Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 208 - 170: The First Secret (Part 2)

The sixty-year lifespan, who wouldn't covet it? Especially those high-ranking Elders nearing the end of their lifespan, they fought fiercely over it.

But in the end:

Wanchuan Ancestor made the decision to give the Ruyi True Pill to Lord Haihe for consumption. This blatant favoritism silenced countless individuals.

It was precisely because Lord Haihe benefitted from the Ruyi True Pill that he considered it his rightful duty.

"You sit and have your tea; I'll be back shortly."

Lord Haihe said this and hurriedly left.

Zhang Yao sipped tea while patiently waiting, and about two incense sticks later, Lord Haihe returned.

"This is your portion of Kunyuan Spiritual Liquid."

After sitting down, he took out a crystal clear bottle and handed it to Zhang Yao.

Zhang Yao reached out and took it, discovering the bottle contained a pale golden liquid, glimmering with a hazy luster, captivating at first sight.

"The presentation alone is extraordinary."

Zhang Yao admired it silently and, after storing the Kunyuan Spiritual Liquid, casually chatted with Lord Haihe.

After exchanging a few words, Lord Haihe suddenly waved his sleeve, isolating the surroundings with magical power and said in a slightly serious tone:

"Qingxu, do you know that something major is about to happen within the Da Li Territory?"

Zhang Yao's expression slightly changed as he immediately realized:

"Does the Lord mean... the Five Elements Secret Realm?"

"Yes."

Lord Haihe nodded solemnly and said:

"Back then... the fuse for that incident was collecting Soul Thought Aura for that Realm Breaker."

"With so many years passed, that Realm Breaker is only a few years away from achieving Foundation Establishment Perfection, meeting the conditions to activate the core of the Secret Realm."

"In as short as three to five years, or as long as seven to eight years, the Five Elements Secret Realm, sealed for a century, will be reopened!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao slowly nodded and said:

"Indeed, this is a major event."

He too had calculated this timing, which is why he was eager to break through to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment and retrieve the Kunyuan Spiritual Liquid, to have a legitimate reason for a lengthy seclusion.

Once the Five Elements Secret Realm opens:

All of Da Li will be in turmoil, especially those minor stakeholders of the Celestial Treasure Tower and the second-rate powers with entry qualifications like the Haihe Association, who will be wholly engulfed in the affairs of the Secret Realm, easing mutual competition.

In this scenario, Zhang Yao's long-term seclusion wouldn't attract much attention nor cause many troubles for the Haihe Association, and once the situation calms down, he can continue being the Chairman Association master.

"I have a premonition that this opening of the Five Elements Secret Realm will bring earth-shattering changes..."

Lord Haihe said, his tone uncertain:

"The relics left behind by the Five Elements Wanderer hold earth-shattering secrets, drawing relentless pursuit from all Golden Core Ancestors."

"Whichever family obtains it could disrupt the balance of power, potentially triggering a new round of total war, not to mention..."

At this point, his tone turned colder:

"Yuwen Tai, he won't let go of such an excellent opportunity either!"

"Yuwen Tai?"

Zhang Yao was taken aback and pondered:

"Yuwen Tai, as the master of the Celestial Treasure Tower and the actual overseer of the Realm Breaker, indeed has the right to intervene in matters concerning the Secret Realm." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

"But he is already invincible at Foundation Establishment, and given his age, if he can't break through to Golden Core, everything he currently has is but an illusion."

"In such circumstances, why would he get involved in the affairs of the Secret Realm, taking extra risks upon himself?"

Yuwen Tai's status and position are such that he already has everything he desires, with the sole regret of not achieving a Golden Core.

Zhang Yao couldn't comprehend why he would risk incurring the wrath of four Golden Core Ancestors by competing with many Foundation Establishments for the Secret Realm.

Imagine:

Yuwen Tai's own strength is already invincible below Golden Core, and no Foundation Establishment can rival him in single combat.

Moreover, not only is he individually formidable, but he also controls the powerful Celestial Treasure Tower, with dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators under his command. If he participates in the competition for the Secret Realm, he will inevitably hold a significant advantage, even surpassing the Four Major Golden Core Powers.

Faced with such a necessity for the desirable benefits, would those Golden Core Ancestors continue to tolerate him?

"No, you are mistaken."

Lord Haihe sighed deeply, a hint of gloom in his expression:

"In this matter, Yuwen Tai and the Golden Core Ancestors have always maintained a close cooperative relationship."

"After all, it was Yuwen Tai who first discovered the Five Elements Secret Realm back then..."

"What?!"

Zhang Yao was immediately shocked upon hearing this.

"The Five Elements Secret Realm was discovered by Yuwen Tai?"

The publicly circulating information was that a recently joined Foundation Establishment cultivator at the Celestial Treasure Tower accidentally discovered the Secret Realm over a century ago, widely proclaiming it while also presenting the real secret intelligence to the Celestial Tower's higher-ups.

At that time, the tower's higher-ups were people from the Five Major Golden Core Powers, effectively offering the Secret Realm indirectly to these powers.

Since then:

Everyone knew that this Foundation Establishment cultivator received rewards from the Golden Core Ancestors, but he himself disappeared, and related information was sealed.

For many years after, countless cultivators could only envy the luck of that Loose Cultivator Foundation Establishment, without paying attention to his ultimate fate.

Zhang Yao never imagined that Yuwen Tai was actually that lucky person from back then.

"Yes."

Lord Haihe seemed to have anticipated his reaction and said in a deep voice:

"I won't hide it from you; I had the same reaction as you when I first learned this secret."

"Who would have thought that an unknown Loose Cultivator Foundation Establishment who just joined the Celestial Treasure Tower would transform into the illustrious Yuwen Tower Master in Da Li?"

After saying this, he paused, his tone slightly shifting:

"But this is a fact; it shows some people just need an opportunity to soar..."

After making enemies with Yuwen Tai, he privately investigated Yuwen Tai's origins.

Thanks to the Fuhai Sect being a powerful Golden Core influence, keeping the archived records from that time secret, he, having a high enough status, had access to these records.

He spent many years piecing together Yuwen Tai's background from the massive secret archives.

"I also asked my master, but he was reluctant to say more, warning me that when the time is right, he would tell me."

Lord Haihe sighed and said solemnly:

"But I can be certain that Yuwen Tai and the Golden Core Ancestors reached a related agreement concerning the Five Elements Secret Realm, having long been covertly cooperating."

"Back then, the elite exploration teams formed by several parties were possibly orchestrated by Yuwen Tai himself, which is the real reason for his disappearance back then."

"In matters related to the Five Elements Secret Realm, he's always played a very important role."

"As for how he gained the trust of the Golden Core Ancestors, I don't know, but one thing I'm sure of..."

He spoke with growing certainty:

"It wasn't by coincidence that Yuwen Tai discovered the Five Elements Secret Realm back then; there must be some secret behind it!"

"Indeed."

Zhang Yao's expression grew grave as he said:

"I highly agree with the Lord's words."

"The secret realm left by the Five Elements Wanderer has remained unfound for two thousand years; why could only Yuwen Tai discover it?"

"If it were merely luck, his fortunes would have been excessively good, and it doesn't explain how he gained the trust of the Golden Core Ancestors."

"It seems you and I think alike."

Lord Haihe nodded slightly and added:

"By the way, within the files I perused, there was a secret record."

"Yuwen Tai is not a native of Da Li; he claims to come from a small southern border kingdom called the Lu Kingdom."

"Lu Kingdom?"

Zhang Yao's pupils contracted, and a tremendous wave surged within his heart.

Yuwen Tai turned out to be from the Lu Kingdom?!