Chapter Sixty-Five: A Hidden Realm?

Fish form! Turtle form!

While trapped within the illusion, Luo Tian could easily free himself without needing Liu Changtian’s loud command to stir him awake, unlike the other outer disciples. However, missing this chance to observe the fish and turtle forms of the magical beasts meant he might not get another opportunity anytime soon.

Thus, even though Liu Changtian’s voice thundered through the air, Luo Tian paid no heed.

No one can wake a man feigning sleep, not even a cultivator at the Yuan Dan realm; there are no exceptions.

“Old Liu, your Shen Yang Sect really is teeming with talent!” Feng Jinbo sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “Is this the excellent disciple chosen through your Ziyang Mountain tournament? Truly, seeing is believing!”

Laughter erupted among the disciples of the Great Yuan Sect, mingled with jeers and mockery, as they reveled in their sense of superiority.

“But Old Liu, let me offer you some advice! All the major sects bear the responsibility of selecting and nurturing young, exceptional cultivators for the Yunfeng Empire—we can’t shirk our duties, can we? Here’s my suggestion: why don’t the Liu, Shen, Tang, and Chen families simply join our Great Yuan Sect? I can immediately offer you four mountain peaks, so you can lead your own groups. How does that sound?”

Feng Jinbo grinned, his expression innocent and harmless.

“No need for your concern. In this imperial selection, strength will speak through the performance of our disciples,” Liu Changtian replied, his tone cold. He glanced again at Luo Tian, whose eyes remained vacant, his expression shifting several times before he finally couldn’t restrain himself and spoke once more: “Awaken!”

This time, Liu Changtian’s voice seemed to transform into a phantom spear, piercing fiercely into Luo Tian’s ears.

Earlier, the command “Ch!” was intended to awaken those lost in the illusion, letting them realize their situation and wake themselves. Now, Liu Changtian’s “Awaken” was meant to forcibly drag Luo Tian from the illusion. Though it wouldn’t cause harm directly, it would usually leave one feeling quite uncomfortable.

However, Luo Tian’s soul was stronger than most, so he felt little discomfort. Having nearly finished observing the fish and turtle forms, he naturally detached himself from the illusion.

“Weak-willed, disgraceful!”

“Hmph, I heard Luo Tian defeated Shen Lingfeng? Looks like Shen Lingfeng, who grasped the true essence of Cold Condensation, isn’t much after all.”

“Enough, keep your voices down—the Great Yuan Sect is still here!”

Hearing the murmurs of the surrounding disciples, Luo Tian understood the situation, but he was unconcerned. The Nine Beast Fist was on the verge of completion; this joy was enough to dispel any negative emotions.

Moreover, Luo Tian truly cared little for others’ opinions about him.

They were all fellow disciples of the same sect. As the future senior brother, he ought to be broad-minded and tolerant toward his juniors’ immature opinions.

Luo Tian was quite satisfied with his own state of mind.

“No wonder he’s the chosen disciple of Shen Yang Sect! He’s perfectly fine after all that?”

Feng Jinbo laughed heartily, eyeing Luo Tian’s dazed and bewildered expression, and spoke to Liu Changtian, relishing the spectacle.

“Enough with the nonsense. What exactly brings you here?” Liu Changtian, unwilling to bicker further, was thoroughly embarrassed today—his face clouded, his voice low. “If there’s nothing else, you’d better leave at once!”

Of course, this was mere bluster. The Great Yuan Sect had traveled a long way, bringing not just the sect master but six elders and thirty disciples, none of whom seemed weak. Clearly, there was a purpose behind their visit.

“Old Liu, how should I put this—your temperament makes it hard to deal with you!” Feng Jinbo, as sect master of the Great Yuan Sect, spoke with a roguish air, completely lacking the majesty expected of a powerful cultivator. “This time, I’m here to bring your Shen Yang Sect a great opportunity!”

A great opportunity?

Liu Changtian laughed in anger. “I never expected Sect Master Feng to be so generous.”

He didn’t believe a word Feng Jinbo said—how could he be so benevolent? Even if it wasn’t a trap, it was surely a cake too big for the Great Yuan Sect to swallow alone.

With that thought, Liu Changtian grew more cautious.

“Overpraised, Old Liu. Here’s the situation: our disciples discovered a secret realm, but only those at the late Qi Condensation stage can enter. Since there are benefits to be gained, I thought we should share them. So I’ve come to discuss with you—let’s send disciples from both sects to explore it together.”

Feng Jinbo’s demeanor was noble, as if radiating the brilliance of virtue.

“Oh? A secret realm?” Liu Changtian’s face twitched.

A secret realm refers to a special space—sometimes fraught with peril, sometimes filled with treasures and opportunities—with entry and exit often limited by cultivation strength.

“That’s right. Previously, three of our late Qi Condensation disciples entered to explore. Three died inside; only one escaped, and he was badly wounded and died shortly after. So, the information we have is quite limited.”

Feng Jinbo spoke with indifference, clearly unconcerned about the loss of his disciples’ lives, caring only for the secret realm itself.

“But I can’t imagine why you’d want to share information about this secret realm with Shen Yang Sect,” Liu Changtian replied calmly, disregarding the presence of the surrounding disciples.

Feng Jinbo blinked innocently. “Well, the secret realm was discovered on your territory, so it’s only right to share it with Shen Yang Sect!”

Hearing this, Liu Changtian was tempted to immediately drive the Great Yuan Sect away!

There are unwritten rules among the sects: any secret realm found within a sect’s domain belongs to that sect, and even the territory itself shouldn’t be freely entered by disciples from other sects.

Of course, most sects don’t enforce this strictly—not barring outsiders, since it’s impossible to station masses of disciples just to guard the borders. As long as nothing outrageous happens, everyone usually turns a blind eye.

But now, the Great Yuan Sect clearly wanted to avoid heavy losses among their own disciples by roping in Shen Yang Sect—a shameless move.

Outrageous!

If nothing had happened, would they have tried to keep it all for themselves?

Already irritated by Luo Tian, Liu Changtian now seethed with anger. “How do you propose to explore it?”

All else was secondary—the resources within the secret realm were the real prize. In this world, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

Although by rights the secret realm belonged to Shen Yang Sect, the Great Yuan Sect was under no obligation to share its location or information. If they weren’t given a share, they’d get nothing, and might even collaborate with another sect or try exploring on their own—which could prove costly.

A hint of triumph flashed across Feng Jinbo’s face, showing that Liu Changtian’s reaction was just as he’d predicted. “Thirty disciples from Great Yuan Sect, forty from Shen Yang Sect, resources split evenly.”

He transmitted this message directly.

Glancing at the thirty Great Yuan Sect disciples standing atop the Water-Taming Spirit Turtle, Liu Changtian snorted, realizing the other side had planned everything in advance and was merely bargaining now. “These disciples don’t seem to be your best Qi Condensation disciples.”

“Of course not—what if the truly outstanding ones died inside?” Since the two were speaking via transmission, Feng Jinbo was frank. “We just want the resources. If it turns out to be a deathtrap and they all perish, it won’t affect the sect much. What, are you planning to send the best disciples from your four families?”

“I’ll give you seven, you take three!” Liu Changtian countered curtly.

He’d considered that Luo Tian was sent by the Seventh Prince, and hesitated. But remembering how Luo Tian had lingered in the illusion and embarrassed Shen Yang Sect, he steeled himself—he’d have Luo Tian enter the secret realm. If he died, it was his own fate.

The two sect masters, supreme authorities on their own turf, rarely faced opposition to their commands. Yet here they were, haggling like commoners over resources vital to their interests.

In the end, the division of resources was settled: Shen Yang Sect would receive sixty percent, Great Yuan Sect forty percent.

“I’ve prepared one hundred forty storage bags, two per disciple!” Feng Jinbo, his goal achieved, beamed with delight. “There’s still space on the Water-Taming Spirit Turtle’s back—care to join us?”

“No need!” Liu Changtian, knowing he’d been led by the nose today, snorted coldly. He gently brushed the bracelet on his right wrist with his left hand.

Suddenly, a flying boat appeared before the Water-Taming Spirit Turtle, hovering atop the peak of Ziyang Mountain.