The pocket-sized flying sword that was a kilometer away abruptly disappeared, and the spiritual forest also vanished. In the blink of an eye, Xu Ran and the Peregrine Falcon were back on that cliff.

The sky was cloudless for miles, and the morning sun shone directly on their faces, making it a bit hard to open their eyes.

On the cliff, the surface of a seemingly ordinary stone was displaying a faint illusion vortex passage. White light spots scattered around it, resembling stars in the sky, just like before they entered that mystical forest.

The only difference was that several large characters were flashing above the passage.

[Cultivation Progress: Beginner Level Immortal Sword Skill]

The large characters radiated a white glow, and the Innate Qi, which fascinated the world, continuously emanated from it, floating above the entire cliff.

The Peregrine Falcon stood like a frozen statue, its body taut as if encased in ice, with every feather reflecting an indescribable stiffness.

Its eyes were wide open, filled with shock, as if witnessing the most incredible thing in the world, its gaze flickering towards Xu Ran, who had just emerged from the forest.

The scene of the pocket-sized flying sword striking a kilometer kept flashing before its eyes, and the aching pain from its wings made it painfully aware that what had just occurred was not an illusion.

Xu Ran opened his azure eyes, the golden glow within them had faded, yet the sharpness in his eyes remained.

"That strike just now can probably only be used once in a short period!"

Xu Ran’s tone was indifferent, but the sparkle in his eyes was enough to show his satisfaction with the full-force strike from the pocket-sized flying sword.

That was just the Beginner Level of the Immortal Sword Skill, and it could cause such a tremendous commotion. What if it reached Perfection?

"I wonder if the Immortal Sword Skill, upon reaching Perfection, could cleave this vast mountain that stretches for thousands of miles!"

Xu Ran was eager and very expectant, as if once the Immortal Sword Skill reached Great Success, he would actually attempt to cleave the Great Mountain.

"Xiao Bai, what are you thinking?"

Xu Ran asked, looking at the Peregrine Falcon, which was as motionless as an ice sculpture.

Xu Ran’s voice, like the first spring sun in spring, melted the frozen ice rivers of winter, bringing a wave of warmth that revitalized the Peregrine Falcon’s frozen body.

Though it regained its senses, the Peregrine Falcon’s movements were still somewhat stiff as it hopped to Xu Ran’s side, using one wing to touch Xu Ran’s body.

"What’s wrong? Is your wing injured?" Xu Ran noticed the Peregrine Falcon’s actions and immediately released a strand of Innate Qi to attach to its body.

The Peregrine Falcon nodded in acknowledgment, and as the Innate Qi entered the injured area of its wing, a warm current surged through its body, flowing towards its wings, bringing an incredibly comfortable sensation.

That feeling was like in the bone-chilling winter, when suddenly a bucket of hot water is placed in front of you, and you immerse your frozen feet into it, experiencing that rush of comfort.

With the nourishment of Innate Qi, the Peregrine Falcon’s wing soon recovered to its original state.

"You didn’t do anything just now, did you? How did your wing get injured? Could it have happened accidentally while fighting the Mantis Demon?"

Xu Ran’s eyes shifted as he sought to understand why the Peregrine Falcon’s wing was injured.

The Peregrine Falcon flapped its newly healed wings, gesturing at Xu Ran, moving its body to communicate the truth to its master as best as it could.

However, the things the Peregrine Falcon had experienced were somewhat peculiar, and mere gestures were inadequate to express them. Fortunately, having been in perfect sync since their mutual creation, Xu Ran ultimately grasped the situation.

The hardness of the giant trees in that space was utterly incomparable to those in the Great Mountain.

In that forest, not only was the concentration of Spiritual Qi high, but even the giant trees were exceptionally hard, akin to steel. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Upon learning this, Xu Ran’s azure eyes lit up with a surge of joy.

This meant that the offensive power of the Beginner Level Immortal Sword Skill was far greater than he had expected. Even though he didn’t realize this in the moment of executing the full-force strike.

But upon reflection, such a situation seemed normal.

"The concentration of Spiritual Qi in that forest is more than ten times higher than here, and with the giant trees growing in such an environment without any external interference, it’s normal for them to be this hard!"

Suddenly, Xu Ran’s eyes gleamed with bursts of brilliance.

"This means that once the Immortal Sword Skill reaches Great Success, the opportunities in this Secret Realm might be even greater than previously imagined!"

For a moment, Xu Ran was somewhat excited, his body, akin to a small bean, began to tremble faintly—an indication of extreme excitement.

But soon, he calmed down.

"Although the prospects in the Secret Realm are tremendous, I’ve long prepared for this mentally. Still, not having truly entered it, and with the Immortal Sword Skill not having truly reached Great Success, it remains a nebulous thought!"

"Thinking too much is useless, it’s better to focus on cultivation!"

Xu Ran’s words were meant for himself and for the Peregrine Falcon as well.

"Alright, the Immortal Sword Skill test is over, and it’s getting late. We should head back!"

Having heard this, the Peregrine Falcon shook its head, casting aside all the thoughts that had just emerged in its mind. It spread its wings that had just been restored to their prime, lowered its body, allowing its master Xu Ran to climb onto its back.

"Swish--"

A stream of white air rose up from the cliff, enveloping Xu Ran and the Peregrine Falcon together. Then, as it flapped its wings, the Peregrine Falcon shot towards the sky like lightning.

Once Xu Ran and the Peregrine Falcon had left, the illusion passage on the stone gradually closed, and the white brilliance emitted by the surrounding stars was slowly devoured, like a curtain falling, until it finally reverted to an ordinary stone.