The Mysterious Sky Secret Realm!

Li Qingshan quietly emerged from underground, breathing in the outside air again, tinged with the stench of blood and decay.

He immediately circulated the Lesser Heaven-Veiling Secret Art with all his might, suppressing his cultivation and disguising it as the seventh level of Qi Refining. His aura seemed utterly ordinary, and he blended into the crowd without attracting the slightest attention.

On top of that, he looked to be in his thirties, his appearance entirely different from when he had been at the Qi Refining stage. So even people who had known him before probably wouldn't recognize him if they stood right in front of him.

First, I'll ask around for Zhang Yuzhen's whereabouts. Though the Lesser Heaven-Veiling Secret Art is incredibly wondrous, and by all rights my identity hasn't been exposed, who knows what divine abilities a Golden Core True Person might possess?

Li Qingshan thought to himself.

He was somewhat hesitant about whether to return to the Spring Autumn Sect.

If his identity had been exposed, going back would be like walking straight into a trap.

But he truly didn't want to give up the Spring Autumn Sect as a place of refuge. He could cultivate there in peace and obtain many precious resources.

How could a Rogue Cultivator live as comfortably as a sect disciple?

However, when he arrived at the ancient battlefield, the sight before him made his heart clench.

The ancient battlefield, once desolate, was now bustling with people!

Streams of light of every color darted back and forth. Countless cultivators had gathered there, their cultivation ranging from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment. He could even faintly sense several immense spiritual pressures, enough to make his heart shudder, belonging to Golden Core True Persons concealed among the high clouds.

The air was thick with tension, excitement, and danger.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist. What happened here? Why have so many fellow cultivators gathered?" Li Qingshan stopped a Rogue Cultivator at the Qi Refining stage who was hurrying along, and asked with feigned curiosity.

The Rogue Cultivator glanced at him. Seeing that he too was at the Qi Refining stage, he quickly replied, "Did you just come out of seclusion, fellow Daoist? The Mysterious Sky Secret Realm has opened ahead of schedule! A once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!

"They say it holds the legacy treasures of an ancient great sect and a spirit medicine garden. There may even be opportunities for Core Formation and Nascent Soul!

"The eight great powers barely managed to open the entrance together. Now, all cultivators who meet the requirements are allowed to enter! I can't say more. If you're late, there won't even be soup left!"

With that, he hurried off, pushing into the center of the crowd.

The Mysterious Sky Secret Realm?!

Li Qingshan was deeply shaken. He had read a few scattered references to it in the sect's records. Legend had it that in ancient times, a mighty sect called the Mysterious Sky Sect had created it as a place for trials.

It had later been destroyed and hidden away during a great war, only to appear once every thousand years or so. It truly contained countless opportunities, but was also fraught with danger. Every time it opened, a storm of blood and violence followed.

Li Qingshan's thoughts raced as he mused, This is a heaven-sent opportunity! The resources in the secret realm far surpass anything in the outside world. Especially for me, now at Foundation Establishment. If I can gain something from it, the road to Core Formation will be much smoother!

But the risks were just as immense.

The eight great powers had all gathered, and their elites were out in force. The fighting among them was bound to be brutal. And that was without even considering the ancient restrictions and unknown dangers within the secret realm itself.

Forget it, I'm not going. I have the Wish-Fulfilling Gourd. If I just cultivate steadily, I won't lack cultivation resources. The Mysterious Sky Secret Realm is simply too dangerous. I should leave here first!

Li Qingshan hesitated for a moment, then decided to leave.

Going into the secret realm for a trial didn't suit his cautious style.

He was getting older. Staying alive was what mattered most!

Just as he weighed the pros and cons and prepared to leave this place of trouble, find a safe corner, and observe before making any further plans, a sudden change occurred!

A chill, oppressive force descended without warning. Three cultivators dressed in black robes embroidered with sinister ghost-head designs appeared like specters on the outskirts of the crowd of Rogue Cultivators.

The leader's face was pale and his eyes sinister. He was clearly at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage! The other two were at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

"Hmph. A bunch of Qi Refining trash, and you still dream of laying hands on the secret realm's opportunities?" The Foundation Establishment middle-stage demonic cultivator sneered. "As it happens, you can serve as pathfinders and cannon fodder for the Yin Luo Sect! If you know what's good for you, come with us quietly. Otherwise, we'll send you on your way right now!"

Their powerful spiritual pressure bore down on the crowd. The Rogue Cultivators, most of them at the Qi Refining stage, turned deathly pale and trembled. Not a soul dared to resist.

Demonic cultivators were ruthless; killing people on a whim was simply common knowledge.

Li Qingshan's eyes turned cold, and killing intent rose in his heart.

With his current strength, instantly killing these three Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators would be no difficult feat.

But just as he was about to act, an even more terrifying divine sense, vast as an abyss, swept faintly across the sky, making every hair on his body stand on end!

Golden Core demonic cultivators!

And more than one!

He immediately reined in every trace of his aura and lowered his head further, acting just like the other Rogue Cultivators—afraid and submissive.

I must endure the small indignity to achieve the greater goal! If I act now, I'll surely draw the Golden Core cultivators' attention. That's a dead end! I'll play along for now and find a chance to escape once we enter the secret realm!

Seeing that no one dared to resist, the Yin Luo Sect Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator nodded in satisfaction and sneered. "You know what's good for you! Follow us! Once we enter the secret realm, you'll scout ahead. If you find any treasures, report them at once, and perhaps we'll spare your lives!"

So Li Qingshan and several dozen other captured Rogue Cultivators were driven like livestock toward the core of the ancient battlefield.

The closer they got to the center, the more oppressive the atmosphere became.

The cultivators from the eight great powers occupied separate positions, clearly divided from one another, each keeping a close watch on the rest.

To the east stood a beautiful, middle-aged palace-clad woman at the head of the group. She was none other than Zhang Yuzhen, a Golden Core elder of the Spring Autumn Sect!

Dozens of disciples with sharp auras stood behind her. Ye Lingshuang was among them. She remained as cold as frost, her aura seemingly even more refined. Clearly, her cultivation had advanced further over the past year or so.

Li Qingshan also spotted a few familiar faces, including Zhang Ming.

To the south, all manner of fearsome, powerful spirit beasts crouched beside the cultivators of the Beast Taming Sect. To the west, the Five Elements Sect disciples had spiritual energy flowing around them in harmony with the Five Elements. To the north, the Pill Cauldron Sect cultivators were surrounded by the scent of medicinal herbs. In the northeast, most of the Moon Gazing Pavilion's cultivators were women, their movements light and graceful.

The other three directions were occupied by the three demonic sects: cultivators of the Heavenly Demon Sect were wreathed in demonic energy; the Kui Ba Sect had many body cultivators, their blood and qi surging; and the Yin Luo Sect was shrouded in ghostly energy, an unsettling sight.

All eight great powers of the Eastern Wasteland had arrived!

The auras of the Golden Core True Persons from each sect faintly clashed in the air, forming a delicate balance.

Blending in among the captured Rogue Cultivators, Li Qingshan kept his head lowered while quietly spreading his powerful divine sense, catching fragments of the conversations around him.

"I heard there's been some unusual activity in the secret realm's core area. Some extraordinary treasure might be about to appear..."

"Hmph, no matter how good the treasure is, you need to be alive to claim it! Every time the secret realm opens, fewer than three in ten make it out alive!"

"The eight sects have agreed that Golden Core cultivators can't enter. Their disciples will have to fight over the treasures themselves..."

"What a load of crap! It's obviously the Mysterious Sky Secret Realm that bars Golden Core True Persons from entering. Otherwise, those Golden Core cultivators would have rushed straight in!"

"They say the restrictions inside are incredibly powerful. In many places, people have to die to clear the way..."

"The Yin Luo Sect is rounding up cannon fodder again. What a despicable bunch!"

"Which sect doesn't do that? They're just not as obvious about it..."

The bits of information flowed into Li Qingshan's mind, giving him a clearer understanding of the situation.

Just then, a huge, distorted gate of light ahead suddenly burst into dazzling radiance, and the spatial fluctuations grew violent!

"The secret realm entrance has stabilized!" someone shouted.

"Disciples of all sects, prepare to enter!" Zhang Yuzhen called in a deep voice, her words carrying in every direction.

"Cannon fodder, your turn! Get in there!" The Yin Luo Sect Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator sneered, casting a spell to force Li Qingshan and the other Rogue Cultivators to charge first toward the dazzling entrance to the secret realm.

Amid the crowd, Li Qingshan remained utterly calm. Opportunity and danger went hand in hand!

Although he hadn't wanted to enter the secret realm, now that he was here, he might as well see whether he could seize some opportunities.

At the moment he charged toward the gate of light, he cast one last glance in the direction of the Spring Autumn Sect. He saw Ye Lingshuang and the others turn into streaks of light and pour into the secret realm right behind him.

The next instant, the heavens and earth spun around him. Space shifted, and Li Qingshan's figure appeared in a strange new world!