Chapter 17 - An Unexpected Encounter

Xin Yang came to first. His friends remained out cold, so he waited for them to rouse.

A few minutes later, Ye Meng's eyes fluttered open. He gripped his aching head with a groan. "What was that...?"

"I have an idea, but let's wait for Lihua to wake up before discussing." Xin Yang's aura was already steady, so he helped Ye Meng circulate his until the pain faded.

Bai Lihua woke with a start. She started to speak, but Xin Yang held up a hand. "I'll explain. Check your dantian. There's a 'key' there now. That senior said unknown realms exist which that key will let us access. He also mentioned 'Revolving Core' and 'Nirvana Shattering' realms beyond the usual. I think my clan's technique includes the way to those realms, but the path is still far for me. Our cultivation's also jumped to the ninth stage of Foundation Establishment."

The others verified his claims, stunned by the rapid advance.

"We should leave," Ye Meng said. "The formation won't keep trouble out forever."

Xin Yang agreed, but before they could rise, he and Ye Meng sensed powerful auras approaching.

Ye Meng smiled wryly. "The formation's shattered."

"Into the Void Realm. Now." Xin Yang opened a portal, his face grim.

Ye Meng grabbed the beaming, spaced-out Bai Lihua and tossed her through the portal before jumping in himself. He shot Xin Yang a jaunty salute just as the crack sealed shut.

Xin Yang flashed out of the tomb with Divine Void Steps, its demands taxing but escape imperative. Reaching a grand city some minutes later, he booked an inn room and passed out upon the bed after opening the portal to the Void Realm.

...

Xin Yang came to, energies partially restored. "How long was I out?"

Ye Meng finished a cultivation cycle. "About a day. All's well. We're now in the True Pine Empire's capital. No news of the collapsed tomb's spread here yet."

"True Pine? Odd name. And Bai Lihua?"

"Her own room, as always."

Xin Yang sighed. "We'll soon hit Golden Core. I didn't expect to reach it so fast, much less you two."

"I never thought I would, period."

"Let's grab Lihua and plan our next move."

Giggles sounded from Bai Lihua's room as they approached. Xin Yang's face darkened while Ye Meng smirked knowingly. Two knocks, and...

Bai Lihua yanked open the door upon hearing the knocks, relaxing upon seeing her friends.

...

"This 'realm key' may help us access unknown realms when we next advance," Xin Yang hypothesized.

"So we'll keep exploring while unraveling the key's secrets," Bai Lihua said. "Let's prepare to leave."

Xin Yang asked Ye Meng upon leaving the inn, "As we're in new lands, sects should be nearby. How strong are they?"

"The True Pine Sect is strongest here. It's the empire's royal sect."

"Perfect. Recall the plan: Ye Meng, learn how to join the sect. Bai Lihua, redo our looks to celestial standards and buy appropriate garb."

The duo set off on their tasks as Xin Yang's smile turned devilish.

...

An outer sect elder slumped in his chair, having a terrible day. First, someone stole his qi gathering pill. Then he was relegated to gate duty.

Three striking youths approached. Never had the elder seen such exaggerated appearances—it was as if the gods had decided to embarrass the masses in comparison.

"P-yes?" The elder cringed at his stammer. Recruitment season had long passed, so why were they here? Perhaps they were from some prestigious clan or rival sect?

Realizing he lacked the standing to handle this, the elder fetched the custodian.

A few minutes later, the custodian arrived. Upon failing to sense the trio's cultivation, he tried probing, failing again. How could that be? As a peak Foundation Establishment stage five cultivator, he shouldn't be outmatched.

Left with no choice, the custodian politely asked the leader, "Where do you hail from, young daoist?"

The boy languidly fanned himself. "An ancient clan not far from this empire. Our elders expelled us to gain worldly experience."

Confused, the custodian asked, "Why are you here?"

"We wish to join your sect."