In Li Ran's mind, a system prompt sounded.
[Mission Issued.]
[The Immortal Path is elusive, and opportunities are hard to come by. The secret realm within the Ten Thousand Mountains is about to open. Host, please find a way to enter.]
'So, she wasn't lying. There really is a secret realm here...' Li Ran looked at Xiao Qingge seriously.
It seems this girl had some cultivation force behind her.
Xiao Qingge spoke in a low voice, "Senior, you saved my life, and I'm not worthy to negotiate terms with you. However, this secret realm is of great importance to me, and I have no other choice."
"What was that you mentioned about a trade?" Li Ran asked.
Xiao Qingge's spirit lifted. "I'm willing to share all the information I have with you. I only ask that you take me into the secret realm. Once inside, everyone will rely on their own abilities!"
"Abilities?" Li Ran said in amusement. "You're not a cultivator. If I enter the secret realm and decide to kill you, won't all your efforts be in vain?"
Xiao Qingge's face turned pale upon hearing his word. She had thought about this scenario before.
She gritted her teeth and said, "You are right, however, I can only take a gamble!"
"What are you gambling on?" Li Ran asked.
She looked at him with clear eyes. "I'm gambling that you're not an evil person!"
Hearing her words, Li Ran shook his head in sadness.
Her kind of mindset would probably be alright if it were in a normal word, however, in this dog eat dog world? It's nothing but suicidal.
In the face of treasure, even family members would turn against each other. And yet, this girl actually believed in a stranger?
"Senior, can you consider it?" Xiao Qingge asked cautiously.
Li Ran looked at her battered appearance, casually tossed a healing pill to her, and said, "Fine, but, you'd better try your best to not die too soon before reaching the secret realm."
With that, he turned and walked away.
"Yes!" Xiao Qingge sighed in relief.
Her tense nerves relaxed, and exhaustion and pain washed over her. Her legs almost gave out, and she nearly fell to the ground.
Lu Xinran gently supported her and said, "Be careful. Let's go sit there with us."
"Thank you," Xiao Qingge said gratefully to Lu Xinran.
Sitting by the campfire, Xiao Qingge took the pill and her injuries began to heal rapidly. For a mortal like her, this was truly an "immortal pill."
Watching her, Lu Xinran smiled and said, "Don't be fooled by our Holy Son's cold demeanor. In reality, he's quite warm-hearted. He's just not good at socializing."
"Yeah, I can see that the senior is indeed a righteous person with a warm heart," Xiao Qingge nodded.
"Haha," Lu Xinran couldn't help but laugh.
"What are you laughing at?" Xiao Qingge asked, puzzled.
"It's nothing, it's just a bit strange to hear you keep calling him 'senior.' He's only eighteen years old, but you make it sound like he's eighty," Lu Xinran shook her head. "It's quite amusing!"
"Eighteen?!" Xiao Qingge was shocked.
'To be able to slay that bear, he must at least be at the Peak of Golden Core stage. How could he be only eighteen?' She couldn't believe it.
Even with her previous talent, at this age, she would have only reached the Peak Foundation Establishment stage, barely touching the threshold of the Golden Core stage.
Lu Xinran shrugged, "But the Holy Son is indeed at the Golden Core stage, and he's really eighteen."
"How is that possible..." Xiao Qingge's words were cut off abruptly as she suddenly realized something.
With such terrifying talent, who else could it be but the person in her heart?
She hurriedly asked, "Young lady, which sect do you belong to?"
Lu Xinran scratched her head, "Don't be afraid when I tell you... We are disciples of the Hidden Gauze Sect, here to undergo trials in the Ten Thousand Mountains."
She added, "But don't worry, even though we are considered a 'demonic sect,' we don't indiscriminately harm innocent people."
"The Hidden Gauze Sect!?" Xiao Qingge exclaimed. "So that senior is..."
"Yes, it's our Sect's Holy Son, Li Ran, the most talented genius in the entire martial world!" Lu Xinran proudly proclaimed.
'It's really him!' Xiao Qingge looked at Li Ran in astonishment, her eyes filled with confusion.
She had imagined a thousand scenarios in which they would meet, some of which were in him arriving at her house and declaring that their arranged marriage are annulled, but she never expected to meet him like this.
'It's been only ten years since we last met, and he has changed so much…'
'His personality is even colder than before, but his talent is still as terrifying.'
'With his current strength, he stands at the pinnacle of the younger generation, while I... I lost my cultivation and became a mortal'
'We are people from two different worlds now, and I'm afraid he won't even remember me…'
A misty sadness filled Xiao Qingge's eyes.
Just then, a white robe landed in front of her.
She raised her head in confusion and saw Li Ran with his back to her, saying in a detached tone, "Your clothes are tattered and unsightly. I haven't worn this robe before. You can put it on for now."
Xiao Qingge's clothing was in shambles, and her fair skin was exposed. She couldn't continue wearing it.
"Thank you." She put on the white robe, and a faint blush colored her face for no apparent reason.
It felt as if her heart had been filled with warm water, brimming with indescribable tenderness.
Lu Xinran suppressed a smile and leaned in close to Xiao Qingge, whispering in her ear, "See? I told you, our Holy Son is a kind person!"
Xiao Qingge was left speechless.
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