Only a few days remained before the Heaven Seal Gate Secret Realm closed.
The initial frenzy that had consumed every cultivator had long since faded.
Those who had survived the countless battles had all made the same decision—
Hide.
Digest their gains.
Prepare to leave.
Throughout the secret realm, caves, abandoned halls, secluded courtyards, and ruined pavilions had all become temporary cultivation grounds. Every surviving cultivator understood that the greatest threat was no longer the opportunities themselves, but those who coveted them.
Within the seventh floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Lin Sheng slowly opened his eyes.
A faint golden radiance disappeared from his pupils.
The Bright Sun Yang Stone resting within his hands had noticeably dimmed compared to when he first obtained it.
The Yang Essence contained within continued flowing into the Yellow Origin Contemplation Diagram at a steady pace.
He glanced inward.
Yellow Origin Contemplation Diagram
Completion: 95%
Only five percent remained.
Unfortunately...
That final stretch still required time.
Even with the Chip continuously optimizing the absorption process, his cultivation was ultimately too low to forcefully extract the stone's Yang Essence.
He would simply have to wait.
Fortunately, his time had not been wasted.
During these two weeks, the constant nourishment from the Visualization Method had tempered both body and spirit.
His physique had quietly reached the peak of Rank Two.
Without relying on Gang Qi alone, his physical strength was now comparable to that of a Peak Rank Two Yao Beast.
His muscles contained explosive power.
His bones had become tougher.
Even his blood carried a faint golden sheen.
The progress of his martial cultivation had also advanced considerably.
Within his Sea of Consciousness, the Chip displayed the latest results.
•[> Martial Cultivation
> Realm: Xuan Gang Mid Stage
> Opened Acupoints: 18]•
Lin Sheng silently nodded.
Eighteen opened acupoints...
Already an astonishing number.
Among righteous martial powers, most Xuan Gang martial artists required between ten and fifteen acupoints merely to reach the middle stage.
The lack of resources and opportunities prevented further advancement.
Opening another twenty or so acupoints before reaching the late stage often required years of accumulation.
With his current cultivation speed...
Combined with the Chip...
And sufficient resources...
He estimated he could reach the late Xuan Gang Realm within two years.
Satisfied, Lin Sheng stood.
The Scripture Pavilion had already yielded everything of value.
It was time to leave.
---
His figure soon arrived near the boundary separating the inner and outer regions.
This was also the agreed meeting point with the others before the secret realm closed.
Long before reaching them, Lin Sheng noticed something unusual.
Countless cultivators had already gathered nearby.
Yet...
Not a single conversation could be heard.
Everyone remained wary.
Every gaze constantly swept across the surrounding people.
Hands rested near storage bags and weapons.
The slightest suspicious movement would likely trigger another massacre.
The previous assassination incidents had destroyed whatever trust still existed inside the secret realm.
Lin Sheng silently observed everyone before shifting his attention toward a familiar figure.
Lin Yan.
She stood quietly beside several Lin Family disciples.
The moment his perception swept over her...
His eyes narrowed ever so slightly.
Peak Foundation Establishment.
Her aura was incredibly stable.
Far more stable than someone who had recently broken through.
Lin Sheng found himself slightly surprised.
Even accounting for the Heaven Mending Fruit improving her spiritual roots...
Her cultivation speed should not have reached this level.
"...Another opportunity?"
He immediately recalled the words spoken by the formation spirit.
"The protagonists of an era cultivate rapidly."
"They constantly encounter opportunities."
"Heaven itself seems to favor them."
Lin Sheng looked thoughtfully at his sister.
Could it be...
No.
He quickly dismissed the thought.
One coincidence proved nothing.
Yet...
The seed of doubt had already been planted.
A few minutes later, another familiar figure hurried over.
Lin Jinxing.
The moment Lin Sheng saw him, he frowned slightly.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
Normally, Lin Jinxing carried himself with exceptional composure.
He always appeared calm, cautious and calculating.
Now...
He constantly glanced around nervously.
His breathing was uneven.
His hands unconsciously clenched and loosened repeatedly.
Almost...
As though he had done something he shouldn't have.
Lin Yan immediately noticed it as well.
She stepped forward.
"Jinxing."
"What happened?"
Lin Jinxing forced an awkward smile.
"N-Nothing..."
"It's just..."
He looked around once more.
"...I have a bad feeling."
His answer convinced no one.
Before anyone could continue questioning him, several more figures arrived.
Lin Shou.
Lou Han.
Lin Xiaolu.
Qian Feng.
Each of them carried noticeably stronger auras than before.
Lin Sheng's perception quietly swept across them.
His eyes immediately flashed.
Their physiques had improved significantly.
The circulation of Gang Qi within their bodies had also become considerably smoother.
More importantly...
Their opened acupoints had increased.
Especially Lin Shou and Lou Han.
The two seemed to deliberately suppress portions of their aura.
Had it not been for Lin Sheng's extraordinary perception, even he might have overlooked it.
"They're hiding their cultivation..."
Lin Sheng thought inwardly.
It seemed the opportunities obtained within the secret realm had benefited everyone.
Once the entire group gathered, Lin Yan spoke first.
"The secret realm should close within a few days."
"We should head toward the outer region now."
Everyone nodded.
Just as they prepared to leave—
A deafening roar suddenly erupted throughout the entire secret realm.
ROOOOOAAARRR!!
The sound seemed to originate from every direction simultaneously.
The earth violently shook.
Mountains trembled.
Ruined palaces collapsed.
Even the surrounding spiritual qi became chaotic.
An indescribable pressure descended from above.
It was ancient.
Savage.
Overwhelming.
Lin Sheng's expression changed instantly.
"This aura..."
Before he could finish thinking—
The terrifying pressure crashed down upon everyone like an invisible mountain.
Countless cultivators throughout the secret realm immediately fell to their knees.
Some spat out mouthfuls of blood.
Others lost consciousness on the spot.
Even Foundation Establishment peak cultivators found it almost impossible to remain standing.
Lin Sheng's Gang Qi instinctively erupted.
His Rank Two peak physique groaned beneath the pressure.
Beside him, Lin Yan, Lin Shou, Lou Han and the others were likewise forced onto one knee, their expressions filled with shock.
Whatever had awakened...
It was something far beyond anyone currently inside the Heaven Seal Gate Secret Realm.
....
Two weeks earlier...
Deep within the inner region of the Heaven Seal Gate Secret Realm...
A group of figures cloaked in black quietly advanced through the ancient ruins.
Unlike the countless cultivators searching desperately for opportunities, these people moved with a clear destination in mind.
Every one of them wore dark robes embroidered with seven faint silver stars upon the cuffs.
The surrounding formations that had trapped countless cultivators barely slowed them.
Whenever they approached an ancient barrier, one of them would simply take out a black compass-like artifact.
The artifact emitted a strange gray light.
Moments later...
The formation would open by itself.
Watching yet another Rank Three formation part before them, one of the youths couldn't help but laugh.
"So this is the famous Heaven Seal Gate?"
"I expected much more."
He casually stepped through the formation.
"Their so-called mastery of formations..."
"...doesn't seem all that impressive."
Another black-robed youth beside him grinned.
"You've got quite the courage."
"Demeaning a Nascent Soul power while standing inside their inheritance."
The first youth merely shrugged.
"Am I wrong?"
"We've passed every formation so far."
"They're nothing special."
"If this represents one of the greatest formation sects of the ancient era..."
He snorted disdainfully.
"...then perhaps the stories exaggerated their achievements."
The surrounding cultivators exchanged awkward looks.
Although they secretly shared similar thoughts...
Actually voicing them felt somewhat disrespectful.
Before anyone else could speak—
A cold voice interrupted.
"Enough."
Everyone immediately lowered their heads.
The speaker walked at the very front.
He appeared to be around twenty years old.
His appearance was refined.
Yet the calmness within his eyes made everyone instinctively fear him.
He was their leader.
No one dared question him.
The young man looked at the two who had been speaking.
"Do not underestimate the ancients."
"They ruled an era far beyond ours."
"The only reason we're advancing this smoothly..."
He gently tapped the strange black compass in his hand.
"...is because of this."
The two immediately nodded.
"We understand, Senior Brother."
Satisfied, the leader continued walking.
Several minutes later—
The surrounding scenery abruptly changed.
The ancient halls disappeared.
The broken stone paths vanished.
Instead...
An enormous ravine appeared before everyone.
Its width stretched beyond sight.
Darkness filled the abyss below.
Countless ancient runes covered every cliff face.
They intertwined endlessly like gigantic chains sealing something beneath the earth.
Formation lines extended downward without end.
Some still shone faintly after countless years.
Others had long since dimmed.
Even so...
The oppressive aura surrounding this place caused everyone's breathing to become heavy.
One of the disciples swallowed nervously.
"What... is this place?"
No one answered.
Even the leader remained silent for several breaths.
Then—
His eyes suddenly widened.
The calmness upon his face completely disappeared.
Instead...
An expression of unconcealable excitement appeared.
"Hahaha!"
His laughter echoed throughout the ravine.
"Heaven truly favors our Seven Star Palace!"
He looked downward into the endless darkness.
"So..."
"So this is where they sealed it."
His breathing gradually became faster.
The others stared at him in confusion.
"Senior Brother?"
The young man pointed toward the abyss.
"We're going down."
Silence.
Complete silence.
The excitement on everyone's faces instantly vanished.
One disciple immediately took several steps backward.
"G-going down?"
Another looked toward the darkness below.
Even merely standing at the edge caused his instincts to scream danger.
The aura emerging from beneath the ravine...
It was unlike anything they had ever encountered.
Cold.
Ancient.
Savage.
Merely sensing it caused their souls to tremble.
One disciple forced a smile.
"Senior Brother..."
"I don't think..."
"...I signed up for this."
Another quickly agreed.
"Exactly."
"This place is clearly forbidden."
"If we descend..."
"...isn't that simply courting death?"
The leader slowly turned around.
His smile gradually disappeared.
"What did you say?"
The disciple instinctively stepped backward.
"I... I only meant..."
Before he could finish—
The leader slowly raised one hand.
His fingers formed a strange gesture.
The next instant—
The two disciples froze.
Their eyes widened.
"AHHHHHHH!!"
Piercing screams erupted.
They both collapsed onto the ground, clutching their heads.
It felt as though countless invisible hands had reached directly into their Sea of Consciousness.
Their spirits violently contracted.
Every thought became unbearable agony.
Their souls seemed on the verge of being crushed.
The surrounding disciples watched in horror.
Neither of the two had suffered any physical injury.
Yet their screams sounded more miserable than if their flesh had been peeled away.
The leader calmly looked down at them.
"This..."
"...is the punishment for disobeying orders."
The two disciples desperately crawled toward him.
"Senior Brother..."
"P-Please..."
"We were wrong!"
"We'll go!"
"We'll follow you!"
"We beg you..."
The leader's expression remained indifferent.
"Too late."
His hand slowly clenched.
The invisible force instantly intensified.
The screams abruptly stopped.
Both disciples' bodies stiffened.
Then—
Their eyes lost all light.
Their auras completely disappeared.
The corpses fell heavily onto the ground.
Silence descended once more.
Every remaining disciple felt cold sweat running down their backs.
Not one of them dared speak another word.
The leader calmly withdrew his hand before looking once more toward the endless abyss.
His eyes burned with fanatic anticipation.
"Now..."
"...follow me."
This time—
Not a single person dared refuse.