Wait a minute, where is my master?

"Little Yu,"

Jin Xu softly called out behind him.

Under his guidance, Yu Yaoer immediately gathered a ball of water and firmly pressed it over Little White's nose and mouth.

The little Taoist saw this and nodded in approval.

He released his grip on the husky's nose and strode towards the root of the gigantic tree.

After a few steps, Jin Xu approached the wooden door.

He raised his hand and pushed lightly, the partly closed giant wooden door easily swung open, releasing a thick mist of water vapor.

The vapor had a fresh scent, and upon his first whiff, the little Taoist couldn't help but take a deep breath.

However, remembering that his demon pet had mentioned a familiar sweet scent here, he immediately stopped his inhaling.

The cautionary tale of Little White had just passed not too long ago.

Even though Jin Xu was sure he was human and not a canine demon beast, it was still better to be cautious.

"Young master, the Wood Spirit Energy and Water Spiritual Energy here are so rich,"

Yu Yaoer, who had followed the little Taoist to the door, exclaimed with a somewhat excited expression.

As a fish by nature, she was extremely sensitive to changes in Water Spiritual Energy and felt more at ease in such environments.

Little White, who had come along with them, seemed to want to say something as well.

However, as soon as she opened her mouth, the only thing the other two could hear was a prolonged series of "gurgle, gurgle..." sounds as the water ball at her mouth and nose visibly shrunk.

"Shh, Little White, if you have something to say, use telepathy, don't open your mouth, or it will waste water,"

the Little Fish Demon said, and extended her hand to form another, larger ball of water, topping up the shrinking one.

Seeing that Yu Yaoer could still take care of the Husky for the time being, Jin Xu did not pay much attention to the two women.

He stepped through the wooden door first.

After spending much time together, he had very low expectations for his demon pets; as long as they were alive and didn't get lost, that was enough.

As for everything else, just letting nature take its course was best.

...

Inside the ancient tree of a thousand arms.

Once inside, the little Taoist first heard the overwhelming sound of rushing water, then his eyes fell on a deep pool that was splashing waves, with bizarre rocks on its banks.

He looked around, his pupils subtly constricting.

Jin Xu had thought that behind the door there would be a decorated cave, but the scene in front of him was unexpectedly and ingeniously crafted.

This thousand-arm-high ancient tree was hollow inside.

A waterfall, originating from an unknown source up high, plunged down like a galaxy tumbling or a fairy waving her sleeves, eventually crashing into the deep pool below, stirring up countless white splashes.

The majestic water sound that the little Taoist had heard earlier originated from here.

On the outside of this waterfall, whose source was unknown, was a circuit of mossy, sprout-covered bluish-green wooden steps.

These steps, connected by rusty, mottled iron chains, spiraled up from the ground in an illogical manner, continuously ascending, also leading to an unknown destination.

Jin Xu, breathing in the air heavy with water vapor, stepped on moss-covered stone slabs and strolled to the edge of the deep pool.

The Nine Death Soul Flower that had previously identified itself as an inspector blocking their way, was now sitting on a strange stone in the middle of the pool, lost in thought.

The little raccoon with mushrooms growing on its head was nowhere to be found.

The Nine Death Soul Flower seemed to be pondering something so deeply that even as the little Taoist approached the edge of the pool, she hadn't noticed.

Not until Jin Xu had called her multiple times.

She then snapped back to reality as if waking from a dream.

"Ah, you've arrived."

Nine Death Soul Flower was filled with many questions at this moment.

Logically speaking, after resolving the Taoist's issue, she could have returned to the fourth layer of Qingmu Blessed Land.

The Qingmu Secret Realm had been operating for many years, and its rules were well-established. Under normal circumstances, there was no need for her, the overseer, to show herself on the first layer.

However, due to her odd benevolent heart and the questions in her mind, Nine Death Soul Flower chose to stay here.

Previously, Nine Death Soul Flower had been worried about the Taoist encountering danger without the protection of the 'immortality' rule.

But after witnessing Jin Xu's inhuman strength, she began to worry about the other cultivators entering the secret realm.

After all, starting from the second layer of the Qingmu Secret Realm, the 'immortality' rule automatically dissipated, and death became real.

Therefore, Nine Death Soul Flower did not return to the fourth layer with the Red Dust Mushroom but chose to stay here once again.

She wanted to see if this Taoist was truly in the Divinity Transformation realm and whether he could successfully pass through the "Heavy Waterfall" and complete the "Stairway to Heaven."

The inside of the Qingmu Secret Realm forbids cultivators above the Divinity Transformation realm from entering. This screening not only involved the external green light screen but also took effect every time a cultivator crosses into a different layer.

This was to prevent cultivators at the top of the Void Refinement Realm from intentionally suppressing their strength to enter this place and break through opportunistically, thus disturbing the balance of the secret realm.

The strength Jin Xu showcased earlier was so terrifying that Nine Death Soul Flower felt he must have exceeded the Divinity Transformation realm.

So, she stayed here, wanting to get to the bottom of it.

"Ah, I've arrived. What brings you here, overseer?"

The Taoist nodded politely. He was unaware of the real reason Nine Death Soul Flower chose to stay.

The two exchanged polite greetings for a while.

Yu Yaoer and Little White, who had a water ball on his face, also walked in.

The two girls curiously examined the hollow inside of the ancient tree. Little Yu, standing on the edge of the tank, seemed eager to jump in and swim around.

"Oh, I'm here waiting for you. I... uh, your demon pet, is it alright?"

Nine Death Soul Flower was about to truthfully answer why she stayed here when she saw Little White on the edge of the tank waving her arms excitedly, with a string of bubbles emerging from the water ball on her face.

"...Little Yu!"

"Eh, master."

The Taoist called out as Yu Yaoer refilled the water in the husky's water ball.

He also reiterated to Little White the concept of using telepathy to communicate if there was an issue, as not doing so would waste a lot of water.

Jin Xu, standing by the tank, helplessly held his forehead and gently poked a small hole in the ground with the tip of his foot before continuing to speak to the Nine Death Soul Flower.

"It's fine, don't worry about the two of them. Just continue."

"Oh,"

Nine Death Soul Flower nodded faintly.

She then told the Taoist the reason she had stayed.

Upon hearing this, Jin Xu, realizing that the overseer suspected his realm, continued to poke at the stone slabs with the tip of his foot.

To be honest,

he himself wasn't sure about his own realm.

If measured by combat power, he could easily beat someone in the Tribulation Crossing Realm of the Cultivation World.

But during the time he had "opened his heart" with Yu Yaoer, he felt that his spiritual power was about the same as hers.

"Cough, as for the realm, I don't quite understand it myself. But you mentioned the rules of the Qingmu Secret Realm and its screening capabilities, so perhaps I should be considered below the Divinity Transformation realm?"

The Taoist coughed lightly, stepped away from the tank, and walked towards the steps covered with moss and sprouts.

He left a new small hole in the ground.

Before he entered, the Old Dean of Qingmu Academy had advised him that the easiest way to move from the first to the second layer was through this "Stairway to Heaven."

As for the "Heavy Waterfall," it was best not to try it lightly.