245: Chapter 245 The Secret Realm Opens

The nine people quickly reached out and accepted the Medicinal Pill, carefully putting it away.

Afterward, the bronze spirit boat slowly descended onto a relatively stable area at the edge of the mountain range.

This area was not only occupied by their bronze spirit boat; dozens of flying boats, even larger and grander than the bronze spirit boat, were quietly suspended there.

Different Family crests and Sect totems were branded onto the flying boats, clearly indicating they belonged to various forces.

In addition to the flying boats, figures radiating powerful Auras stood in the air, their sharp gazes sweeping over the mountain range and the surrounding crowd.

The Auras emanating from these figures were far more terrifying than those of miners like Liu Xuan.

Steward Li led the group off the bronze spirit boat and onto a more luxurious, bright red flying boat.

As soon as they stepped onto the flying boat, everyone immediately showed expressions of awe.

It seemed to utilize some extremely profound Space Spell, as the hull, which looked only a few hundred zhang wide from the outside, was far larger internally.

The interior resembled a Traveling Palace, with stairs made of Immortal Spirit White Jade and beams of Immortal Wood. The dense Immortal Qi was condensed into mist, and simply breathing it in caused their cultivation to subtly increase.

Compared to the dark Mine Shafts where they had stayed for thousands of years, the difference was like heaven and earth.

Steward Li, accustomed to this sight, guided them to the palace in the deepest part of the structure.

Two powerful Attendants standing at the palace entrance immediately shouted upon seeing them:

“Young Lord, Steward Li requests an audience.”

A young, arrogant voice came from within the hall:

“Granted.”

Steward Li straightened his robes and respectfully stepped into the hall.

Liu Xuan and the others followed closely, keeping their heads bowed, not daring to look around carelessly. However, relying on the instinctive perception of a Cultivator, they could still feel the pressure exerted by the figure seated in the main seat of the hall.

At the head of the great hall, a handsome young man wearing a Brocade Cloud Immortal Robe leaned languidly on a wide chair padded with the fur of an unknown Immortal Beast.

He was playing with a Spirit Pearl glowing with fiery red light between his fingers, his gaze seemingly casually fixed on Steward Li.

Steward Li immediately bowed and replied with extreme humility:

“Reporting to Young Lord, these nine individuals possess the most solid Foundation and highest cultivation in the mine. They have all completed nine Body Tempering cycles, and only need to enter the Secret Realm to undergo the True Immortal Lightning Tribulation and become True Immortals.”

The young man, referred to as the Young Lord, glanced indifferently at Liu Xuan and the other eight.

That look carried a high and mighty indifference. The instant they were targeted by his gaze, a heavy Spiritual Pressure bore down on them, making their bodies feel heavy.

“Nine Body Tempering cycles? Barely acceptable. If it weren’t for the fact that you Lower Realm Natives only need to undergo the True Immortal Lightning Tribulation to advance, this Young Lord wouldn’t bother using you.”

In the Yuanguang Realm, native Cultivators who wish to achieve True Immortal status must consume a precious 'origin fruit,' relying on the power of the origin fruit to attract and undergo the Lightning Tribulation.

origin fruit are divided into four grades: Low Grade, Middle Grade, High Grade, and top-grade, and they also have elemental attributes. The quality and attributes of the absorbed origin fruit directly relate to the strength of one's Foundation and future potential after achieving True Immortal status.

The top-grade origin fruit is rare and can only be produced when the Origin Secret Realm opens for the first time.

After the Secret Realm opens the first time, the highest quality origin fruit produced in subsequent openings is only High Grade.

However, Cultivators who Ascend from the Lower Realm, like Liu Xuan, are completely different.

They do not require an origin fruit; they only need to complete nine Body Tempering cycles and Undergo Tribulation to become True Immortal experts, and their strength is far superior to Cultivators who consume Low Grade origin fruit.

This is both the unique advantage of the Ascenders and the root cause of why they are treated as cheap tools by the Immortal Clans.

“Since this new Origin Secret Realm is opening for the first time, a small number of top-grade origin fruit are bound to be born.”

Li Muchen’s gaze swept coldly over everyone:

“Your mission is to seize a top-grade origin fruit for this Young Lord at all costs after the Secret Realm opens! Even if it means death!”

Whether or not he obtains a top-grade origin fruit relates to his future standing and resources within the Li Clan Immortal Family; he cannot afford any mistakes.

“If you succeed, Cultivation Techniques, resources, and Immortal Clan Status can all be bestowed upon you. If you fail... this Young Lord will make you realize that even wishing for death is a luxury!”

Hearing this, everyone trembled, suppressing the coldness and bitterness in their hearts, and responded in unison:

“We swear to complete the mission even unto death!”

They knew this was a gamble with only a slight chance of survival, but it was also the only opportunity to break free from thousands of years of miner life.

There was no other choice.

A long time later, the Origin Secret Realm opened.

A water-like Light Screen condensed in the middle of the mountain range, radiating intense Power of Laws and Space Law.

Li Muchen brought his group near the Secret Realm Entrance, where Cultivators from various forces had already gathered.

The Zhang Clan Immortal Family, the Taixuan Immortal Sect, the Yunmiao Palace... the various factions were clearly separated, their eyes meeting with vigilance and scrutiny. They were only waiting for the Entrance to stabilize before swarming in.

“Oh, isn’t this Brother Muchen?”

A young man, similar in age to Li Muchen and wearing a smile, approached.

However, that smile carried undisguised mockery and a hint of condescending ridicule.

Li Muchen’s expression immediately darkened as he coldly looked at the newcomer:

“Li Yunyi, didn’t you already obtain a top-grade origin fruit? What are you doing here?”

Seeing the nine miner-like Cultivators behind Li Yunyi, Li Muchen instantly understood what he was planning.

When Li Yunyi heard this, his smile grew brighter:

“Brother Muchen, look at what you’re saying. It’s not like you can only absorb one top-grade origin fruit, who would complain about having too many? Besides...”

He deliberately drew out his words, his gaze sweeping over Liu Xuan and the others:

“Even if I can’t snatch one, as your older brother, I still need to come and escort you, right?”

Li Muchen clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white, forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart:

“You don’t need to worry about me! Mind your own people!”

They were not biological brothers. Li Yunyi was a talented individual from another Branch Family of the Li Clan Immortal Family, nominally considered a brother to Li Muchen, but in reality, they were rivals.

Li Yunyi had already obtained a top-grade origin fruit in a previous Origin Secret Realm. Coming to this Secret Realm now was purely to suppress Li Muchen and prevent him from having a chance to rise.

Just then—

Buzz!

The water-like Light Screen in the center of the mountain range completely stabilized, emitting peaceful Spatial Fluctuation.

The Origin Secret Realm Entrance was fully open!

However, the various forces did not immediately rush in, maintaining a strange sense of order.

Everyone stood still, their gazes directed toward an inconspicuous Stone Platform next to the Entrance.

Three old men in simple robes were seated cross-legged on the Stone Platform. Their Auras seemed integrated with the heavens and earth, and the invisible pressure they exerted prevented any Cultivator from acting rashly.

The Origin Secret Realm itself is a valuable, renewable resource jointly controlled by several major powers, who have established ironclad rules:

First, those whose cultivation exceeds the Tribulation Crossing Stage are forbidden from entering.

Second, the maximum number of entrants, including Followers, is ten people per faction.