Time flows on within this hidden realm.
Half a month is but a fleeting moment in the perception of cultivators, yet it is enough for geniuses from all sides to find their own opportunities within the ruins.
Jiang Li stopped in a canyon covered with sword marks. On the canyon walls, sword patterns crisscrossed, some like a cascading silver river, others like a lone wild goose in flight. Faintly, a remnant soul floated among the sword patterns, the obsession of an ancient sword cultivator.
She did not rush to seize the inheritance, but instead drew her rusty iron sword and communicated with the remnant soul through the sword. In the back and forth, the sword's momentum became more and more fierce, and her red clothes fluttered in the sword light. Half a month later, her eyes became clearer and clearer. The rusty iron sword in her hand seemed to have a spiritual connection. With a slight tremor, it emitted a hum like a dragon's roar. Her sword dao realm quietly broke through to the late stage of Mahayana.
Stone then stormed into a training arena filled with lightning. The lightning was like a net, striking his black iron armor and sending sparks flying everywhere. He was completely unaware of this, instead roaring as he charged towards the densest part of the lightning, letting the lightning temper his body.
Half a month later, his armor was charred black, but his body emitted a faint purple-gold luster. His punch could even trigger a faint arc of lightning, and his physical cultivation strength was approaching the peak of the Tribulation Transcending stage.
Meanwhile, Su She sat opposite a remnant Confucian and Taoist spirit dressed in a blue robe in a pavilion where bamboo slips floated.
The remnant soul was a great Confucian scholar in ancient times. The two discussed "benevolence" and "righteousness", and debated "self-cultivation" and "saving the world". Su She sometimes quoted philosophical ideas from the Tao Te Ching to refute, and sometimes used his own experiences to support his views.
When the discussion reached its climax, bamboo slips in the attic flew everywhere, transforming into ancient characters such as "propriety," "wisdom," and "trust." When they reached a point of resonance, the two looked at each other and smiled. Their remnant souls gradually became transparent, and finally turned into a beam of blue light that merged into Su She's "Tao Te Ching."
Half a month later, Su She closed the book, his eyes more gentle than before, but also more determined to "carry the Way through literature," and his Confucian and Taoist cultivation steadily improved.
Beyond the secret realm, on the edge of the desert.
The portal flickered, and figures emerged one after another.
Some were overjoyed, their storage bags filled with newly acquired treasures or elixirs, excitedly chatting with their companions; others were ashen-faced, their clothes stained with blood, clearly having encountered danger in the secret realm and gained nothing; still others were breathing heavily, their eyes filled with terror, as if they had seen something horrible, and hurriedly left without a word.
"They are from the Three Saints Sect of the Central Region!"
"Judging from Young Master Zhao's aura, it seems he has made further progress!"
"The Ice Phoenix Maiden from the Northern Region has also emerged, and the ice sword in her hand exudes such a powerful chilling aura!"
The various factions watching discussed amongst themselves, their eyes fixed on the prodigies emerging from the portal, trying to deduce the gains from the secret realm from their expressions.
Just then, a slightly disheveled figure descended from the portal, draped in a black robe; it was none other than "Zhao Feng".
As soon as he landed, a dignified figure approached him; it was Zhao Lie, the sect master of the Xuan Tian Sect. Zhao Lie looked at his son, his brow furrowing slightly: "Feng'er, why did you take so long to come out? Did you gain anything in the secret realm?"
Zhao Feng raised his head, a barely perceptible glint of coldness flashing in his eyes beneath the brim of his hat, which then turned into weariness: "Father, I obtained a powerful inheritance in the secret realm, but..." He paused deliberately, revealing a pained expression, "...the inheritance is too domineering, and I have developed a demon in my heart, making it difficult to fully integrate with it for the time being."
Zhao Lie's face darkened: "Inner demons? Are they serious?" Xuan Tian Sect was already severely weakened, and Zhao Feng was the successor he had placed great hopes on; he absolutely could not afford to make any mistakes.
Zhao Feng lowered his head, his voice carrying a hint of ruthlessness: "Inner demons originate from obsessions. I keep thinking about how I was defeated by Xiao Chen. If I don't get rid of him, this inner demon will probably become an obstacle to my advancement."
This statement is half true and half false—the remnant soul that possessed Zhao Feng was indeed eager to get rid of Xiao Chen, the "sacrifice," while the original Zhao Feng's lingering obsession did indeed harbor a deep hatred for Xiao Chen. The intertwining of these two factors makes it seem quite reasonable.
Zhao Feng revealed a hint of his presence. Zhao Lie had a feeling that his son had changed, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. He also felt that his son now posed a slight threat to him.
Zhao Lie remained silent for a moment. He hated Xiao Chen to the bone; Xiao Chen had not only killed the sect elders but also destroyed the foundation of the Xuan Tian Sect. However, due to the Qing Yun Sect behind Xiao Chen and his unfathomable master, he had never dared to act rashly. Now that his son had brought up this matter under the pretext of "inner demons," it was an excellent opportunity.
"Alright." A resolute glint flashed in Zhao Lie's eyes. "The sect will fully cooperate with you."
He looked at the few remaining elders behind him and said in a deep voice, "Pass on my order: gather all available forces and cooperate fully with Feng'er."
"Yes!" the elders bowed and replied, their eyes flashing with the flames of revenge.
Zhao Feng's lips curled into a subtle smile, the brim of his hat concealing the madness in his eyes.
very good.
Once Xiao Chen is dealt with and his cultivation is absorbed, dealing with the entire Xuan Tian Sect will be a piece of cake.
He raised his head and looked in the direction of the portal to the secret realm, as if he could penetrate space and see the figure that he (whether it was the remnant soul or the original owner) hated to the bone.
Xiao Chen...
Your death is near.
The desert winds whipped up yellow sand, concealing the Xuan Tian Sect's conspiracy, but unable to hide the quietly spreading killing intent.
The portal to the secret realm flickered three more times before dissipating into specks of spiritual light amidst the sandstorms of the southern desert.
With the secret realm closing, the geniuses from the four regions who had entered set off to return to their respective sects.
They arrived full of vigor and returned either laden with spoils or with hidden talents. Each of them had a deeper understanding of the "great world" in their eyes—the battle in the secret realm was merely the prelude to a great era of contention.
The news quickly spread throughout the continent: Zhao Wu, the young sect master of the Three Saints Sect in the Central Region, comprehended the "Righteous Spear Intent" and broke through to the early stage of the Tribulation Transcending Realm.
The Ice Phoenix Maiden of the Northern Region awakens her complete bloodline, and her divine power to freeze thousands of miles begins to manifest; although no one from the Buddhist sects of the Western Regions has obtained many opportunities from the secret realm, news has spread that a Buddhist disciple is about to be born...
But what shocked people the most was the Xuantian Sect.
No one knows what kind of inheritance Zhao Feng obtained in the secret realm. All that is known is that after he came out of the secret realm, his cultivation level soared like a rocket. In just one month, he broke through from the peak of the Mahayana stage to the early stage of the Tribulation stage, and his aura was extremely powerful.
Even more astonishingly, under Zhao Feng's leadership, the Xuantian Sect reversed its previous decline and pounced on the Northern Region like hungry wolves.
"Submit, or die."
This is the only option Zhao Feng left for all the forces in the Northern Region.
Families that refused to submit were wiped out overnight; sects that attempted to rebel had their gates razed and their core disciples slaughtered.
In just half a month, the seven major families and twelve sects of the Northern Region were either destroyed or surrendered. The black flag of the Xuantian Sect was planted all over every inch of the Northern Region, making it the true controller of the Northern Region.
The bloody expansion drew the attention of the entire continent. Some condemned the Xuantian Sect for its brutality, but many more were wary—as this great era was about to begin, a powerful rising force often meant unpredictable variables.
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