Chapter 463: Chapter 463: Wishing I Could Carry Him on My Shoulder

"Hmm... Young Master Li, do you mean to say that you have already mastered two kinds of the Five Thunders, and you’re only one step away from mastering Dragon Thunder as well?"

Chongxu became serious after hearing Li Rui’s explanation.

As a local inhabitant of the Secret Realm World, he knew the power of the Five Thunders, not to mention having previously provided clues about Earth Thunder at the Ghost Cry Giant Ridge.

Beside him, the young Daoist curiously examined these people, asking Cheng Mingyue in a low voice, "Sister, why do your clothes look so peculiar?"

"That’s because we..."

Halfway through her sentence, Cheng Mingyue suddenly closed her mouth, staring in surprise at the young Daoist who seemed like a middle school student.

After entering the Secret Realm, the agents are naturally concealed by the Secret Realm, including their attire, manner of speaking, and even language, all assimilating into the local style.

"Jingming, do not be rude."

Chongxu tapped the young Daoist with his Duster.

Li Rui said, "Master, it seems you have some understanding of our background?"

Chongxu nodded, then shook his head, "In the past, I could see some changes in the fortunes that do not belong here on you people, but I didn’t know why. However, now things are becoming clearer."

"The recent major change in fate should be related to you all, no?"

"Oh, no, no, no."

Li Rui waved his hands repeatedly. Although he didn’t know what "major change in fate" meant, it didn’t sound good. He worried about offending Chongxu unknowingly, so he quickly explained.

"If I’m not mistaken, the major change you mentioned should be caused by Zuo Qiutian."

"So, it’s indeed him?"

Chongxu asked, "Could Young Master Li kindly enlighten me about what has transpired?"

"I wouldn’t dare."

Li Rui found the old Daoist rather polite, so he explained everything from beginning to end.

The situation is now clear: the Secret Realm World and the real world are connected, and many originally separate things have become synchronized. Chongxu, being a local, will eventually become involved.

Seeking the support of such a powerful expert, Li Rui concealed nothing and disclosed everything honestly.

"I see..."

Chongxu sighed, "You are people from outside the realm, and Zuo Qiutian used void-opening techniques to connect our two realms."

Jingming, known as the disciple, lamented, "Master, is Zuo Qiutian truly so powerful? Opening the void is no mundane feat."

"Not exactly."

Chongxu waved his hand, "Young Master Li and his companions could traverse the realms before, indicating that higher powers were already involved, which gave Zuo Qiutian the chance. It wasn’t a skill inherent to him."

Li Rui looked at his two companions, realizing they had overlooked something.

All Secret Realm agents believed it natural to enter the Secret Realm World with markings, but now they discovered there might be a deeper reason.

Even someone as powerful as Zuo Qiutian needed to rely on the "higher" force to open the void and connect reality with the Secret Realm, so what exactly is that force?

Li Rui recalled Zuo Qiutian’s mention of the Heavenly Dao.

Is it related to the Heavenly Dao?

Cheng Mingyue and Guan Gui thought of the Secret Realm administrators who only appeared on special occasions, puppets resembling living humans.

Registrations, arenas, and Secret Realm battlefields all require these puppets to preside, flipping hands to decide the fate of the Extraordinary, granting mechanisms of rebirth, or transporting hundreds to thousands to isolated islands overseas.

Are there puppet masters behind these puppets? Who is controlling them?

Li Rui didn’t think of the puppets because in his eyes, dealing with them wasn’t difficult; he had beaten them up and snatched many good things.

He asked Chongxu, "Master, could you enlighten me why Zuo Qiutian and his group entered reality, went to our realm to plant trees? Is his claimed ascension to the Divine Country false?"

Chongxu frowned, seeming hesitant.

"Well, the Upper Realm does indeed exist, but no one has truly ascended yet."

The old Daoist’s voice was somewhat low, "As for Zuo Qiutian’s motives, I can’t say for sure, but if I were to speculate, I believe he is trying to break through the barrier between mortals and immortals using some method."

Li Rui frowned, "What’s the benefit for him? Couldn’t he simply ascend himself?"

Chongxu stepped aside, pacing, "I must return to Shenxiao Palace and report to my master. Young Master Li, perhaps you could accompany me back; he could answer your queries."

The four of Chongxu are the backbone of the current generation of Shenxiao Palace, but their master, the true Palace Master, is still alive—though rarely showing themselves—a truly "ancient" personage.

Li Rui smiled wryly, "Master, frankly I must admit, as outsiders, we cannot stray far from our point of entry into your realm. However, Master, you and I could agree on a location; I will find a way to go there next time, and you only need to send someone to wait."

Chongxu nodded, "That sounds good."

Thus Li Rui and the others discussed, mainly deliberating which Secret Realm fits their rank level and isn’t far from Shenxiao Palace.

After reaching a conclusion, Chongxu expressed no objection.

"Very well, let us go to the Golden Scale Royal Court now to gather the Dragon Thunder and uncover what exactly has occurred here."

He said, "Then I shall widely invite fellow practitioners to wait for Young Master Li’s next visit to Shenxiao Palace to discuss important matters."

Such an outcome naturally delighted Li Rui and his companions; entering once and already securing support, and seemingly close to completing the Dragon Thunder quest, such progress couldn’t be better.

Then Li Rui proceeded to cast the All Heaven Great Thunder Fire Seal Spell.

This barrier only exists at the Royal Court’s main gate and the empty courtyard inside the Royal Court; Chongxu as a local inhabitant couldn’t perceive or touch it, so only "people from outside the realm" could destroy it.

Yet as the breach appeared on the barrier, Chongxu’s eyes flashed like lightning; countless talismans flew out of thin air and surprisingly all stuck to the breach on the barrier, slowing the shrinking momentum quite a bit.

Li Rui and the others admired him deeply, while Chongxu’s expression remained grave.

"Such formidable means, without you breaking this prohibition, I couldn’t even sense it; it truly doesn’t belong to the mortal world."

Actually, Li Rui felt the comment was quite pretentious.

Although he praised the means, the old Daoist had effortlessly halted the barrier’s closing trend.

He stepped into the Golden Scale Royal Court; the countdown still appeared, but this time it showed one hour, much better than the ten-minute limit.

"Master, how should we proceed now?" Li Rui sought the opinion of the top fighter.

Chongxu replied, "Everything prioritizes Young Master Li’s needs; if a Barbarian Monarch or Barbarian Emperor comes, I shall intervene."

Surely reassuring.

Li Rui felt slightly thrilled, nearly wanting to carry the old Daoist on his shoulders.