"Fellow Daoist ahead, please wait."
After hearing another telepathic message, Lu Qing finally stopped and quietly looked behind him.
He had naturally realized long ago that someone was behind him.
But since entering Tian Shu Continent, the population has become much more prosperous.
He would occasionally encounter other practitioners on the road.
However, most of them were wary of each other and would not easily communicate with unfamiliar cultivators.
This was the first time he had been stopped by someone.
Lu Qing looked behind him and saw a young Taoist priest wearing a Taoist robe, with a slightly round face and a somewhat fat figure.
Standing on a huge yellow gourd, it was rapidly approaching Lu Qing.
As it approached Lu Qing, it began to slow down and eventually came to a stop.
"Fellow Daoist's escape speed is truly fast; I almost couldn't keep up with you."
The slightly overweight Taoist priest took a breath and said with admiration.
The speed of escape?
Lu Qing was slightly taken aback.
He transformed into a streak of light and flew, using only the most basic escape technique of the Golden Core realm. He did not use any magic treasures, so how could he be said to be fast?
However, he did not show it, and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. May I ask what brings you to my place?"
At the same time, he quietly activated his supernatural ability and looked at the slightly chubby Taoist priest.
"It was my rudeness." The slightly plump Taoist priest gave an embarrassed smile. "I am from Qingniu Continent, my Taoist name is Wubao, and I am on my way to Tian Shu Divine Mountain."
Seeing that you are also traveling alone, why don't we travel together as companions?
"Traveling together?"
Lu Qing looked at the slightly chubby Taoist priest with an honest face, and then paused for a moment at a small red gourd hanging from the priest's waist.
He then shook his head: "I'm sorry, I've always preferred to travel alone and don't have the habit of traveling with others."
At this moment, the Taoist's note began to appear in his field of vision, and Lu Qing read it silently.
Then, a strange feeling slowly surfaced in Lu Qing's heart.
However, upon hearing Lu Qing's words, the slightly overweight Taoist priest showed a look of surprise.
"What, fellow Daoist, don't you intend to go to Tian Shu Divine Mountain to enter the soon-to-be-born new secret realm and compete for opportunities?"
Lu Qing raised an eyebrow: "A new secret realm?"
"It seems you truly are unaware of this matter, fellow Daoist."
The slightly overweight Taoist priest, seeing that Lu Qing's expression didn't seem feigned, realized that he had misunderstood.
Lu Qing shook his head: "I have been traveling around. This time I went to Tian Shu Divine Mountain only because I have always longed to visit this divine mountain and wanted to travel there."
"As for the new secret realm the Taoist priest mentioned, I truly know nothing about it."
The slightly overweight Taoist priest perked up: "In that case, fellow Taoist, you should travel with me. It would be such a pity to miss this great opportunity."
"Why is the Taoist priest so insistent on traveling with me?" Lu Qing asked with great interest.
"To be honest, fellow Daoist, I have a secret technique in my cultivation that allows me to predict my own fortune or misfortune."
The moment I caught a glimpse of you, fellow Daoist, I felt a sense of unease.
So he consulted a fortune teller, and the result was an auspicious omen.
Therefore, as long as I travel with you, my fellow Daoist, I am certain that this journey will be filled with good fortune and numerous opportunities.
The slightly overweight Taoist priest spoke with great enthusiasm.
"The Taoist priest is indeed honest," Lu Qing said with a smile.
He recalled the note that had just floated out from the slightly overweight Taoist priest and realized that the other party was not lying.
"Well, fellow Daoist, may I accompany you to Tian Shu Divine Mountain?" the slightly plump Daoist asked expectantly.
"What benefits can I expect?" Lu Qing asked.
"That's simple. If we really get a chance in Tian Shu Divine Mountain, we'll split the profits 30/70."
"Fellow Daoist, you take 70%, while I only take 30%. I wonder if you are satisfied?"
The slightly overweight Taoist priest was taken aback at first, then overjoyed, and immediately patted his chest, making a solemn vow.
"We'll see," Lu Qing said noncommittally. "Tell me first what this new secret realm is all about."
"Of course!"
The slightly overweight Taoist priest was overjoyed upon hearing this.
He understood that Lu Qing had temporarily agreed.
“Fellow Daoist, we are still quite a distance from here to Tian Shu Divine Mountain. Why don’t we talk as we walk?”
"Alright." Lu Qing nodded.
So the two set off again.
This time, Lu Qing did not transform into a streak of light, but instead condensed into an auspicious cloud, sat on it, and flew at a leisurely pace.
The slightly overweight Taoist priest also rode his gourd-shaped magical artifact, keeping pace with Lu Qing.
The two introduced themselves briefly.
The slightly overweight Taoist priest slowly recounted the news that a new secret realm was about to emerge on Tian Shu Divine Mountain.
As the slightly overweight Taoist priest explained in detail, Lu Qing finally understood what was going on.
It turns out that a cave suddenly appeared on the mountainside of Tian Shu Divine Mountain a month ago.
Inside that cave, the light of the primordial source was brewing and flickering.
Such an unusual phenomenon immediately caused a sensation among the powerful individuals who had been exploring the Tian Shu Divine Mountain.
After all, they were not unfamiliar with such strange phenomena.
There are signs that a large secret realm is about to manifest in the world.
This is also a major feature of Tian Shu Divine Mountain.
Tian Shu Divine Mountain is not only vast and majestic, but also contains countless mysteries, treasures, and opportunities.
Furthermore, powerful secret realms will occasionally be created.
Those secret realms are equally vast and enormous, some even much larger than some medium to large worlds.
Such a vast secret realm naturally contains a great deal of opportunity.
Some of these opportunities are so great that even a powerful being at the primordial spirit level would go crazy for them.
Therefore, every time a new secret realm is brewing and emerging in Tian Shu Divine Mountain, it will inevitably cause a sensation.
Not only numerous sects and powerful families, but also elites from various clans will be dispatched to the sacred mountain to vie for opportunities.
Even many powerful independent cultivators would flock there, hoping to stumble upon a celestial destiny.
The same applies this time.
The extraordinary phenomena of Tian Shu Divine Mountain could not be concealed at all.
In a short time, news that a new secret realm was about to be born spread throughout most of the Tianyuan Great World.
Countless powerful individuals and forces have already rushed there.
"I see. No wonder I encountered many cultivators with considerable cultivation on my way here. They were all in a hurry. It turns out they were rushing to Tian Shu Divine Mountain to seize opportunities."
After listening to the slightly chubby Taoist priest—no, it should be the Five Treasures Taoist priest—Lu Qing suddenly understood.
"Indeed, this time the Tian Shu Divine Mountain is giving birth to a new secret realm, which will surely attract countless powerful people. Apart from the powerful people from more distant places who are unable to come over for the time being, the powerful people from several nearby continents will probably gather at the divine mountain."
"Since powerful figures have gathered over at the sacred mountain, do you think we, with our current cultivation level, really have any hope of obtaining this opportunity?"
Lu Qing expressed his doubts.
It wasn't that he was belittling himself.
According to the fat Taoist priest, even many top sects and powerful families would send their experts to Tian Shu Divine Mountain to compete for opportunities.
Among them must be many powerful beings at the Nascent Soul Realm.
At the Golden Core Realm, Lu Qing was confident that he was no less capable than anyone else.
But he wasn't so arrogant as to disregard even those at the Nascent Soul stage.
Therefore, he expressed doubt about the Five Treasures Taoist's confidence.
"It seems that you really know very little about Tian Shu Divine Mountain."
The Five Treasures Taoist priest sighed.
"Oh, is there some other story behind this? I'd like to hear the details," Lu Qing asked humbly.
"Actually, this isn't a secret. Any cultivator who has been to Tian Shu Divine Mountain will know it," said the Five Treasures Taoist.
"Mount Tian Shu is one of the most mysterious and wondrous divine mountains in the Tianyuan Great World."
Although it is vast and enormous, its mountain body alone is larger than a small world.
It contains many mysterious caves, each with its own secrets.
The layers upon layers of caves not only conceal numerous opportunities and secrets, but some also lead to unknown places.
Even the most powerful beings with the highest level of spiritual energy cannot fully explore the mysteries of Tian Shu Divine Mountain.
Therefore, some people have speculated that Tian Shu Divine Mountain may be a miracle left behind by immortals.
Of course, immortals are just legends; no one has ever seen them or not.
After listening to the description of the Five Treasures Taoist, Lu Qing finally understood why this Heavenly Pivot Divine Mountain was so special.
but......
"Master, what does this have to do with what I just said?"
"Fellow Daoist Chen, please don't be impatient. I haven't gotten to the important part yet."
The Five Treasures Taoist chuckled and continued.
"Just now, fellow Daoist was worried that after the secret realm was born, there would be powerful sects, aristocratic families, and Nascent Soul experts there."
With our mere Golden Core Realm cultivation, we're afraid we simply won't be able to gain any opportunities from this.
Actually, this is precisely what you shouldn't worry about, fellow Daoist.
"Why is that?" Lu Qing asked, puzzled.
"Because, according to past practice, the secret realms nurtured by Tian Shu Divine Mountain are generally subject to cultivation restrictions."
Cultivators at or above the Nascent Soul Realm are not allowed to enter the secret realm.
Only cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm are allowed to enter the secret realm to search for treasures and compete for opportunities.
"Such a thing is true?" Lu Qing was surprised.
“It’s strange, isn’t it? But that’s the rule of Tian Shu Divine Mountain,” Wu Bao Daoist laughed. “The spatial caves that exist year-round on Tian Shu Divine Mountain generally don’t have cultivation restrictions.”
No matter who it is, from a Qi Refining stage novice to a top-tier Nascent Soul stage expert.
Everyone can enter and explore opportunities.
However, the secret realm that has just been created on the sacred mountain can only be entered by cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm.
This point was drawn by our ancestors over countless millennia from the many secret realms nurtured by the sacred mountains of Tian Shu.
This is an ironclad rule, and there has never been an exception.
It is precisely because of these strange rules that some people speculate that Tian Shu Divine Mountain may be a relic left by ancient immortals.
Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain why a sacred mountain is formed naturally.
There would be such clearly targeted rules.
Hearing this, Lu Qing nodded in agreement.
Indeed, such a clearly targeted rule doesn't seem to have formed naturally; rather, it seems to have been designed artificially.
But who has such great supernatural power to control such a vast and enormous Tian Shu Divine Mountain?
It's no wonder that some people would guess it's related to ancient immortals.
However, the concept of immortals has always been elusive and unreal.
Whether such a being ever truly existed is a question no one can answer.
"Is it true that only cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm can enter this newly created secret realm?"
Even so, it probably won't be easy to snatch food from the mouths of major sects and powerful families.
These powerful forces have many outstanding talents among their members.
Sending out just one or two top-tier Golden Core cultivators in the late Golden Core stage would probably be enough to sweep across the land.
With my limited strength, I am utterly unable to withstand it.
Those prodigies, I fear, would be severely injured with just a glance from them.
Lu Qing, however, remained pessimistic.
"Fellow Daoist, you jest. I dare not compete with the chosen ones of those sects and aristocratic families."
What Xiaodao meant was that once they reached Tian Shu Divine Mountain, the secret realm would open.
We'll just stumble upon some celestial encounters at the edge of the secret realm; there's no need to venture deeper.
Those chosen ones from powerful sects and aristocratic families will surely venture deep into the secret realm in search of treasures.
If we're just on the periphery, it shouldn't be a big problem.
The Five Treasures Taoist finally revealed his plan.
Even so, Lu Qing still did not immediately agree to his request.
He simply said, "This matter is too risky. Let's wait until I reach Tian Shu Divine Mountain before making a decision."
“That’s right. We haven’t even seen what the secret realm looks like yet, so it’s really inappropriate to be daydreaming about it. It was indeed me who was too rash.”
The Five Treasures Taoist was not annoyed by Lu Qing's caution.
On the contrary, he became more alert.
Ever since he met Lu Qing and had his fortune told, he has become more optimistic.
However, the future is full of countless possibilities, and the hexagram is not immutable.
If he enters the secret realm with this mindset, he might run into trouble.
Extreme joy can turn into sorrow, which is often one of the most common outcomes after a change in the hexagram.
"This fat Taoist priest seems to have a good character."
Seeing this, Lu Qing nodded to himself.
He had initially thought the fat Taoist priest would be annoyed by his repeated excuses.
Now it seems like I was overthinking things.
However, he did start to ponder it in his mind.
When the Taoist priest mentioned the new secret realm earlier, Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat.
It was as if there was something in that new secret realm that the other party had mentioned that was extremely useful to him.
Having cultivated to a level like Lu Qing's, one often experiences sudden, almost imperceptible, sensations related to matters of great importance to one's own cultivation.
Clearly, there must be something in that so-called new secret realm that is attracting him.
This is also why he did not refuse the slightly overweight Taoist's request to travel with him.
He could sense that this chubby boy was indeed quite peculiar.
Moreover, this was also revealed in the information on the note obtained through supernatural abilities.
The identity and background of this Five Treasures Taoist are also quite remarkable.
In addition, he seemed to be quite familiar with the affairs of Tian Shu Divine Mountain.
In that case, collaborating with him might indeed yield considerable benefits.
Having thought this through, Lu Qing had already made a decision.
However, he did not say it directly.
Just as he just said.
He hasn't even seen the secret realm that is about to emerge from Tian Shu Divine Mountain yet.
So it's too early to say anything.
Everything will have to wait until we reach Tian Shu Divine Mountain, and until he uses his special abilities to explore the secret realm that is about to be born, before we can make a decision.
