The Arrogant Immortal
Chapter 186 - 185 Spiritual Monkey Mountain

Chapter 186: Chapter 185 Spiritual Monkey Mountain

The female cultivator beckoned to Xie Jiuniang again, gesturing for her to come over.

Xie Jiuniang did not move but asked curiously, "You still haven’t said who you are?"

The female cultivator chuckled, "Very cautious, not bad."

Then she took out a jade token that represented her identity, flicked her wrist slightly, and the token flew towards Xie Jiuniang.

Xie Jiuniang caught it with her hand and checked it with her Divine Sense.

To her surprise, she took a second look.

Xing Luan, Danfeng, direct disciple, mentored by True Lord Muhong. Based on her bone age, she was already 138 years old. So, this person was a disciple of Danfeng, who had entered the Secret Realm not 50 years ago but 100 years?

True Lord Muhong was a rank-eight alchemist who had been in closed-door cultivation for nearly a hundred years and had yet to emerge. In her previous life, Xie Jiuniang had never met him but had heard of him a few times; he had always wanted to find his missing first disciple but to no avail. The last time she heard news of him was that his attempt at Divinity Transformation had failed.

Xie Jiuniang returned the identity token to Xing Luan.

From Xing Luan, she did not sense any malice.

After some conversation, Xie Jiuniang learned more about Xing Luan’s situation.

Xing Luan had encountered danger when she entered the Secret Realm. The disciples she teamed up with all perished, and she was severely injured. A Spiritual Monkey picked her up and brought her back to Spiritual Monkey Mountain. Later, when she woke up and recuperated for several years, she had healed from her injuries, but by that time, the Secret Realm had already closed. Afterwards, she relied on her alchemy skills to win the protection of the monkey troop.

Regarding the issue of cultivation base.

The reason she had not reached Core Formation in a hundred years was that she suppressed it herself.

Because once Core Formation was achieved, there would be no possibility of leaving the Secret Realm.

The strength of Golden Core and above could not enter or exit the Secret Realm, as they would be obliterated by the rules of the Secret Realm at the entrance.

The last time, fifty years ago, she had thought about leaving the Secret Realm but could not find the correct path and became lost for several months. In the end, the monkeys found her and brought her back to Spiritual Monkey Mountain. Over the years, she had explored paths but due to the dangers of the Secret Realm, her success was limited.

Xie Jiuniang waved to Xuanyuan You.

Xuanyuan You appeared and greeted Xing Luan politely.

The two of them followed Xing Luan into the courtyard.

Xie Jiuniang let down most of her guard, not because she trusted Xing Luan but because she was confident in her strength, which she believed was no less than Xing Luan’s, unafraid that Xing Luan would cause trouble, and besides, she did not think Xing Luan was stupid.

The opportunity to leave every fifty years.

Normal people would not want to miss it.

Xing Luan gently smiled and said, "I never expected to see my fellow sect disciples again in my lifetime. Would you two like to freshen up?"

"Sure."

When visiting someone’s home, it was polite to be dressed neatly.

Xie Jiuniang immediately performed a few Dust Cleansing Techniques on herself and tidied up her messy hair, quickly transforming into a pretty and delicate young girl.

Xuanyuan You did the same, quickly looking refreshed.

The two, tall and straight, formally introduced themselves to Xing Luan.

Hearing that the two were chased by a black-feathered Dadiao and had lost their way before ending up here, Xing Luan was quite shocked.

Xie Jiuniang tentatively asked, "Has Senior Sister Xing heard about that Dadiao?"

Indeed, Xing Luan told them, "The Black Eagle of Red Cliff is a bully in the Secret Realm, famous throughout it. The Clan Leader said that its strength is formidable, and in this area, no one dares to provoke it."

Xie Jiuniang and Xuanyuan You glanced at each other.

Both shivered, feeling the lingering fear in their hearts.

Hence, they tacitly closed their mouths, not mentioning a word about how they had provoked the Black Eagle.

Seeing that the two did not mention it, Xing Luan tactfully did not inquire further.

Xie Jiuniang brought up the main point, "We won’t stay here for too long. Do you want to come with us?"

"Yes, I have been dreaming of leaving the Secret Realm."

Before leaving, Xing Luan said she needed to bid farewell to the Clan Leader of the Spiritual Monkeys.

The nature of the Spiritual Monkeys was famously amicable; under normal circumstances, they wouldn’t attack humans or Demonic Beasts. Xing Luan led the two in a direction and explained several taboos to them, requesting that they do not emit any ill intent when encountering the Spiritual Monkeys.

Not even a hint.

They were also not to casually pick fruit from trees.

All the fruit trees on Monkey Mountain had owners.

If they saw the monkeys, they should keep a distance and not touch the monkeys, as it would be considered a provocation and so on. In fact, the two of them trespassing on Monkey Mountain could have been big trouble if not handled properly.

Fortunately, Xing Luan’s relationship with the Spiritual Monkeys was still decent over the years.

Along the way, Xie Jiuniang and Xuanyuan You didn’t hide their presence.

The monkeys on the trees looked at them with curiosity, even handing over fruit to Xing Luan enthusiastically after picking them.

Xing Luan happily accepted and then gave a low-level elixir to the little monkey in return.

The little monkey became extremely excited and swiftly leaped back onto the branches.

Xuanyuan You, slightly itching to do so, was charmed by these monkeys, "Little Profiteer, do you think I should take one with me?"

"Hehe, as long as the monkey is willing," Xie Jiuniang was indifferent.

Xing Luan’s words shattered his illusion, "Non-contracted beasts cannot leave the Secret Realm."

Xuanyuan You said regretfully, "Then never mind, I already have a Contracted Beast."

Xie Jiuniang knew he had contracted a Netherworld Cat, which was still a little cub.

After passing through the majority of the orchard, they saw some tree houses and more monkeys around.

Eventually, the three of them arrived in front of a very large old tree.

There was a golden little monkey cub squatting on the branch, gnawing on a Spirit Fruit that was bigger than its face.

This monkey was very small, apparently not long after its birth.

What made it different from other cubs was its golden fur and golden eyes. It looked confusedly at Xie Jiuniang and company for a moment before continuing to gnaw on its fruit.

Xing Luan voiced their intention to visit the Clan Leader.

A fully grown Golden Monkey emerged from a tree hollow.

Jian Lingyan reminded Xie Jiuniang, "Golden Spiritual Monkey, with the strength of a Nascent Soul, very powerful."

"Clan Leader, I am leaving," Xing Luan explained her reason for coming.

The gaze of the Golden Monkey was not harsh, but rather gentle and kind, "Is this your fellow disciple who has come to pick you up?"

"Yes, and I thank you for your protection over these years," Xing Luan took out elixirs from her person as a parting gift.

Xie Jiuniang and Xuanyuan You were already stunned.

They knew that Demonic Beasts could speak human language once they had reached a certain stage in their cultivation, but that typically required them to have transformed in form; otherwise, they could only communicate through consciousness after forming a contract.

Could the Clan Leader of this Spiritual Monkey Clan actually speak directly?

Just as Xing Luan had anticipated, the Golden Monkey Clan Leader did not stop her from leaving. Instead, he decided to hold a farewell banquet for her, bringing out the best Monkey Wine from the clan to treat them.

Xie Jiuniang and Xuanyuan You were merely there as backup, filling the numbers. However, they found the Monkey Wine delicious.

The two of them exchanged elixirs and other items with the monkeys of the Spiritual Monkey Clan for wine, having a great time.

They made quite a haul and were fully satisfied.

The only thing bothering Xie Jiuniang was the golden monkey cub that had inexplicably jumped onto her shoulder and refused to leave.

A Water Kirin on one side, and a golden monkey cub on the other.

The scene was quite bizarre, and she didn’t dare to act rashly,

fearing that the Golden Monkey Clan Leader would suspect that she was trying to abduct his child.

Every now and then, Xuanyuan You glanced at her, "Little Profiteer, are you trying to entice the little monkey?"

"No, no, definitely not."

Xie Jiuniang waved her hands hurriedly, her mind filled with conflict.

She must have been influenced by her status as the Child of Destiny; could it be possible to come to the Spiritual Monkey Mountain and leave with nothing?

But she really didn’t want another Contracted Beast.

The Golden Monkey Clan Leader spoke up to Xie Jiuniang, "Human, my child seems to like you a lot. It wants to follow you outside to experience a broader world, not to be trapped here and never able to transform."

"I already have a Contracted Beast,"

Xie Jiuniang pointed to the Water Kirin and kindly mentioned, "Clan Leader, the outside world may not be as safe as here. Besides, my strength is pretty average outside."

No matter what the Golden Monkey Clan Leader said, Xie Jiuniang refused to make a contract. Eventually, the human and monkey came to an agreement after a lengthy discussion.

The Golden Monkey Clan Leader gave Xie Jiuniang compensation.

Xie Jiuniang was only to take the little Golden Monkey out of the Secret Realm. Whatever master the little Golden Monkey chose once outside was up to its own will, and it could only form an equal contract, not a master-servant one.

In front of the Golden Monkey Clan Leader, Xie Jiuniang and the little Golden Monkey made a temporary contract, one that could be dissolved at any time.

Seizing the opportunity, Xie Jiuniang laid out her predicament, to which the Golden Monkey Clan Leader promised to arrange assistance from his clan members.

The tide had turned in a way that truly allowed her to breathe a sigh of relief.