Earth Sun Secret Realm

Inside the Mission Hall, Steward Li stared at Ye Feng, a dazed look from just waking up still on his face.

At the words "turn in the mission," he could not help laughing. "Little Friend Ye Feng, surely you remembered wrong? You only accepted the 'exterminate the Black Forest Mountain Bandits' mission this morning. Only a few hours have passed—how could you possibly have completed it?"

In his eyes, even a disciple at the seventh layer of the Qi Gathering Realm would need at least three to five days to finish this mission. Ye Feng was only at the second layer; forget completing it—even whether he could return alive was hard to say.

Ye Feng did not explain. He merely reached into his storage ring, and three blood-soaked heads dropped onto the desk.

They were the three bosses of the Black Forest Mountain Stronghold.

Looking at the stunned Steward Li, he said seriously, "Steward Li, the mission is complete. These are the proof."

The smile on Steward Li's face instantly froze. His eyes widened as he tremblingly picked up one of the heads. After examining it, his expression changed completely. "This... this First Boss is actually at the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm? The other two are also at the seventh layer? You... you're only at the second layer. How could you have dealt with them so quickly?"

He had thought the mission targets were merely ordinary bandits at the seventh layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. He had not expected there to be a tough opponent at the ninth layer as well. Ye Feng's ability to complete the mission in a single day had utterly overturned his understanding of cultivation realms.

Ye Feng did not answer. He only looked at him.

Only then did Steward Li come back to his senses. He hurriedly took out the Inner Sect Jade Tablet, registered 1,000 contribution points on it, and handed it back to Ye Feng with a voice full of emotion. "This mission is extremely difficult. An Inner Sect disciple completing it within three days would already count as fast. You finished it in one day—it's truly rare."

"Oh, right." Before leaving, Ye Feng seemed to remember something and added, "The mission information may have been somewhat inaccurate. The First Boss wasn't at the seventh layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, but the ninth. There were also two other bosses at the seventh layer."

With that, he turned and left, leaving Steward Li standing there in a daze.

Steward Li examined the three heads again. After confirming that the First Boss was indeed at the ninth layer of the Qi Gathering Realm and the other two were at the seventh, he fell completely silent.

After a long while, he muttered, "So Ding Hao's defeat wasn't undeserved. This Ye Feng isn't a genius—he's a monster! The Inner Sect Elders' admiration for him really is justified."

After leaving the Mission Hall, Ye Feng did not exchange the 1,000 contribution points for Spirit Stones. Instead, he went straight to the Hundred Treasures Hall.

His most urgent task now was breaking through to the third layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. Rather than exchanging the points for Spirit Stones and cultivating slowly, it would be safer to exchange them for a pill that could increase his chances of successfully breaking through.

"Shopkeeper, I'd like to exchange for a Qi Condensing Pill," Ye Feng said to the shopkeeper of the Hundred Treasures Hall.

The shopkeeper checked the contribution-point list and nodded with a smile. "A Qi Condensing Pill requires 500 contribution points, so you have just enough. This pill is a great help for breaking through to the third layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. You have a good eye, little friend."

Ye Feng paid the contribution points, accepted the porcelain bottle containing the Qi Condensing Pill, and returned to his Single Courtyard.

For the next half month, Ye Feng remained behind closed doors, relying on the medicinal power of the Qi Condensing Pill to charge at the third layer of the Qi Gathering Realm with all his might.

The Qi Condensing Pill's effects were indeed remarkable. The bottleneck that would originally have required more time to break through gradually loosened under the pill's assistance.

Half a month later, a powerful wave of True Qi suddenly erupted from the courtyard. Ye Feng opened his eyes, a trace of enlightenment flashing within them.

Ye Feng had successfully broken through to the third layer of the Qi Gathering Realm!

After spending several more days stabilizing his realm, Ye Feng finally walked out of the courtyard.

Only then did he remember that he had yet to return the Azure Origin Art and Wind Shadow Sword Art he had borrowed from the Inner Sect Martial Pavilion. He hurriedly changed into clean clothes, took the two books, and went to the Martial Pavilion.

The Pavilion Guard Elder was dozing at the entrance. When he saw Ye Feng approaching, he opened his eyes. Upon recognizing him, he smiled. "It's Ye Feng. What, have you come to return the books?"

"Yes, Elder." Ye Feng bowed and handed over the two books. "I've come to return the Azure Origin Art and Wind Shadow Sword Art."

The Elder accepted the books and flipped through them before asking curiously, "How is your cultivation of the Wind Shadow Sword Art? That Sword Technique is easy to master at the beginning, but reaching perfection is no simple matter. I thought you would need at least half a year to perfect it. Mastering it within a month would already be impressive."

Ye Feng remembered that he had perfected the Wind Shadow Sword Art in just over ten minutes back then, but he showed nothing on his face and merely said calmly, "It's coming along."

The Elder assumed he had yet to perfect it and smiled reassuringly. "It's fine. Take your time. The Wind Shadow Sword Art emphasizes artistic conception; you can't rush it. Ponder it more, and you'll reach perfection eventually."

With that, he placed the books back on the shelves of the Martial Pavilion.

Ye Feng found it somewhat amusing but did not explain.

He did not want to stand out too much right now. Cultivating quietly was the proper path.

Just as he was preparing to leave, the Pavilion Guard Elder suddenly called out to him. "Ye Feng, wait a moment."

Ye Feng stopped and looked at him in confusion.

The Elder sized him up from head to toe. After confirming that he had reached the third layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, he nodded. "Not bad. You broke through quite quickly. When you were only at the first layer of the Qi Gathering Realm, you were already able to defeat Ding Hao despite the gap in cultivation. That strength is outstanding even among the Inner Sect disciples."

He paused before continuing, "The Earth Sun Secret Realm will be opening soon, and I thought I'd tell you about it. The Secret Realm is located in the nearby Liuyang Valley, which is shrouded in miasma all year round. Even experts at the Origin Embracing Realm would not dare enter lightly. However, once every year, the miasma dissipates and weakens. That is the best time to enter."

"There are plenty of opportunities and cultivation resources inside the Secret Realm, but it is also extremely dangerous. Every year around this time, the genius disciples of our Feiyun Sect's Inner Sect go there to test their luck, and the neighboring Baiyang Sect sends people as well. By the rules, participants must be at least at the seventh layer of the Qi Gathering Realm. But your situation is special. I doubt the Inner Sect Elders will refuse to let you participate."

Ye Feng's eyes lit up.

The Earth Sun Secret Realm?

This was a wonderful opportunity to obtain a fortuitous encounter!

After hearing him out, Ye Feng hurriedly cupped his hands. "Thank you for telling me, Elder. I'll come back in three days to register."

"Good." The Elder nodded with a smile.

"Prepare well over these three days. I hope you'll reap quite a harvest in the Secret Realm."

On the way out of the Martial Pavilion, Ye Feng was filled with emotion.

This was the privilege of being a genius.

If he were merely an ordinary Inner Sect disciple, forget participating in the Earth Sun Secret Realm—he probably would not even have been qualified to hear about it.

He clenched his fists, filled with anticipation for the approaching Earth Sun Secret Realm. The Baiyang Sect would be sending people as well, so perhaps he might even encounter an old acquaintance from before. When that time came, he could just see how powerful he really was now.