Watching the undeniable yet unintended display of tacit understanding between these two cousins, who clearly didn't get along, Mo Yan remained silent.

Although both had low cultivation levels, especially Zhang Yiyi, who had not even built her foundation yet, the sect's approval of their participation in the secret realm must have been well-considered.

One possessed a rare ice spirit root and had even bonded with a piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Essence, making her more suited to the environment of the secret realm than most.

The other, like him, had a True Saint of the Great Ascension Stage as a master, so it was clear she had more than enough life-saving tricks up her sleeve. He didn't need to worry about her.

Afterward, the group stopped making small talk, each person doing their own thing, which avoided any awkwardness.

The flying boat traveled for five days, and when they arrived at their destination, most of the other sects had already gathered.

The Third Elder instructed Mo Yan and the others to set up camp on Yunxian Sect's territory, while he hurried off to meet with the leaders of the other sects for a discussion.

"Is this Luoxian River?"

Zhang Tongtong looked at the vast, empty plain before her, finding it hard to believe that the secret realm would appear here.

"When the secret realm manifests, clouds descend from the sky like a river, which is how the place got its name,"

Mo Yan explained to Zhang Tongtong. Since everyone would see it when the secret realm opened, it wasn't a secret worth keeping.

Taking the opportunity, Zhang Tongtong asked him a few more questions.

Although the Third Elder had explained the general situation, many details weren't known to everyone.

As the disciple of a True Saint, Mo Yan naturally had access to more information than her own master. Moreover, forging a closer relationship with him could only be beneficial.

When Zhang Yiyi emerged from her newly set-up tent, she noticed that Mo Yan and Zhang Tongtong were engrossed in conversation and appeared much closer than they had been two days prior.

Not wanting to interrupt, she wandered around the camp, casually observing her surroundings.

As long as she stayed within the camp, there was no need to worry about safety. After all, any real competition would begin once they entered the secret realm. No one was foolish enough to start a fight outside and disrupt the superficial harmony between sects.

"Hey, are you a disciple of the Yunxian Sect?"

Suddenly, someone spoke from behind her, and soon, a stunningly beautiful woman appeared before Zhang Yiyi.

Before she could answer, the woman seemed to get a clear look at her face and suddenly laughed,

"You're so pretty and cute. How could they bear to send a Qi Refining disciple like you here to die?"

Though the words were harsh, Zhang Yiyi didn't sense any real malice.

"Zhang Yiyi of Yunxian Sect. May I know this Senior Sister's name?"

Judging by her attire, this woman seemed to be from the Lishan Sect.

Yunxian Sect and Lishan Sect had always had a relatively harmonious relationship. Whether real or fake, they were seen as allies compared to the other sects.

"What a good-natured little girl. But being too nice is an easy way to get bullied!"

The woman smiled even more broadly, raising her hand to pinch Zhang Yiyi's smooth cheek. She seemed to enjoy the feel of it.

"Just call me Senior Sister. I'm Lishan Sect's Senior Sister, Yuan Ying. Ever heard of me?"

"Ah... Senior Sister?"

Zhang Yiyi's expression stiffened. After a moment's confusion, she quickly realized who was standing before her.

To think this woman was none other than the famous Senior Sister Yuan Ying of Lishan Sect—the main villainess of the original novel, who lived the longest and died the most miserably.

Back when she had read the novel, it was merely to pass the time, and many details and plot points had faded from memory over the years between her two lives. But this character had left a deep impression.

In the book, Senior Sister Yuan Ying repeatedly schemed against the heroine, Zhang Tongtong, over the male lead. In the end, driven by love turned to hatred, she tried to kill both the male and female leads, only to meet a tragic and humiliating death herself.

Yuan Ying had been the top disciple of the Lishan Sect since before she was even born, earning the title of Senior Sister.

Eventually, not only Lishan Sect's disciples but even those from other sects began referring to her as Senior Sister, making it her exclusive title.

Zhang Yiyi's strongest impression of Yuan Ying was her intense and passionate nature, both in love and hate. Unfortunately, despite all her efforts, she was not strong enough and ultimately brought about her own demise after so much scheming.

"What's the matter, little girl? Haven't you heard of me?"

Seeing Zhang Yiyi's dumbfounded look, Yuan Ying assumed she didn't know her and didn't get angry.

"Anyway, just call me Senior Sister from now on. Seeing as you're so inexperienced, weak in cultivation, and a bit slow, Senior Sister will look out for you. Don't even think about immortality weapons, though. Just focus on staying alive for now."

"Oh, then I thank Senior Sister in advance."

Zhang Yiyi knew Yuan Ying had misunderstood her, but she didn't bother explaining. Instead, she smiled and gratefully accepted the offer of protection.

Seeing how agreeable and polite Zhang Yiyi was, Yuan Ying liked her even more.

"You're called Zhang Yiyi, right? I'll call you Yiyi from now on. But... why does your name sound so familiar?"

Suddenly, Yuan Ying felt like she had heard the name Zhang Yiyi somewhere before but couldn't quite recall it.

However, since she had approached Zhang Yiyi for another reason, she quickly dropped the thought.

"Never mind. Yiyi, let me ask you, did your Senior Brother Mo Yan come along this time?"

"Senior Brother Mo? Yes, he's here."

Zhang Yiyi's heart skipped a beat, though she didn't show it. "Does Senior Sister know Senior Brother Mo?"

"Of course, he's my fiancé,"

Yuan Ying's face lit up with even more radiance upon hearing that Mo Yan had indeed come. She smiled and waved,

"Thanks, Yiyi. I need to go find him now."

With that, Yuan Ying rushed off toward Yunxian Sect's camp, her eager expression making her joy and anticipation for seeing her beloved plainly obvious.

Watching Yuan Ying's figure gradually disappear, Zhang Yiyi couldn't help but feel puzzled.

She hadn't expected Mo Yan to be Yuan Ying's fiancé. The original novel had never mentioned this connection, nor had it said that Yuan Ying liked anyone other than the male lead.

But she was certain of one thing—Mo Yan was definitely not the male lead of the original novel. Whether Yuan Ying would still fall for the male lead later remained to be seen.

In any case, that was their business. Zhang Yiyi quickly put the matter aside and continued wandering around the camp.

By the time she returned to her tent, the Third Elder was talking with Mo Yan and Zhang Tongtong.

As for Yuan Ying, she was nowhere to be seen. Whether she had left already or hadn't come at all was unknown.

"Where did you go? There are a lot of people around, so why are you wandering off aimlessly?"

To her surprise, the one who questioned her wasn't the Third Elder but Mo Yan, who had barely spoken more than ten words to her in total over the past few days.