Chapter 72: Opening the Secret Realm

Facing the cave roaring with purple light and filled with a terrifying aura, Xu Xuan truly doubted how one could pass through the entrance and enter the secret realm unscathed.

Just as he hesitated, his heart pounding, the ground beneath his feet suddenly dropped; the Azure Water Vessel had descended. At that moment, the strange energy from the cave mouth grew even more intense and frightening.

Waves of powerful wind surged out from the cave awash in purple light. Even though the formation at the entrance mitigated much of the force, many disciples still felt anxious and short of breath, struggling to stay upright.

“Has the Starfall Sword Sect not arrived yet?” Master Feng Yu asked indifferently.

No sooner had his words fallen than a deep, slow howling sounded from the heights above the abyss. Everyone looked up.

A massive white cloud, carrying more than a dozen figures with swords on their backs, descended from the sky above the chasm.

A chilling, oppressive aura pressed down from overhead, drawing closer.

Looking carefully, one could see that the white cloud was woven from countless fine white threads, spanning over ten meters in diameter. From a distance, it resembled a drifting cloud, but in truth, it was a large flying artifact.

Atop the white cloud, the leader, an elder in gray robes, had eyes as dark as ink. He held a translucent magic pearl, and a shifting aura of firelight flickered around him as he steered the cloud down.

“Sword King Xinghuo, your timing is impeccable,” Master Feng Yu said with a faint smile.

Aside from Sword King Xinghuo, the cloud also bore another Divine Transformation-period Immortal Master, as well as several true disciples and inner disciples of the Sword Sect.

Among them, Xu Xuan spotted Nie Han, whose strength had astounded him during the recent bandit suppression.

Yet, among all the Sword Sect disciples, the most captivating was the woman at the fore, graceful as mist, dressed in blue, her skin pale as snow and her features pure and lovely. Her eyes, bright as autumn water, held a poetic air like drizzling autumn rain.

Many disciples of the Windfeather Sect could not hide their amazement at the sight.

“She must be Yu Mo, the true disciple of the Starfall Sword Sect,” many of the male disciples murmured, dazed.

At that moment, there were five or six female disciples present, all attractive, but none could match Yu Mo’s bearing. Even Yang Xiaoqian paled in comparison.

“To think a swordswoman could possess such poise,” Xu Xuan thought, taking a distant measure of her, though his heart remained calm.

Even Senior Brother Yun, usually aloof and proud, looked grave before Yu Mo of the Sword Sect.

“Everyone, prepare yourselves. The secret realm will soon be opened,” the gentle, charming voice of Immortal Lady Heyue reminded them.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Master Feng Yu and Sword King Xinghuo shot toward the cave’s entrance simultaneously. Surging waves of powerful magic erupted from both as they struck deep into the mouth of the cave with their palms.

Boom!

A dazzling blue glow, like a long river, and a brilliant torrent of sword energy, like starlight, intertwined and rushed into the depths of the cave, shattering the raging purple energy in an instant.

Everyone present was awed by the strength of these two Divine Transformation-period masters.

Xu Xuan thought to himself that these two leaders were surely among the strongest of their rank.

As the purple energy was split apart, the two guardians at the entrance, along with Immortal Lady Heyue and two other elder-level figures, shone with radiant magic. The formations around them blazed, and from the three-colored barrier, a brilliant, translucent path extended deep into the cave.

With their combined efforts, a road of three-colored light formed by the array’s power stretched to the end of the cave, which appeared a blinding white, impossible to see through.

“Aren’t you going to move?” Sword King Xinghuo’s shout rang out like a spring thunderclap.

“Hurry inside!” Master Feng Yu urged, struggling to maintain his magic.

The passage to the secret realm, opened by the combined efforts of six Divine Transformation-period powers, was a rare and costly opportunity.

At the command, disciples of both sects leapt onto the path of three-colored light and plunged into the white, misty radiance of the cave, vanishing from sight.

“Let’s go,” Xu Xuan said, giving Yu Qin a gentle push and following close beside her as they stepped onto the rainbow path and hurried to the end.

As soon as they touched the white mist, it felt as if they were passing through a barrier of wind, and in the next instant, they found themselves in an unfamiliar space.

The murmur of running water sounded nearby, the air was fresh and invigorating, and overhead stretched a sky as pure as a gemstone. In the distance, blue mountains rose in layers, like a painted landscape.

The group stood by a mountain stream, breathing in the unfamiliar scents, momentarily lost in wonder.

Xu Xuan was dazed for a moment, then basked in the vibrant, pure spiritual energy, his body feeling unusually comfortable.

“The spiritual energy here is so pure, several times higher than even the core areas of the inner sect,” marveled a Sword Sect disciple.

The spiritual energy in this mysterious space was more than ten times that of ordinary regions, even two or three times that of the immortal sects themselves.

One could well imagine that within such a realm, the treasures of nature and rare spiritual herbs would far outstrip those found elsewhere.

No wonder secret realms were considered precious resources in the cultivation world.

Many disciples were beside themselves with excitement.

“In such an environment, I’ll have no trouble breaking through to the ninth level of body refinement!” Xu Xuan could not help but feel eager.

Just then, a familiar presence awoke in his mind. “Such dense spiritual energy… Wait, no—this is a secret realm.”

The remnant soul from his previous life had suddenly awakened, immediately inquiring about the situation.

“You’ve managed to enter a secret realm, and your cultivation is nearly at the ninth level of body refinement. This is excellent news!” The remnant soul was clearly elated.

Xu Xuan was startled, and quickly asked, afraid the soul would soon dissipate, “Once I master the final form of the ‘Nine Transformations of Dragon and Serpent’ and step into the ninth level of body refinement, what path should I choose next?”

“When you truly reach the ninth level, the choice will come naturally. But the real decision must come from your own heart.” The remnant soul’s voice was meaningful but grew fainter.

“It’s not easy to enter a secret realm. I’ll take this chance to restore my soul. You must make the most of this opportunity.” With these words, the remnant soul faded into slumber.

Meanwhile, the disciples of both sects were just recovering from their awe.

Suddenly, Master Feng Yu’s voice echoed from the fading gateway of three-colored light behind them: “This secret realm can remain stable for at most one month… In one month, return here to regroup.”

As the path gradually dimmed and disappeared, only part of an ancient, broken stone wall remained.

The two sects’ disciples lingered for a moment. Then, Nie Han of the Starfall Sword Sect took the lead, bringing two fellow disciples across the stream to explore deeper into the realm.

“According to the sect’s ancient records, this secret realm stretches for two hundred miles. Everyone should split up to search for spiritual materials within. If you encounter any danger, do not act rashly…” Yun Yuanhang instructed before heading off with Wan Fushan and Brother Fei.

Each true disciple had two protectors, moving in groups of three to seek their own fortunes.

As most of the group dispersed, Yu Qin stood uncertainly in place. Senior Brother Lin, urgency clear in his eyes, urged her, “Junior Sister, let’s get moving!”

Yu Qin glanced at Xu Xuan, who nodded with an encouraging smile.

The three of them chose a direction and followed the stream upstream.

Along the way, Senior Brother Lin scanned their surroundings, sometimes channeling his magic. A green glow flickered in his eyes—a spell for sensing spiritual materials, perhaps.

Xu Xuan, whose body had undergone eight transformations and reached a state of perfection, had excellent eyesight. He too kept watch, never straying more than a few feet from Yu Qin’s side.

Suddenly, Yu Qin smiled, recalling something. She patted a special pouch at her waist.

A flash of spiritual light, and a three-colored spirit sparrow flitted out, hovering before her on beating wings.

Xu Xuan’s eyes lit up—wasn’t this the Three-Spirit Sparrow from the last bandit suppression?

Yu Qin spoke a few magical words, sending the sparrow high above to scout.

The Three-Spirit Sparrow, a rare and intelligent creature, had a far keener nose for spiritual materials than any human.

After about the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, the sparrow began chirping excitedly, as if it had discovered something.

“Lead us there,” Yu Qin said joyfully.

Following the sparrow, they soon reached the mountainside of a steep peak.

There, between the sheer cliffs, grew a strange, dark flower with three petals, its surface glinting faintly with a bloody sheen.

“What kind of spiritual material is that?” Senior Brother Lin was baffled, his knowledge limited.

Xu Xuan stared at the flower, and memories rushed back—his heart skipped a beat as he recognized it.

“Blood Ink Flower!”

A familiar voice exclaimed from a nearby path—it was Le Feng, accompanied by Yang Xiaoqian and Brother Jia.

Seeing this, Senior Brother Lin grew anxious. Their group was no match for Le Feng’s trio.

“The Blood Ink Flower is a top-tier second-grade spiritual material, worth at least three hundred lesser-grade spirit stones!” Brother Jia exclaimed. Even he, usually indifferent, was moved.

Three hundred spirit stones! That was thirty thousand spirit coins!

Though both were second-grade materials, the Blood Ink Flower was five or six times more valuable than the Blue Star Wisdom Lotus from before. Even immortals would covet it.

Seeing the three approach, Senior Brother Lin eyed them warily. “Brother Le, we found this ‘Blood Ink Flower’ first. You’re not planning to take it by force, are you?”

Both Yang Xiaoqian and Brother Jia stared eagerly at the flower, but Le Feng smiled amiably. “This ‘Blood Ink Flower’ was discovered by you. As fellow disciples, why would I seize it?”

At these words, Lin Feng relaxed a little. Le Feng’s reputation for fairness and friendliness in the sect was well deserved.

Xu Xuan was mildly surprised—there was no internal strife as he had expected.

But soon, his expression changed slightly. Something wasn’t right…

(Two chapters, please recommend.)