“This is the entrance to the Trial Realm. Once you inject spiritual energy into your tokens, you may enter. Remember, losing your token means disqualification. If you can endure until the end of the month, the survivor holding the most tokens will take first place and claim the ultimate reward. Cangling Kingdom will not inquire about any resources you obtain within the secret realm; everything you gather is entirely yours to keep.
“Deadly combat is permitted in this competition. Only those left alive at the end will be detected by the teleportation talismans and safely brought back out.”
With a wave of Elder Huang Jue’s hand, countless talismans landed on each disciple, fading from sight as they turned invisible.
Disciples from the three sects began filing into the secret realm.
Wen Li glanced at Yao Dai and Xie Tinglan. “If you can beat them, fight. If you can’t, find a dog hole to curl up in and sleep until it’s over. If you get caught, drop to your knees, beg for mercy, and flatter them. Give them whatever you have. If all else fails, defect to their side. Just don’t die.”
Even though they entered together, the secret realm’s spatial array would forcibly separate them, scattering everyone to different locations.
Yao Dai knew these words were aimed specifically at her. Pouting slightly without boasting, she nodded repeatedly like a chicken pecking at grain.
“Mm-hmm, got it!”
Nearby, Wang Xianlin sighed and shook his head. He was completely unable to comprehend—and deeply disgusted by—Wen Li bringing a weakling at the Seventh Level of Qi Refinement into the secret realm to take risks.
He felt Yao Dai was wasting a precious slot for the Zhaixing Sect while risking her own life—an utterly childish decision.
Taking his token, he stepped into the secret realm.
Wen Li and her two disciples followed suit.
...
“Has your sect finished its preparations for this period?”
Once all the disciples had gone in, Feng Yun turned toward the other two elders.
Fu Yining’s expression shifted slightly at the mention of this matter. Looking toward the horizon, she let out a sigh. “More or less. After centuries of peace, it’s about time we stretch our bones.”
“Who knows how many cultivators will perish in this coming cataclysm? I only hope our Cangling Kingdom can preserve its bloodline.” Huang Jue stood with his hands behind his back, looking helplessly at the land before them, his eyes filled with deep attachment.
None of the disciples entering the secret realm heard these words, remaining completely unaware.
...
Inside the secret realm.
Wen Li felt as though she had been spat out by a black hole, tumbling directly onto an uninhabited patch of land.
“Hiss... What is this?”
Having just staggered to regain her footing, Wen Li felt something sticky beneath her feet. She raised her boot and looked down.
“Ugh...”
She had stepped right into a pile of demon beast dung!
And it was fresh—no wonder it was so sticky.
【Hahaha! Host, looks like you’re stepping into dog shit luck today!】 The System, which hadn't been online for a long time, chimed in teasingly.
“Heh. Then I wish you a lifetime of stepping into dog shit every single day.”
【What a pity. I don't have a physical body, so even if I wanted to, I couldn't step on anything,】 the System lamented teasingly.
Wen Li, who was currently blocking her sense of smell while cleaning up her boot, smirked. “Is that so? Then you’d better pray you never get a physical body for the rest of your life.”
After cleaning herself off, Wen Li raised her head to survey her surroundings.
This place felt like a realm of its own. While the outside world of Cangling Kingdom was covered in boundless snow, here the sun hung high overhead in a lush summer landscape. Vegetation grew as tall as a person’s neck, and towering, ancient trees flourished everywhere. There was not a single trace of human habitation—it closely resembled a primal world.
Birds and beasts rested peacefully until Wen Li’s arrival startled them into flight, after which silence descended once more.
Even the spiritual energy here was far denser than in the outside world, presenting a vibrant, colorful world full of natural vitality.
Wen Li pulled out the maps given to her by Feng Yun and Wan Yinxun to compare them. Aside from Wan Yinxun’s map being more detailed, the locations aligned well. Her eyes settled on a cluster of red, garlic-clove-like flowers blooming on a distant cliff.
“That should be the Heavenly Treasure Purple Gold Flower. Looks like I was teleported to the southeastern corner of the secret realm, near Wuliang Valley.”
She pulled out a communication device. “I’m in Wuliang Valley. Where are you two?”
The communication device soon flickered with a response, and Yao Dai’s voice came through: “Master, I’m by a lake. I haven't spotted anyone so far, but I can't tell where I am.”
Then came Xie Tinglan’s voice: “I should be at Mount Fengqi.”
Wen Li glanced at her map. The only places with lakes in this secret realm were Cangxian Lake and Wangyun Slope, located five hundred li directly north of her.
If it was Cangxian Lake, that would be great, as that was where Wan Yinxun had marked the Soul-Severing White Mi Fruit. If it was Wangyun Slope, Yao Dai would need to rush over.
“Yao Dai, hide by the lake first and don’t move around carelessly. See if you can determine whether you’re at Cangxian Lake or Wangyun Slope. Xie Tinglan, wait for me to come find you.”
She was the one farthest from Cangxian Lake.
“Okay, Master!”
“Understood.”
Wen Li disconnected the communication device and turned to look at the vast, unfamiliar world before her.
“Hold On.”
A hairpin from her hair instantly flew out and transformed into a long sword. Wen Li stepped onto it and flew off toward the northwest.
Along the way, the world remained eerily quiet, as if Wen Li were the only person alive.
After flying for an unknown amount of time—just as she was beginning to suspect she was trapped in an array—Wen Li suddenly heard voices.
“You... I’ll give you my token! Just don’t kill me!”
“My storage bag is yours too, as long as you spare my life!”
“Heh, but we don't like leaving potential trouble behind.”
Wen Li lowered her flying altitude and quietly approached. Hiding behind a massive boulder, she looked down at the slope below. Three Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Ziyang Sect were surrounding and attacking a Zhaixing Sect disciple at the Thirteenth Level of Qi Refinement.
She had no habit of saving random people, so she watched silently.
Unsurprisingly, someone arrived in the next second.
“Stop right there!”
“Senior Brother Wang! Save me!”
The newcomer was none other than the leader of the Zhaixing Sect disciples, Wang Xianlin.
He was at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. Naturally, the three Ziyang Sect disciples were no match for him; seeing the situation, they quickly fled.
“Are you alright? Are you injured?” Wang Xianlin pulled up the disciple on the ground, Han Yanming, with a frowning, concerned expression.
“Senior Brother Wang, I’m fine.” Han Yanming hurriedly stood up, picked up the dropped token from the ground, and handed it directly to Wang Xianlin. “Senior Brother, let me just give this token to you. It won't stay safe with me anyway, so it’s better used in your hands.”
“No need.” Wang Xianlin paused, shaking his head with a sigh. “There are Golden Core cultivators taking part this time. A Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment like me is merely making up the numbers.”
Han Yanming was momentarily at a loss for words, but quickly offered comfort: “Senior Brother Wang, don't be discouraged. You are the Second Elder’s disciple, so you must have your own talents. They say the one who survives to the end with the most tokens will take first place—who knows if those Golden Cores will fight to the death among themselves?”
Pausing, his gaze darkened as he proposed a plan: “Besides, those people are just rogue cultivators, not true members of our sects. Senior Brother, why don't we wait for the right moment? We can gather the Zhaixing Sect disciples along the way, and when those rogue cultivators from the three sects fight until both sides are battered and bruised, we can strike together. You might just stand a chance, Senior Brother.”
Wang Xianlin hesitated. “But wouldn't that be too ruthless? I...”
“Senior Brother, this secret realm is meant to be a trial for our three sects. Why should we let those rogue cultivators reap the benefits?” Han Yanming continued his persuasion. “Besides, first place comes with the chance to enter the Xuandu Sect!”
“Very well then. Let’s quickly contact our people to group up.” Wang Xianlin was swayed and no longer refused.
“Great! Luckily, Senior Brother gave all our own members communication devices before we entered.”
Listening to the scheme between the two below, Wen Li stood up lazily and departed, sending a voice message to Xie Tinglan via her communication device.
“Keep any cultivators you encounter alive. Take them with you.”
If someone wanted to play the sparrow waiting behind the mantis, they had better see if she would allow it first.
Rate on N.U.
