Engagement Canceled: I Can Extract Prefixes

Chapter 612 - 592: Secret Realm Difficult to Unravel

It took almost two days to reach the Secret Realm.

The northern region is mainly plains, but there are also some small, not very steep mountain ranges.

Compared to the south and east of Great Wei, these mountains don’t even count as mountains.

The location of the Secret Realm is on the shaded side of the mountain range.

It’s situated halfway up the mountain.

The entire mountain range is densely packed with pine trees, thick and lush.

The pine trees grow very tall, completely blocking out a lot of sunlight.

Other trees find it hard to get a share of the sunlight here.

On the ground, there are more low shrubs.

Clustered together, they don’t cover the entire ground.

So walking in such a place gives a very clean feeling.

The four landed on the mid-slope, and Liu Xilan hadn’t been here for a long time.

She was still looking for her own markings.

Ye Tianxing beside her was also helping to search.

This Secret Realm was originally the result of a bet he lost to Liu Xilan.

After circling around, Liu Xilan finally found the entrance to the Secret Realm.

But at this moment, there was someone guarding the entrance of the Secret Realm.

Seeing Shen Han and the others approaching, this person immediately drew the sword in their hand.

Moments later, another person emerged from the Secret Realm.

Both were young men, looking like a master and attendant.

"Are you here to seize this Secret Realm?"

The newcomer appeared calm, much more so than his attendant.

Usually, Secret Realms belong to whoever discovers them first unless they are within or near sect grounds.

But because Secret Realms are mostly hidden, once discovered, they are generally difficult for others to find in a short time.

Typically, whoever knows the location of a Secret Realm holds claim to it.

But unfortunately, Liu Xilan was out of luck, and someone else accidentally discovered her Secret Realm...

"Of course, we are not here to seize it, as we discovered this Secret Realm years ago.

The two entry mechanisms have already been unlocked by us."

Upon hearing this, the young nobleman smiled.

"So you mean to say, this Secret Realm belongs to you, and it’s I who am seizing it?"

Liu Xilan’s face darkened, feeling that lately everything seemed to be going wrong.

This Secret Realm she won from Ye Tianxing was even found by someone else.

Such a small chance occurrence, and she stumbled upon it.

Xiaoyao Peak isn’t an unreasonable, sinister sect; the people aren’t that malicious.

There’s no killing for treasure here.

"Brother, we have indeed been researching this Secret Realm for many years...

If you’re willing, I am willing to offer you a Nine-Heart Pill, just to cede the Secret Realm to us."

Though it was painful, Liu Xilan took out the High Grade Pill for exchange.

Whether the Secret Realm can be unraveled is still a question mark.

Exchanging it directly for a High Grade Pill is definitely worth it.

Seeing Liu Xilan take out the Nine-Heart Pill, a rich medicinal scent wafted out.

The young man in front of her was indeed a bit tempted.

He didn’t know much about the Nine-Heart Pill, but the medicinal scent it emitted contained the aromas of some familiar ingredients.

These ingredients are all highly difficult to refine.

"If you are unwilling..."

Before Liu Xilan could finish, the young man beckoned his attendant forward.

"Why wouldn’t I accept such a high-grade Pill?

But I have a small request.

I want to help decipher this Secret Realm, and all the treasures within will belong to you.

If there are any tomes, I only ask to peruse them for at most a two-hour period and then return them."

Upon hearing this, Liu Xilan frowned slightly.

"Of course, I can also share my ideas with you all.

If I could find this Secret Realm, naturally I have some skills, please don’t underestimate me."

She glanced back at Shen Han and Shi Yuezhu.

Neither of the two in the Immortal Realm objected, so Liu Xilan didn’t mind either.

After the discussion, the young man introduced himself as Qi Yingguang.

As for his sect identity, he didn’t disclose, and no one asked in detail.

Traveling with two Immortal Realm individuals, there’s nothing to worry about.

Qi Yingguang entered alone, and his attendant was ordered to wait at their rendezvous point.

If there was no return for a long period, he was to seek help.

In a way, Qi Yingguang was quite clever.

Once everything was agreed upon, the Secret Realm exploration officially began.

Upon entering the Secret Realm, it was discovered that Qi Yingguang was quite talkative and never seemed to stop talking.

Moreover, he was somewhat chummy...

The group found it a bit helpless, but they didn’t harbor any dislike towards him.

Though he talked a lot, he didn’t ask reckless questions.

Regarding Shen Han and the group, he had no intention of prying.

Talkative, but a talkative person with relatively high emotional intelligence.

Liu Xilan wasn’t sure how many levels the Secret Realm had.

After unlocking the first two levels, she had gained quite a bit.

She felt there was more to the Secret Realm, but she could never figure out a way to proceed further.

Liu Xilan walked at the front, opening two mechanisms she had already deciphered.

The Secret Realm was situated halfway up the mountain, and going further in, they should reach the mountain’s core.

Liu Xilan, familiar with the territory, walked in with ease. In her mind, she didn’t know how many ways to decipher it she had already thought of.

Entering in, she attempted some of her suspicions once more here.

The result was as expected, completely ineffective.

Apart from a few candlesticks, the surroundings were bare walls.

While Liu Xilan was trying to crack the code, Ye Tianxing was also probing around.

Including the talkative Qi Yingguang, who was searching for clues while chattering incessantly.

What he discovered, what it looked like.

Just by listening, one could know.

After searching for nearly half a two-hour period, Ye Tianxing was somewhat discouraged.

Shi Yuezhu, too, was in this secret chamber, searching to see if there were any discoveries.

This expert in the Immortal Realm actually had some skills in exploring secret realms.

But compared to Shen Han, she still felt she was far behind.

In the empty secret chamber, everyone was coming up empty-handed.

Liu Xilan looked at Shi Yuezhu, then turned her gaze to Shen Han.

She didn’t speak, but Ye Tianxing beside her couldn’t hold back.

"Before coming to this Secret Realm, Junior Master Yuezhu spoke so highly of you.

Now that we’re in the Secret Realm, it’s time for you to show your skills."

In this chamber, there seemed to be no clue at all.

They both had eyes; Ye Tianxing couldn’t believe that Shen Han could find something he couldn’t.

Every inch of the walls had been touched and tested, and there seemed to be no mechanism.

"Tianxing, exploring Secret Realms always has an element of luck.

After all these years of training and exploring so many Secret Realms, you should understand this.

Shen Han just has slightly more experience in exploring Secret Realms.

But no one can guarantee they can definitely crack this Secret Realm.

Even if my master came, he wouldn’t dare guarantee it."

Shi Yuezhu softly defended Shen Han.

Of course, whether they would succeed would still depend on Shen Han actually taking action.

Upon hearing Shi Yuezhu’s words, Ye Tianxing couldn’t help but purse his lips.

"Junior Master Yuezhu, you’re too biased toward him...

I came here with Senior Sister because you said he could crack it.

If he didn’t have this ability, why would we come here?"

Shi Yuezhu showed a hint of helplessness.

"Even if the Secret Realm isn’t cracked, we still gained the Nine-Heart Pill.

Isn’t it still thanks to Shen Han?

If you think about it, it’s not a loss."

Shi Yuezhu hadn’t intended to mention this, but since Ye Tianxing kept bringing it up, she thought she might as well say it.

Sure enough, after hearing these words, Ye Tianxing stopped arguing.

Once you’ve taken someone’s help, it’s hard to refuse.

It pained him a bit to return the two Nine-Heart Pills...

In his heart, however, he harbored some resentment.

To be honest, he was really conflicted.

Listening to Shi Yuezhu and Ye Tianxing’s conversation, Qi Yingguang seemed to pick up on something.

"From what you’re saying, it seems that this Brother Shen is your martial uncle?"

The talkative Qi Yingguang interjected untimely, causing Ye Tianxing’s face to twitch involuntarily.

After a while, Ye Tianxing reluctantly replied, "If you expect me to address him that way, forget it."

After saying that, Ye Tianxing seemed to feel it wasn’t enough.

Turning his head to look at Shen Han, he said, "It’s not impossible for me to change my address, but you better crack this Secret Realm’s puzzle.

If you want to be an elder, you need to have some strength and skills.

Both you and I are stuck with this Secret Realm, so why should you be my elder, Ye Tianxing?"

After Ye Tianxing spoke, Shi Yuezhu, who was usually gentle, couldn’t help but walk over and gently knock on his head.

"How can you say Shen Han has no skills?

He reached the Immortal Realm at his age, and that’s not considered skilled or strong?

Many of my skills, I learned from him."

Seeing Shi Yuezhu so partial to Shen Han, Ye Tianxing felt even more displeased.

All these years, Shi Yuezhu rarely lectured anyone.

But today, Ye Tianxing had been lectured several times...

Meanwhile, Qi Yingguang continued to chatter.

Standing by, comforting Ye Tianxing, he repeatedly said he had misspoken.

Yet in his words, he was still addressing Ye Tianxing.

Your Junior Master is fond of whoever he wishes, and you, as a nephew, cannot interfere.

Whether you change your address or not, this martial uncle will always be your martial uncle...

Already feeling resentful, Ye Tianxing felt even worse.

He moved to the side, unwilling to be near Qi Yingguang.

Seeing Ye Tianxing no longer speak, Liu Xilan hesitated before walking over to Shi Yuezhu.

"Junior Master Yuezhu..."

Liu Xilan wasn’t like Ye Tianxing, pressuring Shen Han with her words.

But now, she truly couldn’t think of a way forward.

Previously, Liu Xilan would have gone straight to Shen Han to chat.

Now, after thinking it over, she’d rather let her Moon Bamboo Peak Master convey the message.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yuezhu turned to look at Shen Han.