Secret Realm Grand Competition

"Senior Brothers, Senior Sisters, I have a question I would like to ask." Zhang Tie spoke suddenly, his expression solemn.

"You want to ask about the Secret Realm Grand Competition, don't you?" Eldest Senior Brother Mo Feng answered calmly, as though he had already anticipated Zhang Tie's thoughts.

"Exactly. Please enlighten me, Eldest Senior Brother," Zhang Tie hurriedly replied.

"Even if you had not asked, I would have explained it to you. Perhaps not everyone here will participate in this competition, but you will certainly be among them." Looking as though everything was within his expectations, Eldest Senior Brother glanced at the other junior brothers and sisters. "How much do you know about the Secret Realm Grand Competition?"

"I know a little. I heard that the Secret Realm Grand Competition is held once every sixty years, within a mysterious spatial secret realm. Any sect with Core Formation cultivators may participate, and the rankings directly determine how cultivation resources in the Crimson Fire Nation are allocated among the sects." Second Senior Brother Duan Feng frowned slightly and continued, "I heard from my clan elders that every competition is extremely brutal. Several hundred people enter each time, yet only a few dozen make it out alive." After saying this, he looked toward Eldest Senior Brother and fell silent.

Eldest Senior Brother nodded, then took a light sip of tea before slowly saying, "What Duan Feng said is correct. There are some minor discrepancies, but most of the information is accurate. Have you ever considered this? The Crimson Fire Nation is vast, rich in resources, and home to countless sects. Why, then, have sect wars over resources not occurred frequently?"

Everyone looked at one another. Then Fifth Senior Sister Lin Yan said uncertainly, "Could it be that the Crimson Fire Sect's deterrence keeps the other sects from acting rashly?"

Eldest Senior Brother shook his head. "Naturally not. Several hundred years ago, sect wars did occur from time to time, and the Crimson Fire Sect merely acted as a mediator. Then, someone suddenly discovered the entrance to a secret realm. Soon after, they found that only Qi Refining stage cultivators under twenty years old could enter it. Anyone exceeding those limits could not even pass through the gate. This led many sects to send large numbers of Qi Refining stage disciples to explore it. Numerous heavenly treasures and even spiritual herbs that had long vanished from the outside world reappeared there. This quickly drew the attention of a colossal force like the Crimson Fire Sect, which then sealed off the secret realm's entrance."

Eldest Senior Brother took another sip of tea and continued, "Because of this secret realm, many sects began fighting fiercely. Perhaps I could not defeat your higher-level cultivators, but I could slaughter your lower-level ones. You could not possibly keep your low-level disciples inside the sect forever, could you? Your disciples all had families, too. For a time, the entire Crimson Fire Nation was thrown into chaos. Even sects from other nations tried to secretly get involved.

In the end, led by the Crimson Fire Sect, many sects joined together to establish rules. Every sect with a Core Formation cultivator overseeing it could send twenty people inside. Other sects were forbidden from entering, and sects outside the Crimson Fire Nation were strictly prohibited as well. Any violator would have their sect jointly exterminated."

"Then it should have been a great opportunity. Why did so many people die? Were the demonic beasts inside simply too powerful?" Sixth Senior Brother Ye Chen suddenly asked.

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"At first, everyone did indeed coexist peacefully. Even when there were casualties, they were mostly caused by accidents. According to disciples who emerged, the strongest demonic beasts inside were only second-rank beasts, and they were all deep within the secret realm. As long as one did not deliberately court death, it was not particularly dangerous. But later, they discovered that the secret realm only opened once every sixty years, and the mindsets of the various sects changed. Once inside, it became a fight to the death. Most cultivators died at one another's hands, and eventually, the competition became a measure of the strength of the various sects in the Crimson Fire Nation."

"What does that have to do with Junior Brother Zhang? There are countless Qi Refining stage disciples in the sect stronger than him. Why does he have to participate?" Sixth Senior Brother Ye Chen asked again.

"More than two hundred years ago, a sect suddenly realized that although the secret realm restricted entry to disciples below the ninth layer of Qi Refining and under twenty years old, Body Cultivation cultivators under twenty who had reached the Meridian Casting Realm were not subject to this restriction. As for whether those at higher Body Cultivation realms could enter, no one knew, because no one had ever heard of anyone reaching the Aperture Opening Realm before the age of twenty. That sect also made a fortune in that competition, producing two additional Core Formation cultivators over the following sixty years," Eldest Senior Brother answered.

"So the secret realm will open in three years, and the major sects are all searching for disciples with outstanding Body Cultivation talent. Because of the age limit, even if they had found them earlier, they would likely already be overage. That is why Junior Brother Zhang is receiving such attention." Sixth Senior Brother Ye Chen nodded in realization.

"So, Little Junior Brother, over these next three years, you must do everything possible to raise your Body Refining realm. Whatever resources you need, go ask Master for them. The sect will surely agree. Compared to the sect competition three years from now, what do a few resources amount to? The stronger you are, the greater your chance of surviving," Eldest Senior Brother continued.

"I understand, Eldest Senior Brother. I will certainly do my utmost to improve my cultivation. But in past competitions, what level did the strongest Body Refining cultivators reach?" Zhang Tie asked.

"According to the records, it should have been the middle stage of the Meridian Casting Realm. However, realm is only one aspect. Magical treasures, pills, talismans, and the like all contribute to combat strength. The highest-grade items to appear in the competition so far have been talisman treasures and third-rank talismans, both comparable to a single strike from a Core Formation cultivator. So, Junior Brother, you must not let down your guard," Mo Feng warned.

"Then wouldn't someone be invincible if they brought dozens of third-rank talismans or several talisman treasures? And if they brought a fourth-rank talisman, wouldn't they be able to swagger through everything?" Ye Chen suddenly interrupted.

"With ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivation, one simply cannot activate a fourth-rank talisman. Talismans of the fourth rank and above are called spirit talismans, and they require the vital energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator to activate. Even talisman treasures and third-rank talismans would drain all the spiritual energy from a Qi Refining cultivator. Their casting time is long, and unless the circumstances are exceptional, no enemy would stand by and watch you unleash a finishing move," Eldest Senior Brother said slowly once more.

"Thank you, Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, for clearing up my doubts. I hope you will continue to guide me in the future." Zhang Tie rose to his feet and solemnly cupped his fists in a bow.

"Since you are our Little Junior Brother, it is only right. No need to be so polite. It is getting late, so we will head back first. If anything comes up, send a message through your communication jade slip." Eldest Senior Brother stood as well.

Afterward, everyone said their farewells and left the cave dwelling, leaving Zhang Tie alone in the main hall. He got up and took a proper look around his own cave dwelling, marveling inwardly. As expected of a great sect—its cave dwellings had everything: a bedroom, a cultivation room, and an alchemy room. Zhang Tie let out a long breath, feeling that he could finally settle down for a while.

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