Bai He led the way again, not daring to play any tricks, but since she was not walking fast, the journey was somewhat delayed.
On the way, they encountered two or three groups of loose cultivators gathered together. Seeing Bai He with Ye Fan, they all fled in panic. These people didn’t recognize Ye Fan, indicating that they feared Bai He.
A young demoness with a Soul Refining Banner and a cultivation at the late stage of Foundation Establishment was considered a formidable character in the western region of the Great Sorrow Domain; others would simply flee at the sight of her.
However, Bai He felt very sorrowful; although many feared her, she also had many enemies, making it difficult for her to establish herself in the western region of the Great Sorrow Domain in the future.
After walking for about thirty hours, with the two stopping for rest for just less than an hour, they finally arrived at the Immortal Fate Stele that Ye Fan was looking for. About three days had passed since the three of them had passed through the entrance into the Pan Gu Mystical Realm.
From a distance, one could see a large square stele standing between heaven and earth. According to legend, the Immortal Fate Stele also serves as a pillar supporting the sky; the entire Pan Gu Mystical Realm is covered with spiritual energy entirely because of the Immortal Fate Steles. However, the aura emitted by the Immortal Fate Stele takes years to transform into spiritual energy, and its aura clashes with that of a cultivator’s body, so most cultivators try to avoid getting close to it.
To cultivators, the Immortal Fate Stele is more harmful than beneficial; in their eyes, it is merely a trial stone for testing spirit roots and cultivation.
"Junior Brother, you made it." Zhuo Junwu was not present; waiting for him was Shen Biancheng.
Ye Fan asked, "Where is Master?"
Shen Biancheng looked at Bai He behind Ye Fan, who was bowing her head, and said, "Master waited for you for a day but didn’t find you. It was the senior and second brothers at the mountain gate who sent a message through the Flash Talisman, saying there was an urgent matter back at the sect, so Master returned to the Li Fire Sect first, leaving me here to meet you."
Ye Fan had never met the second senior brother but had heard Zhuo Junwu mention him several times. Although the Li Fire Sect had dwindled in talent over the years, it was still considered a reputable sect, making it rare for any force to dare to offend them.
Ye Fan said, "It’s my first time in the Mystical Realm, and I’m not familiar with the place, which caused delays along the way. Let’s head to the mountain gate to meet with Master."
Ye Fan was about to leave when Bai He behind him suddenly knelt down and pleaded, "Master, please take this servant with you."
"Who is this?" Shen Biancheng had long noticed the young female loose cultivator Ye Fan brought back. Her cultivation level wasn’t high, but it was enough to make him wary.
"She’s a loose cultivator I met on the way..."
Ye Fan explained the circumstances on the road and took out the Soul Refining Banner. Upon hearing that it could convert a cultivator’s spiritual qi for others’ use, Shen Biancheng was surprised and said, "This is indeed a treasure, but Master never mentioned it to me. Fortunately, Junior Brother didn’t absorb her spiritual qi, as such loose cultivators might achieve the Golden Core Stage through hunting others’ spiritual qi, but as they continue, the incompatibility of different true qi can easily lead to the collapse of the Golden Core, and even a Daluo True Immortal cannot save them then."
Ye Fan smiled and said, "Such cultivation methods are too insidious, harming many; how could I practice them? However, such harmful objects cannot remain with her..."
Bai He wept as she said, "In the past, I relied on the Soul Refining Banner, and others dared not approach me. But now, I’ve lost most of my cultivation, and if my enemies find out, they will make my life unbearable. I beg Master to take me out of the western region of the Great Sorrow Domain."
Ye Fan replied coldly, "You know where we’re going, and you want to come with us?"
Bai He said, "Wherever Master goes, this servant will go."
Ye Fan was about to refuse, but Shen Biancheng said, "Junior Brother, the survival mode of a loose cultivator is not something we can casually break. How about this: to the north of our mountain gate, there is a fertile land where no cultivators reside. We could send her there to live as an ordinary person for the rest of her life."
Ye Fan nodded: "Alright then. You can stay with us for the time being, but any misconduct along the way, and you might be killed at any time!"
"Thank you, Master, thank you, Master." Bai He knocked her head repeatedly on the ground, endlessly earnest.
Within the vast Pan Gu Mystical Realm, even just the Great Sorrow Domain is larger than Earth’s landmass. Traveling by foot is inadequate, so Shen Biancheng summoned a flying sword, allowing Ye Fan and Bai He to ride it and quickly head toward the Li Fire Sect’s mountain gate at Heavenly Peak Mountain.
It was Ye Fan’s first time overlooking the terrain of the Pan Gu Mystical Realm from a high place.
The Great Sorrow Domain, due to its proximity to the Boundary of Chaos, primarily consists of volcanoes and scorched earth, an environment where non-cultivator mortals struggle to survive, as they rely on grains, which cannot grow in such conditions.
However, after leaving the western region of the Great Sorrow Domain, the sky gradually became somewhat brighter, yet there were still no plants. Only some mosses grew in the area, and further on, one could see grasslands and forests, reminiscent of Earth’s primitive state.
"Junior Brother, since you’re new to the Pan Gu Mystical Realm, there are some things you need to know. Although there are many cultivators here, mortals are still the majority. The Pan Gu Mystical Realm is so vast that not every area is suitable for mortal habitation. Many places have evolved villages, cities, and countries over centuries, yet still don’t match Earth’s prosperity."
Shen Biancheng explained, "You could understand it as backward regions in the Pan Gu Mystical Realm being somewhat similar to ancient societies on Earth. These countries’ civilizations are still backward, but they are protected by certain major sects. Cultivators are not allowed to harm ordinary citizens."
Having followed Zhuo Junwu into the Pan Gu Mystical Realm once, Shen Biancheng knew more than Ye Fan.
Ye Fan could understand—it was like the feudal society of Chinese civilization.
Where there are countries, there will be wars, but they generally have little to do with cultivators. Regular cultivators do not get involved in human conflicts.
"However, many materials used for cultivation can only be found in human society." Shen Biancheng added, "The major sects provide a protective environment in exchange for humans offering cultivation materials."
Ye Fan nodded; these matters did not concern him much. He came to the Pan Gu Mystical Realm to find Li Zhaojun and did not intend to stay long, and as a cultivator, the survival modes, cultural customs of ordinary mortals seemed unrelated to him.
It’s much like the cultivators in the Pan Gu Mystical Realm; they strive for cultivation and generally do not interact with mortals. Although cultivators and mortals live in the same world, their lifestyles are entirely different.
Shen Biancheng said, "Sect disciples are often selected from among the mortals in the Mystical Realm. Although people with cultivation aptitude are scarce, they can ultimately be found. Perhaps due to specific conditions of our Li Fire Sect, Master had to search Earth to find you as a disciple."
"Hmm." Ye Fan nodded. These things had been mentioned to him by Zhuo Junwu before.
After flying for about twenty-four hours, Shen Biancheng pointed to a range of mountains in the distance and said, "That is our Li Fire Sect’s residence, Heavenly Peak Mountain."