You promised yourself to be a caged bird, but you became the supreme young master?

"I still intend to request a guide on how to make spiritual food..."

After a moment's hesitation, Lu Heng finally spoke to Lu Qingyan.

Lu Qingyan was a little curious, but in the end she didn't ask.

Some things are enough to have a guess in your mind; there's no need to delve into them.

"After you go back, Lu Heng, you must do your best to improve your cultivation."

My grandfather could only ensure that the two of us qualified for the selection process for the Secret Realm.

However, to pass the selection process, one must at least possess the cultivation level of the late stage of Qi Refining.

You also can't neglect your combat tactics, as battles in the secret realm are almost inevitable.

My grandfather could only prepare a protective treasure for me alone.

Once we enter the secret realm, some situations may arise where I won't be able to look after you.

Lu Qingyan earnestly reminded Lu Heng.

"Understood." Lu Heng naturally wouldn't take it lightly, but he was somewhat moved.

Compared to before, now that he is openly a cultivation genius whose bloodline has returned to its ancestral form, he can finally unleash his full potential and improve his cultivation level according to the progress of his own cultivation method.

It should be noted that his current "Basic Body Refining Method" has reached the minor completion level, even if he has not improved it to the limit and is unable to break through the Qi Refining Secret Realm.

However, he quickly raised his cultivation to the sixth level of the Body Refinement Secret Realm without any problems.

Even with persistent effort, reaching the ninth level of the Body Refinement Realm is a natural progression.

"As for the knowledge about making spiritual food, it's not something I can get immediately. You'll probably have to wait a few more days."

As for the selection of participants for the secret realm, if it goes well, I will have someone inform you as soon as I get back.”

They said they would go straight back, but since it was getting close to dusk, even if the two of them rushed back, Qinghe City was already under curfew, and they wouldn't be able to enter the city at all.

So Lu Heng followed Lu Qingyan out of the dense forest of the Changyun Mountains and into an open space outside the mountains.

Then the girl flipped her hand and took out a bamboo tube about half a foot long from the blue-patterned storage bag hanging at her waist.

The bamboo tube is dark brown all over, with several thin red ropes wrapped around the bamboo joints, and a bright silver pull ring at the top, which gleams coldly in the sunlight.

"This is..." Lu Heng was about to speak when he saw Lu Qingyan's fingertips grip the pull ring and gently tug it—

With a soft "click," followed by a sharp "whoosh" as a streak of crimson fire shot out from the bamboo tube, soaring dozens of feet into the sky.

"Bang—!"

With a clear, resounding bang, a huge burst of flame suddenly exploded in mid-air.

It wasn't the chaotic, fragmented light of ordinary fireworks, but rather a ring of golden-red flames that first burst forth, followed by three straight, silvery-white streaks of flame, like swords pointing to the sky.

Finally, it turned into stardust and slowly drifted down, leaving long trails of light in the twilight.

Lu Heng gazed at the fading flames, a hint of surprise in his eyes: "What was that? A communication firework?"

Lu Qingyan casually tossed the empty bamboo tube back into her storage bag, clapped her hands, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"Yes, the family's specially made 'Wild Goose Messenger,' with three flames igniting simultaneously, is a signal for the family's people stationed in the Changyun Mountains to come quickly."

Nothing unexpected happened. Shortly after the message fireworks were launched, a middle-aged man dressed in night clothes hurriedly arrived.

The unique, robust blood and qi of the peak Body Refining Realm cultivator caused Lu Heng to pause slightly.

If a cultivator of this level harbors malicious intent, even he would be in great trouble.

"Miss Qingyan, you two come with me."

The middle-aged man in the night-clothes spoke respectfully.

"There are no brainless villains in this world who jump out to give people a chance to be heroes and save the damsel in distress."

Lu Heng thought to himself, "This is what I'm complaining about."

Also...

No one would easily do something as harmful and pointless as killing the Second Deacon's only granddaughter.

If something unexpected were to happen at a time like this, Lu Heng would seriously question what the Lu clan relied on to establish its prestige.

They spent a night in quiet meditation at the Lu clan's encampment in the Changyun Mountains.

The two returned to Qinghe City the next day, escorted by a peak Body Refinement cultivator from their encampment.

"See you at the next martial arts demonstration." Lu Qingyan left with these words in a hurry.

Clearly, she was not as calm as she appeared about what happened during this practical assessment.

Now we should be planning to demand an explanation.

Instead of rushing to cultivate, Lu Heng first went to his old courtyard, cleaned it up, and stood silently in the courtyard where he grew up in this life for a while.

He then returned to his room in the outer courtyard without looking back.

At present, his most important task in the outer courtyard is still cultivation.

The only important thing to look forward to for now is the trip to the secret realm three months from now.

And, barring any unforeseen circumstances, knowledge of making spiritual food.

In this regard, Lu Heng's only concern was whether his cultivation techniques could be included in the panel.

If not, even he would have a headache about it.

However, since even the "Basic Sword Techniques" could be included in the panel, Lu Heng did not think that cultivating skills would be an exception.

The day after returning to Qinghe City, Lu Heng had just woken up from his meditation when he heard someone knocking on his door.

He got up and opened the door. As expected, the person who came in was the same maid from the manor who had led Lu Heng to Lu Qingyan's room earlier.

"Young master, my lady sent me to tell you that your name has been chosen."

Curious, they observed the young man before them, whose youthful appearance hinted at extraordinary talent.

The maid was increasingly astonished.

The other person not only looks much better than before, but is also performing exceptionally well now.

Unfortunately, she was just a mortal after all; otherwise, she would have been eager to offer herself to him long ago.

"Okay, I understand, thank you."

After expressing his gratitude, Lu Heng didn't say anything more.

Just recalling the title of "maid" evoked a sense of melancholy.

This was the first time he had been addressed as "Young Master".

How so?

Lu Heng sat down cross-legged, intending to continue his cultivation.

Feel good!

As for the jade pendant he found on the middle-aged demonic cultivator in black, Lu Heng put it aside.

His expression turned somewhat strange at the thought of the jade pendant.

He chose to wait and see what the actual situation might be.

………………

Lu Heng originally thought that before the next martial arts competition, apart from the usual spiritual food, nothing would happen.

However, it was clear that he underestimated the allure of the secret realm slots, even if it was just a selection slot for the secret realm!

A few days later, a young man with an arrogant expression, who looked to be close to sixteen years old and whose cultivation level was at the peak of the Body Refinement Secret Realm, came to visit.

"I'll take your spot in the secret realm selection."

Name your price!

Oh, right, I forgot to mention, my grandfather was the head steward of the branch family.

The young man's attitude was exactly the same as Lu Changbai's before; he didn't think Lu Heng had the courage to refuse him at all.

And his confidence stemmed from…

My grandfather was the head steward of the family branch.

"Troublesome..." Lu Heng murmured calmly.