Zhulong Secret Realm

Looking at the magnificent scene ahead, a surge of heroic spirit welled up in Ling Xuan's heart.

In this life, he was determined to carve out a glorious reputation across this boundless starry sky and conquer this vast universe.

Well, conquering it by riding on the coattails of others still counts as conquering.

Passing through the brilliant starlight and swirling clouds, the spaceship landed steadily in front of a massive and ancient temple.

This Mangu Temple was built from giant stones exuding an archaic aura, their surfaces covered in strange runes that seemed to tell the story of the passing ages.

At the main entrance of the temple, several enormous stone pillars rose from the ground, carved with lifelike ancient beasts of various forms, as if they might break free from their constraints and roar at the sky at any second.

The temple roof was dome-shaped, its mysterious metallic luster shimmering under the cosmic rays, adding a sense of solemnity and mystery.

A group of youths filed out from the spaceship's cabin door and quickly formed a neat line.

The Domain Lord-level elder leading them stepped forward with a stride, his gaze like a torch as he scanned everyone and said loudly, "Your trial range is within ten thousand kilometers outside the Mangu Temple, and the duration is three days. Do not think that simply killing a Planet-level Tier 3 beast will be easy; the dangers in this secret realm far exceed your imagination, and it is by no means limited to Planet-level beasts."

His expression was grave as he paused to continue his lecture, "In field combat, you must always be mindful of your surroundings and utilize the terrain and resources. If you encounter a beast you cannot contend with, do not force it; call for rescue via the Virtual Universe. But remember, once you call, you are considered eliminated and will have to wait until next year to complete the Coming-of-Age Ceremony with the next batch, which is undoubtedly a very shameful thing. However, no amount of shame is worth losing your life; safety is always the top priority!"

After a brief pause, the burly man's tone softened slightly, and he encouraged, "But I believe in you all; you are the fine seedlings of the Mangu Tribe. As long as you remain calm and give it your all, you will surely pass the trial. Go, and prove your strength to the tribe!"

With that said, the youths took a deep breath, filled with nervousness and anticipation, and strode away from the temple toward the depths of the secret realm, which was full of unknowns and challenges.

Ling Xuan and his two twin sisters mingled in the crowd and quietly stepped into the dense forest.

Near the Mangu Temple, a strange silence permeated the air.

Although the beasts living in the Zhulong Secret Realm did not know that humans were the peak race of the universe, the survival laws of trillions of epochs had long been etched into their blood—every temple was a forbidden zone that could not be touched.

Therefore, traces of beasts were rarely seen here, with only the occasional falling withered leaf and the faint sound of wind breaking the silence.

"I heard that treasures appear in every secret realm. I wonder what kind of treasures will appear in the Zhulong Secret Realm?" Ling Xue's eyes shone; with her lively personality, she could not hide her curiosity and excitement even while in the secret realm.

"Second sister, the Zhulong Secret Realm is very dangerous. Even the elders only let us move within a range of ten thousand kilometers around the area, so don't even think about treasures, okay? Completing the mission is the most important thing this time."

The eldest, Ling Yue, frowned slightly, her tone steady, her eyes filled with worry and vigilance.

"I was just curious." Ling Xue pouted and muttered in response.

Seeing that the two were about to start bickering again, Ling Xuan quickly smoothed things over, "Alright, my two beautiful and lovely sisters, let's settle down for a moment."

Under his persuasion, the two quieted down and focused their attention on the gloomy dense forest around them.

As the three of them ventured deeper, the beast roars coming from afar grew lower and more frequent, as if countless giant beasts were lurking in the shadows, waiting for prey to approach.

"Be careful, we are already getting close to the edge of the Mangu Temple's range; it is very likely we will encounter some powerful beasts." Eldest sister Ling Yue gripped the Beast Bone Blade in her hand, the blade gleaming with cold light in the dim light. She scanned the surroundings vigilantly, not letting any movement escape her.

Second sister Ling Xue also swallowed, gripping her spear tightly, and the two tacitly protected Ling Xuan in the middle.

Looking at his sisters' tense expressions and their "facing a formidable enemy" demeanor, a warm current surged in Ling Xuan's heart.

The Coming-of-Age Ceremony was the first real-world combat experience for the members of the Mangu Tribe. Although his two sisters were a few years older than him, they also lacked experience in facing real beasts.

Even if the simulations in the Virtual Universe were realistic, they could not bring the suffocating tension and fear of facing a life-and-death crisis.

Ling Xuan gripped his Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear, the blade flashing with cold light.

Although Ling Xuan had not yet mastered a Planet-level secret technique, relying on the secret technique he had learned at the Apprentice level, he could exert twelve times his force.

As for the beasts in the Zhulong Secret Realm, they lacked complete inheritance and fought only by their physical talents; even if they stepped into the Planet level and possessed intelligence, they could only exert 4 to 6 times their physical force.

In this way, Ling Xuan's combat power was enough to rival a Planet-level Tier 2 beast.

However, he knew in his heart that when facing an experienced Planet-level Tier 3 beast, his chances of winning were still slim, and a moment of carelessness could land him in a desperate situation.

After advancing another few hundred kilometers, the roars of beasts made their eardrums ache, and the surrounding air seemed to be filled with a dangerous aura.

Ling Yue stopped and suggested, "We are already some distance away from the Mangu Temple, and there are many traces of beasts nearby. Let's train here, shall we? Let's find two beasts to practice with first, and then look for a Planet-level Tier 3 beast."

In this tense and oppressive atmosphere, even Ling Xue, who usually loved to bicker, nodded silently without refuting.

The three of them held their detectors, holding their breath, and moved cautiously through the deep, dark jungle where vines were wantonly intertwined.

The surroundings were oppressively quiet, with only the occasional "beep" from the detector, as if breaking the deathly silence, or perhaps sounding an alarm for the unknown danger to come.

Ling Yue's gaze was like a torch, staring intently at the detector screen, not missing any subtle changes.

Soon, several red dots flickered on the screen, which were actually the traces of several Planet-level Tier 1 and Tier 2 beasts.

"Found them!" Ling Yue lowered her voice, her eyes revealing a hint of excitement and nervousness.

The three exchanged glances quickly, and relying on the rich combat experience accumulated in the Virtual Universe, they instantly and tacitly dispersed, each locking onto a beast and approaching quietly.

Ling Yue moved with agility, like a leopard in the dark night, the Beast Bone Blade in her hand flashing with cold light, striking at the beast's vital points like a venomous snake emerging from its hole.

The beast sensed the danger, turned around abruptly, bared its sharp fangs, and let out a series of roars.

Ling Yue was not afraid, and as the blade light flashed, she engaged in a fierce confrontation with the beast.

Ling Xue brandished her spear, gave a delicate shout, and charged toward her target with the force of a thunderbolt.

Every swing of the spear carried immense power, forcing the beast to retreat step by step.

The spear in her hand was like a nimble dragon, thrusting, parrying, or sweeping, leaving the beast with no way to defend itself.

Ling Xuan moved flexibly, using his small stature to his advantage, weaving rapidly around the beast.

The Three-Pointed Double-Edged Spear in his hand flashed with cold light, and finding the right moment, he delivered a fatal blow to the beast.

Warm blood splattered onto his face; he wiped it away, his eyes gleaming with excitement and determination.

The combat experience gained in the Virtual Universe was being fully unleashed in reality, allowing them to gradually find their rhythm in battle.

After a fierce skirmish, the three of them successfully slaughtered their respective targets.

Panting heavily and covered in the blood of the demonic beasts, they stood in air thick with the pungent stench of gore.

Ling Yue scanned their surroundings vigilantly, holding her Beast Bone Blade across her chest as she said, "Don't let your guard down yet, the detector hasn't..."

Before she could finish, the ground beneath their feet suddenly trembled slightly, as if something heavy was moving rapidly in the distance.

The three of them instantly tensed up, gripping their weapons tightly as they watched their surroundings with caution.

However, the tremors quickly vanished, and there were no abnormal signals on the detector, causing the three of them to finally breathe a sigh of relief.

"Reality is still different from the Virtual Universe," Ling Xue muttered. "If this were the Virtual Universe, we would have charged over to investigate immediately. But in reality, it's better to be careful."

Devouring Seedling, seeking your support.