71: Enter the secret realm

Before Xuan Yangzi finished speaking, he had already gripped the bronze token and injected Spiritual Qi into it.

The golden light in the Void Realm of the Forbidden Ground once again flickered, and a ten-foot-tall light gate rippled like water.

"Go!"

The Great Ancestor took the first step, his Peak Quasi-Saint Realm aura subconsciously restrained, fearing to disturb the Dao Rhyme within the Secret Realm.

The others followed closely, and the moment they passed through the light gate, everyone couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.

Their bodies were tightly enveloped by warm Spiritual Qi, as if they were soaking in melted spiritual jade, and their exposed skin could clearly feel the tingling sensation of Spiritual Qi drilling into their pores.

The moment they stepped into the Secret Realm, everyone stopped in unison, their eyes filled with shock and daze.

"This... this Spiritual Qi concentration... it really is a hundred times that of the outside world!"

The Second Ancestor couldn't help but squat down, his fingertips lightly touching the spiritual soil. As soon as his Spiritual Qi penetrated half an inch, it was pushed back by a vast Dao Rhyme. He suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with disbelief.

"I have Cultivated in the Azure Profound Sect for a thousand years, and I have never seen such pure Innate Spiritual Qi. Just standing here, my Cultivation is slowly improving!"

No sooner had he spoken than the Great Ancestor suddenly raised his hand and pinched the Second Ancestor's arm hard.

The Second Ancestor cried out in pain, jumped up suddenly, and glared at him while clutching his arm: "You old man, why did you pinch me?"

The Great Ancestor, however, was not annoyed. Instead, he rubbed his hands, his eyes filled with dazed excitement.

"I... I'm checking if I'm dreaming! This Secret Realm... this Spiritual Qi... it's a hundred times more miraculous than the 'Ancient Spiritual Realm' described in the Incomplete Manual I saw in the Forbidden Ground back then!"

Just as the Fifth Ancestor was about to respond, his gaze was suddenly drawn to a spiritual field in the distance.

He quickly walked forward, pushed aside the waist-high Spiritual Plants, and his fingertips gently caressed a Spirit Medicine with nine leaves—the leaves glowed with a warm, jade-like luster, and faint golden light circulated between the veins. It was none other than the King-grade Spirit Medicine, Nine-Leaf Grass!

"This... this is Nine-Leaf Grass!"

The Fifth Ancestor trembled all over, his voice shaking, "I saw its diagram years ago on Dan Ding Peak. This medicine ripens once every thousand years and can nourish the King's Origin, having a huge effect on Kings."

He leaned down to examine the root of the plant, only to see the soil glowing with the luster of an Innate Spiritual Spring. The roots of the Nine-Leaf Grass were deeply embedded in the depths of a Spiritual Vein, and the golden light on its leaves was several times more intense than recorded in the diagram.

"This age... it seems to be over ten thousand years!"

"But a thousand years is already rare. If left unpicked, it would wither and die. I've never heard of one that could Breakthrough the thousand-year limit..."

The Great Ancestor leaned over and glanced at it, then waved his hand: "What's the big deal? So easily startled."

He swept his hand across the spiritual field, only to see that amidst the vast expanse of Spiritual Plants, there were quite a few thousand-year-old Vermillion Fruits and various other Spirit Medicines hidden.

"This is an Innate Secret Realm. The Spiritual Qi is so dense that it can make plants sentient. Not to mention ten-thousand-year-old Nine-Leaf Grass, even more rare precious medicines would not be surprising."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the Great Ancestor's gaze suddenly froze, as if he had been struck by a petrifying spell, and he stood rooted to the spot.

In the center of the spiritual field, a half-human-tall Spirit Medicine glowed with a faint white light—its petals were as translucent as ice crystals, each radiating a sacred luster.

Suspended within the stamen was a wisp of faint purple Divine Soul light, slowly rotating with the flow of Spiritual Qi. It was precisely the Saint Medicine recorded only in ancient texts—the Void Condensing Divine Flower!

"The... Void Condensing Divine Flower!"

The Great Ancestor's composure instantly collapsed, his voice suddenly rising.

He rushed over quickly, carefully pushing aside the surrounding Spiritual Plants, fearing to damage the petals.

"Ancient texts record that this medicine can condense scattered Divine Souls. As long as a wisp of remnant soul remains, it can be used to reassemble it! This... this is a Saint Medicine!"

"It's ours! All of it belongs to our Azure Profound Sect! Hahahaha...!"

The Great Ancestor laughed so hard that the corners of his eyes wrinkled, his hands still trembling slightly, his gaze fixed on the Void Condensing Divine Flower, unwilling to move it even a fraction.

With this Saint Medicine, even if they encountered misfortune, they would have an extra trump card to save their lives!

The Fifth Ancestor stood by, watching, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes as he muttered to himself.

"Just now he was pretending to be well-informed, but seeing a Saint Medicine, he's even more excited than me. Hmph, where's your composure?"

Xuan Yangzi also came over, looking at the Saint Medicine and King-grade Spirit Medicines in the spiritual field, and suddenly felt his eyes well up—the value of this spiritual field alone was enough to drive the Seven Great Sects of Xuan Province mad.

The Great Ancestor was still immersed in shock, but the next second, he suddenly clutched his chest, his face turning crimson.

He had already reached the Peak of the Quasi-Saint Realm, and coupled with the Sacred Beast meat and Drunken Immortal Dew he had just consumed, he was already struggling to suppress it.

Now, in this Secret Realm with such dense Spiritual Qi, the interwoven power began to impact the barrier that had him stuck at the threshold of the Saint Realm. The Spiritual Qi in his Meridians surged almost uncontrollably, and even his breathing became rapid.

"No... this won't do... the Spiritual Qi is too dense. If I stay any longer, I'm afraid I won't be able to resist a Breakthrough!"

The other Old Ancestors also nodded, their faces filled with anxiety—their internal situations were similar to the Great Ancestor's. The Secret Realm's Spiritual Qi, combined with the lingering effects of the previous wine and meat, was impacting their Realm barriers.

Gu Changge looked at their tense expressions, a faint smile playing on his lips.

He looked towards the depths of the Secret Realm, where a faint mist enveloped the area, vaguely revealing a suspended jade platform. It was the Core of the Secret Realm, the Dao Comprehension Platform.

The Dao Comprehension Platform in the depths of the Secret Realm was the key.

"Old Ancestors, wait a moment. It would be more suitable for us to go to the depths of the Secret Realm and Breakthrough on the Dao Comprehension Platform."

Upon hearing this, everyone quickly suppressed the surging power within them and followed Gu Changge into the depths of the Secret Realm.

The further they went, the denser the Spiritual Qi became, eventually solidifying into tangible spiritual mist. With every breath, they could feel the Dao Rhyme circulating in their Sea of Consciousness.

Soon, a huge, suspended jade platform came into view. The platform was covered with ancient seal script, and in its center glowed a golden Dao Rhyme halo. The Spiritual Qi was so dense it almost dripped like water.

Standing below the platform, they could feel the power of sublimation that was enough to drive even those in the Quasi-Saint Realm mad.

"This... this is the Dao Comprehension Platform!"

The Great Ancestor tremblingly reached out his hand. As soon as his fingertips touched the Dao Rhyme emanating from the platform, his Sea of Consciousness felt a burst of clarity. His thoughts, previously chaotic due to the surging Spiritual Qi, instantly became clear.

Gu Changge nodded, his gaze sweeping over everyone: "Fellow Old Ancestors, now is the best time to improve your Aptitude."

"First, take the Marrow Cleansing Pill to raise your Aptitude. With improved Aptitude, you can not only perfectly absorb the Spiritual Qi of the Secret Realm and the Dao Rhyme of the Dao Comprehension Platform, but also reduce hindrances during Breakthroughs, and avoid detours on your future Cultivation path."

"Good! I want to see what miraculous effects this Medicinal Pill that can improve Aptitude truly has."

The Great Ancestor no longer hesitated, stepping onto the Dao Comprehension Platform with slightly eager strides. As he sat down cross-legged, even the movement of his robes brushing against the jade patterns was three parts lighter.

He plucked a gleaming white Marrow Cleansing Pill from his storage ring. As soon as the Medicinal Pill entered his hand, a clear medicinal fragrance wafted into his nostrils, relaxing his previously tense nerves a bit.

The Second Ancestor, Fifth Ancestor, and others followed closely, all sitting cross-legged at the edge of the Dao Comprehension Platform, each taking out a Marrow Cleansing Pill from their storage rings.

The gleaming white Medicinal Pills glowed with fine halos under the golden light of the Dao Comprehension Platform. Everyone's gaze fell upon the Medicinal Pills, filled with suppressed anticipation.

They had lived for a thousand years and had never heard of a Medicinal Pill that could improve Aptitude. At this moment, they were both curious and anxious, and even their fingertips clutching the Medicinal Pills trembled slightly.

Gu Changge looked at the trust and longing in their eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips, as his fingertips gently caressed a few ancient Jade Slips in his sleeve.

"Fellow Old Ancestors, please take them without worry. After you Breakthrough to the Saint Realm, Changge still has a few Cultivation Techniques here, which I believe will be more suitable than the 'Qingxuan Treasure Canon' you are currently Cultivating."

"Oh? There are Cultivation Techniques too?"

The Great Ancestor, just about to put the Medicinal Pill in his mouth, suddenly paused, his eyes full of curiosity.

"Changge, what grade of Cultivation Technique is it, I wonder?"

The next chapter will be released at noon.