I Tame Beasts by Feeding

Seeing that the emotions of the people below the stage had been stirred, a smile touched Zhu Zhengping’s lips. His gaze swept over the Elders leading the teams from each sect, and he gave them a slight nod.

The sect Elders exchanged glances, took a deep breath, and ultimately offered no rebuttal.

After all, Zhu Zhengping had made it very clear: once inside, any choice they made was entirely voluntary. Besides, every Elder had confidence in their own disciples.

Lu Ruikai also turned to look at the group of disciples from his side, the Wanxiang Sect. He nodded lightly, his expression grave as he said:

"Opportunities are tempting, but you must also carefully consider your own strength. Don’t rashly attempt anything you aren’t sure of. The Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm is a relatively isolated Little World. Once you go in, should any accident occur, we cannot enter to intervene."

"Understood."

The disciples of the Wanxiang Sect lowered their heads and nodded. Some gazes flickered with uncertainty, while others’ eyes blazed with fighting spirit. Each reacted differently.

"Alright. Prodigies, prepare yourselves! The Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm... opens now!"

His gaze swept across the crowd. After taking a deep breath, Zhu Zhengping’s voice grew much more solemn. He formed a finger technique and pointed to the sky. A brilliant beam of blood-red light shot from his fingertip, piercing the heavens.

RUMBLE!

As the blood-red light shot forth, it broke through the clouds. In an instant, the wind scattered the mists like a tornado. The clouds roiled and churned, and as they spun, the faint outline of a vortex began to form.

PTUI!

Zhu Zhengping’s hand signs changed once more. He forced a mouthful of blood from his lips, spitting it onto the ground. His fist opened into a palm, and he slammed it hard against the earth, shouting sharply:

"Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm, open!"

In that instant, the earth trembled. Boundless light erupted from every corner of Celestial Slaughter City as the fluctuations of the array surged, shocking the crowd. Dazzling pillars of light shot up from the ground, connecting to the heavens. At once, the vortex jolted and began to operate with a deafening rumble.

Within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the vortex had already expanded to cover the entire sky, looming over the crowd. It spun ceaselessly, emitting endless blood-red light. An astonishing power radiated outward, dyeing half the sky red. Wisps of Blood Evil Qi drifted down from above, like a crimson rain.

"Such astonishing Evil Qi... This Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm is truly worthy of its name."

’Just how many people have perished in there?’

Staring at the constantly spinning, blood-colored vortex in the sky, the Elders’ expressions tightened. Relying on their keen Divine Sense to perceive the shocking Blood Evil Qi, they were secretly alarmed.

’For anyone whose Cultivation is below Foundation Establishment, entering this place is simply courting death. Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator would find it difficult to take a single step inside.’

Yu Changsheng’s eyes narrowed. Peering through the blood-colored vortex, he could vaguely make out a sliver of the scenery within. The land seemed to bleed, mountains had crumbled, and endless black-red Evil Qi emanated from the devastation, making the ruinous landscape seem all the more sinister and terrifying.

In that moment, many of the nearly one thousand disciples present began to have second thoughts, their hearts pounding with uncertainty. However, the thought that they could teleport away from the first level at any time after entering brought them a small measure of peace.

Zhu Zhengping remained expressionless. With a wave of his wide sleeve, streaks of blood-red light shot toward everyone present. Each streak descended and solidified into a Token, landing squarely in every person’s hand.

’So this is the Evil Qi Token...’

Yu Changsheng accepted the Evil Qi Token and examined it with curiosity. The entire Token was blood-red, crafted from some unknown material. On its back, the number 200 was inscribed.

’Does everyone start with 200 Evil Qi Points?’

Yu Changsheng was a little surprised. Looking at the number, a theory formed in his mind.

According to the information he had gathered, killing an ordinary Evil Ghost inside the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm would only yield one to ten Evil Qi Points. And yet, everyone was starting with 200...

Combined with what Zhu Zhengping had just said, the implication was perfectly clear.

’He’s encouraging the disciples from the various sects to snatch each other’s Evil Qi Tokens! Compared to slowly grinding for Evil Qi Points, plundering them from others is obviously much faster and more profitable.’

Yu Changsheng muttered to himself. After figuring this out, he didn’t dwell on it. He raised his head to look at Zhu Zhengping on the high platform, only to find that, whether by coincidence or design, Zhu Zhengping was looking right back at him.

Their gazes met for a fleeting moment. Yu Changsheng was startled, but Zhu Zhengping impassively shifted his eyes away, his expression unchanged. His voice boomed like thunder as he announced calmly:

"The Secret Realm is now open! I hope you all will have made some gains in half a month’s time."

The moment his voice fell, the blood-colored vortex in the sky rumbled. Beams of crimson light descended from its center, enveloping every disciple who held an Evil Qi Token. In the next instant, the light flashed. The blood-red beams retracted, pulling the people within them up and into the swirling vortex.

"Agh!"

Person after person shot into the blood-colored vortex, passing through without any resistance. However, several dozen figures were repelled, blocked outside the vortex. The beams of light around them shattered, causing them to cry out in pain as they plummeted from the sky.

Zhu Zhengping merely shot them a passing glance, shook his head, and said:

"Those over one hundred years of age may not enter."

Apparently, the blood-colored vortex was not just an entrance but also a filter. It had its own criteria, designed to prevent anyone who didn’t meet the requirements from slipping through.

The group that was denied entry gave sheepish smiles. Seeing that Zhu Zhengping wasn’t going to punish them, they offered a cupped-fist salute and turned to leave.

This group was not from the Three Gates and Six Sects. Most were Loose Cultivators hoping to get lucky.

While the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm was technically open to any qualified Cultivator across the entire Martial Continent, most were just along for the ride. The real protagonists were always the prodigies from the Three Gates and Six Sects.

’Now, we wait and see what happens.’

Once everyone had entered the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm, Zhu Zhengping performed another finger technique. The blood-colored vortex in the sky gradually slowed its rotation until it became still, though faint wisps of Blood Evil Qi continued to radiate from it. Afterward, Zhu Zhengping sat down cross-legged, closed his eyes, and began to meditate, his breathing even.

The other Sect Elders exchanged glances but said nothing more. They too closed their eyes to enter a state of Cultivation. They would all wait here for the next half a month.

Meanwhile, inside the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm, flashes of brilliant light revealed the members of the Wanxiang Sect.

"So, this is the Celestial Slaughter Secret Realm... The Blood Evil Qi is so thick..."

Yu Changsheng slowly opened his eyes. He extended his Divine Sense and immediately felt a dense Blood Evil Qi washing over him from all directions, relentless and unceasing.

The ground was a dark crimson, as if stained with blood. The sky above was the same shade, with a blood-red sun hanging high. They were surrounded by a boundless, silent plain. In the distance, the undulating silhouette of a mountain range was visible.

The entire world felt oppressive, a shadow that loomed over everyone’s minds. It was filled with a Blood Evil Resentment that was invisible to the naked eye but was everywhere, endlessly assaulting their Divine Souls and affecting their state of mind.

Yu Changsheng was fine. Thanks to his powerful Divine Soul and Divine Sense, he adapted to the environment quickly. But the others, particularly those with weaker Cultivation, were not so fortunate.

Their faces were ashen, and they panted for breath while observing their surroundings, their hearts filled with alarm.

"Are you alright?"

Yu Changsheng turned and steadied Li Minghan, who looked unwell, and asked with concern.

"I’m fine. I just need a little time to adjust."

Li Minghan’s face was pale. He put his hands on his hips, glanced at his surroundings, and fought down a wave of dizziness. His voice was weak as he spoke.

"Right, you’ll be fine in a moment."

Yu Changsheng offered a comforting word. With a flicker of his Divine Sense, he formed a thin, protective veil around Li Minghan.

Li Minghan was taken aback. His breathing immediately steadied. He turned to give Yu Changsheng a grateful look.

Yu Changsheng simply smiled and looked at the others. Among their group, aside from Li Minghan who still needed time to acclimate, both Zhang Tianwen and Shen Xingchen had already recovered and seemed largely unaffected.