Chapter 8: The Netherfire Secret Realm (Part 1)

Kumu stormed into the tent angrily, only to be immediately drawn to the aroma of food. Just like Zhu Juan, he sniffed the air and headed straight to the copper pot. Coincidentally, Guo Shier had just served the first bowl of noodles, poured seasoning over them, and added piles of marinated meat—the scent was overwhelming. Without a word, Kumu reached out and snatched the bowl.

Monier shouted in frustration, “Is there such a thing as a master like you? Stupid woodhead… rotten woodhead… Ah, baby, ignore him. Let’s keep cooking.”

Noodles had to be added batch by batch, so only one bowl could be prepared at a time. Guo Shier didn’t care who ate first and continued adding noodles.

Poor Kumu was in trouble. He took a sip of the soup but didn’t know how to eat the noodles in the bowl. When he tried to pick them up with a knife, they slipped around in the bowl, making it impossible to eat. Frustrated, he fired two virtual talismans to force one noodle out of the pile. Tilting his head, he finally found the right way—biting one end of the noodle and sucking hard.

Squeak!
A noodle flew through the air like a dragon before disappearing into Kumu’s mouth. It was a truly strange sensation.

Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn. Guo Shier saw this and almost fell into the copper pot laughing. It was the first time he’d seen anyone eat noodles in such a way—using virtual talismans to control them. This master was truly extraordinary.

Zhu Juan praised, “That way of eating… is so cool…”

Guo Shier couldn’t hold back anymore. He threw a pair of chopsticks over and said, “Use these to eat.”

Kumu took a breath and said, “I wondered why it felt so awkward. So it’s done by using talismans to eat.” He picked up the chopsticks, skillfully twisted the noodles, and started eating heartily, finishing them in no time. He held the bowl out to Guo Shier and said, “More…”

Monier snapped, “Wait your turn! We haven’t even eaten yet. How dare you ask for two bowls!”

Zhu Juan also rolled her eyes. Guo Shier suppressed his laughter. He thought these people were like little kids and said, “Alright, everyone will get some. Don’t worry, it’ll be ready soon.”

It was a simple meal of noodles, but everyone was satisfied.

After eating his fill, Guo Shier said, “I haven’t had noodles in a while… It’s not bad.”

Eagle Demon said, “It’s tasty, but it doesn’t fill you up…”

Guo Shier replied, “Well, next time I’ll give you grilled meat or plain boiled meat… You’re just an animal who loves meat.”

Having stayed at the Western Talisman Gate for so long, Eagle Demon never considered “animal” to be an insult. He said proudly, “Heh, I’m used to it. On the grasslands, there’s nothing else to eat but meat.”

With difficulty, Ku Mu said, “It’s delicious… pretty much likefood food food.”
Monier was delighted; she liked cookingfood food food too. Smiling, she asked, “Baby, are you usingplanting and storingfood food?”
Guo Shier smiled and replied, “It’s a pity I don’t have many. I can only plant things like scallions, ginger, and garlic, along with a few tea plants… I can’t find goodplanting and storingfood food.”
Monier said, “planting and storingfood food are always rare. If we could get aspiritfood foods-levelplanting and storingfood food, that would be different. Be careful to collect them.”
Guo Shier said, “Master, we’re flying tomorrow. Please take me with you. Flying by myself is too difficult.”
Ku Mu asked, “What? Want to be lazy?”
Guo Shier replied helplessly, “Master, it’s not laziness… I’m really afraid of the cold.”
Ku Mu saw the kid’s helplessness and said, “Alright, I’ll take you flying tomorrow. That way, you won’t fly so slowly.” After all, he still couldn’t bear to part with this disciple. Unlike Monier, his care for Guo Shier remained hidden deep inside him, with his exterior staying cold as ever.
The Eagle Demon looked troubled. Although he wasn’t afraid of the cold, he flew very slowly.
Zhu Juan said, “Well, then I’ll fly with the little eagle tomorrow.”
It sounded awkward—like an eagle leading a little eagle? The Eagle Demon could only sigh bitterly. He was considered one of the top figures in the Northfood food Gate, yet no one had ever called him “little eagle.” Now, these three saints called him that so casually, reducing him from an adult to a child. He sighed inwardly. If only he were a greatfood foodmartial artist
food foodmartial artist; if he were a saint, they probably wouldn’t call him that.
Guo Shier asked, “Have we decided on the place we’re going?”
Ku Mu nodded. “Just follow me. I’ve studied that book. There’s a simple map in it. It’s just a partial view, but it should help us find what we need.”
Guo Shier said, “We wasted time hiring a guide. Master drove him away at the entrance. So you were prepared all along.”
Ku Mu replied, “I hired the guide just to take us to the entrance, not to lead us through the secret realm.”
Guo Shier raised his hand. “Master, you must be right…”
Monier giggled and said, “Of course!”
Ku Mu said, “This tent is big enough. I won’t set up another one. I’ll stay with Shier.” Monier said, “As you wish. I’ll stay with baby anyway.”

Zhu Juan and the Eagle Demon exchanged glances. After a long while, Zhu Juan said, “Little Eagle, let’s set up a tent.” The two lifted the tent and stepped outside. Guo Shier was stunned for a moment before shouting, “Wait for me… I’m coming too!” Before he could finish speaking, Monier pulled him into her arms and said, “It’s cold outside; stay here!”
Guo Shier muttered with a bitter smile, “You two… putting me in between… it’s so painful…” Unable to escape, he went to a corner of the tent, took out a few thick animal skins, threw them on the ground, and then pulled out a special animal-skin sleeping bag, slipping inside. As for what his master and masteress were doing, he ignored it.
Monier also paid no attention to Kuumu. She sat down next to Guo Shier’s sleeping bag, saying nothing. Kuumu did the same. The two sat in silence throughout the night.
Guo Shier woke up in the early morning. Last night, he had stayed inside the sleeping bag, silently reciting scriptures all night. When he poked his head out, he found that his master and masteress were still sitting there, motionless.
Guo Shier wondered, “Master and masteress… did you not sleep?”
Monier gently tapped him on the head and said, “Baby, don’t talk nonsense!” A faint blush appeared on her face.
Kuumu replied indifferently, “I don’t need to sleep; just sitting is enough.” With that, he stood up and walked outside.
The wind and snow outside had weakened significantly, with only a few snowflakes drifting down occasionally. Guo Shier put on his thick fur coat and stepped out of the tent, squinting around. There were many dense forests and small mountains in the area, all covered in snow. From time to time, he could hear the sound of branches breaking and snow sliding off tree tops.
After some exercise and having breakfast, they packed up the tent and set off again.
This time, Kuumu used a purple chain to wrap around Guo Shier and lifted him into the air. With the protection of the magic talismans, Guo Shier hardly felt the cold wind. Zhu Juan led the Eagle Demon, while Monier was by Guo Shier’s side. The five of them traveled at least twice as fast as the day before, flying toward the distance.
Guo Shier looked down and saw that there were few disciples of the Northern Talisman Sect left. Occasionally, he could spot a group of people struggling to move behind them as they flew.
Monier asked, “Kumu, how much further?”
Kuumu replied, “We need to fly for at least two more days.”
Zhu Juan, along with the Eagle Demon, caught up to them. He said, “This is a plateau area. If we fly a little further, we should be able to leave this snowy region.”

The entire day was spent flying over the snowy region, and by evening they still hadn’t left it. The next morning, the group flew over a mountain ridge, and the terrain suddenly dropped downward; in the distance, the white clouds were right beneath their feet. Guo Shier exclaimed, “Is this a large basin?” Only then did he realize that the entrance to the Yanhu Secret Realm was on a high ground, and it was only by descending from there that one could reach the true Yanhu Secret Realm.

The five of them descended through the clouds, with the temperature rising steadily. Guo Shier said, “Master, let’s land first. I need to change into other clothes; it’s too hot!” They landed in a dense forest, where each of them put on thin clothes. Guo Shier wore the attire of an inner disciple of the Chenxiao Sect, which was comfortable to wear. He reverted to the appearance of a cute child, no longer a lump wrapped in a thick fur coat.

Kumu simply took off the fur coat worn over his purple robe. He flew above the treetops, looking into the distance for a while before landing and saying, “This place should be quite dangerous. Everyone be careful; there might be advanced mutated rune beasts.” By advanced mutated rune beasts, he meant those of level seven or higher, the same rank as the mutated Earth Dragon Guo Shier had seen before.

Guo Shier asked, “Weren’t there any advanced mutated rune beasts on the snowy plateau we entered just now?”

Monier replied, “Basically, none. Of course, exceptions are possible, because in that snowy area… there’s too little food, so advanced mutated rune beasts generally don’t want to live there.”

Guo Shier said, “I see.”

Zhu Juan said, “According to the books, this is the dangerous area, a place forbidden to disciples of the Beifu Sect. Hehe, the books also state that only master-level practitioners can enter… I guess even master-level practitioners wouldn’t dare go too far… It’s amazing how they discovered natural rune fire; they even named it Yanhu.”

Kumu said, “It’s a fitting name.”

The group set off again. This time, Kumu didn’t fly with Guo Shier because Guo Shier wanted to fly on his own. The climate was neither cold nor hot, like spring or autumn—the most comfortable weather. Of course, he wanted to fly by himself; it felt great.

In the air, a warm breeze gently caressed the forest and land, with flocks of birds flying among the treetops. When the five of them flew by, the birds scattered in panic.

Guo Shier flew effortlessly. Compared to the day before yesterday, it felt like flying in heaven. He asked, “Master, what is natural rune fire?”

Kumu said, “It’s a great thing!”

Guo Shier said with a wry smile, “I know it’s great. I’m asking what it’s used for.”

Withered Wood said, “It’s very useful!”
Guo Shier had no choice but to say, “Master’s wife, look at our master—he can’t even speak clearly!”
Monier said, “Baby, ignore him. He’s doing it on purpose…” She added, “Natural talisman fire is very rare. Well, it’s not very useful for you. Only at the level of a Holy Master can one make use of it. Even for me, it’s difficult to obtain. Only your master and uncles have the ability to collect large amounts.”
Guo Shier asked, “Can’t I collect it?”
Monier shook her head. “You can’t collect it. But, hehe, with your master around, why worry? Just let him do it. The talisman fire I need… your master will collect it too!”
Withered Wood snorted through his nose but didn’t say anything in opposition.