Chapter 245: Chapter 242: Entering the Secret Territory_1
An hour later, the entrance to the Kunlun Secret Realm had stabilized. It was over thirty meters wide and more than a hundred meters high.
Great Emperor Kylin quickly withdrew his Fortune, his face a bit pale. Maintaining control over the East Border’s Fortune for such a long time had left him somewhat drained. Fortunately, his Great Emperor Realm cultivation level allowed him to barely hold on.
Without the hindrance of the East Border’s Fortune, a rich Spiritual Energy, mixed with incredibly pure auras, flowed out, dozens of times denser than the Spiritual Energy at Qilin Square.
The mists of Spiritual Energy, illuminated by the sun, revealed a cluster of buildings with white walls and golden tiles, suspended above the Immortal Clouds, from which countless golden lights and auspicious auras radiated.
Countless Immortals lived within: Immortal maidens with flowing skirts and charming looks; Immortal officials arrayed in magnificent robes, their expressions solemn and austere; and Immortal soldiers and Heavenly Generals clad in golden armor, wielding weapons...
"Could this be the Immortal Realm?"
All eyes were drawn to this spectacle, entranced and unable to look away, their faces filled with longing.
Suddenly, a group of figures shrouded in black energy charged into the Immortal Palace, killing every person they encountered. Countless Immortals fell, their fresh, scarlet blood staining the sky red, and innumerable luxurious palaces turned into ruins, crashing to the ground.
Afterward, the scene gradually faded, revealing the deep passage to the Kunlun Secret Realm, like the open maw of a fierce beast ready to swallow anyone who entered.
"Was what we just saw real or not?"
"If it was real, that would be too terrifying. The destruction of the Immortal Realm—wouldn’t that mean the path to Immortality is cut off?"
"HISS! I hope it’s not real..."
The awakened crowd all looked terrified and unsettled. Thinking back to the scene they had just witnessed, they involuntarily shivered, their hands and feet turning cold.
Everyone chose to believe the scene was false, as they neither dared nor wished to believe it otherwise.
If it were true, meaning the path of Immortality was severed, then what would be the point of their cultivation?
The Great Emperor Kylin, his composure restored, sat authoritatively on his throne and commanded, "The first thousand prodigies, enter the Secret Realm!"
"As you command!"
The prodigies saluted, preparing to enter the Secret Realm.
"Let’s go!"
The first force to enter the Secret Realm was undoubtedly the Kylin Holy Land.
Shen Youlin led a hundred Holy Land prodigies toward the entrance of the Kunlun Secret Realm. As he passed the viewing stands, he turned to look at the crowd, his gaze fixing on Qin Wudao, revealing a chilling killing intent.
After the Kylin Holy Land entered, other teams of prodigies followed in an orderly fashion. Some teams had as few as five members, others ten or more.
Only Qin Wudao’s team had the fewest members, just three people!
"Let’s go too!"
After Qin Wudao, Wu Ming, and Feng Yangzhi regrouped, they proceeded towards the spatial passage. As they prepared to enter, Qin Wudao conjured a Spiritual Energy Shield to envelop the three of them, to prevent them from being scattered to different locations while passing through.
Indeed, just as Qin Wudao expected, the moment they entered the spatial passage, they encountered a tearing force.
However, under the protection of the Spiritual Energy Shield, the three of them were not separated, landing on the ground of the Kunlun Secret Realm intact.
Dark! Brutal!
These were Qin Wudao’s first impressions upon entering the Kunlun Secret Realm. Looking around, he saw a purple waning moon hanging in the sky, casting dim light on the ground, which was littered with rotting ancient trees.
These trees were enormous, requiring more than ten people linking hands to encircle their trunks. But strangely, each ancient tree bore only a single leaf. Indeed, only one leaf!
Qin Wudao also noticed this peculiar sight and fell into deep thought, while Feng Yangzhi, standing behind him, had already begun circulating his Spiritual Energy, remaining vigilant.
WHOOSH.
A gust of wild wind blew by.
A few leaves from the ancient trees were lifted by the wind and floated down to the ground, releasing a puff of grey gas that gave off faint signs of life.
"Be careful!" Qin Wudao cautioned, his right hand resting on his imperial weapon, ready for action.
"The aura of life? Excellent, my chance to live is here!"
An excited voice rang out from the grey gas. A phantom figure then emerged, extending its sharp claws towards the trio, its speed extremely fast.
Qin Wudao immediately unsheathed his imperial sword and struck with a swift slash.
The sharp Sword Qi cut the approaching phantom in half, but the severed phantom quickly reformed, as if unscathed, and continued its attack.
Its scarlet eyes gleamed with eager anticipation and a desperate yearning for life.
What the hell is this thing? Qin Wudao frowned, quickly unleashing a flurry of Sword Qi, cutting the phantom numerous times, even slicing it into large chunks. Even so, he was unable to kill it.
Quickly, the phantom drew near. Its cold aura made Qin Wudao shudder, forcing him to retreat rapidly.
Once he had created some distance, he glanced at Wu Ming and Feng Yangzhi. The former was engaged in an arduous battle, while the latter was scampering away.
Noticing Qin Wudao’s gaze, Feng Yangzhi explained, "Brother Qin, these yin-souls were once powerful individuals. After their fall, they sealed their souls within these trees, waiting for rescue. Judging by the current situation, their energy must be nearly depleted. We don’t need to fight them; we just need to wait for their Spiritual Energy to be completely exhausted, and they’ll vanish!"
"So, that’s how it is! How did you know this?" Qin Wudao asked curiously.
"Our sect’s ancient records mention this. I’m not the only one who knows; many factions are aware of it!" Feng Yangzhi scratched his head and answered with a smile.
Qin Wudao nodded without asking further questions.
Using the method Feng Yangzhi described, Qin Wudao didn’t engage the phantom in battle but instead used his movement technique to dodge. After about three minutes, the phantom began to fade, eventually vanishing completely.
Wu Ming, employing the same method, also dealt with his phantom and then stood behind Qin Wudao.
"Brother Feng, what else is recorded in your sect’s ancient books?" Qin Wudao looked at Feng Yangzhi, asking in a deep voice.
"Let me think..." Feng Yangzhi pondered for a moment before speaking, "Brother Qin, the sect’s ancient records state that for anyone who enters the Secret Realm, the treasures and the way out are at its center. Our most pressing task is to head to the center of the Kunlun Secret Realm!"
Qin Wudao nodded then, to Wu Ming and Feng Yangzhi’s astonishment, leaped into the sky. From his high vantage point, he scanned the surroundings to determine the terrain before descending and said, "Follow me!"
From his observation, the Kunlun Secret Realm was vast. However, to the east, in the direction of the waning moon, there was a colossal mountain shrouded in rolling black fog, and the surrounding area was a vast forest stretching as far as the eye could see.
"Your Majesty, please don’t take such risks! What if there’s danger in the sky? Next time something like this comes up, please let me handle it!" Wu Ming stepped forward and grumbled softly.
An unfamiliar environment held unforeseeable dangers. Especially in a place like the Kunlun Secret Realm, where the sky was cloaked in gloomy miasma, if danger lurked there, then...
"Relax, I know what I’m doing!" Qin Wudao flashed a subtle smile. Before soaring into the sky, he had first observed with his soul force; it wasn’t a reckless act.
Nevertheless, Wu Ming’s concern warmed Qin Wudao’s heart.