That day, Wei Zhong took down the birdcage in the courtyard and put Nine Colors into the Spirit Beast Bag.
He altered his appearance and physique, cast the Aura Concealment Technique, draped himself in a loose black robe and hood, then headed for the market.
Today was the day the secret realm opened.
Perhaps because today was special, the market was packed with crowds, many of whom had traveled from distant places.
Wei Zhong's attire was inconspicuous amid the crowd.
The cries of vendors in the market had continued without pause for two years, and they grew even more fervent with the opening of the secret realm today.
"Rumble!"
A figure stood in the sky above the market.
"That is a Core Formation Cultivator—the Azurewood Sect's Hall Master of Artifacts, Zhao Bai. Rumor has it that he walks the path of body cultivation. His physique is so powerful that he can withstand third-rank magical artifacts head-on. Who would have thought he would be overseeing the opening of this secret realm today?"
Those among the cultivators who were well-informed had already recognized his origins.
Watching his physical body stride through the void, Wei Zhong showed a trace of curiosity.
The path of body cultivation seems rather good.
Most of a Spirit Cultivator's abilities relied on spiritual power. If their spiritual power ran dry during battle, the drop in strength would be terrifying.
Body Cultivators, however, relied on their own physiques, carrying something of the flavor of using a single force to shatter ten thousand techniques.
"Fellow cultivators, I shall be presiding over the opening of this secret realm..."
Even his voice rolled like thunder, and every cultivator below heard it clearly.
"His voice is like thunder. Could he be cultivating a lightning-based body-tempering art?" Wei Zhong silently guessed.
"Those who wish to explore the secret realm, hold your tokens and follow me. Everyone else, stand aside."
With that, he transformed into a long rainbow and flew toward the Azurewood Sect's mountain gate, leaving behind a golden trail in the sky.
So the entrance really is within the mountain gate?
Wei Zhong followed along with the flow of people.
At the same time, Elder Zhao's voice reached his ears.
"Follow the rainbow light closely. Do not stray too far, or if you trigger a restriction, bear the consequences yourselves."
At such a critical moment, no one wished to stir up trouble. The cultivators clung close to the long rainbow.
Some rode flying swords, while others cast spells.
Beneath Wei Zhong's feet bloomed auspicious clouds. Step after step, he was not the least bit slow, following the golden rainbow light into a mountain valley.
Many Azurewood Sect disciples had already been waiting there. They were divided into three groups, while scattered True Inheritor Disciples stood at various sides.
The Pill Hall Master floated in the air.
Seeing that the Rogue Cultivators had arrived, he shouted:
"Disciples, lend this old man a hand."
"By the Hall Master's command!!!"
A pillar of silver light rose from Zhao Bai's chest, while six streams of golden radiance shot from the hands of the disciples and converged into it.
The two lights combined, forming a dazzling "sun" in the air. Even Zhao Bai, a Core Formation Body Cultivator, could not withstand its might and descended to the ground.
The cultivators below felt their hearts pound uneasily, as though some great terror were about to descend.
The dazzling light tore at the void, opening a rift. Through it, the beautiful scenery within could vaguely be seen.
The opening grew larger and larger, finally stopping at thirty meters. The "sun" then went out.
Only then did the terror in the cultivators' hearts dissipate.
"The secret realm is open. Why are you not entering?"
"Thunder" sounded, and only then did the sect disciples and Rogue Cultivators file inside like fish swimming in a stream.
After the cultivators entered, Zhao Bai muttered in a low voice:
"The power of the void is terrifying indeed. Senior Brother was right. Even the spatial passage used to open the secret realm is so unstable. It seems the secret realm truly cannot be preserved."
Then he said to the nearby sect disciples:
"You will guard the passage here."
"Yes!"
Afterward, he transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished without a trace.
"The Hall Master's lightning arts have grown ever more profound. This Golden Thunder Art truly deserves to be called a lightning-based body-tempering technique—its tyranny is extraordinary. Just now, even my mind nearly fell under its sway. The Hall Master's cultivation is probably not far from Mid-stage Core Formation."
The disciples left behind sighed in admiration and turned their gazes toward the Fifth True Inheritor, Luo Zhigang.
"Do not look at me. How could we casually discuss Master's cultivation? We should guard the passage properly and prevent anyone from causing trouble."
"Senior Brother jests. This is the heartland of our sect. What wicked cultivator would dare risk entering this place?"
Though they said so, everyone focused their gazes on the spatial passage in midair before spreading out to guard the surroundings.
"How did it go?"
It was Zhao Bai, who had just departed. He looked at Duan Delong, who was carrying a half-dead figure.
"Three came. I caught one dead. Junior Sister Yu went after the remaining two."
Zhao Bai pulled aside the corpse's face covering and asked in confusion:
"Which little brat is this from?"
Duan Delong shook his head.
"I do not know. Our Azurewood Sect has stood for so many years; if we have not made a thousand enemies, then we have made eight hundred. Aside from the demonic arts on this person, there are no other distinguishing features."
As soon as he finished speaking, another voice rang out:
"I did find something. The two of you may as well take a look."
Yu Xianglan had returned after pursuing the other two intruders, tossing them onto the ground.
Their clothes had been deliberately slashed open, revealing nonhuman traits such as "scales" and "tails."
"Demon Cultivators?"
The two immediately understood.
Human cultivators mostly cultivated spiritual arts. Only some with insufficient aptitude, trapped at a bottleneck, would cultivate demon arts in pursuit of a breakthrough. As a result, all manner of demonic beast traits would emerge on their bodies.
"These are lackeys from the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range!"
Over the years, the human cultivation world had coveted the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain Range. How could the demonic beasts within the mountain range not feel the same toward them?
"Three Foundation Establishment cultivators—one demon-path cultivator and two demons. They truly were willing to spend heavily."
Zhao Bai sneered.
"Who knows which fool bewitched this demonic brat into barging into our Azurewood Sect. Did he think our Sect Protecting Formation was just for show?"
"Not necessarily," Yu Xianglan flicked her sleeve, and two sharp cones appeared in the air.
"Second-rank Restriction Breaking Cones?"
Cold sweat emerged on Zhao Bai's forehead. If those two had activated these objects while he was opening the passage, they would certainly have disrupted the opening of the secret realm.
At the same time, the Qi Refining cultivators around them, whether sect disciples or Rogue Cultivators, would all have been caught in it. At most, he could have protected the six Foundation Establishment disciples and escaped.
Remembering it now, lingering fear immediately rose in his heart.
Duan Delong was somewhat calmer. With the two of them protecting the place, no mishap would occur.
"Junior Sister's strength has improved greatly. You actually captured and killed them before they could even use the Restriction Breaking Cones."
"Senior Brother praises me too highly. However, this matter must still be reported to the Sect Master for his decision."
"That is only proper!"
Wei Zhong only felt the world spin around him. When he opened his eyes, he found that he had already left the emerald-green valley and arrived inside the secret realm.
Above him was an azure sky, beneath his feet gray rock, and all around him rose and fell mountain ranges.
It truly deserved the name Qingchuan Secret Realm.
Standing upon auspicious clouds, Wei Zhong surveyed the surrounding terrain.
This should be the edge of Sunset Glow Valley, not far from Mist Ridge Cliff, one of the places where Jade Marrow Mushrooms grew.
My luck is not bad. I may be able to arrive before the others.
Wei Zhong took out a magical sword and gripped it in his hand. Now that he had entered the secret realm, he needed to be more careful. Clouds and mist rose beneath his feet, and when they dispersed, Wei Zhong was nowhere to be seen.
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