Chapter 404: The Floating Divine Island, the Profound Image Secret Realm p2
…
A white light erupted, its strange and powerful fluctuation noticeable even from miles away.
Mao Ruoyu stopped abruptly and looked towards the back mountain with surprise and uncertainty.
“Is that… where my husband and the Valley Master are?”
“It’s quite a commotion.”
First Elder, who was leading the way, glanced back casually and waved her hand dismissively: “Don’t mind them, they’ll be fine. Not to mention Tianlu’s incredible cultivation, the Valley Master is not one to act recklessly, she must have her reasons.”
Mao Ruoyu’s worried expression eased slightly, and she sighed softly: “I just hope my husband is safe, and that Xuanling can recover soon.”
“You should worry about yourself for now.”
First Elder suddenly grabbed her shoulder, and with a flicker of movement, they appeared inside a majestic hall.
Without any hesitation, she flicked her fingers, and a stone door not far away silently opened. They both leaped inside.
“Waaaaah?!”
Mao Ruoyu, who had just finished washing up, was caught off guard by this sudden change, and she cried out in surprise as she stumbled and fell to the ground.
After her mind cleared slightly, she struggled to her feet, her beautiful eyes blinking in confusion: “Th-This is…”
“The Profound Image Secret Realm.”
First Elder put one hand on her hip, looking at her with a casual and indifferent expression: “Although you’ve been away from Lunar Valley for many years, and only received basic training in your youth, you should have heard of this secret realm.”
“…”
Mao Ruoyu’s face turned slightly pale as she swallowed hard, her hands, hidden in her sleeves, clenching tightly.
The Profound Image Secret Realm.
She had indeed heard of it during her time in the valley.
It was said that only disciples with high cultivation could enter.
And those who entered would face terrifying trials and tribulations. Only those who emerged victorious could become true disciples of Lunar Valley and be allowed to leave the valley and travel to the outside world.
But to pass through the Profound Image Secret Realm was incredibly difficult and dangerous. The slightest carelessness…
…could lead to death.
“Hmph!”
But First Elder suddenly snorted coldly, a mocking look on her face: “Could it be that you think this place is some kind of hell?”
Mao Ruoyu’s face was filled with unease, and she lowered her head, murmuring: “I only heard from my senior sisters that…”
“Those girls are too pampered.”
First Elder chuckled and spread her hands, explaining: “This Profound Image Secret Realm is just a ‘training ground.’ We elders supervise the trials, and only those who can push themselves beyond their limits, then enter the Jade Pool to cleanse and refine their bodies and souls, are qualified to cultivate the Moon Shadow techniques and awaken their Primordial Demon Forms.”
Mao Ruoyu blinked her beautiful eyes repeatedly and asked hesitantly: “So it’s not as terrifying as my senior sisters said?”
“If it were truly a deathtrap, where would we find any disciples? They would all be dead!”
First Elder rolled her eyes playfully: “Even Jingyun and those other elders went through this, have you ever seen them missing any limbs?”
“This…”
Mao Ruoyu chuckled awkwardly and shamefully.
It seemed that she had indeed overreacted.
After calming down slightly, the beautiful woman finally had the time to look around. The Profound Image Secret Realm seemed to be a valley, surrounded by a hazy and indistinct mist, forming a circular open space.
But besides the two of them, there seemed to be nothing else here.
“First Elder, you mentioned training earlier—”
“Based on the usual cultivation level of our disciples, those who enter the Profound Image Secret Realm are mostly below the Crimson Demon Realm.”
First Elder waved her sleeve, and a human-shaped puppet, made of metal and seemingly carved from gold and iron, slowly emerged from the mist, its face human-like yet also empty and vacant, emanating a chilling aura.
“Their task is to push themselves to their limits against this puppet, to fully integrate everything they’ve learned. That’s how they can break through to the Crimson Demon Realm.”
Mao Ruoyu pursed her lips slightly and said hesitantly: “But I’ve already reached the Crimson Demon Realm, this puppet—”
“Naturally, this puppet is useless against you.”
First Elder chuckled and waved her sleeve, making the puppet disappear back into the mist: “Even if you’re physically weak, you can easily destroy it with your Yin techniques, it wouldn’t be much of a training exercise.
You could say that your cultivation progress has been quite… unorthodox, reaching the Crimson Demon Realm without even condensing your Primordial Demon Form, possessing abundant Yin energy but a physique no different from an ordinary ghost practitioner.”
Mao Ruoyu’s heart sank slightly as she instinctively took a step back.
“Your instincts are quite sharp.” First Elder chuckled: “Your task today is to defeat my clone with all your might.”
Clone?
Mao Ruoyu’s expression turned serious, her guard up.
Even a clone of First Elder, with her profound cultivation, would be a formidable opponent— Hum!
A purple light suddenly erupted from First Elder’s outstretched right hand, like flickering lightning, quickly forming a female figure beside her.
So this was her clone…
Mao Ruoyu immediately channeled her Yin energy, her gaze sharp and focused, not daring to underestimate her opponent.
Although she hadn’t interacted much with First Elder, she knew that she was quite eccentric. This clone… would definitely be difficult to deal with.
“—Heh!”
But a cold chuckle suddenly echoed.
Just this sound alone made Mao Ruoyu’s pupils constrict, her body trembling as if a chilling wind had swept past her.
Then, the faint and indistinct clone solidified, transforming into a seductive woman almost identical to First Elder, her voluptuous and alluring body covered in jade-like armor, her curves accentuated, a sharp, bladed tail coiling and twisting behind her, her purple hair flying wildly, her cold and beautiful face raised slightly, her expression indifferent.
The moment their eyes met, Mao Ruoyu’s breath hitched, her heart pounding, terrifying images flashing through her mind.
She would… definitely die!
“An ordinary puppet would be useless against you, and if I were to fight you personally, I might hold back, it wouldn’t be much of a challenge.” First Elder touched her lips, a seductive and sinister smile appearing: “So, let my weapon’s clone spar with you instead.”
“…I… will do my best.”
Mao Ruoyu bit her lip tightly, forcing herself to calm down, and assumed a fighting stance, ready to use her techniques.
“Good~”
First Elder smiled and waved her hand: “I’ll be watching from outside the barrier, do your best, Ruoyu.”
As soon as she finished speaking, her figure dissipated like a bubble, leaving only the clone, which slowly stretched its body, clenching its hands expressionlessly.
Mao Ruoyu held her breath, focusing her mind, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
—This clone, its cultivation was truly unfathomable!
Back on Immortal Phoenix Mountain, she had even been able to exchange a few blows with a Savage Realm puppet. But now, facing this clone, she couldn’t even muster the slightest fighting spirit, forget about winning, she just hoped to… survive.
“You.”
Suddenly, First Elder’s clone opened its lips slightly, its deep and cold eyes fixed on her: “Your name… is Mao Ruoyu?”
Hmm?
Mao Ruoyu was slightly stunned, a puzzled look on her face.
Why such a strange question?
Could it be that this clone wasn’t controlled by First Elder and didn’t have her memories?
But seeing that the clone remained silent after asking, its face blank and expressionless like a puppet, she still replied hesitantly: “I am Mao Ruoyu.”
“You… are Lin Tianlu’s wife?”
“…Yes.”
“Good.”
The clone nodded slightly, its expression still indifferent.
Then, it spread its ten fingers, their tips transforming into sharp claws, shimmering with a purple light, its long leg, covered in beast-like scales and armor, rising and then stomping down— Boom!
The ground shattered, deep crevices appearing, as if the earth itself was splitting apart. A terrifying and chilling killing intent, like a surging wave, instantly transformed the entire secret realm into a bloody and hellish landscape!
Mao Ruoyu’s expression changed drastically, and she barely managed to steady herself, almost being blown away by the impact. Looking forward, her heart sank, her face turning pale.
Only desolation and death remained before her eyes.
The clone stood amidst the ruins, blood-red flames blazing around it, like divine punishment. An indescribable chill ran down Mao Ruoyu’s spine, freezing her in place.
Just then, the clone tilted its head slightly, its strange, snake-like eyes widening, a sinister shadow covering its face, like a vengeful spirit from the depths of hell, its cold voice echoing: “—Lin Tianlu… is mine.”
It flicked its tongue like a venomous snake, purple scales appearing on its cheeks, and whispered sinisterly: “Mine… and mine alone.”
The next moment, the deadly figure blurred, flashing towards her, its sharp claws leaving a trail of blood-red light.
