“Mother, stop playing around. It’s dangerous here,” Li Lin said helplessly.
“Ah, it’s just like the real thing. It’s too lifelike!” Dongfang Jing said with a hint of suspicion, beginning to doubt whether this was an illusion as well.
“Xiao Lin, is it really you?” Ji Rufeng asked, still unable to believe his eyes.
“Yes, Uncle Ji, it’s me.” Li Lin patted Ji Rufeng on the shoulder. The touch startled Ji Rufeng so much that he leaped back several paces. Li Lin looked at his empty hand and shook his head.
“Xiao Lin, appearing like that will scare people to death!” Yu Ming remarked from the side.
“I was worried about you,” Li Lin said truthfully. Since they had already decided to bring everyone into the Dream Realm if things turned truly dangerous, he no longer went out of his way to hide his abilities.
“Did you find out where this place is? Did you manage to borrow the spirit stones?” Li Xue asked.
“Ancient records mention that this might be the Cloud Sea Star Region, but its exact location is unknown. The mist here is formidable; it has the power to lead the mind astray. It’s a very dangerous place.” As Li Lin spoke, he handed the storage bag filled with high-grade spirit stones to Li Xue.
“We already know. With A-Yu’s Five-Colored Illusion Stone, it shouldn't be difficult to find our way out of this mist,” Li Xue said, taking the stones.
Ji Rufeng and the other two listened to the mother and son’s conversation in a daze. It still felt inconceivable, but they weren't fools. They naturally realized that Li Xue, Li Lin, and Yu Ming possessed some sort of secret treasure; otherwise, how could they traverse the void so easily?
“You will all understand in the future. For now, let’s focus on breaking through this formation,” Yu Ming told the group.
With the help of Bai Xingyu’s Five-Colored Illusion Stone, the group could finally see what was hidden within the clouds and mist. One look was enough to send several shivers down their spines.
Those things they had felt moving were actually long, worm-like creatures covered in spines. They were certain that the green glow on those spines indicated a deadly poison. There were also winged monsters with long, sharp fangs, gathered in such dense numbers that it was terrifying. No one knew how they had survived wandering here for over a month, keeping company with such creatures every day. If not for the protection of their defensive treasures, they would have long since become food. They could feel a palpable pressure emanating from these strange insects; even the weakest among them had a cultivation level equivalent to the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Ten days later, the group arrived before a mountain that towered into the clouds. Facing them was an ancient, simple gate. The patterns etched upon it were familiar to Li Xue, Li Lin, and Yu Ming—they were the same patterns found in the Divine Artifact Realm.
“Could this be another Realm?” Li Xue asked in surprise.
“It’s very likely. The indentation on the door looks like a strange beast,” Li Lin said, examining the gate closely.
At that moment, Dongfang Jing took something out of his storage ring and stepped forward to compare it to the gate.
Everyone was astonished. Li Xue asked curiously, “Dongfang Jing, what is that?”
Dongfang Jing held it up for them to see. “This is a family heirloom. My great-great-grandfather stuffed a whole bunch of things into my hands when he went off to travel!”
Li Xue noticed the object was a white statue shaped like a red-crowned crane. Dongfang Jing pressed it into the indentation on the gate; it was a perfect fit. Suddenly, a flash of white light erupted from the gate, pushing everyone back a considerable distance.
The group immediately summoned their treasures, standing on guard. With a thunderous rumble, the great gates swung open. A massive amount of white mist billowed out, ethereal and swirling. As it washed over them, they felt a wave of profound comfort.
Two cranes suddenly flew out from within the gates. They glanced at the group, and a ripple of divine sense transmitted a message: “Honored guests, please enter.”
Unconsciously, the group followed the two cranes inside. Within the gates, emerald mountains stretched out, surrounded by celestial qi and drifting mists. It was like a fairyland. The spiritual energy on Yuxuan Peak was considered extremely abundant, but compared to this place, it was like comparing the earth to the heavens. *Is this still the cultivation world?* Doubts arose in everyone's hearts.
The two cranes spat out silk ribbons from their long beaks, which instantly expanded into long, floating carpets. Once everyone was aboard, the cranes gripped the ends of the ribbons in their beaks and flew toward the largest mountain peak.
Standing on the floating ribbon, Li Xue took in the breathtaking scenery. From time to time, other cranes flew past them in the sky. *Could this be the Immortal Realm?* No, that didn't seem right. If it were the Immortal Realm, they as cultivators wouldn't be able to stay; no one could withstand pure celestial qi.
Soon, they arrived at an ancient hall. Seated at the head was a white-haired woman. She was dignified and elegant, yet her face was kind and approachable, giving off the warm feeling of an elder.
“Ten thousand years have passed, and at last, I see cultivators again. One among you possesses the token of my Cloud Crane Clan’s messenger lineage. You are considered honored guests,” the woman said kindly.
“Junior Li Jingxue of the Yuxuan Sect on Planet Jinming greets Senior. Please forgive us for trespassing into your clan’s domain,” Li Xue said, stepping forward to bow.
“To meet is to have fate; there is no need for such formality,” the woman replied graciously.
“May I ask Senior, how far is this place from the Hongmeng Star Region?” Li Xue began to ask about the way back.
The woman thought for a moment. “So it is the Hongmeng Star Region. You need not worry; when the time comes, this Venerable One will personally send you back.” She then turned to Dongfang Jing. “You must be a descendant of Dongfang Qing. Your ancestor once saved my clansmen, and I promised him that if I ever encountered his descendants, I would look after them.”
So that was it. No wonder Dongfang Jing could open the gate.
The woman lightly clapped her hands three times. Instantly, dozens of cloud cranes flocked into the hall. With a turn, they all transformed into beautiful and lovely maidens. They bowed to the woman in succession. “Grandmother, why have you summoned us sisters?”
Li Xue and her companions watched, dumbfounded. Every single one of them was at the Transformation Stage or higher. With so many, could this Cloud Crane Clan also be some sort of God Clan?
“Girls, come out and meet the honored guests. This one is the descendant of Dongfang Qing from ten thousand years ago!” the Matriarch introduced.
When Li Xue heard the first part, she felt a wave of awkwardness. *“Girls, come out and meet the guests”... why does that sound like she’s running a brothel?* She broke into a cold sweat.
The girls immediately began to chatter among themselves, pointing and whispering. Li Xue and the others were so embarrassed they didn't know where to look.
“Young Dongfang, look at all these girls. Which one would you like to choose? They are all at the Transformation Stage or higher, more than qualified to be your spirit beast. They all carry the bloodline of the Cloud Crane Clan from the Divine Realm!” the Matriarch said kindly to Dongfang Jing.
Dongfang Jing glanced left and right; they all looked more or less the same to him. Finally, he turned to Li Xue and sent a divine sense transmission: “Sister Li, do you want to pick one? You can have whichever one you like!”
Li Xue felt even more embarrassed. It wasn't as if *she* was the one picking a spirit beast. She could only reply, “Pick whichever one you like. I already have the Scarlet Marsh Dragon, which also has a divine bloodline. I don't need another.”
