Need produce full 81 paragraphs, but token budget concern 4k. Let's do concise. Count paragraphs likely 81. Ensure blank lines. Chapter title

Inside the Martial Pavilion, Li Yue's recruitment call was still echoing.

Looking at the hesitant inner disciples around him, he added with greater emphasis, "I, Li Yue, always keep my word. As long as you follow me, if we encounter demonic beasts or disciples from other sects in the secret realm, I'll go first! You only need to help with the odd jobs and gather resources. In the end, just give me thirty percent. It's a sure profit with no downside!"

As soon as he said this, quite a few disciples at the seventh level of the Qi Gathering Realm were thoroughly tempted.

Though they had reached the threshold, they did not have much confidence in fighting opponents above their level. Following Li Yue would indeed keep them alive.

More than a dozen people raised their hands one after another.

"Senior Brother Li, I'm in!"

"I'll join too!"

In the blink of an eye, more than ten people had gathered behind Li Yue, most of them disciples of ordinary strength.

Yet even more disciples remained unmoved, their gazes unconsciously drifting toward Zhao Yu by the window.

The appeal of being the number one inner disciple far surpassed Li Yue's.

Finally, Zhao Yu slowly opened his eyes and stood up.

He said nothing unnecessary, merely sweeping his gaze around. "Those willing to join my team, come over yourselves."

There were no promises of protection and no conditions for dividing resources, yet the surrounding disciples seemed to have heard a command. In an instant, they swarmed over.

Among them was Ding Hao, who had just broken through to the fifth level of the Qi Gathering Realm.

Ding Hao squeezed to the front, his face full of excitement as he schemed inwardly: Following Zhao Yu, the number one inner disciple, would not only guarantee his safety but also let him earn more resources while he was at it—enough to make up for the ten low-grade spirit stones he had previously lost to Ye Feng.

In the blink of an eye, more than twenty disciples had gathered behind Zhao Yu, nearly twice as many as on Li Yue's side.

Watching this scene, Li Yue let out a heavy snort. His expression displeased, he glared at Zhao Yu, but Zhao Yu did not even spare him a sidelong glance. He walked straight to the front of the group and closed his eyes to rest.

In a corner of the Martial Pavilion, Ye Feng continued to stand alone.

He watched as the two major factions finished dividing themselves up. Three or four other prodigies from the inner sect's top ten had also chosen to act alone.

Though these people were not as strong as Zhao Yu or Li Yue, they had the confidence to stand on their own and were unwilling to rely on others.

Ye Feng nodded inwardly. This was the state I wanted.

Just then, Zhao Yu suddenly moved.

He walked straight toward Ye Feng. His pace was neither hurried nor slow, yet it drew everyone's attention.

The Martial Pavilion instantly fell silent. Even Li Yue looked over curiously.

"You're Ye Feng, aren't you?" Zhao Yu stood before Ye Feng. His voice was calm, yet carried an unquestionable presence. "I heard that when you were at the first level of the Qi Gathering Realm, you defeated Ding Hao, who possessed the rudimentary form of saber intent. Join my team, and I'll guarantee that you stay alive in the secret realm."

As soon as these words came out, the Martial Pavilion exploded!

"My heavens! Zhao Yu actually invited Ye Feng himself?"

"The number one inner disciple personally spoke to him—what incredible face! Ye Feng will definitely agree, right?"

"If it were me, I would have nodded already! With Zhao Yu, wouldn't we be able to run rampant through the secret realm?"

Ding Hao stood within Zhao Yu's faction. His heart gave a jolt, then relaxed again.

He had been afraid that Ye Feng would cause him trouble after joining, but then he thought it over. With Zhao Yu personally inviting him, how could Ye Feng possibly refuse?

Yet Ye Feng was slightly stunned before shaking his head. "Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Zhao, but I'm used to acting alone. I have no plans to join a team."

"What? He actually refused?"

"Is he insane? This was Zhao Yu's invitation! What will he do if he encounters danger in the secret realm after missing this opportunity?"

"Even arrogance has its limits! He's only at the third level of the Qi Gathering Realm. Does he really think he can run rampant in the secret realm?"

The disciples' discussions instantly turned shrill, and quite a few looked at Ye Feng as if he were a fool.

Ding Hao was inwardly delighted. Idiot! He actually refused Senior Brother Zhao. Once we enter the secret realm, there'll be a time when you regret it!

Zhao Yu was also stunned, seemingly not expecting Ye Feng to refuse.

He gave Ye Feng a deep look, said nothing more, and turned back to his own faction.

The discussions inside the Martial Pavilion gradually subsided as well.

No one tried to persuade Ye Feng anymore. They simply regarded him as someone overestimating his own abilities.

Just then, Elder Yin Dang stepped forward and said in a ringing voice, "Since the teams have been formed, let's not waste any more time. Prepare to set out!"

He raised a hand and waved. A streak of spiritual light flew out of his storage ring and landed in the open space outside the Martial Pavilion.

With a muffled boom, the spiritual light dispersed, revealing a flying vessel several dozen zhang long before everyone's eyes.

The flying vessel was crafted entirely from azure spiritwood. Mysterious formation patterns covered its hull, while a soaring eagle with outstretched wings was carved onto the bow, giving it an imposing grandeur.

"This is the sect's flying vessel!" a disciple cried out in shock.

"I heard it consumes a huge amount of spirit stones each time it's activated. Its speed rivals that of a flying demonic beast, and it even comes with formation defenses!"

"Even the most ordinary flying vessel costs more than ten thousand low-grade spirit stones. This sect flying vessel must have taken tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones to build, right?"

"Forget us—even most experts of the Embracing Origin Realm aren't qualified to own a flying vessel like this!"

The disciples all revealed envious expressions. Even a trace of longing flashed through Zhao Yu's and Li Yue's eyes.

Looking at the flying vessel before him, Ye Feng could not help sighing inwardly. It's much more imposing than airplanes on Earth. If I get the chance in the future, I'll definitely buy one myself. It'll make traveling convenient too.

Elder Yin Dang boarded the flying vessel first, then turned back and said, "Come aboard, everyone. Let's hurry on our way."

The disciples boarded the flying vessel in turn, and Ye Feng followed them up.

Elder Yin Dang took out a milky-white mid-grade spirit stone from his storage ring and placed it into the energy array at the center of the flying vessel.

The moment the spirit stone was inserted, the formation patterns on the flying vessel lit up. A powerful thrust surged from its underside. The vessel slowly rose into the air, then accelerated toward the Earth Sun Secret Realm, soon disappearing into the horizon above Flying Cloud Sect.

Half an hour later, the flying vessel slowly descended before a mountain valley.

This was the Poison Barrier Valley, where the Earth Sun Secret Realm was located. The faint scent of miasma still lingered in the air.

The disciples leaped off the flying vessel one after another and could not help exclaiming, "This flying vessel is far too fast! If we had ridden here on horseback, it would have taken at least a day. The flying vessel only took half an hour!"

Elder Yin Dang raised his hand and waved. The flying vessel instantly shrank, transforming into a streak of spiritual light that flew back into his storage ring.

This display once again left the disciples marveling.

Ye Feng looked up and saw a massive bronze gate standing in the center of the valley.

The gate was ten zhang tall, its surface covered in ancient runes. It radiated a weathered, weighty aura, as if it had existed here since the ancient era.

The disciples looked at the bronze gate, their faces filled with awe as they marveled inwardly. So this is the entrance to the Earth Sun Secret Realm? It's certainly magnificent!

Just then, a streak of light sped over from the distant sky.

Everyone looked up and saw a white flying vessel, more exquisite than Flying Cloud Sect's, flying toward them.

The flying vessel slowly descended, and a group of disciples dressed in white stepped down. At their head was an elder in gray robes, whose body radiated the aura of the Embracing Origin Realm.

"They're people from Hundred Sun Sect!" a Flying Cloud Sect disciple said in a low voice, wariness coloring his tone.

Elder Yin Dang's expression darkened slightly.

The Earth Sun Secret Realm was located between the two sects and had been discovered by them together back then.

Every year when the secret realm opened, both sects had to participate.

They not only had to wait for the miasma to dissipate, but also needed each sect to hold one key before they could open the bronze gate. Neither could be missing.

The disciples from Hundred Sun Sect walked over, their eyes filled with provocation and disdain as they looked at the disciples of Flying Cloud Sect.

The gray-robed elder at their head cast a faint glance at Elder Yin Dang, the corner of his mouth curling into a cold smile. "Elder Yin, you arrived quickly enough. But arriving quickly doesn't mean your strength is greater."

Elder Yin Dang was unwilling to show weakness and replied with a cold laugh, "Elder Wang, trading barbs is meaningless. As for who is stronger or weaker, once we enter the secret realm, let the disciples settle it themselves!"

Elder Wang snorted coldly and said no more. Yet the atmosphere between the disciples of the two sects instantly became tense, as if the air itself were filled with the smell of gunpowder.

Ye Feng stood at the edge of the Flying Cloud Sect disciples, coldly observing everything.

He had not joined any team, maintaining his independent stance throughout.

He knew very well that after entering the secret realm, they would not only have to fight for resources but also face the provocations of Hundred Sun Sect's disciples.

Especially Du Feng, the Hundred Sun Sect disciple he had encountered in the market before. If they met in the secret realm, a clash would likely be unavoidable.

Moreover, the sharp confrontation between the elders of the two sects hinted that the competition within the secret realm would be far more intense than they imagined. Ye Feng drew a deep breath and tightened his grip on the hilt at his waist.

The journey to the Earth Sun Secret Realm was destined to be anything but peaceful.