Chapter 2: Seeing Dingding Again (Part 2)

It had almost become a secret—every sect that participated in the trials of the Bloody Secret Realm remained silent, ending their attempts to enter without any explanation.
Guo Shier said, “That altar was taken away, and the entire Bloody Secret Realm was completely abandoned. But I guess there might still be some materials… Well, without that altar in that realm, there won’t be any more areas of black mist or gray mist.”
Zhou Xiaoling said, “What a pity.”
Xuan Ai said, “It was taken away by someone? That person must be really powerful. I think even the Chief Inspector wouldn’t dare compete with them.”
Zhou Xiaoling asked, “Shier, who are they? Which sect do they belong to?”
Guo Shier smiled bitterly inwardly. How could he know which sect Chou Mo and Li Ran belonged to? He shook his head and said, “I don’t know.”
Zhou Xiaoling pouted and said, “Never mind then.”
Eagle Demon said, “Shier really doesn’t know.” He was a steady person and, in Zhou Xiaoling and Xuan Ai’s eyes, a respected elder. When he said Guo Shier didn’t know, the two believed him.
Zhou Xiaoling said, “So mysterious! Hehe, experts… so powerful.”
Guo Shier said, “Dingding, you still haven’t told me… which sect you belong to.”
Zhou Xiaoling smiled and said, “Why are you in such a hurry to know which continent and sect I’m from? What do you want?”
Xuan Ai couldn’t help but burst into laughter, and Eagle Demon also shook his head smilingly. Guo Shier was greatly discouraged, but being quick-witted, he also smiled and said, “Dingding, if you want to say it, say it. If not, fine. I’m not forcing you, and you’re not obligated to tell me. Since you don’t want to say it, then I won’t ask either. Will you say it?”
Guo Shier narrowed his eyes and spoke nonstop without pause, leaving Zhou Xiaoling stunned. After a while, she dug at her ears and exclaimed, “What did you say… Say it! Say it! What was that…?”
Even Eagle Demon couldn’t hold back his laughter this time.
Zhou Xiaoling giggled and said, “I really lose to you. I’ve never seen anything like this! Alright, I’m an inner disciple of the Fire Sect on the Earthfire Continent.”
Guo Shier spat out his juice in shock. He exclaimed, “You… you’re a disciple of the Fire Sect? Hey, were you there during the Golden Beetle Plague last time too?”
Eagle Demon was also surprised, not expecting Zhou Xiaoling to be an inner disciple of the Fire Sect. But it wasn’t surprising—there were countless disciples in the Fire Sect, and it was hard to meet them in such a large crowd. He said, “We were at the Fire Sect some time ago and even participated in the battle against the Golden Beetle Plague.”

Zhou Xiaoling said, “The Golden Beetle Tide? You guys also participated? I was there too—why didn’t I see you?”
Guo Shier smiled and said, “Even if you saw us, you might not have recognized us… You’re an elite disciple of the inner sect—how could you possibly know wandering professionals? Hehe.” He teased her a little.
Zhou Xiaoling made a face, her playful expression leaving everyone stunned. This girl, who was sometimes rude and violent and referred to herself as “old lady” during fights, now showed a different side—so cute and playful. She giggled and said, “You’re trying to fool kids… Wandering professionals? Just trying to trick kids! I don’t believe it!”
Xuan Ai felt a bit of a headache. In the Bloody Secret Realm, Zhou Xiaoling had performed well and gotten along fairly well with Guo Shier. But now that they met again, the two kept arguing, from the entrance to the living room, and even after sitting down, they still didn’t stop.
Xuan Ai said, “Ding ding—Shier isn’t lying. He’s indeed a wandering professional, registered under our Hai Men sect.”
Zhou Xiaoling didn’t believe it at all. How could someone who could be with two top experts not belong to a powerful sect? She was convinced that Guo Shier was a direct disciple of some sect.
Guo Shier stopped explaining. It was hard to explain anyway—he couldn’t tell Zhou Xiaoling that he was a low-level professional from another continent, nor could he tell her that Li Ran actually had nothing to do with him.
Seeing that Guo Shier remained silent, Zhou Xiaoling felt embarrassed to keep asking. Continuing would be rude.
Zhou Xiaoling asked, “Shier, have you seen Sister Lan, and Big Beard, Wangwang, and the others since then?”
Guo Shier shook his head and said, “I don’t even know which continent or sect they belong to, so of course I haven’t seen them. If it weren’t for accidentally meeting Xuan Ai in the secret realm, we wouldn’t have stayed on the Core Foundation Continent.” Back then, they had parted in a hurry, with no communication tokens left behind, nor coordinates of their respective sects. He thought he would never see them again, but first he met Xuan Ai, and now he met Zhou Xiaoling.
Zhou Xiaoling smiled and said, “I have their communication tokens and addresses, but I can only find them if I get a chance to leave.”
Back in the Bloody Secret Realm, Guo Shier had formed a small team. Its members included the powerful elite disciple Zhou Xiaoling, Sun Min’er, Peng Yuanwang, and Yang Qi, who were forced by their families to enter the secret realm, Lan Hu from an ordinary sect, as well as Zhang Yaojin and Chen Zhendong, who hid in the secret realm and refused to leave. Although they eventually went their separate ways, they all formed unforgettable friendships.

Zhou Xiaoling gave Guo Shier a message talisman containing the coordinates of the continent and sect where these people were. She said, “If you get the chance in the future, you can go look for them. Hehe, you had quite a high reputation in our team, even though you were just a kid back then!”
Eagle Demon laughed and said, “Shier isn’t a kid anymore. Hehe, just like Dingding who’s already a grown woman, Shier has also become a very handsome young man!”
Guo Shier sat there silently for a while before saying, “We’ll be going to the Fire Sect soon. Dingding, when are you going back?”
Zhou Xiaoling gave him a half-smiling look and asked, “Planning to go together?”
Guo Shier replied, “If you also plan to return to the sect, I don’t mind going together.” He spoke frankly.
Zhou Xiaoling’s face turned slightly red as she said, “That’s good. There are several secret realms to pass through along the way; it’s safer with more people.” She didn’t have a cross-continents talisman, so she could only move from one adjacent secret realm or continent to another. Of course, she could use the sect’s large-scale talisman gates, but that would come at a high cost. She wouldn’t consider using them unless it was urgent.
Guo Shier was surprised and asked, “Several secret realms?” He hadn’t expected Zhou Xiaoling to not have a cross-continents talisman.
Zhou Xiaoling was also puzzled and said, “Of course. Otherwise, how would I get back? I wouldn’t dare use the Sea Sect’s transmission array. Even if I wanted to… I can’t afford it.”
Guo Shier laughed and said, “Well, you don’t need to go through so many secret realms. I’ll take you straight back to the Fire Sect.”
After a moment of shock, Zhou Xiaoling realized what he meant and couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise, “Do you have a cross-continents talisman? Wow… and you still say you’re not a direct disciple! I still don’t have one!” She looked jealous.
Guo Shier grinned and said, “You don’t need to be envious or jealous… hehe.”
Zhou Xiaoling denied it, “I’m not!” Then she added, “A little envious, a little jealous, but no hatred!”
Xuan Ai shook his head with a wry smile and said, “You’re really honest.”
Zhou Xiaoling retorted, “How am I honest! I’m not honest at all!” As soon as she said that, she realized her mistake and snapped, “Xuan Ai!”
Xuan Ai panicked, covering his head and repeating, “It was you who said it… it’s not my fault!” Back in the Bloody Secret Realm, he had already known that Zhou Xiaoling was extremely violent—she had beaten up people like Big Beard Wangwang until they were bruised and swollen. He certainly didn’t dare provoke her.
Guo Shier laughed heartily and said, “Alright, Dingding, it’s settled. We’ll go together.”

Xuan Ai said, “Sigh, such envy and jealousy! I really want to go out and make a name for myself!” He immediately used this phrase he had just learned.
Guo Shier said, “It’s because you’re too reluctant to leave. Don’t make excuses.”
Xuan Ai thought about it and realized it was true—he actually had no desire to go out and fight. Although his status in Haimen wasn’t high, he was doing quite well there, and he had no great ambitions; he was content as long as he stayed safe. He said, “Never mind. It’s not bad in Haimen. I’m too lazy to leave.”
Zhou Xiaoling couldn’t help but say, “What a loser!”
Guo Shier dismissed it, saying, “Everyone has their own aspirations. It’s fine for him to stay in the sect. At least he doesn’t have to struggle outside.”
Zhou Xiaoling said, “If professionals don’t go out to gain experience, even if they advance in the sect, their combat strength won’t improve… Never mind, I’m too lazy to talk more. Xuan Ai, I’m going to say goodbye to a few friends first. Shier, I’ll come over tomorrow. Take me back.”
Guo Shier nodded. “No problem. Come over tomorrow morning.”
Xuan Ai also took his leave. “I’m leaving too. I won’t see you off tomorrow. I need to return to the inner sect at night; I have a sea patrol task tomorrow.”
After seeing the two out, Guo Shier said, “Tomorrow we’ll go straight to the Fire Sect and meet the master and his wife first.” Ying Mo naturally had no objections.
Luo Zhan brought in several clan disciples carrying cooked meat soup and noodles. He asked, “Shier, has your friend left?”
Guo Shier nodded. “Yes. We’re going to the Fire Sect tomorrow.”
…
The next morning, Zhou Xiaoling arrived at Guo Shier’s courtyard on time.
After exchanging a few words, Guo Shier opened the magic gate and led Zhou Xiaoling, Ying Mo, and Luo Zhan inside.
When Zhou Xiaoling stepped out of the magic gate, she exclaimed, “Shier, when will you get me a cross-continents magic gate too? It’s amazing! You can cross continents directly! It’s even more useful than the sect’s large magic gate arrays… Never mind, I didn’t say anything!” She quickly realized that the fact that Guo Shier was willing to use such a precious item already showed trust in her. Although they were quite familiar, it wasn’t yet time for her to ask for things.
Guo Shier said nothing, just smiling slightly.
This was the outskirts of the Fire Sect—the first line of defense the Fire Sect used against the Golden Armored Beetle swarm. To this day, the Fire Sect still hadn’t repaired that defense array.
Zhou Xiaoling was very familiar with the Fire Sect and immediately recognized this as its border area. She said happily, “Great! We’re going home!”
A small group of professionals flew over from not far away. Seeing the magic gate glowing, they stepped forward to ask questions.
“Who are you? Stay still!”

Guo Shier smiled as he watched; with Zhou Xiaoling, an inner disciple, around, anything could be handled by her.
“Wow, a beauty!”
Guo Shier didn’t know much else, only that this patrol member was in for trouble.