As Shen Yuan leaped into the swirling vortex, an eerie silence engulfed him. The howling winds and crashing waves from the ocean above vanished, leaving only the sound of his own heartbeat. For a moment, he felt weightless, suspended in an infinite void. The swirling light of the vortex seemed to stretch endlessly, twisting and folding upon itself like a living maze.
His brows furrowed as he sensed something was off. "This isn't just a passage," he muttered, his voice swallowed by the strange space. Time felt warped, each second stretching into an eternity. Shen Yuan extended his divine sense, trying to probe the vortex's nature, but all he encountered was an overwhelming nothingness.
Suddenly, the space around him rippled. A strange, ancient voice whispered incomprehensible words, and his surroundings began to shift. Space distorted, bending and breaking like shattered glass, until the vortex was no more.
The next thing he knew, he was plummeting from a dark blue sky. Below him stretched a barren land, coursing with a faint, ancient energy that prickled his skin. Shen Yuan spread his arms and landed softly, his feet meeting the cracked earth with a dull thud.
His eyes scanned the surroundings. "A whole different space-time," he murmured, a smirk tugging at his lips. "This secret realm... is far more interesting than I thought."
Before he could delve deeper into his thoughts, the sound of footsteps behind him broke the silence. Shen Yuan turned, his cold gaze meeting a man towering over six feet tall, his muscular frame radiating confidence. The man stopped a few steps away, sizing Shen Yuan up.
"You," the man said, his voice gruff. "You're strong—I can feel it. But strength alone won't get you far here. Team up with me, or give up now. You won't survive on your own."
Shen Yuan's smirk deepened. "And if I refuse?"
The man let out a low chuckle, his expression turning menacing. "Then I'll kill you here and now. Simple."
Without another word, the man's qi flared, his muscles bulging as he activated a strength-enhancing technique. He lunged forward, his fist aiming straight for Shen Yuan's heart.
Shen Yuan didn't move. He stood there, arms crossed, as his yin aura flared in response. The temperature around them plummeted, frost creeping across the cracked earth. The man's fist froze mid-air, his entire body encased in a layer of ice before he could even react and shattered into gem-sized pieces of ice.
"Fool," Shen Yuan muttered, brushing past the frozen sculpture that was once his opponent.
Meanwhile, in the outside world, the entire country watched through the magic screens created by the two sect masters, their gazes glued to the unfolding events. The two sect leaders of the Twin Soul Sect sat in the highest pavilion, their expressions betraying intrigue and unease.
"Mastery of yin qi at this level is unheard of for someone in the Heaven Path Realm," said Wu Daozhen.
"Not just mastery," replied Xue Linghun. "Control. Precision. Ruthlessness. He's no ordinary cultivator."
"He's making it look effortless," Wu Daozhen murmured, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"Effortless and terrifying," Xue Linghun added, his tone grim. "No hesitation, no unnecessary movement. That yin qi mastery… it feels like death itself."
The crowd murmured in awe, some in hushed voices, others unable to contain their amazement.
"Who is this Shen Yuan? Is he really in the Heaven Path Realm?"
"He didn't even lift a finger, and that man was frozen solid!"
"I wouldn't want to face him in that secret realm… he's like a monster wearing a human's skin."
Amid the whispers, Xiang Xiaoli, a prominent Heaven Path Realm cultivator watching from the front row, clenched her fists. A rare hint of fear danced in her eyes as she studied Shen Yuan's icy, indifferent demeanor. "To control yin qi like that at his level... what kind of monster is he?"
Back in the secret realm, Shen Yuan extended his divine sense, scanning the land for other participants. His smirk widened as he observed their movements. Most groups were clustering together, relying on numbers and defensive arrays to secure temporary territories. A few lone Nirvana Realm cultivators ventured deeper into the realm, clearly confident in their individual strength.
Shen Yuan's gaze settled on a group of five hiding behind a Grade 4 defensive array. They had marked their territory, their qi signatures radiating a mix of arrogance and paranoia.
"Pathetic," Shen Yuan muttered. "Relying on numbers and defenses to survive. Let's see how long that lasts."
With a burst of yin qi, he propelled himself toward the group, landing directly in front of their array.
Shen Yuan stood outside the Grade 4 array shielding the group of five cultivators. The formation hummed with power, a shimmering barrier designed to repel even a Nirvana Realm cultivator's attack. From within, the group eyed him warily.
"Who's this?" one of them sneered, a tall man with a blade slung over his shoulder. "Another Heaven Path Realm fool thinking he can take us on alone?"
"Look at him," another jeered. "He's not even trying to hide himself. Does he think he's invincible? He doesn't even have a weapon."
Shen Yuan chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery. "Hiding behind an array like frightened children? I wonder, is it fear of the unknown… or are you simply that weak?"
The tallest of the group, clearly the leader, stepped forward, his face twisted in anger. "Watch your mouth, boy. Do you think you can take all five of us? Numbers always win in the end."
Shen Yuan tilted his head, his smirk growing wider. "Oh, I agree. Numbers are powerful... when they're not this pitiful. Five ants don't make a dragon."
The leader's face darkened, his qi flaring. "You're courting death!"
"Perhaps," Shen Yuan said, his tone light. "But if I am, then what does that make you? I'm standing here, exposed, unprotected, and yet none of you dare to step outside your little shell. Are you cultivators... or little turtles?"
The mocking laughter in his voice was like a dagger to their pride. The leader slammed his fist into the barrier, his qi surging. "We'll show you who the weak ones are!"
The other four nodded, their faces hardened with anger. Together, they activated the array, sending five flying swords imbued with radiant qi streaking toward Shen Yuan.
As the swords closed in, the barrier shimmered with energy, amplifying the power of the attack. The ground beneath Shen Yuan's feet cracked from the sheer force of their combined assault.
The swords seemed to be targeting most of his vital points.
But Shen Yuan didn't flinch. He remained perfectly still, his smirk never wavering. "That's it? Let me show you what real power looks like."