Chapter 21: At Your Beck and Call
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"Auntie, please spare me! I didn't mean to make things difficult for you—I was forced into it, had no choice…"
Shiyao watched the man kneeling before Ye Qinghan from afar, momentarily unable to comprehend what was happening.
"Continue."
The Ling Shuang Sword was too precious. Ye Qinghan had long since replaced it with an unremarkable, ordinary Immortal-grade flying sword, which now rested on the man's shoulder.
"My name is Xu Zhanfeng. I'm a cultivator and was once a close friend of this secret realm's master. We had planned to ascend to the Immortal Realm together. Yet, on the eve of our ascension, he betrayed me. I was imprisoned within this realm and transformed into this grotesque, neither human nor ghostly form."
"Continue."
"If you're willing to spare my life, I'll serve you faithfully!"
Ye Qinghan appraised the man before her. He resembled nothing more than a charred corpse—how could anyone see a human form in that?
Though a face remained, with nose and eyes intact, no one would believe he was alive…
"You're too ugly. I don't like you."
Uh… Xu Zhanfeng was clearly taken aback, but his life came first. He dared not provoke the young lady before him.
By the rules, only cultivators below the Golden Core Stage could enter the secret realm. Yet someone like Ye Qinghan—even he, trapped within for millennia, had never seen such a case before.
Still, he had no intention of asking how Ye Qinghan had managed to enter or what her purpose was.
As for the early Foundation Establishment cultivation level Ye Qinghan displayed? Only a brain-dead fool would believe such nonsense!
Who had ever seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator like this?
Even if her cultivation was restricted within this secret realm, she could still maintain around the fifteenth layer of late Nascent Soul!
A Foundation Establishment cultivator instantly defeating a late Nascent Soul cultivator? Xu Zhanfeng certainly wouldn't believe it!
"Um… Grandma, just name your terms. As long as you spare this humble one, I'll do anything!"
"Is that so? You're quite eager."
Seeing Ye Qinghan smile, Xu Zhanfeng gradually relaxed, returning the smile as he quickly continued.
"Of course! Your words are law, Madam. I'll do anything you ask!"
"Do you know anything about this secret realm?"
Xu Zhanfeng's ears perked up at this! There was a way out! He could survive!
"Know it well! What exactly is the young lady looking for?"
Xu Zhanfeng thought to himself, This is right up my alley!
Trapped here for millennia, who could possibly know this secret realm better than him?
"Is there a treasure vault or something? Preferably money—gold, that sort of thing."
Ye Qinghan didn't mince words. Money meant little to her, but to spare her master from scavenging for vegetable scraps, she needed cash!
"Yes, yes, yes! As far as I know, there's also a divine-grade artifact and divine-grade cultivation technique guarded by two ferocious beasts!"
Xu Zhanfeng nearly leapt to his feet in excitement, but quickly regained his composure and knelt back down…
"If you're lying to me, you know the consequences." Ye Qinghan narrowed her eyes, tapping Xu Zhanfeng's shoulder with the edge of her sword.
"Not at all, not at all! How could this humble servant dare deceive you, Madam? If it's a lie, you won't even need to lift a finger—I'll cut myself down myself!"
"If you prove yourself worthy, I may consider taking you out."
Ye Qinghan spoke calmly, her eyes narrowed.
Xu Zhanfeng froze. This was a secret realm created by immortals, yet this girl claimed she could lead him out!
But who could guarantee that this girl before him wasn't an immortal herself?
Even if he ended up under her control outside, it would still be far better than being trapped in this secret realm!
"Thank you for your kindness, Lady! Zhanfeng will not betray your trust! Just watch me!"
Ye Qinghan then slowly withdrew the immortal sword in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, the sword case appeared instantly, and she stowed the blade away.
In that instant, Xu Zhanfeng was utterly dumbfounded!
Shi Yao might not recognize it, but he certainly did!
That flash of golden light!
The sword case just now contained nothing less than a divine sword! And the lowest grade among them was likely still a high-grade divine sword!
That such a divine sword appeared in the hands of a young girl was one thing, but what was even more terrifying was that she possessed over ten such divine swords!
And each one was an exceptional high-grade sword, in pristine condition!
Xu Zhanfeng now believed it: if anyone in this world could truly save him, it was the girl before him!
"Miss, this way please!"
Ye Qinghan waved her hand, motioning for the dazed-looking Shi Yao beside her to follow.
Shi Yao slowly rose to her feet, nodded, and silently followed.
"Auntie, who is this?"
Xu Zhanfeng dared not overstep his bounds. It was best to ask clearly. If she was someone close to the young lady, he couldn't afford to offend her!
"My younger sister."
Xu Zhanfeng couldn't fathom the intricate relationships, and Ye Qinghan's icy eyes revealed nothing.
"Greetings, Second Lady! You may simply call me Zhanfeng!" Xu Zhanfeng promptly knelt and kowtowed in a formal salute…
It wasn't that he lacked dignity, but he felt that anyone trapped in this secret realm for thousands of years would react the same way…
"Uh, no need, no need! Sister… I mean… no need for such formalities…"
Li Shiyao was utterly dumbfounded. Huh… Was this guy this afraid of Sister Qinghan?
Li Shiyao might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but her cultivation level was undeniable. She could sense Xu Zhanfeng's immense power—a solid Nascent Soul cultivator. She was no match for him.
But this Xu Zhanfeng actually fears Sister Qinghan? Just how powerful is Sister Qinghan?!
"Lead the way."
Ye Qinghan hadn't heard Li Shiyao speak in ages and was starting to feel bored. But the moment Li Shiyao uttered a single sentence, she became annoyed!
"Yes, yes, yes! This way, Your Highness! Watch your step, there are rocks here. Ah~ It's a bit dark over here, I'll go light a lamp for you~"
Xu Zhanfeng truly possessed a talent for being a lackey, and Ye Qinghan rather enjoyed this dynamic. However, she was acutely aware that if this fellow were to venture out, even with diminished cultivation, he would still be at least above the Spirit Transformation stage. She might not be able to restrain him.
Whether to release him required further consideration; his one-sided account alone couldn't serve as evidence.
After walking for a while, Ye Qinghan slowly came to a halt, her expression icy as she stared at Xu Zhanfeng.
"Isn't this the path I came from? You dare deceive me?"
It had to be said—that sword case had become a trigger!
The sword case slammed onto the ground. Before Xu Zhanfeng could offer an explanation, his knees buckled!
"Gugu gugu… Your Highness, please hear me out!"
Xu Zhanfeng didn't want to either!
His legs moved faster than his brain!
"The direction is correct. It's this path. The treasure vault has always been right behind the entrance…"
"Is that so?"
Ye Qinghan's gaze swept over him, nearly scaring Xu Zhanfeng—who'd been fasting for a thousand years—into wetting himself. This was terrifying!
Xu Zhanfeng considered himself no stranger to powerful opponents—he'd even crossed swords with demigods—yet no one had ever frightened him like this…
But these legs? Standing before this formidable lady, they simply refused to obey!
"Yes. A barrier was set up there. Without careful investigation, the path behind it is impossible to discover!"
"If I discover you've deceived me or attempted to escape by trickery, you know the consequences, correct?"
Ye Qinghan was clearly smiling, but Xu Zhanfeng was too terrified to speak, only banging his head against the ground!
Slamming it hard…
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