From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 98 Embarking on the Journey and Embracing the Challenge

I stroked the smooth surface of the starry river, feeling the surging power within. The three attributes were perfectly integrated, offering both offense and defense; the power of this magical artifact far exceeded my expectations. I am not without a fighting chance in this secret realm treasure hunt. But this is far from enough.

I walked towards the pile of broken magical artifacts in the corner of the refining room. They lay there quietly, dull and lifeless. I took a deep breath, closed my eyes, and concentrated. That strange perceptive ability reappeared; I "saw" the cracks inside them, the chaotic spiritual energy, and... wisps of deeply hidden, special energy. These broken magical artifacts were not entirely useless.

"Congratulations, Xiao Yao." A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts.

I opened my eyes, and Master Yan was standing behind me, stroking his beard with admiration in his eyes. "You did an excellent job with the fusion of the galaxy, far exceeding my expectations."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Yan." I bowed respectfully.

“However,” Master Yan’s tone shifted, his expression turning serious, “Seizing treasures in secret realms is no child’s play; it is fraught with danger, and you must not be careless.”

"Disciple understands." I nodded, understanding Master Yan's concerns. The secret realm not only harbors powerful demonic beasts and treacherous environments, but also faces competition and threats from other sects and even evil cultivators. I must be fully prepared.

"How are you using your new perception abilities?" Master Yan's gaze fell on the starry river in my hand, as if he could see through my thoughts.

I hesitated for a moment, but still told Master Yan about my ability to sense the secrets inside magical artifacts.

After listening, Master Yan pondered for a moment and said, "This is an extremely rare talent. Make good use of it, and it will become a great help to you." He paused and added, "But you must use it with caution and never expose it, lest it bring disaster upon yourself."

"Your disciple will remember this," I replied solemnly.

Over the next few days, besides consolidating my cultivation and practicing manipulating the galaxy, I spent more time studying those damaged magical artifacts. I discovered that my perception abilities could not only "see" the internal structure and energy of the artifacts, but also sense their past experiences and... the special power they contained.

I selected a few items from a pile of broken magical artifacts and attempted to reforge them. Although the process was difficult, every time I successfully repaired an artifact and integrated its unique power into the galaxy, I could feel the galaxy's power continuously increasing.

Time flies, and the day for the opening of the secret realm has arrived in the blink of an eye.

I stood in the plaza of the Refining Valley, looking at the bustling crowd around me, feeling both nervous and excited. This treasure hunt in the secret realm was both a huge challenge and a rare opportunity for me.

I took a deep breath, adjusted my mindset, and prepared to meet the upcoming challenge.

“Xiao Yao,” a cold voice came from behind me, “I hope you can still be like this in the secret realm…” Leng Shuang’s voice was tinged with sarcasm, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by the sound of bells coming from afar.

The long, drawn-out tolling of the bell echoed throughout the valley, announcing the opening of the secret realm. I suppressed the turmoil in my heart, ignoring Leng Shuang's unfinished provocation. She had always seen me as a thorn in her side, probably because she couldn't accept my current achievements as a "good-for-nothing." However, I didn't care about her opinion; my goal was the opportunities within the secret realm, not to compete with her for a moment's advantage.

With a flash of dazzling white light, the teleportation array activated. I took a deep breath and stepped inside. The surrounding scenery rapidly distorted and warped, and after a dizzying spin, I found myself in an unfamiliar forest. The air was fresh and rich in spiritual energy, but a faint aura of danger permeated the air as well.

I immediately released my divine sense, cautiously observing my surroundings. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, the ground was covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, and the low growls of unknown wild beasts echoed in the distance; everything seemed mysterious and unknown.

"Miss Xiao Yao." A slightly hoarse voice sounded behind me.

I turned around and saw it was Pavilion Master Lu of the Magic Treasure Pavilion. He was dressed in blue, with a smile on his face, but his eyes were deep and unfathomable.

“Sect Master Lu,” I nodded slightly, “you’ve come too.”

“Hehe,” Pavilion Master Lu chuckled, “Now that the secret realm has opened, it’s natural to come and try your luck.” He paused, his gaze becoming somewhat meaningful, “I’ve heard that Miss Xiao Yao’s weapon-refining skills have improved greatly recently. I’m sure she will gain a lot from this trip to the secret realm.”

I smiled modestly and didn't reply. Master Lu is a shrewd man; his sudden approach to me certainly wasn't just for a few pleasantries.

Sure enough, Pavilion Master Lu continued, "I do know some rumors about this secret realm, which may be of some help to Miss Xiao Yao."

My heart skipped a beat, and I listened attentively.

“It is said that there is a special area in this secret realm called the ‘Land of Fallen Stars’,” Pavilion Master Lu lowered his voice, “where a star once fell, containing extremely powerful energy. If we can find it, we may obtain unexpected opportunities.”

"The Land of Fallen Stars..." I silently memorized the name, my heart filled with curiosity and anticipation.

"However," Pavilion Master Lu's tone shifted, his expression turning serious, "the Land of Fallen Stars is also fraught with danger. It is said that a powerful guardian beast dwells there, its strength unfathomable. Moreover, the terrain there is complex and riddled with traps; a slight misstep could lead to utter destruction."

A chill ran through me as I realized that behind this so-called opportunity lay enormous risks.

"Thank you for the reminder, Pavilion Master Lu. I will be careful," I said solemnly.

Master Lu nodded, gave me a meaningful look, then turned and left, his figure quickly disappearing into the dense forest.

I gazed in the direction he had left, lost in thought. Did Pavilion Master Lu tell me this information out of good intentions, or did he have another purpose? Does the Starfall Land he spoke of truly exist? If it does, should I risk going to investigate?

As I was pondering this, I sensed someone approaching. I turned my head and saw a familiar figure in my line of sight… Madam Qin was walking slowly towards me, seemingly carrying something in her hand. Her gentle smile eased my initial tension.

Madam Qin walked up to me with a friendly smile: "Xiao Yao, you look great. It seems you are very confident about this trip to the secret realm."

I quickly bowed and said, "Madam Qin." But I was a little puzzled. Why was Madam Qin here? The Refining Valley and the Magic Treasure Pavilion have always kept to themselves. With the opening of this secret realm, all the forces are stirring up trouble. It's really strange that Madam Qin is here alone.

"I heard you made a breakthrough in weapon crafting a few days ago," Madam Qin said, handing me an exquisite brocade pouch. "Inside are some things that might be useful in the secret realm; they might be of help to you."

I was flattered and accepted the brocade pouch. It was warm to the touch, and a faint medicinal fragrance filled the air. I opened it and found several bottles of pills and some talismans inside, all precious items for healing and defense.

"Thank you, Madam Qin," I said gratefully, but my doubts only deepened. Why was Madam Qin so kind to me? Was it merely because she admired my talent for weapon crafting?

Madam Qin seemed to sense my confusion. She sighed softly and said, "Xiao Yao, I know you have many questions. Besides giving you these things, I also want to remind you that the secret realm is treacherous, so be careful in everything you do."

She paused, her gaze becoming profound. "Some people may appear kind to you on the surface, but they may harbor ill intentions towards you behind your back. You must never trust others easily and must always remain vigilant."

Madam Qin's words sent a chill down my spine. I thought of Pavilion Master Lu's previous actions. Was Madam Qin referring to him? Or was it someone else?

“I understand, thank you for reminding me, Madam Qin,” I nodded solemnly.

Madam Qin patted my shoulder and said earnestly, "You are a good child, and I believe you will definitely gain something in the secret realm. Remember, no matter what difficulties you encounter, never give up hope."

After saying that, she turned and left, her figure gradually disappearing into the dense forest.

I gripped the brocade pouch tightly, my mind racing. Madam Qin's words made me even more wary of this journey to the secret realm. I realized that this was not only a test of strength, but also a test of human nature.

Meanwhile, in another secluded corner, Old Monster Mo was staring at the direction I left with a gloomy face and gritted teeth.

"Damn girl, she escaped again!" He slammed his fist on the tree trunk beside him, causing leaves to flutter down.

He originally planned to tamper with the teleportation array when it was activated, sending Xiao Yao to the most dangerous area of ​​the secret realm to fend for herself. However, he didn't expect that Master Yan would see through his plan beforehand, causing his efforts to fail.

“However,” a sinister smile crept across Old Monster Mo’s lips, “this is just the beginning. In the secret realm, I have plenty of opportunities to make her wish she were dead!”

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes as he began plotting how to continue making things difficult for Xiao Yao in the secret realm. He wouldn't let Xiao Yao off easily, this thorn in his side who had repeatedly caused him setbacks.

I returned to my temporary camp and carefully put away the things Madam Qin had given me. Then, I took out the map and began to study the terrain of the secret realm.

The Starfall Land mentioned by Pavilion Master Lu is not marked on the map. Perhaps it's a secret, or perhaps it's just a lie told by Pavilion Master Lu.

I organized all the information and items I had gathered, and a preliminary plan gradually formed in my mind. I knew that this journey to the secret realm was full of challenges and dangers. I would not only have to face various unknown perils, but also be wary of competitors from all sides.

I took a deep breath, put the map away, and got up to walk out of the tent.

Suddenly, I sensed an unusual presence… something was watching me from the shadows. I returned to my tent, sat cross-legged, and unfolded the map before me. The terrain of the secret realm was intricate and complex, like a giant maze, but the Starfall Land was unmarked. The jade pendant that Pavilion Master Lu had given me emitted a faint glow; it was said to guide the way, but I always felt there was more to it than met the eye.

I held the jade pendant in my hand, closed my eyes, and tried to feel its power. A faint energy fluctuation came, but it vanished in an instant, leaving me unable to grasp it. Was I being too impatient? I took a deep breath and tried again. This time, I concentrated all my energy, striving to sense the jade pendant's guidance.

Suddenly, the jade pendant shone brightly, and a powerful force surged into my body. I felt dizzy, as if I were in a star-studded night sky. Countless stars twinkled, seemingly guiding my way. Could this be the Land of Fallen Stars?

I opened my eyes abruptly. The jade pendant's light had dimmed, but a strange feeling stirred within me. I looked at the map again, my gaze falling on an inconspicuous corner. There, on the map, was a blank space, without any markings, but my intuition told me that the Land of Fallen Stars was there.

I opened the brocade pouch that Madam Qin had given me. Inside, besides healing and defensive pills and talismans, there was also a thin piece of paper. I carefully unfolded it, and on it were written a few lines of delicate handwriting: "Beware of Pavilion Master Lu; he is not a kind person. The Land of Fallen Stars is fraught with danger; do not easily trust others."

Madam Qin's reminder made my heart sink again. It seemed that Pavilion Master Lu was indeed suspicious. The Starfall Land he spoke of might just be a trap. I carefully put away the piece of paper, having made my decision. No matter what, I must be cautious and never easily trust anyone.

I organized all my belongings and put them into my storage bag. Besides the necessary pills, talismans, and magical artifacts, I also brought some dry food and water, just in case. I knew that this journey to the secret realm would be a long and arduous one, and I had to be fully prepared.

After making all the preparations, I stepped out of the tent and took a deep breath. The entrance to the secret realm was right before me, a vortex shimmering with seven-colored light, like a gateway to another world. My heart began to race uncontrollably, a strange mix of excitement and nervousness washing over me.

I know that I will face countless challenges and dangers in the secret realm, but I am not afraid. I have grown from a useless person without spiritual roots into a powerful weapon refiner, and I believe that with my strength and wisdom, I will be able to overcome all difficulties.

I glanced back at the camp. Master Yan was standing in the distance, his gaze kind yet firm. He didn't say anything, just silently watched me, as if offering me silent encouragement.

I took a deep breath and stepped towards the entrance of the secret realm. Just as my foot was about to step into the vortex, I heard a deep voice from behind me:

"Be careful……"