59: Secret Realm

"Young Master, should we deal with the people following us?"

Lin Tianxuan transmitted his voice to Li Haotian, who didn't pay it any mind.

"Just leave them be. They're probably following us because they want to keep an eye on Young Miss Su."

Su Yao pouted, a hint of displeasure on her face, after hearing Li Haotian's words.

"I'm not like that! I recorded everything that guy said just now. I'll play it for that woman who came to provoke us when I get the chance."

As Su Yao spoke, she took out a light blue stone. This stone had a recording function and could record and play audio at any time.

Everything they had just said was recorded inside.

"You're truly wicked. I didn't expect my Disciple to become like this."

Li Haotian shook his head slightly, a hint of dissatisfaction on his face. She must have learned it from that dead dog. All his Disciples were being led astray.

Su Yao stuck out her tongue, a brilliant smile on her face.

"Of course, I have to avenge Junior Brother! That guy was so arrogant, openly provoking us last time. Let's see if she can still be so arrogant next time."

Su Yao grinned, and the three continued to follow Zhang Hai, finding a place to rest near where he was staying.

Every Grand Competition hosted by the Yizhang Dynasty was different. No one knew the competition system or even what they were supposed to do. The rules were always announced at the last minute.

All participants had no way to prepare in advance and could only improvise and come up with ideas on the spot.

This effectively prevented targeted training and specialized cheating.

Li Haotian and the others settled into an inn. The Grand Competition was set to begin in two days, and Zhang Hai would soon head to the city center plaza.

Because there were so many people with the surname Zhang, many prominent Families received invitations. The Imperial City, the core of the entire Imperial Dynasty, was already swarming with people.

The number of Zhang Family noble houses gathered in this city was particularly large.

This also included some local powerhouses of the Yizhang Dynasty and the children of princes and nobles.

Who among them didn't want their Family to flourish, gain more noble titles, more land, and more power?

So they would basically send their outstanding descendants to participate in such competitions, which led to even more participants, and some even used backdoors.

Li Haotian and the others mingled in the crowd to watch the excitement. An old man in a red robe and an official's hat, clearly the person in charge of this event, showed a calm expression on the plaza.

"Welcome, everyone, to my Yizhang Dynasty. All participants share the surname Zhang, so I won't waste any more time. I will now announce the rules for this event."

"The Imperial Dynasty has discovered a Secret Realm. Participants can bring any powerhouses into it, with a maximum of five people. This team combat format is also to reduce casualties."

"This Secret Realm has already been invaded by a strange alien race. There is a resource inside that is extremely rare in our Heaven Domain. After killing the creatures in this Secret Realm, you can obtain a crystal core from their bodies. This crystal core has a very wide range of uses. When ground into powder and placed in a Pill Furnace or an Artifact Refiner's Refining Cauldron, it can increase the success rate."

"Therefore, this resource is extremely scarce and has great utility. Half of the crystal cores obtained by participants in this Secret Realm must be handed over to the Imperial Dynasty; the remaining half can be kept by themselves. This is also the most dangerous Grand Competition in ten thousand years, so I hope everyone will treat it with caution."

"The one who obtains the most crystal cores will be the champion!"

Li Haotian felt somewhat fortunate that they had come. This time, it wasn't a lottery; instead, they were directly entering a Secret Realm to hunt Secret Realm creatures.

If Zhang Hai were alone, his results probably wouldn't be good. With them assisting, getting first place wouldn't be a problem. They had a Peak Great Emperor Realm Expert on their side!

Zhang Hai looked at the old man in the distance, his eyes dim. Coming alone to participate in such a Secret Realm was undoubtedly a disadvantage.

"Disciple, don't panic, Revered Master is here!"

Li Haotian's voice suddenly echoed in his mind, and Zhang Hai's face immediately lit up with joy.

"You, plus Revered Master, your Senior Sister, Elder Lin Tianxuan, and Little Green beside you—the five of us will enter this Secret Realm together. We will definitely help you secure the champion title. Come find us immediately according to my guidance."

Zhang Hai quickly met up with the others. A dog, Little Green, was by his side.

Zhang Hai took Wangcai out, and Little Green, unwilling to part with Wangcai, followed along.

With such a Heaven Ascending Realm powerhouse by his side, Zhang Hai's heart could settle a little.

"These rules are just right for us. There are only five slots, and with Little Green, that makes exactly five. Wangcai is inside your body and doesn't count as a slot, so our numbers are just right."

Su Yao counted on her fingers for a long time, a brilliant smile on her face.

"Thank you, Revered Master, Senior Sister, and Elder, for appearing in time and saving me from distress."

Zhang Hai's heart immediately settled a lot. With so many powerhouses helping him enter the Secret Realm to hunt creatures, it would be as easy as pie.

With Elder Lin Tianxuan and Revered Master, two Great Emperor Realm Experts, assisting him, Zhang Hai felt like he was about to faint from happiness. This kind of treatment was simply Heaven-Defying!

"Heh, you're probably celebrating a bit too early. We will only intervene if you face an unmatchable formidable enemy. The rest of the time, you will train yourselves."

"You, your Senior Sister, and Wangcai, all three of you are at the Soul Transformation Cultivation. Your efforts are enough. The three of us will just be spectators."

Li Haotian immediately crushed his idea of gaining something without effort. This was his own trial. Although Lin Tianxuan and the others could intervene, it would negate the effect of the trial.

Flowers grown in a greenhouse, no matter how strong their talent or how good their foundation, would never be able to withstand the wind and rain.

They had to find their own way to experience life-and-death struggles in countless battles. Since they were individuals blessed with Luck, Li Haotian believed they would absolutely not perish before becoming Great Emperor Realm Experts.

Zhang Hai quickly used his invitation to receive five Tokens. One red Token was his own, and the remaining four were for the other four people.

These Tokens contained a small teleportation Formation for entering the Secret Realm. If one encountered danger, they could crush the Token to be enveloped and teleported out.

Li Haotian and the others had no objections. After binding the Tokens to themselves, they followed Zhang Hai to the entrance of the Secret Realm.

Many people had already entered, preparing to wreak havoc. They were mostly from prominent Families, accompanied by powerhouses, and entered directly after receiving their Tokens.

Zhang Hai took a deep breath, looked at the others, nodded, and walked to the very front.