Chapter 57: Sudden Changes in Xue Lingxi (2)
Xu Mo walked briskly toward the gate, his expression dark with irritation. He despised being disturbed like this. With an angry frown, he swung the gate open.
Huh? Who is this?
Xu Mo's gaze landed on the female disciple standing before him. Her skin was smooth and unblemished, and her long, silky black hair swayed gently in the breeze, creating an almost picturesque scene. However, there was one glaring imperfection—the girl's face was covered in ulcers, enough to make even the most iron-willed person feel momentarily unsettled. Xu Mo was no exception. Seeing such an appearance for the first time, he instinctively felt a trace of hesitation.
It was natural to have reservations toward those who looked different from the norm. If he had shown no reaction at all, it would have been even more suspicious.
Yet, despite her disfigured face, there was something oddly familiar about her. Xu Mo couldn't shake the feeling that he had seen this hair and figure somewhere before.
"Xu Mo, how have you been? I was trying to break through, so I couldn't see you these past few days." Xue Lingxi spoke with a smile, though it looked somewhat forced. Perhaps she was still anxious about how Xu Mo would react to her appearance—or worse, afraid that their newly established friendship might break apart because of it.
The moment he heard her familiar voice and manner of speaking, Xu Mo immediately recognized her—Xue Lingxi. His tense expression eased, but his eyes remained on her face. He wanted to engrave this image into his mind so that he wouldn't react awkwardly again in the future. It wasn't out of interest in her—it was simply called being human.
Making an "OK" gesture by forming a circle with his thumb and index finger, Xu Mo signaled for Xue Lingxi to wait. He turned back inside and quickly retrieved a notebook and pen. When he returned, he had already written a note:
[Why have you come to see me at this hour?]
"Sorry, did I disturb you? If so, I'll come back at noon," Xue Lingxi said.
Xu Mo shook his head and waved his arms like windshield wipers, indicating that it was fine and she didn't need to leave.
"Sorry again," she repeated. "I wanted to ask if you're planning to participate in the tournament for outer disciples at the end of this year."
Xu Mo shook his head. No. Then, he wrote another message:
[But why?]
Xue Lingxi's smile faltered for a moment before she quickly regained it. "Why not? The prizes are great—they could really help you establish your foundation," she urged, almost as if she were pleading with him to join.
Xu Mo wrote down another response:
[I don't have enough strength to secure a decent rank in the tournament, let alone win any grand prizes. Maybe next year, I'll try my luck.]
"You don't know, Xu Mo… This year is different. The top 50 outer disciples will receive entrance tokens to a Secret Realm."
Secret Realm?
Xu Mo was hearing this term for the first time. For a moment, he couldn't help but lament how little he knew about this world. Just how long would he continue to be caught off guard by unfamiliar terms like this?
"You've heard of Secret Realms before, haven't you?" Xue Lingxi's voice was soft, yet it carried an unmistakable weight.
Xu Mo met her gaze but said nothing.
She smirked. "Of course, you have. But what you've heard is only the surface."
Setting her cup down, she leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice as if revealing something forbidden.
"Secret Realms… they are places that should not exist, yet they do. Some appear overnight, as if the world itself has chosen to whisper a forgotten tale. Others remain anchored, waiting for those daring or foolish enough to enter. The Holy Lands oversee them, ensuring that each sect follows its allotted quota… but even they don't fully understand these realms."
She tapped her finger lightly against the table.
"Some say Secret Realms are remnants of ancient worlds—shattered yet refusing to fade. Others believe they are the dreams of forgotten gods, given form and substance. And then, there are those who whisper that these places are not created or discovered, but awakened—as if they had always been there, simply waiting for the right moment to reveal themselves."
Xu Mo remained silent, his mind racing.
Xue Lingxi's eyes gleamed with amusement. "What's inside? That depends on the realm. Some are filled with endless opportunities—sword cultivators find paths to enlightenment, array masters unravel the secrets of formations, and alchemists stumble upon the mysteries of immortality. Others… well, some hold only a single supreme fortune—a treasure capable of changing fate itself. A legendary bloodline, a celestial physique, a lost inheritance… things beyond imagination might lie within."
She leaned back, folding her arms. "But don't let greed blind you. Just as these realms offer fortune, they demand a price. Some never return. Others leave as something different from what they were. A place that can shape destiny… can also break it."
A heavy silence hung between them. Then, Xue Lingxi smiled again, as if she had said nothing ominous at all.
"Well, it's just a story, after all. But now we have the chance to see if what's recorded in the books is true. Don't you want to adventure there and awaken some supreme physique?"
Xu Mo studied her intently, as if trying to see through her. Finally, he wrote down his concern:
[Xue Lingxi, did something happen?]
She clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palm. "No. Why do you ask?"
Xu Mo narrowed his eyes but chose not to press the matter. They weren't close enough for him to question her deeply, nor could he explain his intuition to her.
He sighed and wrote another message:
[I apologize, Xue Lingxi. But I'm really not interested. And now, after hearing about its dangers and risks, I'm even more certain—it's a big NO for me. I have things to do, so please excuse me.]
After making sure she had read the message, Xu Mo gave a slight nod as a farewell. He turned and stepped back inside, closing the gate slowly—not out of arrogance, but out of courtesy. He disliked slamming doors in people's faces. He knew that feeling all too well.
Even if someone harbored ill intentions toward him, he wouldn't repay them in kind.
Or maybe… he was just overthinking things.
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