Chapter Eighty-Four: The Secret Realm Opens

Hundreds of streaks of light shot across the sky, converging toward the island at the center of the lake. As they approached the radiant rainbow bridge above, waves of oppressive force pressed down, forcing even the members of the three great sects and their followers to descend slowly.

On the island, jagged rocks stood tall, shaded by lush green trees and dense forests rich with emerald foliage. Winding mountain paths meandered through the verdant landscape. At the island’s center, four towering peaks rose like unsheathed swords, arrayed in a circle, enclosing a vast blue-stone plaza a thousand feet across. At the heart of this plaza, a colossal teleportation platform lay quietly, exuding a desolate and ancient aura.

No sooner had the crowd landed than a thunderous crack split the air. The entire island began to quake violently once more. Above the plaza, pillars of white light descended, encircling the teleportation platform. Array patterns shimmered into view, and from their midst a bloody radiance rose, gradually coalescing into a crimson gateway. Sinister and otherworldly, the blood-red portal exuded an aura of eerie evil that made all who beheld it instinctively recoil.

As they stared at the gateway, a violent, bloodthirsty urge welled up from within the onlookers. Many who were weaker in cultivation began to show a red glow in their eyes, as if on the verge of losing their minds.

A resounding shout broke forth as the leaders of each faction swiftly drew their disciples back from the brink, pressing calming pills into their hands to restore clarity of mind. Once recovered, many felt lingering dread, their backs already drenched in cold sweat.

“What’s happening?”

“In the past, when the secret realm opened, it always released a pure, refreshing energy that made one feel as if basking in a gentle spring breeze. Why is it so... different today?”

“This is truly strange…”

“Should we still let our disciples enter?”

A heated debate erupted on the plaza.

Ximen Invincible turned to the Master of Qingyang with a grave expression. “Brother Qingyang, what do you make of this? In all these centuries, nothing like this has ever occurred…”

Qingyang frowned in deep thought. “At first, I thought it was just a fluctuation of spiritual energy, but judging from this, something far more drastic must have happened within…”

“So should we proceed with opening the secret realm this time?” Ximen Invincible asked.

The Master of Qingyang and Tianhui exchanged a glance, then looked to the members of Ziyang Sect.

From the eyes of Master Shenshang, a faint violet light began to swirl. A ray of purple shot from his gaze, piercing into the blood-red portal.

A gentle pop sounded. Master Shenshang staggered back ten steps before regaining his footing, shock written across his face.

“A Sovereign’s aura…”

The others rushed forward at his murmured words.

“Brother Shenshang, are you saying there is a Sovereign cultivator inside the secret realm?” asked Qingyang.

Ximen Invincible, Zhao Kuo, and the others watched Master Shenshang intently, their eyes full of questions.

Master Shenshang hesitated a moment, then said in a low voice, “There is definitely a Sovereign’s aura within. But… in the past, even Sovereign cultivators from our sects have tried to enter, but never succeeded. How did someone get in this time?”

The crowd grew even more astonished at this revelation. In all the centuries since the secret realm’s discovery, nothing like this had ever happened. How could a Sovereign cultivator have entered? Could the turmoil this time have been caused by that very person? With such a powerful being inside, how could anyone hope to enter?

“Could it be…?” Qingyang’s mind raced with a bold conjecture.

The others exchanged glances, the light in their eyes brightening.

“You mean… a Sovereign’s abode has appeared within the secret realm?” blurted out Ximen Invincible.

A Sovereign’s abode?

Excitement erupted across the plaza.

There were only a handful of Sovereign cultivators in the entire Zhao Kingdom, each a pinnacle figure. And now, an unclaimed Sovereign’s abode had appeared here…

The thought of an untouched Sovereign’s legacy was enough to drive everyone wild with anticipation. Even without the inheritance, the lifetime collection of a Sovereign would be more than enough to send the crowd into a frenzy.

Clad in golden dragon robes, Zhao Kuo turned to the three leaders. “I must trouble the three of you to open the secret realm for us.”

“We rely on your aid, honored elders…”

The three exchanged glances, then slowly approached the blood-red portal. Each produced a blue jade token and began chanting under their breath.

“Open!”

At their command, the jade tokens expanded, growing as large as the portal itself and embedding into it one after another. Instantly, the bloody radiance of the gateway dimmed, faint blue light beginning to seep through, and the savage aura within subsided somewhat.

Twin rays of blue light swept across the center of the portal.

A deafening roar: torrents of spiritual energy gushed forth, flooding the plaza in an instant.

“Enter!”

At the shout, the various factions, following their elders’ instructions, hurried into the portal woven of red and blue light.

“Let’s go as well…” Lin Cheng and his companions exchanged glances and stepped in together.

A blinding white light forced Lin Cheng to shield his eyes. When the glow faded, he felt as if he’d spun in a full circle, his head spinning slightly.

“Fatty, are you alright?” he called out, only to find himself alone in a vast, empty space.

“Fatty… you…”

Looking around, Lin Cheng saw no sign of his companions—he was utterly alone.

At that moment, he found himself standing on an arched bridge, beneath which clear water flowed gently. Across the way stretched a broad black plaza, behind which stone steps led up to a massive white stone gate.

Without further thought, Lin Cheng began to walk forward. As he crossed the black plaza and neared the steps, a sense of dread welled up within him.

At the foot of the steps, he looked up, glimpsing something atop the stairs. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t make it out clearly. The steps seemed cloaked in a mysterious power—though they appeared clear at a glance, whatever lay above remained indistinct and shrouded.

Lin Cheng frowned, hesitating over whether to ascend. Yet the white gateway above held him in thrall, filling him with curiosity about what lay beyond.

He glanced back at the bridge behind him. Beyond it, only endless darkness stretched, its depths sending a chill through him.

Without further hesitation, he turned and climbed the black stone steps.

One step at a time.

Upon reaching the ninth step, his vision suddenly blurred.

When he could see again, he was no longer on the steps, but standing within a village.

It was deep night. An occasional dog barked. A chill wind swept through. Though a few scattered lanterns shone, the village felt desolate.

He walked quietly, dry leaves crunching beneath his feet, the barking of dogs growing louder in his ears.

Knock, knock, knock.

He rapped gently on a door, but no one answered.

Shaking his head, Lin Cheng moved on.

Ahead, he saw a courtyard brightly lit. He quickened his pace.

Within the courtyard, a spirit coffin rested, and a young woman stood silently before it, her expression as she gazed inside shifting between joy and sorrow.

Sensing Lin Cheng’s approach, the woman slowly turned.

She was of ethereal beauty, her presence imbued with a rarefied grace. Her skin was luminous, her eyes clear as spring water, and a cool detachment lent her a unique charm. Her slender waist and graceful figure, accentuated by the thin garments she wore, only heightened her allure.

Lin Cheng was momentarily entranced by her beauty. He could not imagine how such a celestial being could appear in this humble village.

“My lady, I mean no offense…” he stammered, suddenly aware of his own loss of composure under her gaze.

The woman remained silent, simply watching him with an unreadable expression.