Chapter 092: The Spring of the Secret Realm (Part One)

In the secret hall at the heart of the lake, the rising stars of the two sects from Starfeather Mountain were breathing heavily, their minds lost for a moment before uncontrollable excitement and joy flashed across their eyes.

The entire plaza within this grand hall was filled with treasures—even the very floor beneath their feet was priceless. As for whether they could claim any of these treasures, that would depend on their own abilities.

Xu Xuan took a deep breath, having already set his sights on his goal. His gaze, calm and composed, swept across the hall, taking in the overall situation.

If one spoke of treasures, the hall was overflowing with them. They could be categorized into four types:

First, every material composing the plaza was of immense value, but given the cultivation of those present, more than ninety percent of it was beyond their ability to damage.

Second, the dozen or so spiritual artifacts floating in midair, centered around the prayer beads and green leaf above the ancient well, formed a vast array. Whether these artifacts could be touched, and what consequences might arise from doing so or taking one, was impossible to predict.

Third, the spiritual spring within the ancient well, as well as the broken ancient sword thrust into it. The former was a rare spiritual liquid, surpassing the lake's spiritual water by tenfold. The latter—the ancient sword—emitted a terrifying aura that made everyone’s hearts tremble.

Fourth, the various treasures and miscellaneous items atop the stone platform—none seemed ordinary. There was also a storage pouch left behind by a humanoid skeleton beside the platform, which could be claimed as well.

Though there were so many treasures, only a portion were truly within reach—and all came with great risk.

Xu Xuan had a rough estimate in his mind. He withdrew his gaze and quickly appraised the strengths and weaknesses of the two sects' disciples.

At this moment, counting those who hadn’t entered the lake’s heart hall, only a little over twenty remained. Originally, when they first entered the secret realm, each sect had five core disciples and ten guardian followers, totaling thirty people.

Thus, in the half month spent within the secret realm, nearly a third of the disciples had been lost.

The Starfall Sword Sect, led by Nie Han, was at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement—even though his cultivation wasn’t the highest. There was also a burly red-haired man wielding a giant sword, with a powerful aura and a fifth-stage Qi Refinement—clearly a core disciple of the Sword Sect.

The Windfeather Immortal Gate, led by Le Feng, was at the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, making him the most highly cultivated. Besides Le Feng, there was another core disciple at the fifth stage, several years older and surnamed Jiang, whom Xu Xuan had only met once or twice.

The rest of the disciples, including Xu Xuan, were mostly at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement or lower—not particularly notable.

“Go!”

Nie Han of the Starfall Sword Sect charged ahead, heading straight for the ancient well.

The ancient well—and the ancient sword!

Le Feng’s expression shifted slightly. He whispered to his companions, “That ancient well surges with spiritual liquid of exceptional purity. This isn’t an ordinary spiritual well—it’s likely the ‘spring eye’ of the entire secret realm. All the other treasures that can be claimed are scattered near this spiritual well.”

The spring eye of the secret realm!

At his words, everyone’s hearts skipped a beat and their breath quickened.

Xu Xuan was also moved.

Firstly, as the spring eye of a small enclosed space, the spiritual spring it produced far exceeded ordinary spiritual materials—an unparalleled and priceless treasure.

Secondly, the spring eye was the core of the secret realm’s spiritual energy network! If it were subjected to a powerful attack, the entire secret realm’s spiritual system would collapse, unleashing violent spiritual energy and possibly destroying this small space entirely!

“We must be cautious with the spring eye, especially the ancient sword within the spiritual well,” Le Feng said, his face grave as he looked around at everyone.

“As the spring eye of a secret realm, it’s likely beyond the ability of low-level cultivators like us to destroy. Most of the treasures we can collect are near the spiritual well, which is the critical site we must contend for,” said Senior Jiang, who had been silent until now.

Everyone nodded. It seemed Senior Jiang’s cultivation slightly surpassed Le Feng’s, and his words struck at the heart of the matter.

“Senior Jiang is right. The spiritual well is our battleground, but we must all beware the ancient sword as Master Wan warned us,” Le Feng nodded, leading his group toward the plaza, unconcerned about the Sword Sect disciples taking the lead.

The plaza, centered around the spiritual well, spanned only about twenty yards in diameter.

Yet with each step, the sharp, chilling aura grew stronger and more pressing.

It seemed as if the plaza was filled with thousands of invisible swords, their fierce, cutting energy penetrating the bodies of all present.

At first, Nie Han and the other Sword Sect disciples strode boldly.

But as they neared within ten yards of the ancient well, those at the front suddenly stiffened, uttering muffled groans.

A trembling sword cry seemed to ring in Xu Xuan’s ears. His eyes fell upon the ancient sword thrust into the spiritual well, and his spirit was shaken violently, as if facing a tidal wave of sword energy.

Everyone paused in their tracks.

“Sword intent—this ancient sword contains a powerful sword intent. Clearly it’s not being controlled by anyone, so how can it emanate such force?” Nie Han took a deep breath, his body shaking as if bearing the weight of a mountain.

“Sword intent? No wonder Senior Yun and the others suffered such severe spiritual wounds, nearly losing their minds,” Le Feng gasped, not daring to look directly at the sword.

A broken ancient sword, uncontrolled, yet able to unleash such powerful sword intent, had seriously injured Senior Yun and Rain Mo earlier.

“Interesting…” came a chuckle from the residual soul of his previous life in Xu Xuan’s mind, sensing something unusual.

Xu Xuan’s heart tightened. Facing sword intent that attacked the soul, ordinary cultivators had no defense.

Everyone tensed, advancing slowly, each step a struggle.

Nearly twenty people moved together, sharing the burden of that terrifying sword intent.

Suddenly, the ancient sword trembled, fire patterns and purple lightning flashing across its surface.

In an instant, the entire plaza shook violently. Wisps of sword energy radiated like ripples from the spiritual well, spreading in all directions.

Though these sword energies seemed weak, they were fine as silk and wave after wave washed over them.

The cultivators activated their powers or summoned magical treasures, brilliant lights and sword energies flaring to counter and extinguish the rippling sword energy.

Xu Xuan stood firm, his body bending and tilting, assuming incredible postures, bobbing like waves to dodge the attacks.

Yet at one moment, the ancient sword’s tremors grew urgent, unleashing even more violent sword energy.

The group was instantly thrown into chaos, many robes torn and fresh sword wounds slashed across bodies.

Xu Xuan tumbled and dodged in the confusion, taking a glancing blow to his leg—a small sword mark, almost brushing past him.

This storm of sword energy lasted only a moment before subsiding, the ancient sword’s light dimming slightly.

With a collective sigh, they pressed on.

Upon entering the ten-yard range, their bodies stiffened and some disciples’ foreheads contorted in pain.

The intangible, fierce sword intent—sometimes cold, sometimes fiery, sometimes wild—charged into their minds.

Those whose cultivation was unstable or whose resolve was weak suffered greatly.

Xu Xuan activated the “Command” technique—a spiritual force beyond human flesh flowed from within to his skin, instantly dispelling the pain of the sword intent’s invasion.

“A masterless sword dares to flaunt its power!” Nie Han at the front cried out, his eyes blazing, a faint sword-shaped light flickering in his gaze.

Suddenly, a fierce and domineering sword intent erupted from him, contending with the sword intent outside.

In terms of sword intent, he was the only sword cultivator present who had truly comprehended it.

The ancient sword quaked violently, the spiritual well surging with a yard-high column of spiritual liquid, as if enraged. Sword intent surged forth, overwhelming the group.

They saw a roaring, sky-shattering dragon of flame and lightning stabbing into their vision; thunder and fire raged around them, as if the world itself would be destroyed.

“What terrifying sword intent…” Xu Xuan was horrified, feeling as though his soul would be devoured.

At this moment, he pushed the “Command” technique to its limit. In a haze, he felt himself transformed into a primordial dragon, roaring as it charged the flaming lightning dragon.

On the other side, a silver sword light like an arching rainbow pierced the void, flanking the flame dragon—Nie Han’s sword intent!

Blood spurted from Xu Xuan and Nie Han’s mouths almost simultaneously as the vision faded into nothingness.

The entire hall shook violently. In the void, five-colored radiance shimmered and trembled. The dozen spiritual artifacts in midair quivered in agitation, desperately suppressing the spiritual well below that threatened to erupt.

“You dare challenge my will, juniors? You seek your own destruction. I’ll annihilate this secret realm and bury you all with it…” A voice echoed in the void, making everyone’s hearts tremble. Most faces turned ashen, their spirits in turmoil.