69: Secret Realm Revealed

Seeing that Gu Changge said no more, everyone knew that further questioning would yield no results, so they tacitly stopped bringing up the topic of his cultivation.

However, their hearts were far from calm, each turning over a myriad of speculations.

The Great Ancestor stroked his beard, his gaze lingering on Gu Changge for a long time, his Divine Sense at the Peak of the Quasi-Saint Realm quietly probing, yet he could sense nothing.

He mused inwardly, "He said it's similar to a Quasi-Saint; is it less or more, or has he already reached the Saint Realm?"

The Third Old Ancestor continued eating his beef, his mind full of "This kid hides himself too well."

Xuan Yangzi was even more anxious, wanting to see through Gu Changge.

Gu Changge took in everyone's thoughts, but didn't tease them further; he simply picked up a jade spoon and added a scoop of spiritual chili sauce to the hotplate, the sizzling aroma of meat instantly overpowering the solemn atmosphere on the stone Peak.

Xuan Yangzi suddenly slapped the stone table, finally remembering the main event of their trip, and hastily pulled out the bronze token inscribed with "Azure Cloud Secret Realm" from his storage ring.

The four seal characters "Azure Cloud Secret Realm" on the token shimmered in the morning light; as soon as it was taken out, the surrounding Spiritual Qi spontaneously surged towards it.

"Old Ancestor, Junior Brother Changge's token seals an entire Innate Secret Realm!"

Xuan Yangzi's voice trembled as he pointed at the token and said urgently.

"Inside, there are a hundred thousand miles of spiritual land, with a Spiritual Qi concentration a hundred times that of the outside world, and ancient Legacies hidden within!"

"Junior Brother Changge and I discussed it, and we want to place the Secret Realm in the Forbidden Ground's Void Realm, overlapping it with the Forbidden Ground using a Formation, so the Old Ancestors can reside in the Secret Realm daily."

"An Innate Secret Realm?!"

The Great Ancestor was first stunned, then reached out to probe his forehead; his withered fingers touched his warm skin, then he touched his own forehead.

"I say, Little Xuanzi, your alcohol tolerance isn't good. How much have you had to drink to start talking nonsense?"

"A Secret Realm is at least ten thousand miles in territory. This token is only palm-sized; how can it hold it? You haven't mistaken some Formation token, have you?"

The Second Ancestor also stroked his beard and chuckled.

"Exactly, exactly. We've lived for over a thousand years; we've only heard of Secret Realms hidden in mountains and Spiritual Veins, never of one that can be sealed in a token. Xuan Yang, you're probably so eager for a Secret Realm that you're confused!"

Xuan Yangzi looked at the Old Ancestors' reactions, a look of expectation on his face.

Then he deliberately frowned and pushed the token into the Great Ancestor's hand, his tone "urgent": "Old Ancestor, don't disbelieve me! Try injecting Spiritual Qi yourself!"

His heart was already blooming with joy — once you all sense the scene inside, I guarantee you'll be too shocked to speak!

The Great Ancestor, urged by him, reluctantly took the token, half-believing; as soon as a wisp of Quasi-Saint Spiritual Qi was injected into his fingertip, the once ordinary token suddenly burst forth with brilliant golden light.

The vastness of a hundred thousand miles of spiritual land, floating stone Peaks shrouded in mist, spiritual springs capable of growing moss on metal and stone... countless scenes surged into his Sea of Consciousness like a tide, and even the Spiritual Qi in the air, so dense it was almost tangible, was clearly perceptible!

"This, this is..."

The Great Ancestor's fingers suddenly clenched the token, his knuckles turning white from the force; the aura of a Peak Quasi-Saint Realm burst forth, causing the Spiritual Veins on the stone Peak to tremble, and even the bluestone slabs beneath their feet cracked with fine lines.

"There, there really is a Secret Realm! And it really is in the token!"

Seeing his reaction, the Second Ancestor also hurried over; as soon as his fingertip touched the token, he was startled by the Spiritual Pressure emanating from within and took half a step back, his withered hands rubbing excitedly, his knuckles also turning white.

"Good heavens! A hundred thousand miles of spiritual land! That's several Xuan Provinces combined! If this is true, our Azure Profound Sect is truly prosperous now!"

The Fifth Ancestor looked at the two of them, eagerly snatching the token; the moment he sensed the Secret Realm's scenery, his originally smiling face instantly froze, and his voice even choked up.

"An Innate Secret Realm that opened with the heavens and earth... how many Holy Lands with Legacies spanning eons fight tooth and nail but cannot obtain one!"

Xuan Yangzi watched the Old Ancestors' dumbfounded and incoherent reactions, no longer able to hide his little smugness.

See, you called me crazy just now, aren't you scared to death now?

The Great Ancestor held the token for a long time before recovering, his gaze towards Xuan Yangzi completely changed.

"I never thought there truly existed a token that could contain a Secret Realm in this world; it was my limited perspective, Old Ancestor!"

Gu Changge looked at everyone's excited expressions, lightly tapping the Void Realm with his fingertip; a faint cyan spiritual light flashed, and subtle Formation patterns suddenly appeared around the stone Peak, then instantly vanished into the Void Realm, further concealing the Forbidden Ground's aura.

"Regarding the Secret Realm's placement, I have roughly planned it with the Sect Master."

"I want to arrange the Secret Realm into three parts!"

"Three parts?"

The Great Ancestor showed more anticipation, "Tell us, how exactly will it be divided?"

Gu Changge took over, lightly tapping the Void Realm with his fingertip, and a phantom image of the Secret Realm unfolded above the stone Peak.

In the phantom, the Secret Realm was divided into three areas by two invisible barriers, each area enveloped in different spiritual light.

"The deepest part of the Secret Realm, where the Spiritual Qi is most concentrated, also hides a natural Dao Comprehension Platform, which can serve as a living and Cultivating place for the Old Ancestors."

Gu Changge pointed to the innermost area of the phantom, where mist swirled, and several floating stone Peaks were faintly visible.

"This place's Spiritual Qi contains Innate Dao Rhyme, which greatly benefits the Old Ancestors in breaking through to higher Realms, and its location is secluded, not easily disturbed."

The Great Ancestor looked at that Dao Comprehension Platform, his breathing becoming heavy, and his Quasi-Saint Peak Spiritual Power slightly fluctuating due to excitement.

"Good! A good place! With this Dao Comprehension Platform, this old man will soon be able to Breakthrough to the Saint Realm!"

"The middle part of the Secret Realm, though its Spiritual Qi is not as dense as the deepest part, is still hundreds of times richer than the outside world."

Gu Changge's fingertip moved to the middle area.

"It can serve as a Forbidden Ground Cultivation area for the Peak masters and core Elders. If Senior Brothers wish to enter seclusion to Breakthrough, or study Cultivation Techniques and battle skills, they can come here. It can both accelerate their Cultivation with Spiritual Qi and avoid being disturbed by Sect affairs."

"However, entry and exit from the Forbidden Ground must be authorized by the Sect Master or the Old Ancestors."

"As for the outer perimeter of the Secret Realm, the Spiritual Qi concentration is also a hundred times that of the outside world, and it is distributed with many Yao Beast lairs and fragments of ancient Legacies."

Gu Changge finally pointed to the outermost area, where mountains and forests were dense, and occasional spiritual light flickered.

"One hundred Disciples can be selected to enter, to be independently cultivated by the Sect. Once inside, they may not easily leave, to Cultivate reserve strength for the Sect."

The Great Ancestor suddenly remembered something and asked, "What are the criteria for selecting Disciples then? Should there be an entry threshold?"

"Naturally," Xuan Yangzi interjected.

"Priority will be given to Disciples with stable Heart-Nature and proper background. Before entering the Secret Realm, they must sign a concentric contract and swear an Heavenly Dao oath, absolutely not to leak any Secret Realm information. If the Old Ancestors have time, they can also occasionally guide the Disciples within the Secret Realm."

The Great Ancestor repeatedly agreed, his hands clutching the bronze token trembling, knuckles turning white from the force, filled with uncontrollable excitement.

"Then let's start now and strive to complete the Secret Realm's arrangement as soon as possible!"

With that, he was about to raise his hand to condense Spiritual Power, intending to first reinforce the Forbidden Ground's outer barrier with his own cultivation.

"Before arranging the Secret Realm, the Forbidden Ground's Formation must be reinforced by three more layers!

This Secret Realm concerns the future of our Sect. If even a trace of its aura is leaked during the arrangement, attracting the prying eyes of top-tier forces, all our previous preparations will be in vain!"

The Old Ancestors also nodded in agreement, each eager to begin...