The opening time of the Void Abyss Secret Realm is unpredictable—sometimes every three years, sometimes five, and there have even been instances where a decade passed between openings.
However, there are always signs before each opening. This time, nearly all cultivators in the realm received word of its imminent arrival. When Xu Shulou and her companions arrived at the entrance, they found it already teeming with crowds. Some had set up stalls, hawking or trading spiritual treasures, while others represented their sects, seizing the opportunity to earn spirit stones.
Bai Roushuang watched with fascination, surprised to see the same kind of bustling marketplace in the cultivation world as in the mortal realm.
This time, only the fifth and sixth junior brothers of Bright Moon Peak, along with Bai Roushuang, had accompanied Xu Shou to the secret realm. The fourth brother, Shan Yu, was currently engrossed in sword techniques and had no interest in leaving, while the second brother, Song Ping, had been traveling for quite some time and thus didn’t join them. Aside from them, a few disciples from other peaks of Dustless Island had also come along.
Bai Roushuang knew that Second Brother Song Ping was usually the most meticulous and responsible among them. The fact that he hadn’t joined this time clearly showed his immense confidence in Xu Shulou’s strength—believing she alone was more than capable of keeping their junior brothers and sisters safe in the secret realm.
Xu Shulou treated these juniors like children, and as soon as they landed, she went to a nearby stall and bought each of them a chilled milk pudding.
Bai Roushuang took a curious bite and instantly felt a surge of spiritual energy rush to her head. Startled, she asked, “What is this?”
Xu Shulou chuckled. “It’s a sweet treat created by the Joy Union Sect. It slightly enhances spiritual power, though the effect is minor—lasting no more than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. The real appeal is the taste.”
“It’s truly delicious,” Bai Roushuang admitted before taking another bite, marveling at the novelty.
Since the entrance to the secret realm hadn’t opened yet, the group dispersed to explore the surroundings. Bai Roushuang, visiting for the first time, had never seen such a spectacle and stuck close to Xu Shulou, listening as she explained.
“This is sword-polishing oil sold by the Incense Valley Sect. Applying it to your weapon enhances its offensive power,” Xu Shulou pointed out. “If you ever need your magical tools repaired in the future, you can also seek out the Incense Valley Sect—they’re the best at it.”
Bai Roushuang made a mental note of the Incense Valley emblem embroidered on the stall’s banner.
“Over here, they sell spirit beasts,” Xu Shulou called her over to take a look.
Bai Roushuang turned and was immediately greeted by the sight of an enormous, multi-legged, plump worm sprawled across the stall.
“They actually sell something this ugly as a spirit beast?” Bai Roushuang privately thought such a creature belonged not on a stall but inside the secret realm, where it could haunt explorers as a nightmare.
“Don’t discriminate against spirit beasts,” the stall owner muttered unhappily, though for business’s sake, he draped a cloth over the poor, misunderstood worm.
Feeling a little guilty, Bai Roushuang scrambled for something complimentary to say. “Apologies. Actually, this worm is quite… uh, plump and well-fed…”
“Save it,” the stall owner waved her off weakly. “This sandworm’s probably going to end up unsold. Why don’t you take a look at the others, miss?”
Following his gesture, Bai Roushuang’s gaze landed on a creature in the corner. “Huh? Isn’t that just an ordinary rabbit from the mortal world?”
“In the cultivation world, we call them moon rabbits,” Xu Shulou explained with a smile. “Legend says they’re the same kind that dwell in the Moon Palace of the Goddess Chang’e.”
Bai Roushuang was astonished. “Really?”
“True or not, I can’t say,” Xu Shulou shrugged. “But moon rabbits are indeed beautiful. I’ve seen junior sisters from other peaks raise them. At night, they exhale bubbles that emit a soft, moon-like glow—hence the name.”
“That’s incredible,” Bai Roushuang marveled. Having only been in the cultivation world for a year, everything still felt wondrous to her. “What about that one that looks like a white peacock?”
Hearing her interest in the white peacock, Jiuyao, perched nearby, pecked her lightly in displeasure.
Xu Shulou laughed. “That’s called a Kongjue. When its master is in danger, it fans its tail, and the feathers shoot out like hidden weapons to defend them.”
Bai Roushuang blinked. “Wouldn’t it go bald pretty quickly then?”
The white Kongjue immediately glared at her before turning around, presenting only its rear in response.
Bai Roushuang awkwardly cleared her throat. “Spirit beasts in the cultivation world sure are… expressive.”
Xu Shulou pointed elsewhere. “The ones without sentience are over there.”
Bai Roushuang looked—and fell silent at the sight of a barbecue stall.
Silent or not, when she held a skewer of freshly grilled meat in her hands, she couldn’t help but murmur, “This is delicious.”
The meat was tender and richly flavored, juices bursting with every bite.
A passing young woman, seeing the skewer and the oil smeared around Bai Roushuang’s lips, shot her a look of faint disdain.
Sensitive to such reactions, Bai Roushuang frowned and asked her senior sister, “What’s her problem?”
“A small number of cultivators believe only those from the mortal world, who haven’t shed their earthly habits, indulge in food,” Xu Shulou replied between bites. “Ignore them. Our master, for instance, was born a cultivator, yet he eats more than anyone.”
Bai Roushuang thought of their chicken-leg-obsessed master and the bottomless pits that were her senior brothers—not to mention her equally voracious senior sister—and giggled. “I won’t pay her any mind. She’s nobody to me.”
As they wandered further, they came across a stall surrounded by female cultivators. Bai Roushuang squeezed in curiously and found it selling cosmetics—rouge, powder, combs, and hairpins.
“How are these different from mortal-world cosmetics?” she asked Xu Shulou.
“Naturally, there are differences,” Xu Shulou picked up a wooden comb. “For example, this comb can automatically style hair with just a bit of spiritual energy.”
Bai Roushuang immediately wanted one.
Noticing her eagerness, Xu Shulou explained, “But each comb only does one hairstyle. The carvings indicate which—this one does twin buns, the one beside it does a falling-horse twist, and that one does an immortal updo, which costs a bit more.”
After some deliberation, Bai Roushuang chose two combs—one for a lily bun and another for a cloud-like cascade—paying with her saved spirit stones. She handed the latter to Xu Shulou. “Senior Sister, I think this one would suit you.”
Xu Shulou smiled and thanked her.
At a clothing stall, Xu Shulou picked out a fluffy white winter robe and handed it to Bai Roushuang. “Time flows differently in the secret realm—you might encounter any season. While we can resist cold with our cultivation, it’s better for you to have proper winter wear, just in case.”
“Thank you, Senior Sister.” Bai Roushuang tried it on—it fit perfectly, the plush fur trim making her look even softer and more delicate.
“It suits you well,” Xu Shulou said before buying her an additional cloak, just for variety. “Don’t forget to bundle up when it’s cold.”
Bai Roushuang, touched, hugged her senior sister’s arm and thanked her sweetly—only for Xu Shulou to playfully flick one of the fluffy pom-poms dangling from the cloak.
As the two strolled along, they passed another stall selling flying magical tools. The sharp-eyed vendor, noticing Bai Roushuang’s wide-eyed curiosity, immediately called out, "Miss, these are flying artifacts designed for those who haven’t yet mastered sword flight. They only require a trace of spiritual energy to operate—care to take a look?"
"Such things exist?" Bai Roushuang’s curiosity was piqued again, and she leaned down to examine them.
"They’re single-use items," Xu Shulou explained softly. "They can’t hold much spiritual energy, so they’re made this way—usually for parents to buy as toys for children who haven’t developed much spiritual power yet."
"I see." Though Bai Roushuang understood she had no real use for it, she still couldn’t resist running her fingers over one of the lantern-shaped artifacts on display.
Noticing her reluctance to leave, Xu Shulou cheerfully paid the spirit stones and handed her one. "Give it a try."
"Thank you, Shijie!" Delighted, Bai Roushuang channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the lantern. Slowly, it lifted into the air, carrying her along with it.
The artifact came with an attached safety rope—intended for children—with one end now tied around Bai Roushuang’s ankle and the other held firmly in Xu Shulou’s hand.
Standing on the ground, Xu Shulou guided Bai Roushuang by gently tugging the rope whenever she veered too close to sword-riders overhead. After a while, amused, she remarked, "It’s like flying a kite."
Bai Roushuang proved a quick learner, swiftly mastering mid-air turns and stops.
Soon, the cultivators gathered in the plaza before the Void Abyss Secret Realm witnessed a graceful young woman in a white dress darting gleefully through the lower skies, pausing abruptly or swerving with effortless delight.
Unnoticed by her, a handsome man in the robes of Lingxiao Sect watched from a distance, narrowing his eyes as he studied her for a long moment—yet he hesitated, unsure if he recognized her at all.
