Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er fell asleep in each other's arms, drifting into sweet dreams.
In his dream, Qian Fan stood amid a mysterious sea of flowers and saw a hazy figure.
He struggled to make out the figure's face, but could never quite see it.
Suddenly, a sharp sting struck him, and Qian Fan's eyes snapped open. He saw Xu Yuan'er poking his face with a feather, a mischievous smile on her lips.
"Wake up, you sleepyhead!" Xu Yuan'er said with a giggle.
Qian Fan rubbed his eyes and sat up.
He felt that his soul power seemed to have increased, and his body felt lighter as well.
It seems that sea of flowers in my dream was no ordinary place, Qian Fan thought.
Just then, Wang Bufan's voice came from outside the door.
"Your Highness, the army outside has finished assembling and awaits your command."
Qian Fan straightened his clothes and replied, "Understood. Thank you for your hard work. You may go now."
Once Wang Bufan had left, Qian Fan turned to Xu Yuan'er and asked softly, "Yuan'er, would you like to come with me?"
Xu Yuan'er smiled and nodded, and the two walked out of the room hand in hand.
Qian Fan stood before the army and shouted, "All troops, heed my command! Move out!"
The vast procession marched toward the center of the hall.
Along the way, Qian Fan summoned Abyss Douluo to his side.
"Senior Abyss Douluo, you've lived here for nearly a hundred years. Do you know what exactly these attribute gate entrances in the Secret Realm are?"
Abyss Douluo shook his head. "I don't know either. This Secret Realm has existed for far too long, and there are many unknown dangers within it. However, I've heard that each entrance corresponds to an attribute power. Only by finding an entrance that matches your own attribute can you pass through safely."
Qian Fan lowered his head and pondered for a moment. "It seems we'll have to try our luck."
The army continued onward and finally reached the center of the hall. Seven enormous gates towered there, each shimmering with a different light-red, blue, yellow, green, purple, black, and white.
Qian Fan gazed at the gates, silently pondering.
In the brief time Qian Fan spent thinking, the forces had gathered behind him.
The Phoenix Clan's army arrived first, followed by the Dragon Clan's army, with the Xuanwu Clan and the Taotie Clan close behind.
Qian Fan turned to face the crowd and called out, "Everyone, these seven gates represent different attribute powers. Choose the corresponding gate according to your own attribute, and be sure to proceed with caution."
As his words fell, the armies of the various clans sprang into action. Feng Ning'er led the Phoenix Clan warriors toward the red gate.
Long Aotian led the Dragon Clan soldiers into the blue gate.
The Xuanwu Clan, the Taotie Clan, and the others also chose suitable gates in turn.
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er exchanged a glance, then walked toward the black gate hand in hand.
Just as they were about to enter, a powerful surge of energy emanated from the gate.
Qian Fan instinctively shielded Xu Yuan'er behind him and watched the way ahead warily.
Those who had already entered the seven great gates heard that familiar voice once again.
"Keh keh keh, you've finally dared to come in. Prepare to face the God of Death's trial. Keh keh keh."
Since the black gate admitted only those with the dark attribute, Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er were the only two who stepped through it.
Abyss Douluo remained outside the gate, awaiting orders.
Qian Fan and Xu Yuan'er cautiously entered the black gate, and a dim passage appeared before them. Eerie light flickered across the walls on either side, and waves of cold washed over them.
"Be careful, Yuan'er," Qian Fan warned.
The two proceeded along the passage when, suddenly, a swarm of black bats lunged at them.
"Fuck, where did these damned beasts come from?"
As he spoke, Qian Fan swiftly released his dark soul power, forming a shield that drove the bats back.
"These bats seem to possess some intelligence. They're deliberately guiding us in a certain direction." Qian Fan frowned slightly.
Sure enough, the swarm of bats led them into a spacious hidden chamber.
An ancient book lay in the center of the chamber, giving off a faint glow.
"This is..." Qian Fan approached the book. Just as he reached out to touch it, the book suddenly burst with brilliant light, enveloping him and Xu Yuan'er.
When the light faded, they found themselves in an unfamiliar space, surrounded by a dense aura of darkness.
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