Qingling Secret Realm

"It seems our immortal cultivation has officially begun." White Night smiled slightly, putting the Basic Breathing Technique into his robe. In the distance, the setting sun was slowly descending, casting golden residual light onto the mist-shrouded peaks, outlining a picture completely different from the Multiverse.

Here, there were no clashes of laws, no cosmic crises, only the slowly flowing spiritual energy and gradual cultivation. But White Night knew that this seemingly peaceful world must hide a huge secret related to the “Immortal Dao”—a secret capable of making even the fragments of the original laws gravitate toward it.

He stood up and patted the Silver Wolf's head: "Let's go, let's check out Azure Cloud Temple. Since we're starting from scratch, we need to first understand the rules of this world."

The man and the wolf walked along the jade-paved mountain path toward the distant Azure Cloud Temple. Their steps were not fast, but they were exceptionally firm. Deep within their Dantian, that wisp of faint spiritual power was slowly growing, like a tender sprout in a Time Garden, beginning a brand new growth in unfamiliar soil.

In the sky behind them, the golden passage quietly closed, as if it had never existed.

Only the light spot of the multiverse time core was still silently awaiting their news on the distant other end.

The clash between the Immortal Dao and the laws had just begun... In front of the Azure Cloud Temple's mountain gate, two White Jade Lions were breathing out faint spiritual energy, and the dew drops condensed at their mouths hung suspended without falling. This was the entry-level manifestation of "Spiritual Energy Transformation" in Immortal Dao cultivation.

White Night stood beneath the plaque inscribed with "The Dao follows Nature," and quietly tucked the multiverse time core fragment into his sleeve—when the fragment came into contact with the Temple's spiritual energy, it emitted a soft blue light, clearly demonstrating a marvelous compatibility with the Immortal Dao laws.

"Come in." Azure Cloud Master's voice came from within the Temple, carrying the unique gentle texture of spiritual power. As White Night pushed the door open and entered, he saw the elder sitting cross-legged on a Cushion in the Three Pure Ones Hall. In the bronze censer before him, "Concentration Incense" was burning, its smoke spiraling upwards, perfectly matching the trajectory of the Cultivator's inhaled spiritual energy.

"Senior, how did you know we would come?" White Night sat down on a Cushion, deliberately imitating the Azure Cloud Master's posture, keeping his spine perpendicular to the ground—this was the "Five Hearts Facing Heaven" stance recorded in the Basic Breathing Technique, said to allow spiritual power to flow more smoothly.

Azure Cloud Master smiled, pointing to the bronze censer: "Your spiritual power trajectory is too unique. Ordinary Cultivators absorb spiritual energy in a straight line, but yours seems to circle an invisible vortex, clearly cultivating with a foundation of 'Extradomain Laws'." He took out three scrolls of jade slips. "These are the foundational texts of the Immortal Dao: the Spiritual Energy Art, the Meridian Diagram, and the Realm Explanation. Take them and study them first. If you want to gain a foothold in this 'Xuantian Immortal Domain,' you must first understand the Immortal Dao Cultivation System."

White Night opened the Realm Explanation. The seal characters on the bamboo slip automatically floated into the air, forming a clear outline of the realms:

**Qi Refinement Stage** (Absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into the body, opening up the meridians, nine layers in total; three wisps of spiritual power must be condensed for each layer)

**Foundation Establishment Stage** (Compressing spiritual energy into a liquid state, forming a "Spiritual Lake" in the Dantian; allows the control of simple Magical Artifacts, lifespan increases to five hundred years)

**Golden Core Stage** (The Spiritual Lake condenses into a solid Golden Core; spiritual power undergoes a qualitative change, allowing flight using artifacts, lifespan increases to a thousand years)

**Nascent Soul Stage** (The Golden Core shatters, giving birth to a "Nascent Soul" identical to the Cultivator, possessing the preliminary ability of Manifestation of Heaven and Earth)

**Spirit Transformation Stage** (The Nascent Soul breaks out of the body, Wandering the Great Void, capable of manifesting Divine Sense thousands of miles away)

**Void Refinement Stage** (Divine Sense resonates with heaven and earth, every movement draws upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming a Domain)

**Integration Stage** (The Nascent Soul completely merges with the physical body; spiritual power and the physical body are perfectly coordinated, forming the Foundation of Immortality)

**Mahayana Stage** (Mastering the laws of a piece of heaven and earth, capable of shattering the void and traveling to the higher level "Immortal World")

**Tribulation Transcendence Stage** (Drawing down the Tribulation Lightning of the Nine Heavens, cleansing the Immortal Bone; success leads to Ascension, failure results in death and annihilation)

"This system... surprisingly corresponds subtly to the law levels of the Multiverse." White Night was inwardly shocked. Qi Refinement corresponds to the Golden Immortal Realm, Foundation Establishment is comparable to the Immortal Venerable Realm, Golden Core is roughly equivalent to the Hongmeng Realm, and the Mahayana Stage's "mastering the laws of heaven and earth" shared a similar effect with his former status as the "Multiverse Supreme."

The Wind Howling Silver Wolf leaned closer, sniffing the Meridian Diagram with its nose. Although the "Eight Extraordinary Meridians" drawn in the diagram differed from its beast meridians, the core location of the "Dantian Sea of Qi" was exactly the same. When its spiritual power flowed along the route shown in the diagram, a faint white light actually appeared on its wolf claws—this was the "Spiritual Power Manifestation" only mastered by Qi Refinement Cultivators.

"It seems your comprehension is good." Azure Cloud Master stroked his beard and smiled. "But Immortal Dao cultivation requires more than just comprehension. Although the spiritual energy in Xuantian Immortal Domain is abundant, it is mixed and impure; you need to purify it using 'Spiritual Veins.' The 'Spirit Cleansing Pool' behind the mountain connects to Azure Cloud Temple's Leyline. Cultivate there for three days, and you can condense your first wisp of pure spiritual power faster."

The Spirit Cleansing Pool was located beneath the waterfall behind Azure Cloud Temple's mountain. The pool water was a faint jade green, and tiny bubbles continuously emerged from the cracks in the jade stones at the bottom—this was the pure spiritual energy from deep within the Leyline. When White Night stepped into the pool, countless bubbles automatically attached to his skin and entered his body through his pores, ten times richer than the spiritual energy absorbed through self-breathing.

"So that's it..." He finally understood the fundamental difference between the Immortal Dao and the laws of the Multiverse. The laws of the Multiverse were "plunder-style," strengthening oneself by devouring energy; the Immortal Dao was "symbiotic," cultivating by utilizing things like the Spirit Cleansing Pool, Leylines, and Spiritual Objects. The essence was reaching a balance with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, taking what is needed, and using it sparingly.

Three days later, when the first wisp of pure spiritual power condensed in his Dantian, a golden light suddenly flashed across White Night's Sea of Consciousness. The suppressed origin dharma wheel actually resonated with the spiritual power, and the fragments of the original laws that constituted the dharma wheel began to arrange themselves in a brand new way—no longer sharp edges, but transforming into rounded strings of beads, with each "bead" wrapped around a wisp of spiritual power.

"Is this... the fusion of laws and spiritual power?" White Night tried to drive the fused energy and found that the originally overbearing original laws had become gentle, able to flow through the meridians like spiritual power, yet retaining the essential power of the laws. When he injected the fused energy into his fingertip, he actually wrote a golden character "Dao" on the water surface—the character hovered without dissipating, which was the "Spiritual Power Transformation" only mastered by Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

The Wind Howling Silver Wolf's progress was even more astonishing. It already had a foundation of original laws, and the three days of spirit cleansing allowed the spiritual power within its body to directly break through the third layer of the Qi Refinement Stage. The strings of spiritual power beads condensed on its fur could even automatically defend against external attacks. When a "Black Scale Leopard" (a fifth-layer Qi Refinement Demonic Beast) coveting the Spirit Cleansing Pool attacked, the Silver Wolf merely flicked its tail, and the strings of spiritual power beads turned into silver light blades, forcing the Leopard Demon back ten meters.

"It seems you have touched the threshold of the Qi Refinement Stage." Azure Cloud Master stood by the pool, holding two Jade Slips. "The Xuantian Immortal Domain holds the 'Qingling Secret Realm' Trial every three years. Inside the secret realm, there are not only 'Spiritual Fruits' that can accelerate spiritual power condensation but also Incomplete Cultivation Technique Scrolls left by senior Cultivators. This is the Entry Token for the secret realm; you can use this opportunity to gain experience."

White Night took the Jade Slip. The three characters "Azure Cloud Temple" were carved on it, and faint spiritual power flowed within the traces of the characters. He could sense that a Space Teleportation Array was sealed within the Jade Slip, and its destination was the entrance to the Qingling Secret Realm.

The night before departure, White Night meditated in the Three Pure Ones Hall, comparing the Spiritual Energy Art line by line with the law system of the Multiverse. When he read that "Golden Core Stage allows flight using artifacts," he suddenly recalled the Sword-riding Cultivators he saw when he first arrived in the Xuantian Immortal Domain—those Cultivators did not master the Space Law, but rather established a "Resonance Contract" between spiritual power and the Magical Artifact, using the contract to harness the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to form a lifting force.

"So that's how it is..." He took out a leaf of Sea of Chaos Star Dust from his sleeve and tried to inject spiritual power into it. Under the nourishment of the spiritual power, the leaf actually grew fine rootlets, which wrapped around his wrist, forming a green bracelet—this was the most basic "Artifact Spirit Contract." Although the Star Dust was not considered a Magical Artifact, it proved the compatibility of the laws of the two universes.

The Wind Howling Silver Wolf lay beside his feet, also studying a piece of Black Beast Bone it found from the Spirit Cleansing Pool. Vague claw marks were carved on the bone. When the Silver Wolf traced the claw marks with spiritual power, the characters "Splitting Wind" actually appeared on the bone, and a gust of wind-element spiritual power surged into its body through its wolf claws, making its speed slightly faster.

"This is a Demonic Beast's 'Inheritance Bone'." Azure Cloud Master appeared in the hall at some point, holding an Oil Lamp. "Demonic Beasts in Xuantian Immortal Domain can also cultivate. They seal their lifetime's spiritual power in their bones and blood for their descendants. Your companion has quite the fortune; this Splitting Wind Beast Bone was left by at least a late-stage Qi Refinement Demonic Beast."

Watching the Silver Wolf's excited appearance, White Night suddenly understood why the "Immortal Dao" of the Xuantian Immortal Domain could become an independent law system—it not only embraced human Cultivators but also provided a path for all living things to cultivate. This concept of "All Things Share the Same Origin" possessed greater affinity than the Multiverse's "Law Alliance."

The entrance to the Qingling Secret Realm was located in a massive valley, where Cultivators from the seven major surrounding Sects had gathered, totaling over a thousand people. Most of these Cultivators wore unified sect attire, and the Jade Pendants on their waists clearly indicated their rank: white for Qi Refinement Stage, green for Foundation Establishment Stage, and the few Elders standing at the very front had Jade Pendants that showed a faint golden color—clearly Golden Core Stage Cultivators.

"Isn't that someone from Azure Cloud Temple? Why did they bring a Demonic Beast?"

"Look at their Jade Pendants, only third layer of Qi Refinement Stage, yet they dare to come to the Qingling Secret Realm?"

"I heard Azure Cloud Temple has declined in recent years; they can't even gather enough Foundation Establishment Stage Disciples, so they have to send newcomers to fill the quota."

The surrounding chatter entered his ears, but White Night remained unmoved. His attention was focused on the Teleportation Array in the center of the valley—the array core was not embedded with Spirit Stones, but a translucent crystal. The energy flowing within the crystal actually had the same "Time Rhythm" as the multiverse time core.

"That is a 'Space-Time Crystal,' it stabilizes the secret realm's space channel." The Wind Howling Silver Wolf brought its nose close to the crystal, and the internal patterns of the crystal were reflected in its wolf pupils. "The flow of time inside is three times faster than the outside, but the spiritual energy concentration is ten times higher."

Just then, the Teleportation Array suddenly lit up with white light, and a cultivator wearing a purple Daoist robe, accompanied by two disciples, landed next to the array core. The words “Purple Haze Valley” (Zixia Valley) were carved on the azure jade pendant hanging from the cultivator's waist, and the spiritual energy fluctuations surrounding him far exceeded that of ordinary Qi Condensation Stage cultivators, reaching at least the peak of the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.

“People from Azure Cloud Temple?” The purple-robed cultivator's gaze fell upon White Night and Silver Wolf, a hint of mockery playing on his lips. “The Qingling Secret Realm isn't a place for child's play. Without the strength of the Foundation Establishment Stage, entering is just courting death.”

White Night ignored him, simply injecting spiritual energy into the Admission Token. The token resonated with the Teleportation Array, forming a white halo beneath his feet. Wind Howling Silver Wolf jumped onto the halo, its wolf eyes vigilantly fixed on the purple-robed cultivator—it could sense a trace of malevolence in the man's spiritual energy; he was clearly trouble.

“Clueless fool.” The purple-robed cultivator snorted coldly and gestured to the disciples beside him. The two disciples understood, quietly positioning themselves at the edge of White Night's halo, clearly intending to interfere during the teleportation.

The moment the white light flashed, White Night clearly felt two streams of malicious spiritual energy attempting to disrupt his halo. He didn't confront them directly; instead, he separated a thread of the Fused Energy (Origin Law + Spiritual Energy) from his Dantian and let it flow along the halo's patterns. This thread of energy, seemingly weak, carried the “Devour” characteristic of the Primal Laws, silently assimilating the two streams of malicious spiritual energy.

Inside the Teleportation Channel, the two Zixia Valley disciples suddenly screamed miserably. Their spiritual energy went out of control after contacting the Fused Energy, creating turbulence within the channel. Not only did they fail to harm White Night, but their own teleportation trajectories were shifted, sending them to an unknown corner of the Secret Realm.

“Interesting.” White Night looked at the slightly warm token in his hand, experiencing the Immortal Dao wisdom of “defeating the strong with the weak” for the first time—no need for forceful suppression, only needing to guide the opponent's strength to rebound upon themselves, like the flow of Yin and Yang in the Taiji Diagram, using their force against them.

When the white light reappeared, they were already inside the Qingling Secret Realm. Beneath their feet were moss-covered bluestones. The spiritual energy in the air was so dense it was almost liquidizing, and the roars of Demonic Beasts could faintly be heard from the distant mountains. The sky above was a strange purple—this was the Secret Realm's unique “Spiritual Mist Phenomenon,” indicating the emergence of high-grade Spiritual Treasures nearby.

Wind Howling Silver Wolf suddenly let out a low growl toward the valley on the left, its nose pointing at a fruit tree laden with red fruits. A faint red light surrounded the surface of the fruits; this was precisely the “Blood Spirit Fruit” recorded in the 《Spiritual Qi Art》, capable of directly enhancing the spiritual energy purity of Qi Condensation Stage cultivators.

However, coiled beneath the fruit tree was a huge azure python, its body covered in diamond-shaped scales that reflected a metallic sheen—this was the “Azure Scale Python,” a Demonic Beast of at least the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation, several times stronger than the Black Scale Leopard they had encountered previously.

“It looks like the trial starts now.” White Night clenched the Sea of Chaos Stardust Leaf in his hand. Propelled by spiritual energy, the leaf transformed into a green short blade. He could feel the Fused Energy in his Dantian stirring, ready to welcome this true Immortal Dao Trial.

The Azure Scale Python clearly noticed them too. A Bloodthirst red light flashed in its eyes, and its massive body lunged forward like an arrow released from a bow, the foul wind it raised causing the surrounding spiritual herbs to wither.

Wind Howling Silver Wolf launched the first attack, its form turning into a silver bolt of lightning. Avoiding the python's bite, its wolf claws, imbued with the Wind-element spiritual energy from the Rending Wind Beast Bone, slashed fiercely toward the Azure Scale Python's Seven-inch Mark—the weakest point of a Demonic Beast's spiritual energy.

“Now!” White Night followed closely. He injected Fused Energy into the green short blade, causing the blade's body to glow with faint golden light. Instead of attacking the python directly, he spread his spiritual energy along the ground, forming a small “Law Vortex” beneath the Azure Scale Python—a small technique he created by combining Immortal Dao spiritual energy with Primal Laws, capable of temporarily restricting the flow of a Demonic Beast's spiritual energy.

The Azure Scale Python's movements indeed paused for a moment. In that instant, Silver Wolf's claw light had already torn through its scales, and the green short blade accurately pierced the Seven-inch Mark.

“Hiss—!” The huge python let out a painful shriek, its massive body thrashing violently on the ground, but it couldn't break free due to its spiritual energy being restricted. Moments later, the azure scales on the python's body gradually lost their luster, eventually turning into a pile of ordinary snake bones, leaving only a pigeon-egg-sized azure bead at the Seven-inch Mark—this was the Azure Scale Python's “Demonic Core,” containing pure spiritual energy, making it an excellent cultivation material for Qi Condensation Stage cultivators.

White Night put away the Demonic Core and looked at the Fused Energy pulsating in his palm, a new realization dawning in his heart. Immortal Dao cultivation might truly bring new possibilities to the Multiverse—this kind of “silent nurturing” power was more resilient than the collision of laws, and better suited for the long-term continuation of civilization.

In the distant mountains, more Demonic Beasts were drawn by the scent of blood. The Secret Realm trial had just begun. But there was no fear in the eyes of White Night and Wind Howling Silver Wolf, only a thirst for new power and boundless curiosity about this Immortal Dao Universe.

Their figures disappeared into the depths of the dense forest, leaving behind only the Azure Scale Python bones scattered across the ground, and the unique aura of two Cosmic Laws still lingering in the air.

The fusion of the Immortal Dao and the laws was quietly ushering in a new prelude in this unfamiliar Secret Realm... In the depths of the Qingling Secret Realm's dense forest, the red light of the Blood Spirit Fruits flickered amongst the branches and leaves.

White Night picked the three plumpest fruits. They felt warm and moist in his hand, and visible threads of spiritual energy flowed within the juice beneath the skin.

According to the records in the 《Spiritual Qi Art》, this kind of spiritual fruit must be consumed along with the “Heart Purification Art,” or the excessive spiritual energy could cause swelling and pain in the Meridians.

“Silver Wolf, stabilize your realm first.” White Night tossed a Blood Spirit Fruit to Wind Howling Silver Wolf, then sat cross-legged, forming the Hand Seal for the Heart Purification Art with his fingertips.

The moment the fruit entered his mouth, he didn't rush to guide the spiritual energy into his Dantian. Instead, he slowly wrapped the violent energy with the origin dharma wheel, refining it repeatedly like kneading dough—this was the combination of Multiverse laws and Immortal Dao Cultivation, which could both preserve the fruit's purity and eliminate its impurities.

Wind Howling Silver Wolf's method of refinement was more direct. It swallowed the Blood Spirit Fruit whole, its belly swelling slightly. Silver light mist then emanated from its body, and countless threads of spiritual energy could faintly be seen reorganizing within the mist. Half an hour later, Silver Wolf's aura stabilized at the Fourth Layer of Qi Condensation. With a swipe of its wolf claw, it could carve three shallow traces of spiritual energy in the air—this was the prototype of the “Rending Wind Claw,” a Demonic Beast Technique comprehended after absorbing the Azure Scale Python's Demonic Core.

“There are sounds of fighting ahead.” Silver Wolf suddenly pricked up its ears and let out a low growl toward the east side of the dense forest. The spiritual energy fluctuations there were extremely chaotic, mixed with the crisp sounds of weapons clashing and the muffled groans of cultivators, indicating a fierce battle was taking place.

White Night contained his aura and quietly approached with Silver Wolf. In a clearing, three cultivators dressed in Zixia Valley robes were surrounding and attacking a Young Woman in Azure Robes. The white jade pendant worn by the woman was cracked, indicating a cultivation base at the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation. She was currently struggling to hold on with a longsword; although her sword moves were exquisite, her spiritual energy was nearly exhausted.

“Liu Ruyan, hand over the ‘Condensing Dew Grass,’ and we'll spare your life!” The leading Zixia Valley cultivator held a Horsetail Whisk, the strands wrapped in purple spiritual energy. Every swing forced the young woman to retreat repeatedly. The jade pendant on his waist glowed with the light of the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation, confirming he was the purple-robed cultivator encountered at the Secret Realm entrance earlier.

The young woman bit her lower lip, leaning on her longsword and coughing up a mouthful of blood. “Zi Xuan, I found the Condensing Dew Grass first. Why should I give it to you?”

“Because Zixia Valley has more people!” Another Zixia Valley disciple sneered and stepped forward, the short knife in his hand imbued with vicious black spiritual energy, clearly indicating he practiced some Unorthodox Cultivation Method. “You refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Once we cripple your cultivation, let's see if you're still so stubborn!”

White Night frowned slightly. He could see the medicinal herb clutched tightly in the young woman's arms. The dew drops condensed on the leaves contained spiritual energy with “Calming” attributes, which was the crucial material needed to break through the Sixth Layer of Qi Condensation. Meanwhile, the Zixia Valley cultivators' spiritual energy carried an obvious “Pillaging” aura, running contrary to the Immortal Dao concept of “Coexistence.”

“Silver Wolf.” White Night nodded softly.

Wind Howling Silver Wolf understood. Its silver figure shot out like a phantom, raising a gust of wind behind the Zixia Valley disciple. The cultivator holding the short knife was caught off guard, struck in the back by the wolf claw. His black spiritual energy instantly scattered, and he stumbled far away.

“Who?!” Zi Xuan spun around abruptly, pointing his Horsetail Whisk toward the direction White Night was hiding. “A sneaky scoundrel hiding his head and showing his tail! Dare you interfere with Zixia Valley's business?”

White Night slowly walked out, tossing the Azure Scale Python's Demonic Core in his hand. “Within the Secret Realm, Spiritual Treasures belong to the capable. Aren't you afraid of damaging the Foundation of the Immortal Dao by using your influence to bully others?”

“The Third Layer of Qi Condensation?” Seeing White Night's white jade pendant, contempt flashed in Zi Xuan's eyes. “A brat from Azure Cloud Temple dares to lecture me? Take him down, both of you!”

One of the remaining two Zixia Valley disciples immediately split off to attack White Night, his longsword imbued with purple spiritual energy thrusting straight toward the heart. White Night did not dodge. He injected the Azure Scale Python's Demonic Core into his palm, allowing the azure spiritual energy within the core to merge with the Origin Law, forming a transparent barrier in front of him.

“Clang!” The longsword struck the barrier but was repelled three feet away. The disciple was shaken so badly that the web between his thumb and forefinger went numb, his face full of disbelief: “How could your spiritual energy...”

Before he could finish, Wind Howling Silver Wolf pounced from the side. Its silver claw light tore through his spiritual energy defense, leaving three deep, bone-visible wounds on his shoulder. The disciple screamed, his spiritual energy instantly falling into chaos; he was clearly out of the fight.

“Trash!” Zi Xuan roared angrily, personally attacking with his Horsetail Whisk. The whisk strands coiled like live snakes, weaving a large net of purple spiritual energy in the air. Corrosive black mist flickered at the net's nodes—this was Zixia Valley's unique technique, the Corroding Spirit Net, specialized in breaking the spiritual energy defenses of low-level cultivators.

White Night lightly tapped his foot, his figure dodging the net array like willow catkins in the wind, while simultaneously injecting the pure spiritual energy refined from the Blood Spirit Fruit into the Sea of Chaos Stardust Leaf.

The leaf transformed into a green long whip. Faint golden Law Energy flowed through the veins of the whip, and a single lash struck the horsetail whisk strands, shattering the purple spiritual energy into tiny pieces...