Entering the Secret Realm: New Uses of Rhubarb

Da Huang's words made Chen Chang'an even more curious about this secret realm.

In the Primordial Immortal Domain, there should be many secret realms—could they all be fallen worlds?

This feeling was as if within one world, there existed many smaller worlds. If undiscovered, no one would know of the others' existence.

Of course, it was also possible that these were once blessed lands or celestial grottos that met with misfortune and completely perished.

As for the truth, they would only know after entering.

"Alright, let's head in too."

"Sure."

Under the watchful eyes of the elders from the four great immortal sects, Chen Chang'an led Da Huang and Xiao Yao through the entrance.

"A girl who looks eleven or twelve, a quasi-immortal realm first-layer elder, and a big yellow dog—what an amusing combination."

"Still, they're just walking to their deaths. What's so interesting about that?"

"How long do you think they'll last? Will they even contribute anything?"

"Hard to say, but I doubt our people will even need to lift a finger before they die inside."

"Shh, quiet. Chen Wanqing is still here."

Once Chen Chang'an stepped into the Scarlet Moon Secret Realm, he finally understood why it was called "Scarlet Moon."

A crimson moon hung high in the sky, casting the entire realm in a blood-red hue.

Desolation.

Utter desolation.

There seemed to be no trace of life in this place.

The disciples of the four great immortal sects had entered earlier and had already vanished without a trace.

"Da Huang, do you have any similar memories about this place?"

"Is this a fallen world or a ruined blessed land?" Chen Chang'an asked curiously.

Hearing this, Da Huang glanced around before slowly closing his eyes.

"Some vague memories are surfacing."

"The Scarlet Moon Secret Realm isn’t a blessed land—it’s a fallen world."

"This was once a complete world, but for some unknown reason, it was suddenly destroyed."

"At some point, a connection formed between this ruined world and the Primordial Immortal Domain."

"The entrance appears for a limited time, but it reopens periodically."

"Quite a mysterious phenomenon."

If Da Huang’s inherited memories about secret realms were accurate, then this place was indeed a fallen world.

"I always thought that when a world was destroyed, nothing remained."

"Now it seems that what perished were all the living beings within it."

"But if that’s the case, why would there still be dangers here?"

"Could it be that after destruction, new threats emerge?"

This was Chen Chang'an’s first time entering a secret realm, so many things were unfamiliar to him.

"Emberfiends."

"In these fallen worlds—secret realms—there exists a type of creature called Emberfiends."

"They aren’t alive. They grow by absorbing destructive energy, and their strength varies."

"The danger here likely comes from them," Da Huang explained.

Emberfiends?

Creatures that thrive on destruction?

This was the first time Chen Chang'an had heard of such a bizarre existence.

"Moreover, Emberfiends don’t have fixed forms. They can appear as anything."

"They might be the air, or any object around us."

"And since they aren’t living beings, they don’t emit any aura."

"Actively detecting them is extremely difficult."

Since arriving in the Primordial Immortal Domain, this was the first time Chen Chang'an felt that Da Huang was genuinely useful—no, invaluable.

Though he couldn’t contribute much in terms of combat strength right now, his inherited memories made him a walking encyclopedia.

"You know, I suddenly feel like Xiao Yao shares some similarities with these Emberfiends—aside from being alive and having an aura," Chen Chang'an mused, glancing at Xiao Yao.

"Huh?"

"Oh! Now that you mention it, there is a resemblance."

"Am I… an Emberfiend’s descendant?" Xiao Yao asked, startled.

"Impossible. Emberfiends can’t reproduce. They’re more like… energy. Yes, they should be classified as a type of energy."

"Except they’ve absorbed so much destructive power that they’ve become hazardous."

"Emberfiends have different temperaments."

"Some are docile—you could step on them, and they wouldn’t react."

"But others will attack the moment you get close."

Da Huang dismissed Xiao Yao’s speculation. If she were an Emberfiend’s descendant, she wouldn’t have a living body.

Besides, when Chen Wanqing first found Xiao Yao, she was in a half-human, half-demon form—completely different from Emberfiends. At most, they shared some similar traits.

"Da Huang, you’ve finally found your calling," Chen Chang'an said with a laugh.

Hah?

What kind of backhanded compliment was that?

"Sigh. After all I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me?" Da Huang gave Chen Chang'an a wounded look.

What you’ve done?

What have you done?

"Da Huang, you eat my food, drink my wine, and even visit brothels on my dime."

"What exactly have you contributed?"

"Oh, right—I did ride you like a mount back in the day."

"Fine, I won’t hold it against you."

"Consider us even."

Grrrr!

Chen Chang'an had to bring up the one memory Da Huang hated most—the days he’d been used as a steed.

"Hmph! Ride a dog, and your pants will rot."

"Just wait—karma’s coming for you," Da Huang huffed.

"Where did you even learn phrases like that?" Chen Chang'an asked, amused.

"Storybooks!"

Of course. A scholarly dog.

"Da Huang! Elder!"

"Come look at this!"

While Chen Chang'an and Da Huang were bickering, Xiao Yao had wandered ahead and was now crouched on the ground, examining something intently.

"Xiao Yao, don’t wander off alone. It’s not safe here."

Da Huang hurried over, settling beside her.

"Hmm… what is this?"

He tilted his head, studying the object with curiosity.

Huh?

Noticing their puzzled expressions, Chen Chang'an approached and looked down. His brow furrowed.

"You two… don’t recognize this?" he asked, incredulous.

"Should… we?" Da Huang and Xiao Yao exchanged baffled glances.

"Well… theoretically, yes."

Should recognize it?

Da Huang sniffed the object. The scent was unfamiliar.

"So? What is it?"

Chen Chang'an sighed.

"It’s… a piece of feces. Petrified from who knows how many years."