The Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range lay three million li beyond the border of Northern Profound Heaven.
It was more than a billion li from the Crystal Palace.
But for Lin Xuan now, even such a terrifying distance was no great problem.
He didn't need a special teleportation array.
His Emperor Realm cultivation let him absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth at a furious pace.
With the God-Speed Bracelet turning that energy into terrifying speed, that was more than enough.
In just half a day, he had brought the children to the edge of the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
They looked out.
The mountain range stretched beyond sight, with layer upon layer of peaks, majestic mountains standing in profusion, and magnificent rivers and hills.
Even from far away, they could still feel the demonic wind that blew from the mountains every now and then.
"This place is so huge!"
"It really looks like there are lots of demon beasts!"
Xuanzhu and the others' eyes shone, and they were all terribly excited.
Lin Xuan smiled and swiftly led the children through the clouds and mist into the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range.
The terrain was too rugged for them to keep flying, so Lin Xuan carried the girls down to the ground.
The four little girls immediately took out their swords and warily watched their surroundings.
Lin Xuan took in every expression on his daughters' faces and couldn't help smiling to himself.
These little girls were taking this seriously enough.
"Xuanzhu, do you know how to tell the ranks of demon beasts apart?"
Since he'd brought the children here for a trial, Lin Xuan naturally had to make sure they knew the basics.
Xuanzhu nodded. "Mother told us that a demon beast's rank is determined by the rings of light in its pupils."
"First-rank beasts have one ring, second-rank beasts have two, and so on."
"More powerful than ordinary demon beasts are great demons. Their pupils are golden."
"Even more powerful than great demons are Demon Generals. Their pupils are purplish gold."
Lin Xuan nodded. "Very well said."
Xuanxi, Xuanhan, and Xuanyou hurriedly raised their hands. "Father, we know all that too!"
"Yes, you're all Father's clever girls!" Lin Xuan saw the children competing for his attention again, so of course he had to make them all happy.
Roar!!!
As they spoke, Lin Xuan and the children had already entered the great forest.
A roar that shook heaven and earth suddenly rang out.
Lin Xuan saw the air shudder to his right as a massive streak of black light burst through the bushes and landed in front of him.
A monster stood over ten feet tall, its body covered in black fur and a sharp bull's horn growing from its head. It bared its teeth at Lin Xuan and the children.
When they saw the rings of light in its pupils, all four little girls were startled.
"Oh my heavens, a ninth-rank demon beast!"
"Wow, it's so strong!"
"I'm so scared!"
"Father, hurry and hit it!"
The four little girls hurriedly split into two groups and clung to Lin Xuan's legs.
Lin Xuan couldn't help laughing at them.
When they'd first entered the forest, the four little girls had been full of fighting spirit!
Their attitude had changed way too fast!
"Don't be scared. Father will chase it off right away!"
Lin Xuan comforted his daughters, then casually picked up a branch, channeled his true essence, and shot it out.
Boom!!!
Wrapped in Emperor Realm true qi, the thumb-thick branch shot forward like a cannonball.
It was as fast as lightning, powerful and unstoppable!
The ninth-rank Iron Lion Monster hadn't even come to its senses before it felt a tearing pain in its chest.
Then the branch carried it into the air, and in the blink of an eye it had flown a hundred zhang away.
"Wow! So amazing!"
Xuanzhu and the others covered their little mouths in astonishment.
As expected, Father was the strongest boy in the world!
Xuanyou hurriedly tugged at Lin Xuan. "Father, take us to see if it's dead!"
With Father there, she wasn't scared of that big, bad Iron Lion Monster at all anymore!
"All right, let's go take a look." Lin Xuan took each of his four daughters by the hand and followed the direction the Iron Lion Monster had disappeared in.
Meanwhile.
Deep in the great forest.
A mysterious, dark-yellow light slowly spun in the air.
With each turn, the light grew a little thicker.
It was as if the light were a key to space, slowly turning to open a door between worlds.
About twenty people had gathered not far from the light.
They wore robes of different colors and were dressed in all sorts of ways. At a glance, they seemed to come from different sects.
"I hear this secret realm contains an extremely rare Longevity Flower."
"This flower can be used to make a top-grade Saint-tier pill. It can reshape one's spiritual root and even awaken multiple attributes within it."
"Everyone, let's show what we can do today and compete fairly!"
A burly, bearded man in a black robe spoke in a loud, gruff voice.
He was Lin Tong, sect master of the Giant Sword Sect in Red Firmament Heaven, one of the Nine Heavens Immortal Domain.
He had often brought his disciples to the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range for trials, so he knew its secret realms like the back of his hand.
Likewise, other martial experts from Northern Profound Heaven and Red Firmament Heaven knew these secret realms well.
And so, before the secret realm before them had even opened, a large group had already gathered there.
Lin Tong of the Giant Sword Sect was at the mid-stage of the Spirit Soul Realm, and his strength was no small matter.
Moreover, the Giant Sword Sect had fifty thousand disciples and was fairly well known in Red Firmament Heaven.
None of those present wanted to oppose his proposal.
After all, the secret realm was one thing; there was no point needlessly offending a sect like the Giant Sword Sect and getting themselves into trouble.
Besides, letting everyone compete fairly on their own merits was the best outcome in the first place.
"Forgive me, everyone. You may fight over anything else, but I'll be taking the Longevity Flower!"
Just then, an old man with graying hair and a white robe approached the group with five disciples.
Lin Tong's brow furrowed slightly. "Sect Master Bai of the Windmoon Sect!"
The newcomer was Bai Fengxin, sect master of the Windmoon Sect in Red Firmament Heaven.
The Windmoon Sect had over ninety thousand disciples, and Bai Fengxin himself was a peak Spirit Soul Realm expert, only one step away from the Venerable Realm.
Both individually and as a whole, they far surpassed Lin Tong's Giant Sword Sect.
The other people present, many of whom were weaker than Lin Tong, had even less standing against him.
Feeling Bai Fengxin's imposing aura, everyone present lowered their heads and kept silent.
A peak Spirit Soul Realm expert was strong enough to take on every one of them at once.
At a time like this, anyone who dared say no would bring a world of trouble upon themselves!
"Who's there?"
Bai Fengxin's brow suddenly furrowed. A sharp pressure shot toward a clump of bushes nearby.
A petite figure hurriedly ran out.
She looked about eighteen or nineteen and wore a slightly worn blue dress.
Her delicate, fair, oval face was framed by willow-leaf brows drawn tightly together, and she seemed unable to withstand Bai Fengxin's pressure.
"Why were you hiding in the bushes and eavesdropping?" Bai Fengxin asked condescendingly.
The young woman, Ling Rong, hurriedly shook her head. "I wasn't eavesdropping!"
"Then what were you doing?" Bai Fengxin pressed.
Ling Rong hesitated before replying, "Waiting for the secret realm to open, so I can go inside."
"Oh? What do you want to enter the secret realm for?" Bai Fengxin asked with faint disdain.
He could see clearly that Ling Rong looked as frail as a willow in the wind. She was obviously no martial artist.
Ling Rong clenched her fists, bit her lip, and summoned her courage. "I want to get the Longevity Flower!"
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