"Senior Sister, what do you think that Feng Xiyun's background is? Why was it him who got transmitted out of the valley? Does he have something special about him?"
Xian Xu frowned as he asked.
In his eyes, that man was just a false Nascent Soul cultivator who had not even endured lightning tribulation. On what grounds did he get to discover the evil flower, fight alongside Yun Chen Fózǐ of Yunmen Temple, Han Lian of Jihan Gate, and Xun Kun of Kunmo Sect to destroy it, and then get forcefully ejected from the secret realm with his life intact? The sects of all five domains were now full of praise for those four.
Among them, Xian Xu was the one most unwilling to accept this. If not for his momentary impulse in dragging Feng Xiyun into that spatial rift, perhaps that person would never have had the chance to play the hero.
Xian Yao's thoughts were deeper. She frowned slightly and replied, "This is best asked directly to Hua Yu Zūnzhě. From what I've heard, after those four were ejected from the secret realm, each domain's Zūnzhě questioned them separately. Perhaps something happened in there that we don't know about."
"Senior Sister is right. Let's ask Hua Yu Zūnzhě."
Meanwhile, the Zūnzhě of Huaxian Gate were also gathered together, discussing Li Chang who had fallen into evil, as well as the four who were ejected ahead of time.
Hua Bai Zūnzhě's face was dark, his voice cold as he said,
"When the secret realm closed, it vanished again. Even with five Divine Transformation cultivators acting together, we couldn't pin it down. That means the secret realm has already birthed a realm spirit. Once it sensed danger, it concealed itself completely.
But why did the realm spirit choose to cooperate with a disciple of Haoran Sect, and not our Huaxian Gate disciples? I don't believe ours are inferior.
More importantly, Li Chang claimed he had already found the realm spirit's hiding place and wanted to refine it to seize control of the secret realm.
Yet, by sheer 'coincidence,' Haoran Sect's Wei Yunxi was transmitted there. Li Chang told us how their battle went, but this Zūnzhě finds it hard to believe.
A false Nascent Soul who hasn't even passed tribulation, facing a Divine Transformation cultivator? By rights, Li Chang should have crushed her. So why did he fall into her hands?
Still, because of Yi Ran's case, this Zūnzhě once tested Wei Yunxi myself. Her spiritual sense far exceeds her cultivation. That is why Yi Ran's Mystic Thunder Violet Flame was devoured by her."
Hua Yu added, "What Hua Bai Zūnzhě says is exactly what I doubt as well. Could it be that the realm spirit has already been refined? That would explain why those four managed to leave with their lives."
A flicker of light passed through Hua Bai's eyes. "You suspect Wei Yunxi, who happened to reach the realm spirit's lair? And that's why the secret realm vanished so completely?"
"Only a suspicion. But they say her master has already reached Divine Transformation. She risked herself to help her master through tribulation, and was gravely injured, now in a coma. The timing of her collapse doesn't match when the secret realm closed."
Hua Bai snorted. "You said it yourself, the realm spirit has intelligence. It would choose the most advantageous course."
"Then we should place people to monitor Haoran Sect. See when she wakes."
"Agreed."
Hua Yu then frowned and shifted topics. "And about this Li Chang. Though from the Western Domain, he has considerable means. By cooperating with evil cultivators, he stepped into Divine Transformation in mere days. Worse, he acted as their blade, sowing discord among the five domains.
What's troubling is that the evil cultivators of Weiyu Realm are deeply connected with Weiling Realm. That is no small matter."
"Do you think something has gone wrong in the spirit realm? Otherwise, how could the evil cultivators be so rampant, wreaking havoc in Weiyu Realm?"
Silence fell in the great hall. At last, Sect Master Xian Wei spoke to break it.
"Honored Zūnzhě, ten years from now is the Grand Competition of the Five Domains. The top twenty disciples will be admitted into the Spirit Realm ahead of time. We could let them collect intelligence on the evil cultivators once inside, and send word back to the sect. That way, we would be better informed."
But Hua Yu shook his head. "The Ancestor of Huaxian Gate has sent no word in a long while. We do not know if the gate to the upper realm will even open for us ten years later. Your plan has merit, but is not so easy to enact.
First, those top twenty won't all be Huaxian Gate disciples. Second, the others might not be willing to be sent up ahead of schedule. Voluntary ascension after reaching Divine Transformation is one thing; being forcibly delivered there is another. Finally, the Ancestors of other sects won't necessarily agree to let their best disciples be handed over to Huaxian Gate in the upper realm."
Hua Bai's words struck to the heart of the issue, leaving Sect Master Xian Wei in troubled silence. He had indeed overlooked those points.
Hua Tang Zūnzhě, Xian Yao's master, serene and elegant, asked calmly, "Have the disciples who entered the secret realm this time been thoroughly examined?"
Sect Master Xian Wei immediately bowed. "Reporting to Hua Tang Zūnzhě, yes. Two Golden Core disciples were confirmed to have been seized by evil souls. As for Nascent Soul disciples, nothing unusual has been discovered for now."
Hua Tang nodded. "Hua Yu, Hua Bai, you will watch over the Nascent Soul disciples. Sect Master, place people to watch over the Golden Core disciples. I fear some of them may be fallen ones like Li Chang."
"Yes, Senior Sister (Zūnzhě)."
The three complied. Afterward, they turned to preparations for the Grand Competition of the Five Domains, which would be hosted by Huaxian Gate this cycle.
That event came only once every two hundred years, each time hosted in turn by the foremost sect of a domain. It was a grand occasion of Weiyu Realm, producing new leaders and showcasing the strength of each domain. Naturally, it drew the eyes of the entire realm.
And if evil cultivators were to make a move, such an event would be the perfect chance. That was why Huaxian Gate was beginning its preparations so far in advance.
…
Meanwhile, deep at the bottom of a cliff in the Central Domain, far from human presence, Xiao He was blasted back by a palm wind, slamming against the cliff wall. A cold, cruel voice echoed in the ravine:
"Xiao He, this mission's failure means punishment. Forget about receiving a Condensing Yuányīng Pill."
Struggling, Xiao He forced himself upright with the cliff for support, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth. He sneered coldly.
"It's not that I didn't want to enter the Baohua Mountain secret realm. Li Chang barred me. He ordered me to stay outside and act as support.
Unlucky for him, he was the first to be ejected, and then besieged by nine Divine Transformation cultivators. Do you really think I had the ability to save him?"
"I don't care what arrangement you and Li Chang had. The mission has failed, and punishment cannot be avoided. You've already wasted one chance. If you waste another, you'll hand over your body."
Hatred flickered in Xiao He's downcast eyes, but he only nodded. "I understand."
"Hmph. Don't play games. Think of your sister."
Xiao He clenched his teeth. "Don't touch my sister. I'll complete the mission."
"Haha. Fail again, and your sister will take your place. Remember that."
With that, the voice faded into gray smoke that dispersed into the shadows.
Only then did Xiao He exhale the breath he had been forcing down, collapsing to sit on the ground. This time, he had lied. He had entered the secret realm, but made no contact with any of the fallen cultivators. He had hidden from the others and searched alone. What he truly wanted was to find cultivation resources for himself and his sister.
Though he had used the evil cultivators' Condensing Core Pill to break through to Golden Core, his sister still lingered at Foundation Establishment. Unless she advanced quickly, she would forever be his greatest weakness.