Ningyan paused. She had thought Senior Sister had been charmed by Yan Zhuguang into confusing public and private matters. She had not expected there to really be some clue in that hidden realm.
Looking at Yan Zhuguang’s innocent face, she vaguely felt that she had been played by this little girl.
She did not believe Yan Zhuguang truly knew nothing.
Yun Changyue asked, “What clues? What did Senior Sister find in the hidden realm?”
Yun Changyue’s tone carried a hint of urgency. Yan Zhuguang had no intention of explaining it to her. She used a strange expression and asked back with full confidence, “This is confidential. How would this disciple know?”
Yun Changyue came back to herself and seemed to feel she had lost composure. She smiled at Yan Zhuguang. “Senior Sister did not think carefully. Thank you, Little Zhuguang.”
She said to Chu Ningyan, “Senior Sister Chu, we also found some information. Since Senior Sister and the elders are here, we can report to them now.”
Chu Ningyan did not refuse. “That works.”
She stared at Yan Zhuguang. “Stay obediently in the courtyard. Properly stabilize the cultivation you just broke through to. Do not run around again. If something happens, you will only make Senior Sister worry.”
Yan Zhuguang’s thoughts moved, but her face remained obedient. “Yes, this disciple understands.”
Under Chu Ningyan’s gaze, Yan Zhuguang obediently returned to her room. She closed the door and immediately set up a formation around herself to block investigation.
She was now at late Foundation Establishment. The formation she set could withstand Core Formation spiritual sense investigation without a problem.
She sat by the bed and spoke as if to herself, yet also as if speaking to someone. “Something probably happened outside.”
The system said, “Host means Chu Ningyan warned Host not to go out casually because something happened?”
Yan Zhuguang nodded.
“One wave has not settled, and another rises.” The system only felt its head grow large. It always felt that following this host made quests easier to complete, but the difficulty level rose by a lot. Being Host really was not easy.
“This hidden realm trip was not without gain.”
Yan Zhuguang already had some thoughts in her heart.
The system grew excited after hearing this and hurriedly asked, “Host, what do you know?”
Yan Zhuguang disliked the system’s fussing, but when she thought that she was the only one who could hear it, she endured it.
In any case, it had no chance to embarrass her.
“Su Qian’er’s body was born with a defect. She is weak and sickly, and no cause can be found. Even the cultivation world’s various spiritual medicines cannot save her. Do you know what that means?”
“What?”
“She is very likely the child of an immortal cultivator and a demonic cultivator.”
“A child of an immortal cultivator and a demonic cultivator? What is that?” It sounded powerful.
“In my world, that referred to a child born from a high-level immortal cultivator above Nascent Soul and a high-level demonic cultivator. Cultivators and demonic cultivators have auras as opposed as water and fire. A child born between them is either a genius or born flawed. The former is one in ten thousand, while the latter is the norm.”
The system sucked in a cold breath. “Host means Su Qian’er is the illegitimate daughter of the former sect master and a demonic cultivator?”
Yan Zhuguang nodded. “The possibility is extremely high.”