Inside the front hall of the Pill Pavilion.
Wen Daoyuan stood with his hands behind his back in front of the hall, his expression solemn.
Hearing the steady footsteps behind them, he and Wen Buqi turned around at the same time.
Chu Yunfei, dressed in a black outfit, strode steadily into the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone before giving a slight nod.
Wen Daoyuan took two steps forward and patted Chu Yunfei heavily on the shoulder.
"Young friend Chu, please be careful on your journey."
His palm sank slightly, his tone full of profound meaning.
"Rest assured, Pavilion Master Wen, I know what I'm doing."
Chu Yunfei smiled calmly.
Standing to the side, Wen Jiao bit her lower lip lightly, her fingertips turning slightly white.
She hesitated for a moment, but finally took out a crystal-clear Flying Phoenix Warm Jade from her sleeve and handed it to Chu Yunfei with both hands.
The jade pendant is warm and smooth, faintly radiating pure yang Spiritual Qi.
"My lord, this was sent by the royal family half an hour ago."
Wen Jiao's voice was strained, and her eyes were brimming with barely suppressed worry.
Chu Yunfei reached out and took the cold jade pendant, his gaze suddenly sharpening.
As my fingertips traced the intricate patterns carved on the back of the jade pendant, a familiar, cool orchid fragrance quietly drifted into my nostrils.
This is a personal keepsake worn by Ling Xueyao.
He had seen this item on Xueyao's waist countless times, both in the Cangwu Mountain Range and later in the imperial palace.
The royal family went to great lengths to deliver this item to the Pill Pavilion on the morning before the grand competition was about to begin...
The meaning is self-evident.
As expected, Ling Zhantian was afraid that he wouldn't join the game, so he deliberately used Ling Xueyao's safety as the final chain to force him into the secret realm.
A chilling killing intent quietly rose from the depths of his heart, but he forcefully suppressed it deep within his eyes.
"Very good."
Chu Yunfei's lips curled into an extremely dangerous smile.
" Ling Zhantian... I hope the scheme you've laid out won't disappoint me."
This secret realm must contain a trap that the dog emperor thought he could completely kill, otherwise he would never have gone to such lengths.
He put the jade pendant into his pocket and looked up at Wen Jiao.
" Jiao'er, this Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm is very dangerous. You stay outside and don't need to come in with me."
Wen Jiao's expression froze.
She wanted to argue, but looking into Chu Yunfei's deep, cold black eyes, she swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue.
She knew that the current situation allowed no room for sentimentality.
Ling Zhantian had clearly already laid a deadly trap in the secret realm.
Although he was already at the Divine Sea Realm, if he were to encounter a killing trap of Ling Zhantian's level, going in would not only be of no help, but would also become a burden to Chu Yunfei.
"Good."
Wen Jiao suppressed her worry and whispered:
" The Pill Pavilion doesn't know much about this Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm, but it's likely that the other sects know about it in the same way."
"Once you're inside... please be careful. I'll wait for you outside."
Just then, Yao Yue, who had been hiding in the shadows of the side hall, suddenly jumped out.
She wore a black dress, her purple eyes scanning Chu Yunfei up and down, her pointed chin held high with arrogance.
"I want to go in too!"
Yao Yue puffed out her chest, her tone full of self-righteousness:
"After last night... I have at least recovered to the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm, which is enough to protect myself."
Chu Yunfei glanced at her sideways, his eyes filled with pity for someone who was an idiot, and didn't even bother to reply.
Eighth Level of Heavenly Origin?
With such cultivation, if thrown into a meat grinder where holy sons from various sects gather, and where there are even hidden dangers, they probably wouldn't even last a single exchange.
Wen Jiao decisively shook her head, coldly rejecting the idea on the spot:
"No."
"If something happens to you inside, and the Qingqiu clan uses it as an excuse to cause trouble for my Pill Pavilion, my Pill Pavilion cannot afford the consequences."
Yao Yue snorted coldly, her eyes widening slightly:
"Why should I? This princess is going!"
"Such a grand event for the human race, how could I, as the princess, possibly miss it?!"
Wen Jiao's expression darkened slightly, and her tone became more forceful.
"Just because you're currently living in the Pill Pavilion."
"If you go in and make a move that exposes your Demon Race identity, it will jeopardize the entire foundation of my Pill Pavilion."
Wen Jiao stared directly at Yao Yue, refusing to budge an inch:
"If you insist on going in, it's not impossible."
"To completely absolve yourself of any involvement, you must leave the Pill Pavilion now and enter as your own person."
"Furthermore... from this day forward, the Pill Pavilion will never provide you with protection again, and you are forbidden from ever setting foot in the Pill Pavilion again."
Upon hearing this, Yao Yue's voice abruptly stopped.
Her beautiful purple eyes darted around, and she suddenly seemed troubled.
She seems to have temporarily recovered to the strength of the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm, but this is still a far cry from her prime.
What if, after entering the secret realm and engaging in fierce battles, one's demonic power strangely declines again, or one is completely reduced to a mortal...?
By then, if she were to be kicked out of the Pill Pavilion, wouldn't she be left to die in the imperial city, filled with powerful human warriors?
More importantly...
The life and death of the Qingqiu clan rested entirely on Chu Yunfei's map of the sacred land.
If she truly loses all contact with Chu Yunfei, how will she explain it to her mother when she returns to the Western Continent?
Yao Yue's face flushed red and then turned pale as she cursed Wen Jiao and Chu Yunfei a thousand times in her heart.
In the end, she could only stomp her foot in utter frustration and stubbornly say:
"Fine, then we won't go!"
"This mere dilapidated secret realm of a human is not worth my attention!"
Seeing that she had calmed down, Wen Buqi coughed lightly, interrupting the chaos.
"It's getting late. All the sects are probably already in position. Let's set off."
Chu Yunfei nodded slightly, said no more, and stepped out of the Pill Pavilion.
The central square of the Great Qian Imperial City.
The entire white jade square, which could hold hundreds of thousands of people, was now completely submerged by a dense crowd.
The noise was deafening, shaking the heavens.
The six top sects of the Eastern Continent, second-rate forces from all sides, reclusive Lineage, and even countless desperate rogue Rogue Cultivator from all directions all gathered here.
The overwhelming spiritual energy collided and surged, even tearing apart the thick clouds in the sky.
"Have you heard? The rules for this competition have all been changed."
"It's not just changed, it's insane! Any cultivator above the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer can enter, and the royal family has even used the Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm as the grand arena."
" The Heavenly Mystic Secret Realm... that's a treasure land left behind by the Great Qian Ling Taixuan Dynasty's Ling Tai Xuan Ancestor. Legend has it that it's filled with rare spiritual herbs and opportunities."
"The opportunity is great, but I've heard that it's not about life or death inside; the outcome is entirely determined by the struggle for the Sect Token. This isn't a grand competition; it's clearly a bloodbath where people are devoured without spitting out the bones!"
"Hmph, if you're afraid of dying, then don't go in. I've been stuck at the Seventh Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm for ten whole years. Even if it's a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, I'm going to fight for this opportunity!"
"That's right, I won't go in and steal that worthless token. I'll just gather a few high-grade spiritual herbs and hide. Who can do anything to me?!"
Countless cultivators roared, their faces flushed, their eyes revealing both a fervent greed for the immense fortune and a deep fear of the impending bloodshed.
And on the suspended platform directly north of the square.
The royal throne hangs high above, while the seats of the six top sects are arranged on both sides, with banners fluttering and an imposing presence.
Seating area of the Cangyun Sect.
Qin Hao gripped the white jade chair armrests tightly with two fingers, his powerful aura as Divine Sea Realm Second Layer cultivator faintly visible.
His eyes, sharp as a hawk's, swept wildly across the surging crowd below, a venomous sneer playing on his lips.
" Chu Yunfei... you coward, you better really dare to come today."
The shame of losing his arm and the humiliation of the Jingyuan Hall constantly burned away his reason.
Meanwhile, within the Puppet Sect's camp on the other side, a chilling wind howled.
Saint Yue Chenzhou sat solemnly, with two hideous black puppets gleaming with an eerie light standing beside him, their killing intent almost tangible.
Above the seats of the Heavenly Sword Sect, a chilling aura of Sword Qi emanated.
Situ Shuang'er, dressed in a snow-white sword robe, was as aloof and cold as the lonely moon in the moonlight.
The Ice Soul Spirit Sword she carried on her back exuded an extremely cold sword intent, her brows and eyes were aloof, as if all the noise of the mortal world was beyond her reach.
Nangong Wuhen stood to one side with his arms crossed, looking down at the entire arena, a hint of smug satisfaction flashing deep in his eyes.
Sudden.
"Hold head high...!!"
A deep and powerful roar, like that of an ancient beast, tore through the sky from the depths of the palace.
A magnificent imperial chariot, cast entirely in purple gold and adorned with imperial dragon patterns, shattered the clouds and soared through the air.
Around the beast chariot, four incredibly powerful Divine Sea Realm auras transformed into pillars of light that blotted out the sky, instantly suppressing the clamor of the entire plaza.
Royal retainers Zhou Xuancheng and Sun Meng were both present, and four powerful experts at the Divine Sea Realm led the way, but... Shen Qianyue was nowhere to be seen.