As dawn broke, the crimson-gold morning light stretched across the vast sky of the far north of the Primordial Grave, spreading along the veins of the Eternal Silence Long River to its source, illuminating the dense crowd of people before the precipice in every detail.
After a whole night of stalemate and waiting, the number of cultivators gathered here was already countless. The void behind them continued to crack, and new figures stepped out from the spatial rifts, instantly merging into the vast crowd.
The more the number of people surged, the more oppressive and deathly silent the atmosphere became in Ancient Gate of Myriad Dharmas. The entire threshold area was empty and desolate, and no one dared to step in rashly. The Dark Gold Ancient Gate was quietly embedded deep in the cliff, and the pitch-black hole inside remained unchanged since ancient times, deathly silent. Any divine thought that dared to cross the threshold to peek was completely annihilated without a trace, without receiving the slightest feedback.
Everyone in the room waited in silence, each fully aware of the other's concerns. Those top experts who were truly qualified to enter the fray remained unmoved, for they understood the terror of this unknown secret realm better than ordinary cultivators.
The black hole can devour divine thoughts without revealing any murderous intent. There are no fluctuations, no backlash, and no warnings. In such a completely unfathomable realm, the first person to step into it must bear all the unknown dangers alone.
If the pioneers Anran, the others will be able to obtain firsthand information about the secret realm; if the pioneers accidentally trigger the ancient restrictions and perish within, the later ones will be able to use the blood of their predecessors to understand some of the dangers within the sect.
No one was willing to be a pawn to test the waters. Cultivators from various factions had already secretly gathered together, exchanging information in hushed tones and forging temporary alliances, agreeing to join forces to maintain balance after entering the secret realm. However, during their conversations, deep wariness remained in their eyes, and they scrutinized each other repeatedly.
Before the secret realm is opened, the alliance is just empty words. Those who discuss the Dao side by side today may turn against each other and fight to the death if they encounter a heaven-defying treasure tomorrow.
Disciples of the major sects remained firmly in their own camps, clearly separated from other forces and keeping their distance; Rogue Cultivator lingered on the periphery of the crowd, some observing the situation alone, some temporarily forming groups, and others constantly shifting their positions, hoping to seize an opportunity to attach themselves to a strong figure and securely enter the game.
"Waiting like this isn't a solution." Suddenly, someone at the front of the crowd couldn't help but break the silence. "Since no one is willing to be the first to enter the game, why don't we draw lots to decide? Whoever draws the lot will go first to scout ahead." As soon as the words were spoken, several cold sneers rang out from all around, full of mockery.
"Why should I?" "Since you proposed the draw, why didn't you go first?" "The secret realm is unclaimed territory. Those who wish to enter can go forward on their own. Don't think you can use other people's lives to pave the way for you. Your calculations are far too shrewd."
On the other side, someone else suggested, "Why don't each faction send one person to form a vanguard team and jointly enter the fray to scout ahead?" This suggestion was met with an even more blunt and cold response: "This method is feasible." "Then your sect will send someone first."
The person who made the suggestion fell silent instantly, followed by a low, meaningful laugh that revealed the scheming and calculating nature of human nature.
Qin Yu stood silently amidst the crowd, observing the farce with a cold eye, remaining completely silent and not uttering a single word. His gaze sometimes fell upon the ancient and silent Ancient Gate of Myriad Dharmas, and sometimes swept over the camps of the four great families ahead.
The Five Great Heavenly Prodigies remained standing independently. Ju Lingyuan, Chi Xiyue, Hua Yanyang, Shangguan Shumu, Shangguan Hongyin did not take the initiative to approach the ancient gate, but they kept an eye on each other and secretly checked each other. An invisible tension quietly permeated the entire scene.
"Brother Hua." A clear voice echoed from the direction of the Shangguan Lineage's camp, across the open area, "The Hua Lineage's camp is closest to the Ancient Gate. Could it be that you've already decided to seize this first opportunity of the sect's founding?"
Hua Yanyang glanced back, a faint, cold smile playing on her lips, her tone calm and unhurried. "If Brother Shangguan is so impatient, my Hua Lineage will gladly yield the opportunity and help you achieve your goal."
With a single, understated sentence, he deflected all the thorny problems, leaving the Shangguan Lineage speechless.
Chi Xiyue observed the situation coldly, not getting involved in the conflict, while Ju Lingyuan gazed quietly at the ancient gate, unmoved by external things. Although there was no direct confrontation among them, an undercurrent of mutual probing and checks and balances had already quietly surged and enveloped the entire scene with these few words of conversation.
The closer they got to the outer edge of the crowd, the more complex and anxious the atmosphere became. Many cultivators with mediocre cultivation levels stared into the depths of the ancient gate, their eyes filled with burning greed. They desperately wanted to break into the secret realm and seize the supreme opportunity, but their hands remained tightly gripping their protective magic weapons, not daring to relax for even a moment.
Whenever their gaze fell upon that pitch-black abyss that devoured all divine thoughts, their restless and fervent hearts instantly cooled, their feet seemingly rooted to the ground, unable to move an inch. Greed surged, fear pierced their bones, the two emotions intertwined fiercely, making it hard for them to breathe.
Time ticked by, the tense atmosphere growing ever heavier. Finally, a rough, furious roar suddenly ripped through the whispers, tearing apart the oppressive silence. "Damn it! When are we going to get to this?!"
Hearing the commotion, everyone turned to look. A burly man forcefully pushed through the crowd and stepped forward. His face was full of irritation, and his cultivation had reached the Eternal Silence Realm Peak. Clearly, he had been waiting here all night, and the impatience and repression he had been suppressing had reached their limit. Seeing the group of powerful figures in front of him cowering in fear, he finally could not suppress the anger in his heart.
"Normally, when you all see a priceless treasure or opportunity, you all scramble for it, resorting to any means necessary, wishing you could trample everyone else under your feet!" The burly man spat fiercely, his tone full of sarcasm. "But now that the secret realm is before us, you're all acting like cowards?"
Many people around looked embarrassed, but no one spoke up to argue. Some crossed their arms, their eyes gleaming with anticipation, hoping that someone would finally step forward and be the first to scout ahead. The burly man was well aware of everyone's thoughts, and he sneered, his right hand suddenly clenching.
Clang!
A clear, heavy metallic clang resounded throughout the entire precipice, and a broad, heavy divine weapon suddenly appeared in his hand. The weapon was thick and ancient, with a faint, dark, cold light flowing across its blade. The moment it appeared, a circle of profound and concentrated Daoist energy spread out from his arm, steadily covering his body and forming a solid defense.
"Today I will personally test it and see what kind of evil spirits lurk behind this ancient gate!"
The burly man, carrying a divine weapon, strode confidently toward the Ancient Gate of Myriad Dharmas. One step, two steps, three steps, and the previously bustling crowd Silent Void. Thousands of eyes focused on him alone, and the entire audience held their breath in awe.
Qin Yu narrowed his eyes slightly, observing intently. In front of the four great families, the four elders, Hua Yin, Ju Moting Chi Tongyue, Shangguan Wan'er, and Shangguan Wan'er, remained motionless, Five Great Heavenly Prodigies also remained calm and silent. Everyone was quietly watching, waiting for the outcome of the pioneers.
"They really dare to step forward..." someone on the periphery murmured. "The foundation of the Eternal Silence Realm Peak does indeed give them some confidence to act tough."
Someone beside him immediately said coldly, "So what if his cultivation level is high? This place can silently devour even divine sense; there's no way to fathom the danger. If he can enter Anran, we can follow." "Silence, let's observe."
The burly man approached the ancient gate step by step, a hundred feet, fifty feet, twenty feet, and in an instant he was near the threshold. As he approached the pitch-black cave, he suddenly stopped and did not rush in rashly.
Although this man was rough and reckless, he was by no means a mindless fool; he still harbored Ultimate caution in his heart. He gripped his divine weapon tightly to steady himself, and his gaze slowly swept along the ancient rock walls on both sides, staring at the mottled array patterns that had been silent for countless epochs.
After a brief hesitation, he slowly extended his left hand, his fingertips gently probing towards a dim, almost vanished ancient pattern. "Let's examine the mystery of this pattern..." The entire audience held their breath, their gazes fixed intently on that fingertip. The instant the fingertip Touch Wall —a soft hum...
A very subtle tremor quietly resounded. The burly man's expression suddenly changed drastically. The ancient pattern that his fingertip touched, which had been dull and almost disappeared, suddenly lit up with a point of brilliant golden light. Then, a second and a third point of golden light bloomed in succession, and the golden patterns slowly traveled and spread along the veins of the rock wall.
The burly man's pupils contracted sharply, a chill running down his spine. "Not good!" He immediately and decisively withdrew his hand, but his palm, which had touched the rock wall, seemed firmly attached, remaining motionless. "What's going on?!"
The burly man's face turned deathly pale. He unleashed all his strength, desperately trying to break free, but still couldn't pull himself back even an inch. The next moment—whoosh!!!
The entire cliff face suddenly trembled violently, and a powerful, terrifying suction force erupted from the depths of the ancient patterns, pulling at his body tightly. "Ah!!!"
The burly man's body tensed instantly, and the previously solid and profound aura of eternal Stillness Dao emanating from his body rapidly dimmed and faded before his very eyes. Immediately afterward, brilliant rays of Fate Soul were forcibly peeled away from his brow, chest, and limbs, surging wildly into the ancient array patterns along his arm that had touched the rock wall. "Save me!!!"
Ultimate fear completely gripped his mind. The burly man finally panicked, slamming his divine weapon into the ground in an attempt to break free from the suction. Boom!!! A deafening roar echoed across the surrounding area, the cliff shook violently, but the terrifying suction remained unmoved; his struggle was utterly futile. "Help—"
The last cry for help abruptly ceased. In the blink of an eye, the once robust and powerful body was completely drained of its essence; flesh, bones, and Fate Soul were all annihilated, leaving only a withered, emaciated shell. Whoosh—
A gentle morning breeze swept by, and the withered body instantly crumbled into a shower of ashes, drifting away with the wind without a trace. Only a heavy divine weapon fell to the ground with a "clang," its echo cold and mournful. The entire place was deathly silent; you could hear a pin drop. And the ancient array patterns on the rock wall were only just beginning to undergo a transformation.
One, ten, a hundred... countless ancient patterns, silent for millennia, lit up with golden light one after another, starting from where the strong man had touched them, spreading wildly along the rock walls on both sides, climbing up the gateposts in an instant, and then penetrating the layered, nested dark gold arches of the entire ancient gate.
The entire Ancient Gate of Myriad Dharmas was completely illuminated and dazzling! Qin Yu's pupils suddenly contracted, and he murmured inwardly, "This is a restriction... It's fully activated???"
The next instant, the Silent Void black hole within the door suddenly surged and churned violently, boom--!!!