On this day, Wei Zhong removed the birdcage from his courtyard and placed Nine-Colored into his Spirit Beast Pouch.
He altered his appearance, cast the Breath Concealing Technique to conceal his aura, and donned a voluminous black robe with a deep hood before venturing into Market City.
Today marked the opening of the Secret Realm.
Perhaps due to the significance of the occasion, Market City was overflowing with cultivators, many of whom had traveled from distant lands to be present. Wei Zhong's inconspicuous attire allowed him to blend seamlessly into the throng.
The incessant hawking of the merchants, which had persisted for two years, grew even more fervent as the Secret Realm's opening approached.
Boom!
A thunderclap echoed through the clear sky as a figure materialized above Market City.
"It's a Core Formation cultivator—Zhao Bai, the Hall Master of the Artifact Hall from the Azurewood Sect," a well-informed cultivator announced. "Rumor has it he follows the path of a Body Cultivator, his physical prowess so great he can withstand Third-Tier Magic Artifacts with his bare flesh. Who would have thought he'd be the one officiating the Secret Realm's opening today?"
Wei Zhong observed Zhao Bai's corporeal form suspended effortlessly in the void, a hint of curiosity flickering in his eyes.
The path of a Body Cultivator... doesn't seem half bad.
Spirit Cultivators rely heavily on spiritual energy for their abilities. If their spiritual energy is depleted during combat, their strength would plummet catastrophically. Unlike Body Cultivators, who depend on their physical prowess, embodying the principle of "one strike breaks a thousand techniques."
"Fellow Daoists, I will oversee the opening of this Secret Realm..."
The speaker's voice boomed like rolling thunder, resonating clearly among the cultivators below.
"His voice is like thunder... Could he be practicing a Thunder-Attribute Body Refinement Art?" Wei Zhong wondered inwardly.
"Those who wish to explore the Secret Realm, please follow me with your tokens in hand. All others, please stand aside."
With that, he transformed into a streak of rainbow light, soaring toward the Azurewood Sect's main gate and leaving a golden trail in the sky.
So the entrance is indeed within the sect's gates? Wei Zhong mused, joining the throng of cultivators and following at a brisk pace.
At the same moment, Elder Zhao's voice echoed in his ear: "Stay close to the rainbow light and don't stray too far, or you'll trigger the restrictions and face the consequences alone."
No one dared cause trouble at such a crucial moment. The cultivators clustered tightly behind the luminous arc, some riding Flying Swords, others casting techniques.
Wei Zhong stepped onto a cluster of auspicious clouds, moving swiftly with each stride as he followed the golden rainbow light to a secluded valley.
Numerous disciples from the Azurewood Sect had already gathered there, divided into three distinct formations with scattered True Inheritance disciples stationed along the flanks.
Hall Master Duan Delong of the Pill Hall hovered in the air. Seeing the Loose Cultivator's arrival, he called out:
"Disciples, lend me your strength!"
"By the Hall Master's command!"
A silver pillar of light erupted from Zhao Bai's chest, while six golden beams surged from the disciples' hands, converging into a single point.
The combined radiance formed a blinding "sun" in the sky. Even Zhao Bai, a Core Formation Body Cultivator, couldn't withstand its overwhelming power and was forced to descend to the ground.
The surrounding disciples trembled with fear, sensing an impending catastrophe.
The dazzling light tore a rift in the void, revealing glimpses of breathtaking scenery beyond.
The rift widened until it reached a diameter of thirty meters, at which point the "sun" abruptly extinguished.
Only then did the lingering dread in the disciples' hearts begin to dissipate.
"The Secret Realm is open. What are you waiting for?"
A thunderous voice boomed, and the sect disciples and Loose Cultivators surged through the entrance.
Once the cultivators had entered, Zhao Bai muttered to himself, "The power of the Void is terrifying. Senior Brother was right—if even the Void passage to the Secret Realm is this unstable, it seems the realm truly cannot be preserved."
He then instructed the surrounding disciples, "Guard this passage."
"Yes, Senior!"
Zhao Bai transformed into a streak of golden light and vanished.
"The Hall Master's Thunder Methods grow ever more profound," one of the remaining disciples marveled. "The Golden Thunder Manual truly lives up to its reputation as a domineering Thunder-Attribute Body Refinement Art. For a moment, I felt my very spirit threatened. His cultivation base must be approaching the mid-stage of Core Formation."
The disciples turned their gazes to Luo Zhigang, the Fifth True Disciple.
"Don't look at me," Luo Zhigang said with a wry smile. "We shouldn't casually discuss our Master's cultivation base. Focus on guarding the passage and preventing sabotage."
"Senior Brother jests," another disciple chuckled. "This is the heart of our sect's territory. No Demonic Cultivator would dare risk infiltrating this place."
Despite their earlier confidence, the disciples focused their attention on the Void Passage hanging in mid-air before dispersing to guard the perimeter.
"What's the situation?" Zhao Bai asked, returning to find Duan Delong dragging a barely alive figure.
"Three intruders came," Duan Delong replied. "I killed one, and Junior Sister Yu went after the other two."
Zhao Bai peeled back the corpse's mask, his brow furrowing. "What kind of whelp is this?"
Duan Delong shook his head. "No idea. The Azurewood Sect has weathered countless enemies over the centuries—at least eight hundred, if not a thousand. Apart from his Demonic Path techniques, there's nothing distinctive about him."
Before he could finish, another voice chimed in. "I've found something. You should both take a look."
Yu Xianglan reappeared, tossing the other two intruders onto the ground. Their clothes had been deliberately torn to reveal inhuman features beneath: scales, tails, and other demonic traits.
"Demon cultivators?" Zhao Bai and Duan Delong exclaimed in unison.
Human Immortal Cultivators typically focused on spiritual techniques. Only those lacking sufficient talent or trapped in a cultivation bottleneck would resort to demonic methods, which often resulted in bestial physical transformations.
"These are lackeys of the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range!" Zhao Bai sneered.
For years, the human cultivation world had coveted the Myriad Beasts Mountain Range, and the demon beasts within reciprocated the sentiment.
"Three Foundation Establishment cultivators—one demonic and two demon beasts. They're truly throwing resources away." Zhao Bai let out a cold laugh. "Some idiot must have lured this demonic brat into attacking the Azurewood Sect. Do they think our sect's protective formation is just for show?"
"Not necessarily," Yu Xianglan said, waving her sleeve. Two sharp cones materialized in mid-air.
"Second-Tier Barrier-Breaking Cones?" Zhao Bai's forehead broke out in a cold sweat. If Yu Xianglan had activated these devices while he was opening the portal, they would have disrupted the Secret Realm's activation.
The resulting shockwave would have engulfed all the Qi Refining cultivators nearby—sect disciples and Loose Cultivators alike. He could have protected no more than six Foundation Establishment disciples and escaped. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
Duan Delong, however, remained calm. With both of them guarding the area, nothing could possibly go wrong.
"Junior Sister's strength has grown remarkably," Duan Delong remarked. "To capture and kill him without even allowing him to use his Barrier-Breaking Cones—truly impressive."
"Senior Brother overpraises me," Yu Xianglan replied. "Still, we must report this to the Sect Leader and await his judgment."
"That is only proper!"
...
Wei Zhong felt the world spin violently. When he opened his eyes, he found himself no longer in the Jade Green Valley but within the Clear River Secret Realm.
Above him stretched an azure sky, while beneath his feet lay gray rock. Rolling mountains surrounded him.
Truly worthy of the name "Clear River Secret Realm."
Standing atop an Auspicious Cloud, Wei Zhong surveyed the surrounding terrain. He appeared to be on the edge of Falling Sunset Valley, not far from Mist Ridge Cliff—one of the Jade Marrow Mushroom's growth sites.
Good luck. I might reach it before anyone else.
Wei Zhong drew his magic sword and gripped it tightly. Now that he was inside the Secret Realm, caution was paramount. A wisp of cloud rose beneath his feet, and by the time it dissipated, Wei Zhong had vanished without a trace.