431: Chapter 431 Mountains and Rivers Reversed

Dongfang Li pursed her lips. Thinking of maintaining the dignity of an exalted one, she didn't mention the embarrassing matter of how she had used a wisp of aura left by her Revered Master yet still failed to stop a single strike from that Yao Race Venerable.

Changing the subject, she looked at the two of them and asked in return, "Did you find any news regarding the guixu immortal ferry boat during your scouting mission this time?"

Gu Yunshen nodded, his expression gradually becoming solemn. "We were just about to tell you about that."

After saying that, he turned to look at Chen Xuan nearby. "Peak Master Chen, please come over so we can discuss this together."

Subsequently, Gu Yunshen and Pavilion Master Shen exchanged a glance, and both of their expressions became increasingly grave. Gu Yunshen spoke first, saying slowly, "We gathered a lot of information along the way during our scouting. There are three key pieces of intelligence."

"First, we passed through several Sand-Devouring Rat villages along the way, only to find that those villages had been slaughtered to the last soul. Corpses were strewn everywhere; it was a sight too gruesome to behold. We tracked the traces left by the killers and eventually learned from a terrified Sand-Devouring Rat that managed to survive that the perpetrators were all impersonating Dao Seeking Sect Cultivators, committing these atrocities under the banner of the Dao Seeking Sect."

Upon hearing this, Chen Xuan nodded slowly. "I am already aware of this matter. It is the handiwork of Li Xuantong from the Wansheng Dao Court. This debt will be recorded for now; we can only settle it one by one when we encounter him in the future."

Gu Yunshen and the other man were slightly startled upon hearing this.

They had heard about the wager between the two during the previous victory banquet of the Wansheng Dao Court, but they hadn't expected this Elder Li to be so short-sighted.

Given the Dao Seeking Sect's foundation, even if Peak Master Chen were to suppress and kill him within this Secret Realm, that Great Love Immortal Venerable would not let the matter escalate.

Dongfang Li followed up softly, "Then what is the second piece of intelligence? Is it related to the guixu immortal ferry boat?"

Gu Yunshen raised his hand to lower the tone of the conversation and said deeply, "Second, we discovered that the Secret Realm's exit has been blockaded by the Yao Race. However, looking at it now, this matter is no longer an issue."

"The Yao Race Venerable is dead, and the demons are leaderless. Those monsters blockading the exit are nothing more than a disorganized rabble. When we leave, we can easily break through."

"And the third piece of intelligence?"

Dongfang Li pressed again.

Gu Yunshen and Pavilion Master Shen exchanged another look. "The third one is actually somewhat inconceivable—this great desert actually contains another hidden world within it."

"A hidden world?"

"Indeed!"

Gu Yunshen nodded. "A thousand miles south of the Spirit Devouring Cave, we discovered a concealed spatial rift. That rift was veiled by a thin barrier of spiritual energy; if we hadn't been searching intentionally, we would never have found it. After passing through the rift, one can vaguely sense the aura of another world on the other side."

Upon hearing this, a sharp light instantly lit up in Dongfang Li's eyes. "So you're saying the method to reach the guixu immortal ferry boat is very likely hidden in that other world?"

"The possibility is extremely high."

Gu Yunshen nodded. "The guixu immortal ferry boat appears and disappears unpredictably. If it were only in this desert, we would have discovered something during our scouting long ago. Since the Secret Realm has another hidden world, it stands to reason that the mystery of boarding the ship is hidden over there."

"Regardless, that place is worth investigating."

Pavilion Master Shen's gaze swept over the stone door to the side. "In my opinion, we should wait two more days. If Qing Yan and the other Disciples haven't emerged from the stone door by then, we will split up—some will stay behind to wait, while the rest will follow us to the rift to investigate."

Dongfang Li and Yun Xuanxuan looked at each other, neither having any objections.

From the looks of it, the Dragon Clan was very likely in that other world.

The Yao Race generally presented a united front against outsiders, but Chen Xuan, who had traveled to the Demon Race Continent, had discovered that the various tribes of the Yao Race had always demarcated their own territories.

As the saying goes, one mountain cannot hold two tigers.

This desert should be the territory of the Desolate Night Wolf Venerable, while the other world was very likely ruled by a Dragon Venerable.

Feeling the throbbing coming from the dragon scale token...

Dongfang Li had been willing to step forward and intercept the White-Haired Youth at a critical moment of life and death, saving him a block card, which indicated that the Tiangong Pavilion was likely worth befriending deeply.

Furthermore, they were currently in an alliance. After a moment of reflection, Chen Xuan spoke calmly, "Regarding that world, it might be more dangerous than we imagine."

"Hmm?"

The three of them all turned their gazes toward him, waiting for him to continue.

"I suspect that there might be another Yao Race Venerable existing in that world."

...

Deep within the Secret Realm, beneath a deep sea permanently covered by ice and snow, stood a towering and magnificent dragon palace.

A man dressed in a black dragon-patterned brocade robe was leaning back on a jade throne. His face was peerlessly handsome, with a hint of lazy wickedness at the corners of his eyes and brows. His ink-black hair was draped casually over his shoulders, and he was surrounded by a faint dragon pressure. He was the Revered Master of this underwater dragon palace—the Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable.

He suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of light passing through his golden vertical pupils. "Which forces have entered the Secret Realm this time?"

Purple Sandalwood, wearing a slit purple gauze dress, was stunned for a moment. She asked softly, "Why does the Dragon Venerable ask this? I already submitted the intelligence regarding the distribution of forces in the Secret Realm earlier."

The Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable looked up and glanced at her. "That wolf has been killed."

"What..."

The expression on Purple Sandalwood's pretty face instantly froze. Filled with shock and disbelief, she lost her voice and cried out, "This... how is that possible? Wolf Venerable is a genuine Yao Race Venerable. Even if he is suppressed by the laws of heaven and earth within the Secret Realm, he is definitely not someone those Cultivators can easily shake!"

"Do you think my perception could be wrong?" The Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable's voice deepened, and his dragon pressure was suddenly released, causing the temperature of the entire hall to drop several degrees instantly.

Purple Sandalwood's expression turned stern, and she quickly collected herself, thinking solemnly, "Among the Cultivators who entered this Secret Realm, the one with the highest cultivation base besides the Wansheng Dao Court is the Grand Elder of Penglai Island, but even he is only at the eighth level of the Mahayana Stage. Forces like the Tiangong Pavilion and the Medicine Hut have, at most, brought some Heavenly Venerable means for self-defense. They shouldn't be a match for the Wolf Venerable at all."

The Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable raised an eyebrow slightly and asked in return, "Are you certain that no Human Race Heavenly Venerable has entered this Secret Realm?"

Purple Sandalwood slowly closed her eyes, and her aura suddenly changed. A moment later, she opened her eyes and shook her head. "Does the Dragon Venerable think there is a problem with my intelligence?"

"For this opening of the Secret Realm, I have already sent people to spread the word that if a Heavenly Venerable enters, it will easily trigger a spatial collapse, making it not worth the effort."

The Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable stood up from the jade throne and paced back and forth in the hall. "That wolf's aura couldn't have suddenly vanished for no reason. He must have encountered some kind of unforeseen event for this to happen."

Purple Sandalwood remained silent for a moment, her nine fox tails swaying slowly behind her. "Could it be related to that guixu immortal ferry boat?"

"The guixu immortal ferry boat?" The Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable paused, a flash of realization appearing in his eyes, followed by an embarrassed smile. "I did forget about that... the origins of that boat are mysterious, and to this day, no one knows them."

He quickly changed the subject. "By the way, how are your preparations at the Secret Realm's exit?"

The member of the Nine-Tailed Fox Clan gave him a somewhat speechless look, but still said softly, "Everything is ready; we only need the final push."

"Hmm?"

Seeing that the Sea-Overturning Dragon Venerable continued to look her way...

The Nine-Tailed Fox Venerable had no choice but to patiently explain, "The mountains and rivers are overturned, waiting for them to fall into the net. We have already linked the Formation of this Secret Realm with the exit. The Secret Realm exit, which was originally located in the airspace over the sea of the Heavenly Tribulation Continent, has already been moved by us to the depths of the Heavenly Demon Mountain. Now, we are just waiting for you to start driving the ducks into the cage."