Gathering of Powerful Experts

Just as Xiao Ming headed towards the Secret Realm entrance, unrest continued in Black Mark City thirty miles away.

Just as Xiao Ming had expected, the pillar of light that had suddenly soared into the sky, along with the energy fluctuation from just now, had attracted the attention of nearly every powerful expert in Black Mark City at the first time.

Sensing the pure energy contained within that fluctuation, many people wore astonished expressions before swiftly darting out of their rooms. In less than a minute, every tall building and elevated spot in Black Mark City was filled with figures.

"Where did that energy fluctuation come from just now?"

"Seems like it was west of Black Mark City."

"Quickly look, what is that?!"

"How did a pillar of light suddenly appear west of Black Mark City?"

"Could that violent energy fluctuation just now mean some treasure has appeared?!"

"Could a Secret Realm have opened? I once read in a book that when the cave mansion of a high-level expert emerged, it would cause an astonishing commotion. This probably isn't too different."

As more and more figures appeared, the whispered discussions grew increasingly numerous. Some who hadn't understood what was happening, upon hearing these words, gradually gained a trace of greed in their eyes as they looked at the pillar of light.

Indeed, regardless of what the pillar of light was, anything capable of causing such a commotion was no ordinary object. It absolutely could not be missed.

"Quickly report this to the Sect Master!"

"You, go inform Elder Xuetian. We'll investigate first; have him quickly gather men to support us!"

"Hahaha, our Three Brothers truly hadn't come to this auction for nothing! Didn't expect to encounter a treasure's emergence. Although many powerful experts have gathered in Black Mark City this time, all three of us are Dou Wangs, so we need not fear them. Second Brother, Third Brother, let's go!"

"Gate Master, should we gather our men?"

"..."

Looking at the pillar of light that pierced through the clouds and shot into the heavens, these powerful experts who had spent years fighting and killing in the Black Corner Region ultimately proved unable to restrain themselves. They circulated their Dou Qi and shot towards the pillar of light.

Among them, several people could even be seen transforming their Dou Qi into wings, streaking through the sky at speeds beyond the reach of ordinary people. They quickly disappeared from everyone's line of sight.

Clearly, they were experts above the Dou Wang level who had come to Black Mark City for the auction.

Some of the figures originally shooting towards the pillar of light couldn't help but halt after seeing those experts soaring through the heavens.

But there were still people confident in their own strength. Rather than being intimidated, they accelerated.

Within dozens of miles around the pillar of light, what had happened in Black Mark City was constantly repeating itself.

A large number of powerful experts were rapidly approaching the Secret Realm.

Naturally, Xiao Ming had no way of knowing any of this.

At this moment, he had already arrived at the location of the pillar of light marking the Secret Realm entrance.

The place where the pillar stood was different from the ordinary areas of the Black Region Great Plains covered in black soil.

Several hundred meters around the pillar were entirely paved with white jade. Strange patterns were carved into this jade, and the patterns emitted white light, faintly resonating with the pillar at the very center.

This square paved with jade lay several dozen centimeters lower than the surrounding black earth.

Presumably, this jade had always been buried underground. Only after the energy fluctuation just now blew away the black soil covering its surface had this Jade Stone Plaza seen daylight again.

Having finally reached his destination, Xiao Ming did not act rashly. He knew that the Secret Realm had not fully opened yet. Only after the jade lost its glow could people enter; otherwise, anyone too weak who rashly entered the Jade Stone Plaza would be blasted into Blood Mist by the energy on the spot.

Moreover, he was not the first to arrive. Others had already reached the area around the Jade Stone Plaza before him.

At this moment, those who had arrived before Xiao Ming were fiddling around at the edge of the Jade Stone Plaza, looking eager to give it a try.

However, Xiao Ming's arrival made them stop what they were doing.

"Boss, someone's here." Among them, a thin, sharp-faced man looked at Xiao Ming and cautiously spoke to the strong man in their midst.

"Nonsense, I saw him. You think I don't have eyes?"

"No, Boss, I mean this pillar of light is a major matter. Should we..."

As he spoke, the thin man made a throat-slitting gesture.

Clearly, he wanted to kill Xiao Ming so that they could have the Jade Stone Plaza all to themselves.

Hearing the thin man's suggestion, the strong man glanced around at his companions.

There were nine of them in total. He was a Da Dou Shi, with three little brothers at the Dou Shi level and five Dou Zhes. There was only one person on the other side, and his strength was unknown. It seemed like this might work.

But after thinking it over, he shook his head and said,

"This pillar of light shoots straight into the sky and the commotion is astonishing. It'll definitely attract more people later, and there may even be experts above the Da Dou Shi level among them. With our strength, we can't occupy this place. Better not create unnecessary trouble."

After hearing the strong man's words, the thin man also realized that his idea just now had been somewhat wishful thinking. He awkwardly patted his nose and did not speak again.

They had spoken quietly, so Xiao Ming had not heard them very clearly. But the thin man had made no attempt to hide his throat-slitting gesture, and his ill intent was obvious.

Just as Xiao Ming frowned, thinking he had encountered trouble again and waiting for them to make a move, he saw that they had gone silent instead, leaving him somewhat puzzled.

In the end, Xiao Ming put some distance between them, and both sides remained peaceful.

Over the next few minutes, just as the strong man had said, people gradually arrived around the Jade Stone Plaza.

As the number of people grew, not everyone had the patience to wait.

Finally, someone proved unable to restrain himself and wanted to enter the Jade Stone Plaza, approach the pillar of light, and investigate it.

Xiao Ming watched that person's suicidal action and shook his head without changing expression.

Didn't you see that no one else had moved? Why were you in such a hurry?

Bang!

Just as Xiao Ming had expected, the moment that person entered the Jade Stone Plaza, a white light enveloped him.

After being enveloped, this person, who possessed roughly the strength of a Da Dou Shi, turned red in the face. His body swelled like a balloon, then exploded within seconds, and a cloud of red Blood Mist spread through the air.

A light breeze blew past, scattering the Blood Mist. There was nothing left where he had stood moments ago. The person who had trespassed onto the square had not even left behind a single bone!

Seeing the fate of that Da Dou Shi, the previous clamor around the Jade Stone Plaza abruptly vanished, replaced by an extreme silence.

Those who had originally been eager to try all broke out in cold sweat.

They secretly rejoiced that they had not acted rashly. Otherwise, the one reduced to nothing just now would have been them.

After several seconds of silence, dozens of shadows suddenly emerged in the Eastern Sky. Some larger black dots were also faintly visible not far behind them.

"Hahaha, this should be the Treasure's Birthplace, right? Didn't expect it to be so close." The figures rapidly grew from small to large, while rough laughter, carried by Dou Qi, resounded across the land.

Boom! Several figures rapidly darting through the sky abruptly stopped, and sharp Wind-Breaking Vigor Qi rang out like a clap of thunder in midair.

The people around the Jade Stone Plaza raised their heads in astonishment, looking at the dozen or so figures that had appeared above their heads. Their pupils suddenly contracted, and after a while, they swallowed hard.

"Dou King experts?!!"

Not long after these people appeared, several loud roars rang out. The distant black dots gradually grew larger, and moments later, Giant Demonic Beasts with Huge Wings gradually appeared in the sky above the area.

These enormous Magical Beasts hovered in midair as several figures leaped down from their backs, eventually landing lightly not far from those powerful experts standing in the air.

They were clearly their subordinate forces.

The strong man who had arrived before Xiao Ming saw those Dou King experts, and his pupils had already shrunk to pinpoints. Then, when he saw the figures jumping down from the Magical Beasts' backs, he felt his legs begin to tremble.

Because among them were many Dou Ling-level experts.

The reason for the strong man's trembling legs was simple.

Dou King experts were powerful and generally would not bother with small fry like them, but the same was not necessarily true of these Dou Lings.

Thanks to I Love Eating Rice Balls for the 500 Point Coin reward, reader 160412001716730 for the Monthly Pass, and everyone for the Recommendation Tickets.