Chapter 29 Secret Realm I believe in your strength.
In the three days before the final competition, Mu Fuyun spent almost all his time practicing sword-flying, except for going to Qinglu's canteen every day to eat something to fill his stomach.
The senior helped her find the feeling of controlling spiritual power when flying a sword, and the rest was just continuous trial and practice.
On the first day, she learned how to make the sword float and fly steadily and continuously within a few dozen feet around her.
On the second day, the sword started out flying with the rocks on the shore, and gradually transitioned to being able to carry her several feet in the air.
On the third day, she was finally able to fly freely in the air on her sword for a whole moment - this meant she had learned it, but due to the limitations of her realm, she could not continue for too long.
However, the spiritual energy consumed in flying the sword is not much, and it should be more than enough to be kept in the secret realm as an aid at the critical moment.
During these three days, Mu Fuyun did not take the initiative to care about what preparations the other fourteen disciples had made, but one day, he met a few people from Class A in the cafeteria.
Zhan Yao was not there, so Xu Lian was the leader.
Several people were sitting together, seemingly discussing something. When they saw Mu Fuyun passing by, they just glanced at him indifferently and continued to huddle together and talk with their heads down.
Only Xu Huaiyan stood up and called her, telling her about the cooperation and alliance between the disciples of Class A and Class B, and also instructed her that after entering the secret realm, she could travel with the people of Class A.
Xu Lian was rather displeased with him for telling her the situation, but she didn't stop him. After he finished, she added coldly, "We're only asking you to follow along. If you dare hold us back, we won't waste our time on you."
Xu Huaiyan strongly disagreed with her attitude, but before he could speak, Mu Fuyun nodded calmly: "Okay, don't worry, if I'm a hindrance, I will leave on my own initiative."
She seemed neither particularly grateful nor particularly resentful, just as she usually did when facing the ridicule of others in class.
Xu Lian disliked her "pretending to be noble" attitude the most. In her opinion, only people like Zhan Yao, who were truly extremely powerful, were qualified to be arrogant. Seeing this, she couldn't help but sneer at her again.
Mu Fuyun naturally ignored them and left without waiting for them to finish their words, leaving them staring blankly.
When she left Qinglu, she heard a few outer disciples who had just come from the vicinity of the trial platform talking about the notice they had just seen.
"He even took out the sword he used back then. It seems that Taoist Lingshan really takes this competition very seriously."
"Yes, Daojun never shows up on weekdays. In the past few years I've been in the outer sect, I've never heard of Daojun coming out of seclusion."
"After all, he is my first disciple after so many years, so I should pay more attention to him."
She couldn't help but listen attentively for a moment, and slowly figured things out.
There is a new notice about the final competition near the trial platform. The magic weapon to be fought for in the competition was prepared by Lingshan Taoist himself. It is the sword he used when he first entered Tianyan and sought truth and asked for the Tao.
Mu Fuyun looked down at the sword at his waist inexplicably, and felt that the magic weapon came at the right time.
…
In the blink of an eye, three days passed and the final competition arrived as scheduled.
This time, Mu Fuyun was not late. He rested up early and came to the trial field of Fu Ri Peak.
The trial field on Fu Ri Peak is where the inner disciples practice sword skills and compete on a daily basis. Compared with the Qinglu at the foot of the mountain, it is more than twice as spacious.
Because it is built halfway up the mountain, one side has a vast and open view, while the other side is nestled against the mountain.
There were countless viewing platforms of varying heights on the side facing the mountain, which were now filled with elders and disciples from the inner sect. There were also many outer sect disciples gathered on the flat ground below.
Only the seat belonging to the master on the high platform in the north was still empty.
The names of the fifteen contestants were still engraved on the stone tablet, but this time, the stone tablet was larger than the previous one, ten people high and twenty people wide. Just a few names did not take up too much space, and it was unknown what the large blank space at the bottom was used for.
The secret realm used for the competition has been placed in the center of the circular trial platform in advance, surrounded by a circle of barriers, and no one can get close.
The disciples who were watching the game were very excited and had a heated discussion about the fifteen names written on the stone tablet high up. Some of them were so amused that they even held an anonymous vote.
The candidate most likely to become a disciple of Lingshan Daojun was naturally Zhan Yao, whose votes were overwhelmingly high, far exceeding the others by several times. Others also received a few votes, mostly from the friendship of close classmates. Only Mu Fuyun's name was empty, without a single vote.
However, in the vote for the person most likely to enter the inner gate, Mu Fuyun received quite a few votes. Privately, many people felt that she would be able to stay in the inner gate in the end because of her relationship with her elder sister.
It’s just that it’s not easy to say such things openly.
Compared to the disciples who were talking excitedly and waiting for the show to begin, the fifteen people who were going to participate in the competition seemed much more serious.
Even Zhan Yao, who was usually calm and composed, looked more nervous than usual, not to mention the others.
Mu Fuyun gripped the sword at his waist and couldn't help but look up at the high and low viewing platforms.
The seats for the elders were all occupied. She looked carefully at the names of the peaks marked on the viewing platform, but could not find the seat for Lingshan Taoist Master.
Could it be that the Daoist Lord, who had been in seclusion for many years, didn't even personally show up to choose a disciple for himself? It was really a bit mysterious.
"Junior Sister Mu," Xu Huaiyan quietly moved to her side as she looked around and whispered, "Have you decided which peak you want to join these days?"
Mu Fuyun raised an eyebrow and looked at him in confusion: "What do you mean, Senior Brother Xu? The competition hasn't even started yet, how can we make a decision?"
As soon as Xu Huaiyan saw her expression, he realized she still knew nothing, and quickly lowered his voice: "To put it bluntly, this competition is to select disciples for Lingshan Daojun. The elders from other peaks have already been observing everyone in previous competitions. In the past few days, brothers and sisters from several peaks have contacted everyone."
As far as he knew, there were a few people who had even made an agreement with the elders that no matter what the outcome was today, they would be accepted into the inner sect.
He had also received offers of goodwill from several senior brothers and sisters sent by the elders, but he had not made a decision because he had not yet decided which peak to choose.
The reason he came to ask Mu Fuyun at this moment was to confirm whether she had made an agreement with Fu Rifeng. If so, she would be able to relax a little after entering the secret realm.
However, looking at her like this, it seemed that she was not what he expected.
"I'm weak. In previous competitions, I was able to advance by relying on the convenience of the rules. I'm sure the elders don't look favorably upon me. No one has come looking for me in the past few days."
Mu Fuyun spoke calmly, not feeling anxious at all when he heard that someone had already booked a place.
Xu Huaiyan didn't bother to tell her not to underestimate herself and asked, "So, what about Fu Ri Peak?"
The question was a bit abrupt, but Mu Fuyun didn't feel offended. He just smiled and shook his head.
"I have no connection with Fu Ri Peak. To enter the inner gate, you must rely on your strength."
Xu Huaiyan was stunned. Somehow, he suddenly felt ashamed of his speculation.
"Junior Sister Mu, I believe your strength will definitely be seen by others."
After a while, the leader Qi Yuanbai, accompanied by Song Xinghe, came flying in and landed on the observation deck in the north.
There was a moment of silence in the place, and everyone saluted the master.
Qi Yuanbai stood on the stage and stretched out his hand to suppress it.
According to convention, before the sect competition begins, whenever the sect leader is present, everyone must first listen to the sect leader's instructions.
Qi Yuanbai probably knew everyone's anticipation, so he just said a few words and then handed the initiative to Instructor Wu, who was in charge of the competition.
Soon, at the signal from Instructor Wu, fifteen disciples stood on the trial platform one by one.
"Look, look, it's about to start!"
"Senior Sister Zhan! I want to see Senior Sister Zhan slaughtering everyone in the secret realm!"
"It has to be there. I just want to know if Mu Fuyun will faint halfway through the journey."
"It's hard to say. With her limited skills, it's not certain whether she can wait for half of it."
"It doesn't matter, as long as I don't drag down Senior Sister Zhan and the others."
Amidst the constant discussions from all directions, the teleportation talismans, warning talismans, and tracking talismans that would be used in the competition were distributed to the fifteen people one by one. In front of the entrance to the secret realm, the aperture used to check whether the disciples were using or carrying any prohibited elixirs or magical instruments was also opened.
Mu Fuyun stood at the end, followed the team in front, passed through the light circle, and stepped into the entrance of the secret realm under the gaze of hundreds of eyes.
Just a line between them, they are two completely different worlds.
What comes into view is a dense forest, lush and green, with thick shade like a canopy. Thick tree trunks several meters high stand upright, tearing the sunlight in the sky into pieces and scattering them on the ground.
The hustle and bustle of the trial field was completely isolated. In the secret realm, the only sounds that could be heard were the chirping of birds and the gurgling of water in the mountains and forests.
The fourteen disciples who came in first had spontaneously divided into two teams according to Group A and Group B. As soon as Mu Fuyun entered, he saw that they had already walked forward separately.
She looked around and, at Xu Huaiyan's signal, followed Class A's team and headed towards the depths of the forest.
"The exit of the secret realm is at the eye of the realm. The spiritual energy near the eye of the realm is the most dense. As long as we follow the direction where the spiritual energy gathers and disperses, we can find the eye of the realm." Xu Huaiyan put one hand on the sword at his waist, walked beside Mu Fuyun, and explained to her in a low voice.
"There are always rare and precious herbs in the secret realm. If you can obtain them, you can exchange them for resources at the sect. When you enter the inner sect in the future, you can also exchange them for corresponding points. However, this is a trial secret realm specifically for outer disciples and newly-entered inner disciples, so it shouldn't be too dangerous."
Mu Fuyun had read these in the scroll before coming in. Presumably, this was also a means for the sect to encourage disciples to actively seek trial opportunities in the secret realm as much as possible.
At this time, as the team moved forward, the surrounding mountains and forests had become more and more lush. The branches of the tall trees were strong, and the roots in the ground were like powerful claws, stretching out in all directions, intertwined and making the flat ground uneven.
There is also a slightly damp feeling in the fresh air.
Xu Lian, who was walking in front, turned around and saw the two of them huddled together. She immediately frowned and urged them in dissatisfaction, "Xu Huaiyan, don't fall behind."
As soon as he finished speaking, a rustling sound of wind suddenly flashed through the bushes on both sides.
The sound was quick and short, and everyone stood in formation, holding the hilts of their swords, and looked around vigilantly. The sound had disappeared, and only a few large green leaves were left swaying on the branches.
"What's going on?"
Xiao Yan, standing in the middle, half-drawn his sword, took two steps closer to the direction of the wind sound and checked: "It seems that it is really just the wind."
"Be careful, we have entered the rainforest." Zhan Yao walked in front, reminding everyone while drawing his sword at an extremely fast speed. Before everyone could react, he chopped it down in the air.
A green snake coiled on a high branch, about as thick as an arm and still spitting out its tongue, was split into two pieces.
One part of the body was still coiled on the branch, and one part of the snake's head had already fallen to the ground with a plop, and blood was splattering everywhere, dripping onto the tree roots and the soil.
Zhan Yao landed back to her original spot easily, without a trace of blood on her body. Even the sword that was shining with cold light did not leave any blood on it because of the clean and neat strike just now.
"In the rainforest, with its shade and lush vegetation, it's the perfect place for exotic animals to hide, especially snakes."
Hearing the word "snake," Xiao Yan shuddered. "How disgusting! I hate snakes the most. They wriggle around and spit out their tongues."
Zhan Yao glanced at him coldly, and instead of putting the sword away, she simply held it in her hand and continued moving forward.
Seeing this, the others also kept in formation and followed.
Mu Fuyun followed at the end and took a closer look at the severed snake head when he passed by it.
The emerald green snake head rolled between two protruding tree roots and turned over, revealing a small clover pattern the size of a thumbnail on the edge of its jaw.
She couldn't help but stop.
The team in front was still moving fast, and no one looked back to see if she had caught up. Only Xu Huaiyan remembered her.
"Junior Sister Mu, why don't you leave?"
Zhou Su was close by, raised an eyebrow and looked over, mockingly saying, "You're not scared already, are you?"
Mu Fuyun didn't look at her, but said to Xu Huaiyan: "This is a whistle snake."
The so-called sentinel snake is a venomous snake that serves as sentinel for the snake king, which means that there may be a large snake nest not far ahead.
The people walking in the middle and behind turned around to look at her.
In the trial field outside the secret realm, the blank space on the huge stone tablet is showing large and small scenes of the secret realm.
Most people were staring at the screen of Class A, watching it intently.
"How could it be a whistle snake?"
"Yes, the classics clearly say that the thin snake with a completely black body and a three-leaf pattern on its jaw is the whistle snake."
"She's talking nonsense. She hasn't even read such a basic text."
"Then how did you pass the written test?"
People outside the secret realm were talking about it and were full of doubts, and people inside the secret realm also sneered at it.
"Don't be alarmist. This snake is green. How could it be a whistle snake?"
Xu Lian crossed her arms over her chest and practically rolled her eyes at her.
"The connection between the whistle snake and the king snake is through the pattern on the jaw. It has nothing to do with the color of the snake's body. It's just that it's usually black."
Mu Fuyun insisted on his opinion.
However, she also had doubts in her heart. Such a colorful snake would be very easy to be discovered in a place without gorgeous flowers and plants, and it was indeed not suitable to be a sentinel snake.
"Don't waste everyone's time." Zhou Su also urged impatiently, signaling everyone not to stop and to move forward quickly. "Don't forget that our goal is to reach the Jingyan as soon as possible."
Several people looked at each other, and except Xu Huaiyan, everyone else strode forward without hesitation.
At this moment, Xiao Yan, who was at the front, suddenly let out an exaggerated cry.
"Help, help, this is disgusting!"
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