Chapter Ten The autumn wind rises over the Wei River, and fallen leaves cover the Qinghe plains.

Page 1/3

He never expected Li Baoping to achieve great things; he only hoped she would have the ability to protect herself. However, seeing the little girl’s fierce determination to train, his views on her cultivation changed considerably. He carved a wooden sword for her, and Baoping treasured it as if it were a priceless gem, never wanting to part with it. Even years later, when she left Qinghe Town and became renowned across the land, that wooden sword still hung at her waist.

Lin Chen personally taught her the Qingfeng Sword Technique, but no matter how hard Li Baoping practiced, she made no progress at all. Eventually, Lin Chen had to concede that the technique was unsuitable for her and stopped her training in it, which left Baoping feeling daunted.

Several days later, Lin Chen overheard a conversation in the tavern about a secret realm opening eight hundred miles from Qinghe Town. Initially, he had no intention of getting involved in such danger, but upon learning that countless cultivation manuals and secrets awaited inside, he bit his lip and decided to give it a try. There were two reasons: first, to find a suitable cultivation method for the little girl, and second, to see just how far he himself differed from the prodigies of the heavens.

The sole requirement for entering the secret realm was to be at the level of minor master or below. Naturally, Taohua Sect, being the closest sect to the secret realm, would send all eligible members. Though small and insignificant in the eyes of major sects, Taohua Sect was home to many geniuses, each capable of standing alone—except for Lin Chen.

It was late autumn; fallen leaves covered the ground, and a gentle breeze rustled through them. After a leisurely stroll, Lin Chen returned to the courtyard. He called Old Huang and Li Baoping over and said, “Old Huang, I’m going on a long trip. Please take care of Baoping for me these days.” He then took a few taels of silver from a cloth pouch at his waist and placed them in Old Huang’s palm.

“Don’t worry! I’ll make sure she grows up plump and healthy,” Old Huang assured, patting his chest. Hearing “plump and healthy,” Li Baoping pouted and glared at Old Huang, “You’re the one who’s plump and healthy! Your whole family is plump and healthy!”

Lin Chen and Old Huang exchanged glances and burst into hearty laughter. Seeing this, tears shimmered in Baoping’s eyes; she stomped her foot, slammed the door, and ran inside, crying loudly.

Page 2/3

“Baoping, what’s wrong? Aren’t you going to see Brother Lin off?” Fox Mei’er’s gentle voice whispered in her ear.

At first, Baoping was terrified upon realizing Fox Mei’er was a ghost and dared not approach her. But after Fox Mei’er’s persistent kindness, she gradually accepted this beautiful elder sister.

Crying, Baoping threw herself into Fox Mei’er’s cold embrace, and at that moment, she felt it was the warmest hug in the world. After a while, she wiped her tears, smiled brightly, and said, “Alright! Let’s go see Brother Lin off together.”

Fox Mei’er beamed, “That’s more like it, Baoping. You’re so good!”

Children get angry easily, but they’re also easily comforted.

The group walked to the outskirts of Qinghe Town. Lin Chen then spoke solemnly, “This is as far as I go. Old Huang, Baoping, I’m leaving them in your care.”

“Don’t worry! I swear on my life!” Old Huang promised with conviction.

“Brother Lin, come back soon, or there’ll be no one left to teach me cultivation,” Baoping said reluctantly, lowering her head.

“All right! Listen carefully to Grandpa Huang. When I return, I’ll teach you an even more powerful technique,” Lin Chen said affectionately, pinching her little cheek.

At the mention of a powerful technique, Baoping’s eyes lit up, and she giggled childishly, “It’s a deal.”

Simultaneously, Lin Chen hooked his finger with hers and pressed his thumb atop, sealing their promise. Secretly, he instructed Fox Mei’er to protect them before mounting his donkey and slowly leaving Qinghe Town.

Not far from town, a chubby man was waddling along, his jiggling flesh making a comical sight. Upon seeing the blind man on a donkey, he stopped.

“Daoist, where are you headed?” the chubby man asked familiarly.

“The road is under my feet; wherever it leads, I go,” Lin Chen replied casually, wary of strangers and unwilling to reveal his destination.

“Interested in striking it rich with me?” the chubby man rubbed his round belly enthusiastically.

“Oh? Daoist, you have such a plan? Do share,” Lin Chen said with curiosity, stopping his donkey.

Page 3/3

“Have you heard of the Divine Relics Secret Realm? It’s said to be filled with priceless treasures. Anyone who brings out even one item will never worry about food or clothing again.” The chubby man poured out his thoughts in one breath.

His intentions were good, but the reality was harsh—he was an ordinary mortal.

With no cultivation whatsoever, Lin Chen frowned and smiled wryly, “Daoist, you do know such places are full of cultivators, and one misstep could mean death, right?”

Lin Chen wasn’t sure whether to admire his courage or think him reckless.

“Fortune favors the bold! Better to risk it than live poor forever. What if we succeed?” The chubby man’s eyes shone with determination, as if ready to face death without fear.

Lin Chen didn’t know how to dissuade him and sighed, “Daoist, your ambition is remarkable. Since we’re headed the same way, let’s go together.”

With the chubby chatterbox along, the journey passed quickly. The closer they got to the Divine Relics Secret Realm, the more people appeared.

Lin Chen met several others, including two independent cultivators, Xu Qing’an and Xie Mengmeng, a couple who were inseparable and constantly showered each other with affection, causing the chubby man to be bombarded with “love vibes.” Luckily, Lin Chen couldn’t see their sweet gestures. After traveling together briefly, the group parted ways, but the chubby man stayed on.

As the chubby man said, a blind man and an ordinary mortal drew little attention.

Near the Divine Relics Secret Realm, someone had used a magical treasure to erect an inn. Seeing the treasure that rose like a towering building, the chubby man’s eyes gleamed with envy.

“Daoist, this treasure is amazing! If I had one like this, I could roam the world and call every place home.”

Lin Chen smiled bitterly. Such treasures were common to cultivators. He had seen countless rare and exotic treasures in Taohua Sect, but being unrecognized by his master’s sect, he was never fortunate enough to own one.

“Just an external thing—no need to envy,” Lin Chen forced out a smile and stepped into the inn.

Even he didn’t quite believe his own words; naturally, he desired such treasures but simply concealed it.