The next morning dawned with bells tolling once more. The mountains of the Clear Sky Sect buzzed with life—disciples in uniform robes gathered in orderly formations, elders oversaw the ranks, and spirit beasts prepared to pull grand carriages across the skies. Forty-Nine disciples, handpicked to represent the sect, stood at the front courtyard below the central peak. Their auras flared like rising flames, each one sharp-eyed and eager.
Among them, Xuan Yuan yawned. Loudly.
"Brat," Aunt Lan hissed at his side, "at least pretend to look spirited. This is the day of departure!"
Yuan rubbed his eyes, mumbling, "Oh, I'm spirited. Just… in a horizontal kind of way. Preferably on a bed."
A few disciples turned their heads at his muttering, brows furrowed. Some looked curious, others disdainful, but none dared say much with Aunt Lan standing nearby like a silent guillotine.
Ding! Sign in successful. Host is rewarded with Clear Sky Phantom sword.
A slender blade materialized in his inventory—its body half-transparent like drifting smoke, edges glimmering faintly with cold light. It carried no weight, no clatter, just the whisper of wind as though it wasn't fully of this world. An artifact that can slice through qi itself, leaving wounds that spiritual energy could not heal easily.
Yuan arched a brow, unimpressed. "Cool. A sword that cuts qi. Not bad for someone who doesn't use swords. Guess it'll make a decent decoration. Or may be I can reward someone with it" He smirked, muttering under his breath, "But, I'm sticking with my bow. Sniping is far cooler than cutting ."
Overseeing the entire operation was Elder Mo, his presence calm yet steady as a mountain. His eyes swept the crowd before lingering briefly on Yuan, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Disciples, today you march not merely for yourselves, but for the pride of the sect. The Southern Secret Realm opens once every decade. Step lightly, fight wisely, and return alive."
His words rippled through the group, their backs straightening.
Yuan, however, muttered under his breath, "Return alive. That's the part I like. Very realistic."
Soon after, the procession began. Massive flying carriages rose into the sky, drawn by spirit beasts whose wings glimmered with qi. Elders and guardians flanked the formation, their presence a deterrent against any outside interference.
The journey southward revealed the scale of the event. From the skies, Yuan spotted countless other sects moving toward the same destination—columns of cultivators riding cloudships, beast mounts, or flying swords. Every great clan and sect of the South was converging for this single moment.
"Looks like a festival," Yuan mused, leaning out of the carriage window, hair whipping in the wind. "Except instead of lanterns, they brought murder weapons."
Aunt Lan's lips twitched. "At least you understand."
As they flew, whispers filled the air among the disciples. Names of rival geniuses spread like sparks—
"The Saint Child of Burning Sun Valley… they say he's already at Core Formation!"
"The twin prodigies of Jade Bamboo Sect, both blessed with dual spirit roots."
"And the Demonic Wolf Heir of the Black Fang Clan… vicious and unmatched in battle."
Every name came with awe, with excitement, with nervous energy.
Yuan only tilted his head, pretending to nap. "Children comparing report cards. Cute."
Three days of flight later, the skies ahead split with a glow of shifting mist. A colossal rift hovered above an endless plain, its edges sparking with runes, its depths swirling with clouds that revealed flashes of broken mountains, rivers of spirit light, and ancient ruins beyond.
The Southern Secret Realm.
Tens of thousands of cultivators filled the land below, sect banners fluttering, disciples gathering in their groups. The air itself pulsed with anticipation.
Southern secret realm has only a single entrance and exit, appearing at fixed point throughout the years.
Yuan stretched his arms lazily, a smirk playing at his lips. "Well then. The playground's open."
The Codex pulsed faintly in his chest.
Ding! Mission begins upon entry. Rewards scale with performance.
Yuan's grin widened. "Perfect. Time to stroll through destiny."
Just as he was about to step forward with the rest, a hand caught his wrist. Aunt Lan pressed something cool and weighty into his palm.
It was a mirror, small enough to fit in his hand, framed with black jade etched in faint silver runes. The glass shimmered with a faint ripple, as though it reflected more than just the surface.
Yuan tilted it toward his face. "Aunt, are you saying I should admire myself mid-battle? Dangerous suggestion, honestly. I might get distracted."
Her glare could have cut stone. "This is no trinket. The Mirror of Returning Light can rebound attacks and teleport you short distances within the realm. More importantly, it bypasses the restrictions of the secret realm. If danger arises, I can see what you see, and send you guidance."
Yuan blinked, genuinely surprised. "…So basically, a divine walkie-talkie with a panic button?"
"Call it what you want," Aunt Lan said firmly, "but keep it close. No matter what happens, don't lose it. Understand?"
For once, Yuan didn't joke. He slipped the mirror into his sleeve with care, its surface glimmering faintly as though acknowledging him. "Got it. I'll keep it safe."
But Aunt Lan wasn't finished. She drew out a slender jade case, opening it to reveal an ancient parchment map. The edges were frayed, faint lines of qi still woven into the markings.
"This," she said, her tone lowering, "is the map your father obtained. It points to places in the secret realm few know of. If the information he obtained is true, one of those locations may hold the path to talent rebirth. Your father entrusted it to me—and now I give it to you."
Yuan's eyes flicked over the strange symbols, rivers, and peaks sketched across the parchment. His grin softened. "Father really planned everything… Guess I'll have to make good use of it."
Finally, Aunt Lan produced a small token, smooth and unmarked except for a faintly glowing crack across its surface. She pressed it into his hand without explanation.
"This… your father didn't explain. Only that it is somehow related to inheritance which holds secret for enhancing innate talent. Other than that it's uses are unknown. Keep it hidden. Don't show it to anyone."
Yuan turned it over, baffled. "A token that does nothing until it suddenly does everything. Classic cultivation world logic." Still, he tucked it into his robe alongside the map.
She gave a sharp nod, then gestured toward the rift.
With a final glance at the vast plain filled with banners and geniuses, Yuan stepped into the swirling mist along with rest of the sect disciples.
The world shifted—light bent, sound twisted, qi surged around him.
And Xuan Yuan vanished into the Southern Secret Realm under the worried dazes of Aunt Lan and Elder Mo.