The airship pierced through the clouds, arriving almost instantly at the entrance to the secret realm. Ahead, amidst the distant mountains, a vast and ancient ruin lay shrouded in thick, ominous mist. The ruins, weathered by time, revealed crumbling walls and a grand gate covered in mysterious runes, exuding a sense of profound antiquity. This was the secret realm that had drawn the three major sects together for a joint exploration.
Standing on the deck of the airship, Wang Quan gazed toward the distant scene, his expression serious. By now, the airships of Tianque Sect and Xuanshao Sect had also arrived, their disciples standing in neat rows, their eyes calm and composed. The Golden Core elders of the three sects hovered in midair, exchanging brief pleasantries before they began working together to open the grand gate of the secret realm.
A deafening rumble echoed across the mountains as the three Golden Core elders each cast a series of intricate hand seals. Their combined spiritual energy surged, coalescing into a mighty force that struck the gate. Slowly, the gate creaked open, releasing a dense wave of spiritual energy as though a long-sealed ancient treasure trove had been unlocked.
Within the gate, a strange fluctuation of spiritual energy pulsed, as if countless treasures and opportunities lay hidden inside, awaiting those fortunate enough to claim them. At the same time, an undercurrent of danger seeped from the opening, causing every cultivator to feel a moment of unease.
"Disciples, remember, your safety is the most important thing—no matter what," Qingjian Master, the Golden Core elder from Yunxiao Sect, said in a stern tone, his voice filled with warning.
The Golden Core elders from Tianque Sect and Xuanshao Sect likewise issued cautious reminders to their disciples. The disciples from Tianque Sect, dressed in white, exuded an air of calm arrogance, while those from Xuanshao Sect, clad in black robes, bore cold expressions and steely gazes, as though constantly prepared to confront the specter of death.
Even before entering the secret realm, a subtle tension permeated the atmosphere between the three sects. Though they had come together for exploration, competition and underlying hostility were palpable.
Wang Quan stood alongside Zhang Qiu and the other Yunxiao Sect disciples, his gaze sweeping over the disciples from the other sects. He remained vigilant, especially toward the disciples of Xuanshao Sect, whose cold, sinister auras suggested they were anything but honorable.
"Everyone, remember—once we enter the secret realm, our first priority is to stay safe. The elders have informed us that we'll be randomly teleported to different locations upon entering. We should regroup as soon as possible and then plan our next steps," Zhang Qiu said, his commanding tone reflecting his leadership.
The others nodded in agreement. Although they would be scattered initially, regrouping would greatly increase their chances of survival in the realm.
"Enter!" Qingjian Master's voice boomed, signaling the disciples to proceed. The disciples from all three sects began filing into the gate. Wang Quan took a deep breath and, following closely behind his fellow disciples, stepped through the mysterious portal.
A powerful suction force immediately pulled him in. Wang Quan's vision blurred as the world spun around him, making him feel as though he was being swept into a torrent of space and time. In the next moment, he was hurled into the depths of the secret realm, like a falling meteor.
When Wang Quan regained his senses, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar forest. The area was suffused with dense spiritual energy, and in the distance, he could make out winding mountain ranges and the ruins of ancient structures. The entire secret realm seemed eerily quiet, as though it concealed countless dangers and opportunities.
Frowning slightly, Wang Quan surveyed his surroundings, realizing that he had indeed been randomly teleported. There were no signs of his fellow Yunxiao Sect disciples nearby.
"Looks like I'll need to find Senior Brother Zhang Qiu and the others," he muttered to himself, cautiously beginning to explore the forest while keeping his spiritual energy on high alert.
As Wang Quan moved forward, he remained vigilant, constantly scanning his surroundings. The atmosphere in the secret realm was oppressive, and an unsettling aura lingered in the air, as though danger could strike at any moment.
As he advanced through the forest, the wind whistling through the trees, Wang Quan extended his spiritual senses, hoping to detect the presence of other cultivators. However, it soon became clear that the secret realm was somehow disrupting his spiritual perception, limiting his range of detection and making it difficult to sense anything beyond a short distance.
After a short while, Wang Quan picked up a faint fluctuation of spiritual energy nearby, indicating the presence of others.
His eyes narrowed, and he quickened his pace, moving toward the source of the energy.
Soon, he emerged into a small clearing where he spotted three familiar figures—Zhang Qiu, Liu Ruohan, and Li Yuan, the wind technique specialist. The three of them appeared to have only recently regrouped themselves.
"Young Disciple Wang, you made it!" Li Yuan greeted him with a smile.
Wang Quan nodded in response and quickly joined them. "I'm glad I found you. What's our next move?" he asked, his tone calm and focused.
Zhang Qiu nodded slightly, casting a wary glance around the clearing. "There are four of us now, but we still haven't found the others. Our priority should be to gather as many of our fellow disciples as possible before proceeding further. This place feels off—there's something about it that makes me think the dangers of this realm far exceed what we expected."
Liu Ruohan, looking around cautiously, added, "Senior Brother, the spiritual energy here is strong, but there's also something strange mixed in with it. It could be hidden beasts or traps. We need to be extremely careful."
Wang Quan silently agreed. His spiritual senses were still being disrupted, and the unsettling atmosphere of the secret realm only heightened his wariness.
Zhang Qiu pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Let's stay on guard. We'll head toward the center of the secret realm. According to the elders, the greatest opportunities are likely hidden there, but that's also where the disciples from Tianque Sect and Xuanshao Sect will converge. We can't let them get ahead of us."
Wang Quan understood. This wasn't just a treasure hunt—it was also a contest between the three sects, one that could influence their future standing and resources.
With Zhang Qiu leading the way, the four of them set out cautiously, exploring deeper into the secret realm. As they ventured forward, the realm's aura grew increasingly eerie, and the landscape became more desolate and mysterious.