Cang Si continued to explain earnestly, “This is a cultivation secret realm that my parents specifically left for me. According to your human race's grading system...”
Recalling the rank from her bloodline memories, she seriously declared, “It is an Earth-grade secret realm!”
“An Earth-grade secret realm?!”
Ye Ling's pupils contracted slightly. She knew the grading system for secret realms on the Xuantian Continent all too well.
Low-grade → Mid-grade → High-grade → Peak-grade → Profound-grade → Earth-grade → Heaven-grade.
The best secret realm of the Qinglan Sword Sect was the Bailing Secret Realm, yet it was merely a mid-grade secret realm.
A mid-grade secret realm was enough to support a top-tier sect in cultivating geniuses generation after generation, providing a steady stream of cultivation resources.
High-grade and peak-grade secret realms were already rare, top-tier realms within a kingdom, while Profound-grade ones could only be controlled by the great sects of the Eastern Territory.
The personal treasure Cang Si had gifted her was actually an Earth-grade secret realm that far surpassed the Profound-grade.
Cang Si added, “But Sister, I was originally a stillborn who couldn't be born back then.”
“Mother spent a massive amount of effort to refine this Earth-grade secret realm, using it to continuously supply spiritual energy to nourish me.”
“After so many years, most of the vast spiritual energy inside the secret realm has been absorbed by me.”
“Right now, the concentration of spiritual energy in the secret realm is only slightly better than that of the Bailing Secret Realm. Converted to your human grading system, it's probably around a high-grade secret realm.”
At this point, the little dragon's whiskers drooped slightly, her tone filled with self-blame. “It's all my fault. If only I had absorbed a bit less back then.”
Ye Ling hastily extended both hands, gently cradling Cang Si's dragon head. Her fingertips gently caressed the scales on her cheeks as she softly comforted her.
“Cang Si, don't think like that.”
“Sister is already very happy.”
“I should also thank this secret realm. If it hadn't nourished you, how would I have ever had the chance to meet you?”
“Obtaining a high-grade secret realm is already an extremely rare opportunity.”
Cang Si blinked her clear dragon eyes earnestly and instantly cheered up.
“That's right! We should properly thank it!”
Seeing that Cang Si had moved past her self-blame, Ye Ling slowly released her hands.
She sighed inwardly. Cang Si had not been hatched for long, and her temperament was like that of a child. She would definitely have to take good care of her in the future.
Seeing Ye Ling withdraw her hands, a trace of regret secretly welled up in Cang Si's heart.
If she had known, she would have stayed sad a little longer so that her sister could have stroked her for much longer.
But in the next instant, she cast aside her stray thoughts and continued her soul transmission, “Sister, although the current concentration of spiritual energy is only equivalent to a high-grade secret realm, its source foundation is still Earth-grade.”
“Restoring it to the Earth-grade is only a matter of time, though it will take a very long time.”
Cang Si crossed her two small dragon claws in front of her.
Ye Ling could not help but stroke the dragon's head. “Being able to recover slowly is already very good.”
“We will definitely live to see the day it recovers to an Earth-grade secret realm.”
“Thank you, Xiao Si, for giving me such a precious treasure. This is the best gift I have ever received.”
Hearing her sister call her Xiao Si, Cang Si let out a cheerful, light dragon roar in delight, her dragon body circling and twirling around Ye Ling in midair.
“Sister, let's hurry up and refine the orb!”
“Once the refinement is complete, we can enter the secret realm together.”
Ye Ling agreed. She sat cross-legged on the bluestone ground of the bamboo courtyard, holding the translucent secret realm orb in both hands. Clearing her mind, she circulated her Divine Sense to slowly penetrate the orb.
The Earth-grade secret realm orb was of an extremely high level; completely claiming its ownership and refining it was by no means an easy task.
Ye Ling continuously channeled her spiritual energy, her soul transforming into countless fine threads that slowly penetrated and connected with the secret realm's source.
Time flowed slowly. After nearly a day, day turned to dusk.
One by one, she branded her own soul imprint onto the countless restrictions within the orb. The Lifebound Contract also provided subtle assistance, making the refinement process much smoother.
Until the final spatial restriction was completely subdued, the secret realm orb trembled slightly, transforming into a streak of white light that merged next to Ye Ling's dantian.
Ye Ling exhaled a long breath of turbid air that had built up for a long time. She slowly opened her eyes, a ripple of joy spreading across them.
She turned her head to look at Cang Si beside her. The little dragon had coiled her long body into a round, plump ball, quietly resting against her leg, her dragon head gently nudging her thigh from time to time.
The fine, blue-gold scales bathed in the sunlight filtering through the forest, sparkling brightly. She looked exceptionally well-behaved and adorable.
The refinement had taken a whole day, a long and tedious process. Cang Si had patiently guarded her side the entire time. Later, drowsiness had overcome her, and she had unconsciously fallen fast asleep.
Ye Ling carefully raised her hands and scooped the coiled Cang Si into her arms. Her movements were extremely gentle, for fear of disturbing the sleeping little dragon.
The dragon scales felt cool and smooth to the touch, a wonderful sensation. Sensing a familiar aura, the little one instinctively adjusted her posture, her dragon head gently rubbing against Ye Ling's palm, still deep in sleep.
A hazy, mumbled murmur drifted over, “Sister... secret realm...”
Seeing this, Ye Ling murmured softly, “Sleep peacefully, Xiao Si.”
“When you wake up, we will enter the secret realm together to look around.”
Originally, she had planned to wake Cang Si directly to explore the secret realm together. After all, the Qingyun Grand Tournament was approaching, and time waited for no one.
But looking at the little dragon sleeping peacefully in her arms, she ultimately abandoned the thought, deciding to patiently wait for Cang Si to wake up on her own.
She walked slowly to the stone couch in the bamboo courtyard and sat down. Cradling Cang Si carefully, she quietly regulated her breathing and rested, waiting for the little dragon to wake.
This wait lasted for an entire night.
When the first warm ray of morning light pierced through the bamboo forest and gently fell upon Ye Ling and Cang Si, the little dragon curled up in her arms finally fluttered her long eyelashes. She blinked sleepily and slowly woke up.
As soon as Cang Si opened her eyes, she found herself nestled safely in her sister's arms. A surge of joy instantly filled her heart, and she could not help but shake her dragon head affectionately, gently rubbing against Ye Ling's arm.
With this movement, she finally noticed the bright daylight around them.
“Xiao Si, you're awake,” Ye Ling said softly.
Cang Si was startled. She quickly floated up into the air, her two small dragon claws rubbing against each other nervously in front of her chest, her expression extremely uneasy.
“Sister! D-Did I sleep for too long?”
“It's actually already the next day! I didn't mean to...”
Her soft, tender voice gradually grew quieter. “In the past, I could never sleep soundly. As soon as I closed my eyes, I would think of my parents.”
“But none of them are by my side. Everything around me feels so empty, and I can never sleep peacefully.”
“But yesterday, leaning against Sister and smelling the wonderful scent on you, I unconsciously fell into a very deep sleep.”
Ye Ling's heart softened at the sight. She immediately raised her hand, gently pulling the little green dragon in the air back into her arms, and softly comforted her.
“Xiao Si, it's alright.”
“Since you can sleep peacefully by my side, from now on, you can just sleep next to me.”
Cang Si, who had been slightly choking up, instantly raised her eyes. Her clear, bright dragon eyes sparkled with disbelief.
“Really, Sister?”
Seeing Ye Ling gently nod in confirmation, the little dragon immediately circled happily, the gloom in her heart completely swept away.
“Alright,” Ye Ling softly interrupted with a smile, a warm look rippling in her eyes.
Xiao Si wanted her to smile more, so she would do just that.
“I have completely refined that secret realm orb. Now, let's go take a look at our secret realm.”
“Yay! Our secret realm!” Cang Si instantly cheered, her dragon tail wagging joyfully.
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