"This is……"

The ten people were stunned by the sight before them.

"Didn't we enter a barrier? Why does it feel like we've entered a secret realm?" Song Weiyan asked in confusion. "Where's the formation?"

The scene inside the barrier is completely different from what you see outside it.

The ground, which should have been rugged and completely exposed, was now replaced by lush green flowers and grasses that reached up to the ankles.

The air was filled with the fresh scent of grass and flowers, not the earthy smell of a collapsed ground.

Looking further into the distance, there was only emptiness, with no trace of any barrier.

There were even monsters chasing and playing around; if you didn't know better, you'd think it was some kind of fairyland.

"Is this an illusion, or a trick?" Bai Ruoan squatted down, plucked a small flower, and rubbed it in her hand. "The texture is so realistic, it doesn't seem like a trick."

Others used magical artifacts capable of detecting illusions to investigate, but indeed found nothing unusual.

"This is actually true? We've entered the secret realm?" Su Xiyu said.

Shen Sangruo was somewhat surprised by the scene.

"I've heard that some people who have mastered array formation techniques to the extreme can connect small secret realms into array formations."

If that's the case, then there's an even more serious problem at this moment.

Luo Chu, being a formation cultivator, knew this best and agreed with her statement, "Yes, this is a small secret realm accessed through the formation."

He secretly observed her reaction, and only after confirming that she did not reject it did he raise his voice:

"Therefore, the formation cannot be destroyed directly. The method to destroy the formation is hidden in the secret realm. To break such a formation, it will take more effort than ordinary formations."

"If we cannot find a way to break the spell, we will be trapped in the secret realm and never be able to get out."

There were no signs of a barrier around them, so they naturally couldn't get out.

This was the problem Shen Sangruo had just realized: they had lost contact with the outside world.

Their original plan was simply to investigate the situation, but now they have no choice but to break the formation before leaving.

Knowing that those evil cultivators were extremely treacherous, there might be many unexpected events during the process of breaking the formation.

But they never expected that an accident would occur right after taking the first step, an accident that caught them completely off guard.

"This secret realm is so vast, where am I supposed to find a way to break the formation?" Feng Heyun said, looking frustrated and even more upset.

Why does fate like to play such cruel jokes on him? He can't laugh at all right now.

Wen Xuan comforted him, "It's alright, Senior Brother. We'll search slowly and find it eventually."

Of the current fellow disciples, only Wen Xuan can talk to Feng Heyun.

One couldn't recover their emotions, while the other recovered them but to no avail; they were kindred spirits, sharing a deep sympathy.

It was Wen Xuan's frequent encouragement that helped Feng Heyun gradually emerge from his despondency.

At least they can still fight alongside Shen Sangruo, atone for their past actions, and silently protect her; nothing else matters.

These two can be considered to have banded together for mutual support.

Wen Xuan's gaze swept over the tranquil and peaceful scene around him. "This secret realm looks more peaceful than some other secret realms, and it's rich in resources. We shouldn't encounter any danger, and it should be enough for us to survive. It's just that it will take longer..."

"No!" Luo Chu interrupted, his brows furrowed tightly. "Second Senior Brother, you're being too presumptuous."

"If the secret realm exists to prevent others from breaking the formation, how could it be just a 'fairyland'? It would be more dangerous than those secret realms that punish the most heinous criminals."

"You mean, everything we see right now is just a facade to lower our guard?" Shen Sangruo asked thoughtfully.

“Yes!” Luo Chu nodded emphatically.

Upon hearing this, everyone's expression changed.

She immediately gripped the feather fan in her hand. "Stay alert."

The others also quickly took out their magical artifacts, held their breath, and observed every move in their surroundings.

Shi Zhili's eyes darted back and forth, and he couldn't help but stroke his chin and mutter to himself, "Strange, the more I look at this scene, the more familiar it seems, as if I've seen it somewhere before..."

The matter was of utmost importance. He lowered his head slightly, exerting all his strength to try and find that vague breakthrough point.

A moment later, he suddenly raised his head. "I remember now! This is the Star Plains from ten thousand years ago!"

As he spoke, the weather suddenly changed!

The once clear sky was suddenly shrouded in layers of dark clouds, and in the blink of an eye, the sky darkened.

But then a strange red light flashed across the sky, inexplicably giving rise to an ominous premonition, as if foreshadowing an impending disaster.

The monsters were terrified and scattered, shattering the peace in the blink of an eye.

A gust of wind blew the withered leaves and also stirred the robes of the ten people present.

The wind wasn't strong, but it made them feel a little short of breath.

Everyone's heart was in their throats, and the only sound was the rustling of the leaves in the wind.

"Is this the Star Plain from ten thousand years ago? Explain yourself clearly." Shen Sanruo asked Shi Zhili in a low voice.

She frowned deeply; if what she thought was true, things were likely to get complicated.

"This is where the evil cultivators set up the formation ten thousand years ago. I only came here briefly and took a look, so my impression of it is not very deep." Shi Zhili spoke very quickly.

Over the course of ten thousand years, the terrain will naturally change, so only Shi Zhili can recognize this place.

Shi Zhili's next words made everyone's hearts sink even deeper.

His Adam's apple bobbed as he spoke with difficulty, "I remember, during the time we fought against the demonic cultivators, it was a similar scene, with the sky glowing red like this."

At this point, Shen Sangruo could basically determine what would happen next.

“This should be what we saw before we clashed with the demonic cultivators, so what we’re about to face is probably that group of demonic cultivators.” Shi Zhili paused, took a deep breath, and continued, “This is probably what we’re facing next.”

"No way?!" Luo Chu was dumbfounded. "Are they going to go this far right from the start?"

He had some premonition about the danger level of the secret realm, but it was clearly insufficient.

"Are you serious about sending us to fight demonic cultivators from ten thousand years ago?" Feng Heyun's eyes widened.

Wen Xuan also looked troubled. Were they destined to die here today?

He clenched his fists; no matter what, he would stand in front of Xiaoruo!

Ye Huai's voice was calm and even, "Very likely."

"This is a big problem," Song Wei said gravely.

Bai Ruoan said softly, "It makes up for the regret that we only fought the evil cultivators and not the demonic cultivators."

The reactions varied, but Shi Zhili seemed frozen in place.

His eyes were bloodshot, filled with endless hatred, as if he had returned to that chaotic time.

His fellow disciples and elders fell one by one before his eyes, dying at the hands of the demonic cultivators, and he could not stop them no matter how hard he tried.

He hated them, he wished he could kill all those demonic cultivators.

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(End of this chapter)