Hard to Deal With

After reviewing the information provided by the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, Jiang Li gained a thoroughly comprehensive understanding of the Profound Mystery Realm.

Though at first, he had merely wanted to know where the Profound Mystery Realm was.

The one who created the Profound Mystery Realm was known as the Great Dream Hermit, an Body Integration Realm Cultivator. Eight hundred years ago, he had exhausted his strength and died while undergoing the Heavenly Tribulation. Perhaps he had sensed in the unseen that he would not survive the ordeal, so before facing it, he left behind the Profound Mystery Realm—leaving something for later generations, granting Foundation Establishment youths a few opportunities, and thus forming a good karmic bond.

The Profound Mystery Realm opened once every ten years, and the trials differed each time it opened. Sometimes they tested comprehension, sometimes combat strength, and sometimes resistance to wealth and beauty. Even the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion could find no pattern. What could be confirmed was that the Profound Mystery Realm had two levels, and the final rewards varied according to the excellence of one's performance.

For example, five hundred years ago, the Profound Mystery Realm's trial had been related to combat strength. Everyone received a token and could seize others' tokens. Whoever collected the most tokens took first place.

The Profound Mystery Realm lay on the southern frontier of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Every time it opened, it drew sects from several nearby prefectures. It was uncertain whether those sects even had Spirit Transformation Stage cultivators—how could they refuse a secret realm left behind by a mighty figure who had nearly reached the Tribulation Stage?

Jiang Li altered his appearance and arrived near the Profound Mystery Realm.

By now, many sects had brought their core disciples here, simply waiting for the secret realm to open.

Though Jiang Li's cultivation exceeded the Foundation Establishment Realm and did not meet the standard for entering the secret realm, his cultivation likewise surpassed that of the Great Dream Hermit.

The opening of the Profound Mystery Realm was a minor grand occasion for southern Great Zhou. When the time came, all the notable sects from the several southern prefectures of Great Zhou would participate, showing off their outstanding disciples.

Jiang Li looked around and could not name a single sect. The actual situation was indeed much as the system had said: most people present were at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, with only a scattered few at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage. Naturally, the sects with Foundation Establishment Late Stage disciples pointed and whispered about those with Foundation Establishment Middle Stage disciples.

Jiang Li did not cause trouble. He disguised himself as a Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator, utterly inconspicuous among the crowd of Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators.

He could have simply revealed his identity: No more pretending. I'm the Human Emperor. Do me a favor and let me enter the secret realm to take first place.

Jiang Li truly did not place much importance on faith, but he still had his pride.

A dignified Great Ascension Stage cultivator, barging into an Body Integration Realm secret realm to snatch opportunities from a bunch of Foundation Establishment youngsters—if word got out, his few friends would laugh their teeth out.

"Hey, brother, did your sect not send anyone either?" A naturally familiar fellow approached Jiang Li. "What a coincidence—my sect did not send anyone either."

Most people had elders from their sect standing guard, lest the younger generation be bullied. But there were always exceptions, such as the man beside Jiang Li.

He said his name was Qin Luan, the Senior Brother and final disciple of Wind Stabilizing Temple. His master was currently roaming the world and had not returned in more than ten years. As a disciple, he was delighted by the peace and quiet, cultivating on his own to his heart's content.

"Can't be helped. In my sect, I'm the most senior one. There's no one to accompany me."

Jiang Li was not lying.

His sect was the Human Emperor Palace. As the Palace Master of the Human Emperor Palace, he was naturally the most senior.

But in Qin Luan's eyes, Jiang Li's words were no different from saying that all the elders of his sect had died, leaving only him behind.

He had thought that his Wind Stabilizing Temple, with only two people, was already the most miserable sect around. He had not expected to find one even more miserable than his own, and pity immediately rose in his heart.

"Brother Kong Li, don't worry. Since we're birds of a feather, once we're inside the Profound Mystery Realm, your brother here will look after you!" Qin Luan said, patting his chest.

Jiang Li did not use the false name "Zhang Li." Instead, he changed his surname again and called himself "Kong Li."

Whenever he heard the name Zhang Li now, he thought of the Dao Sect Master's smug, villainous face, and it made him grit his teeth in fury.

"I hope there aren't any shameless bastards this time." Qin Luan was someone who could never keep his mouth shut. Seeing that Jiang Li did not speak much, he talked endlessly by himself.

"Brother Kong, do you know? Last time, there was a guy who deliberately suppressed his cultivation and only broke through to the Golden Core after entering the secret realm, taking first place. People like that are too shameless. If I run into someone like that, I'll definitely kick him twice while he's breaking through and make him pay for cheating."

Jiang Li felt that perhaps Qin Luan was not looking for a companion, but an audience.

The sky above them suddenly darkened. An incomparably enormous eagle landed nearby, its sharp eyes seeming to contain Sword Qi.

"An eagle carrying a trace of golden eagle bloodline—which family's people have arrived?" Qin Luan cried out, diligently acting as commentator.

Two people stepped down from the eagle's back. Both carried long swords on their backs and wore spotless white robes. Their gazes were fixed straight ahead, utterly indifferent to the loudly shouting crowd.

"They're from the Forget Love Sect. The people of this sect have no feelings. They trust no one, only the sword in their hands." Qin Luan immediately identified the two. "It's the Seven Kill Dao Child and his elder."

A trace of gravity appeared between Qin Luan's brows. "He's hard to deal with. I've fought him before. Out of ten matches, I only won eight."

Jiang Li was slightly surprised. "He actually calls himself Seven Kill. What does he have to do with the Seven Kill Stele of the Immortal World?"

He should have heard of such a person before. Why had he never heard of him?

"No, he's called Seven Kill simply because he thinks Seven Kill sounds cool."

"..."

"Hm? Where did these flower petals come from?" Qin Luan looked up and saw two women in pink gauze dresses drifting down. The pink petals vanished along with them. The younger woman was lively and adorable, with an exceptionally likable personality, while the slightly older one wore an indifferent expression that kept her admirers from approaching.

"They're from the Falling Cherry Blossom Sect!" someone called out Qin Luan's answer for him.

"It's Song Ying and her master." Another trace of gravity appeared between Qin Luan's brows. "She's hard to deal with. I've fought her before. Out of ten matches, I only won six."

The moment Song Ying landed, she looked around. Upon seeing Qin Luan with his solemn expression, she skipped over to greet him.

"Hehe, Qin Luan, we meet again. This time, I won't lose to you."

As she spoke, she even waved her delicate little fist.

But Qin Luan paid her no attention and instead warned Jiang Li.

Qin Luan's expression became even more solemn. "Be careful of Song Ying. She thinks she can't beat me, so she wants to use her beauty to throw my Dao Heart into disorder. She's extremely scheming!"

Jiang Li thought, Even I, a blind man, can tell she likes you. Can't you see how her master looks like she wants to draw her sword and chop you, you blockhead, to death?

"Is it possible that she actually likes you?" Jiang Li could not help asking.

"Absolutely impossible." Qin Luan spoke with utter certainty. "Once, I asked her, 'Do you like me?' She said, 'Who would like an idiot like you?'"

Jiang Li nodded lightly. It seemed Song Ying truly did not like Qin Luan.

"You need to watch out for those two. They'll be your greatest competitors."

This time, Jiang Li did not nod. In his eyes, the greatest competitor in this trial was someone else.

His gaze settled on an utterly inconspicuous disciple.

A Foundation Establishment Late Stage body, yet a Spirit Transformation soul within.

Possession.