Chapter 247

"This..." Xiao Minghuang was speechless. Did this secret realm really have a set time for opening?

"Let's go check out the Sun Realm first. Surely it's not closed there either?"

Xiao Minghuang sighed softly and then headed towards the nearby Sun Secret Realm.

Sure enough, when she found the Sun's Secret Realm, she discovered it was also a desolate scene, with only a few people sitting and chatting in the inn's lobby.

Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man dressed in a butler's uniform. Xiao Minghuang stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, butler, is the Sun Secret Realm open?"

The steward glanced at her, a hint of amazement in his eyes, and replied, "Fairy, your timing is unfortunate. The Sun Realm just closed yesterday and will reopen on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month next year."

"Ah..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang frowned slightly.

Whether it's the 15th of July or the 15th of January next year, it's too late. There's still less than a month until the opening of the Quasi-Emperor Ancient Tomb.

The journey from Dongling to the Holy Academy takes nearly ten days, and she has to set off early, which means she only has half a month left to cultivate.

She had previously consulted the * Great Sun Moon True Scripture *, a supreme classic with ancient and obscure language. To be able to understand and comprehend it in just half a month was already quite an achievement; how could she possibly have the time to master it entirely?

Seeing Xiao Minghuang's worried expression, the steward suggested, "I see that the fairy's beauty is unparalleled, and her master must be no ordinary elder. Why don't we ask your master if there are any other solutions?"

These words reminded Xiao Minghuang that she already had a master. Why would she bother seeking guidance from such a powerful quasi-emperor instead of taking this master as her own?

"Thank you for the reminder, Deacon!"

Xiao Minghuang nodded, left the inn, found a secluded spot nearby, took out her token, and began contacting the Sun Hall Mistress.

Soon, the two characters "Sun" on the token emitted a crimson light, burning like flames, forming the image of the Sun Hall Mistress. He was still dressed in red, exuding a faint majesty, like a blazing sun, radiating intense brilliance.

"Why has my disciple summoned me, his master?"

"Master, do you know about the Sun Realm and the Lunar Secret Realm?" Xiao Minghuang asked directly, getting straight to the point.

Upon hearing this, the Sun Hall Mistress glanced at Xiao Minghuang, seemingly seeing right through her in an instant. After a moment's thought, he said, "Indeed, your best option right now is to gather strength in the Sun Secret Realm and the Sun Secret Realm's Life and Death Platform. However, these two secret realms are probably not open during certain times. You must have come to me for this matter, right?"

Xiao Minghuang was slightly taken aback, then nodded and said sincerely, "Master is incredibly insightful. I am preparing to cultivate the Great Sun Moon True Scripture, and I absolutely need the power of these two secret realms. I beg Master for your help."

307. The universe and the starry sky, the sun and the moon.

She didn't hide anything, revealing her demands and reasons in detail. Surely the Sun Hall Mistress, the second-in-command of the Holy Academy, wouldn't be unable to handle such a small matter?

The Sun Hall Mistress was silent for a moment, then suddenly laughed, "Hahaha... Good! Since my good disciple is in trouble, how can I stand idly by?"

"Thank you, Master. When shall we go to the secret realm?" Xiao Minghuang asked with great joy.

Upon hearing this, the Sun Hall Mistress shook his head. "No, we cannot go to the secret realm. This is a date set by the Old Dean, and no one else has the right to change it."

"Huh?" Xiao Minghuang was stunned. "Master, I'm going to Dongling in half a month. If I can't break through to the King Realm before then, there's absolutely no chance of victory! You can't just sit idly by..."

Hearing Xiao Minghuang's tearful complaint, the Sun Hall Mistress felt somewhat troubled. She sighed and said, "Alas, although I am the Palace Master, the operation of this secret realm has its own natural order, and it was personally determined by the Old Dean. How can I disobey it?"

"Ah! But..."

Seeing Xiao Minghuang's helpless expression, the Sun Hall Mistress felt secretly pleased. This little disciple was good in every way, except that she was a bit too calm and too good at talking. He always felt uncomfortable if he didn't see her make a fool of herself.

In her whole life, what she loved most was seeing others break down.

"I know you're in a hurry, but don't rush," the Lord of the Sun Hall Mistress said calmly, "Although I can't take you to the secret realm, I have another way for you to comprehend the Great Sun Moon True Scripture."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Minghuang's eyes lit up immediately, and she eagerly asked, "What method? Master, please don't keep me in suspense!"

"Ahem, actually it's not a special method. Whether it's the Sun Realm or the Lunar Secret Realm, they are both modeled after the Sun Star and Moon. Although I can't take you to the realms, I can take you to directly visualize the Sun Star and Moon. The effect should be better than cultivating in the realms."

After saying this, a sly smile flashed across the Sun Hall Mistress's eyes. She found it quite amusing to tease this little disciple.

"Huh?" Xiao Minghuang dropped open, clearly shocked by the Sun Hall Mistress's words. As expected of a Quasi-Emperor, he directly broke out of the Eastern Pole and traveled through the starry sky!

"Master, when are we leaving?"

The Sun Hall Mistress smiled slightly, and his body, formed from flames, instantly solidified, transforming into a real form and descending beside Xiao Minghuang.

"Now!"

As she spoke, she grabbed Xiao Minghuang's wrist, and the two instantly vanished from their spot, transforming into a streak of rainbow light that soared into the heavens and disappeared into the cosmos in the blink of an eye!

When Xiao Minghuang opened her eyes again, she found herself in the vast and boundless universe. Looking up, she saw countless stars twinkling in the sky, dazzling and radiant.

She had traveled through the void many times in her mind, but had never actually set foot in the starry sky. This was actually her first time leaving the Eastern Extreme World and coming into the universe.

This feeling was both novel and familiar, vaguely like a dream, yet also like arriving in an ancient and dear hometown.

In this vast and boundless universe, stars are scattered everywhere, as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, and each star is filled with incomparably powerful fluctuations and rules.

The Sun Hall Mistress floated in the void, a layer of crimson light enveloping the two of them. He pointed in two directions, towards two ancient and majestic stars, representing the external manifestation of two great Daos in the universe.

"At this distance, you can safely visualize the Sun Star and the Moon without worrying about being attacked by them."

"Um!"

Xiao Minghuang looked up and saw the Sun Star in the universe, and the Moon, the most yin star.

These two are not the same as what she saw in the Eastern Great World.

When viewed from the easternmost point, the Sun Star appears as a mere cluster of light, with nothing else visible; the moon, on the other hand, constantly changes its appearance, making it difficult to discern its full form.

But in the universe, it's different; she can see both in their entirety with the naked eye.

Xiao Minghuang held his breath and focused intently on the two enormous stars in the void. A surge of powerful spiritual energy welled up in his mind as he circulated the Great Sun Moon True Scripture, spreading it outwards along his meridians. He carefully sensed the similarities and differences between the scripture and the Taiyin Taiyang.

She closed her eyes, focusing on feeling both, and gradually, a profound and mysterious sensation arose within her.

Rumble!

As Xiao Minghuang's meditation became increasingly profound, her inner palace continued to expand, gradually breaking through the physical limitations of her lower abdomen, manifesting as a vast expanse of space, and expanding throughout her entire body.

Before long, her Purple Mansion completely merged into her limbs and bones, into every infinitely tiny cell of her body.

All of this happened extremely quickly, and her breakthrough entered the next stage.

Suddenly, Xiao Minghuang's body heated up, as if she were sitting in magma, and the intense heat distorted the surrounding void.

But in the next moment, the terrifying heat vanished, replaced by extreme cold.

A chill swept out, and Xiao Minghuang's figure was like an ice sculpture. Her beautiful face was pale and bloodless, but she still persisted, slowly releasing the icy properties within her body.

However, the alternation of ice and fire posed little threat to Xiao Minghuang, and she weathered it successfully.

The Sun Hall Mistress stood beside Xiao Minghuang, observing with great interest. Seeing that Xiao Minghuang had successfully passed through the two stages, she couldn't help but smile with satisfaction. "As expected of my disciple, she passed through the first two stages so easily, which is beyond my expectations."

Breaking through to the King Realm is different from all previous realm advancements.

Once you break through to the King Realm, it means your lifespan will be greatly extended. If nothing unexpected happens, you can live for at least five thousand years. Therefore, there are some difficulties when advancing to the next level.

Besides the conditions that need to be met before promotion, there will also be some tests when breaking through to a higher realm.

Generally speaking, the first stage is when the Purple Mansion breaks through the limitations of the Dantian and is completely integrated into the whole body, and from then on, the Dantian is no longer a weak point.

Whether the Dantian is destroyed or the head is cut off, one will not perish, nor will one lose any cultivation level. A mere drop of spiritual energy is all it takes to restore one's health.

To kill a king, one must destroy the entire physical body, which would mean that the Purple Mansion, which is integrated into the entire body, would also be destroyed.

The second stage is a test of the cultivator's own Daoist cultivation method, which is generally closely related to the cultivation method the cultivator cultivates. Xiao Minghuang is currently comprehending the <Great Sun Moon True Scripture>, attempting to break through to the King Realm through this classic text. Therefore, the test for her is the extreme heat and extreme cold brought by the Taiyin Taiyang.

The third stage is the life-and-death test of the Life and Death King Realm itself, also known as the Life and Death Profound Pass!

Only by passing this test can one truly enter the Life and Death Realm!

In an instant, Xiao Minghuang's body seemed to have wasted countless years, aging by countless years, becoming white-haired and frail, as if it would completely decay and die at any moment.

However, Xiao Minghuang gritted her teeth and persevered, letting the years erode her.

"The most crucial moment has arrived..."

308. The Life and Death King Realm!

At this moment, the Sun Hall Mistress showed a worried expression.

The most difficult stage in the Life and Death King Realm is the final trial, which requires cultivators to resist the ravages of time, awaken great wisdom between life and death, and comprehend profound truths in order to understand why they are who they are.

"Good disciple, I'll lend you a hand!"

The Sun Hall Mistress's eyes flashed with crimson light. He struck out with his right palm, and strands of pure and rich Quasi-Emperor Dao Laws flowed out, like a blazing sun, enveloping Xiao Minghuang and forming a protective light shield that blocked the erosion of time.

And so, I don't know how much time passed...

As they persisted, a sliver of white light suddenly appeared between Xiao Minghuang's brows. This ray of light rapidly expanded, eventually evolving into a dazzling golden lotus mark, radiating endless auspicious light that enveloped Xiao Minghuang's entire body.

In an instant, Xiao Minghuang trembled. That inexplicable power quickly flowed through her limbs and meridians, nourishing her withered body and giving her emaciated frame a new lease on life, restoring her former fullness and youthful beauty.

In just a few seconds, Xiao Minghuang recovered completely, becoming even more beautiful and charming, like a goddess who had been sleeping for a long time, stunningly beautiful even without makeup.

Within her Purple Palace, a high platform rises in layers, consisting of seven levels.

The first five levels are based on the Five Elements Spiritual Root, and are divided into metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.

The sixth and seventh layers are based on the principles of Yin and Yang, and are divided into Taiyin and Taiyang.

What Xiao Minghuang didn't expect was that she had unexpectedly condensed the Eightfold Life and Death Platform, which was based on the Sword Dao Domain.

Therefore, as soon as she stepped into the Life and Death King Realm, she reached the eighth level!

Even looking across the entire East Pole region, you won't find another record like this!

"Congratulations! If I'm not mistaken, you should have already reached the eighth level of the King Realm, right?" The Sun Hall Mistress withdrew his magic, exhaled a breath of turbid air, and praised him.

Xiao Minghuang smiled, her spirit and energy perfectly balanced, three golden flowers blooming in the void. A dot of true spirit between her brows gave rise to the two energies of life and death, and her beautiful eyes faintly reflected the rotation of the Sun, Moon, and Stars, as if containing a dazzling starry sky.

"This is all thanks to Master's help. Thank you, Master!"

She rose to her feet, gracefully bowed to the Sun Hall Mistress, and respectfully paid her respects.

This time, she was sincere, her heart filled with gratitude.

Previously, although the Clear Sky Saint King nominally accepted her as a disciple, he had ulterior motives and never fulfilled his responsibilities as a master.

But the Sun Hall Mistress was different; he was always very kind to her, granting her every request and providing a great deal of help. Therefore, Xiao Minghuang highly respected this master.

If it weren't for the Sun Hall Mistress's help in this attempt to break through to the King Realm, protecting her true spirit at the crucial moment, she might not have been able to condense the Eightfold Life and Death Platform in one fell swoop, let alone save her life.

The Sun Hall Mistress helped her up and smiled, "Why are you being so polite with your master? Let's go. It took you ten days to break through, so it's about time we set off for the Eastern Ridge."

"Good!"

As soon as they finished speaking, the two transformed into streaks of light and returned to the Eastern Pole Sacred Academy.

Upon returning to the Sun God Palace, I received a message from the steward saying that three female disciples were requesting an audience, identifying themselves as Ye Ruoshui, Lin Wanqiu, and Xu Xiuer.

The Sun Hall Mistress smiled and said, "It seems the timing is just right. Your Dao Companion are already waiting for you. Go quickly!"

As she spoke, she flicked her sleeve, and a miniature ship flew out and hovered in front of the two of them.

This magnificent ship is exquisitely crafted, with three decks, lavishly decorated, and extravagantly luxurious. The interior is spacious and comfortable, with a simple and bright layout that is pleasing to the eye.

"This ship is named the Azure Sea Ship. It can travel hundreds of thousands of miles a day. It was a gift from a friend when I was young. I haven't used it for many years, so I'm giving it to you."

"Thank you, Master!" Xiao Minghuang bowed deeply in gratitude, but then, after a moment's thought, asked, "Won't Master accompany me?"

The Sun Hall Mistress shook his head slightly and said, "This ancient tomb is only open to those below the Saint Realm. It's a stage for you young people; my presence wouldn't be of any use."

She paused for a moment, then explained, "You're probably worried about the dangers on the way, right? Don't be afraid. The Holy Realm of the Eastern Pole will soon be mobilizing in full force to rush to the Two Realms Battlefield. No Holy Realm member will jump out to intercept you."

"As for those below the Saint Realm... I know you've just broken through and urgently need an opportunity to gain experience, so I've saved them all for you!"

"Master's strategy is flawless, I admire you!" Xiao Minghuang understood immediately. The Sun Hall Mistress must have known that people below the Saint Realm would try to ambush her, and deliberately left them for her to kill one or two to test her skills.

"Alright, go! Once you reach the ancient tomb, be careful in everything you do, and protect your Dao Companion!" The Sun Hall Mistress waved his hand and then disappeared from the spot.

"Disciple understands..." Xiao Minghuang's voice echoed for a long time as he gazed at the empty hall.

Outside the Sun God Palace, Ye Ruoshui and her two companions waited for a long time.

This is a small square where many people have gathered.

The three stunningly beautiful girls gathered together, attracting a lot of attention.

Ye Ruoshui disliked the feeling of being watched from time to time. She looked at the Sun God Palace in the distance and asked, "Xiu'er, did you really know His Highness was here?"

"Yes, His Highness is definitely here!" Xu Xiuer said confidently. She might not be able to accurately predict others' movements, but she had secretly collected a strand of Xiao Minghuang before. She couldn't predict the more mysterious secrets of heaven, but she was certain that he had a general idea of her whereabouts.

Ye Ruoshui nodded, then asked in confusion, "But why haven't they come out yet?"