Chapter 25 - Arc 2: The Linyuan Small Secret Realm | Chapter 25: Heavenly Trick

Translator: Lynn

Xu Ziqing, who was only at the first level of Qi refinement and had embarked on the path of immortality a few months ago, didn’t experience a significant psychological shock.

After a brief period of despondency, a sense of amusement suddenly washed over him.

Since his reincarnation, Xu Ziqing had initially desired a simple life as a peaceful mountain dweller in Xu’s family village. However, circumstances compelled him to join the Main family and embark on the grand journey of immortality-seeking. Yet, just as he was about to immerse himself in the pursuit of eternal beauty, he was thrust back to square one, returning to where it all began.

He couldn’t help but wonder if the heavens were playing a trick on him, subjecting him to such a setback. Despite his determination to cultivate immortality, his physical body refused to cooperate, perhaps indicating the hand of fate.

Despite this realization, Xu Ziqing still felt a tinge of reluctance, so he sat on the ground, meditating and absorbing heaven and earth’s spiritual energy.

As before, the spiritual energy entered through the heavenly spirit and flowed through the spiritual root into the dantian. However, this place was like a cracked water tank; as soon as the spiritual energy entered, it leaked out and couldn’t be stored. The remainder dispersed into his limbs, dissipating into the surroundings.

After persistently attempting to meditate for a while, the outcome remained unchanged, prompting Xu Ziqing to cease his fruitless efforts.

“It’s true…” he mumbled, a faint sense of disappointment mingling with regret in his heart.

As someone who once pursued immortality, he should align with the Heavenly Dao. If the Heavenly Dao obstructed his progress, he should cultivate tranquility and return to his natural state.

Abandoning his meditation posture, Xu Ziqing casually laid down on his back, his arms resting against the sky.

It felt as if he had returned to the village, with a gentle breeze caressing his face, lulling him into a peaceful slumber.

While savoring the aroma of grass and trees, he suddenly felt a fluttering sensation near his chest, tickling him. Xu Ziqing intended to ignore it, but to his surprise, a series of chirps filled the air.

When he raised his gaze, he discovered a joyfully hopping baby bird in front of him.

As Xu Ziqing contemplated, a memory surfaced—he had heard the chirping of baby birds when he was unconscious. Could it be them? With a faint smile, he extended his palm, inviting the bird.

The little bird tilted its head for a moment, then hopped onto Xu Ziqing’s palm, chirping merrily.

Distracted by the delightful sounds, Xu Ziqing sat up once more. The fledgling leaped to the side, and when Xu Ziqing turned his gaze, he noticed a few broken eggshell pieces. Recognition dawned upon him in an instant.

Wasn’t this the eagle egg he had obtained in the secret realm? It had already hatched.

As Xu Ziqing beheld the young eagle that had nestled in his lapel, his heart warmed.

He drew the hatchling closer and spoke softly, “So, it’s you. I didn’t recognize you earlier. Are you mad at me?”

The eagle hopped twice, emitting a chirp.

Xu Ziqing chuckled, “Alright, I can’t understand your words, so I’ll assume you’re not mad at me.”

Once again, the eagle tilted its head, emitting another chirp.

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Ziqing suggested, “You and I have a rare opportunity. How about becoming partners? If you agree, you can show me that you’ll be my companion, and in return, I will give you a name.”

The eagle appeared to comprehend, leaping onto Xu Ziqing’s shoulder and playfully rolling around his neck.

Xu Ziqing found amusement in the situation and chuckled, saying, “Great, great! You won’t be disappointed if you stay with me.” Recalling the appearance of the eagle’s parents, he noticed that the young eagle’s fledgling feathers were just beginning to show hints of black. He continued, “Your mother had black feathers, while your father had golden ones. In my previous life, ‘Chong Hua’ symbolized the star of the year, which represents the wood element. The cultivation path I pursued was also focused on wood energy, although I can no longer cultivate it. By taking the name ‘Chonghua’ and being by my side, you’ll carry on your parents’ legacy and also serve as a reminder of the past.”

The hatchling tapped its claws together, as if in agreement.

Xu Ziqing then called out, “Chonghua.”

The hatchling responded with a chirp.

With Chonghua by his side, some of Xu Ziqing’s regrets faded away. He patted his body and realized that all the injuries that had previously covered him had completely healed.

He recalled the moments when he had unconsciously meditated, and how the spiritual energy had entered his body, not accumulating in his dantian but nourishing his physical form instead. Fortunately, his spiritual roots remained intact. While the spiritual energy from heaven and earth could be fierce and turbulent, once filtered through his spiritual roots, it became gentler. Moreover, his body, being of the wood element, possessed a nurturing and boundless energy. It permeated his entire being, dissolving all internal injuries.

Reflecting on this, Xu Ziqing found himself in a good mood.

If his body continued to be nourished by spiritual qi, he could live a healthy and ailment-free life. Although he couldn’t cultivate, it was still a significant advantage compared to his previous life when he was unable to take any action. He no longer harbored any greedy desires.

At this moment, he completely let go of his past, smiled, and gently touched the head of the curled-up Chonghua with his index finger before moving forward.

The surroundings were picturesque, but Xu Ziqing had no idea where the secret realm was located. Since there was no one around, he had to explore the area to understand how he had arrived there.

While taking a few steps, Xu Ziqing suddenly felt a sense of unease. When he raised his hand, he noticed a ring on his left little finger. The ring had a weight to it and was crafted from an unknown material, its black surface shining with a distinctive luster. At first glance, Xu Ziqing knew that it was no ordinary object. The ring had the form of a dragon’s head and tail, a design that seemed oddly familiar.

Startled, Xu Ziqing instinctively reached for his neck, realizing that the rope he had worn was now gone. As he glanced to the side, he confirmed his suspicion—the red rope had broken and lay on the grass.

What could be the reason for this?

He attempted to remove the ring, but it refused to budge. It fit his little finger snugly, the antique appearance complementing Xu Ziqing’s fair skin. Unable to comprehend its significance, he decided to put it out of his mind. Most likely, it was a magical weapon. Glancing down, he noticed blood stains on his chest lapel, which had caused the faded and worn appearance, revealing the gold and jade within. Xu Ziqing couldn’t determine its grade, but to make a magical weapon usable, cultivators often had to let it be touched by their blood to acknowledge them as the owner and then refine it to unleash its full potential.

Unfortunately, Xu Ziqing now found himself in the mundane world, his spiritual power dispersed. He had left traces of it in his flesh and blood, but he couldn’t extract or activate it, let alone wield the power of the magical weapon.

With his hands hanging by his sides, Xu Ziqing continued walking forward. His senses remained sharp, and he could faintly hear the sound of water crashing not too far away. Since he had awakened here after falling into the lake, there must be a connection.

As he proceeded, he noticed wet marks on the ground and various remnants of water, boosting his confidence and hastening his pace.

After walking for about two or three hundred steps, the lush green grass disappeared, and a rocky outcrop came into view, leaving Xu Ziqing astonished. The rock seemed to merge with a stone cave. He had descended from the bottom of the lake, so how did he end up in the mountains?

However, as he reached the end, he realized his initial assumption was incorrect.

Before him stretched a long slope leading to a cave. The cave wasn’t particularly tall, but shallow water flowed gently through it, creating a refreshing mist that carried the subtle scent of water. The rumbling sound grew nearer, resembling an echoing roar. Xu Ziqing cautiously descended the slippery slope, determined to uncover the source of the commotion.

The slope proved treacherous and challenging to traverse, but Xu Ziqing remained extremely cautious, valuing his own life. Upon reaching the bottom, he encountered a pond of extremely shallow water, barely reaching his ankles. As he tripped over the water, his gaze fell upon some moist mud ahead—a mixture of black and red soil, incredibly fertile.

As the sound of rushing water grew louder, Xu Ziqing couldn’t resist looking up, and his jaw dropped in awe.

Outside the stone cave, an enormous water vortex hung high above the ground—a breathtaking spectacle!

The upside-down water vortex spun like a rotating wheel, emitting thunderous roars and creating mountain-like explosions. The scene was as awe-inspiring as a celestial weapon descending upon the world! The deafening sound of rushing water emanated from the whirlpool itself.

The natural wonder was so magnificent and peculiar that Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but feel captivated and entranced. His mind wandered, completely absorbed by the sight before him. After a while, he gradually realized that he had ended up at the lake’s bottom and had survived by sheer chance. In light of this, he abandoned the idea of trying to leave. The tumultuous noise above was too formidable for his weakened body to contend with. Reflecting on the beauty of the cave, it seemed like a blessed sanctuary where he would be treated kindly by the heavens if he were to take up residence within its confines.

Lost in his thoughts, Xu Ziqing was pecked twice by the baby eagle.

In response, the eagle turned around and eagerly hopped toward the cave, displaying clear anxiety.

Unable to ignore its distress, Xu Ziqing followed the eagle inside. While the water vortex was indeed magnificent, he reassured himself that it could be witnessed every day, and there was no need to be fixated on a single moment.

The eagle’s agitation hastened Xu Ziqing’s pace. He leisurely admired the verdant scenery along the way. It was only when he reached a waist-high plant that the eagle’s cries ceased, causing Xu Ziqing to halt as well.

The eagle swiftly leaped down and began scratching at the plant’s roots with its claws. The soil was displaced, revealing larvae that were unlike the typical dark-colored insects found underground. These larvae were plump, white, and incredibly innocent-looking.

Xu Ziqing was taken aback, but he quickly grasped the situation.

The eagle bent down, pecked at the worm, and then raised its head, swiftly swallowing the morsel. Xu Ziqing couldn’t help but smile faintly. Since entering the secret realm, he had been consuming the Grain Elimination Pill, but he had forgotten that the fledgling had just hatched and needed to eat. The eagle’s anxiety stemmed from its hungry belly.

The eagle devoured three or five insects in quick succession before rubbing its sharp beak against a leaf. It then turned around and leaped onto Xu Ziqing’s outstretched palm.

Suddenly, Xu Ziqing noticed that the downy feathers on the eagle’s body had grown slightly longer!

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