121: Chapter 121 Refining the Heart in the Secret Realm (Part 1)

Qingyun City, deep within the ancestral shrine.

The square in front of the entrance to the Dragon Blood Secret Realm was already packed with people. Every Nascent Soul Cultivator of the Ling Family, including the newly promoted Ling Shi, Ling Shuang, Ling Feng, Ling Yan, and twenty-five others—a total of twenty-nine—were all present. Everyone's aura was heavy and concentrated, their eyes burning with anticipation and determination.

In the center of the square, Ling Hao stood with his hands behind his back. He had changed into a simple azure robe, his long hair tied loosely behind his head, and his aura was completely restrained, making him look like an ordinary young man at first glance. However, if anyone were to probe with their Divine Sense, they would discover the terrifying, abyss-like energy within his body, as well as the faint phantom of the Chaos Dragon Infant hovering over his chest.

"The Dragon Blood Secret Realm is completely different from the previous Secret Realms," Ling Hao said, his voice calm yet clearly reaching everyone's ears. "Previous Secret Realms tempered the Physical Body and honed the Divine Soul, but this Dragon Blood Secret Realm tempers the 'Dao Heart'."

He raised his hand and pointed into the void; the massive dragon-patterned stone tablet at the entrance of the Secret Realm began to rotate slowly, and dense, ancient characters appeared on its surface.

"Those who enter will face their deepest fears, obsessions, desires, and confusion. You will see what you desire most, and you will see everything you are most afraid of losing. All disguises will be stripped away, and all weaknesses will be exposed," Ling Hao continued.

The square fell silent, and everyone's breathing became heavy.

A Dao Heart interrogation is more dangerous than tempering the Physical Body or honing the Divine Soul. Once the Dao Heart is breached, at best, one's cultivation will regress; at worst, one will suffer Qi Deviation, or even become a madman who only knows how to kill.

"On the path of questioning the heart, everyone has different trials. With each trial passed, the Dao Heart becomes clearer, and the understanding of one's own 'Dao' deepens," Ling Hao said, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. "Those who can pass will achieve Perfection of the Dao Heart, and those at the Nascent Soul Realm may have the chance to touch the threshold of Soul Emergence."

As soon as these words were spoken, a blazing light erupted in everyone's eyes.

The threshold of Soul Emergence!

That was the Realm they dreamed of!

"But I must warn you," Ling Hao's tone turned cold. "On the path of questioning the heart, everything is real. You will be injured, you will feel pain, and you may even 'die'. Although the Secret Realm will ensure your Physical Body is not destroyed, if your Dao Heart collapses, you will be a cripple even if you make it out alive."

"So, it is not too late to withdraw now."

He paused, then added, "It is not shameful to choose to withdraw. Not everyone can withstand a Dao Heart interrogation; forcing your way through will only harm yourself."

As his voice fell, the square fell into a brief silence.

But only three breaths later...

"I am willing to enter!" Ling Shi stepped out first, his voice as firm as rock. "The Dao of Thick Earth emphasizes the Foundation. If I cannot even see my own Dao Heart clearly, how can I talk about protecting the Family?"

"This Disciple is also willing to enter!" Ling Shuang followed closely behind, the three-colored lotus mark on her forehead shimmering with light. "The path of the convergence of the three Origins is difficult, and this Disciple needs this kind of tempering to clarify my true heart."

"Enter!"

"Enter!"

"Enter!"

Twenty-nine people, and not one retreated.

Ling Xiao, Ling Xue, and Ling You looked at each other and smiled, then stepped out together. "We are also willing to take the trial. How could our heart of seeking the Dao retreat because of danger?"

A flash of gratification appeared in Ling Hao's eyes.

These were the Disciples of the Ling Family; these were the people he chose to protect.

"Good." He said no more, formed hand seals with both hands, and shouted, "Dragon Blood Secret Realm, open!"

" Buzz!!!"

The dragon-patterned stone tablet erupted with blinding light, its surface rippling like water, revealing a deep and endless passage. On both sides of the passage, countless distorted images could be vaguely seen flickering—these were the projections of the challengers' Dao Hearts: joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, greed, hatred, ignorance, and resentment, all contained within.

"Ling Xiao, Ling Xue, Ling You, you three go in first," Ling Hao said. "I will be your Protector, but unless it is a life-or-death crisis, I will not intervene. How far you can go depends on yourselves."

"Yes!"

The three responded in unison and stepped into the passage without hesitation.

The moment their figures disappeared, three different images appeared on the light screen at the entrance of the passage.

Ling Xiao found himself in a purgatory of thunder, where countless purple electric snakes wrapped around his body like venomous Dragons, crazily eroding his flesh and Divine Soul. Even more terrifying was that those electric snakes transformed into familiar faces: his father, his mother, a young Ling Hao, and those Ling Family Disciples who had died before his eyes.

"Ling Xiao, you cannot protect us."

"Brother, I am in so much pain."

"Commander, why, why wasn't it you who died?"

Each accusation pierced his heart like a sharp knife.

Ling Xiao trembled violently, the light of thunder flickering in his eyes. He knew this was an illusion, a Heart Demon, but those faces and those voices were too real—so real that he almost collapsed.

"No, that's not it..." He gritted his teeth, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood dripping. "I, I have already done my best."

"Your best?" In the thunder, his father's face appeared, his eyes full of disappointment. "If you had truly done your best, why would so many people have died because of you? Ling Xiao, you are too weak, so weak that you cannot even protect your own loved ones."

"I..." Ling Xiao opened his mouth, but could make no sound.

That's right, he was too weak.

If he were strong enough, his father would not have been seriously injured in the mine; if he were strong enough, his mother would not have worried day and night; if he were strong enough, those clansmen would not have died in battle.

"So, give up," the Heart Demon whispered. "Give up this pointless struggle, sink into the thunder, and turn into nothingness. That way, you will no longer have to bear this guilt."

The thunder surged like a tide, intending to swallow Ling Xiao completely.

But just at the moment his consciousness was about to sink,

"Cousin."

A calm voice suddenly rang out in the depths of his heart lake.

Ling Xiao looked up abruptly.

In the thunder illusion, the figure of Ling Hao slowly emerged. He was still in his azure robe as before, his eyes clear, looking at him quietly.

"Cousin Hao..."

"Big Brother, do you remember?" Ling Hao smiled. "When I was six, I was tested and found to have a 'useless Spiritual Root'. Everyone mocked me, and even Father showed disappointment. Only you stood in front of me and said to those who mocked me, 'My cousin is not trash.'"

Ling Xiao was shaken to his core.

Memories flooded back like a tide.

"When I was ten, I was blocked in the depths of the mine and almost beaten to death. It was you who fought your way in, covered in blood, and carried me, who was on the verge of death, out of the encirclement."

"At thirteen, I awakened the Chaos Origin and brought about the Lightning Tribulation of Heavenly Punishment. You were the first to rush into the sea of thunder, using your body as a shield to protect me."

"Big Brother," Ling Hao's voice was like a clear spring, cleansing the resentment in the thunder. "You were never weak. You just carried too much responsibility on your own shoulders."

"But you must know, protection is not one person's job."

"The Ling Family has come this far because every clansman has fought with their lives. You cannot protect everyone; that is true. But precisely because of this, we must become stronger together—all of us."

"So," Ling Hao reached out his hand, "don't sink. Stand up and keep moving forward."

"We will walk this path together."

As the voice fell, the thunder illusion shattered with a roar!

Ling Xiao opened his eyes and found himself still standing in the passage, his body soaked in cold sweat. But the heavy, oppressive feeling in his chest had dissipated by more than half.

"Walk together?" He muttered to himself, the light of thunder in his eyes re-condensing, becoming even purer and firmer.

"Good."

He took the first step.

From deep within the passage came a slight cracking sound.

The first trial, passed.

(Fireworks ignite, auspicious energy arises. Thank you to all the fellow immortals for accompanying me along the way and guiding me through this long journey of writing. In 2026, may you have mountains and seas in your heart, and stars in your eyes; may you triumph in your Undergoing Tribulation, and may all your requests be answered. May this Mortal World not grind down your proud bones, but only gift you with glory. Happy New Year!)