Hidden Realm

Hidden Realm...

Emerging from his cavern, Qin Wentian bellowed with a commanding voice that echoed across the mountain range. "Here I stand, Qin Wentian! If any of you treasure hunters wish to test your mettle, come forth!"

His resounding proclamation reached the ears of those clandestinely observing him. However, these watchers hesitated to take action. They had been tasked with monitoring Qin Wentian, not engaging with him directly. They would only intervene if he tried to leave the area.

But Qin Wentian had no intention of leaving. In the distance, a spirited snow-white puppy bounded toward him in a jaunty manner. It leaped into Qin Wentian's arms, and this little furball was none other than Little Rascal, returning safely after seeing Song Jia off.

Qin Wentian cuddled the puppy, fondly ruffling its fur. Then, he strode toward the mountain path, heading to the section where various cultivators had set up their trading stalls.

This time, he didn't approach the area where people displayed their treasures; instead, he blended into the crowd, searching for items he desired.

The hidden observers took note of his movements, closely tracking Qin Wentian's every step, as though fearing he might slip away.

Little Rascal bounded out of Qin Wentian's embrace and pranced ahead. Soon, it reached a trade stall set up by a cultivator and turned to face Qin Wentian, issuing a series of yiyiyaya sounds.

Qin Wentian approached and observed the blood-colored fruits displayed on the counter, then turned to Little Rascal, asking, "Do you want these?"

"Woof." Little Rascal vigorously nodded. Qin Wentian smiled and inquired of the shopkeeper, "What's the price for these fruits?"

The shopkeeper grinned broadly and responded, "Brother, your taste is impeccable. These are Demonic Spiritual Fruits, excellent for accelerating a demonic beast's growth. If you buy them all, I'll give you a special deal, just one hundred fourth-layered Yuan Meteor Stones."

"Thirty," Qin Wentian replied impassively.

"Little brother, these Demonic Spiritual Fruits are extremely valuable, especially for those with demonic beasts as companions," the shopkeeper earnestly advised. However, Qin Wentian simply turned and walked away, paying him no further attention.

"Little brother, how about eighty Yuan Meteor Stones?"

Ignoring the shopkeeper, Qin Wentian continued his departure, with Little Rascal trailing him. The puppy's tail drooped, and it wore a crestfallen expression. Yet Qin Wentian seemed wholly indifferent.

"Alright, I accept the loss. You can have them for fifty Yuan Meteor Stones!" The shopkeeper gritted his teeth and slashed his profit margin significantly, but Qin Wentian still wouldn't look back.

"Little friend, please return! You win!" Seeing Qin Wentian's figure receding into the distance, the shopkeeper yelled out, his voice tinged with desperation.

At this, Qin Wentian finally pivoted around. Yet, Little Rascal had moved even faster. By the time Qin Wentian faced the stall, the puppy was already there, pouncing on the fruits and gobbling them up with gusto.

Witnessing this unexpected spectacle, both Qin Wentian and the shop owner stood in stunned amazement. It took them a moment to regain their composure. Qin Wentian collected the Yuan Meteor Stones and paid the shop owner before embracing Little Rascal and leaving. As he observed their close interaction, the shop owner couldn't help but mutter silently to himself, convinced that if he had insisted on eighty pieces, Qin Wentian would have turned back. What a talented actor he was.

Currently, though, Qin Wentian felt a little downcast. On the mountain path, Little Rascal moved without inhibition, barking excitedly as it indicated its desire to sample the numerous delectable items. Helplessly, Qin Wentian followed behind, dutifully footing the bill. Not even two hours had elapsed, and Little Rascal had already made him spend over four hundred Yuan Meteor Stones.

Even those who had been spying on Qin Wentian's movements couldn't help but click their tongues in disbelief. Who would have thought that Qin Wentian was so wealthy, willing to squander such substantial sums on an ordinary pet? The appetite of this run-of-the-mill demonic beast for consumable treasures was truly outrageous. Yet Qin Wentian paid without a word of complaint—wasn't this behavior a bit extravagant?

Qin Wentian, in fact, sighed inwardly. Little Rascal might have a petite frame, but its appetite was undeniably enormous. Right now, it was barking excitedly, dashing ahead once more, prompting Qin Wentian to roll his eyes and follow along.

Little Rascal led Qin Wentian to a store selling precious herbs. Its attention was fixed on a few white-stemmed herbs emitting a unique fragrance—inhaling their scent promoted smoother blood circulation.

"Do you want these?" Qin Wentian asked Little Rascal.

"Yiyi!" Little Rascal shook its head, causing Qin Wentian to raise an eyebrow. He then inquired, "You mean these are for me?"

"Yiya." Little Rascal nodded. Qin Wentian chuckled. "At least you still think of me."

"Friend, it's truly remarkable that your puppy recognizes the Blood Shadow Herb. Do you possess a bloodline ability that allows you to harness your blood's power?" The store owner, smiling, addressed Qin Wentian. "Feel free to take a closer look."

Qin Wentian shifted his gaze toward the whitish stalks. He could perceive faint traces of blood sparkling within them, and even felt a stirring in his own blood.

"Friend, if you ever deplete your bloodline power in battle, these herbs can replenish your blood energy at an extraordinary rate. Such herbs are exceptionally rare; I was fortunate to acquire only three stalks," the shop owner explained. Qin Wentian cast a glance at Little Rascal, admiring its uncanny ability to detect treasures.

Unbeknownst to Qin Wentian, the reason he had smoothly forged a friendship with Mo Qingcheng was largely because of Little Rascal's intriguing presence.

"What would you like in exchange for these?" Qin Wentian asked.

"Friend, do you possess any divine weapons?" The store owner's eyes gleamed as he inquired.

"Yes," Qin Wentian affirmed. He possessed numerous divine weapons stored in his interspatial ring, many of which he had obtained by defeating formidable foes, with most being of high quality.

"I'd require a high-grade, fourth-ranked divine weapon," the store owner stated. The three Blood Shadow Herbs were incredibly valuable, even more so than high-grade, fourth-ranked divine weapons.

"I don't have any high-grade ones, but I do possess a middle-grade, fourth-ranked divine weapon," Qin Wentian replied. He wouldn't readily admit to owning a high-grade weapon, even if he did have one.

The shop owner fixed a scrutinizing gaze on Qin Wentian as he contemplated the offer. "In that case, I'll need three middle-grade, fourth-ranked divine weapons. One divine weapon for each Blood Shadow Herb."

"My apologies, but I only have two. Don't waste my time if you're not interested," Qin Wentian responded, with a nonchalant flick of his sleeves. He revealed a long spear and a protective arm-guard. "These two divine weapons form a set and complement each other perfectly."

The shop owner's eyes sparkled with interest as he observed Qin Wentian. What sharp judgment! This young man had quickly deduced that the shop owner needed a long spear.

"Alright." Clearly swayed by the offer, the shop owner agreed to the trade. Qin Wentian handed over the set of divine weapons, while he stored the Blood Shadow Herbs in his interspatial ring.

"Excuse me, sir," a voice interrupted at that moment. Qin Wentian turned to see a young man and a young woman approaching. The young man's gaze carried an air of urgency, while the woman seemed visibly weakened.

"Would it be possible to sell the Blood Shadow Herbs you just purchased to me instead? I'm willing to pay the same price you did," the young man implored. Qin Wentian noticed the young woman's frail condition and realized the herbs could help her recover. Yet, they were essential to him as well, as he needed them to restore his blood vitality after using his bloodline power.

"Sorry, but I also have a use for these herbs," Qin Wentian replied, turning to leave. The young man's expression froze.

"Sir, I'm willing to offer you an even higher price. Please, it's crucial for her recovery..." the young man pleaded.

"No, thank you," Qin Wentian calmly refused.

"You..." The young man trembled, watching as Qin Wentian walked away. The young woman by his side gently tugged at his sleeve. "Senior Brother, it's okay. I can recover without the herbs, though it might take a bit longer."

Qin Wentian's steps slowed, and he turned back to flick an item toward them—a stalk of the Blood Shadow Herb. Then, he stated, "One mid-grade, fourth-ranked divine weapon."

"Of course," the young man snapped out of his daze and immediately sent a divine weapon in Qin Wentian's direction. He nodded gratefully. "Thank you so much, brother."

"It's an equal exchange. No need to thank me," Qin Wentian said as he stored the divine weapon and continued on his way. The young woman watched him go and called out, "Sir, may I ask for your name?"

"We've merely crossed paths. There's no need for so many questions," Qin Wentian's voice echoed back as he disappeared from sight. The young woman stared in the direction he had vanished. "That man is truly mysterious. I doubt he agreed to our exchange just for the divine weapon."

The young man shook his head. "Junior Sister, you're too trusting. Now, quickly consume the Blood Shadow Herb, and let's take a rest."

"Alright." The young woman nodded. After swallowing the herb, her blood surged within her body, its effects circulating through her veins and arteries, replenishing her blood energy. Gradually, her pale complexion regained a healthy, rosy hue—the Blood Shadow Herb was indeed a potent remedy for blood recovery.

"That beast of his was incredible," the young woman remarked after her aura stabilized, her eyes gleaming with newfound vitality. Gone was the frail girl from earlier. She turned to the young man and inquired, "Senior, do you think the others have already discovered the location?"

"It's only a matter of time. We should begin our search as well," the young man replied. However, the young woman's eyes were fixed on a specific direction. Her expression turned apprehensive as she observed a group of experts flying over.

Qin Wentian wasn't lacking in divine weapons. The reason he was willing to trade was quite simple: he sensed the young woman's genuine kindness, which prompted his action.

With a single glance, Qin Wentian could gauge the cultivation level of others within the same realm as him. The young man and woman might seem ordinary, but their strength was surprisingly high. Both were at the fifth level of Heavenly Dipper, far from commoners. Furthermore, there was a formidable power within the young woman. Most cultivators, when faced with someone weaker who possessed a coveted treasure, would seize it without hesitation. Yet, the young man chose to propose a trade.

This was Qin Wentian's character: he acted according to his own desires, unburdened by society's senseless rules.

"Little Rascal, you must be full now, right?" Qin Wentian gently pinched the snowy puppy in his arms. The mischievous furball responded with satisfied barks before rolling over and displaying its tummy, looking utterly content.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but shake his head at Little Rascal's antics. He then hurried towards the mountain waist, where the Treasure Seizing Assembly would take place. Even before arriving, he noticed people looking skyward, witnessing a large number of experts flying into the mountain range of the assembly area.

Excitement and calls of joy filled the air.

"Look, that's Jin Yan from the Golden Fire Aristocrat Clan, one of their most talented geniuses. He's at the fifth level of Heavenly Dipper and extremely powerful. But what's he doing here?" someone wondered aloud.

"Heaven Shocking Sword Sect's Jian Jingtian is also here," another commented, gesturing to a young man with a sword strapped to his back.

Excitement and curiosity rippled through the crowd. The news of someone discovering the entrance to a hidden realm deep within the mountain had spread like wildfire. The person wanted to trade this valuable secret in the Treasure Seizing Assembly, demanding a sky-high price in Yuan Meteor Stones. Those who wished to follow him to the hidden realm had to meet his steep asking price. This revelation had ignited a frenzy, drawing chosen individuals from various aristocratic clans and major powers to rush to the scene.

The Heavenly Mountains concealed countless secrets, many of which remained undiscovered. Hidden pocket dimensions and the possibility of hidden realms intrigued adventurers and cultivators. Discovering such a realm often caused a stir, as it meant both great danger and priceless treasures waiting to be claimed by the lucky few who dared to venture inside.