The Yang Pole Secret Realm contained only a single massive volcano. Lava spewed ceaselessly from its summit, flowing down the mountainside and pooling in the depressions to form lakes.
But this was no ordinary lava. It was yang source in liquid form, and the pools it formed were known as Yang Source Pools. Despite the intense heat, they wouldn’t harm those who entered, resembling slightly viscous hot springs.
By bathing in one and circulating a Body Refining Technique, a cultivator could absorb the yang source within, invigorating their vital blood and strengthening their physique.
The mountainside was dotted with pools of all sizes, allowing disciples to choose based on their cultivation level and preferences. The cultivation fee matched that of the Firmament Nine-Story Tower: one hundred points per day. They simply swiped their academy card upon entering and again when leaving, and the points would be deducted automatically.
Over a hundred disciples had gathered at the base of the Yang Extreme Volcano. Even from nearly a kilometer away, they could already feel the scorching heat blasting toward them.
In the distance, the ground at the volcano’s foot was cracked and barren, crisscrossed by scalding rivers and bubbling hot springs that belched thick plumes of white steam.
After the guarding elder explained the key precautions, he departed. The leaders of the experienced societies immediately rallied their members with a wave and charged toward the volcano.
Wen Canglan approached once more, cupping his hands in greeting.
“Zi Ji, Junior Brother Yan Zhen, this should be your first time in the Yang Pole Secret Realm, right? Would you like to travel with us? The pools on the mountain vary in quality, and newcomers often struggle to tell them apart. If we go together, I can secure a decent one for you—as my apology for my earlier rashness.”
Wen Canglan believed he had already humbled himself sufficiently. Yan Zhen and Zi Xunyi had no reason to deny him face now. Yet he was still too overconfident.
Neither Yan Zhen nor Zi Xunyi spared him a glance. Instead, they took to the air alongside Long Ying and Huangfu Wenqing, vanishing into the distance by over a hundred meters in an instant.
“…”
Wen Canglan’s expression darkened. Beneath his glasses, his crystalline eyes flashed with resentment, and his fists slowly clenched within his sleeves.
Be it status or strength, which disciple in the Inner Academy dared ignore him? Zi Xunyi aside, what right did Yan Zhen have?
He was nothing but an unknown youth from some remote kingdom!
The cadres of Mirror Society were equally indignant.
“Young Master, they’re going too far. Why lower yourself like this?”
“Exactly, Young Master. Yan Zhen only beat Bai Ao—what gives him the right to disregard you, to disregard all of Mirror Society?”
“Should we teach him a lesson? Even with the Purple-Clothed Goddess protecting the kid, we can make him pay the price.”
Wen Canglan sighed, knowing it wasn’t that simple.
Aside from Zi Xunyi, Yan Zhen had that mysterious pink-haired loli by his side—someone whose strength and origins were enigmatic, capable of even suppressing instructors. With her there, they could scarcely threaten Yan Zhen.
“Never mind. Let’s go. Cultivation comes first.”
With that, he led the Mirror Society members onward.
Nearby, Yu Die rested her chin in her hand, lost in thought.
“My cousin-in-law sure has personality. But how does he know Lady Zi Ji? Is it because of Little Long Ying? They seem awfully close. He wouldn’t betray my cousin Xuan’er, would he?”
Transformation Butterfly’s second-in-command reminded her, “Big Sis, we should head out too. If we’re late, that pool will be snatched by another society.”
Yu Die nodded, setting her thoughts aside, and flew toward the volcano with her sisters.
“Fly-bro, which way are we going?” one of Ling Fei’s underlings asked. “Should we tail Transformation Butterfly’s people—ow!”
Before he could finish, the sleazy guy earned a smack on the head from Ling Fei, who looked utterly exasperated.
“Are you trying to get me killed? If Yu Die overhears that, I’m done for… All you think about is pervy stuff. No backbone. Head to the usual spot!”
“”Got it, Fly-bro!””
At Ling Fei’s command, the members of Flying High—one of the Inner Academy Top 10 Societies—shot toward their target pool at top speed.
In moments, the area emptied out, though the skies grew lively with activity.
The Top Ten Societies naturally reached the mountainside first, but they didn’t stop there, pressing onward and upward.
As Wen Canglan had said, the Yang Source Pools varied in quality—the closer to the summit, the better.
The absolute best was the one in the volcano crater, but it was far too dangerous. The pools near the base were mediocre in tempering effect and thus ordinary by comparison. The prime spots lay midway up the mountain.
However, those mid-mountain pools were scarce and had long been divvied up among the Top Ten Societies. Other first-rate groups had to settle for the base-level ones.
Even among the base pools, quality differed, and soon two groups clashed over a particularly good one. White Fang was among them.
“…”
The competition was fierce.
Yan Zhen shook his head inwardly. With their group’s strength, they could easily vie for a mid-mountain pool against even the Top Ten Societies. But his main goal in entering the Yang Pole Secret Realm wasn’t body refining—it was to hunt fire crystal ore for forging the Gold Silver Fire Sword Embryo. There was no need to fight over a spot.
His ultimate destination was the volcano crater, but the time wasn’t right yet. He had to wait until tomorrow night’s eruption.
When the volcano erupted, vast quantities of fire crystal ore would spew forth. He could simply head up and collect it then. Of course, he wouldn’t be the only one after the treasure, and another brutal struggle would ensue.
The four of them selected a nearby ordinary five-person pool and slotted their academy cards into the grooves at the edge. Four stone platforms promptly rose from the pool’s surface.
Runes adorned the platforms’ surfaces. Sitting upon them accelerated the absorption and refinement of yang source while mitigating its searing heat—far superior to soaking directly in the pool.
“Let’s begin cultivating… If absorbing too much yang source makes you feel unwell, stop for a bit.”
Yan Zhen settled onto a platform, closed his eyes, and began circulating his vital blood according to the Primordial Dharma Body Atlas. Flames of vital energy flickered across his skin.
At that moment, a mission prompt chimed in his mind from System-chan.
[Ding! Key plot triggered]
[Current plot progress—Chapter 404: Yang Pole Secret Realm]
[Role-Playing Requirements: ① Absorb yang source to strengthen your physique; ② After the volcanic eruption, head up the mountain to gather fire crystal ore; ③ Amid the Top Ten Societies’ joint effort to slay a Fifth-Tier Lava Beast, claim the fire spirit crystal from its body, only to be pursued by Black Horn and others; ④ To escape the pursuit, forcibly climb to the summit and leap into the volcano crater, triggering the next key plot]
A new key plot… In simple terms, it was the plot where Long Ying set him up. That event marked a turning point in their relationship and the first time he witnessed her shift to her mature woman form.
Afterward, Long Ying became far more obedient and sensible, while Yan Zhen glimpsed her true power—paving the way for him to sweet-talk her into signing a master-servant contract, making her his mount.
That was why, when Yan Zhen later headed to Cloud Heaven Palace to fulfill the two-year battle pact, Long Ying would follow him willingly.
The plot linked together seamlessly.
Yet in reality, Long Ying wasn’t remotely as troublesome. They’d only been together for less than half a month, and she was already deeply dependent on him. He had no idea why.
Yan Zhen’s mood grew subtly complex as he dismissed the system interface and focused on his cultivation.
