109: Chapter 110 The Secret Realm of Kimchi Country

While Elabess returned to the Dark Abyss to handle the crisis, Lin Muyang was not idle.

He took the newborn little phoenix, Feng Ling, and several other young ladies for a quick tour of the secret realm areas in several surrounding cities, easily sweeping through three suitable secret realms.

Due to the level increase, the required experience points also rose. After clearing three small secret realms, Lin Muyang himself only leveled up a bit more than once, reaching level 57. However, Feng Ling, who had a low starting level and an experience catch-up bonus, rushed to level 40 in one go, triggering the conditions for Nirvana again.

This time, the materials required for the second stage of the Phoenix Heavenly Maiden's Nirvana became twenty-five "legendary-grade" Fire Element Essences!

"Last time it was epic-grade, and this time it's legendary-grade..." Looking at the system prompt, Lin Muyang couldn't help but sigh, "These conditions are truly getting more and more demanding."

Even for him, legendary-grade Fire Element Essences were by no means easy to obtain. After all, high-level secret realms that produce fire-attribute legendary-grade materials are not as common as cabbages. Being able to collect them last time was largely due to good luck, encountering Liu Yueyao's team's "Molten Abyss" secret realm.

However, things are different now. The current Lin Muyang, whether in movement speed, detection methods, or combat capability, is already at the top of Blue Star. He can completely take the initiative to search and investigate within Great Xia or the surrounding areas to see if there are epic-level or legendary-rank secret realms that meet the requirements.

Thanks to Elabess's newly enhanced "Disguise" ability, he can now even challenge secret realms far beyond his own level and normally obtain the loot within—though experience points still cannot be obtained.

"According to public statistics," Lin Muyang recalled the information he had read, "within Great Xia, an average of about fifteen to twenty epic-level secret realms refresh every year. legendary-rank secret realms are much rarer, with only about one to three every year. As for the top-tier mythical-rank secret realms... globally, on average, only one appears every two years."

Because of this, mythic grade equipment and skill books are of priceless value. Even for the current Lin Muyang, obtaining them is extremely difficult. legendary-rank secret realms are rare enough as it is; whether one can be encountered and whether it happens to meet the requirements all depends on luck.

Although epic-level secret realms are relatively common, it's not like you can just bump into one as soon as you step out. If there are none in Great Xia at the moment, there's no harm in looking in neighboring countries. For many small and medium-sized countries, epic-level secret realms are both opportunities and huge challenges. If handled well, they are ladders for geniuses to grow; if handled poorly, leading to an influx of monsters, it's a disaster for the people.

After making up his mind, Lin Muyang let the other young ladies return to the villa to rest first, while he took Gui Wanwan with him to begin a large-scale scan within Great Xia.

He activated his God-Tier Aura and took Gui Wanwan, sweeping through cities at an incredible speed. Wherever they went, he had the Yama Maiden release her scouting skill—"Nether Eye."

After the "Yamas Fate Alteration" enhancement, the effects of many God-Tier Auras were no longer what they used to be. For example, the [Long Lasting] Aura can extend skill duration by thirty-seven times! This caused Gui Wanwan's "Nether Eye" single duration to skyrocket from thirty seconds to 1,140 seconds, nearly twenty minutes!

And the [Infinite Firepower] Aura's cooldown reduction effect was also greatly enhanced, shortening the cooldown of "Nether Eye" from sixty seconds to just 1.8 seconds!

This means Gui Wanwan can release a Nether Eye every less than two seconds. In just a few minutes, dozens or even hundreds of invisible "eyes" were scattered across the vast sky and land like the most precise radar network, scanning all energy fluctuations and secret realm entrances within a radius of hundreds of kilometers.

The detection efficiency could be called terrifying.

However, after a careful search, the results were somewhat disappointing. Within Great Xia currently, there seemed to be no epic-level secret realm entrances currently open.

Just as Lin Muyang was considering whether to expand the search range, a "Nether Eye" released by Gui Wanwan to an extremely far distance, almost reaching the edge of the national border, sent back a unique energy signal.

That signal was strong and chaotic, carrying the heart-palpitating pressure unique to epic-level secret realms, but the location was not within Great Xia.

Instead, it was to the northeast of Great Xia, outside the border—on the territory of Kimchi Country.

"Kimchi Country... Pyeongsan Peninsula, at the foot of the snow mountain?" Through Gui Wanwan's shared perception, Lin Muyang "saw" the scene there.

A blood-red, constantly rotating giant secret realm vortex stood prominently at the foot of the snow-capped mountain, the eerie red light illuminating the snowfield for dozens of kilometers around in a strange way. Near the vortex, the air was distorted and the energy was violent, exactly the typical characteristics of an epic-level secret realm's descent.

Judging from the environment, this secret realm is located in a snow mountain area, and the interior is likely an ice-type environment. But secret realm names are often deceptive, and it's not impossible for both ice and fire attribute areas to coexist.

"Regardless of whether it's fire-type, let's go see first." Lin Muyang made a prompt decision. He had finally found an epic-level secret realm, so how could he miss it? As for whether to fight, it wouldn't be too late to decide after confirming the internal attributes.

With a slight thought, he temporarily sent the young ladies beside him back to their original planes through the summoning contract, then immediately summoned them back to his side—this is one of the conveniences of the Summoner class, allowing for the quick assembly of scattered summons. The entire process was completed under the Divine Concealment state, silently.

Soon, the figures of the young ladies appeared beside Lin Muyang again. Originally, Lin Muyang only planned to take Elabess and Gui Wanwan, but Lilia and the others heard about going on an adventure abroad and clamored to come along, so Lin Muyang simply took them all. Staying in Zhongnan City all the time was indeed a bit boring.

"Let's go."

Shrouded by the Divine Concealment Aura, Lin Muyang took the young ladies and sped away in the direction of the Pyeongsan Peninsula in Kimchi Country.

Kimchi Country, Pyeongsan Peninsula.

At the foot of the majestic snow mountain, the originally peaceful scene had been completely broken. The blood-red secret realm vortex was like a hideous wound on the earth, constantly emitting unsettling energy ripples. The area for dozens of kilometers around the vortex had been designated as a restricted zone, and the public was being evacuated urgently. In the sky, from time to time, Class Transferees riding flying mounts or items rushed over, landing at the temporary assembly point established outside the cordon.

These Class Transferees were generally not low-level, mostly above level 90, and among them were many A-rank or even s-rank talent holders. They had serious expressions, sizing up the terrifying secret realm entrance while anxiously contacting friends and teammates through mobile phones or special communication items, trying to form a required eight-person raid team.

An epic-level secret realm, and a level 97 one at that, was no small matter. Trying to gather eight members with appropriate levels, reasonable class compositions, and mutual trust was not easy. More importantly, no one was certain they could clear it. Every time an epic-level secret realm opens, it comes with huge risks and potentially generous rewards.

Lin Muyang's group was in a state of absolute invisibility, like invisible ghosts, quietly flying over the heads of these busy Kimchi Country Class Transferees and heading straight for the blood-red secret realm vortex.

"Master, why is this country called 'Kimchi Country'?" During the flight, Lilia asked curiously in a low voice, her emerald eyes scanning the differently styled buildings and panicked crowds below.

"Because a traditional pickled vegetable of this country—Kimchi—is very famous. They even once tried to apply for it to be a world intangible cultural heritage, but in fact, their so-called national treasures are all stolen," Elabess replied casually from the side, her tone flat as if stating common knowledge.

Lin Muyang looked at Elabess with some surprise: "Ella, what do you usually look at on your phone? How do you even know this?"

"Learning about the local customs of this world, Master." Elabess smiled slightly, a hint of cunning flashing in her purple eyes. "Since I live here, it doesn't hurt to know more."

Look, this is a true model of trying hard to integrate into this world, Lin Muyang thought to himself. Maybe in a while, this Succubus Maiden will know more about Blue Star than even he, a "local."

By contrast, a certain Elf Princess holding her phone seemed to spend most of her time scrolling through various funny videos and food guides... If not for the constraints of the summoning contract, Lin Muyang really doubted if she could survive here on her own.

"We're here, prepare to enter."

Without much delay, Lin Muyang took the young ladies and easily entered the blood-red, constantly rotating secret realm vortex as if passing through a layer of water curtain.

The scene before them changed, and after a brief feeling of weightlessness, their feet landed on solid ground.

Cold air mixed with a faint smell of sulfur blew against them. What met their eyes was an extremely strange environment.

They seemed to be inside a huge, naturally formed cave. Half of the cave was covered with thick, never-melting deep blue ice, with icicles hanging upside down and bone-chilling cold; while the other half had cracked ground with dark red magma faintly flowing in the cracks, emitting scorching high temperatures. Ice and fire, two completely opposite forces, strangely coexisted here, eroding each other yet maintaining a fragile balance.

Small ice crystals and sparks floated in the air, interweaving into a hazy mist of light.

At the cave entrance stood a simple stone tablet half-buried at the junction of ice and fire, with the name of the secret realm engraved on it in some ancient runes:

【Ice and Fire Dual Heavens】

"Ice and fire coexist... it seems promising." Lin Muyang's eyes lit up. This kind of environment greatly increased the possibility of fire-attribute monsters. Even if only half the area is fire-type, with his current Yamas Fate Alteration greatly enhanced [Loot Extraction] Aura effect, it's not hopeless to collect twenty-five legendary-grade fire element equipment for dismantling.

He quickly checked the team list. This eight-person secret realm is currently not locked, meaning anyone can enter freely. And on the list, besides their team, sure enough, the names and avatars of two other people were displayed, both Kimchi Country Class Transferees, their classes being "Shadow Walker" and "Elementalist," and both at level 97.

"The people are not near the entrance..." Lin Muyang spread his perception and didn't find those two within his line of sight. It seems the other party used some special means, such as high-level stealth, earth-tunneling, or short-distance teleportation, and had already gone deep into the secret realm to investigate.

In epic-level secret realms, monsters generally have a very high level of True Vision, and conventional invisibility is hard to work. The other party being able to go deep either meant they had extremely special concealment talents or items, or they were very familiar with the secret realm path, or... they were simply using their lives to scout the way.

Regarding these two Kimchi Country Class Transferees who arrived first, Lin Muyang didn't take them to heart. Class Transferees of this level, even with SSS-Rank Talents, would not pose any threat before him and his young ladies now.

He was more concerned about the attributes of the secret realm itself and the distribution of monsters.

Just then, those two Kimchi Country Class Transferees deep in the secret realm obviously also noticed through the team list that new members had entered.

In the team channel, a message in Kimchi Country script popped up:

"Aish! Someone's come in! Who is it?"

"Don't know, didn't see anyone at the entrance. Maybe they went invisible as soon as they entered, or maybe they've gone deep like us?"

"Shibal! We found this secret realm first, Brother A-Zhe and I have already scouted half the way! According to the rule of first come, first served, we should have priority in clearing this secret realm, sumida!"

"No matter who came in, send a message and tell them to leave the secret realm immediately! Otherwise, don't blame us for being unfriendly!"

Between the lines, it was filled with strong dissatisfaction, wariness, and an arrogance brought by some inexplicable confidence.

Lin Muyang glanced at the team channel; his expression didn't change at all. He couldn't understand Kimchi Country script at all and was too lazy to use an Aura to translate. His gaze was already directed toward the depths of the cave, the hinterland of the secret realm where ice and fire intertwined, hiding unknown dangers.

Is it a fire-attribute area or an ice-attribute area? Can the legendary-grade Fire Element Essences be collected here?