Chu Feng and the others had already entered the Peach Garden Secret Realm.
This was an independent space. As Chu Feng and the four others stepped inside, it felt as though they were floating above a boundless starry sky, surrounded by an endless sea of stars.
However, the flickering lights weren’t actual star worlds, but rather ancient texts and symbols. Neither Chu Feng nor his companions could decipher them, as they all hailed from antiquity.
Yet there was no doubt that they contained some profound mystery, one that seemed to extend beyond just the path of martial cultivation.
Even Wuma Shengjie and Chu Feng could sense it, not to mention Gong Qing.
So, the moment they entered, Wuma Shengjie and Gong Qing were immediately captivated by everything around them.
But Chu Feng was preoccupied with something else. “Miss Tantai, is Lord Nameless Starfall currently in the residence?”
“My apologies, I forgot to mention it to Young Master Chu Feng,” Tantai Xing’er replied.
“Lord Nameless Starfall is indeed a guest in our residence. He even said that if you attended this junior gathering, I should pass along a message: your friend is fine,” she continued.
Hearing this, the worry in Chu Feng’s eyes visibly eased. Tantai Xing’er went on, “Young Master Chu Feng, Young Master Wuma, Little Sister Gong Qing, allow me to introduce you to our clan’s Peach Garden Secret Realm. It might be of help to you.”
With that, Tantai Xing’er began explaining the details of the Peach Garden Secret Realm to Chu Feng and the others.
The Peach Garden Secret Realm dated back to ancient times. To be precise, the entire Peach Garden in the Mountains originated from that era.
In truth, the Peach Garden in the Mountains and the Peach Garden Secret Realm were originally one entity.
The name “Peach Garden in the Mountains” was coined by people after the ancient period, but “Peach Garden Secret Realm” was a name handed down from antiquity.
The one who named it was called the Peach Garden Valley Immortal, who was also the creator of the Peach Garden Secret Realm.
Thus, the Peach Garden Secret Realm could be regarded as a relic left by the Peach Garden Valley Immortal for future generations. With sufficient comprehension, one could traverse the mountains, enter the secret realm, and gain sudden enlightenment into the mysteries of the heavens.
By now, the Tantai Heavenly Clan had mastered how to cross the mountains into the Peach Garden, summon the secret realm, and open it. However, how much one could comprehend within it depended entirely on individual aptitude.
“I only knew the Peach Garden Secret Realm was a sacred cultivation ground, but I didn’t realize it came from ancient times, nor that its creator was called the Peach Garden Valley Immortal,” Gong Qing remarked.
“Now that I know all this, it truly feels different. Thank you, Miss Xing’er,” she added.
“Oh, right, Miss Xing’er, didn’t you say the words ‘Peach Garden Secret Realm’ are written here? Why can’t I see them?” Gong Qing asked.
“They are indeed written here, but only those with sufficient comprehension can see them. Little Sister Gong Qing, try looking carefully, earnestly, with your heart. If you can spot the words ‘Peach Garden Secret Realm,’ you’ll be able to gain insights into the path of martial cultivation and enhance your cultivation,” Tantai Xing’er explained.
“Oh, I see! Then I’d better try quickly,” Gong Qing said.
As she spoke, she hurriedly employed a special observation technique, meticulously scanning her surroundings.
Wuma Shengjie, in fact, had already begun his own contemplation even before Gong Qing started.
Only Chu Feng continued to gaze around with ordinary eyes, his demeanor summed up in four words: casual and carefree.
“Young Master Chu Feng, there’s a time limit here. Half an hour from now, we’ll be teleported out,” Tantai Xing’er said to Chu Feng, subtly urging him to start comprehending if he intended to.
“Thank you for the reminder, Miss,” Chu Feng replied with a grateful smile. After speaking, he resumed observing his surroundings.
Yet his gaze remained ordinary, his attitude still that same casual and carefree air.
This puzzled Tantai Xing’er. She’d given him a clear hint, yet Chu Feng still didn’t seem to take it seriously. She couldn’t understand it and wanted to say more, but ultimately held her tongue.
What she didn’t know was that Chu Feng had been observing the place from the start, and he was using his most powerful observation technique: the Heavenly Eye.
The Heavenly Eye was a skill imparted to Chu Feng by the Queen. When it came to observation, its power was extraordinary.
Now, with Chu Feng’s growing strength, he could use the Heavenly Eye without showing any outward signs. Even when he activated it, no one around him could tell.
That was why Tantai Xing’er had misunderstood Chu Feng’s demeanor.
…
The junior gathering continued outside, but everyone’s eyes occasionally drifted toward the Peach Garden Secret Realm floating in the sky.
Amid their envy, they all wondered what was happening inside.
Unbeknownst to them, there was a spot within the Peach Garden in the Mountains where one could see into the secret realm.
This was the formation core of the Peach Garden Secret Realm.
Summoning and opening the secret realm required activation from within this core.
Moreover, once the secret realm was summoned, one could view its interior from here.
Of course, to comprehend the hidden mysteries of the secret realm, one had to enter it and experience it firsthand. Even though the formation core allowed a clear view of everything inside, it offered no chance to gain even a sliver of insight into the path of martial cultivation.
Yet at that moment, the elders tasked with overseeing the formation core were still intently watching Chu Feng and the others through it.
“Elder, why is the young miss willing to expend so many resources to let these few in? Isn’t that a bit too generous?” a relatively young world spiritist stationed there asked, voicing his confusion.
“Not to mention, leaving aside that Gong Clan junior, aren’t Chu Feng and Wuma Shengjie her competitors? Why would she help them like this?” he continued.
“I’ve thought about it for a while, but I still can’t figure it out. Please enlighten me, Elder,” he concluded.
His words drew laughter not only from the high-ranking figures present but also from the other elders in the room.
“Ah Zhong, you haven’t been in the Peach Garden in the Mountains for long, so you don’t fully understand it yet,” an elder who appeared to hold significant authority said.
“You should know how many Purple-Striped Boundary Stones it usually takes to enter the Peach Garden Secret Realm, right?” he asked.
“Replying to Elder, it takes 100,000,” the young world spiritist, Ah Zhong, answered.
“Then today, with four people entering, including the young miss, how many Purple-Striped Boundary Stones were used in total?” the elder asked.
“40,000,” Ah Zhong replied, quickly adding, “Elder, I’ve actually been meaning to ask—normally, sending four people in should cost 400,000 Purple-Striped Boundary Stones. Why did it only take 40,000 today for all of them to enter?”
“Haha, that’s exactly what I’m here to teach you today,” the elder said.
“First, Purple-Striped Boundary Stones are relics from ancient times. They’re so valuable because they’re finite. One day, they’ll run out, and when that happens, our clan won’t be able to open the Peach Garden Secret Realm anymore,” he explained.
“It’s widely believed outside that sending one person into the Peach Garden Secret Realm costs 100,000 Purple-Striped Boundary Stones. That’s true, but not absolute,” he continued.
“In reality, 10,000 can get someone in. So can 20,000, or 30,000,” he elaborated.
“In short, it takes at least 10,000 Purple-Striped Boundary Stones to send someone in, but the maximum is capped at 100,000,” he added.
“Do you know why there’s such a range?” the elder asked.
“Elder, could it have something to do with the mysteries of the Peach Garden Secret Realm?” Ah Zhong ventured.
“Smart! No wonder you’re a promising talent carefully selected by our clan,” the elder praised.
“You’re right. The more Boundary Stones spent, the more mysteries one can comprehend inside,” he confirmed.
“Then what can 10,000 stones get you?” Ah Zhong asked.
“Heh…” The elder let out a sly chuckle before answering, “With 10,000 stones, you can only go in and take a look, you won’t comprehend a thing.”
“Oh!” Hearing this, Ah Zhong suddenly understood.
So it was all a ruse. Tantai Xing’er seemed generous on the surface, but in reality, she was tricking Chu Feng and the others!
