Shen Xiang and his companions didn't know much about the Mysterious Realm, only that it was an incredibly enigmatic place filled with many natural treasures and spiritual herbs. Some of these realms even harbored numerous demonic beasts, making them natural treasure troves for martial artists, though they also came with many unknown dangers.
Elder Wu, seeing the confusion on their faces, immediately reassured them: "The Elders' Courtyard has been relocated into this Mysterious Realm, and we are fully familiar with everything inside. The entire realm is under our control, so you don't need to worry about encountering overly powerful demonic beasts. The strongest ones here are just Grade Ten."
Zhu Rong couldn't help but ask, "Does that mean all the natural treasures have been cleaned out? And if these three guys happen to find anything valuable, do they have to hand it over? How come I didn't get to experience such a trial back in my day?"
Elder Wu laughed and teased, "You cheeky little fatty! You really take after that elder of yours! If they find any good stuff, they don't have to turn it over, but they do need to report it to us. If they want to sell it, they must offer it to Taiwu Gate first."
The third trial, which involved hunting down three Grade Ten demonic beasts, was truly a comprehensive test of one's abilities. Shen Xiang was eagerly anticipating it.
"There are three paths ahead, each leading to areas with many demonic beasts. Here are storage belts; they can hold a lot of items. You need to bring back the bodies of the demonic beasts you kill, and don't try to keep them for yourself—we'll know! Once you kill the beasts, you'll get to keep half of them as your reward!" Elder Wu handed out three black belts to the group.
After receiving the belts, Shen Xiang and his companions encouraged each other and then set off on the paths leading deeper into the Mysterious Realm.
"Elder Wu, where exactly is the Elders' Courtyard in here?" Zhu Rong asked after watching them leave. He looked around but couldn't see any buildings.
"That's a secret," Elder Wu replied with a mysterious smile. "But I can tell you this much: Elder Dan even moved some small courtyards from her Tai Dan Academy into this realm. Once you enter those courtyards, you'll be able to stay here long-term."
The Elders' Courtyard had always been a mystery. No one knew exactly how many elders lived there, nor their exact strength. The only known elders were just a small handful.
"Sometimes, strength alone isn't the key to entering the Elders' Courtyard. Once you reach a certain stage, you'll understand. There's an Elder Assessment held at regular intervals, and anyone who passes can become an elder." Elder Wu patted Zhu Rong on the shoulder and led him away.
As Shen Xiang walked along, he gazed up at the beautiful starlit sky, breathing in the fragrant air and feeling the overwhelming abundance of spiritual energy in the realm. He marveled at the mysteries hidden within Taiwu Gate.
"I never imagined that Taiwu Gate had such a big secret, with this Mysterious Realm right next to it. It seems like they've already mined most of the resources in the realm and are preparing to announce their secret to the world, to build up Taiwu Gate's reputation," Su Meiyao commented.
"Sister Meiyao, have you seen other Mysterious Realms before?" Shen Xiang asked.
"Of course, but none as beautiful as this. The ones we've encountered were much more dangerous, though they were filled with countless rare treasures. That part is undeniable," Su Meiyao replied.
It was thanks to this Mysterious Realm that Taiwu Gate had been able to establish itself at the pinnacle of the Chenwu Continent!
...
Inside a courtyard of an old mansion, three giant transparent crystal orbs, each as tall as a person, were suspended. Within the orbs, clear images of Shen Xiang, Yun Xiaodao, and Zhang De could be seen, viewed from a bird's-eye perspective.
Around the crystal orbs stood over twenty people, including Wu Kaiming and Elder Dan. The rest were mostly elderly men and women, though there were a few middle-aged and younger individuals. Many of them wore masks.
Since it had been years since any disciple had passed the second trial, the elders were all curious to see how Shen Xiang would fare in the third test.
"This young man, Shen Xiang, has such impressive talent. He must have been mentored by an extraordinary individual. There's no way someone with such abilities could have been trained by ordinary means. But why did he come to Taiwu Gate? The martial skills he uses are ones we've never seen before. Although they aren't particularly advanced, they are exceptionally powerful for someone of his level," commented a plain-looking young man.
"Hehe, I still don't understand why Elder Dan made such a big bet with him. What if he actually wins?" Wu Kaiming chuckled.
The others were equally baffled.
Elder Dan snorted, "Old Wu, if you beat me now, I'll marry you immediately. I'll marry anyone who manages to win against me!"
No one said anything after that. Defeating Elder Dan wasn't easy, and even the Taiwu Gate's headmaster, who was currently in seclusion, wouldn't dare attempt it lightly.
"We need to figure out this boy's real motive for coming to Taiwu Gate!" the young man urged.
"There doesn't seem to be any hidden agenda. Based on our investigations, he came here simply to improve himself. His martial skills may be powerful, but they are limited. I suspect he's here to learn more techniques," Wu Kaiming speculated.
"He might also be here to improve his alchemy skills, but he shouldn't even think about getting into the Tai Dan Academy," Elder Dan scoffed.
"Don't be so sure. Didn't you say you wouldn't let him pass the second trial? But he succeeded and even flaunted it in front of you," Elder Wu teased.
"Humph! That brat. One day, I'll make sure he pays for it," Elder Dan muttered coldly.
"Let's just hope he doesn't have any malicious intentions. Otherwise, we won't show him any mercy," the young man declared.
Elder Wu nodded. "Who here is interested in taking him as a disciple? He's a good seedling, and taking him on would help us learn more about him."
Everyone in the Elders' Courtyard was powerful and influential. They all recognized Shen Xiang's potential, especially his unyielding spirit, which earned the admiration of many.
"If anyone dares take him as a disciple, they'll have to deal with me first!" Elder Dan suddenly shouted, silencing the crowd. "Even if the headmaster wants to take him on, I'll make life difficult for him! And who knows if this boy will even reach the True Martial Realm? Over the years, we've seen many geniuses die in the Tenth Level of the Mortal Martial Realm."
It was clear to everyone that Elder Dan deeply resented Shen Xiang. Like the other disciples, they couldn't understand why she harbored such intense hatred toward him.
"Women can be petty. All he did was talk back a little—do you really need to hold such a grudge?" one of the older men laughed, causing a shiver to run through the group.
They all knew how vengeful Elder Dan could be. In the past, several powerful demonic cultivators had dared to insult her with their words, only to be tortured until they wished they were dead.
Meanwhile, Shen Xiang, completely unaware that a group of elders was watching and discussing him, was leisurely strolling through the Mysterious Realm, admiring its beauty. He had no idea that Elder Dan was already plotting ways to make his life difficult.