230: Chapter 230: Did He Eat an Elixir?

On the eve of the Secret Realm opening, the Sword Qi Great Wall was uncharacteristically calm, with no wind blowing.

The city was brightly lit, and every street was packed with people.

Among these people were either Loose Cultivators looking to watch the excitement or Elders there to see them off.

The flags of the major factions snapped in the night wind, and the totems on them flickered in the firelight, as if they had come alive.

A high platform had been erected early in the plaza in front of the City Lord's Mansion.

The high platform was built from a single piece of white jade, with the pattern of the Sword Qi Great Wall carved on all four sides, every incision as sharp as a sword.

Thirty-six large flags were planted around the high platform, embroidered with golden Sword Intent runes, snapping in the night wind.

On both sides of the plaza, hundreds of futons were arranged for the people of the major factions to rest.

Incense burners were lit between the futons, with curling blue smoke rising, and the air was filled with a faint scent of sandalwood.

Before dawn, people had already arrived.

The first to arrive was the Zhao family.

Fifteen young people wore uniform black battle armor, with the Zhao family crest carved onto the armor plates.

A golden tiger, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws.

Their steps were uniform, each footfall landing on the same beat, causing the ground to tremble slightly.

Walking at the very front was Zhao Wudi, his black hair draped over his shoulders, his golden brocade robe shimmering under the lamplight.

He crossed his arms over his chest, a faint, elusive smile hanging on the corners of his lips.

His gaze swept across the plaza, as if he were surveying the territory of his prey.

"The people from the Zhao family are here!"

"Is that Zhao Wudi walking in the front? I heard he was at the Early Stage of Spirit Severing twenty years ago; he must be at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage by now, right?"

"Nonsense, didn't you see the Aura on him? You can feel it even from a hundred zhang away."

Amidst the chatter, Zhao Wudi walked to the east side of the plaza.

With a wave of his hand, the fourteen Zhao family Prodigies sat down in unison, their movements as synchronized as a single person.

He himself did not sit, but stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the direction of the City Lord's Mansion gate.

Following closely behind the Zhao family, the people from the Sword Sect also arrived.

Fifteen Sword Cultivators in white, with long swords hanging at their waists, their sleeves fluttering.

They were worthy of being called Sword Cultivators; their steps were light yet carried a sharp Aura, and the air became piercingly sharp wherever they passed.

Walking at the front was Sword Dust, his white robes unstained by dust.

His expression was cold and stern, his gaze indifferent, as if nothing in the world was worth a second glance.

At his waist hung a long sword, entirely silver-white, with the characters 'Cold Frost' carved on the scabbard, and an ice-blue gemstone embedded in the hilt, emitting a bone-chilling cold.

"People from the Sword Sect! Is that Sword Dust?"

"I heard he meditated in the Sword Tomb for twenty years; his Sword Intent is already clear, and he is only one step away from the Sword Heart Clarity."

"Look at his sword, the Cold Frost Sword, a High Grade Heaven Rank weapon. Only the most outstanding Disciple of each generation is qualified to wear it."

Sword Dust paid no heed to these discussions, leading the Sword Sect Disciples to the west side of the plaza and sitting down cross-legged.

His long sword lay across his knees, and he closed his eyes to rest, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.

Soon after, the Luoxia Sect, Wanbao Chamber of Commerce, Wanhua Society, Loose Cultivators Alliance... various factions arrived one after another.

The Luoxia Sect brought ten people, led by an Elder at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage.

The remaining Disciples had varying levels of cultivation, ranging from the Early Stage of Soul Transformation to the Late Stage of Soul Transformation.

They sat down on the south side of the plaza, keeping their distance from the Zhao family and the Sword Sect.

The Wanbao Chamber of Commerce brought eight people, all dressed in luxurious clothing, wealthy, and wearing so many Magic Treasures that they could open a shop.

They were led by a Head Treasurer at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, who was all smiles and cupped his hands to everyone he saw.

But his eyes were full of shrewdness.

The Wanhua Society brought twelve people, all female cultivators, each with outstanding beauty and different temperaments.

Some were as cold as snow, some as enchanting as fire, and some as gentle as water.

They sat on the north side of the plaza, attracting countless gazes.

They were led by an Elder at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, dressed in purple robes and wearing a light veil, making it impossible to see her face clearly.

But her eyes were radiant and captivating, stealing the souls of those who looked.

The Loose Cultivators Alliance brought five people, dressed in all sorts of ways, with no proper posture when sitting or standing.

But no one dared to underestimate them.

The Loose Cultivators Alliance members had crawled out of piles of dead bodies; every one of them was a ruthless character.

They were led by an old man at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, with a scar running diagonally from his left forehead to his right jaw, making him look ferocious, but he was very amiable when he smiled.

The people from the City Lord's Mansion had not yet arrived.

In the center of the plaza, below the high platform, eighteen futons were empty; those were the seats for the City Lord's Mansion Prodigies.

"Why haven't the people from the City Lord's Mansion arrived yet?"

"I heard they have been Cultivating in the Secret Realm for twenty years, and today is their first time coming out of seclusion."

"Twenty years of seclusion? Those must all be monsters."

Amidst the discussion, the gates of the City Lord's Mansion slowly opened.

Eighteen young people filed out.

They wore uniform cyan robes, with a golden long sword embroidered on the lapels.

Their steps were uniform, their Aura steady.

Walking in the front was Li Qingyun, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, his black hair tied back and secured with a white jade hairpin.

His Peak Soul Transformation Stage Aura was as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a mountain, causing the surrounding air to slightly solidify.

What was most surprising was that every one of these eighteen people was at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation or higher.

"Holy crap! Are all eighteen of them big shots?"

"Has the City Lord's Mansion emptied out its entire foundation?"

"Twenty years of seclusion, truly terrifying."

Li Qingyun led the City Lord's Mansion Prodigies to the foot of the high platform and sat down on the eighteen futons.

He did not speak, nor did he even glance at the people around him; he simply closed his eyes to regulate his breath, as if he were seizing the last quarter of an hour to Cultivate.

In the plaza, the people from the various factions gathered in increasing numbers.

Some spoke in low voices, exchanging intelligence.

Some closed their eyes to rest, regulating their breath to prepare for battle.

Some looked around, searching for familiar faces.

Zhao Wudi suddenly spoke, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"I heard that for this Secret Realm, the Yao Race's Yao Venerables will also enter."

"I wonder how much weight those beasts have compared to our Human Race Prodigies."

Sword Dust opened his eyes and said indifferently: "Regardless of how they are, I have my sword to kill them."

The two exchanged a glance, and invisible sparks burst forth in the air.

Li Qingyun remained with his eyes closed, as if he had heard nothing.

The purple-robed Elder of the Wanhua Society chuckled: "Young Master Zhao has such great Killing Intent."

"However, the Secret Realm is not just about the Yao Race; there are also the Legacies and treasures of ancient great beings."

"Everyone should rely on their own abilities, and let's not damage our harmony."

Zhao Wudi laughed: "Harmony? Can harmony be eaten as a meal?"

The purple-robed Elder stopped speaking.

The scarred old man from the Loose Cultivators Alliance yawned: "What are you arguing about? Everyone hasn't arrived yet."

As soon as his voice fell, a sound of footsteps came from the entrance of the plaza.

Everyone looked toward the sound.

Dressed in black robes, with a patrol guard token at his waist, his steps were calm, and a faint, elusive smile hung on the corners of his lips.

It was none other than Xiao Ran.

He had only just woken up from his Cultivation state today; when he woke up, it was still early, and he had intended to rest for a while.

But the young woman was too demanding.

He had no choice but to use all his strength to do battle with her, which was why he arrived late.

The crowd looked toward the sound and suddenly realized something was wrong.

"Peak Soul Transformation Stage?"

"How is that possible? Wasn't he at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation?"

"Seven days ago he was still at the Middle Stage of Soul Transformation, how did he suddenly reach the Peak Soul Transformation Stage?"

"Did he eat some Immortal Pill?"

Xiao Ran walked into the plaza amidst shocked gazes.