Hundred Broken Mountains

"Azure Spirit Secret Realm..."

Bai Ye gazed at the figure of the Young Ancestor above the plaza, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing against his sleeve.

Records concerning this secret realm surged through his mind like a tide.

In his memories, he had once seen relevant accounts in ancient books within the Bai Family's Library Pavilion.

The Azure Spirit Secret Realm was a heavenly grotto left behind after an ancient mighty cultivator passed away. Its entrance lay hidden deep within the Hundred Broken Mountains, appearing only once every hundred years or so with the ebb and flow of heaven and earth's spiritual energy. Each opening lasted roughly a month.

More peculiar still, the secret realm possessed its own restrictions. Only cultivators below sixty years of age could enter.

Those beyond the age limit, even great cultivators of the Nascent Soul Realm, could not force their way in and would be flung away by the curtain of light at the entrance.

"They say that every time it opens, it's like a thunderclap crashing down upon Azure State." A disciple nearby spoke in a hushed voice, his tone filled with awe. "After the last secret realm closed, three great sects were wiped out just fighting over the resources brought out from within..."

"That's not all!" Another took over, sounding rather excited. "I heard an elder say that the last time, a Peak Profound Comprehension Realm expert was even born within the secret realm!"

"Before entering, that cultivator was merely an Early Primordial Core rogue cultivator. No one in the sects could even be bothered to spare him a second glance. But after coming out of the secret realm, he soared straight to the heavens in a single step, becoming someone able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the heads of the great sects!"

Bai Ye's heart stirred.

In just a single month, going from the Early Primordial Core to the Peak Profound Comprehension Realm—such a leap was practically defying fate and changing one's destiny!

It seemed the Azure Spirit Secret Realm truly held opportunities capable of overturning a cultivator's fate!

He swept his gaze over the young disciples in the plaza. Most were in the Vein Condensation Realm, while those in the Primordial Core Realm were few and far between.

Then he looked toward the younger elders. Nearly every elder under sixty was in the Primordial Core Realm, with only a handful having reached the Profound Comprehension Realm.

That was perfectly normal.

In Azure State, for cultivators below sixty years of age, the absolute limit of cultivation was the Profound Comprehension Realm.

"My combat strength rivals that of a Peak Primordial Core cultivator, and I have Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping mastered to the pinnacle. If I truly encounter someone in the Profound Comprehension Realm, even if I can't defeat them, I can still retreat unscathed."

Bai Ye's fingers curled slightly, a trace of blazing heat flashing through his eyes. "Looking at it this way, this journey into the secret realm truly is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me!"

In this world of mystic fantasy, talent, innate constitution, and resources were certainly important, but the two words "opportunity" were often just as crucial.

If his luck was good enough, perhaps he could use the opportunities within the secret realm to break through the Primordial Core Realm in one stroke and become a Profound Comprehension Realm expert!

Only after reaching the Profound Comprehension Realm could one truly be said to possess a certain degree of influence in this world!

At the thought, his heartbeat quickened uncontrollably, and even his breathing grew somewhat hurried.

Above the plaza, Sect Master Li Qingyun's voice rang out once more, interrupting everyone's thoughts.

"Disciples, though the Azure Spirit Secret Realm holds opportunities, it also conceals dangers where one may die nine times out of ten!"

His expression was grave, his lightning-like gaze sweeping over the entire crowd. "This old man has three matters to impress upon you today—"

"First, restrictions cover the secret realm, and ancient demonic beasts left behind within guard it as well. A single misstep may lead to death and the dissipation of one's Dao! Once inside, you must proceed with care at every step. Do not grow greedy for achievement and recklessly press forward!"

"Second, with this opening of the secret realm, cultivators from Azure State's thirteen great sects, the three great imperial dynasties, and even the three surrounding states will swarm here. At that time, fish and dragons will mingle together, and the human heart is unfathomable. Fellow disciples must watch out for and aid one another, but when facing outsiders, even if they greet you with a smile, you must still keep three parts of your guard up!"

"Third, should you encounter an unbeatable danger within the secret realm, immediately crush the Communication Jade Talisman issued by the sect. Fellow disciples must do their utmost to come to one another's aid. Remember: life comes first, opportunity second!"

After he finished speaking, several elders added their own reminders in turn.

Some spoke of the tragedies that had occurred during the previous opening of the secret realm.

Some reminded everyone how to distinguish spiritual herbs from poisonous plants within the secret realm.

Others specifically pointed out several forces that had long been at odds with the Azure Cloud Sect, telling the disciples to be extra wary.

Bai Ye listened attentively.

These warnings might sound long-winded, but they were all experience that senior cultivators had exchanged with blood—and even their lives.

He quietly memorized the names of the forces that required caution, especially major powers such as the Blood Spirit Sect and Heavenly Demon Valley, which competed with the Azure Cloud Sect for ranking in Azure State.

Half an hour later, the instructions were complete.

Li Qingyun and the elders turned into several streaks of light and vanished into the horizon, while the Young Ancestor had long since disappeared.

The disciples in the plaza dispersed in groups of two and three, each looking hurried and excited.

Everyone wanted to make full preparations during these three days.

Pills, talismans, healing herbs, defensive artifacts... every extra item they carried meant one more chance in the secret realm.

Bai Ye also turned and returned to his courtyard.

He took stock of his Storage Bag:

three Azure Spirit Pills, over twenty Yellow Grade defensive talismans, a bottle of third-grade healing medicine, Spring Return Dew, and a Profound Grade Low longsword, Azure Edge.

These things were sufficient against Primordial Core Realm cultivators. But if he encountered someone in the Profound Comprehension Realm, he would ultimately still have to rely on Wind Chasing Shadow Stepping to flee for his life.

"I should prepare some more pills."

He thought for a moment, then turned and headed to the sect's Pill Pavilion.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

Azure Cloud Mountain was shrouded in a thin morning mist. Several thousand Inner Disciples had gathered in the square outside the Mountain Gate.

Sect Master Li Qingyun and more than a dozen elders stood in the air. Before them floated three Azure Spirit Boats, each a hundred meters long. Their hulls were covered in Flying Escape Array Patterns, emitting a faint spiritual glow.

"Set off!"

At Li Qingyun's command, the disciples boarded the spirit boats in an orderly fashion.

Whoosh—!

The spirit boats hummed as they rose into the air, tore through the morning fog, and sped toward the Hundred Broken Mountains over seven thousand li away.

Bai Ye stood at the edge of the spirit boat, watching the mountains below race backward.

The spirit boat was incredibly fast, with the wind howling past his ears. A journey that would take an ordinary cultivator half a month required only a single day aboard the spirit boat.

The Hundred Broken Mountains truly lived up to their name. This mountain range, stretching for tens of thousands of li, was carved apart by countless deep valleys and sheer cliffs. Miasma lingered there year-round, demon beasts ran rampant, and ordinary cultivators simply did not dare venture deep inside.

Yet at this moment, the outskirts of the mountain range were exceptionally lively. Countless streams of spiritual light converged from every direction, all cultivators rushing toward the secret realm entrances.

The Azure Spirit Secret Realm had a total of one hundred and eight entrances, scattered throughout the mountains like stars.

By now, every entrance was already crowded with dense masses of people.

Spirit boats and flying swords crisscrossed the sky, while cultivators on the ground gathered in groups of two and three. Conversations and the sounds of Spiritual Energy clashing rose and fell one after another, making the place as lively as a marketplace.

Bai Ye did not follow the main force of the Azure Cloud Sect. When the spirit boat neared the mountain range, he used getting some air as an excuse and quietly left the group.

Even if they entered through the same entrance as their Fellow Disciples, the secret realm's teleportation restrictions would randomly scatter everyone to different places.

Besides, he had planned to act alone from the start.