Chapter 426 - 423: Lotus Secret Realm

Chapter 426: Chapter 423: Lotus Secret Realm

The Lotus Secret Realm!

Bai Zichen’s heart stirred. This was the most famous Secret Realm in the Liang Country, and it had always been under the control of the Holy Lotus Sect.

This Secret Realm had extremely high requirements for its participants. Each time it opened, there were only about ten spots available. Aside from the Holy Lotus Sect’s own disciples, only cultivators with excellent connections or those with the Nascent Soul Form would be selected.

Firstly, it was to foster good relations with these cultivators. Secondly, the truly valuable things in the Lotus Secret Realm were located in its deepest core, which demanded even higher Cultivation from those who sought to obtain them.

Without the strength of Core Formation Perfection, one might not even qualify to enter the Secret Realm’s core.

Cultivators who had already reached Core Formation Perfection were all preparing for Shattering Core and Transforming into Nascent Soul, so why would they risk entering the Secret Realm?

The Lotus Secret Realm was far from safe. Even though those who entered were always the elites among Core Formation Cultivators, one or two would still perish inside each time.

The Holy Lotus Sect didn’t necessarily have such outstanding disciples in every generation, so opening the spots to outsiders was a reluctant necessity.

Bai Zichen had learned from a Jade Scroll left behind by a Holy Lotus Sect Core Formation Elder who died at his hands that the Sect’s highest goal for all those years had been the Twin Lotus Heart.

Any disciple who could return with the Twin Lotus Heart would be rewarded with a Nascent Soul Pill.

Unfortunately, not only had no Holy Lotus Sect disciple obtained it, but not a single outside Core Formation True Man had ever seen this Life-Extending Spiritual Object either.

Ge Cang and Feng Moyun had both entered the Lotus Secret Realm before and reaped considerable rewards within.

Ironically, this goodwill was never put to use.

Before his passing, True Monarch Jiulian had intended to eliminate Ge Cang and Bai Zichen, seeing them as unstable elements, but unexpectedly, he was the one who ended up perishing on Black Mountain.

Bai Zichen had once considered vying for a spot in the Lotus Secret Realm, but he abandoned the idea as soon as the relationship between the two sects became strained.

After he killed True Monarch Jiulian with a single strike, it was even more out of the question.

Even if the Holy Lotus Sect took the initiative to invite him, he would never have entered.

Who knew how many Forbidden the Holy Lotus Sect controlled within the Secret Realm? He could end up dying a mysterious death in the Lotus Secret Realm.

’Come to think of it, it does seem to be the time for the Lotus Secret Realm to open again.’

’But from what this square-faced cultivator is saying, could the spots for the Secret Realm be different this time?’

’Otherwise, where would an Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivator get the confidence to entertain such improper thoughts about the Lotus Secret Realm?’

’Look at the outside cultivators the Holy Lotus Sect favored in the past: they were either Late-Stage Core Formation Cultivators with profound Cultivation, or renowned combatants like Ge Cang and Fang Tiancheng. At the very least, they had to be like Feng Moyun, with the skills of a Tier Four Beast Master, setting them apart from ordinary Core Formation True Men.’

"I heard the Celestial Principle Sect has thrown everything they have into this, almost leveling several peaks on Qii Mountain... If it weren’t for the Holy Lotus Sect’s Leader cultivating some bizarre Cultivation Technique that lets him create Wood Puppet Avatars, their Sect would have probably been breached by the Celestial Principle Sect long ago."

"Master Li, watch your words..."

Seeing that the square-faced middle-aged man was about to say more, the Guu Chang Wanderer lightly tapped his wine cup, interrupting him.

"There’s no need for that. I am merely from a branch of the Holy Lotus Sect. I left the Liang Country a hundred years ago due to ideological differences... The rise and fall of a Sect is a matter of fate, not something one person can reverse."

The Qi-surnamed cultivator, who had been drinking nonstop with a bold and unrestrained air, suddenly put on a serious expression and said faintly,

"I am still somewhat interested in the Holy Lotus Sect’s recent situation. Please, fellow Daoist, continue."

"I truly didn’t know Master Qi came from the Holy Lotus Sect. My apologies, please don’t take offense."

Master Li looked embarrassed. He rubbed his nose and sat back down on the stone stool.

"I also heard this from a fellow Daoist of the Celestial Principle Sect stationed in the Immortal City. Their Sect Leader, True Monarch Shi, has personally taken action and even brought out several of the Sect’s most guarded Secret Treasures. This time, they’ve sworn to take Qii Mountain. Their hopes of returning to the Central Domain have been dashed, and if they don’t secure a Tier Four Spirit Vein, how can the Celestial Principle Sect ever develop?"

"This matter received the Immortal City’s approval, and since the Holy Lotus Sect has no Nascent Soul True Monarch presiding over it, they originally thought it would be an easy victory... Unexpectedly, the Tier Four Array on Qii Mountain, combined with the power of a Spiritual Treasure, was formidable. The Celestial Principle Sect had to sacrifice several Secret Treasures just to suppress it. And while the Holy Lotus Sect’s Leader is only at Core Formation Perfection, the Wood Puppet Avatars he creates have the same level of Cultivation and seem to have no limit. Since the war began, he has already lost over a dozen of them, single-handedly holding True Monarch Shi at bay."

So it was the Celestial Principle Sect that had set its sights on the Holy Lotus Sect, launching a sect war while he was away.

Bai Zichen gave an imperceptible nod. This was to be expected. As the strongest Nascent Soul Major Sect in the Liang Country on the surface, the Celestial Principle Sect could never remain on a Tier Three Spirit Vein for long.

Previously, they had clung to the fantasy of fighting their way back to the Central Domain. But as they gradually returned to reality, the situation before them was clear: they had to occupy a Tier Four Spirit Vein in a short amount of time.

The Ice Soul Palace was far away in the Ten Thousand Miles Icefield, a difficult journey.

Moreover, it was only a small Tier Four Spirit Land. Even if they went to great trouble to occupy it, it would certainly not be enough for a Nascent Soul Major Sect like the Celestial Principle Sect.

In the entire Liang Country, only the Qii Mountain Range and the Black Mountain Range could satisfy the Celestial Principle Sect’s needs.

Evidently, they ultimately chose Qii Mountain and set their sights on the Holy Lotus Sect.

"For Qu Yang to have been chosen by True Monarch Jiulian to become the Sect Leader, he must have his outstanding qualities... What a pity he was born a century too late. Otherwise, with a True Monarch’s protection, his chances of reaching Nascent Soul would have been much greater."

Master Qi paused, the wine cup at his lips, and after a moment, he placed it back on the table without drinking.

"In any case, the two sides are now locked in a stalemate, a most brutal war of attrition. The reason I just mentioned the Lotus Secret Realm is because the great battle between the two sects nearly broke the Qii Mountain Grand Array. The Holy Lotus Sect only managed to defend it by detonating a Spiritual Treasure. But afterward, the coverage of the Tier Four Array shrank by a third, leaving the Lotus Secret Realm exposed outside the formation."

Master Li gesticulated wildly as he spoke, once again forgetting that Master Qi, who came from the Holy Lotus Sect, was right in front of him.

"According to that Celestial Principle Sect cultivator, the entrance to the Lotus Secret Realm has been broken open and is now exposed to the world... No guidance from the Holy Lotus Sect is needed; anyone with sufficient strength can enter directly. In the past few days, several powerful Core Formation True Men I know have already rushed over, trying to compete for a spot. The Lotus Secret Realm holds a Spiritual Object that can help one break through Core Formation Perfection. Every cultivator who has successfully left the Secret Realm has managed to advance in a short time."

That’s because those people already had sufficient accumulation and great strength; it wasn’t an effect of entering the Lotus Secret Realm.

Bai Zichen thought to himself but didn’t say it out loud.

But now, with this accident in the Lotus Secret Realm, it was exposed before everyone in the Cultivation Realm. As long as one was strong enough, they could seize a spot.

This news made his heart race. A new idea was forming.

In the Core Formation Stage, who was his match?

Even if Shi Chengdong took action to secure more spots for the Celestial Principle Sect’s cultivators, as long as he didn’t try to take them all, he couldn’t stop him from entering the Lotus Secret Realm under the identity of ’Su Wuming’.

If Shi Chengdong went too far, then he would have no choice but to reveal all his cards and expose the truth that ’Su Wuming’ and Bai Zichen were, in fact, the same person.

’It’s still best to keep it a secret. Acting as Su Wuming, I won’t draw everyone’s attention and can move more freely... Besides, who knows if someone is watching from the shadows, just waiting for me to appear. It’s much safer to operate under an alias.’

To Bai Zichen, the Realm-Breaking Spiritual Objects in the Lotus Secret Realm were worthless. Even the Twin Lotus Heart was not his primary target.

His main goal, of course, was the wandering Tier Four Flying Sword in the Secret Realm’s core region.

The Secret Realm had been in the hands of the Holy Lotus Sect for nearly ten thousand years, yet not a single cultivator had been able to take that Flying Sword. This showed that the Flying Sword had an extremely proud nature.

Bai Zichen knew perfectly well that his Sword Dao Talent was merely ’excellent,’ a world away from the ’number one since the Near Ancient era’ that the outside world believed him to be. There was no way a Tier Four Flying Sword would submit to him just by revealing his aura.

But he had a huge cheat: the Supreme Qingwei Sword Box.

As far as he could tell, no Flying Sword could resist that wisp of Clear Spirit Qi from the dawn of the Great Thousand Realms.

When the time comes, he would bring out the Sword Box, activate the Pure Qi, and he refused to believe the Tier Four Flying Sword in the Secret Realm wouldn’t be tempted.

A Tier Four Flying Sword was far from immortal. Even the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword would see its rank continuously drop in special environments, eventually facing complete annihilation.

For a Tier Four Flying Sword, encountering an outstanding master was a two-way street.

Nourished by True Essence, the Flying Sword’s lifespan would be extended. And if it chose a true prodigy, there was even a sliver of a chance that it could be irrigated by Grotto Heaven Power when its master achieved Divinity Transformation, ascending to become a Tier Five Flying Sword.

Tier Four Flying Swords were hard to find. Although Bai Zichen had personally witnessed two Tier Five Flying Swords, the reality was that he had no clear target for where to find his next Tier Four Flying Sword.

The Tier Five Killing Demon Sword was fortuitously created by using two Nascent Soul True Monarchs who were Sword Dao geniuses, Xiang Ji and Tang Fei, as nourishment. Additionally, its Refining method differed from that of traditional Flying Swords.

Even if one were to follow the exact same recipe again, it would most likely fail at the very moment of ascension to a Tier Five Killing Demon Sword.

The Tier Five Abi Heavenly Prison Demon Sword was born in the Blood Sea that connects to the Demon Realm. It was most likely a Flying Sword from the Demon Realm and likewise could not be replicated.

Even taking a step down, Tier Four Flying Swords were considered ultimate heirlooms in Sword Cultivation Sects.

There was no chance of one being sold on the open market. Even at top-tier auctions, while Spiritual Treasures had appeared, a Tier Four Flying Sword hadn’t been heard of for several hundred years.

"Why did the Celestial Principle Sect attack the Holy Lotus Sect? Aren’t there also the Ice Soul Palace and the Qingfeng Sect in the Liang Country, two newly promoted Nascent Soul Sects? Their foundations are far weaker than the Holy Lotus Sect’s, so they might have been a much easier target."

The young man who had been feeding the fish turned his head. He was full of heroic spirit, exuding an aura of true youth.

"Yu the Saint Child, there is something you may not know. The Celestial Principle Sect may have looked down on the Ice Soul Palace, but they dare not provoke the Qingfeng Sect..."

Master Li explained patiently and in detail.

Yu Zhengze was the current generation’s Saint Heir of the No-Life Sect. He had reached Core Formation five years ago and was just over sixty years old.

Among the cultivators at this table, he was, on the surface, the one with the noblest identity and most prominent status.

"Qingfeng Sect’s True Monarch Ge is said to not even be on Black Mountain and has been gone for many years. Even the renowned Master Bai hasn’t been seen for a long time... But the more this is the case, the less the Celestial Principle Sect dares to target the Qingfeng Sect."

Master Li lowered his voice and spoke mysteriously.

"Destroying the Qingfeng Sect would be simple, but dealing with the aftermath when True Monarch Ge and Master Bai return would be difficult... That Master Bai has been missing for a long time, and the outside world suspects he’s gone into seclusion and has already begun the path of Shattering Core and Transforming into Nascent Soul. He is a true God of Slaughter. Once he reaches Nascent Soul, even those veteran True Monarchs would have to weigh whether they could handle that breathtaking sword strike of his."

"For the Qingfeng Sect to produce two peerless geniuses in a row, the sect is truly blessed by the heavens, its fortune at its peak. If I were the Sect Leader of the Celestial Principle Sect, I wouldn’t choose them either," the Guu Chang Wanderer said.