There, at the supreme heights of the Wuji Holy Sect’s vast Celestial Vault.

A colossal tree, whose majesty was difficult to describe with words, stood tall and proud. Its sheer scale had already transcended the ordinary person’s very concept of a "tree"!

Its trunk did not sprout from the earth, but was rooted directly in the void itself.

The trunk was a deep brown, weathered by countless eons. It was as thick as a towering mountain connecting Heaven and Earth, its surface carved with deep, crisscrossing ravines, ancient and imposing.

Its bark was mottled, yet it flowed with a restrained, boundless vitality.

From this magnificent trunk, mighty enough to support Heaven and Earth, extended countless equally massive branches. They wove together into a boundless canopy that covered nearly half of the Taixu Mirror Heaven.

Upon its branches, hundreds of millions of peach blossoms bloomed in a sudden, glorious explosion, bathing the light of the Mirror Heaven in a hazy, pale pink.

A rich, yet not cloying, fragrance flooded the lungs with every breath, as if it were a tangible substance. It was invigorating, even causing the True Qi within one’s body to liven up.

As the blooming period of the entire Heaven-Reaching Peach Tree reached its most resplendent peak.

A gentle breeze rustled by, and hundreds of millions of delicate petals detached from the branches.

Thus began a grand yet gentle "flower rain" that swept across the entire Holy Sect’s Outer Mansion.

Countless pale pink peach blossoms fluttered and drifted down.

These petals seemed to possess their own spiritual nature, floating down with precision toward the location of every single Disciple in the Nine Great Outer Mansions below.

Qi Yun subconsciously extended his palm.

A single petal landed lightly and accurately in the center of it.

The petal felt delicate and cool to the touch, carrying an indescribable vitality and Dao Rhyme.

Its veins were clearly visible, shimmering with an almost imperceptible Spiritual Light.

At this moment, throughout the Nine Great Outer Mansions, countless Outer Mansion Disciples were just like him, heads tilted back and hands outstretched, catching the one peach blossom petal meant for them alone.

The vast flower rain was a blessing bestowed upon all.

Just as everyone in the Outer Mansion received their own peach blossom petal, a grand, distant, and supremely resonant voice echoed throughout the entire Outer Mansion Mirror Heaven.

"The Holy Sect is vast, its grace widespread.

Today, sensing the convergence of Heaven and Earth’s fortune, we specially open the [Peach Garden] Secret Realm to bless our Disciples.

This realm is an Innate grotto-heaven, hidden within the rifts of the Great Void, only now revealing itself to the world.

Within it, spiritual roots and Treasure Medicines are born from the aura of antiquity;

Lost treasures and Secret Scriptures are hidden in accordance with the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

The depth of your destiny is up to your own Creation; the richness of your fortune depends on you alone."

All Disciples of my Outer Mansion who hold this Peach Blossom Spirit Guide may enter to seek their destiny.

This is an opportunity unseen in a thousand years. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

We hope you will be cautious, cherish it, and strive for it!"

This majestic Daoist pronouncement, like the tolling of a great bell, entered the ears and hearts of every Disciple with perfect clarity.

’The Holy Sect is handing out "benefits" again...’

Hearing that familiar tone, Qi Yun rolled his eyes.

Evidently, the ill omen he had foreseen through his Divination Calculation and Deduction was this very [Peach Garden Secret Realm].

Just then, the peach blossom petal in his palm began to glow, emitting a gentle warmth.

At the same time, a clear intent flowed out from the petal.

There was no need to search; with a mere Heart Thought, by clenching this petal, he could be guided by the great power contained within and instantly travel to the mysterious [Peach Garden] Secret Realm!

However, just as he was about to give up on this so-called great opportunity,

the Taixu Jade Order in his robes suddenly vibrated three times in quick succession!

He subconsciously sent a wisp of his consciousness to investigate, and three messages appeared almost simultaneously.

Blood Demon Master Deng Yin’s message was the most concise and domineering. It had only four words, yet carried an unquestionable tone:

"Opportunity here. Enter now!"

Next was Yang Cuan Master’s message, its tone still carrying that inscrutable depth:

"Within the Peach Garden, the opportunities are profound. Do not hesitate."

Finally, there was a message from Li Chong, the captain of the Seventh Law Enforcement Team. It was terse, yet pointed out the key issue:

"Secret Realm newly opened, first-movers have the advantage! Go!"

Three figures of different identities and positions, yet all of immense importance, had sent messages at the exact same moment. The content was more or less the same, with only one core point.

Do not hesitate for a moment; enter the [Peach Garden] Secret Realm immediately.

This sudden development, coupled with the almost urgent messages from the three "big shots," made Qi Yun instantly realize that this [Peach Garden] Secret Realm was by no means a simple Sect trial.

The so-called "supreme great opportunity" hidden within was likely far beyond his imagination.

Hesitation showed on his face, but after his gaze flickered a few times, Qi Yun’s expression gradually firmed:

’A true man should abandon wishful thinking. He must temper himself like steel, accumulating merit second by second, to one day shock the world with a single feat.

Therefore, this matter...

Whoever wants to go can go!’

Knowing full well the journey was fraught with peril, Qi Yun—who had the Magic Technique Panel and a bright future ahead of him—didn’t even think twice. He casually tossed the peach blossom petal away.

’Benefits are fine, but risks are an absolute no-go.’

’I’ll just stay home and obediently nurture my Divine Rhyme, preparing to break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.’

Pushing open the door to his private chamber, Qi Yun looked up and froze.

Before him, a figure who absolutely should not have been there was sitting leisurely in the only chair in his chamber, as if he had been waiting for a long time.

"I knew a brat like you wouldn’t listen to reason," the mysterious Elder Master said slowly, sitting on the chair to one side. He saw that Qi Yun had already discarded the peach blossom petal. "You’ve received so many benefits from me, yet you’re truly unwilling to lift a single finger?"

"Is it... the Meditation Mat?" Qi Yun’s eyes shifted slightly as he quickly realized.

’The Elder Master must have placed some kind of mechanism on the Meditation Mat to be able to appear and disappear so mysteriously.’

"Master, don’t misunderstand. I was actually just... coming in to pack my things," Qi Yun said with a relaxed smile, fabricating a lie without a moment’s hesitation.

"Is that so?" The Elder Master’s abyss-like eyes stared at Qi Yun, making his skin crawl, before he chuckled and waved his hand.

"The opening of the [Peach Garden] this time is indeed a rare opportunity. With your skills, if you enter, you will certainly gain considerable benefits.

On this matter, I have absolutely no intention of deceiving you."

Since the Elder Master had put it so plainly, Qi Yun had no choice but to state his reason for not wanting to go.

"A great omen of misfortune?"

Hearing this explanation, the Elder Master’s expression shifted slightly. He immediately raised his hand, pinching his fingers together in a calculation. After a few breaths, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"I have done the calculation. It is indeed a great omen of misfortune, but there is fortune hidden within the danger. You can go without worry."

"Is that really true?" Qi Yun asked doubtfully, feeling that the Elder Master’s words were a little too smooth.

"Mm... it’s true." Facing his scrutinizing gaze, the Elder Master’s Adam’s apple bobbed almost imperceptibly before he spoke with conviction.

’You hesitated! You definitely hesitated just now!’

Instantly realizing something was wrong, Qi Yun was about to speak, only to see that the peach blossom petal he had discarded had somehow returned to his hand.

He looked up at the Elder Master’s smiling expression and had a very bad feeling.

The next instant!

His palm closed involuntarily, tightly gripping the petal that led to the [Peach Garden] under the Elder Master’s satisfied gaze.

"You..." Qi Yun only had time to get out a single word.

...