Monk Wuming Was Actually Faster Than a Cheater Like You
Looking at option C, Lu Ping was shamefully tempted.
However, despite being tempted, he still chose B.
[You chose B.]
[You bypass the insurance shop and head towards the west side of the secret realm entrance.]
There stood a half-withered ancient tree, beneath which stood a monk in white robes.
[He wore Wooden Prayer Beads around his neck, his expression was calm, yet his aura was far stronger than it had been eleven years ago.]
[Wuming.]
Eleven years ago, he was still in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
[He has now reached the Foundation Establishment Perfection.]
[It typically takes at least thirty years for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator to progress from the initial to the later stages.]
You know best how you got up here.
[Taking pills, using cheat codes, poison resistance, cost reduction.]
[Wuming is even faster than a cheater like you.]
[This monk's talent, connections, and Cultivation Method are probably all extraordinary.]
[When Wuming turned around and saw you, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.]
[Then he put his hands together in prayer position.]
"Fellow Daoist Li."
"It's been many years. Fellow Daoist, your cultivation has progressed greatly; you've had extraordinary fortuitous opportunities."
"How wonderful, how wonderful!"
[You returned the gift, your tone tinged with a hint of wistfulness.]
"I was initially quite proud of myself. But compared to the master today, I feel rather ashamed."
[You both stopped talking at the same time, as if you had reached a tacit understanding.]
[Wuming took out a Jade Slip and said.]
"Fellow Daoist Li, this is the latest information I've purchased regarding the Yellow Fang Secret Realm. The entrance will only be open for seven days, and cultivation levels above the Golden Core stage will be suppressed within the realm."
"One can advance once the Foundation Establishment Perfection, but external forces exceeding the Foundation Establishment can be used."
You took the Jade Slip and scanned it.
"Golden-Pattern Yellow Fang Ganoderma in Soul-Severing Stream? That place looks a bit dangerous."
[Wuming nodded and said.]
"Although the Soul-Severing Stream is dangerous, it's not the biggest problem in this secret realm."
"This time, the Zhao Household from Qingyang City has also come."
"The Zhao Household has Third-Grade Alchemist overseeing them."
"The main ingredient of the Yellow Fang Pill will not be allowed to be taken away by Rogue Cultivators."
[You follow his gaze.]
[At the other end of the market, a group of monks in blue robes were walking towards the entrance.]
[The young man in the lead wore Zhao-Character Jade Token at his waist, and was accompanied by four Foundation Establishment Late Stage Guards.]
[An old servant in grey robes followed at the very back, head bowed.]
[The moment the Zhao Household appeared, the noise in the temporary market noticeably subsided.]
The several independent Rogue Cultivators who were haggling over the price subtly distanced themselves from each other.
[The cultivator in blue robes walked to the entrance, glanced at the crowd, and spoke calmly.]
"This time, the Zhao Household will only take the Golden-Patterned Yellow Bud Ganoderma."
"If any of you obtain this item within the secret realm, you may exchange it with the Zhao Household."
"Spirit Stones, Pills, and Law Artifacts are all open for discussion."
He paused.
"Of course, if anyone wants to walk past the Zhao Household with Huang Yazhi in their sights..."
"You can give it a try."
The Rogue Cultivators exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.
Although the Zhao Household is domineering, they wouldn't dare to provoke the public at the entrance.
[But once inside the secret realm, who lives and who dies is anyone's guess.]
[Wuming gently flicked a Wooden Prayer Beads and softly explained to you,]
"Zhao Mingchuan, Foundation Establishment Perfection."
"The eldest son of the third branch of the Zhao Household."
"Logically speaking, if he dared to enter the secret realm, he must possess a Golden Core level Talisman."
Your eyes flickered slightly.
Upon hearing the words "Golden Core Talisman," the image of the talisman between Han Changqing's brows immediately comes to mind.
[That thing only flashed for a moment, yet it shattered your short sword and caused your Dantian to explode in the last simulation.]
[You look at the old servant in gray behind Zhao Mingchuan.]
The old servant kept his head down and stood in a rather unusual position.
[Neither forward nor backward.]
[It can both protect Zhao Mingchuan and cut off the escape route of others in an instant.]
[Wuming noticed your gaze and continued to explain,]
"That old servant must be a retainer of the Zhao Household, at least at the Foundation Establishment Perfection?"
[Upon hearing Wuming's words, you turned and glanced at him.]
"What do you mean by 'at least'? Isn't it said that the highest level you can enter is Foundation Establishment Perfection?"
[Wuming didn't take it seriously and continued,]
"The Yellow Fang Secret Realm suppresses Golden Core cultivation, which is certainly true."
"However, some veteran Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators are only a step away from the Golden Core stage, and are known as Half-Step Golden Core cultivators."
"Entering such a secret realm is naturally more dangerous for them than for ordinary Foundation Establishment Perfection."
[You and Wuming stand at the back of the group of Rogue Cultivators.]
[Zhao Mingchuan simply stood beside a bluestone at the very front.]
The group began to disperse, awaiting the opening of the secret realm.
[Wuming takes out a small wooden box and hands it to you.]
"This is Miasma-Dispelling Pill; it can prevent poisonous fog within the secret realm."
[You opened the wooden box, glanced inside, and scanned it with your Divine Sense.]
[The quality is quite average. Wuming comes from an extraordinary background; this Pills is nothing beyond your comprehension.]
[You take out a Jade Bottle and pour out a bluish-white pill.]
"Use mine instead."
[Wuming took the pill, examined it for a moment, and his expression changed slightly.]
"It's actually a mid-grade Detoxification Pill!"
You nodded and presented the entire Jade Bottle to Wuming.
[Wuming silently put the wooden box away, along with the Jade Bottle.]
[On the second day, the entrance to the secret realm opened.]
[Deep within Broken Sunset Valley, a portal of bluish-yellow light opened up in a crack in the mountain wall.]
The moment the portal appeared, all the hawking cries in the temporary market ceased.
[The blue-robed female cultivator at the insurance booth shouted one last thing.]
"Purchase now, and the policy will take effect within 15 minutes."
[Zhao Mingchuan was the first to step through the portal, followed by the Zhao Household Guards. The old servant in gray glanced back indifferently before entering.]
[Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators entered one by one from the entrance.]
[The number of people is surprisingly small.]
[The Golden-Patterned Yellow Bud Ganoderma is enough to make Foundation Establishment cultivator risk their life.]
[But only a few dozen actually dared to come in.]
[This shows that the death rate within the dungeon itself has already filtered out most of the greed.]
Most people came to sell shovels and water.
[When it was your turn and Wuming's turn, a ring of fine lines appeared around the gate of light.]
[Wuming the first step, you follow behind.]
[The moment you enter the portal, all sounds around you are cut off.]
[The next moment, you land on a scree slope, the pebbles rolling beneath your feet.]
[A yellow mist filled the surroundings, carrying a sweet, rotten smell.]
[ For Heavy Tomato Users, this is in effect.]
[If an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator stayed here for several hours, their meridians would likely begin to feel numb, and their combat strength would decrease.]
[You release the Fire Crows first.]
[The Black-Feather Fire Crow flew close to the ground for thirty feet, then suddenly veered upwards and crashed into an invisible Restriction in mid-air.]
[The Fire Crow dissipated as flames, only to condense again on your shoulder.]
[There's Flight-Restricting Restriction.]
You looked up at the yellow mist above.
[You released your Divine Sense Divine Sense, but it was immediately forced back by the yellow mist just three zhang away from your body.]
[Options pop up.]
[A: Stay put and wait for the Wuming; safety first.]
[B: Release Fire Crows to scout the way at low altitude and rendezvous with Wuming as soon as possible.]
[C: Shout out, "Master Wuming, I'm here! And while I'm at it, summon all the nearby Demon Beast for a meeting!"]
Lu Ping looked at B without hesitation.
[You chose B.]
[The Fire Crows flew out again, skimming low along the terrain.]
[Thirty breaths later, the Fire Crow transmitted the first scene.]
[A patch of black flowers, swarming with countless poisonous bees.]
Each wasp was about the size of a fingertip, its stinger gleaming dark.
[In the center of the flowerbed, there was a queen bee larger than a fist.]
[The queen bee has three golden stripes on her abdomen; Spirit Awakening Late Stage, and her aura is close to the Foundation Establishment Perfection.]
Looking at the dense swarm of poisonous bees before you, you finally understand one thing.
[This secret realm opens only once every twelve years, and the Golden-Pattern Yellow Fang Ganoderma has not yet been completely harvested.]
It's not that the resources here respawn quickly, but rather that people who come in die very quickly.
[You bypass the swarm of bees and continue on your way.]
[Half an hour later, you see two corpses of cultivators on the ground.]
[The corpse was reduced to half its original size; the lower half was dragged into the ground, and a dozen or so black ants were scurrying around it.]
The Storage Bag has been destroyed by black ants.
[This piece of junk is mine!! It's all mine!!]
You sighed and reluctantly avoided the ant colony.
[The Fire Crow leads the way.]
[And so, walking and stopping intermittently, half a day later, the Fire Crow suddenly landed on a broken stone tablet.]