The Secret Realm was filled with dangers. Not to mention the mutant beasts and poisonous insects, just the fights among martial artists for resources could make the journey to the Secret Realm a situation of nine deaths and one life.
Martial Artists compete for time, for resources, for cultivation techniques, and even their usual cultivation is a struggle to seize primordial qi from the heavens and the earth.
Since it’s a struggle, there are victories and defeats.
Winning means stepping toward the next realm, striving to obtain more longevity and greater power from the heavens.
If you lose, then everything is over, and life and path are extinguished.
If it were anyone else, including his eight disciples, he wouldn’t say much, but Zhong Lin...
This was like a hen that lays golden eggs; the slightest injury would cause him heartache.
The Seven Star Secret Realm was full of dangers. Back in the day, before he became the Sect Master, he ventured into the Secret Realm with his fellow apprentices to seek opportunities, but in the end, only he returned, while the others were forever lost in the Secret Realm.
"Elder Zhong, you are a Fifth Grade Alchemist. With your skills and the entire Purple Cloud Sect’s assistance, perhaps within a few years, we can find suitable heavenly materials and earthly treasures for you to forge a spirit embryo, so why take such risks?"
Ouyang Daoyong spoke with a serious expression, clearly unwilling for Zhong Lin to venture into the Secret Realm.
Wan Pu, who had been silent, also spoke up: "Elder Zhong, on this expedition to the Secret Realm, I will do my utmost to find fire attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures for you. You just need to wait in the sect, no need to risk going into the Seven Star Secret Realm."
Zhong Lin had anticipated that Ouyang Daoyong would continue to dissuade him, but he did not want to wait any longer. A year ago, he had already reached the Great Perfection in the Spirit Sea Realm. In the past year, while he was making pills, he was also searching for the whereabouts of fire attribute heavenly materials and earthly treasures, but to no avail.
The whole year was wasted, and his cultivation had made no progress.
Besides, they didn’t understand his strength. With the formidable Dragon Elephant Golden Body at the seventh level, as long as he didn’t encounter martial artists in the Yunling Realm, no one could be his match.
Moreover, the Seven Star Secret Realm didn’t allow martial artists from the Yunling Realm to enter, not even those in the Spirit Embryo Realm. Only those in the Spirit Sea Realm were allowed to enter and fight for resources.
In other words, the Seven Star Secret Realm was just like a backyard garden to Zhong Lin, with no danger at all.
With this in mind, Zhong Lin raised his head abruptly and looked at Sect Master Ouyang Daoyong with a serious expression: "Thank you, Sect Master, but my mind is made up, and I hope the Sect Master will permit me."
Upon hearing this, Ouyang Daoyong felt a headache. In the end, he could only say helplessly: "Then I respect your decision. Our Purple Cloud Sect has two spots; this time, you and Wan Pu will go in together. Wan Pu."
"After entering the Seven Star Secret Realm, meet up with Elder Zhong as soon as possible and ensure his protection."
Wan Pu took a deep breath, understanding the importance of Zhong Lin, and nodded heavily.
"Master, rest assured, I will do my utmost to protect Elder Zhong."
Zhong Lin also showed a smile, cupping his hands and saying: "Thank you, Sect Master."
Actually, he also had a token for entering the Seven Star Secret Realm, obtained from searching the bodies of two Spirit Sea Realm martial artists he killed while returning to the Xuan Gui Continent, but he gave it to Yu Jinglei.
Since the Purple Cloud Sect had spots, why not use them?
"Then Elder Zhong, prepare yourself. We will depart in three days."
Located in the southwestern part of the Luoxing Islands, it was a gorge stretching for a hundred miles; one side was an expanse of majestic mountains, while the other was the vast and boundless sea.
Due to the existence of the Seven Star Secret Realm, there were almost no mutant beasts or sea beasts along this path. Even if they occasionally appeared, they would be slain by passing martial artists or nearby family forces, preventing them from causing any destruction here.
"After leaving the Secret Realm, I will wait here. Do not wander off. The Seven Star Secret Realm opens once every two hundred years, known to all. Many martial artists who cannot enter choose to lie in wait here to intercept others, potentially posing even greater danger than inside the Secret Realm."
Ouyang Daoyong, Zhong Lin, and Wan Pu flew through the air towards Feiyun Gorge.
On the way, Ouyang Daoyong shared some experiences with the other two about entering the Seven Star Secret Realm. Zhong Lin, though considering himself capable of treating the entire Seven Star Secret Realm as his backyard, still listened attentively.
Without any stops, the three swiftly traversed the gorge and arrived at its end.
Before them lay an incredibly vast yellow earthen slope, with what seemed like a colossal altar at its center.
Scattered around the altar were numerous martial artists, numbering in the hundreds, making the place quite lively.
Among these martial artists were those in the Spirit Sea Realm, the Spiritual Origin Realm, and even some Innate Martial Artists.
Of course, there were also some strong Spirit Embryo Realm warriors, likely there to deliver family or sect juniors.
The three found a place to land, choosing not to speak as they quietly waited on the side.
"The people from the Seven Stars Sect haven’t arrived yet. Let’s wait for a bit," Ouyang Daoyong said.
As time passed, more and more martial artists arrived, prompting Zhong Lin to marvel at the thriving martial arts culture in the Luoxing Islands, far surpassing that of the Xuan Gui Continent.
Just then, from afar, a streak of flame approached, which upon closer inspection was not a cloud of fire, but rather a group of martial artists who cultivated fire attribute techniques.
The lead was an elder with red hair and beard, even his robe was crimson, embroidered with flame patterns.
Following him were six young martial artists, each with cultivation in the Spirit Sea Realm, with a few already in Perfection, just one step from forming a spiritual embryo.
Zhong Lin squinted as he saw the arrivals.
Wan Pu transmitted his voice: "Elder, these are people from the Fierce Sun Palace. The leader is Elder Xuanyi, one of the nine great elders of the Fierce Sun Palace, at the Spirit Embryo Realm."
Wan Pu paused, then continued.
"All nine elders of the Fierce Sun Palace are in the Spirit Embryo Realm, and their sect master, Zhang Jiuyang, is at the Peak of the Yunling Realm. They have always been at odds with the Seven Stars Sect, aiming to replace them."
Zhong Lin raised an eyebrow, surprised by the strength of the Fierce Sun Palace. With all nine elders in the Spirit Embryo Realm, and a sect master at the Peak of the Yunling Realm, his own Purple Cloud Sect couldn’t hold a candle to them. No wonder they aim to replace the Seven Stars Sect as a dominant force.
Seeing the Fierce Sun Palace people descend from the void, the nearby martial artists immediately showed respect, obediently backing away to make room.
The people of the Fierce Sun Palace, however, seemed accustomed to this as a matter of course, each with a proud expression.
As time ticked by, more people gathered around, with some guilds from the Thirty-Six Islands arriving, aiming to purchase resources and heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
After all, those entering the Seven Star Secret Realm weren’t limited to sects and noble families; there were also some loose cultivators, with the guilds targeting these loose cultivators for transactions.