Chapter 77: Secret Realm Qualification

"Wow, the imperial court is that overbearing?" Zu'an clicked his tongue in surprise. He had never had a direct sense of the imperial court's power before, but hearing this, he truly understood how mighty the Great Zhou Dynasty was in this world.

He knew instinctively that such secret realms contained countless opportunities and rare treasures. Anyone entering them would likely encounter a fortuitous chance to significantly boost their power. Yet, all of them were entirely controlled by the imperial court.

It was obvious that the sects and rogue cultivators of the world would be unable to resist such temptation, and would surely try every possible means to enter. However, Ji Dengtu stated that these secret realms were now completely controlled by the court. This must have involved incredibly fierce struggles for the world to have eventually accepted such a reality.

"Either you pledge allegiance to the imperial court and join an academy, in which case you will naturally have an opportunity to enter. If you are unwilling to submit, then don't even dream of obtaining anything from the secret realms."

Ji Dengtu chuckled, "Otherwise, why would most of the world's powerful cultivators hold positions within the imperial court?"

"Wait a minute," Zu'an suddenly realized a problem. "According to you, these secret realms have existed for a very long time. If so many cultivators have explored them for treasures over the years, even a mountain of treasures would have been depleted."

Ji Dengtu shook his head and explained, "You're underestimating secret realms. Each one has its own rules; you can think of them as complete worlds, many of them even similar in size to our own."

"They have their own natural laws, and many things can regenerate. It's like picking fruit; after a while, don't the fruits grow back?"

"But what if there are too many people exploiting them?" Zu'an couldn't help but ask. He figured if it were him, he would definitely pluck up all the rare treasures by the roots. He didn't believe others wouldn't have the same idea.

"I told you, those secret realms are essentially complete worlds," Ji Dengtu said, rolling his eyes. "In some, the maps even generate randomly, changing each time they appear. Human exploration only covers a very small part of them, so how could they be depleted? Furthermore, secret realms aren't always open; they only open once every many years, and each opening lasts anywhere from a few days to several months."

Zu'an nodded. "So you want me to go to the Yaoguang Secret Realm to find the Traceless Illusion Lotus? From your description, this item is extremely rare, and countless powerful individuals would surely want to obtain it. What ability do I, a person like me, possess to snatch it from the jaws of a tiger?"

Ji Dengtu waved his hand. "You don't understand this. Such rare treasures aren't necessarily easier to obtain for those with stronger power. Instead, they favor those with deep fortune. As long as your luck is good enough and your destiny is great enough, the item will naturally appear before you."

"Conversely, some powerful individuals are naturally unlucky and might never be fated to acquire such divine objects in their entire lives. Of course, the strong often have strong luck; those who are truly unlucky usually can't cultivate great power either."

Zu'an's expression immediately became conflicted. He deeply regretted having used the Lucky Pill so easily earlier, wishing he had saved it.

Noticing his expression, Ji Dengtu thought he was worried and comforted him, "Don't worry. You're clearly useless, you can't even perform in bed, yet you were still chosen by Miss Chu as her husband. In my opinion, your fortune is extraordinary. If you can enter the secret realm, you might genuinely find something."

Of course, he left something unsaid: the chance of finding a divine object like the Traceless Illusion Lotus was akin to finding a needle in a haystack. He didn't believe anyone in the world could find it. He spoke this way mainly to protect his reputation as a miracle doctor. After all, he had already provided a treatment plan; if the condition couldn't be cured, it was because the medicine couldn't be found, and had nothing to do with him, Ji Dengtu.

Recalling the small booklet Zu'an had just given him, Ji Dengtu felt a bit ungenerous. He pulled a blue pill from his pocket and handed it to him. "This is the Unsealing Pill I refined earlier using eighty kinds of spirit herbs. It only lacks the Traceless Illusion Lotus as its main ingredient. Since the Traceless Illusion Lotus is hard to preserve once picked, carry this pill with you. When you find the lotus, consume both simultaneously, and it will break the seal on your condition."

Zu'an carefully held the small blue pill and said suspiciously, "I'm not well-educated, so don't trick me. Aren't pills supposed to be meticulously refined in a pill furnace with controlled flames? Will simply mixing and consuming them together have any effect?"

"Are you questioning my professional integrity?" Ji Dengtu shot him a sidelong glance. "Who do you think I am, Ji Dengtu? How could I be like those quack doctors? Moreover, for a divine object like the Traceless Illusion Lotus, refining it in a pill furnace would only needlessly waste its medicinal properties."

"Could it be that the Traceless Illusion Lotus is actually what breaks the seal, and your so-called Unsealing Pill is just there to make up the numbers?" Zu'an couldn't help but ask.

Ji Dengtu flew into a rage and immediately tried to snatch the pill back. "If you don't want it, give it back to me!"

"I-I want it!" Zu'an hastily put the pill into his pocket, forcing a smile.

Only then did Ji Dengtu snort. "If it weren't for that little booklet you just respectfully gave me, I wouldn't have given it to you. Do you have any more stories like that? Bring me some more later?"

Zu'an secretly cursed him as an old pervert, then said, "Please finish this story first. I'll think about it later?" He couldn't give all the benefits at once; he needed to save some for later, for when he might need Ji Dengtu's help, ensuring a strategic balance.

Hearing the implication that there were more such stories, Ji Dengtu's face immediately lit up with joy. "Good, good, good! Although you're a bit useless in other areas, you're truly a talent in this regard. Not bad, not bad!"

Zu'an was speechless. Why did those compliments sound like insults?

"Oh, right, I forgot to remind you," Ji Dengtu suddenly remembered. "Instead of worrying about not finding the Traceless Illusion Lotus once you're in the secret realm, you should first worry about whether you can even get in."

"Huh?" Zu'an was immediately startled. "Is there more to it?"

"Of course!" Ji Dengtu looked at him as if he were an idiot. "Secret realms are very dangerous, so ordinary people shouldn't even consider it; going would be a death wish. On the other hand, they are full of opportunities and are desired by all cultivators. However, there's not enough to go around, so not everyone can just go whenever they please, right?"

"The secret realms in each prefecture are often controlled by the nearest local academy," Ji Dengtu continued. "And since there are many academies in one prefecture, representatives will be sent before a secret realm opens. For fairness, a selection competition will be held, and only the winners will be qualified to enter the secret realm."

Zu'an grew angry upon hearing this. "Are you clearly playing a trick on me? I have to participate in a selection competition? Do I have that ability?"

Although he had secretly cultivated to the third rank, there were many fifth-rank cultivators in Brightmoon Academy, and plenty of fourth-rank as well. Not to mention competitors from other academies. Unless he played all his trump cards, there might be a tiny chance to qualify, but exposing his trump cards like that didn't align with his 'Prudent Saint' principle.

Furthermore, Ji Dengtu didn't know about his cultivation. The advice he was giving him clearly led nowhere, didn't it?

"Calm down, calm down," Ji Dengtu chuckled awkwardly. "Although you can't do it, your wife can! Miss Chu is practically the most outstanding person among the younger generation."

"She will certainly be able to enter the secret realm. Just let her help you find the Traceless Illusion Lotus."

Zu'an was speechless. "According to you, that thing is so magical that a single petal can raise one's cultivation by a minor realm. Even if she finds it, it would definitely be more beneficial for her to consume it herself."

"Isn't she your wife?" Ji Dengtu said righteously. "If her husband is ill, isn't it her undeniable duty to help treat him? Does she truly want to remain a living widow her whole life?"

Zu'an looked at him with utter despair, even having thoughts of killing him. This bastard was truly rubbing salt in the wound.

"However, wives aren't always reliable. Husbands and wives are like birds of the same forest, flying off in different directions when disaster strikes," Ji Dengtu said, changing his tone and looking annoyed. "But you seem to have other options, don't you? That big-breasted girl from Brightmoon Academy... ah, no, that Pei Mianman, doesn't she have strong feelings for you? If your wife isn't reliable, find a lover. She'll definitely help you."

He had previously heard his daughter, Ji Xiaoxi, mention what happened at the academy, and it had filled him with admiration. "Speaking of which, your methods are quite wild. Even with your... condition, you can still win the hearts of so many stunning beauties. Why don't you teach me how you do it?"

Hearing him repeatedly mention his 'condition', Zu'an felt like dying. He thought, 'Once I recover, the first thing I'll do is take your daughter, just to wipe that smug look off your face.' Of course, he absolutely dared not voice this thought now.

Ji Dengtu teased him for a while, but seeing no reaction, he felt a little bored. "I almost forgot, the Chu family invited me here this time to treat your injuries."

As he spoke, he began examining Zu'an's body. He couldn't help but exclaim in wonder, "Your body is truly strange, young man. An ordinary person with such severe injuries would have long kicked the bucket. Not only are you not dead, but your recovery speed seems much faster than average."

Zu'an was startled, thinking that this must be the effect of the Phoenix Nirvana Sutra. After all, it was a cultivation method that improved by taking hits, so it definitely had unique properties when it came to healing and recovery. Otherwise, he would die on the path of cultivation sooner or later.

Ji Dengtu prescribed some external and internal medicine for him, then left with an excited expression. Clearly, the newly acquired bellyband and booklet made him eager to rush home and secretly admire them.

After seeing him leave, Zu'an fell into deep thought, pondering how to legitimately enter the secret realm and obtain the Traceless Illusion Lotus. After an unknown amount of time, a relaxed smile gradually appeared on his lips...

Early the next morning, Zu'an struggled to get up for school. This greatly pleased Chu Zhongtian and Qin Wanru, who thought he was truly teachable. However, still worried about his injuries, they hastily had the estate doctor examine him, only to find that his injuries had almost healed.

"Oh, so that fellow Ji Dengtu does have some skill after all," Chu Zhongtian remarked. He naturally couldn't guess that this was due to Zu'an's own cultivation method and subconsciously attributed it to Ji Dengtu.

Qin Wanru, standing by, pursed her lips and smiled. "You weren't willing to let him into the manor before."

Chu Zhongtian snorted. "That fellow was constantly ogling you all day; he definitely had no good intentions. Of course I didn't welcome him."

"We're an old married couple now, and you're still getting jealous," Qin Wanru said, playfully pushing him. Her delicate cheeks flushed like fire.