"Do you see those eighteen Foundation Establishment disciples at the back?"
Zhao Ling'er jerked her chin toward the eighteen figures in gold.
He Pingsheng looked toward the back of the square again.
The eighteen disciples wore golden Daoist robes, and every one of them was at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Of course, He Pingsheng could not discern their cultivation. He merely guessed they were at Foundation Establishment because he could not see through them.
Only now that Zhao Ling'er had said it herself was he certain.
"I see them..." He Pingsheng nodded. "What about them, Senior Sister?"
"Nothing!" Zhao Ling'er said. "Those eighteen people come from eighteen different sects, and they guard this entrance together!"
"Even if one of the sects wanted to enter ahead of time, it would be impossible!"
He Pingsheng looked utterly shocked. "Doesn't it open only once every thirty years? Can people get in at other times too?"
"You're being naive, Junior Brother!" Zhao Ling'er smiled, then pulled him closer and lowered her voice. "To put it plainly, wasn't this so-called secret realm created by people in the first place?"
"It's just that spirit veins emerge in many places within a thousand-mile radius here, so some mighty seniors used their immense magic power and a great formation to seal the area off!"
"And this formation doesn't only open once every thirty years. It can be opened at any time!"
"They simply set the opening date at thirty-year intervals so the various sects could explore it!"
"If no one guarded it, couldn't some powerful sect cultivator secretly open the formation and send their own descendants inside? Then there would be no fairness to speak of in this secret realm of the Daoist Profound Alliance!"
"So, to ensure fairness and impartiality, eighteen Foundation Establishment disciples were stationed here