The Western Water Domain Secret Realm.
Amidst the steep mountains and forests, several figures moved slowly.
"Junior Sister Qu, you've forgotten Elder Qu's instructions again."
Hong Shengyi reached out and grabbed the restless Qu Xiaoxiao, pulling her back.
Qu Xiaoxiao pouted, "Senior Sister Hong, I wasn't running around. I just wanted to go take a look."
Before Hong Shengyi could speak, Jin Biao glared at her impatiently.
"Qu Xiaoxiao, I'm warning you to behave. Otherwise, don't expect us to bring you out next time."
Jin Biao found it a headache to see Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes darting around.
He hadn't interacted much with this junior sister before and only heard Elder Qu praise her as elegant and quiet a few times, so he truly believed Qu Xiaoxiao was a reserved person.
Thus, when Elder Qu entrusted Qu Xiaoxiao to him, he readily agreed.
However, after they set off, he discovered that Qu Xiaoxiao only looked quiet on the outside. In reality, she feared nothing and was even more boisterous than the newest disciples in the sect.
Along the way, Qu Xiaoxiao would touch anything interesting she saw and ask about anything novel, tiring out her senior siblings both physically and mentally.
What should have been a journey of a few days was dragged out to over ten, nearly causing them to miss the opportunity to enter the Western Water Domain Secret Realm with the first batch.
Now that they had finally arrived in the Western Water Domain Secret Realm, even they had to tread cautiously, but Qu Xiaoxiao seemed to have no fear.
She remained restless even within the secret realm. If they hadn't been watching, she would have already fallen victim to the traps within.
Seeing her about to stir up trouble again, Jin Biao's veins throbbed on his forehead.
"Alright, I get it."
Qu Xiaoxiao pouted dejectedly and stopped moving.
Jin Biao was the leader of the team heading to the Western Water Domain Secret Realm, and everyone had to follow his arrangements.
Qu Xiaoxiao knew that if she truly angered Senior Brother Jin, she would face consequences upon their return.
Moreover, this opportunity was something she had begged her father for a long time. It would be a loss that outweighed the gain if she jeopardized future opportunities to venture out because of this.
Seeing Qu Xiaoxiao finally behave, Jin Biao's temper subsided a little.
Qu Xiaoxiao was fair-complexioned and possessed bright eyes. If she didn't speak or cause trouble, she would indeed be an adorable junior sister.
"Junior Brother Long, have you found anything on your side?"
Jin Biao turned to Long Haotian and the other two, who were not far from them, and asked loudly.
With the opening of the Western Water Domain Secret Realm, many Xuanqing Sect disciples had formed teams to explore it.
He had originally planned to travel with Hong Shengyi, Long Haotian, Chen Tao, and Wang Yian. Qu Xiaoxiao was an unexpected addition.
Because the mountain forest was shrouded in dense fog and exuded an ominous aura, they decided to split into two teams of three, keeping a moderate distance for mutual support.
Long Haotian did not answer immediately. Instead, he carefully sensed with his divine sense before looking at Chen Tao and Wang Yian.
Seeing them shake their heads, he replied, "Senior Brother Jin, there's nothing unusual on my end."
"Good. We can move slower, but we must be careful."
Jin Biao called out a reminder.
The Western Water Domain Secret Realm had a fearsome reputation. Even as an elite disciple of the Xuanqing Sect, he dared not underestimate it.
"Understood."
Long Haotian's expression was solemn, and he also dared not be careless.
His former arrogance had long since faded through day after day of cultivation. He now acted steadily and calmly. The Sect Master of Qinglian walked with his head held high and a spring in his step daily within the sect.
Wang Yian and Chen Tao, who had always stayed by his side, had also changed significantly.
The three had become dependable and steady senior brothers in the eyes of the Xuanqing Sect disciples.
It was precisely because Jin Biao witnessed their growth that he had actively invited them to form a team.
Indeed, since entering the secret realm, the trio's performance had not disappointed Jin Biao. If not for the addition of Qu Xiaoxiao, they would have already entered the deeper parts of the secret realm, instead of lingering in the outer regions.
With this thought, Jin Biao once again warned Qu Xiaoxiao, who was looking down, "Thousands of cultivators have died in this secret realm. Even if you don't think of yourself, you must think of Elder Qu."
"I really know!" Qu Xiaoxiao hid behind Hong Shengyi, clutching her arm tightly. "Senior Sister Hong, please explain to Senior Brother Jin on my behalf."
Hong Shengyi was startled, then realizing the teasing in Qu Xiaoxiao's words, she reached out and tapped her forehead, "Naughty."
Qu Xiaoxiao chuckled, covering her forehead.
Hong Shengyi and Jin Biao exchanged glances and shook their heads helplessly.
After a brief pause, the six continued their journey deeper into the forest.
Half an hour later, Wang Yian made the first discovery.
"Senior Brother Long, look!"
Wang Yian pointed to a small white flower gently swaying in a rock crevice ahead, his eyes shining.
"Is this... Stone-born Flower?"
Long Haotian identified the origin of the white flower and was overjoyed.
Stone-born Flower, also known as Longevity Flower, was the main ingredient for refining the sixth-grade Longevity Pill and was extremely rare.
After three days of entering the secret realm, they finally found a valuable spiritual herb, and smiles appeared on the faces of Long Haotian and the other two.
On the other side, Jin Biao and the others heard their conversation and hurried over. Upon seeing the Stone-born Flower, they also beamed with joy.
The moment Qu Xiaoxiao saw the Stone-born Flower, she couldn't control her legs and wanted to go forward for a closer look.
Hong Shengyi had been guarding against her. As soon as she took two steps, Hong Shengyi grabbed her collar and pulled her back.
Qu Xiaoxiao could only hug her arms and sulk, mumbling something under her breath.
"Junior Brother Wang, although this Stone-born Flower was discovered by you, why don't you be the one to pick it?"
Jin Biao looked at Wang Yian.
Teamwork among fellow disciples naturally involved profit distribution.
To avoid disputes in distribution, there was an unwritten rule: whoever picked a spiritual herb or hunted a demon beast would receive seventy percent of the profit, with the remainder being divided equally among the others.
Jin Biao asking Wang Yian to pick it meant giving Wang Yian the larger share of the profit from this Stone-born Flower.
Although none of them lacked the spirit stones from selling the Stone-born Flower, Jin Biao's gesture undoubtedly made Wang Yian and the other two feel pleased.
Wang Yian did not refuse. He summoned his magical artifact and approached the location of the Stone-born Flower.
Sixth-grade spiritual herbs were generally guarded by accompanying demon beasts.
Wang Yian intended to lure out the accompanying demon beast first, defeat it, and then pick the Stone-born Flower.
However, when Wang Yian was less than a mile away from the Stone-born Flower, he still couldn't sense the presence of the accompanying demon beast, and he couldn't help but stop.
Could it be that this accompanying spirit beast had already sensed his arrival and was now ambushing him somewhere?
Wang Yian dared not advance recklessly. After a moment of hesitation, he slowed his pace and cautiously approached the Stone-born Flower.
Behind him, Jin Biao and Long Haotian watched his direction intently.
They were ready to provide support at any moment.