“Ugh, I will be late.”
Shen Yuan grunted as he looked at the sky while different Intents radiated from his body.
He had already mastered all the intents that he wanted to train during this seclusion session to the second level.
[Are you going to catch up with them now?]
Yue Lan’s voice echoed inside his head.
Shen Yuan shook his head, “No rush, I need to make a few preparations because from what I heard about the restrictions of the secret realm, there will be more things to look out for than just enemies.”
[That is true as well, so what have you decided on?]
“Hmm…I will look for a few things inside the sect before meeting up with an elder to discuss the Mystique Realm.” Shen Yuan stood up from beneath the plum blossom tree as he stretched his hands.
[True, true,]
Yue Lan agreed, her usual playful voice turning more serious.
[Many disciples focus too much on their martial skills and forget the importance of supplementary artifacts or other items.]
Shen Yuan nodded. “Exactly, I’ll need special pills, talismans, and maybe some strange artifacts. There’s no harm in being over-prepared.”
Yue Lan silently agreed with him as he made his way out of his courtyard.
Shen Yuan made his way toward the marketplace within the outer sect, gazing at the various places of the sect while the disciples looked at him in bewilderment.
He soon reached his destination. The marketplace was bustling with activity as usual. Stalls were lined up on both sides, selling various tools and resources for cultivation, ranging from rare herbs and pills to various treasures that could aid in combat or defense.
Shen Yuan walked through the crowd, drawing attention from the disciples here as well.
As the disciples couldn’t help but steal glances at him, recognizing him from his mere presence alone.
“That’s Shen Yuan, isn’t it?” one disciple whispered to another.
“I thought he was supposed to go together with the rest of the disciples,” another replied.
“Did he just come out of seclusion just now?” A third disciple spoke up.
….
Ignoring the murmurs, Shen Yuan made his way toward a stall that he had visited previously. He had previously seen that the resources sold here were of high quality, so he came to fill up his stock here.
The stall was filled with all sorts of pills, talismans, weapons, and various artifacts.
“Ah, Senior Brother Shen Yuan,” the stall owner greeted him with a friendly smile while looking at him curiously. “What can I help you with today?”
Shen Yuan noticed her weird gaze and asked with a smile, “What are you thinking about looking at me with such curiosity?”
The stall owner gathered up her courage and asked. “I heard that you were selected to go together with the disciples towards the Mystique Realm, but I see that you are still strolling around the market. Have you decided not to participate in it?”
Shen Yuan chuckled softly, “It’s not like that, I just came out of seclusion, I came here to get some resources before heading towards the Mystique Realm.”
The stall owner’s eyes lit up as she asked in slight excitement, “Oh? Then you must have made some progress. What do you think about the mystique realm? Will you suffer some losses inside?”
Shen Yuan smirked and replied, “I might face some difficulties but no other disciple can threaten me inside of the Mystique Realm.”
The stall owner couldn’t help but giggle softly, “Haha, you are quite confident about yourself. I wonder if it’s just arrogance or confidence.”
“You can deduce it by looking at my past records, the disciples shouldn’t have forgotten about them in merely a month’s time.”
She chuckled and changed the topic, “Anyways, anything you fancy here?”
Shen Yuan nodded, “Yes, give me a few gourds of detoxification pills, poison resistance pills, QI replenishing pills, healing pills, spirit beast repellant pills… a few barrier talismans, strength enhancing talismans, concealment or invisibility talismans, teleportation talismans, illusion breaking talismans…”
He continued to list a few more types of things before stopping and looking at the wide eyed stall owner.
“Are you going into a Mystique Realm or planning to wage a fucking war. Why would you even need that many supplies?” She couldn’t help but curse hearing the amount of things Shen Yuan had listed to buy.
Shen Yuan chuckled, “Most of them are not for me but for the disciples who I will be looking after inside the Mystique Realm.”
“You think they can’t take care of themselves just because they are women?” Her eyes sharpened as she waited for Shen Yuan’s response.
“Yes—” Shen Yuan paused slightly, seeing her expression before continuing, “—terday I had a talk with my friend about this issue. The disciples of the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect are more naive and gentle due to their inexperience in the outside world. Otherwise, they won’t lose to any of the other sect’s disciples.”
The stall owner’s expression improved as she listened to his explanation, contemplating it over while Shen Yuan continued.
“That’s why the sect decided to send the disciples to this Mystique Realm, so they can temper themselves and improve their temperament.”
“There is logic in what you say, but who is this friend you are talking about? Weren’t you in seclusion until just recently?” She asked curiously, wondering who accompanied him during his closed-door cultivation.
“I made that up.” Shen Yuan replied to her question but before she could follow that up, he continued, “Anyways, do you have all the things I asked for here or should I take them from somewhere else?”
“I can get them all for you, no need to look for somewhere else. Just give me a moment.” She spoke and sent out another disciple who was working under her to fetch a few things.
…
Meanwhile, at the Mystique realm’s entrance, the disciples from the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect had already arrived. Wan Ling, Ling Mei, and the other girls stood with their heads held high, taking pride in being disciples of one of the most prestigious sects of their Zone.
But it didn’t take long for them to notice the disdainful glances from the Ironwood Mountain Clann disciples.
The disciples from Azure Sky Sect and Ironwood Mountain Clan had already gathered at the entrance of the Mystique Realm. The Ironwood Mountain Clan’s disciples’ smug grins dripped with disdain as they looked at the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect disciples while whispering amongst themselves.
“Looks like the Radiant Lotus Sacred Sect sent their weakest disciples for this expedition,” one of the disciples from the Ironwood Mountain Clan Sneered. “Their cultivation technique might be impressive but they are only good for healing at the beginning stages, they won’t survive the real dangers of the world.”
A few others chuckled in agreement, “I heard they rely too much on their healing abilities that their offensive abilities are only subpar, they won’t be able to do much inside of the Mystique Realm.”
Wan Ling overheard their conversation and clenched her fist in frustration. Ling Mei placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, whispering, “Ignore them. We’ll prove what we have learned inside the Mystique Realm.”
