Arrival

The setting sun was like blood, its rays bursting forth, illuminating the sky with dazzling splendor. The afterglow spread, painting the clouds in vibrant hues of red and purple, beautiful and ever-changing, a sight that captivated the eye.

Looking down, mountain ranges stretched endlessly, shimmering in the sunset's glow. Rivers surged, mighty and vast, their waters reflecting the sky, merging with the setting sun in a fleeting spectacle.

Zhang Tie stood on the deck, gazing at the scenery under the setting sun. A surge of ambition, a desire to rival the Heavenly Dao itself, welled up within him. In this moment, his pursuit of power and his longing for eternal life became even more resolute.

After more than two hours had passed, everyone's gaze, as if by unspoken agreement, focused on one spot. True Man Miao and True Man Zhao, figures of grace, descended from the five-story pavilion to the front of the deck.

Zhang Tie instantly understood. They must be nearing the location of the Secret Realm.

As expected, after only a dozen breaths, the flying ship's speed gradually decreased, like a weary bird returning to its nest. Its altitude also lowered. Soon, the disciples joyfully spotted a vast, boundless canyon below. The canyon was ablaze with lights, bustling with activity, and filled with figures. It seemed other sects had already arrived.

The flying ship stopped steadily about a hundred meters above the canyon. The disciples quickly and orderly formed ranks, quietly awaiting the True Men's commands.

Just then, a bold and resonant voice, like a booming bell, echoed from below: "Welcome, esteemed fellow cultivators from the Hundred Skills Sect!" A figure suddenly appeared before the flying ship. He wore a vibrant red robe, like flames, his red hair dancing in the wind like burning embers. His face was covered in a thick, thorny beard, and even his exposed skin was reddish, as if scorched by fire, exuding a fiery and wild aura.

True Man Miao and True Man Zhao moved like lightning, instantly appearing before the red-faced elder. They clasped their fists and bowed, saying, "Greetings, fellow cultivator Yi."

Following that, the red-faced old man, with a focused expression, took out a mysterious token and slowly infused it with his potent spiritual power.

Then, a dazzling beam of light shot out from the token, like lightning, striking downwards. Below, a massive and majestic red light barrier suddenly appeared. The barrier trembled slightly, as if a sleeping beast had been gently awakened. From where the beam had entered, a wide opening slowly parted, like the gaping maw of a colossal beast.

Led by the red-faced old man, the three quickly flew into the opening, with the flying ship following closely behind, like a loyal bird trailing its master.

Upon reaching a vast, flat area, the flying ship slowly descended, like a light leaf, finally settling gently on the ground. Then, True Man Zhao, with a serious gaze and practiced movements, took out a set of formation flags. He wielded them with fluid grace, arranging them around the flying ship.

Afterward, he solemnly addressed everyone, "Return to your rooms and rest. Do not go out unless it is absolutely necessary." The disciples responded in unison, their voices clear, loud, and firm. They then orderly returned to their respective rooms.

Subsequently, everyone watched as True Man Miao and the red-faced old man stood side-by-side and flew away, their figures gradually disappearing into the distance. True Man Zhao, meanwhile, returned to the five-story pavilion of the flying ship.

The night passed silently. The next morning, the sunlight, like a golden veil, gently fell upon the flying ship. The disciples gathered neatly on the deck, all spirited and alert, their eyes filled with anticipation and nervousness.

True Man Miao, his robes fluttering, waved his sleeve. Twenty silver tokens flew out from his storage bag. The tokens shimmered with a mysterious light, dispersing evenly and hovering steadily before each person.

"These are the tokens to be used for this sect's Secret Realm Grand Competition. You must all safeguard them carefully. Because the opening time of the Secret Realm can vary by one to two months, various sects will be arriving in the coming days. You are to wait here on the flying ship. Do not wander off carelessly, lest you cause unnecessary trouble."

True Man Miao paused slightly and continued, "Some of you know each other and share deep friendships; others have never met and are unfamiliar with one another. Before we enter the Secret Realm, you may get acquainted and build trust. If there is any urgent matter, you can find me or True Man Zhao on the fifth floor."

The disciples clasped their fists in acknowledgment and then turned back to their rooms.

That day, Zhang Tie was engrossed in his studies in his room.

Suddenly, a soft knock echoed, sounding particularly clear in the quiet room. Hearing the sound, Zhang Tie got up, opened the door with steady steps, and looked up to see a handsome young man with long hair.

The young man clasped his fists, bowed slightly, and said, "I am Jiang Yun, living next door. May I know your name, Senior Brother?"

Zhang Tie stepped aside, inviting the young man into the room. He gestured for him to sit and then said, "I am Zhang Tie. May I ask why Junior Brother Jiang has come?"

"Brother Zhang need not worry. I was simply anxious about when the Secret Realm would open, so I came to get acquainted with you, Brother Zhang. It's partly to pass the tedious waiting time, and partly in case we are teleported to different locations within the Secret Realm, it would be good to have a companion to look out for each other and rely on," Jiang Yun said with a smile, his tone sincere.

"Junior Brother Jiang's words are indeed well-considered. However, I wonder how much Junior Brother Jiang knows about other sects or the trials within the Secret Realm?" Zhang Tie asked, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

"Besides the information in the Secret Realm handbook that you and I both possess, I actually know some hidden details not mentioned there. I can share them with Senior Brother Zhang, and perhaps they will be of some help," Jiang Yun said.

"Please enlighten me, Junior Brother Jiang. I am all ears," Zhang Tie replied, his expression serious, his gaze focused on Jiang Yun.

"Actually, it's not anything so secret that it cannot be revealed. I just happened to hear it from someone else. After all, entering the Secret Realm is fraught with peril, filled with endless dangers and challenges. So, for someone like me, who is only at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, after being teleported in, the best course of action is to find a hidden and safe place to hide, activate a stealth formation, and cultivate diligently without distraction.

This is because the spiritual energy density inside is ten times that of the outside world, and possibly several times more in the deeper areas. Seize this rare opportunity to break through to Foundation Establishment, and after establishing the foundation, stabilize your realm. Do not harbor any thoughts of searching for treasures everywhere. This method is currently recognized by all sects as the one with the highest survival rate," Jiang Yun explained in detail.

"Then, according to Junior Brother Jiang's words, wouldn't it be quite safe, and the tokens difficult to snatch?" Zhang Tie asked, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Of course, it's not that simple. Nothing is that easy. The tokens are all meticulously crafted. Upon entering the Secret Realm, one must drip their own blood into it to activate it before entering. And between tokens, as long as the distance is within ten li, the other party's location will be clearly displayed," Jiang Yun said seriously and earnestly.

"Then isn't it simple? Just discard the token," Zhang Tie said without thinking.

"You're thinking too naively. Since it's activated with your own blood, if someone else holds your token and activates it, they can easily find you, like a beacon in the dark night, with nowhere to escape," Jiang Yun said with a wry smile, a hint of helplessness in his voice.

"Then luck becomes quite important," Zhang Tie couldn't help but sigh deeply.

"Naturally. But this is still the method with the highest known survival rate. Also, if you encounter anyone from the Crimson Fire Sect, do not engage them head-on. Their cultivation techniques are powerful and formidable, and they possess many coveted treasures. If you encounter them, either flee at your fastest speed to preserve yourself, or hand over all your tokens and storage bags to beg for a sliver of survival," Jiang Yun said solemnly again.

Zhang Tie nodded, his expression grave, but he remained silent. He knew this himself, understanding that among the many sects, the people from the Crimson Sun Sect were the most difficult to provoke.

Zhang Tie and Jiang Yun conversed for a long time, discussing everything from the path of cultivation to the dangers of the Secret Realm, from sect secrets to strange tales of the world. They exchanged transmission jade slips so they could contact each other and offer support at critical moments. Finally, Jiang Yun rose to take his leave and departed from the room.