Chapter 870: Chapter 866: Another Hidden World
When the master and disciples arrived at Kunlun Mountain, it was already dusk. The mountains stretched endlessly, covered in ice and snow. The northwesterly wind howled, and the icy snow felt like it was trying to hinder their ascent.
“This place is already rarely visited. Only every spring and autumn, some climbers come here. The surrounding mountains aren’t particularly famous, so not many people visit. Even if they do come, getting out of these snowy mountains is still a challenge,” Zhuo Junwu explained to Ye Fan.
Ye Fan asked, “Aren’t you afraid that people will find the entrance to the Pan Gu secret realm?”
Zhuo Junwu shook his head and said, “They won’t find it. Occasionally, if some creatures stray within a kilometer of the secret realm entrance, they will be oppressed by the surrounding spiritual energy field. Even if they could withstand the strong pressure and reach the vicinity of the entrance, without the activated keystone, they still can’t get in.”
Just as Ye Fan and the others continued up the mountain, a sudden, mournful howl was heard in the distance. Ye Fan looked over in the direction of the sound and saw several white dots moving towards them. He couldn’t help but ask, “What is that?”
This time, Zhuo Junwu did not answer. Shen Biancheng said, “Those are snow leopards. Only snow leopards can survive in such harsh environments. Don’t underestimate these creatures of the snowy plains; many of them have cultivated, because of the spiritual energy permeating the area…”
Zhuo Junwu reminded, “Enough talk. Let’s enter the Pan Gu secret realm early to help your junior brother find the person he’s looking for. This isn’t a place to linger.”
Even after dark, the howling behind them continued unabated, suggesting the snow leopards had set their sights on the three, treating them as prey. Ye Fan wasn’t sure how powerful these snow leopards were, but figured they couldn’t be stronger than tigers or lions, the more ferocious beasts. Given their current cultivation levels, the three could easily handle them, so Zhuo Junwu and Shen Biancheng didn’t take the few snow leopards seriously.
The three moved quickly, and by midnight, they finally arrived at a spot that seemed to have a slight glow. It was a small snow cave. Zhuo Junwu said, “Let’s go, inside.”
Ye Fan followed Zhuo Junwu, walking in the middle, with Shen Biancheng bringing up the rear. As they entered the snow cave, the light became more apparent. Even in the night, the cave could emit a glow. Ye Fan wondered if this was the brilliance emitting from the Pan Gu secret realm.
The spiritual energy around was indeed becoming increasingly dense.
After walking about a mile or so further, they finally reached the end. Suddenly, the scene before them lit up. Though there wasn’t the brilliance of sunlight, the cave walls emitted a strange radiance, illuminating the cave that stretched for four or five kilometers like an otherworldly paradise.
Unlike the icy, snowy environment outside, the cave was a world of its own, with flowers, trees, even babbling brooks. It was teeming with all kinds of wildlife, which was quite different from the dreary appearance Ye Fan expected around the Pan Gu secret realm entrance.
Moreover, there was a significant sense of danger emanating from the groves, as if something powerful was hidden within.
“We’re here.” Zhuo Junwu stood still and looked around the walls. “But we have to wait for the alignment of the five elements, which should happen soon. At least we arrived on time.”
Ye Fan recalled Zhuo Junwu mentioning that only when the five elements aligned, and the keystone was activated, would the Pan Gu secret realm open from the inside. In other words, no matter how high one’s cultivation, even if they found the Pan Gu secret realm entrance, without the keystone, they couldn’t enter.
But this was just the situation for the entrance on Earth; each entrance had different circumstances.
Zhuo Junwu said, “Let’s rest for a bit. We probably have to wait about another hour…”
Ye Fan pondered in his heart; an hour is two hours. This should be the unit of time in the Pan Gu secret realm. However, time in the Pan Gu secret realm passes quickly, meaning an extra two hours outside would equate to another day of separation from Li Zhaojun inside.
This sensation of days feeling like years was quite unpleasant.
Zhuo Junwu and Shen Biancheng took advantage of the spiritual energy-rich environment outside the Pan Gu secret realm to cultivate, sitting down to regulate their breath. Meanwhile, Ye Fan couldn’t settle his thoughts. Observing the peculiar scenery around, he thought that if such a wonderful place existed, living a secluded life here with Li Zhaojun wouldn’t be bad either.
A gust of wind blew from the distant shrubs. Ye Fan looked over; this was inside a cave, and the wind sound did not come from the cave entrance. How could there be wind in such an almost enclosed space?
Zhuo Junwu and Shen Biancheng still meditated with their eyes closed.
Ye Fan walked towards the depths of the cave, wanting to see what was hidden inside.
After walking about a mile, he still couldn’t discern the source of the wind, but he could already feel a presence of pressure descending upon him.
Within the grove, there should be a creature of formidable cultivation hidden.
Ye Fan wasn’t sure whether the enemy was a creature from Earth or one that escaped from the Pan Gu secret realm, but he sensed that the opponent should not be a mere brute beast, possessing cultivation.
After Ye Fan crossed a small stream, he saw a pair of crimson eyes like a deep pool staring at him. Those eyes were full of resentment, likely irritated that Ye Fan and the others disrupted its peace.
It was a white tiger with hanging eyes, hidden among the shrubs with some remains of beasts around. It emitted a unique purple light, suggesting it wasn’t the typical tiger known for its prowess and ferocity.
Its cultivation approached that of a “demonic beast.”
Zhuo Junwu had said that demonic beasts from their own cultivation on Earth were exceedingly rare. If there were any, they would be those artificially created by cultivators, and their combat power would not be very high, as beasts did not possess the intellectual prowess of humans. Even given the best opportunities, they would not utilize them.
But this white tiger was an anomaly, full of spiritual energy.
Behind the tiger seemed to hide something.
Ye Fan confronted the tiger, appearing calm and composed. Acting this way would only increase the tiger’s fear. A tiger with cultivation could sense Ye Fan’s formidable cultivation, feeling an invisible pressure. It could only awaken its spiritual energy to confront Ye Fan’s momentum.
“Time is short, need a quick resolution.” Ye Fan remained calm and composed.
The five elements were about to align, the Pan Gu secret realm was to open, and it wasn’t the time to deplete spiritual energy on the tiger. Now, to lure the tiger into launching the initial attack, he had to appeal to the tiger’s natural instincts.
Thinking of this, Ye Fan directly turned his back, pretending to walk away.
Exposing his weak spot, making the tiger think there was an opportunity to strike.
Indeed, the tiger, believing Ye Fan turned to flee in fear, maintained its hunting mindset. Even with its newfound cultivation, encountering an enemy showing its back was a signal to pounce.
And so, it fell right into Ye Fan’s trap.