Passing through that deep blue curtain, Zhang Ye saw a blue bridge made of blue light particles. On the other side of the bridge was a pure white screen of light, making it impossible to see anything inside the secret realm through it.
Beyond the bridge was a vast expanse of deep blue, with countless colorful whirlwinds brushing past, beautiful and mysterious.
Some curious individuals went to the edge of the bridge to look out.
Leona glanced over and said indifferently, “Beyond the bridge lies the Void Lands, which are filled with void storms—those colorful lights you see.”
“If you are sucked into them, even a Demigod can only barely protect themselves. As for you... even your souls would be shredded to pieces.”
Hearing this, everyone shrank back, and those curious individuals hurriedly retreated, filled with lingering fear.
“Once we pass through the light screen ahead, we will enter the secret realm.”
“However, the exit of the secret realm is unpredictable. It is possible that we might encounter a Saint-tier magical beast the moment we step out.”
“So stay sharp and prepare for battle!”
Everyone immediately became alert, their hearts filled with tension, as if a Saint-tier magical beast really was waiting for them just beyond the screen of light at the end of the bridge.
A moment later, everyone crossed the bridge, which was less than a hundred meters long, and arrived in front of the screen of light.
Leona paused and glanced back at everyone. Her gaze lingered on Zhang Ye for a brief moment. Seeing him nod, she was the first to turn and walk into the screen of light.
Everyone immediately followed.
Accompanied by a blinding flash of bright light, everyone finally felt solid ground beneath their feet.
Once their eyes adjusted to the light, they looked around.
They were standing in the middle of a plain.
Fortunately, there was no Saint-tier magical beast like the one Leona had mentioned.
In the distance, rolling mountain ranges and lush forests could be seen. This scenery was actually very similar to their original world, lacking the wild, fantastical landscapes they had imagined.
Further away on the plain, some strangely shaped magical beasts could be seen. This was normal; after all, magical beasts were highly diverse, and there were all kinds of them in their original world as well, so it wasn't surprising.
These magical beasts averaged between Tier Four and Tier Six in strength. They weren't powerful and posed no threat to the group.
Once everyone had arrived, the screen of light behind them instantly closed and vanished.
This brought a strange sense of unease to the newcomers.
“The exit of the secret realm will open twenty-one days from now in this world's time, and it will only stay open for the duration of one dayglass. Therefore, everyone must gather here when the time comes. Otherwise, once the secret realm closes, you will have to stay here for nearly a century,” Leona said in an indifferent tone, describing a terrifying prospect.
One had to keep in mind that the time flow rate of this world was three times faster than that of their original world.
Since the Realm Bridge Secret Realm in the original world only opened once every thirty years, ninety years would pass here!
Everyone silently committed this crucial piece of information to memory.
“Now, we will divide into five teams. Each team will have ten people in total, including the leading mentor,” Leona said.
Everyone immediately began to form groups.
With fifty people in total, they were quickly divided into five groups. Each group consisted of four freshmen, four seniors, and two mentors.
As for Zhang Ye's group, because their leading mentor was Leona, the strongest among them, all eight students she led were freshmen.
Allocating the seniors to the other teams also relieved some of the pressure on those groups.
The other mentor was named Camilo, a twenty-nine-year-old Two-star Saint-tier who was much weaker than Leona.
The members of Leona's team were as follows: Zhang Ye, Lina, Nan, Renomon, Samanra, Gajeel, Shana, and Katelansi, the ice-cold beauty who seemed to have a bone to pick with Zhang Ye.
“We will explore in five different directions. Keep in touch. You must return here in twenty days. Once the secret realm exit opens again, we will not wait for anyone who is late!”
“Yes!” the leading mentors immediately responded.
“Time waits for no one. Let's move.” With that, Leona led Zhang Ye and the others as they flew off in one direction.
Along the way, Zhang Ye looked around in excitement, feeling that this place was absolutely beautiful!
Of course, in his eyes, everything in this otherworld, being purely natural and pollution-free, was beautiful.
As his gaze swept around, it eventually landed on Gajeel.
Gajeel also seemed to be paying attention to Zhang Ye.
When he had first found out he was assigned to the same team as Zhang Ye, he had felt completely miserable. He had tried to request a team transfer several times, but the domineering Leona had rejected him every time.
What a joke. Zhang Ye was going to put an end to him in a bit anyway, so why would she let him switch teams?
On the way, Gajeel also did his best to minimize his presence, only daring to observe Zhang Ye out of the corner of his eye.
Clearly, the kid had been thoroughly traumatized, to the point where he didn't even dare to face Zhang Ye head-on.
However, Zhang Ye naturally had no intention of letting him off. His gaze quickly settled on Gajeel.
Seeing that he had been spotted, Gajeel wanted to pretend he hadn't noticed, but he couldn't bring himself to look away. As a member of the royal family, the overbearing nature of royalty was deeply ingrained in his bones, and he refused to show any weakness.
Thus, he forced himself to look calm as he met Zhang Ye's gaze.
In the past, he would have cast a provocative smile at Zhang Ye.
But now, he could only keep his face taut, doing his best to make himself look as if he weren't afraid of him.
Zhang Ye looked at him and suddenly grinned, his pearly white teeth flashing, making Gajeel feel a sudden wave of dizziness.
Zhang Ye slowly extended a finger toward him and silently drew it horizontally across his own throat.
Instantly, Gajeel felt as if his body had plunged into an ocean of ice.
The meaning of this gesture could not be clearer.
You are dead.
In the past, he had always been the one making this gesture to others. This time, however, the roles were reversed.
Moreover, this time, he didn't feel anger. Instead, he felt... fear!
Yes, fear!
He felt as if a demon was sneering at him from within Zhang Ye's pitch-black eyes!
He hurriedly turned his head away, cold sweat already seeping from his forehead, his breathing turning ragged.
“Am I afraid? Am I actually afraid?!”
He asked himself this several times.
He clearly shouldn't be afraid, yet he discovered that he truly was.
Only by exerting every ounce of control could he prevent his body from trembling.
Yet the chill that rushed from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head clung to him persistently!
He wants to kill me... He wants to kill me!
Here! In the secret realm!
Gajeel's eyes trembled. He began to regret it. Why had he provoked Zhang Ye in the first place?
Why had he severely injured Lina?
No, he couldn't just sit here and wait for death!
At the very least, he was still a genius—one who had undergone the baptism of the Black Dragon Imperial Family. He forced himself to calm down and search for a solution.
Among the mentors who entered the secret realm this time, there was a Three-star Saint-tier who came from the Black Dragon Empire.
Moreover, he still had many scrolls and self-defense treasures in his ring, as well as the remaining protective power on his body. If Zhang Ye dared to make a move against him, he would immediately contact that mentor. As long as he could hold out until the mentor arrived, it would be absolutely impossible for Zhang Ye to kill him!
After all, killing one's own peers during a secret realm expedition was a severe crime!
This kind of thing could never be brought to light!
Even if Zhang Ye had a powerful background, he wouldn't dare to act so brazenly in the presence of that mentor from the Black Dragon Empire!
At least, that was what Gajeel believed.
However, no matter how meticulously he planned, the unease lingering in his heart did not dissipate. Instead, as time passed...
It only continued to grow heavier!
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