Bai Li looked at the updated System panel and was delighted to find that her Cultivation Base had reached the first level of Foundation Establishment. Her attributes like strength, speed, and defense had also improved significantly, and she had gained a new talent—Spiritual Qi Affinity. She excitedly clenched her small fists, her two fluffy tails wagging happily behind her like two blooming white velvet flowers. "Xiao Mai, what is the authority of this tail?" Bai Li asked system xiao mai curiously, her voice filled with anticipation.
system xiao mai's crisp voice rang in Bai Li's mind: "Congratulations to the host for obtaining the authority of the first tail—Healing. The host can now use the spiritual power of the first tail to heal injuries and revive yourself and others." It paused before continuing to explain: "As the host's Bloodline continues to undergo Awakening, the number of tails will increase. Each tail corresponds to a different authority and ability, and their power will become increasingly formidable."
After hearing system xiao mai's explanation, a spark of excitement flashed in Bai Li's eyes. "I see!" She reached out her small hand, feeling the abundant Spiritual Qi and the newly acquired power of Healing within her body, filled with anticipation for the future. She couldn't wait to try out her new ability and see its actual effects.
After consolidating her Cultivation Base, Lin Yaoyao stretched, stood up, and loosened her muscles. She felt her whole body filled with power, as if she had endless energy. After the Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage, her perception had also greatly improved, allowing her to clearly sense the fluctuations of Spiritual Qi around her. "Bai Li, congratulations on your new talent and skill," Lin Yaoyao said with a smile, her tone carrying a hint of relief. "Your strength has improved a lot; that's wonderful."
Bai Li scratched her head shyly, her two fox tails swaying gently behind her. "Hehe, it's all thanks to Sister Yaoyao." Her tone was humble, but her heart was filled with joy and pride.
Just then, system xiao han's voice rang in Lin Yaoyao's mind: "Ding! New mission issued: Head to the Family's Trial Secret Realm to find spiritual items that can enhance a Spirit Beast's Bloodline. Reward for completion: Increase Cultivation Base by one minor Realm. Penalty for failure: None."
Hearing the System's voice, Lin Yaoyao turned to Bai Li and Shen Mo, who was standing nearby, and told them about the mission. "The Family's Trial Secret Realm?" Shen Mo frowned slightly, and after a moment of thought, she said, "I've heard of the Lin Family's Trial Secret Realm. It's said to be full of peril, with not only various powerful Yao Beasts and Formation traps but also many unknown dangers. Even among Lin Family Disciples, few manage to come out alive." Her tone carried a hint of worry. "Yaoyao, Bai Li, should we really go?"
Lin Yaoyao nodded, her tone firm: "We must go. There's a high probability that the Trial Secret Realm contains spiritual items that can enhance a Spirit Beast's Bloodline; this is our best option right now." She paused and continued, "Moreover, the Trial Secret Realm is a great opportunity for experience, allowing us to increase our strength and better face future challenges." She turned to Bai Li, her eyes full of encouragement. "Bai Li, are you willing to go with me?"
Bai Li agreed without hesitation. "I'm willing, Sister Yaoyao!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "I will definitely protect you and complete the mission together!" Her two fox tails stood tall behind her like two flags fluttering in the wind, showing her determination and confidence.
"I'll go with you too." Shen Mo looked at Lin Yaoyao and Bai Li, her tone resolute. "I will do my best to ensure your safety." She understood that Lin Yaoyao was going for Bai Li's sake, and Bai Li had been seriously injured because of her, so she had to go with them to protect them as a way of repaying Bai Li's kindness.
Lin Yaoyao looked at Shen Mo gratefully. "Thank you, Shen Mo." She knew that although Shen Mo's Cultivation Base wasn't as high as theirs, she had rich combat experience and was cautious and meticulous. With her there, their journey would be much safer.
"Then let's set off now!" Bai Li said excitedly. She was already impatient to head to the Trial Secret Realm and find the spiritual items to enhance her Bloodline.
Lin Yaoyao nodded and took out a map from her Storage Ring. "This is the map of the Family Trial Secret Realm." She spread the map on the table, pointing to the marked routes and some dangerous areas to watch out for, explaining them in detail to Bai Li and Shen Mo. "The entrance to the Trial Secret Realm is located next to the trial grounds in the Lin Family's Back Mountain Forbidden Land. It is guarded by Elders year-round, so we must be cautious to avoid being discovered." Lin Yaoyao's slender finger slid across the map, moving slowly along a winding route. "After entering the Secret Realm, we first need to cross a jungle. It's filled with venomous insects and fierce beasts, as well as many illusion Formations and traps. One wrong move and we could lose our way or even our lives. After passing through the Illusionary Forest, we will reach a Marshland inhabited by many venomous Marsh Giant Crocodiles. We must be careful to avoid them..." While explaining, Lin Yaoyao observed Bai Li and Shen Mo's expressions to ensure they understood the information on the map.
Bai Li and Shen Mo listened intently to Lin Yaoyao's explanation, occasionally pointing at the map and discussing in low voices. They firmly memorized the routes and dangerous areas Lin Yaoyao mentioned and thought of countermeasures. Although Bai Li was young, her perception was keen and her intuition for danger was strong; she believed she could help Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo safely traverse the Trial Secret Realm. Shen Mo, relying on her rich combat experience, quickly analyzed the information on the map and formulated a corresponding battle plan. She believed that as long as the three of them worked together, they could certainly overcome the difficulties and complete the mission.
After finalizing the plan, Lin Yaoyao put away the map and said, "There's no time to lose; let's set off now." As she spoke, she took out a flying shuttle from her Storage Ring. The flying shuttle was entirely golden, engraved with exquisite runes, and emitted a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Qi.
"This is a flying shuttle I recently refined. It's faster and more stable than a flying talisman." As Lin Yaoyao spoke, she tossed the flying shuttle into the air. The flying shuttle grew as it met the wind, instantly transforming into a small airship large enough to hold three people. Its golden hull glowed with flowing light, runes flickered, and it emitted a powerful surge of spiritual power. Lin Yaoyao was the first to step onto the flying shuttle, with Bai Li and Shen Mo following close behind.
In the Lin Family's Back Mountain Forbidden Land, ancient trees reached for the sky and thick fog filled the air. Sunlight never reached this place, and a solemn and mysterious aura shrouded the area. Several guards dressed in black patrolled the entrance to the Forbidden Land. They were vigilant, their gazes sharp, constantly watching for any movement. Lin Yaoyao controlled the flying shuttle, following the route marked on the map, carefully avoiding the guards' patrol range, and finally arrived at the entrance to the Trial Secret Realm.
The entrance to the Trial Secret Realm was hidden behind a massive ancient tree. The tree's dense foliage blocked out the sun, completely concealing the entrance. Without the map's guidance, it would be impossible to find. Lin Yaoyao took out the Family Head Token and inserted it into a slot on the ancient tree. The moment the token fit into the slot, the ancient tree let out a low rumble, the ground shook slightly, and the space behind the tree began to warp and distort, eventually forming a vortex shimmering with rainbow light, emitting an ancient and mysterious aura.
"This is the entrance to the Trial Secret Realm." Lin Yaoyao looked at the vortex before her, her tone slightly solemn. "Once we go in, we must be cautious and look out for one another."
Bai Li and Shen Mo nodded in understanding. Lin Yaoyao took a deep breath and stepped into the vortex first, with Bai Li and Shen Mo following right after.
After a sensation of the world spinning, the three of them appeared in an unfamiliar environment. The once clear sky had become gloomy and dark, and the air was filled with a damp scent. They were surrounded by a dense jungle with towering ancient trees that blocked the sun. Various strangely shaped plants looked exceptionally eerie in the dim light, their twisted branches like phantom claws reaching toward the sky. The ground was covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves and humus, emitting a nauseating smell of mold. Occasional roars of unknown beasts echoed through the silent jungle, making one's skin crawl. Bai Li couldn't help but shudder, her two fox tails pressed tightly against her back, wagging uneasily from side to side. Shen Mo gripped her long sword, vigilantly observing her surroundings, circulating her spiritual power to the limit, ready to respond to any sudden situation.
Lin Yaoyao took out the map, confirmed the direction, and said, "Let's head east. There's an open area there where we can rest for a bit." She put away the map and led the way toward the east. Shen Mo held her long sword, vigilantly watching the surroundings as she followed Lin Yaoyao. Bai Li released her Nine-Tailed Fox Fire to dispel the surrounding darkness, while also using her keen sense of smell to detect any nearby danger. Her two fox tails swayed gently behind her like sensitive antennae, probing the surroundings. Although the light from the Nine-Tailed Fox Fire was faint, it was enough to illuminate the area for several meters, allowing them to see the path ahead. The warm firelight also dispelled the surrounding cold and dampness, making them feel a bit more comfortable.
The three traversed the dense jungle. The trees were tall and thick, their branches and leaves interlaced to block out the sun completely, making the jungle as dim as twilight. The air was thick with the smell of damp earth and rotting vegetation, making it feel somewhat suffocating. Various strangely shaped plants looked particularly eerie in the dim light; some were covered in sharp thorns, some emitted a nauseating odor, and others gave off a faint, ghostly glow as if hiding some secret. Occasional roars of unknown beasts echoed through the silent jungle, making one's skin crawl. Bai Li's two fox tails swayed uneasily, and a glint of vigilance flashed in her silver eyes; she could sense the dangers lurking nearby. Shen Mo's steps became more cautious as she held her long sword, her sharp gaze scanning the surroundings, ready to react to any sudden situation. Lin Yaoyao gripped the map tightly, carefully moving forward along the marked route.
"Wait!" Bai Li suddenly stopped and pointed to a massive ancient tree not far ahead, whispering, "There seems to be something there." A glint of vigilance flashed in her silver eyes, and her two fox tails twitched uneasily; she could sense a powerful Demonic Qi coming from the direction of the ancient tree.
Hearing Bai Li's words, Lin Yaoyao and Shen Mo also stopped immediately. They looked in the direction Bai Li was pointing and saw a massive ancient tree standing not far away. Its trunk was thick and its foliage lush, blocking out the light and making the area around the tree exceptionally dark. A cold aura emanated from the direction of the ancient tree, making their skin crawl.
The three lightened their steps and slowly approached the ancient tree. As they drew closer, the cold aura became even stronger, and the surrounding air seemed to freeze, making it difficult to breathe. Their footsteps sounded exceptionally clear in the silent jungle, as if thumping against their hearts, making them feel a wave of tension. The light from Bai Li's Nine-Tailed Fox Fire also began to flicker, as if affected by some kind of interference.
Upon closer inspection, they discovered a giant spider coiled under the ancient tree. The spider was pitch black, like obsidian, reflecting a cold light in the dim environment. It was covered in sharp thorns like steel needles, glinting coldly and making one's hair stand on end. Eight crimson eyes gleamed with a malevolent light in the darkness like eight burning ghost fires, inspiring awe and fear. The giant spider was enormous, taking up almost all the space under the ancient tree. Its eight long legs were like eight thick tree trunks, firmly gripping the ground as steady as a mountain. It sat there motionless, like a sleeping demon waiting for its prey.
The giant spider seemed to have sensed the intruders. It slowly raised its head, its eight crimson eyes staring intently at Lin Yaoyao, Shen Mo, and Bai Li. It let out a sharp hiss, the sound ear-piercing like metal scraping against metal, making one's scalp tingle. The surrounding trees also seemed startled, trembling as their leaves rustled.
The giant spider suddenly opened its bloody maw, revealing sharp fangs, and lunged at the three. Its eight long legs moved rapidly like eight bolts of black lightning, arriving before them in the blink of an eye. A foul wind blew in their faces, and a nauseating stench filled the air. Bai Li couldn't help but frown, her two fox tails swaying uneasily behind her as they let out a low warning growl.