The White Ape King’s self-detonation unleashed a storm of energy within the secret realm, sweeping in all directions.

Fortunately, at the last moment, Lu Qing had hurled him skyward, toward the heights of the secret realm’s space.

This Trial Secret Realm of the Wu Clan was already far more solid than the Great World of Tianyuan, its spatial rules sluggish and unyielding.

Even the self-detonation of a Five-Tribulation Nascent Soul was unable to tear it apart.

Thus, though the White Ape King’s final explosion triggered a sweeping energy tempest, it soon dissipated and left no lasting damage to the realm itself.

“This is… a Nascent Soul self-detonation?”

The mysterious existence, who had been observing from afar, was startled yet again.

“And judging by the strength of that detonation… this was no ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator. At the very least, a seasoned Five-Tribulation Nascent Soul.

Has that little fellow already grown strong enough to force such an opponent into self-detonation? He was only gone for a short time… just what did he experience out there?”

The thought stirred his long-stagnant curiosity.

He had lived for countless years, long since numb to the passage of time. For him, Lu Qing’s absence had been the briefest of intervals.

Yet now, Lu Qing was clashing with Five-Tribulation experts and even driving one to self-destruction.

The mysterious being could not help but wonder: what trials had the boy endured during his time away?

Once the storm of energy had faded, Lu Qing’s figure emerged, and he swiftly put away the Li Huo Cauldron.

Only then did he take a moment to survey his surroundings.

From the familiar heaviness of space, he knew he had indeed returned to the Trial Secret Realm—and not far from the Tower of the Witch’s Trials, for he could already see its peak jutting faintly in the distance.

He sighed in relief. Truly, the cauldron was a peerless treasure. Even against the joint assault of seven Five-Tribulation Nascent Souls, it had enabled his safe escape.

Just then, a voice sounded within his mind.

“Little one, I hadn’t expected that in such a short time you would already step into the Nascent Soul Realm. If you are not pressed for time, come over to me. Keep this old fellow company for a chat.”

“It’s the senior’s voice.”

Lu Qing’s expression grew solemn. He bowed deeply. “Yes, Senior.”

With that, he flew toward the Tower of the Witch’s Trials.

That the mysterious being had sensed his return did not surprise him. After all, this was the one who had once transported him out of the realm directly to Sacred Tianxu Mountain.

Clearly, this existence wielded no small control over the Trial Secret Realm.

Now that Lu Qing had broken through, he could fly freely within the realm. The oppressive pressure of the skies felt as gentle as a spring breeze, no longer able to restrain him.

Before long, he reached the tower.

The thirty-six Exotic Beasts still stood like statues upon the plain outside. But whether it was the aura of the Secret Realm Jade Tablet upon him or some other reason, none of them stirred as he passed, allowing him smooth entry.

The moment he stepped inside, his vision blurred. Space twisted. When his sight cleared, he stood once more within that mysterious chamber—the very place where he had once absorbed the Vital Essence.

“Little one, so you’ve truly reached the Nascent Soul Realm. You are indeed worthy of passing the trial that great one left behind. And where is Xiaoli? Did it not return with you?”

The mysterious voice echoed again.

Lu Qing’s mind stirred, and with a thought, Xiaoli, Wuxing, and the White Flood Dragon emerged from the Li Huo Cauldron.

“You three, hurry and greet the senior.”

Wuxing and the White Flood Dragon blinked in confusion, but Xiaoli instantly understood.

It raised its claws in salute toward the void. “Xiaoli greets Senior.”

The others, realizing what was happening, hastily followed suit.

“Haha… good. You’ve grown, little one. Your progress is commendable. How far have you taken the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon?”

“I’ve reached the third transformation,” Xiaoli answered meekly.

“The third, already? Not bad, not bad. Your True Dragon bloodline is not pure, yet you’ve advanced swiftly. Your comprehension is excellent.”

The mysterious existence’s tone carried clear satisfaction.

Then its gaze turned toward Wuxing and the White Flood Dragon. “And these two?”

“Senior, they are also my spirit pets,” Lu Qing explained.

“I see. And both carry traces of True Dragon bloodline as well?”

“Yes. Both Wuxing and Xiaobai harbor True Dragon essence.”

“Senior, I also taught them the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon you entrusted to me. You’re not angry, are you?” Xiaoli blurted nervously.

“I told you before—once I gave you that technique, you were free to pass it on. I would never object.”

The voice grew gentle.

Xiaoli stuck out its tongue. “I just didn’t want to upset you, Senior.”

“Upset? Hah. That technique would only gather dust in my hands. If you all can cultivate it, ensuring it doesn’t fade into obscurity, then that is a blessing.”

Xiaoli exhaled in relief. “Thank you, Senior!”

Only then did Wuxing and the White Flood Dragon fully understand. This was the very existence who had bestowed the Nine Transformations of the True Dragon upon Xiaoli.

They quickly bowed once more in gratitude.

“Ha! It has been so long since I’ve had such lively company. Tell me, what have you experienced since leaving this place?”

“Yes, Senior. It was like this…”

Lu Qing realized the ancient being likely craved conversation after endless years of solitude. So he began recounting some of his journeys outside.

“…In the end, I knew I could not match seven Five-Tribulation Nascent Souls. So I seized one of their kings, and with the transmission tablet you gave me, I fled back here.”

The mysterious existence fell silent for a long time.

At last, its voice quivered ever so slightly. “So you’re telling me… that you have only just broken into Nascent Soul, yet you could contend with a Five-Tribulation cultivator? You even forced the White Ape King to self-detonate?”

“There was a great deal of luck involved,” Lu Qing admitted. “Had they not suppressed space with their grand array, I could never have trapped him so easily.”

He spoke the truth, not false modesty.

Indeed, by locking down space to prevent Lu Qing’s escape, the seven had also crippled their own spatial control. That was the opening he had exploited to destroy the White Ape King’s body.

The mysterious being listened, silent once more.

After a long pause, it asked, voice trembling: “If you have reached Nascent Soul… then surely you’ve stepped into the realm of the True Witch. Tell me—how tall is the True Witch Body you condensed?”

“My True Witch Body… should be about one hundred zhang tall,” Lu Qing replied truthfully.

“One hundred zhang! Are you certain?”

For the first time, the mysterious existence lost all composure, its voice shaking.

Lu Qing gave no explanation. He simply shifted, and his towering True Witch Body manifested.

The chamber was instantly dwarfed, nearly bursting at its seams beneath his colossal figure.

“It is true… one hundred zhang. But this is impossible! Even the most dazzling prodigies of the Wu Clan, even that great one himself, never manifested so vast a body at their first step into the realm!”

His disbelief turned to awe.

Throughout the endless history of the Wu Clan, no one had ever achieved such a feat. Not even the founder who had built this realm, whose record of over ninety zhang had long stood as the pinnacle.

That very figure had reached a realm comparable to the Twelve Ancestral Witches.

The thought struck the mysterious existence like lightning.

“Could it be… that this boy is not merely a True Witch seed, but… an Ancestral Witch seed?”

His heart pounded with excitement. Yet just as quickly, it cooled.

“So what if he bears the aspect of an Ancestral Witch? The Wu Clan is gone. Even with such potential, without endless resources and unparalleled fortunes, the path to the Ancestral Witch is nearly impossible.”

He knew too well: potential alone was never enough. Many had once been hailed as Ancestral Witch seeds, yet only one had truly reached that peak.

Still, the sight of Lu Qing’s colossal body filled him with bittersweet longing.

“Ah… if only the Wu Clan still stood…”

“Senior?”

Lu Qing, unaware of his turbulent thoughts, called softly when no reply came.

At last, the ancient voice answered. “Enough. Withdraw your manifestation. To think you could form such a body at your very first step into the True Witch Realm… astonishing.”

Lu Qing complied, then asked curiously, “Senior, surely among the Wu Clan, there were others like me?”

“There were… but very few. And for a human like you to reach this point—it is rarer still.”

The being hesitated, then deliberately withheld the truth of his Ancestral Witch aspect. Better not to burden the boy with unreachable expectations.

“I see.”

Lu Qing nodded. He had never been arrogant enough to believe he could outshine all the prodigies of the ancient Wu Clan, who had once commanded the stars themselves.

After all, he cultivated only an incomplete Heavenly Witch Body of Ten Thousand Tribulations. Compared to true Wu Clan geniuses raised with infinite resources, he still had far to go.

The being sighed inwardly, relieved he had accepted the half-truth. The pride of the Wu Clan was something he could not allow to be diminished.

“Tell me, how long do you plan to stay this time? Are you eager to leave again?”

“In truth, Senior, I wished to ask. Now that I’ve used the jade tablet to return, is there a time limit to my stay?”

“None at all,” the voice chuckled.

“That tablet was crafted by that great one himself. You may linger here as long as you wish. But know this: once you leave again, returning will consume another chance.”

“Excellent!”

Joy lit Lu Qing’s face.

“Senior, I have just broken through and much remains to be digested. If you do not mind, I would like to remain here in secluded cultivation for some time. Would that be permissible?”

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