A heretical cultivator in Bureau 749, I'm the fiercest at pulling out tendons and skinning peop

We flew through layers of rolling clouds for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea.

"Hmm?" A sharp-eyed investigator suddenly narrowed his eyes, pointing to the rolling clouds in the distance. "What's that?"

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.

In the far distance, on the horizon amidst the endless sea of ​​clouds, there seemed to be a hazy shadow.

"Really?"

Some people muttered, "Even commercial airliners can't get this high; they're going higher in the stratosphere! And we haven't heard of any rocket launches lately, have we? The space station's orbit isn't in this direction either..."

"Is it some kind of unusual cloud formation? Or a mirage?"

As everyone speculated, the Kunpeng gradually slowed down and began to glide steadily toward the shadow.

It's getting closer and closer, and the outline is becoming clearer and clearer.

finally--

When the Kunpeng pierced through the last layer of thin, veil-like clouds, the true face of that shadow, without reservation and with unparalleled shock, crashed into everyone's eyes!

Holy crap!

Am I seeing things?

"My God... what the hell is this?!"

Exclamations and gasps rose and fell.

Those on stage who were more experienced and knowledgeable were relatively calm, but they were also secretly amazed.

There, high in the sky, where there should have been nothing but cold winds and thin atmosphere, was a place of utter desolation and helplessness—

Surprisingly, a peach orchard stretching as far as the eye could see was suspended in mid-air!

It is not an illusion, not a projection.

It is a real peach orchard!

Each peach tree has strong branches and trunks, and a variety of shapes and forms.

Some are still in bud, with delicate pink buds adorning the branches;

Some were already in full bloom, the peach blossoms as splendid as rosy clouds, blooming in a magnificent display, dyeing the vast sea of ​​clouds with a crimson hue.

Some trees were already laden with large, plump, pink, and juicy peaches, which gleamed enticingly in the sunlight filtering through the thin clouds, as if they would drip honey at the slightest touch.

The mist drifted and flowed among the peach trees, like a jade ribbon in a fairyland.

Peach petals fluttered down with the high-altitude air currents, falling like rain, some even drifting onto the back of the Kunpeng, bringing with them a delicate and lingering sweet fragrance.

A true paradise growing high in the clouds!

"Planting peach trees in the clouds?" an investigator murmured, subconsciously rubbing his eyes.

"It even bore fruit?!" Another person pinched their thigh hard, wincing in pain to confirm that they weren't dreaming.

"What kind of divine power is this...? No, this is simply beyond human capability!"

Ji Zuodao also abandoned his cynical demeanor at this moment, squinting as he carefully examined the peach forest in the clouds, his eyes flashing with a strange light.

"That's interesting... It seems the old man has really found us a good place this time."

Just then, Old Zhang's cheerful voice, once again, resounded clearly throughout the entire spine of the Kunpeng through some means:

"Kids, what are you all standing there for?"

"We've arrived!"

"Go down."

"Pick peaches, all you can eat!"

The Kunpeng slowly retracted its wings, and its massive body came to a steady stop not far from the edge of the peach grove.

The surrounding clouds automatically swirled around, forming a soft cloud platform.

Old Zhang took the first step, as if there were invisible steps beneath his feet, and in a few steps he stepped onto the edge of the peach forest that was suspended in the sky, his figure disappearing into the crimson peach blossom mist.

Seeing that Elder Zhang had gone in first, the people on the Kunpeng immediately became like... uh, hungry wolves released from their cages?

Their eyes lit up as they rushed along the cloud path toward the peach grove.

Ji Zuodao followed the crowd and stepped into the peach grove that seemed to float in the clouds.

But as soon as his foot touched the ground, he stopped abruptly.

Instead of going in, they retreated further back.

Then, it tentatively took another step forward, its soles grinding against the unrecognizable cloud-like ground, before retreating.

They kept moving forward and backward, probing back and forth along the invisible "boundary" at the edge of the peach grove, as if they were scouting the area.

As soon as he stopped, Li Shuwen, who had been expressionless the whole time, also stopped and the two exchanged a glance.

Li Shuwen nodded slightly, his gaze behind his glasses calming down, clearly having noticed the same unusualness.

"Hey, hey hey!" Liu Ming had already taken two steps into the entrance with great enthusiasm, but when he looked back, he saw the two gatekeepers standing on the left and right sides of the entrance, neither going in nor out, just standing there in place, and he was immediately puzzled.

"What are you two doing, gentlemen? Moonwalking?" Liu Ming chuckled. "This isn't a dance hall. Are you two planning to put on a show for this peach grove?"

Based on his understanding of those two, when they encountered a strange place like this, one that clearly held hidden benefits, they would disappear in a flash, like wildcats drawn by the scent of fish, and there would be no stopping them.

Did the sun rise in the west today?

"Nothing much, I just figured out a little bit what kind of place this is."

"Where?"

"Secret Realm"

These so-called secret realms, to put it bluntly, are special places that are hidden, sealed, isolated, self-contained, and do not interfere with our ordinary world.

It's somewhat like the supernatural space created by the supernatural powers of those Qi Refining Masters at the Divine Power Realm.

However, secret realms are usually larger and more stable, and they have their own set of rules for operation.

This thing is... mysterious.

Finding it depends 80% on luck and 20% on fate.

Even if you're incredibly lucky and actually bump into it, well, whether you can get in is another matter.

There are countless examples of experienced masters who, after staring blankly at the entrance to the secret realm and scratching their heads in frustration, could only return disappointed and heartbroken.

In fact, many strange tales and fairy tales throughout history have described similar secret realms.

The most famous and evocative of them all is Tao Yuanming's "Peach Blossom Spring".

The forest ended at the source of the stream, where a mountain appeared, with a small opening that seemed to emit light...

Tsk tsk, that might just be the description of the entrance to some secret realm.

That kid from Wuling had both incredible luck and terrible misfortune. He went in once and never found him again. He was a typical case of shallow fate in the secret realm, only enough to see him once.

Currently, among the publicly available information from the Han Dynasty, there are only three secret realms that are openly acknowledged to be completely under its control.

The Taoist sect holds two, while the Buddhist sect holds one.

These are all ancient traditions passed down for thousands of years. Ordinary people, let alone enter, will be questioned about their ancestors eight times or eighteen generations if they even get within five miles.

Thinking of this, Ji Zuodao couldn't help but grin.

Good guy!

In round 749, they didn't mention at all how many Secret Realm cards they actually had in their hand!

Judging from how familiar and generous Old Zhang was today, as if he were just going to his own backyard, he could easily create this peach blossom forest in the clouds for everyone's team building...

Ji Zuodao silently estimated a number in his mind.

There must be at least ten of them!

Otherwise, how could the old man be so calm and composed? How could he be so willing to give up so much?

This is a very large man.

They love to keep things hidden, never revealing all their cards.

To outsiders, they always present an honest image of "I only have this much wealth, let's all make money together peacefully."

In reality, who knows how many straight flushes and four Aces are stuffed in their pockets, under their insoles, and inside their socks.

Just when you think you've figured out his tricks, hey, he can pull out an unconventional, all-powerful card and leave you completely bewildered.

"Damn it..." Ji Zuodao cursed inwardly, but his smile widened. "It's like I've got a cheat code, but I like it."

He likes this kind of "you never know what I'll play next" vibe.

Stimulate!

"What are you thinking about, Brother Ji? Why are you smiling so slyly?"

"It's nothing."

Ji Zuodao snapped out of his thoughts and reached out to pat the rough trunk of a peach tree next to him.

The skin was warm to the touch, and a faint spiritual energy seemed to seep into his body through his palm. He squinted his eyes comfortably.

"I just feel..."

"Old Master Zhang really went all out today. This food is absolutely fantastic!"