Purple mists layered the skies above Purple Radiance Mountain.
Upon reaching the territory of Purple Radiance Mountain, Shen He gazed into the distance at the mountains, which appeared covered by a canopy of purple splendor.
Shen He arrived at the Small Town outside Purple Radiance Mountain, where he saw many cultivators hurrying along in varied attire.
Among the cultivators, the most eye-catching were the disciples of the Immortal Sect Orthodox.
Those disciples mostly traveled in groups of two or three, clad in uniforms issued by their sect, brimming with youthful vigor in their glances.
Though not exactly arrogant, they indeed possessed a haughty air that loose cultivators lacked.
Shen He had not been a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for long and had yet to develop a proper cultivator’s demeanor. He had also deliberately suppressed his Demonic Qi, making him look like an ordinary person.
The Small Town bustled with plenty of ordinary folk who showed no fear of cultivators and even proactively offered various services. Clearly, the existence of the Purple Radiance Mountain Small Secret Realm brought considerable business to the locals.
Cultivators might subsist on wind and dew, but who would choose to brave the cold wilderness when a room was available?
Unwilling to waste money, Shen He sought out an inn and planned to work there as a waiter.
With a little sleight of hand and reciting over a hundred dish names in one breath without pause, he earned the innkeeper’s favor. He changed into a short azure outfit and took up the post immediately.
On his first day as a waiter, Shen He spotted Senior Sister Le Qingping, who had previously force-fed him medicine. She appeared frail and delicate as she dined with a shifty-eyed cultivator.
When the cultivator beside her wasn’t looking, Senior Sister Le shot Shen He a chilling warning glare.
The next second, she turned to the cultivator with a shy, bashful smile.
Shen He shrank back silently, served the tea, noted the orders, and retreated quickly.
Unexpectedly, two days later, Senior Sister Le brought a different old man to eat.
She tugged at the old man’s sleeve coquettishly, as endearing as a granddaughter with her grandfather.
The old man eyed Senior Sister Le like a prime piece of material.
Shen He drew in a sharp breath and received another warning from her.
He hurriedly swapped duties with another waiter—he would greet guests while the other served tea.
In the ten days before the Purple Radiance Mountain Secret Realm opened, Shen He encountered Le Qingping a total of four times.
Each time, she brought a different person to dine, and Shen He never saw those people again. Senior Sister Le’s smiles grew ever more radiant and gentle.
Deeply shocked, Shen He couldn’t help but mention it to Xie Linlang.
“…A beauty reduced to dry bones, the Wandering Monk’s words rang true after all.”
Xie Linlang had devoted all his attention these past few days to the Nine Revolutions Return to Truth Pill. Once they entered the secret realm and found a quiet spot with sufficient Demonic Qi, he would resurrect. He needed to adjust his remnant soul’s state and mindset.
Hearing Shen He’s sigh, Xie Linlang casually remarked, “Why not team up with her?”
Shen He paused. “Team up?”
Xie Linlang reminded him, “It’s rare to meet a senior sister who isn’t trying to scam you. Why not have her teach you how to avoid fraud?”
Shen He hesitated. “But Shizun, with your resurrection imminent, it might not be convenient to have Senior Sister Le tag along?”
Xie Linlang countered, “I won’t need you watching over me before I resurrect. Following that girl will give you extra protection instead. I don’t want to resurrect only to find my newly taken disciple dead from his own soft heart.”
Shen He pondered this. “Thank you for your guidance, Shizun.”
By the time Xie Linlang awoke again, Shen He had leveraged Senior Sister Le’s connections to find a cultivator with a Secret Realm Key. After chipping in some funds, he joined a ten-person team.
Shen He and Le Qingping pretended to be strangers. He kept his distance from her and instead cozied up to another cultivator in the group.
Xie Linlang listened intently for a moment.
This cultivator was surnamed Zhang, a Loose Cultivator at Early-stage Foundation Establishment, skilled in Beast Taming. He raised a leopard and a sparrow.
Shen He was trying to inquire how to get along with bird-type demon beasts.
Cultivator Zhang had a reserved personality. Pursued by Shen He’s questions on avian demons, embarrassment and evasion flickered across his face.
“I can trade a pill formula for your insights on caring for avian demons,” Shen He said earnestly. “Please, this is truly important to me. My Shizun tasked me with tending an avian demon before, but it despised me and nearly killed me with a single wing. I used exploring the secret realm as an excuse to escape, but I’ll have to face it again upon return. Any tips or care methods from you would be a huge help.”
Le Qingping, not far away, seemed to overhear Shen He’s words, a mocking glint flashing in her eyes.
Surprised, Cultivator Zhang sized up Shen He, his expression softening as he quietly asked for details.
![Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]](https://i1.wp.com/dobynovels.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/farmm.jpeg?resize=151,215 "Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]")
