A huge thanks to Katy for the Ko-fis. Enjoy the bonus chapters!

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No sooner had Wen Jue departed than Qin Zhou halted Tunfeng.

Though only at the Golden Core stage, Qin Zhou was no child and didn’t require Wen Jue’s constant protection.

He possessed extreme rationality and knew precisely what he needed to accomplish.

Originally, his plan hadn’t included meeting Lu Yi prematurely, nor had it involved reuniting with the other villagers.

He had his own course of action.

Though certain events now exceeded Qin Zhou’s expectations, his fundamental objective remained unchanged.

“Tunfeng, turn back.”

Though Wen Jue threatened to send Qin Zhou to the Immortal-Demon City, Tunfeng clearly knew who truly provided for it. And with Qin Zhou present, it wouldn’t be a lost cause!

Thus, its front hooves lifted, and the horse changed direction, heading back to Boundary City.

Upon returning to Boundary City, Qin Zhou headed straight for the largest herbal medicine shop.

“One piece of Shape-Shifting Lizard skin, ten scoops of Reshaping Ointment, and two qian of Divine Return Grass.”

The shopkeeper attending to him froze. “This… what kind of pill formula is this?” Qin Zhou remained silent, showing no intention of answering. He simply retrieved a coin pouch from his Cosmos Bag, placing it on the counter with a clink as the spirit stones inside collided. 

Only then did the shopkeeper realize what he had said, quickly smiling and replying, ”I’ll prepare it for the cultivator right away.”

Qin Zhou nodded.

His taciturn demeanor was indeed intimidating. He appeared to be at the Golden Core stage, yet carried himself with such composure. The ease with which he produced such a large quantity of spirit stones made it impossible to gauge his true cultivation level. The shopkeeper swiftly gathered the items Qin Zhou requested.

The most expensive item was the skin of the Shape-Shifting Lizard. This late-Golden Core-stage spirit beast was rare in the lower realms but abundant in the wilds of the upper realms. The Shape-Shifting Lizard skin and the Reshaping Ointment were two items commonly used by cultivators for disguise. 

The skin could be fashioned into human-skin masks. Though not a popular or frequently used pill ingredient, it occasionally found buyers. But the addition of Divine Return Grass made the matter even more perplexing.

Divine Return Grass is the lowest-tier ingredient among low-grade alchemical materials. As its name suggests, it is a poison. Rumors even circulate in the cultivation world that eight qian of Divine Return Grass could kill even an immortal. Of course, this warning only applies to cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage.

The shopkeeper was also baffled. But why turn down business? Money is exchanged for goods. Qin Zhou grabbed his goods and left without a word. Basic Spirit Pill + Divine Return Grass = Basic Marrow Cleansing Pill. 

But when combined with Hundred-Shape Lizard Skin, Reshaping Ointment, and Divine Return Grass, it yields something no one would ever imagine—The Facial-Washing Pill.

Anyone who’s played role-playing games probably knows what this is. Simply put, it’s a ‘face-reset tool’. Lu Yi had consumed quite a few of these. But he probably didn’t want to recall their taste.

Face-Reshaping Pills completely alter a person’s facial texture—their appearance.

Given that they contain ingredients like Divine Return Grass, the pain induced by these pills is only marginally less intense than that of Marrow Cleansing Pills. Qin Zhou had no intention of reshaping his face. This face belonged to the original host. His body and skin were gifts from his parents; he had no right to alter Qin Zhou’s appearance. 

Of course… Lu Yi was an exception back then, since he was practically half a father to Lu Yi.

What Qin Zhou intended to refine was an improved version of the Facial Reshaping Pill. He aimed to transform its effect from ‘permanent’ to ‘temporary’. Navigating the cultivation world naturally required multiple personas.

Qin Zhou purchased the pill ingredients and immediately sought out a secluded spot to begin alchemy….Two hours later, a cultivator of unremarkable appearance, though somewhat refined and handsome, reappeared in the realm city. Though he bore the same name, Qin Zhou, not a single person could detect that his features had been altered. Even if Wen Jue arrived, he could only recognize him by other distinguishing marks.

After finishing his facial manipulation, Qin Zhou turned and entered the city.

Returning to the same inn from yesterday, Qin Zhou encountered a familiar face.

“You’re in luck—a guest just vacated a room not long ago.” The landlady glanced at the man, keeping her words brief. Yesterday, she’d encountered a Golden Core cultivator and nearly offended the senior cultivator with her careless remarks.

Facing another Golden Core cultivator seeking lodging today, she dared not say more.

“Thanks,” the young man said cheerfully, one hand holding his staff and the other cradling his little chick.

Last night, he’d slept rough in the wilderness because he couldn’t find an inn. He never imagined he’d actually find a room today.

“Eight hundred spirit stones per night,” the landlady stated, handing him the room key.

The young man’s smile froze. “Excuse me, how many spirit stones did you say?”

The landlady’s gaze immediately turned peculiar. “Eight hundred. That’s the standard rate throughout the entire city.”

The young man took a deep breath, patted the little wind sparrow on the head, and forced himself to sound calm. “Elder, is there… a cheaper room?”

“I already told you, this is the last one.” The landlady shot him a glance, then finally looked at the little wind sparrow in his arms. “Your little chick looks well-cared for.”

Wind sparrows were rare indeed, perfect for delivering messages.

The young man quickly tucked the little wind sparrow closer to his chest, stammering in fright, “Ha ha… yes, my apologies. I’m afraid I’m a bit strapped for cash. I won’t be staying at your inn after all.”

Seeing this, the landlady said no more.

If he won’t stay, then he won’t stay.

A young Golden Core cultivator without a guide was indeed a rare sight.

“Clink.” A soft sound echoed as spirit stones struck the counter.

“The last room. I’ll take it,” Qin Zhou’s voice rang out at just the right moment.

The landlady promptly placed the room card on the counter. “Please, this way.”

She couldn’t help but wonder inwardly: Why were there so many Gold Core cultivators lately? Could it be that the elders all liked to disguise themselves as Gold Core cultivators to prey on the inexperienced?

The young beast tamer stared longingly at the room card in Qin Zhou’s hand.

“Cheep.”

Qin Zhou looked down. The little Wind Sparrow was pecking at his pant leg.

“Cheep cheep!”

Qin Zhou thought to himself, Sure enough, the Facial Cleansing Pill could deceive most cultivators, but it couldn’t fool a spirit beast’s instincts.

“Little Sparrow, what are you doing!” The young man hurriedly apologized, “I’m truly sorry, I’m truly sorry! My little sparrow has offended the senior…”

“Cheep cheep cheep!” The little sparrow turned its head and chirped at the young man several times, as if explaining Qin Zhou’s identity to him. Yet the youth seemed oblivious, continuing his apologies.

It seemed he couldn’t understand what the spirit beast was saying. While a tamer and their bonded spirit beast share a certain connection through the taming contract, this connection doesn’t mean they can understand every word the spirit beast utters.

Spirit beasts come in countless varieties, and different races naturally speak different languages.

For humans, comprehending every spirit beast language in this world was an extremely demanding feat.

Even those blessed with the Ten Thousand Spirits Sacred Body, favored by all creatures, could not achieve it.

Of course, Shisi, bearing the Thousand Mechanisms Bell, was an exception.

The youth couldn’t understand the Little Wind Sparrow’s speech, which ruled out the possibility that he might be a ‘demon beast incarnate after ten thousand years’. That made the 20 Affinity points seem even more peculiar.

Better to be cautious about everything and not jump to conclusions.

After a moment’s hesitation, Qin Zhou asked, “Want to live together?”

The youth snapped his head up, his eyes brimming with disbelieving hope.

Really?

Really, Senior?

“Mhm.”

“Thank you, Senior!” The youth hurriedly expressed his gratitude, then turned to the little wind sparrow at Qin Zhou’s feet and beamed. “Wonderful, little sparrow! No more sleeping rough!”

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Qin Zhou quickly gleaned the young beast tamer’s background with just a few questions.

This youth was named Shen Yun.

Shen Yun wasn’t from the lower realms but hailed from a beast-taming sect called Lingqi Mountain in the upper realms.

His cultivation was only at the Golden Core stage, but he possessed considerable talent in beast taming.

Shen Yun had chosen this moment to come to the Boundary City specifically to enter the secret realm and seek out the legendary treasure.

His words didn’t sound like lies.

After all, this was the only plausible explanation for why he had a Little Wind Sparrow as his spirit pet.

It wasn’t unusual for cultivators from the upper realm to possess a Little Wind Sparrow as a tamed beast. Especially when he had the backing of a sect.

Qin Zhou made no mention of his encounter in the lower realm that day; he had no desire to reveal his identity.

“Senior, have you heard the rumors circulating along the border where the upper and lower realms meet?” Shen Yun, being a talkative sort, saw that Qin Zhou wasn’t truly taciturn and couldn’t resist striking up a conversation.

“What rumors?”

“The spirit beast uprising.” Shen Yun stroked his chin. “As a disciple of a beast-taming sect, I often visit spirit beast habitats. I’ve been to the lower realm too, and heard rumors of the uprising there.”

“Legend says that every thousand years, the spirit beasts along the border erupt in rebellion. The cause? Upper Realm cultivators are fighting among themselves. After much thought, the only explanation I could come up with was the secret realm appearing near the border city. Every thousand years, a secret realm manifests near the border city. Rumor has it that divine artifacts lie within. Cultivators from all factions pour in relentlessly, with the righteous path and demonic sects locked in fierce combat.”

“But I still don’t understand—how could the appearance of this secret realm and the battles of the upper realm’s cultivators affect the borderlands?” Shen Yun sighed. “That’s why this year, I’ve decided to go into the secret realm myself and see.”

“You’re only at the Golden Core stage. Isn’t that dangerous?” “ Qin Zhou casually chimed in.

Shen Yun smiled mischievously, ”I may be a bit weak, but my spirit beasts are quite powerful. Honestly, going to the secret realm just for a rumor doesn’t make much sense. Hehe, the real reason I’m going is to find a legendary divine artifact.“

Qin Zhou raised his eyes, ”What kind of divine artifact?”

Shen Yun spoke with an air of mystery, “A book that records every spirit beast in the entire cultivation world.”

Qin Zhou: “…”

“Senior, don’t give me that look!” Shen Yun laughed helplessly. “For ordinary cultivators, it might not seem like much of a divine artifact. But for us beast tamers, it’s practically… a treasure! A supreme-grade treasure!” “

Qin Zhou nodded lightly.

His expression wasn’t born of confusion over the definition of ‘divine artifact,’ but rather because Shen Yun’s description made the item feel strangely familiar.

A book cataloging spirit beasts…

“If it’s such a legendary artifact, how can you be sure it’s in the secret realm?” Qin Zhou asked.

Shen Yun paused, “I can’t be certain.” Then he chuckled, “Just hearsay. But even without that book, there must be plenty of other treasures in there. Otherwise, why would this remote little town get so bustling every thousand years?”

“So lively that a room costs eight hundred spirit stones,” Shen Yun sighed. “If not for the senior’s kindness, I’d be sleeping rough on the streets.”

Qin Zhou lowered his gaze.

The bustle of Boundary City stemmed from the secret realm.

Wen Jue hadn’t mentioned any of this in their conversation. Nor had he described the treasures within the secret realm.

Add to that the familiar-sounding ‘book’ in Shen Yun’s words.

Clearly, some things Wen Jue had intended to conceal were already surfacing.

He only needed to go and verify it himself.