Chapter 071: Entrance to the Secret Realm

At dawn, a dense fog blanketed Starfeather Mountain, thicker than usual, mingling with a chill wind and an unfamiliar, unsettling aura that slowly spread across the heights. High above, immortal cultivators could occasionally be seen patrolling on flying artifacts, their expressions stern and unyielding.

Disciples from both sects sensed the unusual gravity that hung over the mountain. In the plaza before the core stronghold of the Windfeather Sect, the Palace of Heaven and Earth, a gathering of the sect’s young talents assembled.

At the forefront stood Senior Brother Yun Yuanhang, with sword-like brows and star-bright eyes, hands clasped behind his back, exuding an air of arrogant confidence. The disciples around him clustered like stars around the moon, placing him at the center. At his side were Wan Fushan and Senior Brother Fei, their words either flattering or cautious in manner.

Aside from Yun Yuanhang, True Disciple Le Feng drew much attention as well—a refined, handsome youth whose amiable nature made him popular within the sect. Next to Le Feng stood Yang Xiaoqian, a maiden in enchanting robes whose clear, watery eyes sparkled with allure. Her every gesture made the hearts of the male disciples quicken.

Wan Fushan swallowed nervously. Today, Yang Xiaoqian was nothing like the naive girl she once was; even if he had a hundred times the courage, he would not dare covet her now. Deep down, he even worried she might still resent past incidents and seek revenge. Fortunately, he was close to Senior Brother Yun, so even if Le Feng wanted to try something, he would have to think twice.

“Heh, Senior Brother Jia is here,” Le Feng said with a smile, welcoming a young disciple approaching the plaza.

Senior Brother Jia, a man of about twenty-four or twenty-five, unremarkable in appearance and expressionless, nodded slightly at Le Feng. If Xu Xuan were present, he would surely recognize this Senior Brother Jia as the very “Jia Steward” who oversaw the construction of the Spirit Tower when Xu Xuan first entered the sect.

Yang Xiaoqian bowed respectfully. She was well aware that Senior Brother Jia, though a few years older than Le Feng, possessed considerable cultivation and had recently advanced to the fourth stage of Qi Refining.

By now, the gathering numbered over ten, with four True Disciples present. Two of them had cultivation at the fourth and fifth stages of Qi Refining.

“We’re still waiting for the True Disciple from Elder Lu’s lineage,” remarked one of the True Disciples at the fifth stage.

“That would be the junior sister renowned for her superior spiritual root?” As the group whispered among themselves, three figures appeared along the winding mountain path: one young woman and two men.

At the center walked a delicate maiden, her steps timid and nervous, drawing the gaze of several True Disciples. In terms of innate talent, Yu Qin was considered the best in Windfeather Sect.

Beside Yu Qin were Xu Xuan and Senior Brother Lin, but Yun Yuanhang and the others paid them little heed.

This was Xu Xuan’s second time at the plaza before the Palace of Heaven and Earth; the first was for the campaign against the Blood Spirit Thieves, this time for the secret realm. Yet the scale and atmosphere were entirely different.

As they neared the plaza, a few glances shifted from Yu Qin to Xu Xuan, pausing in surprise.

“Impossible… Xu Xuan!” Wan Fushan’s eyes nearly popped from his head, face full of shock and confusion. No matter how much he pondered, he could never have guessed Xu Xuan would join them.

Amid the crowd, Yang Xiaoqian let out a soft gasp, her delicate eyes trembling, her face filled with disbelief and her heart beating wildly: “How could he be here as well?”

When the trio entered the plaza, many whispered, “A mere body cultivator is allowed into the secret realm? Is this a mistake?”

Xu Xuan remained silent, calmly observing the assembly. Meeting Yang Xiaoqian’s astonished gaze, he only gave a slight smile. She, somewhat flustered, managed a smile in return, a gesture of greeting.

When he saw Senior Brother Jia beside Le Feng, Xu Xuan was momentarily taken aback; it was indeed the steward who had looked after him upon entry to the sect. Their eyes met, and on Senior Brother Jia’s cool face appeared a faint smile of satisfaction. “Interesting,” he murmured.

“Senior Brother Jia, you know him?” Le Feng was momentarily distracted, clearly surprised by Xu Xuan’s arrival.

At the center of the crowd, Senior Brother Yun’s gaze swept over Xu Xuan, and he too looked perplexed. He remembered Xu Xuan from before.

Regardless of the whispers and indignation among the disciples, Xu Xuan stood calmly beside Yu Qin, uttering not a word.

“We’re all here. Let’s depart,” Senior Brother Yun declared, floating onto a green gourd-shaped flying artifact and heading toward the northern cliff.

The other True Disciples followed suit, soaring ahead on their flying tools.

Yu Qin, although a True Disciple herself, had only recently joined and was at the second stage of Qi Refining.

Soon, the group arrived at the edge of the northern cliff. In the distance, the area around the “Boundless Abyss” was shrouded in thick fog, clearly indicating the presence of a formation.

Within the mist, a faint green radiance could be seen.

Xu Xuan, blessed with a perfect physique and excellent eyesight, discerned a twenty-meter-long jade-green flying boat suspended in the mist. Upon it stood two figures—one, the graceful and elegant Lady Lotus Moon; the other, a handsome man who was none other than the Windfeather Sect Leader.

As the group approached, they halted by the cliff’s edge.

A gust of wind howled, the mist shuddered and parted, revealing the green flying boat, which hummed and glimmered as it slowly approached the cliff.

“That’s the sect’s large flying artifact, the ‘Jadewater Boat,’” said one True Disciple excitedly.

Artifacts of this size Xu Xuan had glimpsed once in Pinghua Town, never expecting to ride one today.

“Board the boat at once,” the Windfeather Sect Leader’s clear, commanding voice rang out.

Everyone moved quickly, leaping onto the Jadewater Boat.

Xu Xuan floated aboard as well, feeling the gentle sway beneath his feet—a sensation of drifting, not quite solid.

Once everyone had boarded, the swaying ceased, and the boat stabilized. The Windfeather Sect Leader held a jade token, its radiance flickering, his robes fluttering, and with a low, deep whistle, the green boat began to descend into the abyss.

As the Jadewater Boat sank, the cold winds howled around them, and the strange aura from the Boundless Abyss grew ever stronger.

With two mighty cultivators of the Divine Transformation stage present, the disciples were silent as mice, barely daring to breathe, speaking only in whispers.

Only Yun Yuanhang, Le Feng, and a few other True Disciples occasionally responded to the Sect Leader and the Lady Lotus Moon.

Lady Lotus Moon, smiling gently, offered a few words of concern to Yu Qin. Yu Qin replied obediently, somewhat nervous, and Xu Xuan noticed Lady Lotus Moon’s gaze suddenly shift to him.

“You must be Xu Xuan, the new disciple?” Lady Lotus Moon’s serene, kind eyes fell upon him.

Faced with this dignified and pure teacher, Xu Xuan straightened his mind, feeling an inexplicable reverence, and bowed respectfully. “I am, Teacher.”

“This time, as you enter the secret realm, you must never stray from Junior Sister Yu Qin’s side. Also, seize this opportunity well,” Lady Lotus Moon said with warmth and encouragement.

Xu Xuan quickly agreed, fully understanding the double meaning in her words.

The other disciples were puzzled, unable to fathom why Lady Lotus Moon would show such special concern for a mere body cultivator.

“Never stray from Junior Sister Yu Qin’s side? Is this boy supposed to rely on a little girl to protect him inside the secret realm?” Many secretly grumbled, their eyes showing disdain.

“What luck! Living off a woman?” After all, Yu Qin had achieved the second stage of Qi Refining within months of joining, while Xu Xuan remained a mere body cultivator.

Yang Xiaoqian glanced at Xu Xuan, noting his calm composure. She couldn’t help but feel frustrated: Was he really relying on luck and Junior Sister Yu Qin to enter the secret realm? How shameless…

With this thought, her disdain mixed with inexplicable annoyance and a sense of foreboding.

Yet, despite the scornful glances from many disciples, Xu Xuan remained unruffled, his composure catching the attention of Lady Lotus Moon and the Windfeather Sect Leader. They exchanged a glance—surprised, but somewhat approving.

The Jadewater Boat sank for a long while, the strange aura from the abyss growing stronger.

Near the bottom, the winds roared violently, wave after wave battering the boat and causing their robes to whip about. Those weaker in cultivation struggled to breathe, like Yang Xiaoqian, who could barely stand and turned pale.

Yet Xu Xuan, the body cultivator, stood firm as a rock.

The source of the gale lay in a cavern at the abyss’s base, where purple light surged and thunder roared, a daunting spectacle.

Beside the cave sat two Divine Transformation stage immortals; one was Elder Lu. Their spiritual power was immense, casting dazzling light and infusing the surrounding formation, creating a tri-colored light barrier like a small sky, shielding the turbulent area.

“So this is the secret realm entrance?” Xu Xuan focused on the roaring purple-lit cave, his heart pounding with awe. Such power could easily tear an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator apart.

(The first chapter ends. Please support with recommendations and favorites.)