CHAPTER 19: THE SECRET REALM OPENS

Jun Wudi no longer paid any attention to Yao Buting and the others. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a massive spear.

"Fellow cultivators, this is a low-grade Earth Tier spirit weapon left behind by our sect's founder. With enough spirit qi, it can unleash powerful attacks."

"The seal on this stone stele is already extremely weak. If we combine our strength, we can break it open. Everyone, pour your spirit qi directly into the spear. Let's get ready to charge into the secret realm."

Jun Wudi formed a hand seal with both hands and pointed the spear at the stone stele.

The stone stele detected a strong surge of spirit qi and automatically activated a green barrier that spread over the pit below. It pulsed with a cold and oppressive aura.

Jun Wudi explained, "This is the protective barrier guarding the entrance. We'll only get in if we break it. It regenerates after two hours, so pour in everything you've got!"

With that, he began infusing the spear with spirit qi.

Behind him, Yao Buting, Zi Long, and the others quickly called for their sect disciples to join in and channel their spirit qi. "Let's go!"

The remaining cultivators followed along, infusing their qi into the spear.

"My brothers, hurry! The treasures of heaven and earth are right before our eyes!"

For a moment, the sky was filled with abundant spirit qi. Beams of light in different colors, each carrying their own attributes, surged toward the spear.

Lu Chen, Nantian Yijian, and Jun Laoye stood behind Jun Wudi. Since the three of them were still in the Qi Absorption Realm, they were unable to release spirit qi outside their bodies.

"When will we be able to do that? I've already achieved perfect mastery of the Qi Absorption Realm for a whole year, but the spirit qi in my Heavenly Pool still hasn't condensed into liquid," Jun Laoye said wistfully as he stared at the beams of multicolored light in the sky.

After inheriting the memories of Feng Tiancheng, Lu Chen understood the true meaning of external spirit qi release.

Cultivation across the continent began with the Qi Absorption Realm, when spirit qi was drawn into the body. The first step was to fill the Heavenly Pool within, then repeatedly compress and refine the gathered spirit qi until it transformed into spirit liquid. Just forming a single drop marked one's entry into the Qi Regulation Realm.

Once in the Qi Regulation Realm, a cultivator could release spirit qi externally, perform more complex spells, fly through the skies, and manipulate objects from a distance. It was the foundational level for all forms of offense.

In the Qi Regulation Realm, cultivators continued to refine their spirit liquid. Once the liquid filled the Heavenly Pool, it would be compressed further into solid spirit pellets. The formation of the first spirit pellet marked the breakthrough into the Qi Condensation Realm. This was already a level beyond what most cultivators could achieve. Only those with extraordinary talent could cultivate further.

Eventually, once enough pellets were formed, they could be fused into a Dantian, marking entry into the Sunken Core Realm. At this point, one had enough strength to establish their own sect.

From there, further advancement relied heavily on luck and opportunity. Only those with enough fortune could unlock the Three Dantian Fields and Three Meridian Gates to ascend beyond mortality.[1]

There was a saying that described this cultivation path the best: ten years to absorb qi, a hundred to regulate it, a thousand to condense it, and ten thousand to form the Dantian.

Lu Chen reflected on this silently. While he was still in the Qi Absorption Realm, the influence of the Green Sovereign Divine Tree and the Twin-Fish Medallion had already begun transforming the spirit qi in his Heavenly Pool into spirit liquid. Despite that, he sensed no sign of an impending breakthrough.

Ding!

A soft chime echoed through the sky. The spear had become crystal-clear, its tip glowing with a brilliance powerful enough to split the heavens.

Jun Wudi's eyes lit up. He soared into the air, grasped the spear tightly, and roared toward the sky, "Heavenly Dao Command! Break!"

In the next instant, scarlet lightning descended from the sky and struck the barrier with full force.

Crack... crack...

Cracks slowly began spreading across the surface of the barrier, but it still held firm.

Jun Wudi's voice rang out from above. "Don't stop! Keep channeling your spirit qi!"

Crack... crack...

Zi Long looked on with growing fear. He had long heard that Jun Wudi came from the Jun Clan of Heavenly Rite Manor, located at the heart of the continent, and that he had only ended up in this remote place because of the serious injuries he had suffered.

The Jun Clan commanded the armies of the continent. In a world without an imperial court, a clan that controlled the military held the highest authority.

"If I'd known he was from that place, I wouldn't have threatened him earlier," Zi Long muttered softly.

Yao Buting scoffed in disdain. "What's there to be afraid of? If he really were someone important, why would he have spent all these years here letting us walk all over him?"

***

Lu Chen asked Jun Laoye, "Why is the lightning red? It's so powerful. I remember it wasn't that color when you used it before."

"The first move of the Heavenly Dao Command is called Heavenly Lightning. What you're seeing now is exactly that. I've only just reached the first level of mastery. The deeper your cultivation, the darker the color of the lightning becomes. Blue, purple, red, and black, the darker it gets, the stronger its power."

Jun Laoye sighed softly. "My second uncle was the first in our family to develop red lightning before the age of thirty. But after that incident... he ended up here."

Lu Chen looked at Jun Laoye. "That incident?"

Jun Laoye seemed like he wanted to say more but hesitated. "It's because his body was... ah, never mind."

Realizing he might have said too much, he quickly changed the subject.

Just as Lu Chen was about to press further, a sudden change occurred in the sky.

Nantian Yijian pointed toward a spot and said loudly, "Look over there! It's about to break!"

Everyone quickly looked in that direction. The stone stele there had aged and weakened due to the long passage of time. With the additional damage from the strike, a small opening had already begun to form.

Everyone quickly looked in that direction. The stone stele had stood for ages, and the formation around it had long since worn down. Now, under the pressure of their assault, a small crack had already begun to form.

Seeing the crack, Jun Wudi intensified his attacks.

"Fellow cultivators, give it everything you've got! Unleash your strongest attacks at the opening. Whether we succeed or not depends on this moment!"

Everyone summoned their spirit weapons and unleashed their most powerful techniques. Swords, sabers, fireballs, thunderbolts, and talismans all surged through the sky, flying straight toward the crack.

Boom... Boom...

Thunderous explosions rang out one after the other as the barrier in front of the stone tablet began to shatter. Cracks spread like a spiderweb, branching upward toward the top.

Rip!

With a tearing sound, the barrier vanished completely. In its place, a passage appeared in the pit nearby, leading straight into the secret realm.

"Fellow cultivators, this passage will only remain open for thirty minutes. From now on, everything depends on your own skills and fortune," Jun Wudi said. He waved toward the members of the Heavenly Mandate Hall, signaling them to follow him in. "Let's go!"

Then Jun Wudi told Lu Chen, "Little Lu, let's move. Once inside, we'll be scattered. The secret realm is filled with ferocious demonic beasts. We must regroup as soon as possible. Our target this time is the center of the realm."

With that, Lu Chen, Jun Laoye, and Nantian Yijian followed the Heavenly Mandate Hall group and entered the secret realm.

Yao Buting and Zi Long also led their own sect members inside. They were determined to fight for the final treasure as well.

After the three major sects went in, the surrounding cultivators started rushing toward the entrance.

The passage would only stay open for thirty minutes. Now that the authority of the three major sects was gone, the cultivators' true natures began to surface. They drew their weapons without hesitation.

Those who seemed weaker were cut down on sight. Against stronger opponents, the cultivators would take advantage of the chaos to sneak in attacks from behind. In the blink of an eye, the area descended into utter chaos.

***

Lu Chen stood at the mouth of a mountain valley, with no other cultivators in sight.

The area looked like a spirit vein. The valley was filled with spirit qi, and both sides of the mountain were lush with dense vegetation. He could faintly hear waves of dragon roars echoing in the air.

Lu Chen walked deeper into the valley. Ever since entering this place, the mysterious calling he had sensed earlier had only grown stronger, and now, it felt incredibly close.

Lu Chen could feel the spirit qi within him becoming increasingly active. "That's odd... why is the Twin-Fish Medallion starting to react? The spirit qi within me is circulating faster and faster."

A deep, magnetic voice echoed in his ears. It came through in fragmented whispers, and it sounded nearly identical to the one he had heard earlier.

"Come... come to me. Come..."

Lu Chen looked up and asked, "Who's calling me?"

"Keep going... come inside. I'm waiting for you. Hurry... There's not much time left..."

Following the voice, Lu Chen stepped into a narrow and winding path that led deeper into the valley. The moment he crossed the threshold, a wall of spirit qi rose behind him, sealing off his retreat. Lu Chen sensed its presence but didn't bother turning around. He knew whoever was calling him had no intention of harming him, at least for the time being.

He continued walking through the valley. At first, only a gentle breeze brushed past him, but with every turn he made, the wind grew stronger. As he neared the heart of the valley, the gale had grown so violent that it felt like he might be torn apart. He had to summon the Green Sovereign Divine Tree, wrapping its branches around the rocks on either side just to move forward, bit by bit.

After making the final turn, Lu Chen arrived at a circular plaza. By now, the wind howled like blades, slicing tiny cuts across his skin. Blood splattered onto the ground, and from those drops, small flowers slowly bloomed.

The voice called out again, this time more urgent, as though it had been waiting for a very long time, "Come closer... Don't be afraid... The wind won't hurt you."

The wind was far too intense, filled with branches and rocks, causing Lu Chen to feel searing pain as it slashed against his skin.

Lu Chen could only form a shield with the Green Sovereign Divine Tree to protect himself as he pushed forward.

Each time he advanced two steps, the wind shoved him back by one. Still, he pressed on until he finally reached the edge of the plaza. Inside, not a single breeze stirred.

Lu Chen eyed the silent expanse warily. He didn't dare step in recklessly and instead found a cave hollowed into the mountain wall. He hid inside and began observing the plaza. Aside from a massive sword planted in its center, the plaza was nearly empty.

Just as Lu Chen began searching for the source of the voice, a rock fell from the mountain above. The moment it touched the ground, it was reduced to dust, vanishing completely. Nothing had struck it. There hadn't even been a ripple in the air.

He stared at the eerily calm space and recalled something from Feng Tiancheng's memory. It was a type of terrain known as the Eye of the Storm, a place where dragons were said to rise. Its outer rim was a domain of violent gales, but at the center lay absolute stillness.

The air here was saturated with wind energy, so dense it had taken physical form. Though the wind made no sound, anything that entered would be ground into nothingness. What puzzled Lu Chen was why that enormous sword at the center remained untouched.

Just then, the sword moved.

"Roar... Roar..."

A series of dragon roars echoed from the plaza's center. The surrounding gales turned even more violent. The giant sword began to rise. A transparent dragon formed from wind coiled around it, its long body spiraling up and down the blade.

Lu Chen only managed to catch a vague outline of the dragon. Its form bore the rough features of a deer's antlers, a shrimp's eyes, a dog's nose, and a cow's mouth.

The giant sword was embedded between its horns, the tip pointing straight at its nose.

"Roar..."

The dragon lowered its head and stared directly at Lu Chen, letting out another roar. Its sheer pressure tore through the surrounding space with a howling force.

Faced with the colossal dragon head, Lu Chen felt a crushing pressure descend on him. It's really a dragon... The rise of a dragon. Its presence is even stronger than Uncle Jun's. It must be beyond the Sunken Core Realm...

1. The body has three energy centers, known as the Three Dantian Fields. The Lower Dantian in the abdomen stores essence, the foundation of physical life. The Middle Dantian in the chest holds Qi, the vital energy that powers the body. The Upper Dantian, between the brows, contains Spirit, governing consciousness and awareness. Cultivators strengthen and harmonize these three to form the core of their power. Along the spine lie the Three Passes of the Du Meridian, key gates that control energy flow. The Tailgate Pass (Weiguan), at the base of the spine, allows essence to rise. The Spinal Gate (Yaoguan), at the waist, circulates and expands Qi. The Jade Pillow Pass (Yuzhen Guan), at the back of the head, channels energy to the Spirit. Opening these gates unifies essence, Qi, and Spirit, marking a major breakthrough in cultivation. ☜