Arrival at the Secret Realm

Ten thousand li away, near the depths of the Secret Realm.

Two figures, one in front and one behind, were advancing north.

Along the way, dangers continued to emerge.

They encountered Vicious Beasts of the Sanyin Realm more than once.

It seemed the closer they got to the depths of the Secret Realm, the stronger the Vicious Beasts became.

Of course, this was only natural, as the White Wind originated from within and weakened as it spread outwards.

Given this, the Vicious Beasts capable of living deeper within were naturally more powerful.

However, even so, terrifying Vicious Beasts comparable to the mountain-like giant turtle they encountered earlier were still rare.

And those comparable to the Tentacle Monster were even rarer, practically nonexistent.

Zhong Qing guessed that the Tentacle Monster was originally the overlord of the White Wind Plains.

After all, it resided deep underground, where almost no Vicious Beasts could threaten its main body, and the White Wind on the surface had no effect on it whatsoever.

Through its tentacles and rapid underground movement, it could reach almost any part of the White Wind Plains in a short amount of time.

Unless one's strength far surpassed its Realm, possessing the ability to directly follow its tentacles to its main body and quickly kill it, it was virtually invincible.

Of course, this also meant that the Vicious Beasts that survived under the threat of the Tentacle Monster almost all had their unique advantages.

For example, the previous giant turtle, with its massive, mountain-like body and unparalleled defense, made it difficult for the Tentacle Monster to harm it with just its tentacles.

Or rather, within the Sanyin Realm, very few could deal with such a massive existence.

Other Vicious Beasts, for instance, possessed extremely strong stealth abilities or extreme speed, allowing them to escape from the tentacles or avoid detection.

In short, centered around the White Wind and the Tentacle Monster, this plain had formed a unique and peculiar ecosystem of its own.

It was expected that after Zhong Qing subdued the Tentacle Monster's main body and took it away, it would have a significant impact on this plain.

Of course, Zhong Qing wasn't considering these things; instead, he was pondering whether he needed to be more careful after bringing the Tentacle Monster back, perhaps restricting its range of activity.

He didn't want it to hollow out the foundations of the Immortal River Sect's Seven Peaks.

It would be quite a spectacle if he were enjoying tea on Mufu Peak one day and then he, along with the mountain, sank into the ground.

As for the Vicious Beasts he encountered along the way, he simply dealt with them casually.

He was still interested in fighting slightly stronger Vicious Beasts with his own strength to familiarize himself with the power of the Sanyin Realm.

Weaker ones were simply turned to ashes with a wave of his hand.

As for Ming Suxin, who followed behind him, she went from being constantly shocked at first to becoming somewhat numb later on.

It was as if nothing could hinder Zhong Qing in the slightest; any Vicious Beast was easily suppressed with a mere gesture.

And besides Vicious Beasts, the most dangerous Formations in the White Wind Plains were rendered useless with Zhong Qing present.

Wherever he went, all Formations seemed to become ineffective.

The Formations triggered along the way were, in fact, mostly activated by the Vicious Beasts he sent flying.

Following Zhong Qing through this perilous White Wind Plains was simply easy and comfortable, like walking on flat ground.

If not for the constant howling wind and snow and the occasional roaring Vicious Beasts reminding her, Ming Suxin would have suspected she had returned to her own Mirror Heart Lake.

Only now did she understand why Zhong Qing could travel ten thousand li in a single day within the Secret Realm.

If he weren't walking at a leisurely pace but instead traveling at full speed, let alone ten thousand li a day, a hundred thousand li might not be impossible.

Looking at Zhong Qing's steady back, neither too far nor too close in front of her, Ming Suxin felt a complex emotion in her heart.

Although being separated from her Sect and the heavy losses suffered by her Master and fellow disciples weighed heavily on her heart.

Yet, on the other hand, she felt a slight sense of relief; if not for that Ghost White Wind blowing her away, she probably wouldn't have had the Opportunity to travel with Zhong Qing at this moment.

Carrying such complex emotions, the two continued their journey, finally arriving at the deepest part of the plain at noon on the third day.

After traversing a low but complex hilly area and passing through a valley filled with the ruins of ancient Sect buildings, the scenery of the deepest part emerged before their eyes.

“Is this where the Secret Realm is located?”

Ming Suxin's gaze swept across the scene before her, a hint of shock and surprise flashing in her eyes as she murmured.

Before them, on the snowy plain, stood four colossal snow-capped mountains, tens of thousands of feet tall, rising from the ground.

The bases of these four snow mountains were connected, forming an enclosed area, and all were extremely precipitous.

Silver-white storms continuously swirled and roared around the four snow mountains, emanating a terrifying aura.

This white storm was similar to the White Wind, but upon sensing it, its wind power was many times stronger than the White Wind, perhaps even being the origin of the White Wind itself.

It seemed impossible to cross the mountain ridges directly by flying; even a Sanyin Realm expert would be unable to cross this wall of storm.

And the main body of the Secret Realm was clearly located within the area surrounded by these four snow mountains.

Zhong Qing's gaze swept over the silver storm; with Formation Immunity on him, he could try to directly brave the storm, but he had a feeling.

This storm might not be the power of a Formation, but rather, it seemed that something deep within the Secret Realm had triggered the power of heaven and earth, thus forming this silver storm.

And the White Wind, triggered by countless Formations on the White Wind Plains, might very well originate from this storm itself.

Before understanding the truth, Zhong Qing did not intend to force his way through directly; he and Ming Suxin slowly approached the foot of the mountains.

Directly ahead, it was precisely where two snow mountains converged.

Here, there was a dark fissure, emitting a faint chill.

Logically, this fissure was the entrance to the Secret Realm, but when Zhong Qing's Divine Thought probed into the fissure, he found it to be a dead end.

However, on the open ground in front of the fissure, stood a giant pillar, dozens of zhang high and several zhang thick, covered in mysterious patterns.

And in the very center of the giant pillar, there was a prominent circular pattern, with a circular depression at its core.

At the same time, both Zhong Qing and Ming Suxin sensed a reaction from the Secret Realm iron pieces on their bodies.

Taking out the iron pieces, the sensation became clearer, and both immediately understood.

Ming Suxin said, “It seems we need to place these iron pieces into that depression to open the Secret Realm entrance within the fissure.”

“I’ve heard that those who personally open the entrance with the iron pieces will be imbued with the aura of the Secret Realm, allowing them to gain greater Opportunities within the Secret Realm.”

“However, currently, you and I together only have three iron pieces. It is said that a minimum of four pieces are needed to open the entrance, and only when all six pieces are gathered can the Secret Realm fully Awaken.”

This was also why the people from the four great Sects, though splitting up and advancing, did not strictly demand to be the first to arrive.

The reason they tried their best to hurry was merely out of fear that if they were too slow, they wouldn't make it in time for the period when the White Wind ceased, and thus be trapped within the plain and unable to leave.

No matter who arrived at the Secret Realm entrance first, the iron pieces from a single faction would not be enough to open the entrance.

Of course, if one were to think darkly, those who arrived first might be able to set up arrangements here to ambush those who came later and seize their iron pieces, but that would be another matter entirely.