89: Chapter 89 The Blazing Fire Sect is almost gone, why should I care about you?

At the entrance of the Secret Realm in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, Spiritual Qi fluctuated violently.

As the light screen flickered, Qi Refining Stage Disciples from various Sects and aristocratic families entered one after another.

Inside the Secret Realm, Spiritual Qi was abundant, plants were lush, and everywhere showed a vitality far exceeding the outside world.

Tall ancient trees, clear spiritual springs, and exotic beasts occasionally sweeping through the forest, all indicated its undeveloped primitiveness and richness.

Disciples from each Sect acted separately, based on their Sect's specialties and objectives.

For a time, spiritual light shot out, Spells roared, and roars of Yao Beasts and crisp sounds of Magical Artifacts clashing constantly echoed from deep within the Secret Realm.

But for the Disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect, this feast, which should have been a treasure hunt, turned into a nightmare.

"Senior Brother! The Three-colored Ganoderma over there was snatched by people from the Tiangang Sect!" A Blazing Fire Sect Disciple's face was ashen, pointing forward.

"Don't provoke them! Let's find some ordinary Spiritual Plants first and accumulate them bit by bit!" The Late Qi Refining Stage Disciple leading the team reprimanded in a low voice, unable to hide the anger in his eyes.

This was already the third day since the Secret Realm opened.

The Disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect found that no matter where they went, they would coincidentally encounter other Sects.

Once Spirit Medicine or a Yao Beast nest was discovered, Disciples from other Sects would, with an almost tacit understanding, either go one step ahead or forcibly intervene, pushing the Blazing Fire Sect Disciples aside.

Occasionally, Blazing Fire Sect Disciples with grievances would try to protest or contend, but they would immediately be targeted by several malevolent gazes, or even be inadvertently affected by Spells from other Sect Disciples, sustaining minor injuries.

That day, a team of Blazing Fire Sect Disciples finally found a thousand-year-old crimson fire vine and were about to harvest it when they were spotted by Disciples from the Wanfa Pavilion.

"A thousand-year Fire Vine! Good stuff!" The Peak Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator leading the Wanfa Pavilion team was first overjoyed, then said very impolitely, "This is something reserved by my Wanfa Pavilion, Fellow Daoists of the Blazing Fire Sect, do not snatch it away."

"Bullshit! We found it first!" The Blazing Fire Sect Disciple angrily retorted.

"So what if you found it first?" The Cultivator from the Wanfa Pavilion snorted coldly, "With your strength, are you even worthy of picking this item?"

He waved his hand, and several Disciples behind him immediately released Spells, with streaks of spiritual light heading straight for the crimson fire vine.

The Blazing Fire Sect Disciples were furious, but they also knew that the other party had a numerical advantage and formidable strength.

If they tried to snatch it, they might be bitten back, so they could only watch helplessly as the crimson fire vine was taken.

This kind of humiliation was common in the Secret Realm.

Even when Blazing Fire Sect Disciples occasionally found some low-grade Spirit Medicine, they would often hastily gather it and leave quickly, fearing it would be snatched.

A month later, the light screen at the Secret Realm entrance flickered again, signaling that the Secret Realm was about to close.

Disciples from various Sects and aristocratic families emerged from the Secret Realm one after another.

Each of them looked tired, but the joy of their harvest in their eyes could not be concealed.

The bulging Storage Pouches at the waists of many Disciples were the best proof.

"Haha! I harvested five hundred-year Spiritual Plants and two first-rank Yao Beast inner cores!"

"I was the luckiest; I actually found a five-hundred-year-old Blood Spirit Flower, which can help me Break through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer!"

Amidst the joyous laughter, only the Blazing Fire Sect's team had a somber atmosphere.

Their Storage Pouches were deflated, their faces grim, forming a stark contrast to the surrounding clamor.

When tallying the harvest, the Blazing Fire Sect's Foundation Establishment Elder trembled with anger, looking at the paltry Spirit Medicine in the Disciples' hands and their almost empty-handed results.

"Humiliation! A great humiliation!" The Elder's voice was full of anger, and it was obvious why.

If it weren't for the agreement among the major powers before entering the Secret Realm that they would only plunder resources and not engage in death matches during this entry.

He feared that the Disciples of his Blazing Fire Sect would not have come out alive.

He looked at the energetic and richly rewarded Disciples from other Sects, his heart burning with rage.

When the news reached the Blazing Fire Sect's Sect, the atmosphere in the Sect Master's main hall could no longer be suppressed.

"What?!" The Sect Master slammed his palm on the armrest, and the hard spiritual wood armrest was actually shattered by his strike, showing how furious he was. "My Blazing Fire Sect's Disciples were actually bullied by other Sects like this?!"

The numerous Elders below were all filled with righteous indignation.

"Sect Master, calm your anger," a white-haired Elder said, "According to the Disciples, other Sects indeed did not directly conflict with our Disciples. It's just... they used their numerical advantage and some minor tricks to squeeze our Disciples out. In the Secret Realm, this is not considered a fault, and even if word gets out, outsiders cannot find fault with it."

"No fault?! Where is the face of my Blazing Fire Sect? Where is the future of my Blazing Fire Sect?!" The Sect Master was enraged.

One could infer the whole from a part; Disciples from other Sects obtained a large amount of resources, and their cultivation would surely advance further.

However, the Blazing Fire Sect Disciples not only acquired fewer resources, but their morale also plummeted to rock bottom.

If this continued, within a few decades, the Blazing Fire Sect's position in Qinghe Prefecture would likely plummet, and there might even be a risk of being replaced.

"What's even more worrying," an Elder hesitated before speaking, "is that the second-rank pills from the Zhenpin Pavilion are rumored to be in the process of being refined. If they can truly refine second-rank pills, then all the Foundation Establishment Cultivators in Qinghe Prefecture will probably flock to them. My Blazing Fire Sect, I fear, will never have a chance to rise!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the hall looked extremely grim.

The Qi Refining Stage could still be endured, but if the Foundation Establishment Stage also couldn't gain an advantage, then the Blazing Fire Sect was truly finished.

The Sect Master clenched his fists, veins throbbing on his forehead.

He closed his eyes, and after a long while, slowly opened them, with a resolute look in his eyes.

"I didn't expect that in just over a year, this Qinghe Prefecture would no longer tolerate my Blazing Fire Sect," the Sect Master's voice carried a trace of sorrow, "It's all because of that Zhenpin Pavilion. Since that's the case, don't blame my Blazing Fire Sect for being ruthless!"

He scanned the Elders in the hall: "Pass on my order, immediately send people secretly to Pingling Prefecture! No matter the cost, we must establish contact with those Four Great Sects and seek cooperation!"

The Elders in the hall were greatly shaken upon hearing this.

Pingling Prefecture and Qinghe Prefecture are separated by tens of thousands of miles, with the vast Monster Beast Mountain Range and several treacherous areas in between.

There was little interaction between the two prefectures.

The Blazing Fire Sect's move was tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house, breaking the long-standing balance of Qinghe Prefecture.

"Sect Master, this move... I fear it will invite retaliation from the major Sects of Qinghe Prefecture!" an Elder said worriedly.

"Retaliation?" The Sect Master snorted coldly, his eyes full of self-mockery, "They already regard my Blazing Fire Sect as an enemy, pressing us step by step. Do you expect my Blazing Fire Sect to sit idly and await death? Does my Blazing Fire Sect still have a choice now?!"

"Sect Master, think thrice!" As soon as these words were spoken, several Elders in the hall simultaneously rose, their expressions agitated, "We are Sects of Qinghe Prefecture, born and raised here. Now, inviting external forces into the game is tantamount to inviting a wolf into the house; this is an act of betrayal against the entire Qinghe Prefecture! At that time, my Blazing Fire Sect will become the public enemy of Qinghe Prefecture, doomed forever!"

"Think thrice?" The Sect Master sneered, his eyes full of sarcasm, "Those forces already regard my Blazing Fire Sect as an enemy, pressing us step by step. Do you expect my Blazing Fire Sect to sit idly and await death?"

"If the skin does not exist, where will the hair attach? The Blazing Fire Sect is almost gone, why should I care about external forces or betrayal!"