Chapter 220: Chapter 220: The Secret Realm Opens

Ten days passed by in a flash. Shen Haoran and the others never went out, remaining holed up in their Cultivation Rooms in seclusion. They used this final period to improve their strength.

According to Shui Ruolan, while the Sect Secret Realm was filled with fortuitous encounters, it was just as filled with danger. The slightest misstep could cost them their lives, so improving their strength was of the utmost urgency.

DONG...

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. As the first morning rays spilled down from the horizon, a deep bell tolled, and the entire Five Elements Sect gradually came to life. Today was the day the Sect Secret Realm would be opened. All the disciples were filled with curiosity about this other Sacred Land of the Sect. Only the top twenty masters on the Dragon and Tiger List were qualified to enter, so ordinary disciples had never even seen the Secret Realm before!

Within the Yao Sect, Elder Huo roused Shen Haoran and the two Long brothers from their cultivation. The group then set off toward the Sect’s depths.

Chen Yu had said that for this venture into the Sect Secret Realm, each hall would contribute ten people. Since the Red Flame Hall only had three, Shen Haoran selected several disciples from the Yao Sect who had reached the Spirit General realm to join them.

Shen Haoran’s group arrived in the depths of the Sect. A stone wall stood here, soaring into the clouds. It was covered in moss, a testament to its great age, and it exuded a primitive, awe-inspiring aura.

"Is this the entrance to the Secret Realm?" Shen Haoran asked, dazed.

"There are more surprises to come. Let’s go, let’s head over," Elder Huo said with a light laugh, seeing the shock on Shen Haoran’s face.

At his words, Shen Haoran and his group hurried to catch up, joining the large crowd gathered at the base of the stone wall.

Up close, Shen Haoran could clearly make out the intricate runes covering the wall’s surface. It looked like a massive Teleportation Array! ’Whoever inscribed such a huge Array onto this Heaven-Reaching Stone Wall must have been a demonic genius!’ he thought.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Chen Yu’s voice rang out. "The Sect Secret Realm will be open for one month. Any opportunities you find within are entirely up to you to seize! Remember, there are many uncharted areas inside the Secret Realm. You would be wise not to venture into them. If you run into danger, no one will be able to save you!"

"Also, when hunting Primordial Beasts, it’s best to travel in groups. Don’t be reckless when you encounter a powerful one—prioritize your safety above all else!"

Shen Haoran was puzzled. "Primordial Beasts? What are those?" He had heard of Spirit Beasts and Fierce Beasts, but never of Primordial Beasts.

"Primordial Beasts are creatures found within the Sect Secret Realm. Or, to be more precise, they are a type of Energy Body. We don’t know how they’re formed, but killing a Primordial Beast yields a Source Pill. These Source Pills are incredible treasures. They can be directly refined to increase your Spiritual Power, and they can also be used for Body Forging! That’s why Source Pills are our primary goal in the Sect Secret Realm this time!" Shui Ruolan explained from beside him.

"Oh, so Source Pills can be used for Body Forging?" Shen Haoran asked in surprise. Normally, the only ways for a Martial Artist to achieve the effects of Body Forging were through intense physical training or by taking Elixirs. He had never heard of a form of Energy that could accomplish it.

Martial Cultivation was mainly focused on absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power to constantly break through one’s realm; very few people bothered with Body Refinement. It wasn’t that Body Refinement was a dead end, but that there were far too few methods to practice it. The common, cruder methods were too time-consuming; in the time it took, one could have advanced their realm. Using Elixirs was an extravagant alternative, and the body would build up a resistance after a single dose, making it a poor investment. As a result, people gradually abandoned the ancient Technique of Body Refinement.

However, the benefits of Body Refinement were immense. A stronger physique allowed one to store more Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power. Between two Martial Artists of the same realm, the one with the more powerful body would possess far more abundant Spiritual Power and hold a greater advantage in a fight.

And now, to learn that there was a form of Energy that could produce the effects of Body Forging—how could Shen Haoran not be intrigued? His anticipation for the Sect Secret Realm surged.

After that, Chen Yu gave a few more instructions, all generally reminding the disciples to prioritize their lives. After all, they were the elites of the Five Elements Sect, its very future. The loss of even one of them would be a painful blow.

"Alright, I’ll say no more. Let’s prepare to open the Sect Secret Realm!" Chen Yu said, looking at the eager faces of the crowd. He then turned and called out into the empty air, "Elder Qin, Elder Mo, we’ll have to trouble you!"

The moment Chen Yu finished speaking, two elders in gray robes appeared abruptly in mid-air without the slightest warning, as if they had been standing there the entire time.

Shen Haoran stared at the two men, his heart quaking. A faint pressure radiated from their bodies, causing the very space around them to distort. ’Their strength is leagues beyond Chen Yu’s! And to think that’s who Elder Mo is...’ The revelation sent another shock through him.

’So the Five Elements Sect’s hidden reserves are this powerful,’ Shen Haoran thought to himself.

In mid-air, Elder Mo shot a look of great interest toward Shen Haoran. With a soft chuckle, he turned to the man beside him. "Old Qin, we have a fine batch of seedlings this year!"

"Mm, not bad at all," Elder Qin agreed, his gaze sweeping over the crowd as he nodded.

"Come on, let’s open the Sect Secret Realm for these kids," Elder Mo said with a light laugh. "Then we old-timers can go grab a drink, what do you say?"

Elder Qin nodded. Then, the two of them began forming Seal Techniques in unison, and a terrifying spatial fluctuation emanated from their bodies!

HUMMM...

Visible ripples in space swirled around Elder Mo and Elder Qin. When the terrifying spatial fluctuations peaked, two brilliant pillars of light erupted from their hands, instantly merging into one as they shot toward the Heaven-Reaching Stone Wall! 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The next moment, a sound like cracking thunder erupted from the stone wall. Its once-calm surface began to ripple, and then, before the crowd’s shocked eyes, a pitch-black fissure slowly tore itself open. After a moment, it solidified into a dark, spatial gate!

Seeing the dark spatial gate materialize, Chen Yu’s voice rang out. "The gate to the Sect Secret Realm is open! Disciples of all halls may now enter!"

The moment Chen Yu’s voice fell, figures flickered all around as disciples from every hall leaped forward, diving into the dark spatial gate.

"Go on, you brat. I’ll be waiting for your good news!" Elder Huo said with a chuckle, looking at the impatient Shen Haoran.

"Haha, I won’t disappoint you!" Shen Haoran laughed. Then, with a flash, he, along with Long Zhen and Long Mo, disappeared into the dark spatial gate.

Once all the disciples had entered, the spatial gate began to slowly close, eventually vanishing without a trace. The Heaven-Reaching Stone Wall returned to its tranquil state.