Beneath Kunlun, the Floating Immortal City spanning nearly a hundred li.
Several hundred figures sat cross-legged on an enormous plaza. From time to time, the sound of something piercing the air came from its edges as streaks of escape light descended from the sky, resolving into cultivators of all shapes and sizes.
These cultivators briefly surveyed the crowd, then silently joined them.
Bai Yaoyue sat in one corner of the plaza. With her were two women and a man, all Core Formation late-stage cultivators-the teammates for her expedition into the secret realm.
However, the four had already discussed everything that needed discussing. Now, apart from sitting somewhat close together, they all had their eyes closed as they regulated their breathing, without exchanging a word.
About a hundred zhang from Bai Yaoyue, a handsome young man whose entire body radiated a keen, cutting aura sat cross-legged, a three-foot sword sheath resting across his knees.
He was Xu Guike.
Decades had passed without the slightest change in his appearance, but the aura he exuded had unmistakably reached the Core Formation late stage.
A Core Formation late-stage sword cultivator could overwhelm others of the same cultivation level.
In theory, he could deal with the Yu Household's Core Formation late-stage cultivators however he pleased.
But because he had once captured a Core Formation cultivator from the Yu Household and performed a Soul Search, they had all been extremely cautious over the years, leaving him unable to find a suitable opportunity.
Until recently, when he happened to learn that the Taimao Secret Realm was about to open, and that cultivators from the Yu Household would be entering.
Without hesitation, he used his connection with Qi Hanmo to secure an entry slot from the Confucian Sect.
Although the Taimao Secret Realm produced Nascent Soul Formation Treasures,