Chapter 198 - 123: Secret Realm
「One day later.」
Pei Ye sat cross-legged atop a towering, enormous ancient tree.
Its branches, like a verdant canopy, shimmered with an emerald green light,
filling the surrounding air with an exceptionally dense life force.
The disastrous defeat in three moves yesterday had indeed dealt a blow to Pei Ye,
but it was only a minor one. He recovered quickly, and his heart, set on the path of the Dao, proved to be exceedingly firm.
Having lived for over a hundred years, it wasn’t as if he had never been defeated,
and he had suffered even more miserable losses than this!
They could defeat his body,
but they could not defeat his unyielding will.
And that which could not defeat him would ultimately make him stronger!
Besides,
he had also looked deeper into that guy,
and discovered that the man was a true monster!
He had joined the Inner Sect less than ten years ago,
yet his Cultivation had already reached the True Martial Realm Eighth Layer!
That kind of rocket-like speed of advancement
left him feeling completely inadequate in comparison!
’It’s one thing for his Realm breakthroughs to be fast,’
’but what’s the deal with his combat strength being so powerful?’
’He, Pei Ye, was a prodigy in his own right, capable of fighting those in a higher Realm, so how could he have lost so cleanly and decisively?’
’This guy comprehended a Mental Realm at such a young age,’
’Does he not encounter any bottlenecks?’
Ordinary True Martial Realm Cultivators find it harder and harder to break through the further they get in their Cultivation.
Even with ample resources,
it often takes several years to break through a single Realm, requiring a great deal of time to settle, consolidate, and comprehend.
So generally speaking,
the higher the Realm a Cultivator reaches, the harder it is to break through, and the more time it takes!
’But this guy is just...’
’defying all logic!’
’Damn it,’
’a monstrous talent like that is enough to make anyone burn with envy!!’
However,
Pei Ye never let himself fall into despair.
He always understood,
’A temporary lead doesn’t mean a permanent victory!’
As a prodigy disciple under the Celestial Wood Peak Master,
he also had considerable confidence in himself.
And as his thoughts cleared and settled,
a majestic Momentum began to rise from him.
He emanated an extremely terrifying might,
and the surrounding space instantly began to twist and distort.
The light in Pei Ye’s pair of dark green pupils now flickered with a confidence as unshakeable as a boulder!
’Since that guy is so powerful,’
’he could prove to be an extremely strong ally!’
’Maybe I can get him to help with that matter...’
At this thought,
something else surfaced in Pei Ye’s mind.
Suddenly,
"Hm?!"
Pei Ye’s brow furrowed.
In mid-air,
a streak of light raced by,
landing in front of Pei Ye.
The newcomer wore tight-fitting black clothes, was tall and thin, with a plain face and narrow eyes that glinted with a sharp light.
"I heard the Peak Master has allowed a disciple from another peak to enter our Celestial Wood Dao Peak’s Tongmu Secret Realm, which only opens once a century,"
"Don’t you have any thoughts on the matter, Senior Brother?"
Gong Qing’s eyes flashed with a sharp glint as he cupped his fists and spoke respectfully to Pei Ye.
"Thoughts?!
The Master’s decree is the will of heaven for our peak!"
Pei Ye couldn’t help but snort coldly.
’How could I not have any thoughts?’
’I, your senior brother, was just soundly defeated by him. What thoughts could I possibly have?’
’But how could I ever admit that?’
"That thing inside the Secret Realm,"
"if he takes it, won’t all our years of preparation be for nothing?
What will we do then?"
Hearing Pei Ye’s words, a vicious glint flashed in Gong Qing’s eyes, and he spoke with a trace of resentment.
"That thing belongs to whoever is fated to have it!
Do not mention this matter again!!"
Pei Ye said with a final, icy tone, and the temperature of the surrounding air seemed to drop several degrees.
"Yes, Senior Brother!"
Gong Qing bowed his head, cupped his fists, and replied,
then turned and transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the distance.
But as he sped away, a vicious light flickered in his eyes.
’Senior Brother Pei,’
’has probably gone stupid from all his closed-door Cultivation.’
’He’s just some guy from an Outer Peak. What is there to be afraid of!’
’How could he just waltz in and take the ultimate treasure from our Dao Peak’s Tongmu Secret Realm?’
’It would be one thing if he just took some ordinary items,’
’but if he dares to touch *that* thing, then he can’t blame me, Gong Qing, for what happens...’
...
「Several days later.」
On Celestial Wood Dao Peak, within a massive Teleportation Array inscribed with a Profound Mysterious Array,
most of the Celestial Wood Dao Peak disciples were quietly waiting for the Secret Realm Space Transmission Array to activate.
According to what Gu Yun had learned over the past few days,
this Tongmu Secret Realm was no simple place!
There was a rumor
that the entire Tongmu Secret Realm was a small world supported by an incomparably huge Heaven-Reaching Divine Tree.
The main body of the Secret Realm was that single, infinitely vast Heaven-Reaching Divine Tree, so large one could not see its end.
It had originally coiled and occupied a pocket of heaven and earth, but after an extremely long period, it gradually evolved into a Heaven and Earth Secret Realm!
Furthermore, because the Tongmu Secret Realm contained a certain miraculous object, the powerful experts of Celestial Wood Dao Peak would place some of their inheritances within it before their lives came to an end, for future generations to comprehend.
Passed down from one generation to the next, the flame of knowledge was passed on, never to be extinguished!
Moreover, it was said to hold numerous Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.
A disciple once entered for just a few days and obtained an extremely precious Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicine,
allowing them to break through their Realm, solidify their Dao Foundation, and improve their innate talent, making others incredibly envious!
"The time has come!
Array, activate!!!"
An ancient, deep, and majestic voice instantly resounded through the heavens and earth.
Standing high in the void was an old man dressed in a white Daoist Robe,
an ethereal glow swirling around his body as he emanated an extremely terrifying Heaven and Earth Dao Rhythm.
He was none other than a long-standing Tongxuan True Monarch of Celestial Wood Dao Peak, orchestrating the activation of the Secret Realm’s Array for this occasion.
He was seen suddenly executing some kind of extremely profound Technique Seal with his hands.