Under Ke Xiao's arrangements, Xia Li once again lay down in the modification chamber.

  Perhaps because this modification was relatively simple, Xia Li didn't dream. It felt like he blinked and the procedure was already complete.

  "Try out your new prosthetic. This is a sword arm I specially picked out for you, sis."

  "What arm?"

  "Sword arm!!"

  "What arm?"

  "Are you deaf? Sword arm!"

  Ke Xiao and Xia Li glared at each other for a while.

  They both felt like the other was somehow cursing at them, but couldn't find any evidence.

  "Alright, alright, I got it, understood. So what can this prosthetic do?"

  Xia Li was the first to break the silence.

  "As the name suggests, there's a sword hidden in the arm. You can swing it for slashing or launch it as a grappling hook."

  "That does sound impressive."

  Finally, he'd been given a prosthetic with real killing power. The Army-1 model he'd used before wasn't bad, but its lethality was clearly lacking.

  After that...

  Without waiting for Ke Xiao to explain, Xia Li had his Heaven Chip start analyzing the new prosthetic's performance.

  Hardness was higher than his previous Army-1. The arm-sword had reached mid-grade spirit artifact quality, and came with a built-in sword technique called Piercing Rainbow.

  When used, it appeared to be a palm strike, but the blade suddenly extended from the palm, catching enemies off guard. For longer distances, the arm-sword could be launched as a projectile.

  "Of course it's impressive, but don't use it where there are many people. I'm worried someone might recognize it."

  "Huh?"

  "Black market goods, you know. This is internal Shushan Sword Sect prosthetic equipment—not for external sale."

  "You think I don't have enough enemies already?"

  Xia Li was speechless. Getting modifications at Ke Xiao's place really did invite trouble. But there were benefits too.

  She could get internal items from other organizations that wouldn't be available on the legitimate market.

  "Just be careful yourself. If you get caught, don't worry—just say you went to an illegal mod shop. The Shushan people will at most beat you up to vent their anger before leaving."

  "Alright..."

  Xia Li accepted it. At least it boosted his current combat ability.

  After this.

  Xia Li did some light exercises to adapt to his new prosthetic, then prepared to leave. He needed to return to the other side to earn more spirit stones and find top-ten Qi Refining spirit treasures.

  "Sis Ke, if there's nothing else, I'll be heading out."

  "Go ahead. Watch out for Company dogs. Don't come running to me for help every time something happens—I'm busy too."

  "I'll try not to ask for help."

  Xia Li could only promise to try. If he encountered trouble he couldn't handle, he'd still need to find Ke Xiao. Otherwise, wouldn't his spirit stones be wasted? It wasn't like anything was free.

  Afterward, Xia Li left directly through the secret passage into the sewers. The dark, winding, complex sewer system was the ideal place for travel.

  Finding a dead-end corner that required seven turns to reach, Xia Li activated the ring.

  A flash of white light...

  The next moment.

  Inside the secret room of the Xia residence in Fenghe City, Xia Li's figure gradually materialized.

  "The spiritual energy concentration here is so much more comfortable..."

  Xia Li couldn't help but stretch, then pushed open the door and left the chamber. He immediately sent a message to Third Uncle Liu asking how to obtain top-ten Qi Refining spirit treasures.

  But the reply made Xia Li frown.

  "Top-ten Qi Refining spirit treasures all aid in establishing one's foundation. Major powers won't sell them externally."

  "However, they do occasionally appear in the Autumn Mountain Secret Realm. Fellow Daoist Xia, you might try your luck there."

  "Autumn Mountain Secret Realm?"

  "A permanently open secret realm that mainly produces Qi Refining treasures. Foundation Establishment treasures exist there too, but are rare. There's no opening or closing restriction—you can enter and exit anytime. It's currently controlled by the Cloud Mountain Sect, which allows outsiders to pay spirit stones for entry."

  "How many spirit stones?"

  "One thousand."

  "That's reasonable."

  The market price for Qi Refining spirit treasures was roughly the same. But spirit treasures on the market didn't require fighting for them, and they were clearly priced—one thousand spirit stones worth of treasure would at least be decent quality.

  But entering a secret realm was hit-or-miss. If you got garbage treasures, you'd just have to accept it.

  "If Fellow Daoist Xia plans to go, I suggest disguising yourself and using a false name. Don't travel directly from Fenghe City—make a few detours."

  "Alright... I understand."

  Xia Li got Third Uncle Liu's meaning. Going there would definitely cause some trouble. Even if he didn't provoke others, others would provoke him.

  Unless he wanted to just take beatings without fighting back.

  Better to prepare thoroughly. When pushed beyond endurance, he wouldn't hesitate to strike lethally.

  "I'll send you a human-skin mask shortly."

  "That thoughtful?"

  "Of course. Miss Ruyan has already informed us of the help Fellow Daoist Xia has provided. Though we Liu family aren't some great noble clan or righteous sect, we believe in repaying kindness. We won't hold back any assistance within our means."

  "Thank you."

  After ending the transmission, Xia Li thought his bet on the Liu family had really paid off. The Liu family was the weakest of Fenghe City's three major powers, so they were more eager to seize opportunities.

  Moreover, when facing opportunity, they carefully considered what attitude to take.

  Half an hour later.

  Third Uncle Liu arrived, bringing not only the human-skin mask but also some pills and talismans.

  This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  "Fellow Daoist Xia, I won't waste words. I wish you a smooth journey. Our Liu family also has disciples who've joined the Cloud Mountain Sect. He won't show himself openly, but he'll share information with you. Ask him if you have questions."

  Third Uncle Liu produced a transmission jade slip.

  "This is a special one-to-one transmission jade slip. You can only use this to contact him, and the same applies on his end."

  "Is that level of caution necessary?"

  "Yes. We can't rule out the possibility that you might need to kill Cloud Mountain Sect disciples. Without an insider, you'd be extremely passive."

  "Alright. I'll remember the Liu family's sincerity."

  Xia Li accepted the transmission jade slip. The Liu family had really arranged everything clearly for him, anticipating the worst-case scenario before he'd even departed.

  That night.

  After putting on the human-skin mask, Xia Li took a carriage to a neighboring city, then switched to a spirit vessel and visited several unrelated cities, renting spirit rooms to cultivate.

  The Spirit Core Xia Li currently used supported realms up to Foundation Establishment. He didn't need to establish his foundation yet, but having a higher realm before entering the secret realm was obviously safer.

  After that...

  Xia Li abandoned transport methods like spirit vessels and carriages that left travel records. He walked on foot through two more cities before finally boarding a direct spirit vessel to the Cloud Mountain Sect.

  How to describe it...

  Xia Li felt like he was headed to commit a crime from the very start. Being this careful, he'd feel bad if he didn't cause some trouble to justify his preparations.

  Five days later.

  Cloud Mountain City, beneath the Cloud Mountain Sect. The spirit vessel docked outside the city. Xia Li queued up and disembarked, not even bothering to enter the city before heading straight toward the Autumn Mountain Secret Realm.

  There were many cultivators along the way, mostly at Qi Refining stage. Some were rogue cultivators, others were disciples from various sects and families.

  It seemed the Autumn Mountain Secret Realm had quite a reputation in this area—the Cloud Mountain Sect's cash cow.

  Arriving at the secret realm's entrance, Xia Li looked up at the mirror-like rippling surface atop a white jade platform. Through the ripples, he could see scenery completely different from the outside.

  The secret realm was covered with red maples. No wonder it was called the Autumn Mountain Secret Realm—it truly displayed a deep autumn landscape.

  Just as Xia Li was observing the interior, the Heaven Chip was also analyzing the entrance.

  〖Large phase space detected〗

  〖Current stability rating: 9, highly stable〗

  〖For more detailed data, please enter and scan again〗

  The Heaven Chip was highly sensitive to spiritual energy reactions, easily detecting critical information.

  A stability rating of nine meant it was both safe and dangerous.

  Safe meant the space itself was stable—no unexpected events like spatial tears or spatial annihilation would occur.

  Dangerous referred to people. The higher the stability, the stronger the cultivators permitted to enter.

  As for what realm cultivators a stability-9 rating allowed... Xia Li wasn't sure, but Golden Core and Nascent Soul could definitely enter freely.

  A secret realm with no restrictions on entrant strength—he needed to be even more careful!

  Before long, Xia Li reached the registration desk. A Cloud Mountain Sect disciple yawned, looking at Xia Li with a lazy expression.

  "Identity, name, cultivation level?"

  "Zhao Yue, rogue cultivator, third-level Qi Refining."

  While giving a false name, Xia Li also concealed his cultivation. His true level was eighth-level Qi Refining.

  After using the Enhanced Surge Serum on Earth, he'd advanced one level. During his journey to the secret realm, he'd advanced another level. The Spirit Core he was using now prioritized conversion efficiency, making cultivation much faster than before.

  "Place your hand on the testing stone."

  The Cloud Mountain Sect disciple had Xia Li place his hand on a white crystal. Xia Li complied. Concealing his cultivation was simple for him.

  He didn't know how locals hid theirs, but he just needed a thought to have the Heaven Chip adjust the Spirit Core.

  Soon...

  Three wisps of white qi appeared within the testing stone.

  This confirmed Xia Li's cultivation was third-level Qi Refining.

  "Pay your spirit stones and enter. You have seven days. Overtime costs an extra thousand. Even one incense stick's time over counts."

  The Cloud Mountain Sect disciple didn't ask where a third-level Qi Refining cultivator got so many spirit stones. Anyone at Qi Refining who could reach the Autumn Mountain Secret Realm was hardly a true pauper.

  Otherwise, one thousand spirit stones spent on daily cultivation, with some economizing, could take someone from first-level Qi Refining straight to mid-to-late Foundation Establishment.

  Of course, the most ordinary Foundation Establishment wasn't even fit to carry shoes for the strong.

  Xia Li extended his hand and transferred one thousand spirit stones directly from his storage ring into the other's storage ring.

  The disciple quickly finished counting and nodded, indicating Xia Li could enter.

  He stepped forward, passing through the rippling water-like membrane.

  The next moment, Xia Li appeared in a deep mountain strewn with fallen maple leaves.

  〖Current spiritual energy concentration: one-tenth〗

  〖Analyzing phase space parameters... please wait〗

  The Heaven Chip first analyzed the spiritual energy concentration within the secret realm. This concentration made Xia Li feel refreshed with just one breath. The spiritual energy concentration alone was worth the price of admission.

  Even if he did nothing else, cultivating here for seven days would be worthwhile.