This place had originally been a secret realm of gods and demons. Lin Hao surmised that what they were seeing now was not the realm’s true form.

In Chu Tiandu’s memory, the other eight secret realms of gods and demons were vastly different from this one.

He had an incredibly bold theory.

A hundred centuries ago, after Emperor Hongtian obtained a heaven-defying pill formula, he discovered the Flowing Light Divine Flame beneath this secret realm. He then used his supreme Divine Techniques to transform the realm. He had a Heaven-Sundering Rhinoceros plow the land, creating herb fields, and built an underground palace for a god of alchemy to practice his craft.

However, the god of alchemy was unable to complete the Refining of the Flowing Light Divine Flame. This became a lingering regret for Emperor Hongtian, who eventually perished.

’That heaven-defying pill formula is surely imbued with the Great Emperor’s will. Anyone who tries to touch it is simply courting death.’

’I was lucky to escape last time, probably because the Great Emperor’s will acknowledged me in some way. I wouldn’t dare try my luck again.’

’If that’s the case for me, a practitioner of an emperor’s art, then the two elders would be obliterated without a trace if they rushed in recklessly.’

Seeing the looks on the two elders’ faces, Lin Hao offered a solemn warning.

The two elders’ expressions shifted, and they nodded in understanding.

Having just witnessed the power of the Array, they didn’t dare to act rashly.

"Next, I’ll take you to see the ore vein. You should brace yourselves, because it’s truly staggering," Lin Hao said, taking a deep breath.

’Even I couldn’t contain myself the first time I saw it. Just thinking about it now makes my heart race. I have to warn them beforehand.’

’If something happens to these two elders after they see the vein, I’ll be greatly at fault.’

The two elders’ expressions instantly tensed up.

Lin Hao found the spot and leaped down.

The two elders quickly followed, and Xiaojiu jumped in after them.

Even from a great distance, a resplendent, multicolored light was already visible.

Lin Hao took the lead, approaching the ore vein.

Finally, he stopped in front of it.

Even though it was his second time seeing it, Lin Hao’s heart still sped up, and his breathing became rapid.

After a long moment, Lin Hao came back to his senses. Realizing he heard no sound behind him, he turned to look, only to find he was alone.

Just as he was feeling puzzled, his clothes were tugged from below.

Lin Hao looked down and was given a huge fright.

He saw the two elders on the ground, foaming at the mouth and convulsing uncontrollably.

It was Xiaojiu’s paw tugging at his hem.

Lin Hao was stunned.

When he snapped out of it, he witnessed a truly ridiculous scene.

Xiaojiu had its paws crossed over one elder’s chest. It then bent down, seemingly preparing to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

"AH!" The elder was so frightened he leaped to his feet.

Xiaojiu looked completely innocent. It then prepared to do the same to the other elder.

The other elder shot up as well, his face white with terror.

Lin Hao stood to the side, holding back his laughter with great difficulty.

’I really want to ask Xiaojiu where it learned that from,’ he thought.

"Martial Uncle, am I... am I dreaming?" The elders tried to run, but their eyes once again fell upon the resplendent vein of Flowing Light Divine Stones.

’Flowing Light Divine Stones! They’re essential materials for Refining Emperor’s Soldiers, and there’s a whole vein of them here! This is just... mind-blowing!’

"Why don’t you try it and find out?" Lin Hao said, stepping aside to clear the way.

The two elders stepped forward, caressing the nearest stones. Then they both burst into wild laughter. "Hahaha! This is incredible! Just incredible!"

Their laughter continued for a full fifteen minutes before the two elders, having lost all semblance of composure, finally collapsed onto the ground.

"I’ll be counting on you, Elders. I must be leaving now." Seeing they were unharmed, Lin Hao prepared to depart.

Mining a vein of Flowing Light Divine Stones was an immense honor. How could the two elders possibly consider it a hardship? Their old faces were wreathed in smiles as they replied in unison, "It’s no hardship at all! No hardship at all! We’ll definitely complete the task. You can rest easy, Martial Uncle."

Then, without waiting for Lin Hao’s reply, they turned back to stare at the ore vein.

In an instant, their minds were once again captivated, and they completely forgot that Lin Hao was even there.

Lin Hao shook his head and left with Xiaojiu...

When Lin Hao came out of the passage with Xiaojiu, he was surprised to find Wu Taichu and Elder Gu still waiting for him in the same spot.

"Elder Gu, take the Annihilation Demon Saber. I’ll undo its seal. The Crimson Cloud Cold Iron has neutralizing properties, and I’ll teach you a technique to use with it that can temporarily suppress the saber’s demonic nature. Xiaojiu, you go with the elder as well."

A Soul Gathering Realm expert wielding a Tier Four Spiritual Artifact is more than enough to defend the area. If an enemy appears, Xiaojiu can launch a surprise attack and provide additional support.

After speaking, Lin Hao retrieved the Annihilation Demon Saber from his storage ring and taught Elder Gu the method for suppressing its demonic nature.

With the saber in hand, Elder Gu and Xiaojiu set off for the Suo Demon Sect.

"Grand Martial Uncle, are you leaving again?" Wu Taichu asked, seeing that Lin Hao had arranged matters for the three elders.

Lin Hao nodded, "I was planning on it."

"You mustn’t! Grand Martial Uncle, these are precarious times. Besides, the Danling Sect’s general assembly is only about a month away. Please wait a little longer before departing." Wu Taichu’s expression changed as he tried to dissuade him, assuming Lin Hao was planning to head to the Danling Sect.

"You’re worrying too much," Lin Hao said with a smile. "I don’t plan on leaving for the Danling Sect just yet. I just want to find a training ground for the Sect Disciples."

Wu Taichu breathed a sigh of relief and asked in confusion, "A training ground? Now that the great threat of the Suo Demon Sect has been eliminated, aren’t these mountains the best training ground there is?"

Previously, with the Suo Demon Sect eyeing them covetously, our Sect Disciples were often killed during their training. That’s no longer the case.

Lin Hao smiled faintly. "I believe there are even better training grounds in this area."

He didn’t directly state that he was going to search for the eight god and demon secret realms. After all, they only existed in Chu Tiandu’s memories. It was better not to say anything until he had seen them for himself.

Wu Taichu nodded, having no reason to doubt him.

’If Lin Hao says it exists, then it absolutely must exist.’

However, Wu Taichu felt guilty that Lin Hao had to worry about every single matter in the sect.

Immediately, he said, "Grand Martial Uncle, why don’t you give me a general location? I’ll send some disciples to search."

"I’d better go myself. This is a form of training for me too. And it’s a good chance for me to familiarize myself with the sect’s territory." Lin Hao rejected Wu Taichu’s kind offer with a smile.

’Even if I told them the exact locations of the eight secret realms, no one else would be able to find them.’

"Very well. Please be careful." In the end, Wu Taichu could only say this.

Lin Hao nodded, picked a direction, and strode away...

The Heaven-Stepping Sect was comprised of nine great peaks, including Heaven-Stepping Peak itself. Coincidentally, a once-withered secret realm was located on Heaven-Stepping Peak.

According to Chu Tiandu’s memories, each of the other eight great peaks contained a god and demon secret realm.

Lin Hao was now heading for Celestial Dui Peak, which ranked last among the eight other great peaks.

According to his memories, this secret realm was the weakest of them all.

But even if it was the weakest, it was still extremely dangerous inside.

Celestial Dui Peak was formerly presided over by Qin Tianlong, but after his rebellion, a new Peak Master had not yet been appointed.

Standing on the summit, Lin Hao pinpointed the direction and leaped down, searching for the place from his memories.

Several thousand years had passed, and the place from Chu Tiandu’s memories had long since changed. Lin Hao searched for a long time but found no clues.

Lin Hao was not discouraged and continued his search downwards.

Each of the Heaven-Stepping Sect’s eight great peaks was magnificent and imposing, with thousand-foot cliffs and sheer precipices that scraped the sky.

On the sheer peak, Lin Hao’s five fingers were like hooks, and the cliff face was as fragile as tofu.

He scaled the sheer peak at will, and before long, he had descended a thousand meters.

From his vantage point, the God-Proving Platform at the center of the nine great peaks appeared even more immense and spectacular.

Looking at the God-Proving Platform, Lin Hao’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he then closed them.

According to his memories, a wisp of the Divine Soul of a Blue-winged Sea Dragon Beast—one of the ten great ferocious beasts of antiquity—was suppressed beneath Celestial Dui Peak.

Lin Hao tried to recall the locations where the nine Divine Steles had been unearthed, focusing on the one that depicted the Blue-winged Sea Dragon Beast.

Before long, Lin Hao’s eyes snapped open, a look of delight on his face.

The next moment, his figure flitted across the face of the great peak.

Finally, Lin Hao’s figure came to a stop on a large, protruding rock.

The area before him was covered in vegetation. Lin Hao double-checked the position, then got to work.

Before long, a large patch of vegetation was pulled away, faintly revealing the outline of a cave entrance, but it was blocked by a huge rock.

Lin Hao took a deep breath, and then threw a punch!

A single punch from Lin Hao now packed immense power, enough to shatter stone and startle the heavens.

BOOM!

The single blow made the very mountain shake, sending a cascade of rocks tumbling from above.

Lin Hao remained unmoved. The rocks plummeting down with immense force were deflected by his Protective Gang Qi before they could even get near him.

Anyone who witnessed such a sight would have been utterly horrified.

To put it in perspective, Lin Hao was thousands of meters below the summit. From that height, even an ordinary falling stone would impact with incredible force.

Lin Hao’s physical constitution was terrifyingly powerful.

The immense rock before him now had a deep crater, yet only barely visible cracks had formed.

Lin Hao retreated, his body like a swimming dragon. A white light coiled around his fist as he threw another punch.

RUMBLE!

An even louder sound rang out.

The cracks, once barely visible, widened and then shattered completely.

Without the huge rock blocking the way, the true appearance within was revealed.

Ahead, it was pitch black, but the faint tinkling sound of spring water could be heard.

Stepping inside, Lin Hao soon stopped.

He had reached the end. A mountain spring flowed out from the rock wall, pooling into a small, basin-sized puddle.

There was no disappointment on Lin Hao’s face; instead, a smile flickered across it.

’This is it. The entrance to the Celestial Dui Peak secret realm, just as it was in Chu Tiandu’s memories.’

Taking a deep breath, Lin Hao performed a set of fist techniques in front of the rock wall.

The technique came from the Compendium of Martial Arts.

When he finished the set, he had struck the rock wall with his right fist exactly nine times.

Each strike landed on a different point.

When he landed the final punch, something strange happened.

The rock wall before him groaned and creaked, then began to slide apart.

Seeing this, Lin Hao couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

’The entrances to the Eighth Layer god and demon secret realms left behind by Emperor Hongtian are all exquisitely designed. If I hadn’t learned how to open this one from Chu Tiandu’s memories, I could have tried for a century without success.’

The rock walls parted, revealing a Grotto Heaven within.