85: Chapter 85 Meteor Valley

Zhang Wen and Ding Siyi parted ways downstairs at the dormitory building, and he turned to walk toward the villa area.

As soon as he entered his small courtyard, he tapped his fingertip in the Void Realm, and the pale blue System interface unfolded like flowing water, hovering before his eyes.

[host: Zhang Wen]

[Cultivation: Subtle Realm Middle Stage]

[Talent: Nine Heavens Tribulation Thunder]

[Points: 37500]

Looking at that string of points, Zhang Wen raised an eyebrow.

Between killing Vicious Beasts and completing System tasks, he had unknowingly accumulated so many.

He slid his fingertip, opened the "Medicinal Pill" section, scanned the list, and finally stopped at "Pulse Nourishing Pill" and "Spirit Condensing Powder".

"Pulse Nourishing Pill: Repairs damage to Meridians, accelerates the circulation of spiritual energy, price 3000 points/piece."

"Spirit Condensing Powder: Stabilizes Mental Energy, resists erosion from illusions, price 2500 points/portion."

After forcibly enduring the backlash of the Tribulation Thunder from the Thunder Jade Goshawk last time, his Meridians were still aching faintly.

Zhang Wen didn't hesitate and immediately bought three Pulse Nourishing Pills and two portions of Spirit Condensing Powder; his points instantly shrank by nearly half, and the number on the interface became 23500.

"Hiss... Truly, to Cultivate is an expensive job."

He smacked his lips, stuffed the newly exchanged Medicinal Pills into his Storage Pouch, turned around, and walked toward the Secret Realm Hall.

The Secret Realm Hall was in the eastern district of the academy, built entirely of dark cyan rock, with two instructors with steady auras guarding the entrance.

As soon as Zhang Wen stepped through the door, he was dazzled by the sight inside—hundreds of waist-high crystal pillars arranged neatly.

The pillars were suffused with halos of various colors, and under each pillar, the Secret Realm Rank and entry requirements were marked.

"Student, are you here to choose a Secret Realm?"

An old man wearing a gray robe walked out from behind the counter, holding a thick booklet in his hand.

"Solo or team? What Rank do you need?"

"May I ask, can the situation inside the Secret Realm be monitored from the outside?" Zhang Wen didn't rush to choose, first throwing out the key question.

The old man shook his head: "Secret Realms are all independent spaces. Unless someone voluntarily crushes a teleportation talisman, the outside world knows nothing about what happens inside."

"Even the Dean can only see who entered which Secret Realm and when they came out; the specific process cannot be checked."

Zhang Wen had an idea. He walked to the crystal pillar area, his gaze scanning the area marked "Rank A".

Soon, a crystal pillar emitting a pale golden halo caught his attention—

[Secret Realm Name: Meteorite Valley]

[Rank: Rank A]

[Entry Requirements: Forming Realm and above, 3-person team recommended]

[Secret Realm Content: Meteorite fragments contain starlight power, which can temper spiritual energy; guarded by Star Pattern Beasts, medium level of danger]

[Rewards: Academy contribution points issued based on the quality of the meteorite fragments brought out]

"This one." Zhang Wen pointed at the crystal pillar.

The old man was stunned and glanced at his student badge: "Student, this Secret Realm recommends a three-person team. The Star Pattern Beasts inside are gregarious, and it's easy to suffer if you fight alone."

"It's fine, I'm used to being alone." Zhang Wen took out his identity card and swiped it in the groove next to the crystal pillar.

"Beep—Identity verification passed, special permission, free entry, entry permission granted."

Along with the mechanical prompt, a beam of white light shot from the top of the crystal pillar, projecting a rotating hexagonal Formation onto the ground.

The old man was startled! Before he could react.

Zhang Wen turned back to nod at the old man and stepped into the Formation.

The white light suddenly tightened, swallowing his figure. When the light dissipated, only the empty Formation patterns remained on the ground, but the halo on the crystal pillar brightened a little, as if recording the traces of another intruder.

The old man behind the counter looked at the crystal pillar and stroked his chin: "Another lone wolf... The last time a team went into this Meteorite Valley, half of them were lost before they came out. I hope this kid isn't being too arrogant."

Meanwhile, inside the Meteorite Valley, Zhang Wen had just steadied himself when he was blinded by the incoming stardust.

Looking up, the stars filled the sky, hanging in the daylight-like firmament. The ground was cracked, and silver fragments half-buried in the sand were visible everywhere, emitting a faint light.

"Truly a good place to temper spiritual energy." He gripped his Storage Pouch tightly, feeling that the Pulse Nourishing Pills inside seemed to be stirred by this power, becoming slightly warm.

Suddenly, a sound of small footsteps came from the distance, as if something was poking its head out from behind a sand dune.

Zhang Wen's eyes narrowed, and a trace of Tribulation Thunder aura had quietly condensed at his fingertip.

The one-person Secret Realm journey had begun.

Entering the Secret Realm.

Sand grains rolled under his feet, making a faint sound. Zhang Wen squinted at the source of the sound, only to see three Star Pattern Beasts with bodies like leopards leaping out from behind the sand dunes.

Their silver-gray fur was covered in star-shaped dark patterns, and their pupils flickered with a cold, eerie light.

The aura of these Vicious Beasts hovered at the Forming Realm Peak, and they clearly regarded him as prey that had intruded into their territory.

Low roars came from their throats, their limbs tense, ready to pounce at any moment.

Zhang Wen's fingertips moved slightly, and the spiritual energy of the Subtle Realm Middle Stage in his body quietly circulated.

The leading Star Pattern Beast launched the attack first, pouncing like a bolt of silver lightning, its sharp claws tearing through the air toward his face.

Zhang Wen did not retreat but advanced instead. The moment he dodged the claw wind by moving sideways, he punched out with his right fist, wrapped in pale purple lightning arcs—Startling Thunder Arises!