Radiant Fire surged in torrents, bursting from all eight apertures. All manner of hazy and heavy divine abilities gathered with the descending white light, yet it churned the crimson sea below until it roiled violently, as though calling out to its kin, and five streaks of crimson light leaped forth.

The Daoist Master withdrew his spiritual sense from his qihai and delight rose in his heart. "Six have gathered!"

Six [Great Radiant Crimson Lights] had been formed. Only a small step remained before reaching nine. With one more condensed from talisman qi, this technique stood on the verge of crossing its threshold. Li Ximing felt a quiet joy as he slowly opened his eyes.

The purple-gold light before him still flickered, yet through the great void, the Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum below had completely changed. Piles of white bones lay buried beneath the shattered remains of resplendent immortal palace halls. Intricate patterns shimmered and interwove, creating a scene of strange beauty, while the thick resentment beneath was entirely concealed by immortal radiance.

It was as though this place had never witnessed the slaughter of millions.

The remaining formations and restrictions mingled with all kinds of dharma light, twisting and shifting in constant transformation. Even as they churned, small secret realms and minor spirit halls continued to fall.

The Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum had become indescribably complex, yet countless streams of dharma light risked life and death to weave through it, seizing treasures before the restrictions settled, sometimes even erupting into violent clashes that scattered flesh and blood.

Meanwhile, the brilliance within the great void surged endlessly, as the purple-gold secret realm slowly began to close.

Li Ximing let out a quiet sigh. "The third already!"

Tianhuo's estimate had been correct. As Wanlin Heaven drew closer to manifesting in this world, no fewer than three great secret realms had descended one after another.

All three secret realms followed the same pattern. First, the direct lineages sent in early by the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators feasted richly. Then, once the entrance manifested in this world, various clans and rogue cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm entered to pick through the leftovers.

In the end, what remained was like a pot of broth crashing down upon the Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum, triggering a scramble among Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators, while numerous smaller secret realms fell alongside like meteors, adding further chaos.

The three secret realms were Southern Reach Hall, Returning Capital Tower, and Gorge Mountain Palace. They descended in sequence, not only filling the former lands of the Mifan three caves of White River Stream, but a large portion of Returning Capital Tower even spilled onto Mount Xiaoshi. If the Gorge Mountain Palace before him were to fall, it would seize a significant portion of Capital Immortal Dao's territory. Calculated carefully, they formed a ring around the entire Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum.

As he watched these three acts play out, Li Ximing found it hard to describe what he felt. What an orderly arrangement.

Both Returning Capital Tower and Gorge Mountain Palace were smaller than Southern Reach Hall, and the competition there was far fiercer. Even so, the Li Family had gained quite a bit from Returning Capital Tower, securing two spirit pills and one spirit material at the Purple Mansion Realm. Gorge Mountain Palace, however, had been far less rewarding. There had been fewer valuable items to begin with, and Su Yan had nearly taken everything! The Li Family managed to retrieve only a number of dharma artifacts and a few spirit pills that Li Ximing had obtained through his investigation...

This could not be blamed on the juniors. After all, Gorge Mountain Palace was the only secret realm in the north where they had faltered, and the Li Family's forces were already exhausted, unable to match the manpower of the other factions.

The three spirit pills were the [Hundred Nights Clarity Elixir] for dispelling confusion, two [Treasure Star Body-Spirit Pills] for healing bodily injuries, and a Dry Fire spirit material known as the [Rising Warmth Stone], likely useful for artifact forging. Altogether, the gains were quite pleasing.

With the ability to search the unseen and the gains from Southern Reach Hall, the Li Family's harvest ranked among the best. It also established Ding Weizeng's reputation as the [Palace Sun Tiger]. Tianhuo had congratulated them several times, even calling Ding Weizeng a lucky general.

Yet Li Ximing knew the truth. Ding Weizeng still fell short compared to the direct lineages. Against truly formidable opponents, even his strengths could not match their weaknesses, while his flaws would be mercilessly exploited. It was only in the chaos of battle that he could slip away.

Lucky general or not... if not for his solid strength and the Palace Sun Tiger's mysterious ability to escape confinement, he would never have lasted to the end and would have lost everything long ago.

As the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators withdrew, the phenomena within the great void continued to unfold, yet no secret realms descended. The expressions of the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators gradually grew grave. Li Ximing brushed the jade pendant at his waist but did not crush it, instead watching the great void closely.

Buzz!

Time passed in the blink of an eye. After only a few months of rest, a faint arc of light emerged from the great void. Spiritual energy on all sides surged violently, and the Turbid Slaughter Mausoleum shook as though heaven and earth were overturning!

Water and fire intertwined in the sky; metal and earth transformed; and various spirit items appeared out of thin air. Several streaks of light approached from afar, hovering in the distance. Li Ximing frowned as he looked and indeed recognized quite a few familiar faces. Even that fiend, Daoist Master Luo, winked and grinned at him.

That fiend... at least knows better than to come too close.

He hesitated for a moment, only to see a woman flying over through the great void. She wore a light green Daoist robe, her figure tall and slender, her eyes gently curved with a hint of charm. Her nose was softly rounded, her features warm and delicate. Even with her cool, restrained makeup, it could not conceal the softness in her demeanor as she smiled.

"Fellow Daoist Li!"

Li Ximing glanced at her, then quickly smiled in recognition. "So it's Fellow Daoist Kuangyu!"

This woman was none other than Daoist Master Kuangyu, who had obtained the New Rain Scattered Reefs. Back then, Li Ximing had gotten along quite well with her, and he had not expected to run into her again like this.

She smiled playfully and said, "A few days ago, I came across a pool of [Wall-Sinking Water]. I thought I'd bring it to you."

She took out a sky-blue flask from her sleeve. It was nothing more than an ordinary dharma artifact, not particularly valuable, and placed it in his hand. Then she glanced at Tianhuo by his side, and an awkward smile appeared on her face.

Back then, Hengzhu Dao Gate had been at odds with the Golden Feather Sect, and Kuangyu had always followed Hengxing. Now that Hengzhu Dao Gate was closed off, running into a behemoth like the Golden Feather Sect again was far more than a simple awkward situation for her...

Li Ximing had a good impression of her, yet he also sensed the awkward tension between the two sides and found it difficult to speak. Before he could say anything, dazzling lights suddenly filled his vision. Purple-gold radiance was spreading across the great void, as a violent tremor that seemed to pierce through the spiritual sense rang out in his ears.

Boom!

The shock made his ears and nose ache, and he instinctively lifted his gaze. The world before him burst into brilliance. The Purple Mansion Realm cultivators exchanged looks, and several of them had already transformed into streaks of light, flying toward the purple-gold radiance. Li Ximing glanced to the side, only to find that Tianhuo beside him had already vanished!

"The grotto heaven has opened?!"

Yet he did not rush forward. Looking carefully, he saw that many people in the north still stood unmoving within the great void, their expressions grim.

At his side, Kuangyu said softly, “There's a short window of fifteen to thirty minutes before the grotto heaven fully reveals itself. With methods of traversing the great void or spirit artifacts, one can slip inside early... Those factions have divine abilities and the necessary means, so naturally, they went ahead first."

Li Ximing frowned inwardly. "Oh? Wouldn't that let them take the best of it first?"

But Kuangyu continued in a calm tone, "It's not a big issue. It's not that easy to slip in. There's probably still about fifteen minutes left, and even sensing a way in will take them time. At most, they gain around seven minutes, usually even less."

That's still not a small advantage...

As Li Ximing was thinking this, Kuangyu suddenly stiffened, as if a blade were rushing toward her face, and a wave of heat surged forth.

She snapped her head up like lightning, her expression turning cold as she shouted, "Who?!"

A bridge of True Fire arched across the great void, flanked by troops that surged forward like roaming dragons. Deep crimson had spread everywhere the eye could see. At its center stood a middle-aged man, stepping upon flames with sword in hand, his blade pointed straight ahead. The patterns on his gold-red royal robe rippled faintly, his gaze filled with chilling intent.

He had come to kill!

Though he said nothing, the blazing edge of his weapon seemed to pierce straight into Li Ximing's eyes, sending a chill through his heart.

"Shilou Yingge?!"

This man was none other than Shilou Yingge, a mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator of True Fire from the northern Gao Family.

Has he gone mad?!

In full view of everyone, while all the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators were waiting to enter the grotto heaven, he had waited for the Golden Feather Sect to leave before suddenly erupting into action. His sword, imbued with fierce True Fire divine ability, struck without restraint, brimming with killing intent. All the Purple Mansion Realm cultivators turned to watch at once, their gazes cold.

Li Ximing was greatly alarmed. Instinctively, heavenly light ignited at the center of his eyebrows, and [Sovereign Weighing] manifested out of thin air. Patterns of mountains and rivers in green and yellow spread outward, yet golden light spun within his opponent's pupils. The deep crimson arc had already carved open a path, shattering the patterns and allowing the sword to reach him without obstruction!

Boom!

In an instant, heavenly light spread across the great void as the [Heaven-Venerating Gate] burst into existence, bearing the surging True Fire like a cascading waterfall. All eyes were drawn to it. Shilou Yingge pressed forward with overwhelming force, already shaking a gold-red True Fire seal from his sleeve. It swelled to the size of a mountain and, without hesitation, slammed down on Li Ximing's divine ability.

Shilou Yingge was a mid-stage Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. That single strike made Li Ximing's chest tighten, and he let out a cold laugh in anger, staring icily at the golden seal crashing down upon him.

Your divine ability may surpass mine, but no matter how strong it is, you are Shilou Yingge, not Wei Xuanyin. You think you can break the Bright Yang [Heaven-Venerating Gate] in just a few moves? Do you take me for something made of clay?!

As the two clashed, Kuangyu’s expression suddenly changed at the side. Shilou Yingge's golden seal, massive as a mountain, had included her within its range as well!

"What is the meaning of this?!"

She brought her hands together before her chest and lifted lightly. In that instant, she slipped free from the seal's lock and vanished. Yet that gentle motion carried astonishing force, causing the golden seal to waver.

In that brief tremor, Li Ximing clearly felt that the entire seal seemed to be displaced from the great void for a split second. Seizing the moment like lightning, he immediately dispersed his divine ability, letting it dissolve into heavenly light that surged back into his body.

Taking the chance, he retreated a step with a dark expression. Shilou Yingge, however, remained completely undeterred. Ignoring Daoist Master Kuangyu's retreat, he charged his sword with True Fire divine ability until it turned a pure crimson, while his other hand brought two fingers together and pressed them against the base of the blade.

"Go!"

The surging True Fire divine ability flared instantly, and the golden seal suspended in the great void began to move rapidly. As he faced this Gao Family cultivator, Li Ximing only smiled coldly, utterly unafraid.

Then, light suddenly emerged from the shadows. A stream of heavenly light shone forth, crescent-shaped hues flickering with a clear chime as it struck the sword. With a ringing clash, it forced the True Fire on the blade to erupt prematurely, rippling outward in all directions.

Boom!

Golden eyes reflected faintly in Shilou Yingge's gaze, while even denser True Fire surged behind him, making him appear like a god of fire descended. Yet a halberd swept through the air, flinging aside a swath of True Fire, its blade gleaming brilliantly under radiant light.

A young man with golden eyes stepped forward upon white light and purple flames, draped in dazzling heavenly light. His expression was cold as his five fingers gripped the shaft firmly. The sharp tip, as piercing as a point of pure bright light, was aimed straight at Shilou Yingge's throat.

"If the Shilou Family is so eager to prove its loyalty, you can settle it inside the grotto heaven. There's no need to bark in front of everyone."

Shilou Yingge's face flushed with anger, yet his eyes remained cold. In an instant, gazes from all sides converged, some sneering, some observing, while countless unspoken thoughts seemed to ripple through the air.

That's the Bright Yang Auspicious Child...