80: Chapter 80 Those who enter bear the consequences of their own actions.

Just as everyone was discussing amongst themselves, a shout of prohibition suddenly rang out.

"Everyone quiet!"

A dignified voice sounded.

Everyone looked towards the source of the sound and saw several Cultivators with profound auras standing on the high platform.

The one leading them was Elder Zhang from the Outer Gate Deacon Hall, a Foundation Establishment Late-Stage Cultivator with white hair and beard, and a stern expression.

Standing behind him were several Foundation Establishment Stage deacons, one of whom Li Changsheng recognized as none other than Manager Qin from the Hundred Herb Garden.

Elder Zhang swept his gaze across the crowd below and spoke slowly:

"I presume you have all seen it. That halo is a projection of the 'Sumeru Grotto-Heaven'."

"This Secret Realm appears once every few hundred years. Its movements are erratic, its entrance is colorless and formless, and it descends randomly."

"Once it descends, anyone within a three-mile radius will be pulled into it, unable to resist."

The crowd below immediately erupted into an uproar.

"Unable to resist?"

"Doesn't that mean if you want to enter you must, and if you don't want to enter you still must?"

"A three-mile radius? What if it descends within our Sect..."

"Don't talk nonsense!"

"The descent location has a pattern. Ancient records state that the Sumeru Grotto-Heaven often appears in places with abnormal spiritual energy fluctuations, so the vicinity of the Sect is relatively safe."

Elder Zhang raised his hand to suppress the murmurs and continued.

"Inside the Sumeru Grotto-Heaven, there are countless Opportunities."

"Spirit Medicine, Cultivation Technique, Magical Artifact, Legacy... all are possible to obtain."

"But it is also fraught with danger; killing formations, Yao Beast, Restrictions—the slightest carelessness will lead to death."

"Those who enter, bear their own fate."

He paused, his gaze becoming serious.

"The Sect has issued an order: all Disciples at Qi Refining Level 3 or higher are strictly forbidden from leaving the Sect from this day forth and must remain on standby at all times."

"After the projection of the Sumeru Grotto-Heaven appears, it will surely descend within seven days."

"When that time comes, Disciples within the projection range will be pulled in."

"After entering, each must rely on their own fate, but the Sect encourages Disciples to help one another."

"If one can return alive, the obtained Opportunities will belong to the individual."

"If one can return alive."

These few words caused the expressions of many Disciples to shift slightly.

Elder Zhang gave a few more instructions on precautions before dismissing the crowd.

Upon walking out of the Martial Arts Field, Li Changsheng was called over by Li Changqing.

"Brother Changsheng, what do you think?"

Li Changsheng looked toward the faintly visible halo in the distance, was silent for a moment, and said.

"It is an Opportunity, but also a crisis."

Li Changqing nodded.

"That is what I was thinking too."

"I heard there is a great deal of Spirit Medicine inside. If we can harvest a few stalks that are over a century old, it would be worth more than several years of farming."

Shi Tiezhu scratched his head, looking somewhat nervous.

"I, I have only just entered Qi Refining Level 3. Wouldn't it be too dangerous to go in?"

Li Changsheng patted him on the shoulder.

"Be careful when the time comes, and stay close to us."

"If we can avoid entering, that is best, but if we are truly pulled in, we will act together."

Li Xiaocao had run over at some point, her little face flushed red.

"Brother Changsheng, I want to go in too!"

"No."

Li Changsheng refused without a second thought.

"You are only at Qi Refining Level 2; it is too dangerous to go in."

Li Xiaocao pouted, but seeing Li Changsheng's stern expression, she dared not argue further.

The four of them entered the Qinglan Sword Sect; theoretically, Li Xiaocao's Aptitude was higher than both Li Changqing's and Shi Tiezhu's.

However, because she was younger, Li Changsheng had her focus on solidifying her foundation first and did not have her take too many Medicinal Pill to raise her Cultivation Realm, focusing instead on building up strength for a future breakthrough.

The four of them stood outside the Martial Arts Field, gazing at that strange halo in the distance.

The halo flickered on and off, as if it were breathing.

In his heart, Li Changsheng had a faint premonition.

This trip to the Secret Realm might change many things.

He recalled what Liu Qingchen had said.

The Blood Fiend Sect had been frequently active in the Qinglan Mountains area recently, seemingly looking for something.

What were they looking for?

Could it be related to this Sumeru Grotto-Heaven?

He did not know.

But he knew that regardless of whether what lay ahead was an Opportunity or a crisis, he had to face it.

Because he had no way back.

Behind him, the Spirit Tea Tree swayed gently in the wind.

In the distance, the halo swirled, as if beckoning.

Returning to the Spirit Field storehouse, Li Changsheng did not go to the spirit fields as usual.

Instead, he stood at the entrance of the storehouse, deep in thought, and soon discovered the problem.

"I knew something was off."

Li Changsheng walked out of the storehouse and went straight to Li Changqing's residence.

Li Changqing lived in a simple Disciple courtyard on the mountainside of Heavenly Sword Peak.

It was a small, single room, and the conditions were not much better than the General Affairs Hall.

When Li Changsheng arrived, she was practicing sword techniques in the courtyard, executing a set of "Golden Peak Sword Art" with great vigor, the sword light sharp and fierce.

"Brother Changsheng?"

Li Changqing sheathed her sword, somewhat surprised.

"Why are you here at this time?"

Li Changsheng did not beat around the bush.

"What are your plans regarding the Secret Realm?"

Li Changqing was silent for a moment, then gripped her sword tightly.

"I want to go in."

"I know."

Li Changsheng nodded.

"But before going in, we must be prepared."

He paused, and said seriously.

"Notify Tiezhu and Xiao Cao; we will go to the market today and buy everything we need."

"Medicinal Pill, Talisman, weapons—buy as much as you can. The sooner, the better."

Li Changqing was slightly startled: "So urgent?"

"I am worried that once the news spreads, prices will rise."

Li Changsheng looked in the direction of the market.

"Moreover, it is not just the people from our Sect; those Loose Cultivators outside, as well as Disciples from other Sects, will likely come too."

Li Changqing's expression shifted slightly, and then she nodded.

"I will go right now."

As it turned out, Li Changsheng's worries were correct.

When the four of them arrived at the market, it was already several times livelier than usual.

People were coming and going on the streets, and everywhere there were Disciples rushing to procure supplies.

Long queues had formed in front of several shops that usually had little business; the shopkeepers were so busy they didn't even have a moment to rest, yet their faces were beaming with joy.

"Look, there are over twenty people queuing over at Juzhen Pavilion!"

"The Spirit Talisman Pavilion is the same; the boss just brought in a large batch of goods from Talisman Peak, and half of it was sold in the blink of an eye!"

"The Medicinal Pill shop is even more exaggerated; the price of qi gathering pill has already risen to thirty-five Spirit Stone per bottle!"

Li Changsheng felt a jolt in his heart and quickened his pace.

He went to the Spirit Talisman Pavilion first.

The shop was packed with people, and the boss was busy, sweating profusely, taking money while fetching Talisman.

Li Changsheng squeezed to the counter, took out Spirit Stone, and bought ten Thunderstrike Talisman, five Golden Light Shield Talisman, three Gale Talisman, and two random teleportation Talisman in one go.

"Junior Brother has a good eye!"

The boss took the Spirit Stone and grinned from ear to ear.

"However, you are lucky; these were the last two. If you had been half an hour later, the random teleportation Talisman would have been sold out."

"This is new stock; it can teleport you randomly for dozens of miles. It is good stuff."

"Just a moment ago, a Disciple bought ten of them in one go!"

Li Changsheng nodded and carefully put away the Talisman. These random teleportation Talisman were not cheap, costing slightly more than the Thunderstrike Talisman.

After leaving the Spirit Talisman Pavilion, he went to the Medicinal Pill shop.

The qi gathering pill had indeed risen to thirty-five Spirit Stone per bottle, which was more expensive than usual.

He gritted his teeth and bought five bottles.

He also bought three bottles of "Flesh-Regenerating Powder" for healing and two bottles of "Detoxification Pill" for poison.

Next was the weapon shop.

He had been using his iron sword for over half a year, and there were several nicks on the blade, so it was time to replace it.

There were even more people in the weapon shop, mostly Disciples at Qi Refining Level 3 or 4, selecting suitable weapons.

Li Changsheng squeezed to the counter and selected a higher-quality green steel sword; the blade was thin and light, its edge sharp and menacing, with an asking price of one hundred and fifty Spirit Stone.

He haggled for a long time and finally closed the deal at one hundred and thirty Spirit Stone.

By the time he walked out of the weapon shop, it was already dark.

Li Changsheng stood by the street and tallied today's haul.

Eighteen Talisman, ten bottles of Medicinal Pill, and one new sword; he had spent nearly five hundred Spirit Stone in total.

Adding what he had spent on Talisman earlier, most of the savings he had accumulated over the past few months were gone.

But it was worth it.

Moreover, these were minor issues. From hunting the 'Three Heroes of Lanshan' last time, he still had over two thousand Spirit Stone in income.

He turned around, just about to call for Li Changqing and the others to return, when he suddenly heard a commotion.