Wu Yuan, First Hearing of the Secret Realm

Wu Yuan was now a teenager, his features delicate and handsome. His cultivation had reached the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm, and he looked at Xu Yang with an expression of excitement.

Xu Yang raised a hand and beckoned to him, saying, "The little guy has grown up, and your cultivation has improved quite a bit. It seems you've been working hard these past few years! Have you been listening to Senior Sister Li?"

Wu Yuan replied with a beaming smile, "Of course I've been obedient. I've been training hard these past few years, striving to improve my cultivation as quickly as possible so that I can venture into the world of cultivation with you."

"Haha! Little guy, your current cultivation is not enough! You must continue to work hard and strive to catch up to me as soon as possible! Given your aptitude and the Master's cultivation, I imagine it won't take long," Xu Yang laughed.

Wu Yuan said with a proud look, "That's right, I'll catch up to you soon. Aunt Li has been praising me constantly!"

Hearing this, Xu Yang looked toward Li Qingqing. Li Qingqing said to Xu Yang, "Wu Yuan has been very well-behaved these past few years and has been training diligently. Foster Father has also been putting great effort into nurturing him, and he will soon be heading to Foster Father's cave dwelling to cultivate. Although the Qi Refining Realm is relatively easy to break through, advancing too quickly can lead to an unstable foundation, affecting future progress. Foster Father wants to watch over him personally."

Xu Yang nodded, saying nothing more on the matter, and the three of them began to chat and laugh. Time passed quickly. Xu Yang looked up at the sky and realized it was getting late. He stood up and said to Li Qingqing, "Senior Sister, it is getting late, so I shall take my leave. I will head to Master's place tomorrow to await his instructions."

Then, Xu Yang turned to Wu Yuan and said, "Cultivation requires a balance of tension and relaxation; don't be too impatient. I don't want you to suffer a cultivation deviation. Also, listen to Senior Sister Li; she won't lead you astray." Wu Yuan nodded earnestly at Xu Yang, signaling that he understood and would listen to Li Qingqing.

Seeing this, Xu Yang nodded to Li Qingqing, turned, and walked out of her pavilion, heading toward his own residence. Behind him, Li Qingqing and Wu Yuan watched Xu Yang leave, only withdrawing their gazes once his figure was no longer visible.

Back at his residence, Xu Yang thought about Li Qingqing's words and felt deeply puzzled, wondering what his master, Qing Yuanzi, wanted with him. After pondering for a while without any leads, he decided to stop overthinking it; he would find out when he went to pay his respects to his master tomorrow.

Early the next morning, Xu Yang left his pavilion and flew toward the back mountain on his sword. He soon arrived outside the cave dwelling of his master, Qing Yuanzi. Before he could call out to pay his respects, the gate of the cave dwelling slowly opened, and Qing Yuanzi's voice came from within: "Number Six, come in quickly! I have something for you to do." Xu Yang hurriedly bowed in acknowledgment and walked into the cave dwelling.

Soon, Xu Yang met Qing Yuanzi in the main hall of the cave dwelling. Xu Yang stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Disciple Xu Yang greets Master. It has been a long time; I hope you have been well? I do not know why you have summoned me, but please, Master, give your instructions."

Qing Yuanzi smiled and said, "I am doing well. You have a good heart. I have summoned you this time because there is a task for you to handle. For you, it is both a blessing and a curse, but looking at your current cultivation, it is no longer a bad thing. As long as you are careful and cautious, you can return unscathed and even obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill."

Hearing the words "Foundation Establishment Pill," Xu Yang's heart skipped a beat. He hurriedly asked, "A Foundation Establishment Pill? Please, Master, speak clearly. What kind of task could possibly earn a Foundation Establishment Pill?"

Qing Yuanzi laughed and explained the ins and outs of the matter in detail. After listening, Xu Yang wore an expression of sudden realization and great joy. He had not expected that just as he was feeling sleepy, someone would hand him a pillow; his Foundation Establishment Pill was finally within reach.

It turned out that a secret realm was about to open. The realm was home to a significant number of Foundation Establishment Grass and Marrow Cleansing Flower. Major righteous factions, such as the Bailian Pavilion, would all be entering the realm to harvest them. However, only cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm could enter; those above the Qi Refining Realm would be blocked at the entrance.

Foundation Establishment Grass and Marrow Cleansing Flower were the main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill. A large portion of the spiritual herbs used by major sects to refine these pills were harvested from this secret realm, which was why the sects placed such great importance on this operation.

They would all select elite disciples from their ranks to enter, most of whom were at the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm. Furthermore, the secret realm had a quota limit, allowing only thirty-six people to enter. According to past rules, the three major righteous factions, including the Bailian Pavilion, each sent ten disciples, while the Loose Cultivator Alliance sent six.

The reason the Loose Cultivator Alliance was included was that the location of the secret realm was extremely close to the Chu Kingdom, where the alliance was based. To win them over, they were granted six spots.

The so-called secret realm was a small space opened up by ancient cultivators that had persisted to this day without collapsing. Generally, secret realms contained precious treasures, which was why their opening attracted the covetous eyes of cultivators. Opening such a space required extremely powerful cultivation, something current cultivators could not achieve.

Qing Yuanzi was sending Xu Yang to the secret realm to harvest Foundation Establishment Grass and Marrow Cleansing Flower for the sect. Naturally, nine others would be going with him, and two Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators would lead the team.

If they could harvest enough spiritual herbs, the sect would naturally reward them, with at least one Foundation Establishment Pill as the minimum. The more they harvested, the more generous the reward; in the past, some disciples had even obtained more than two Foundation Establishment Pills.

The reason the rewards were so generous was that the competition between the major sects was extremely fierce. They often fought in the secret realm, killing disciples from other sects to seize their spiritual herbs, sometimes even wiping out the opposing disciples entirely to ensure their rivals obtained nothing.

Given such dangerous circumstances, the sect naturally had to increase the rewards; otherwise, who would be willing to go? One wrong move could cost them their lives.

The reason Qing Yuanzi chose to send Xu Yang this time was also to reward him. Because Qing Yuanzi was very satisfied with Wu Yuan, he naturally wanted to reward Xu Yang. That was why he had secured this opportunity for him; otherwise, it would never have been Xu Yang's turn. After all, there were many ninth-level Qi Refining disciples in the sect, and they would have fought tooth and nail for a chance to get a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Upon learning the truth, Xu Yang felt extremely excited. Although the trip to the secret realm was very dangerous, it offered a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill—an opportunity too rare to pass up. He had to participate. Thinking of this, Xu Yang bowed to Qing Yuanzi and said, "Thank you, Master, for securing this opportunity for me. This disciple will certainly not fail the mission and will harvest a large amount of spiritual herbs for the sect."

"Haha! Good! In that case, go to the External Affairs Hall and find Xu Xianzhong. He is one of the leaders of this operation and will give you the specific details. Also, be extra careful; don't lose face for your master."

Xu Yang hurriedly agreed and withdrew from the cave hall. Outside, he took to his sword and flew straight toward the External Affairs Hall to report to Xu Xianzhong.

Soon, led by a disciple of the External Affairs Hall, Xu Yang met Xu Xianzhong. Seeing Xu Yang, Xu Xianzhong said with a smile, "Little Friend Xu, you've received the news, haven't you? Although this operation is extremely dangerous, it offers a chance to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. If Elder Qing Yuanzi hadn't strongly recommended you, you wouldn't have gotten this opportunity. It seems Elder Qing Yuanzi thinks very highly of you."

"It is entirely due to Master's recommendation; I am deeply grateful. I will certainly give it my all this time. Senior Xu, as one of the leaders, please tell me the details."

Xu Xianzhong nodded and said, "That is only right. Our sect is sending ten disciples to the secret realm. Aside from you, the other nine are currently on their way back to the sect; they were out training and were not in the sect previously."

"Their cultivation levels are all between the early and peak stages of the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm, on par with you, Little Friend Xu. The secret realm will open in three days. Tomorrow, we will gather and head to the border between the Chu and Chun kingdoms. The secret realm is located near the border of the two countries, and the other three factions will be waiting there."

"As for the situation in the secret realm, I don't know the full details. I only know it is called the Cloud Forest Realm and opens once every ten years. Inside is a dense forest filled with trees called Cloud Forest Trees. They are extremely hard and resistant to blades and swords, making them a material for refining Dharma Artifacts. The Foundation Establishment Grass and other spiritual herbs grow at the base of these trees. As for the depths of the forest, no one has ever reached them because powerful demonic beasts dwell there."

"There are also demonic beasts on the outskirts of the forest, but most are only at the strength of the Qi Refining Realm. In the past, disciples entering the secret realm have only harvested herbs on the outskirts; very few have entered the core of the forest, as those powerful demonic beasts are not something Qi Refining cultivators can withstand."

Having learned these details, Xu Yang finally had a grasp of the situation. He said to Xu Xianzhong with a grateful look, "Thank you, Senior, for clarifying. Where should I report tomorrow? Please, Senior, let me know."

"Just come to the External Affairs Hall tomorrow. The other nine will also gather here. You will need to get to know each other and look out for one another. The competition between the major sects is always fierce whenever the secret realm opens. If you cannot cooperate, the situation may be dire," Xu Xianzhong warned with a serious expression.

Xu Yang felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly bowed, saying, "This junior understands. Thank you for the reminder, Senior. I still need to go and prepare, so I shall take my leave now. Please forgive me."

Xu Xianzhong nodded in understanding, signaling that Xu Yang could go. Xu Yang bowed to him and turned to leave the External Affairs Hall. After parting ways with Xu Xianzhong, Xu Yang did not wander around but returned directly to his residence, sitting cross-legged to adjust his state and prepare for the upcoming operation.

Time passed quickly as Xu Yang cultivated. Early the next morning, he awoke from his meditation, his body full of energy and at his peak state. Feeling satisfied, he did not delay and walked straight out of the pavilion, heading toward the External Affairs Hall.

Upon arriving at the External Affairs Hall, Xu Yang was led by a sect disciple into a side hall. There were already five or six cultivators waiting inside. Xu Yang looked up and saw that their cultivation levels were all around the ninth level of the Qi Refining Realm; they were likely the companions who would be accompanying him to the secret realm.