Chapter 58 : The Situation at the Secret Realm Entrance
Chapter 58: The Situation at the Secret Realm Entrance
The Azurewood Demon Forest lay at the border between the spheres of influence of the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect and the Wuyi Sect, far from the main bases of both factions.
Even though the Pitying Star Cloud Vessel was already exceptionally fast, it still arrived only at the moment the morning sun first rose on the second day.
Before the cloud vessel had fully slowed down, a disciple riding a flying spirit beast leapt onto the deck and urgently reported the situation to True Person Duanyue,
“True Person, you’ve finally arrived! The Wuyi Sect actually sent three Golden Core cultivators ahead of time. True Person Zhiying and True Person Mingzhu are currently locked in a clash of divine sense with them, but at the moment we’re… slightly at a disadvantage.”
In front of a secret realm like this, Golden Core cultivators from the various sects usually did not engage in direct combat.
Instead, in order to secure an advantage for their own disciples, they would probe and restrain one another through divine sense pressure.
Over time, this had evolved into a customary form of divine sense offense and defense.
Although True Person Duanyue had been mentally prepared, he had not expected the other side to send out three people right from the start.
Based on past experience, both sides would usually dispatch one or two powerful Golden Core cultivators first to hold the line—protecting their disciples and blocking independent cultivators and minor forces trying to fish in troubled waters.
Only after the leading Golden Core cultivators arrived would a many-versus-many balance take shape.
This time, however, the Wuyi Sect could not even be bothered with superficial polish.
Although their despicable methods were already common knowledge, such complete lack of concealment was still somewhat unexpected.
True Person Duanyue felt a surge of anxiety.
He knew well that although True Person Zhiying was a top-tier genius whose time-aspect sword techniques were fierce and lethal, her youth and comparatively weaker divine soul cultivation meant that in a setting where no one struck directly and everything depended on divine sense confrontation, she might instead become the weak link.
He quickly gave a few instructions to Fang Wuqi beside him, then leapt down from the cloud vessel, stepping through the air as he sped straight toward the secret realm entrance.
On the deck, more than a dozen elite disciples also began their final checks of condition and equipment.
The joking atmosphere from before departure vanished without a trace, replaced by solemn silence.
Secret realm exploration was no child’s play—one careless misstep could mean death and the complete dissipation of the Dao.
Even though they were sect prodigies, each carrying various protective treasures bestowed by their elders, outcomes such as severe injury, crippled meridians, a severed Dao path, or even death were still entirely possible.
Every one of them had volunteered only after preparing for the worst.
Of course, when it came to being “prepared for death,” the one with the deepest resolve was probably Long Tao, the lowest-cultivated among them.
Under the guidance of the welcoming disciples, the cloud vessel quickly descended onto a patch of open ground that had been cleared in advance.
Long Tao did not idle either, immediately accompanying Elder Xu and several maintenance masters to conduct inspections.
Minor issues were of little concern; what worried them most was whether the exotic spiritual energy leaking from the secret realm might corrode the cloud vessel’s materials.
After all, although the protective coating had been successfully developed, it had never undergone real-world testing.
This secret realm reopening counted as its first true experiment.
Fortunately, up to this point, no abnormalities had appeared—at least nothing like the various strange transformations recorded in sect archives, where cloud vessel timber would begin acting up the moment it approached the secret realm’s range.
Still, after discussion between Long Tao, Elder Xu, and the veteran craftsmen, they all believed this was merely a matter of time.
If the vessel remained here for several more days, the coating’s protective effect would likely weaken gradually, and preparations had to be made in advance.
When Long Tao returned to the deck, the exploration team was already fully prepared and disembarking one after another.
The appearance of more than a dozen disciples along with Luo Yusi, that golden giant spider, immediately drew the attention of numerous independent cultivators and miscellaneous minor forces nearby.
Long Tao rarely left the sect in the past, let alone came to such a dangerous frontline area.
In his impression, “independent cultivators” were mostly the pitiful, poverty-stricken types in marketplaces, haggling with stall owners over paltry sums.
But the independent cultivators he saw now were all sharp in aura and piercing in gaze, armed with artifacts and spirit tools, with no shortage of hidden treasures as well.
He secretly speculated that there might even be Golden Core–level figures mixed among them.
After all, even though the Nine-Xia Heavenly Sect routinely cursed the Wuyi Sect for its underhanded methods, the latter was still a major orthodox sect that at least maintained some bottom line and surface decorum.
These completely unrestrained independent cultivators, however, were capable of anything—even a Golden Core cultivator charging straight into the secret realm and slaughtering Foundation Establishment disciples in broad daylight was far from impossible.
Moreover, the fact that these independent cultivators had arrived at the same time as disciples from major sects meant that even if they had been nearby to begin with, their intelligence-gathering capabilities were not to be underestimated.
At this moment, although Long Tao was itching with impatience and wished nothing more than to follow everyone straight into the secret realm, there was nothing he could do.
Let alone the other disciples—even Luo Yusi and Nan Yuchen, who were familiar with him, would certainly stop him outside due to the danger of the secret realm.
He understood clearly that this System Task had finally reached its second major difficulty: how to sneak into the secret realm without anyone noticing.
For now, however, the hour was still early.
He did not show excessive anxiety, instead calmly observing the situation around the cloud vessel.
Although independent cultivators eyed them like tigers watching prey, Elder Xu was still a Golden Core cultivator.
Even though he was only of the lowest-grade Golden Core and not specialized in combat, with the layers of defensive formations on the cloud vessel, protecting everyone’s safety should not be a problem.
What’s more, Long Tao firmly believed that if anyone truly dared to break the rules and attack them, True Person Zhiying—renowned for her killing sword arts—would be more than happy to draw her sword and unleash a massacre.
After confirming that his own safety was temporarily assured, he shifted his gaze toward the distant standoff at the secret realm entrance.
On the surface it looked calm, but in reality the divine sense pressure of six Golden Core True Persons was clashing fiercely.
If disciples of his own sect approached, they would naturally be protected by the True Persons.
But if those independent cultivators dared to rush forward recklessly, they would likely be crushed by overwhelming pressure until they vomited blood on the spot.
At this time, the squad led by Fang Wuqi had already reached the slowly rotating secret realm entrance—like a spatial vortex—under the protection of three True Persons.
Even though the Wuyi Sect’s squad had yet to appear, they remained highly vigilant.
Two scouts entered the secret realm first to investigate, while the rest quickly formed a defensive formation, both to receive their companions and to shoulder a bit of the pressure for the three Golden Core True Persons.
Yet Long Tao faintly sensed something amiss.
Although the distance was great, he could still barely make out the expressions of the Wuyi Sect’s three Golden Core cultivators.
Even though his own team had arrived late, the other side showed not the slightest urgency, instead treating the divine sense confrontation like routine business, wearing expressions of calm indifference.
Could it be that the Wuyi Sect had secretly found another entrance and already entered the secret realm ahead of time? The thought had just surfaced when Long Tao dismissed it himself.
Leaving aside how unlikely it was for a secret realm to have two entrances at the same time, even if another entrance truly existed, no one present could have remained completely unaware, nor would everyone have gathered here.
Before long, the two who had first entered to scout returned safely.
After a brief, low-voiced exchange with their teammates, they seemed to confirm that the interior was safe, and the entire squad began entering the secret realm in an orderly fashion.
Long Tao also witnessed an amusing scene: Nan Yuchen, who feared spiders, kept his distance from Luo Yusi at all times, yet dared not reveal his timidity in front of his master, True Person Mingzhu.
He could only awkwardly pace back and forth at the front and rear of the team.
Only when the golden giant spider’s figure completely disappeared into the secret realm entrance did he finally let out a long breath of relief.
Long Tao could not help but laugh inwardly.
What was that idiot relaxing for? Wouldn’t they still have to meet inside?
Just as he was secretly amused by Nan Yuchen’s awkwardness, a small black dot suddenly appeared on the eastern horizon.
The dot rapidly expanded, soon revealing the outline of a cloud vessel—it was the Wuyi Sect’s cloud vessel.
Long Tao immediately dispelled his earlier doubts.
It seemed the other side really had just arrived a bit late.
At this moment, everyone gathered here understood perfectly well that the main event was finally about to begin.