With the Nether Shadow Rats and the Dark Tree Monsters, every disciple was likely fighting for their life.
Splitting up would allow them to cover more ground quickly, hopefully finding any struggling companions sooner.
They exchanged a quick, determined look. The silent agreement passed between them. They were powerful, but this realm demanded teamwork and swift action.
With their junior sisters, Zhao Yue and Lan Suyin, now safe and re-energized, Bai Wei and Zhao Tie were free to search for their lost comrades.
With a final nod, they turned and swiftly moved off in their chosen directions,
their figures quickly disappearing into the dense forest, leaving Zhao Yue and Lan Suyin to recover and guard the spot.
While the Eternal Sect disciples were busy searching for each other and fighting their own battles, in another part of the Secret Realm, a much larger, more chaotic fight was happening.
This battle was taking place on a vast, open great plain, a wide-open space with no trees or places to hide.
Here, many different groups of cultivators, all from the Central Region, were fighting for their lives.
These weren't just one or two sects; there were cultivators from many different forces, all trying to survive.
They were facing something even worse than what the Eternal Sect disciples had encountered. They were fighting two kinds of terrifying monsters at once.
First, there were the Nether Shadow Rats, just like the ones Xiao Yun and Da Zhuang had faced, but in even larger numbers.
Second, there were new, even stranger beasts. These creatures were all black from head to toe, like living shadows.
They had big, sharp horns on their heads, meant for goring. Their mouths were full of sharp teeth, like daggers.
They moved on four strong legs and had a long, thick tail that they used like a whip, sweeping it through the cultivators to knock them down or smash them.
These strange beasts were also incredibly powerful, matching the cultivators in strength. Some were at the Nascent Soul level, just like many of the disciples.
Others were even stronger, at the Soul Transformation level, and a few truly terrifying ones were at the Void Refinement level, making them extremely dangerous.
The battle was a mess of screaming, clashing weapons, and the roars of the beasts. The cultivators, even those from the powerful Central Region, were struggling badly. Many of them had already fallen,
their bodies lying still on the plain. Others were injured, clutching their wounds, barely able to stand. The plain was stained with blood, both human and beast.
The air was thick with the smell of blood, dust, and dark magic. Fireballs, ice shards, bolts of lightning,
and spiritual energy blasts filled the sky as cultivators unleashed their techniques. But for every beast they killed, two more seemed to take its place.
The Nether Shadow Rats swarmed their feet, biting and scratching, while the larger black beasts charged with their horns and tails, tearing through their ranks.
The cultivators were tired, their spiritual energy draining fast. Despair was starting to set in.
They fought back-to-back, desperately trying to protect each other, but the numbers were simply overwhelming.
It was a battle of survival, and many of them were on the verge of death, their hope fading with each passing moment.
They didn't know how much longer they could hold out against this endless tide of darkness.
Meanwhile, in a completely different part of the Secret Realm, the forest was very dense and strange.
Here, another group of cultivators was in a desperate fight. These were the forces from the Northern Region.
They were trapped in a deep, dark forest. It was filled with old, twisted trees and strange, glowing plants. Here, they faced two kinds of monsters.
First, there were the endless Nether Shadow Rats that came from every shadow. Second, they fought terrifying forest beasts.
These forest beasts were different from the black, horned creatures on the plain. These were monsters of the forest itself. They were giant, multi-limbed insects with hard shells.
There are huge, snarling wolves with eyes that glowed in the dark. They could also be living trees that moved and attacked.
The trees were also against the cultivators. Thorny vines and grasping branches made it hard for them to move.
The thick forest meant they could not see far. The rats easily hid and ambush them. It was a tight, scary fight.
The Northern Region cultivators struggled. Their spells and weapons barely kept the rats and forest monsters away.
On the side of a giant lake, another fierce battle was unfolding.
The lake was calm at first, its surface still and reflective. But then, it began to stir. Soon, many terrifying water monsters burst forth from the depths.
There were huge, scaly crocodiles with snapping jaws, massive snakes that coiled and struck, and even strange, fish-like eels with sharp teeth.
The forces from the Eastern Region were already fighting these lake creatures.
They were powerful cultivators, skilled in water techniques, and they held their ground against the monsters from the lake.
But then, the situation became much worse. The extraterrestrial Shadow Rats invaded them.
These weren't just a few; countless rats swarmed from the shore, attacking the cultivators from behind and the sides.
The Eastern Region cultivators were caught completely off guard. They were busy fighting the water monsters, and they didn't expect the rats. Many of them died a horrifying death.
The rats swarmed over them, biting and tearing, while the lake monsters continued their attacks from the water. The calm lake turned into a bloody, chaotic mess.
While everyone else was facing their own tough challenges, on a rugged, jagged mountain, the forces from the Southern Region were fleeing for their lives.
At first, they fought very bravely against the mountain beasts. These creatures were fierce, giant eagles, stone elementals and beasts with hard hooves that could climb cliffs.
The Southern Region cultivators battled fiercely, using their mountain-based skills and weapons.
But then, just like everywhere else, the Nether Shadow Rats joined the fight.
They swarmed onto the mountain, attacking the cultivators who were already busy with the mountain beasts. This double attack was too much.
The cultivators began to fall, one after another. Many of them died right there on the jagged rocks.
Now, only a few of them were left. Their numbers were greatly reduced. These last few survivors were no longer fighting,
they were desperately running for their lives, scrambling over the sharp rocks and down the treacherous slopes,
trying to escape the endless pursuit of both the mountain beasts and the horrifying Shadow Rats.
Lan Ruo and Da Zhuang were still panting, their breathing heavy after the big fight.
Lan Ruo looked at the empty space where the rats had been and gave a small, mocking laugh. "Heh! Wanted to scare us?" she said. "Now where are you? All dead?"
Da Zhuang rolled his eyes at her. "As if you killed them?" he shot back.
"They were swept away by those 9th-tier talismans that the Sect Master gave us!"
Just then, a voice came from a little distance away. It was clear and friendly.
"So what did my little sister do this time, Da Zhuang?"
Lan Ruo immediately looked towards the voice. It was Bai Wei! Her face brightened.
"Brother Bai!" she exclaimed, sounding a bit like a child complaining. "See, Da Zhuang is bullying me!"
Da Zhuang just snorted. "When did I bully you? I was just telling the truth!"
Bai Wei saw the piles of beast corpses and couldn't help but feel a little amused by their playful squabble.
"Hey!" he said, interrupting them. "Stop fighting, you two. Let's go, everyone is waiting for us." He knew they had to gather the others.
So, the three of them Lan Ruo, Da Zhuang, and Bai Wei headed off together.
They went to the place where Bai Wei had left Zhao Yue and Lan Suyin, eager to reunite with the rest of their group.
Mu Chen and Xiao Yun were standing together, and Mu Chen was teasing Xiao Yun a lot.
"Hehe, Xiao Yun, oh Xiao Yun," Mu Chen said, "you didn't even say 'thank you' to me? Do you think I'm not kind enough?"
Xiao Yun snapped back, "Stop it, Mu Chen! So what if you helped me kill those dirty rats? Were you just going to let me die by their hands?"
Mu Chen replied with a grin, "How could I let my dear Xiao Yun die in front of me?"
Xiao Yun almost stumbled to the ground, annoyed by his words.
Just then, a voice called out from a distance. "Hey! You two lovebirds, did you flatten this ground yourselves?"
Both Mu Chen and Xiao Yun looked over. It was Zhao Tie!
Xiao Yun scoffed. "What lovebirds? This idiot, Mu Chen, is just messing with me!"
Mu Chen immediately said, "If you agree, we can be lovebirds!"
Xiao Yun rolled her eyes at Mu Chen. "In your dreams!" he said.
Zhao Tie felt a headache coming on, listening to their constant banter. He finally said, "Hey, stop for now. We need to join the others."
Zhao Yue and Lan Suyin were resting, feeling much better after the spirit pills.
Suddenly, Bai Wei appeared, and with him were Lan Ruo and Da Zhuang. They all greeted each other with relief.
Just a few seconds later, Zhao Tie arrived. Behind him, Mu Chen and Xiao Yun were still arguing good-naturedly.
"Oh, come on, Xiao Yun, just admit I saved you!" Mu Chen said with a laugh.
"Saved me? You almost got me eaten while you were busy showing off!" Xiao Yun retorted, but there was a smile on his face.
Zhao Tie just shook his head, a small smile playing on his lips, as everyone finally gathered together in one spot.
All the disciples of the Eternal Sect who had been separated were now reunited, their faces showing relief and happiness to see each other safe.
While everyone from the five regions of Blue Star was fighting for their lives inside the Secret Realm, something very different was happening outside.
Outside, people from all five regions stood waiting. Goddess Nexus and Commander Vulcan were there, along with everyone from the Human Federation fleet.
They were all looking at a spot high up on a mountain.
There, a very fancy table was set up. Shen Huai, the Sect Master of the Eternal Sect, was sitting there.
He looked bored, waiting for everyone to come out of the Secret Realm. He knew it would take at least a few more days. So, he decided to enjoy some tea.
Right beside him, Wuhe was busy making high-grade spirit tea.
They couldn't drink the super-special immortal-grade enlightenment tea outside the realm, but spirit-grade teas were perfectly fine.
Everyone watching them was completely amazed, almost dumbfounded. They kept asking themselves,
'Do these two not care about their own sect members who are in danger? Or have they gone a bit crazy from all the stress?'
The sight of them calmly enjoying tea while others were fighting for their lives was both strange and a little bit funny.
Wuhe, with a calm and focused expression, started preparing the tea. He used a tiny, ornate teapot that looked like it was made of pure jade.
He carefully poured water from a silver kettle that hummed softly, not over a fire, but somehow just floating in the air.
The water shimmered as it hit the tea leaves, which were delicate and green. A sweet, earthy scent wafted through the air, making even the sternest generals outside feel a tiny pang of hunger.
Wuhe then used a miniature whisk to gently stir the brew, making sure it was perfect. Finally, he poured the steaming,
fragrant tea into an equally delicate porcelain cup, which had intricate drawings of ancient dragons.
He held out the cup with both hands to Shen Huai. "Sect Master," he said softly, "your spirit tea is ready."
Shen Huai took a slow, deliberate sip. He swirled the tea in his mouth, his eyes closed in concentration, like a master tasting the rarest wine. He opened his eyes, a slight frown on his face.
"Hmm," he pondered aloud, "something is missing. The taste... it's not quite right." He took another sip, looking thoughtful. "Perhaps... maybe we should have some cakes with this?"