The silence of the Secret Realm was dense, almost suffocating. The spiritual mists had thickened since the strange commotion that shook the outer area a few days ago.
Li Ze walked slowly among the natural formations of the terrain, his face somber and his eyes full of frustration. The glow of his protective artifact pulsed in his chest—a gift from his master, a small black sphere that vibrated slightly whenever it detected traces of hostile energy.
"Jun Tian…" he murmured through his teeth, his fists clenched. "You really surprised me."
Since the phenomenon that had shaken the Secret Realm, Li Ze couldn't get the scene of Jun Tian's advance out of his mind. Even from a distance, he had felt the impact of that energy—a power that surpassed any ordinary advance of the fourth realm.
He couldn't admit it, but for the first time… he had felt a slight shiver.
However, fear gave way to anger.
"I let him grow too much. And now the Secret Realm is favoring him…"
The black sphere vibrated in response to his anger, exuding a muffled tone of power. Within it lay a lethal force—something its master had sealed there to be used only once. An attack that could shake even high-level cultivators.
"You may have grown, Jun Tian… but you're still a fish in the pond. And I am the one who controls the waters."
As he advanced through the spirit forest, Li Ze began to sense slight distortions in the air—hints of ancient formations activated in the depths. Small golden lights flickered in the distance, and the ground emitted an almost imperceptible hum.
"These formations… weren't active before."
"So it's you, Jun Tian. What are you doing in there?"
He followed the spiritual flow to a broken hillside, where ancient ruins emerged among rocks and twisted trees. The place exuded an ancient and chaotic energy.
Li Ze activated his eye technique, and lines of space began to glow in his vision—traces left by Jun Tian's energy.
"I found you."
A cold smile appeared on his lips.
"It seems I can finally resolve this."
He began preparing his attack, but soon noticed something different. The runes on the ancient walls were… vibrating. As if responding to something coming from within the ruins.
"These formations… are they awakening?"
Suddenly, a spiritual wave spread like silent thunder. Li Ze took a step back, instinctively raising his hand and activating a defensive barrier. The ground trembled and cracks spread.
The sky above seemed to flicker, and the flow of Qi distorted.
"Tch… this is his doing! What the hell did that bastard do?"
For a moment, Li Ze felt like he heard a distant roar—not from a living beast, but from something trapped, dormant, awakening.
His black sphere reacted violently, emitting a deep glow.
"Impossible… even my artifact is reacting?"
He frowned, slowly retreating.
"This place… is not ordinary. If he messed with something he shouldn't have, perhaps I can let the Secret Realm itself deal with him."
But even saying this, Li Ze did not back away. He watched the lights intently in the distance—and within himself, curiosity and hatred mingled.
"Jun Tian… you awakened something. And I will be here to collect the remains."
As he watched, the wind carried a distant echo, like a chant lost in time. The lights in the distance shone brighter—and the spiritual pressure suddenly increased.
Li Ze clenched his fists, his gaze cold.
"Whatever lies in the depths… I want to see if it's enough to stop me."
And with a leap, he disappeared towards the ruins.