Chapter 81: The Peculiar Rules of the Secret Realm

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Of course, Shanglu would never ask the shaman about this matter, but he did seek advice:
“If there’s a significant disparity in strength, or if the opponent also has a tempered body, what then?”
“Then you’d best run as far as you can, sound the alarm, and call for reinforcements.”
Shanglu thought to himself, as expected—trying to kill an enemy beyond your level is suicide unless you’re cheating.
He raised several questions related to malignant spirits, and the shaman answered each one patiently, without the slightest hint of impatience.
After finishing his questions, Shanglu shifted the topic to the Tall Snake.
“Not long ago, we heard villagers mention a strange snake that likes to compete with people for height. If it’s taller than a person, it devours them; if it loses, it becomes so enraged that it kills itself... Shaman, do you know what’s going on here?”
The shaman glanced at him and revealed, “The type of strange snake you’re talking about—is it from Yunhua Mountain?”
Shanglu was taken aback; from her words, it seemed she was aware of the mountain’s secrets.
“No need for surprise, the official shaman told me.”
She explained, “When the shaman officials arrived in Luoshui County, they listened to your report and came straight to me, inquiring about Yunhua Mountain and Fallen Eagle Pool.”
Shanglu nodded in understanding, thinking this made sense.
The shaman continued, “Actually, I had reported the anomalies in both places long ago, but for some reason, the two officials sent to Luoshui County were completely unaware.”
She shook her head and dropped the subject.
After checking their surroundings to ensure no one was nearby, the shaman lowered her voice:
“If a new secret realm has truly appeared in Yunhua Mountain, then the strange behavior of the snake can be explained.
Secret realms often have their own set of rules; following these rules is far more useful than brute force!”
Secret realms have their own rules?
Recalling his last experience entering the strange fog, Shanglu nodded inwardly, feeling this was indeed the case.
The Tall Snake wants to compete for height; if it loses, it becomes so enraged that it dies.
Jiao Er, who became a monster, was endlessly shouting about his hunger. If he discovered that no matter how much he ate, he could not satisfy his hunger, he too would die from rage.
Thus, if there truly is a secret realm in Yunhua Mountain, its rules likely revolve around desire.
The monsters inside, driven by their cravings, “live” like walking corpses.
As long as their desire persists, they can repeatedly die and revive.
But once they realize their desires cannot be fulfilled, they will kill themselves in a fit of rage.
What about outsiders who enter the secret realm? Would they also be subject to these rules?
“Of course.”
The shaman told Shanglu, “As soon as you enter the secret realm, the rules take effect. Whether you’re an outsider or a monster within, you must abide by them.”
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At this point, the shaman’s expression grew solemn, and she earnestly cautioned:
“Unless your strength is so great that you can ignore the rules of the secret realm, do not rush in recklessly.
Especially when you don’t know what the rules are—entering blindly is extremely dangerous.
Because you never know which action of yours might trigger the rules and bring disaster upon yourself!”
Shanglu clasped his hands in respect, thanking the shaman for her guidance, though he felt a lingering fear in his heart.
Fortunately, during his previous entry, both his desire to hunt and to escape the fog had been satisfied.
Otherwise, he might have died from rage in the fog like Jiao Er and the Tall Snake, turning into a monster himself.
Yet Shanglu was also puzzled.
Was the stifling heat affecting all of Luoshui County, along with the hidden malice in the bizarre weather, connected to the rules of the secret realm?
He probed gently, mentioning how the oppressive heat had affected his temper, and asked if this might be related to the rules in Yunhua Mountain’s secret realm.
The shaman shook her head, saying there was no connection.
“The rules only apply within the secret realm; they do not affect the outside world.”
This answer gave Shanglu a new question: Where did the madness-inducing malice originate?
He followed the thread, asking a few more questions about the secret realm.
The shaman shared everything she knew and could say, providing Shanglu with a wealth of knowledge.
At last, Shanglu gave her a formal bow, thanking her for her teachings.
Once Shanglu had departed, the young girl who had stayed beside the shaman asked in confusion:
“Grandmother, why did you tell him so much?”
“He is a gifted and fortunate talent, and with the shaman academy about to recruit new students, it’s my duty as a shaman to watch for and cultivate promising seeds…”
At this, the shaman fell silent.
After a moment, she sighed softly:
“But entering the academy and embarking on cultivation is neither wholly good nor bad.
In my youth, I too was a prodigy, dominating my peers!
But what came of it? Decades without breakthrough, and I ended up here as a shaman…
Child, remember: the path of cultivation is far less glamorous than outsiders believe!
To advance, you must fight with all your might, or else become a stepping stone for others.”
The little girl nodded in confusion, unclear if she truly understood.
Meanwhile, after bidding farewell to the shaman, Shanglu headed straight home.
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He took out paper and brush, carefully recording all the experiences and lessons the shaman had shared.
As the old saying goes, a dull pen is better than a good memory, and Shanglu believed it.
As for whether his notes might be leaked, Shanglu had no worries.
After finishing, he burned the pages in front of San Niang.
Sure enough, as soon as he finished burning them, several sheets appeared in San Niang’s hand—exactly what he had written.
Thus, aside from himself and San Niang, no one else would ever know what was on those pages.
With this done, Shanglu took out the equipment he had just purchased, familiarizing himself with it.
He even devised several surprise attack strategies using the new gear, asking San Niang to help him practice and spar in real combat drills.
After a bout of busy activity, most of the day had passed.
Once he had eaten his fill, Shanglu headed to the county office to relieve Chief Niu and take his shift.
He spent some time with the constable squad, and seeing nothing urgent, took a stroll through the armory.
Thus a day went by, and Luoshui County seemed to have returned to peace.
The magistrate and the chief clerk both heaved a sigh of relief and began plotting how to write their report to best claim credit.
That day, after changing shifts with Chief Niu, Shanglu left the office, planning to visit the strange fog of Yunhua Mountain again.
The monsters who had entered the fog should have fought each other to near extinction; it was the perfect chance to reap the rewards, gather blood and flesh for San Niang to craft meat pills.
This time, however, he resolved to set his goals lower—to avoid triggering the secret realm’s rules by failing to satisfy his desires, and dying from rage himself.
Returning home, he packed all his gear and a large bag of realgar powder, then set out with San Niang toward Yunhua Mountain.
But before he could leave the city gates, a runner on the street stopped him.
“Constable Shang, hurry back to the office. The magistrate and chief clerk have ordered everyone to return immediately!”
“Why? What’s happened?” Shanglu asked.
“I don’t know.”
The messenger shook his head.
“All I know is, it must be serious—both the magistrate and chief clerk are very anxious.”
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