Chapter 6: Destroying Demons and Eradicating Evil, the Righteous Path Shines

Seeing that there were no traps or hidden dangers in the area, the three companions dispersed to seek their own fortunes. Li Chen, however, remained seated on a meditation cushion, his eyes fixed on the array patterns of the teleportation circle on the floor; he believed that once Lin Ying had obtained her opportunity, she would return to this very spot.

As time passed, boredom set in. He began to wander aimlessly through the palace. It was not particularly large, consisting of about twenty chambers. The three who had gone before him had already searched the place, finding nothing but discarded cups and plates. Before long, he reached the far end of the palace and noticed a small room in the right corner that appeared to have been overlooked. Li Chen stepped inside and saw the words "Ancestral Tablets of the Medicine Immortal Sect" carved into the wall. A sudden inspiration struck him. Mimicking Lin Ying, he knelt and kowtowed, praying, "Ancestral masters of the Medicine Immortal Sect, your descendant Li Tian pays his respects." He kowtowed so many times he lost count, but when nothing happened, he stood back up.

Just then, he heard a clicking sound from the altar table. Two long, wooden boxes rose from within. Li Chen stepped forward, took them, and placed them on the ground. Upon opening them, he found two long swords, each engraved with a name: "Demon Slayer" and "Evil Destroyer." Overjoyed, he assumed they were high-grade magical artifacts. He attempted to bind them to himself with a drop of blood. As the blood touched the blades, it was instantly absorbed; the steel vibrated, and a brilliant luster rippled across them. Indeed, they were high-grade artifacts. "Lin Ying and I were just in need of such weapons," he thought. "I shall take 'Demon Slayer' and give 'Evil Destroyer' to her. Hahaha!" He quickly stored the blades in his storage ring and hurried out.

Li Chen wandered the surroundings. The sixty disciples who had been waiting outside had all entered the ruins by now. A few bold and curious ones had slipped in, and upon finding it safe, had beckoned the others to join them in exploration. After exchanging a few words, Li Chen followed the crowd inside. When they reached the palace, they surged in, causing a great commotion before eventually scattering in all directions.

Li Chen sat on the palace steps, gazing up at the sky. The heavens were filled with brilliant stars, and the moon shone with a vivid radiance. He marveled, "The ancient masters were truly omnipotent; to create such lifelike stars and moon!" His thoughts drifted into wonder.

While sitting on the steps, Li Chen practiced the "Heaven Refining Technique." Three days later, the two Kunnan elders returned with the sixty disciples. "Li Chen, did you not seek any fortune?" one asked. "I was waiting for Junior Sister Lin to return," Li Chen replied. The others were chattering about the spirit herbs and materials they had found—they had practically overturned every inch of soil within a hundred miles.

"Everyone, gather and line up! We are returning to the sect. Move!"

Li Chen approached the two elders. "I must stay here and wait for Junior Sister Lin. It is safe now that the seal is broken. Please explain the situation to my master on my behalf."

"Very well, we shall return to the sect first!"

Once they left, the secret realm returned to its former silence. Inside the palace, Li Chen sat on his cushion facing outward, practicing his cultivation. He was working to refine his true essence into spirit essence to reach the Golden Core stage. He had reached the peak of the Inner Core stage and hoped to break through within a month.

Five days later, the teleportation array flashed with a brilliant light, and Lin Ying appeared. "Lin Ying! What opportunity did you find?" Li Chen asked, filled with joy.

Lin Ying recounted her experience: the secret realm had been created by the tenth sect master of the Medicine Immortal Sect, who had left behind a projection of herself to manage it. It was her consciousness that had transported Lin Ying away. Inside, the sect master had guided her in mastering the secret arts of the sect, only letting her leave once she had become fully proficient. She had also been gifted many cultivation resources.

"Oh, how long was I gone?" she asked.

"Nearly nine days," Li Chen replied.

"That's right," she continued. "The sect master said she gave you two high-grade magical swords?"

Li Chen was secretly startled. "These ancient immortals are truly something else!" he thought. "She even knew that?"

"The sect master isn't old at all," Lin Ying added. "She looked no more than twenty—a true celestial beauty!"

"A celestial beauty? I thought it was a male immortal?"

Li Chen took out the two swords and asked Lin Ying to bind the "Evil Destroyer" blade with her blood. As she squeezed a drop of blood onto the steel, the blade vibrated with a melodic hum, and a shimmering light flowed between it and her spirit, establishing a deep connection. Seeing this, Li Chen couldn't help but think, *My binding didn't cause such a stir! Could this be a sword that prefers beautiful women?*