The Secret Realm About to Emerge

At the very top of the secret report, several large words stood out—

An Ancient Secret Realm in Heavenly Soul was about to emerge, suspected to be connected to gods!

This emergence of the secret realm, located at the border between Heavenly Soul and the Sun Moon Empire, would undoubtedly draw the covetous eyes of countless factions. Ancient Secret Realms usually contained many treasures, not to mention that this one was said to be related to gods.

However, this secret realm was somewhat different. It had a restriction: only those under the age of fifteen could enter.

Xu Tianchen stared at the contents of the report for a long time. Should he go, or not?

Knock, knock, knock.

A series of knocks interrupted Xu Tianchen's thoughts, followed by a voice from outside.

"Your Highness, someone has come from the palace. It is Chief Steward Zhao."

"Understood. Invite Chief Steward Zhao to the main hall first. This prince will be there shortly."

Xu Tianchen set down the secret report. If he was not mistaken, Chief Steward Zhao had come on his father's orders to discuss matters concerning the secret realm.

Web had only been established for a few years, after all. Its intelligence network was certainly not as comprehensive as his father's. He would first hear what they had to say.

Xu Tianchen left the study with Shadow Ghost and headed to the reception hall.

"Chief Steward Zhao, it has been a long time. Have you been well?"

Xu Tianchen spoke upon seeing Chief Steward Zhao seated among the guests. Hearing Xu Tianchen's voice, Chief Steward Zhao rose with a smile.

"Greetings, Your Highness."

Xu Tianchen helped Chief Steward Zhao up and said, "You are too formal, Chief Steward Zhao. You watched me grow up."

"Your Highness's intelligence network must have already received news of the secret realm, correct?"

Xu Tianchen nodded. Chief Steward Zhao nodded as well before continuing.

"His Majesty instructed me to inform you that you are to proceed to the Imperial Study at noon today to discuss this secret realm. There is also some detailed intelligence regarding it here. Your Highness may examine it and compare it with your own information."

With that, Chief Steward Zhao took a scroll from his Soul Tool and handed it to Xu Tianchen.

"Well then, I shall take my leave first."

Seeing that Chief Steward Zhao was about to leave, Xu Tianchen put away the scroll and tried to persuade him to stay.

"Chief Steward Zhao, will you not rest a while longer and reminisce about the old days?"

Chief Steward Zhao shook his head. "No, I still have several more places to visit. We can reminisce another time."

"Very well. Shadow Ghost, see Chief Steward Zhao out."

"As you command. Chief Steward Zhao, this way."

Afterward, Chief Steward Zhao and Shadow Ghost left the reception hall. Once they had gone, Xu Tianchen took out the scroll and opened it.

This scroll was a military report written to Xu Chengjing by the commander-in-chief stationed at the border between Heavenly Soul and the Sun Moon Empire.

Lu Xiaoshan, a Rank-8 Soul Engineer and a level 91 Title Douluo known as Ice Bat, had been an old subordinate who pledged loyalty to Xu Chengjing while Xu Chengjing was still lying low. He had only broken through to become a Title Douluo last year, after which Xu Chengjing promoted him to commander-in-chief of the border forces.

This military report should have been a copied duplicate. The original was likely with Xu Chengjing.

In summary, the report covered everything that had happened since the secret realm first emerged.

Moreover, information revealed by the stone stele that had flown out of the secret realm stated that Spirit Masters entering the secret realm had to be under fifteen years old. Although there was no limit to the number of entrants, ten tokens had flown out when the stone stele appeared.

According to the information displayed on the stone stele, these tokens would teleport their holders out of the secret realm if they encountered a life-threatening danger within it. Furthermore, once someone imprinted a token with their soul mark, it could not be taken away.

Since all the major factions had been present at the time, even Lu Xiaoshan had gained little. He had not brought an army with him, only his personal guard legion, and in the end, he had secured only three tokens.

Of the remaining seven, two had been seized by Heavenly Soul generals, two by the master of the Heavenly Dragon Sect, one by a consecrated elder of the Star Luo Empire, and the last two had been snatched away by Body Sect disciples who had appeared from nowhere.

"Bi Ji, what do you think after reading this?"

After Xu Tianchen finished reading the military report, he found that it did not differ greatly from the secret report he had received, apart from the matter of the tokens. Once he finished, he contacted Bi Ji to ask for her advice.

When Bi Ji learned that this Ancient Secret Realm had emerged, she had already gone through all the intelligence with Xu Tianchen. Bi Ji flew out from the scale. The moment she landed, before she could steady herself, Xu Tianchen pulled her into his arms.

She shook her head helplessly, then affectionately tapped Xu Tianchen's forehead.

Over the past three months, Bi Ji had treated Xu Tianchen as her future partner, and Xu Tianchen no longer had any reservations. Only his physical age was young, not his mental age. As a result, their intimacy had advanced by leaps and bounds.

"Go. With your status, you will definitely be able to obtain a token. This secret realm is connected to gods, after all. Di Tian told me before that, for some unknown reason, the suppression from the God Realm has disappeared for several years now. So if you wish to become a god, you should still enter this secret realm."

With the beauty in his arms, Xu Tianchen nodded after hearing Bi Ji's words. From the moment he learned that the secret realm was related to gods, he had wanted to go. But he valued his life, and under the current circumstances, he certainly could not bring Bi Ji with him, which was why he had hesitated.

But upon learning that there was a life-saving token, he immediately felt far more at ease.

"Then I will leave you at the prince's residence when the time comes. I will not bring you with me. There are restrictions, after all."

"Alright, but I will not stay at the prince's residence. I will go with you and wait outside. Just in case you are injured and there is no one to treat you."

Bi Ji shook her head, expressing her disagreement.

"Alright, I will listen to you. Once the exploration of the secret realm is over, I will take you somewhere."

"Alright."

The two lingered affectionately for a while longer. Seeing that it was nearly time, Xu Tianchen prepared to head to the imperial palace to discuss the secret realm.

By the time Xu Tianchen arrived at the Imperial Study, several people had already gathered there.

His eldest brother, the Crown Prince of the Sun Moon Empire—Xu Tianran.

The dean of the Sun Moon Imperial Soul Engineer Academy and master of Virtue Hall—Jing Hongchen.

The head of all officials in the Sun Moon Empire, the prime minister—Chen Songting.

The commander of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Legion—Luan Feng.

The moment Xu Tianchen entered, four pairs of eyes turned toward him. Xu Tianchen was not intimidated. Instead, he directly greeted the four of them.

"Big Brother, Hall Master Hongchen, Prime Minister Chen, Commander Luan Feng, hello."

The four responded to him in turn.

Whether Xu Chengjing had been observing them all along or had only just arrived was unknown. Just as they finished exchanging greetings, and just as Xu Tianchen had settled onto his seat, Xu Chengjing entered the Imperial Study from another direction and walked before them. He wore a black robe embroidered with purple-gold dragon patterns.

"Greetings, Your Majesty, Father."

The five of them rose together and greeted Xu Chengjing.

Xu Chengjing waved a hand. "Rise. Everyone here is one of our own, so there is no need for so much ceremony. Sit. Someone, serve tea."

"Thank you, Father, Your Majesty."

The five sat back down. Immediately afterward, five attendants served each of them a cup of tea.

Once everyone had settled, Xu Chengjing swept his gaze across the five and spoke.

"I presume all of you have read the military report I sent you."