43: Chiyang Volcano

Over the next two days, Zhang Daobai would occasionally enter and exit the Small World to observe the situation at the distant camp and keep an eye on when the Chiyang Secret Realm would open.

As the opening time of the Chiyang Secret Realm drew closer, several conflicts broke out in the large camp at the foot of Chiyang Mountain under the tense atmosphere.

In the forests surrounding Chiyang Mountain, a true Law of the Dark Forest was playing out—robbery, theft, brawls... in short, it was utter chaos.

The day the Chiyang Secret Realm opened arrived quickly. Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue emerged from the Small World early and reached the mountainside of Chiyang Mountain.

The entrance to the Chiyang Secret Realm was located on a flat rock wall, and outside the wall was a level area that had been artificially cleared.

In the waiting area on the flat ground, those standing at the very front were not the top Families or powers.

Instead, they were some powerful Loose Cultivators and some weaker Families.

As for the people from the great Families and powers, they stood in the second tier. It was clear they were using the people in front as pathfinders.

After all, the Chiyang Secret Realm only opened once every fifty years; who knew if danger lurked behind the entrance?

Most Loose Cultivators like Zhang Daobai were lined up at the very back.

In the crowd, Zhang Daobai had no intention of rushing ahead. Instead, he silently concealed his aura and hid toward the rear of the group.

As for Lin Luoxue, she had already been taken into his spirit taming space. Although the Small World inside the void realm suppressing pagoda could also hide people, Zhang Daobai trusted the book of contracts more.

About an hour later, fiery red flowing light shimmered on the rock wall not far away.

These lights were like a vortex, slowly rotating on the rock wall.

“The Chiyang Secret Realm is about to open!”

Accompanied by a cry of surprise, the waiting crowd on the flat ground all looked toward the forming entrance with burning gazes.

When the fiery red vortex of light expanded to cover the entire rock wall, the entrance to the Chiyang Secret Realm was finally fully formed.

Before the entrance was fully formed, everyone couldn't wait to enter.

Now that the entrance was fully formed, those in the first tier were somewhat hesitant.

“The entrance has stabilized. Enter as quickly as possible.”

Just then, a reminder came from a spirit boat in mid-air.

Hearing this, the people in the first tier gritted their teeth, performed their movement techniques, and rushed toward the entrance.

Once the first tier had all entered, the members of the great Families and powers in the second tier followed unhurriedly into the Secret Realm.

“Charge!”

“Don't block the way! Move!”

“You in front, run faster!”

“Holy crap! Who poked my butt!”

“...”

After the second tier entered, the people at the very back scrambled to rush toward the entrance.

Although Zhang Daobai was not in a hurry, he was swept along by the crowd. To avoid standing out, he had to accelerate and sprint with them.

After passing through the entrance, a land of crimson earth met his eyes, and the air was filled with a parched heat.

After entering the Secret Realm, others rushed off in various directions, while Zhang Daobai stayed put to check his spirit taming space.

Finding that it could still be used normally, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

“To Chiyang Volcano first.”

Zhang Daobai took out a map, confirmed the route, and then flew toward Chiyang Volcano at the center of the Secret Realm.

After flying for a while, Zhang Daobai released Lin Luoxue in a deserted corner.

At this time, Lin Luoxue was uncharacteristically wearing a fiery red martial outfit, the Spirit Sword in her hand had been swapped for another, and her face was covered by a mask with a gold phoenix pattern on a red background.

“We’re really inside?”

After Lin Luoxue came out, she surveyed the surroundings, feeling somewhat surprised.

“Yeah, let's go get the heart of the secret realm first.”

Zhang Daobai nodded, also wearing a mask.

“Mhm.”

Hearing this, Lin Luoxue summoned her Flying Sword and flew toward Chiyang Volcano with Zhang Daobai.

There were three most valuable treasures in the Chiyang Secret Realm: first, the numerous Spirit Medicines in the Earth Fire Canyon; second, the various spiritual ores in the Thousand Flame Grotto; and third, the Bath of Fire Pool located in Chiyang Volcano.

The Bath of Fire Pool was a pool of essence spiritual liquid nurtured by Chiyang Volcano gathering the fire spiritual energy of the entire Secret Realm.

As long as one Cultivated while soaking in it, they could not only burn away the Impurities in their body but also temper their Spiritual Veins, making them more resilient.

However, the Bath of Fire Pool was generally monopolized by the great Families and powers. Even the slots to enter the Bath of Fire Pool were determined privately before the Chiyang Secret Realm even opened.

If an ordinary Loose Cultivator dared to approach the Bath of Fire Pool, they would be beaten and driven away at best, or killed on the spot at worst.

Basically, all Loose Cultivators and members of small Families who entered the Chiyang Secret Realm would not go near Chiyang Volcano.

The closer they got to Chiyang Volcano, the fewer people Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue encountered.

When those Loose Cultivators saw Zhang Daobai and Lin Luoxue flying toward Chiyang Volcano, mockery inevitably appeared in their eyes.

“Heh! Another two greenhorns rushing to their deaths.”

“There's going to be a good show!”

“I wonder if they'll be beaten up or just left there permanently?”

“Who cares, finding treasures is more important!”

At the foot of Chiyang Volcano,

A group of middle-aged men and elders were gathered together, chatting to pass the time.

These people were sent by various Families and powers to guard the younger generation Cultivating in the Bath of Fire Pool.

As for the other younger generation members without slots, they went to other parts of the Secret Realm to search for resources.

These people didn't notice that above their heads, an eerie white cloud was slowly drifting toward Chiyang Volcano.

Inside the Spirit Concealing Mist, Zhang Daobai held the void realm suppressing pagoda in his hand, his eyes burning as he looked at the volcano below.

Because he felt through the void realm suppressing pagoda that the heart of the secret realm was inside the volcano below.

“Can your Five Elements Light Escape enter the interior of that volcano?”

Looking at the scorching lava in the volcano, Zhang Daobai couldn't help but ask with some concern.

“I can, but with my cultivation, I can only hold out for the duration of an incense stick.”

Lin Luoxue did not refuse as she looked at the volcano below, answering in a calm tone.

“The time of an incense stick is enough!”

After confirming the exact location of the heart of the secret realm, Zhang Daobai nodded with absolute certainty.

“But before that, we must drive these people away,” Zhang Daobai said in a heavy voice, looking at the crowd below.

If the heart of the secret realm was taken, as long as it wasn't put into a storage space or taken out of the Secret Realm, the Secret Realm would not collapse for the time being.

However, even if it didn't collapse, there would still be significant disturbances, such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The younger generation of the various Families and powers were currently soaking in the Bath of Fire Pool inside Chiyang Volcano.

If a volcanic eruption occurred, these people would have no time to escape.