Chapter 389: Separation
The sun and moon revolved, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Knock knock—
Early that morning, while the sky was still a dark blue, Wang Daozhi knocked on the courtyard gate where Li Zhirui resided.
After waiting for a moment, Li Zhirui came out, "Wang, aren't you coming a bit too early?"
"Not early at all. For cultivators from small influences like us, if we don't head over early, there's no chance to secure a good spot." Wang Daozhi shook his head repeatedly. The timing to enter the Secret Realm was incredibly important!
To enter early could mean avoiding several traps; the later one entered into the Secret Realm, the more dangerous it became.
The entrance to The Secret Realm of Wanxian was vast, spanning two li square, large enough to accommodate tens of thousands of cultivators entering at the same time.
However, the areas were already divided. The major forces from the Central Region occupied the largest plot. Following them were the major forces from other regions, and so on. Someone like Li Zhirui, hailing from a small family, could only squeeze into a very small space.
After hearing Wang's explanation, Li Zhirui suddenly understood, realizing there was much more to this, but there was no need to rush, right?
"I imagine many cultivators went to the vicinity of the Secret Realm last night to wait. By the time we go, there wouldn't be any good spots left."
Upon hearing this, Wang gave him a slightly disdainful look and said, "These spots aren't won by arriving first but are fought for with strength!"
"If that's the case, then why did you call me so early?" Li Zhirui said, annoyed, "We could go later as well. Don't you trust in my strength?"
"Cough cough, I got too excited and forgot." Wang was embarrassed and laughed, quickly changing the subject, "What about your cousin? I presume she decided not to participate, right? It's better for her not to, after all, it's too dangerous. No matter how important opportunities are, they are not as important as one's own life!"
"She wants to try it. I respect her decision." Li Zhirui was quite helpless and had given Li Zhiyue many Spiritual Objects that day to enhance her combat ability and survival skills, hoping that he would see her safe and sound when the time came.
Moreover, Li Zhiyue said she did not want to be a burden on him, so she planned not to leave with him. She was still in the meditation room. After speaking to her, Li Zhirui followed Wang towards the Secret Realm and flew off.
"Let's go."
The two set off together, and after a while, Li Zhiyue walked out from inside, her first glance falling on the Spiritual Objects lying on the stone table.
"This..." As she approached and saw clearly what the Spiritual Objects were, she was greatly surprised. Aside from various Spirit Pills and Spirit Talismans, the most important was one third-grade Heavenly Thunder Seed!
"I will definitely come back safe and sound!"
——
Meanwhile, as Li Zhirui and Wang Daozhi left Immortal City, they transformed into a rainbow light and flew towards the Secret Realm.
Being quite close, they arrived at their destination in an instant.
Seeing the dense crowd before him, Li Zhirui was rendered speechless. He might be considered a figure in Myriad Thunder State for being a centenarian in the Golden Core Realm but within the entire Profound Origin World, he seemed rather insignificant.
"Wang, competing for a front position among so many people isn't an easy task!" Li Zhirui had only glanced around briefly but already sensed several people who posed a danger to him!
Wang Daozhi was also taken aback; the current situation had far exceeded his expectations, leaving him at a loss for what to do next.
"Alas," Li Zhirui heaved a sigh of resignation and said, "Let's take it one step at a time. If all else fails, we'll just have to be more cautious once we enter the Secret Realm to avoid any ambushes."
"That's all we can do," Wang Daozhi said, despite his reluctance. Faced with the situation at hand, he had no choice but to give up.
"Oh, I forgot to give you this Magic Artifact!" Wang Daozhi hastily presented a Magic Artifact of decent grade and said, "This is the communication artifact I prepared. It can make contact over thousands of miles, and most importantly, it can pinpoint the direction of the other party."
"I understand," Li Zhirui accepted without any objection, knowing that once they entered the Secret Realm, they would need to support each other, so finding one another would be their first task!
Standing amidst the crowd, they waited a short while longer until the sky suddenly dimmed significantly, but one only had to look up to see the numerous Spirit Boats appearing in the sky, their vast numbers causing the heavens and earth to darken.
Their presence caused a buzzing commotion at the site, reminiscent of countless bees buzzing in one's ear, which was exceedingly irksome.
"What an impressive display of might!"
"We must cultivate diligently and strive to reach such heights one day!"
Listening to these encouraging words from the others, Li Zhirui silently resolved in his heart: "I will not only reach their level but surpass them!"
Before long, several Nascent Soul True Lords, accompanied by a handful or even a dozen Golden Core Cultivators, descended from the Spirit Boats. Among them, the most numerous were those from the top five powers in the Central Region. Li Zhirui roughly counted more than twenty Golden Cores over a hundred years old from the Great Profound Sect alone!
The sheer number was terrifying!
It is worth noting that the Li family, even when including the Spirit Beasts they had reared, had no more than ten individuals who had reached the Golden Core Realm, whereas there were more than twenty hundred-year-old Golden Cores from this single sect alone!
At the same time, everyone also understood the gap between such top-tier forces like the Great Profound Sect and the so-called major powers!
"The Great Profound Sect boasts four hundred Golden Cores, fifty Nascent Souls, and six Divine Transformations. As for the Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment Disciples, they are countless. To join them, one must have at least Three Spiritual Roots and meet certain requirements for Spiritual Root Purity," someone suddenly stated, eliciting gasps from the crowd. The Great Profound Sect's strength was so far beyond their own that they did not even have the energy to envy.
Then, the other major forces made their appearances one by one, and those in the know began murmuring explanations to the crowd.
After all, these major forces were relatively low-key, and the outside world did not know much about them. They only knew that they were incredibly powerful. Li Zhirui did not expect to gain even a bit of insight within the crowd.
"Wang, what's the matter with you?" A glint of keenness flashed through Li Zhirui's eyes. Since the Great Profound Sect's arrival, Wang Daozhi seemed to be in a daze, his eyes brimming with a tumult of emotions.
It was not difficult to guess that Wang Daozhi had some connection with the Great Profound Sect, though the exact nature of that relation was a mystery.
"Ah?! It's nothing!" Wang Daozhi shook his head, revealing nothing to Li Zhirui.
The timing of the various major forces was impeccable; not more than a quarter-hour after their arrival, The Secret Realm of Wanxian opened!
Unlike the quiet opening of other secret realms, the arrival of The Secret Realm of Wanxian was heralded by ten thousand streaks of rosy light and a voice that seemed to have traveled through countless epochs, from the primordial wilderness.
Innumerable Cultivators streamed into the realm one after another, with those in Li Zhirui's area rushing to enter the Secret Realm as quickly as possible, each displaying their Divine Powers.