"The contest is over. Those who have earned the right to enter the secret realm are the Blue Rain Clan, the Flower Clan, the Ox-Headed Clan, the Ghost Clan, the Great River Gang, and the Demon Sect," the girl in red said with a bright smile.
The banquet continued until evening, when the guests dispersed. Even the Red Fox Clan and the Sword Sect, who had failed to qualify, reluctantly left the city lord's residence. Before leaving, Shangguan Yun made a point of saying goodbye to Zhou Qiong and once again invited him to visit the Sword Sect!
Just then, a girl in red walked up to Zhou Qiong and said with a bright smile, "Hello, my name is Hong Meigui. They said you ascended from the lower realm. Is that true?"
"Mm." Zhou Qiong nodded coldly.
"Is that Liansheng your subordinate? He's so impressive!"
"Mm."
"Where is your Demon Sect? Could I come have a look sometime?"
"Mm."
"Do you have to be so dismissive? Do you hate me?"
Zhou Qiong frowned at the girl who kept asking him questions. "If you have nothing else to do, stop hovering in front of me."
The girl seemed unable to believe what she had heard. She gritted her teeth in anger, then finally stamped her foot and ran off.
Elder Mu rose from his seat and said softly, "It's time. Follow me!"
Everyone followed Elder Mu toward the back of the city lord's residence. They walked for a full hour before reaching a waterfall. Yes, there was a waterfall inside the city lord's residence-that alone showed how vast it was.
Elder Mu pointed at the waterfall. "The Kongtong Secret Realm is behind this. By the rules, the Profound Understanding Realm members of the six victorious factions will enter first. The Eternal Realm members will enter six hours later."
The other factions had clearly taken part in this sort of event before and sent their disciples straight in. Even Zhao Li, still weak and seriously injured, flew into the waterfall. Liansheng bowed to Zhou Qiong, then turned and entered the waterfall as well.
After everyone entered the secret realm, a terrifying silence fell before the waterfall. Zhou Qiong also closed his eyes to rest.
Meanwhile, Qian Sihai and the others beside him silently exchanged voice transmissions.
"Zhou Qiong has delivered himself right to us. We must seize this opportunity. His world definitely holds a great secret."
"Exactly. We were wondering how long he would stay in hiding, but to think he actually dared to show himself. He's courting death."
"Good. Once we enter the secret realm, send word immediately if you find any trace of him. Don't think of keeping everything for yourself. Zhou Qiong isn't easy to deal with."
"Then it's settled. Whoever contributes more gets more treasure, and we share the secret. If anyone breaks the rules, the rest will punish them together."
"Agreed."
Zhou Qiong did not know that the people behind him were discussing how to deal with him. Of course, even if he had known, he would not have cared.
Six hours soon passed. Elder Mu gave a light cough, and the leaders swiftly flew into the waterfall. Looking at Zhou Qiong, who had yet to enter, Elder Mu said softly, "There is a kind of Immortal Stone in the secret realm. They are scarce, but greatly beneficial to cultivation. There are also savage beasts inside. They have little intelligence and attack all intruders. The secret realm will close automatically in three days. Be sure to come out within that time!"
Zhou Qiong nodded. "Thank you for telling me, Elder Mu!" With that, he strode into the waterfall.
The moment Zhou Qiong entered the waterfall, he felt a ripple of spatial displacement. Once it faded, his surroundings brightened, and he appeared atop a mountain peak. As far as he could see, mountains covered a million li in every direction.
"Ding! Congratulations to the host for completing the mission to enter the secret realm. Distributing rewards!"
At once, Zhou Qiong's presence grew steadily stronger. Crack, crack-as though some shackles within his body had been unlocked, his presence actually began to destabilize the secret realm.
Character: Zhou Qiong (Zhou Wudi) Position: Demon Sect leader Cultivation: first level of the Eternal Realm (outward presence at the first level of the True Martial Realm) Martial arts: Demon God Scripture, Firmament Life and Death Hand, Gods and Devils Eye, second level of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Art Mount: Demon Dragon Flying Carriage
"System, when my cultivation increases from now on, will my presence continue to grow stronger with it?"
"No. The pill you took can only strengthen your presence to the first level of the True Martial Realm. You can also unleash two moves with the cultivation of a first-level True Martial Realm cultivator."
Zhou Qiong nodded silently. He had known the pill's effects would not last forever.
On the mountain peak, a savage beast resembling a lion and a tiger stared at Zhou Qiong with blood-red eyes. Yet the oppressive might of the Demon Qi surrounding him frightened it so much that it did not dare approach. Still, it did not leave, instead letting out low growls.
Zhou Qiong gave a quiet exclamation of surprise. "A Profound Understanding Realm savage beast actually has no fear of my True Martial Realm presence. This secret realm really does seem to be far from simple."
He killed the savage beast with a wave of his hand. Just as he was about to leave, his expression suddenly froze. Light began to shine between his brows, until a black vertical eye emerged, radiating countless rays of light. Through it, he saw a wisp of blood-black smoke slowly rise from the savage beast's corpse where it had died, then sink underground until it vanished.
Zhou Qiong frowned. Just now, he seemed to have seen an ancient monster roaring beneath the ground, but he had not clearly seen what it was.
Without dwelling on it for long, Zhou Qiong flew into the distance, toward a sound that had just reached him. Before he had flown far, he spotted a girl in red. It was Hong Meigui of the Flower Clan. In her hand was a stone glowing with white light, presumably the Immortal Stone Elder Mu had mentioned.
The girl in red also saw Zhou Qiong. She instantly put away the Immortal Stone and smiled rather awkwardly. "Sect Leader Zhou, what a coincidence!"
"The Immortal Stone. Hand it over!" A cold voice came from Zhou Qiong's mouth.
"I found this! How can you rob me? Don't you understand first come, first served? I'm a weak woman-how can you rob me?"
"Everything I lay eyes on belongs to me. Hand it over or die!" As he spoke, Zhou Qiong extended his right hand, demonic light spilling from it.
"Wait, wait, wait! I'm Elder Mu's granddaughter! If you kill me, Elder Mu won't let you off." Seeing that a soft approach would not work, Hong Meigui could only use Elder Mu to intimidate Zhou Qiong.
But his palm did not pause. Hong Meigui felt the breath of death envelop her. She knew that if she did not hand it over, he really would kill her. With no time to be shocked, she hurriedly took out the Immortal Stone and tossed it to Zhou Qiong.
Zhou Qiong caught the Immortal Stone and examined it carefully. Beside him, Hong Meigui breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that he was no longer attacking her. For that instant just now, she had thought she was certain to die!
Zhou Qiong examined the Immortal Stone with his Gods and Devils Eye. Aside from a staggering amount of energy, he found a wisp of white Qi drifting inside, presumably the so-called Immortal Qi. Immortal Stones were essential for cultivation in the Great Luo Realm. For those below the Great Luo Realm, they were supreme cultivation treasures that could rapidly raise one's cultivation level, and were exceedingly rare.
Zhou Qiong put away the Immortal Stone, glanced at Hong Meigui, and said coldly, "For Elder Mu's sake, I'll spare you this time. There won't be a next time."
With that, Zhou Qiong turned and vanished before Hong Meigui. Her face was now frightfully red-not from fear of Zhou Qiong, but from anger. To think she had even liked him a little when they first met, only to discover that in his eyes, she was nothing at all!