142: The secret realm opens

A few more days passed, and the spiritual energy vortex at the core of the Secret Realm expanded to its limit. The rift in the Void Realm solidified for several breaths and stabilized completely!

A surge of ancient and vast Spiritual Qi gushed out, mixed with a faint scent of herbs that tugged at the heartstrings of every Cultivator present.

This time, all parties were clearly prepared and were no longer merely testing the waters.

On the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Boat, that Peak Core Formation Old Ancestor did not make a move personally. However, a sharp and peerless, magnificent Sword Intent representing his will soared into the sky like the dawn breaking through a long night. It did not attack any party but instead, with an unquestionable declaration, pierced straight toward the weakest portal node of the Secret Realm's entrance vortex!

In the Wu State camp, the Loose Cultivator Core Formation expert hired for a high price and the Family Guest Elder acted simultaneously. The void-stabilizing light of the ancient bronze mirror and the binding power of the Purple-Gold Rope were not meant to attack the Sword Intent. Instead, they coordinated tacitly, stabilizing the violently fluctuating spatial structures on both sides of the vortex and attempting to guide and expand the gap broken by the Sword Intent.

The emerald light rising from the Yue State's side, with its feminine and resilient aura, acted like a lubricant and a reinforcing agent. It seeped into the edges of the gap, preventing spatial collapse while also secretly exerting their own influence.

At this moment, the Core Formation forces that were originally wary or even hostile toward each other formed a subtle and brief joint effort under the common goal of opening the Secret Realm entrance.

Although there was no direct collision, the intertwining and maneuvering of power were equally soul-stirring.

“Boom—Crack!”

Under the joint action of several Core Formation powers, the Restriction at the Secret Realm entrance finally let out an overwhelmed cracking sound, and a light gate several zhang wide with distorted light and shadows was forcibly torn open!

The scene inside the light gate was hazy, with undulating mountains and rivers and glimpses of palaces. However, the fine black spatial rifts and the overflowing violent turbulence at the edges clearly proclaimed its danger.

Once the light gate opened, the brief “cooperation” from before vanished instantly.

Contrary to the expectations of some Loose Cultivators, the leaders of the major powers—the Heavenly Sword Sect Ancestor, the Core Formation Old Ancestors of the Wu and Yue States, and other core figures—did not rush in immediately. Instead, they each held their ground, their powerful Divine Senses intertwining as they swept over the light gate, assessing its stability and the hidden risk levels within.

“The Secret Realm has just opened; space is unstable, and the Laws are in disorder. This is not the time for our generation to risk ourselves personally,” the Heavenly Sword Sect Ancestor's voice was calm yet reached everywhere, setting an unquestionable tone. “Each party shall send their elite Disciples inside to investigate, clarify the layout, and identify the obstacles before making further plans.”

This was said for his own people to hear, but also for all the forces present, and it was a form of invisible rule-setting.

The Core Formation Cultivators from the Wu-Yue side clearly held the same view, nodding slightly without objection.

Letting low-level Disciples scout ahead to understand the situation and avoid unknown risks, while also preventing their own high-level combatants from falling into unpredictable Secret Realm dangers or direct conflicts in the Early Stages, was a prudent approach.

“The Disciples obey!” In the various camps, the elite Disciples who had been selected long ago shouted in unison.

They were either Sect true Disciples or Family direct descendants, all well-equipped and carrying life-saving Talismans and communication Magical Artifacts.

“Enter!” A cold command came from the Heavenly Sword Sect's Sword Boat. A condensed path of sword light shot out first, protecting dozens of fierce-looking Disciples as they lunged into the light gate like arrows leaving a bow.

“Go!” Shouts also rang out from the Wu-Yue Alliance's direction almost simultaneously. Various protective treasure lights and flying Magical Artifacts lit up as several elite teams followed closely behind, vying to pour in.

More Loose Cultivators and Cultivators from small to medium-sized forces could no longer care about much else. With bloodshot eyes, they displayed their various Divine Abilities, turning into streaks of light and lunging toward the light gate.

The entrance area was instantly filled with dense escaping lights. To get a more forward position, small-scale shoving, interceptions, and brief exchanges were inevitable. Angry shouts and the short clashing sounds of Magic Treasures rang out, but the higher-ups of each party seemed to have reached a tacit understanding, and no large-scale chaotic battle broke out. Everyone's primary goal was to enter the Secret Realm as quickly as possible to seize the initiative.

After all, the true treasures and Opportunities were inside; wasting energy at the entrance was meaningless.

From time to time, unlucky Cultivators were caught in the chaotic escaping lights or minor spatial turbulence, falling with screams or being pushed aside mercilessly by those behind them. Overall, however, order at the entrance was maintained with tense efficiency as a large number of low-level Cultivators quickly disappeared behind the light gate like a swarm of bees returning to their hive.

“The entrance is open; the exploration has begun.” Gao De received an urgent report from the front, and his spirits rose.

This relatively “orderly” influx in the Early Stage was within his expectations; the main event was yet to come.

Several Core Formation Old Ancestors and the leaders of various parties each occupied a side on the periphery, closing their eyes to regulate their breathing, but their Divine Senses were firmly locked onto the entrance and the surrounding area, maintaining a fragile and tense balance.

They were like giant spiders perched at the center of a web, patiently waiting for the feedback of prey hitting the net.

Seeing that the giants were not moving, more low-level Loose Cultivators and Cultivators from small to medium-sized forces also suppressed their restlessness. They either sent in a small number of people, watched from further out, or gritted their teeth and followed inside.

For a time, the clamor at the entrance actually decreased quite a bit, but the tension permeating the air only increased.

“As expected, the old foxes are all very cautious.” Gao De received a more detailed report from the front and understood clearly.

This pattern was, in a sense, more beneficial to him.

Rank Three Cultivators were all outside restraining each other, with most of their attention on the entrance and each other. Thus, the attention on the relatively “secondary” areas around the Secret Realm, as well as those “small characters” who might escape from inside or be injured in conflicts outside, would decrease.

“Turtle Three Thousand, continue to hold your position and keep the information flowing, especially paying attention to any news coming from inside the Secret Realm.” Purple Lightning flickered slightly around Gao De as he transformed into his Half-Jiaoren form. The thin aura of the Heaven-Confusing Illusionary Mist flowed naturally, enveloping him along with Green Edge and Iron Pincer by his side, causing their presence to drop sharply.

“Green Edge, Iron Pincer, set out with this King. We don't need to rush in to wade through those muddy waters of the Early Stage.”

Gao De's gaze turned toward the distant light of the entrance that was beginning to fade, and the chaotic waters near the entrance that were starting to look empty. “By the time we get there, it will be the perfect time to ‘clean up’ the battlefield and ‘welcome’ those guests who might ‘leave early’ for various reasons.”

Three figures with their auras almost completely retracted, like shadows quietly sliding along the bottom of the water, left the Qianjiao Cliff Water Mansion and headed toward that area that had just experienced clamor but was now filled with a different kind of Opportunity.

The guests of the feast had already scrambled to take their seats, and what Gao De had to do was to look for those “invitations” that might have been accidentally dropped in the corridors and shadows outside the banquet hall, or to help up those guests who “accidentally fell” and have a “friendly” exchange.

The true bloody feast might not break out until the main course was served, and before that, there would be no shortage of appetizers to pick up.