Seeing the scene unfold, the cultivators outside were so terrified it felt like their livers might split. Their fear soared uncontrollably.
So terrifying!
"Master Ye is mighty! Master Ye is invincible!" The disciples of the Xuantian Sect cheered ecstatically, jumping for joy.
Xu Yonian was so thrilled he couldn't stop himself from exclaiming, "Good! Well done!"
The Cangjian Peak Master muttered, "My goodness, am I dreaming?"
Smack!
The moment he finished speaking, a slap landed on his face.
Covering his cheek in confusion, he turned, "Junior sister, why did you hit me?"
"Does it hurt?" asked the Tianxiang Peak Master with concern.
"Of course it hurts!"
"Then it's not a dream."
Cangjian Peak Master: "..."
At that moment, the cultivators of the Arid Province erupted in cheers. Their hearts surged with pride, and their gazes reflected awe, as if worshipping a deity.
Ouyang Feng, the ancestor of the Banshan Sect, teared up as he knelt and exclaimed, "Master Ye Tianjun's divine might!"
The roar of the crowd was deafening, like crashing waves, threatening to shake the sky itself.
"This… how is this possible…" Xue Tianyi mumbled, his face pale as if he'd fallen into an ice cellar.
He started doubting whether he'd come to the wrong place.
Was this really the Arid Province?
The strongest sect in the Eastern Domain had been sent fleeing in disgrace.
The so-called Buddhist holy land, the Hanging Temple, had been buried by an unknown coffin.
They hadn't encountered a man... but a fierce god!
Just then—
A thunderous rumble echoed across the sky above the Arid Province.
Blinding rays of light pierced the clouds, the display both magnificent and intimidating.
"The Secret Realm has opened!!"
Exclamations of shock rose across the crowd.
The Luotian Secret Realm had officially opened, concealing vast opportunities within.
Cultivators from all factions stirred restlessly, their hearts racing. But when they recalled what had just happened, no one dared move.
Countless eyes turned toward Ye Junlin, waiting for his decision.
"All right, just go in and check in."
Ye Junlin murmured casually.
Sensing the subdued tension in the air, a thought flashed through his mind. With an unquestionable tone, he declared:
"All cultivators from the Arid Province are qualified to enter and explore."
"As for outsiders—get lost!"
His words struck like a bolt of lightning.
The Arid Province cultivators erupted with joy, chanting Master Ye's praises.
After enduring so long, a peerless powerhouse had finally emerged to lead them out of crisis.
"This…"
The foreign cultivators looked visibly upset, but after witnessing the previous events, who among them dared speak up?
Xue Tianyi's expression darkened, fury rising in his chest.
"Young Master, let's leave," his leading guard advised quietly.
"Can't we do anything to stop him?" Xue Tianyi was clearly unwilling.
The guard replied, "Young Master, this man is arrogant to the point of defying heaven itself. He's already offended both the Yuhua Sect and the Hanging Temple—he's practically inviting destruction. His days are numbered."
"Right now, he's riding high, but soon he'll be buried by the consequences of his actions. There's no need to clash with someone already doomed."
Xue Tianyi's eyes gleamed coldly. He sneered, "You're right. If we want him gone, we should first let him go mad with power. A tyrant like him won't last long!"
"Retreat! Return to Lingzhou!"
"Yes, Young Master!"
The Xue family promptly turned and left.
Even the mighty Xue family had backed down, and the other major sects could only follow suit, each group withdrawing and heading home.
They had to spread this earth-shattering news across the Eastern Domain.
Only the cultivators from the Arid Province remained.
Watching those once-arrogant outsiders slink away brought immense satisfaction.
Of course, no one rushed inside. Instead, they smartly lined up behind the Xuantian Sect, hoping to catch some leftover benefits.
"Let's go."
Ye Junlin led the cultivators into the Luotian Secret Realm.
As the light flashed before his eyes, the world shifted in an instant.
Inside lay a completely different realm—like a primordial forest from the ancient days.
Giant trees soared into the sky, some over a thousand meters tall, their thick vines and branches trailing down like curtains. A dozen men couldn't wrap their arms around a single trunk.
Most importantly, the spiritual energy here was incredibly dense—far surpassing that of the Arid Province.
"This place is incredible."
Ye Junlin sighed in admiration.
> [Ding! Check-in location detected: Luotian Secret Realm. Would you like to claim your check-in reward?]
A playful chime echoed in his mind.
"Claim."
> **[Ding! Congratulations to the host for successfully checking in. Reward: Celestial Emperor's Apparition!]
[Celestial Emperor's Apparition]: Summons an apparition of the Celestial Emperor, greatly enhancing the user's power and allowing access to a divine technique.**
"This is pretty useful."
Ye Junlin nodded with satisfaction.
He had seen Master Jingchan's Buddha Apparition in action—such techniques could greatly amplify strength. If not for the Burial Heaven Coffin, that battle might've turned ugly.
Now that the check-in was complete, Ye Junlin initially considered returning, but the mysterious realm piqued his curiosity.
"Fine, let's see what this place has to offer."
He soared deeper into the forest.
Swish!
A massive man-eating flower, the size of a thatched hut, suddenly opened its giant, bloody mouth to attack.
"Got a problem?"
Ye Junlin casually released his cultivation aura.
The Nascent Soul-level flower instantly recoiled, closing its mouth and shrinking back in fear.
Behind him, Xu Yonian's eyes gleamed as he scanned the area. "Heavenly Spirit Grass, Purple Crystal Vine, Golden Ginseng, Ten-Thousand-Year Blood Mushroom…"
"All top-grade treasures! Gather everything, now!"
"Yes, Sect Master!"
The Xuantian Sect disciples scattered excitedly to collect the rare herbs.
Boom!
A massive worm burst from the ground—Golden Core Stage—saliva dripping as it devoured dozens of rogue cultivators before burrowing back into the earth.
Panic broke out.
Many cultivators were left shaken, their eyes dimming with disappointment.
They had hoped to follow the Xuantian Sect and grab some leftovers, but now they realized—even the scraps were out of reach.
"If you lack strength and still charge forward, then you deserve what you get," said Hong Qianye coldly, showing no sympathy as he watched the wounded and dying.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
The forest suddenly echoed with wild howls.
A horde of white monkeys swung in, moving in coordinated formation.
A dense demonic aura spread like a tide, sending chills through the crowd.
"Enemy attack! Be careful!"
The white monkeys, with red eyes and rock-hard skin, ignored magical attacks and tore through the crowd, limbs flailing.
Blood spilled across the forest floor, the air thick with the stench of death.
As expected from beasts of the secret realm, most were Golden Core-level, and some had even reached the Nascent Soul realm.
"Run! Get out of here!"
"They're coming from the trees!"
"Help me!"
Screams rang out in all directions.
Worse still—
These monkeys had an unsettling obsession with young female cultivators. Whenever they caught one, they would tear at her clothing and howl with animalistic excitement.
"Someone help me!"
A Xuantian Sect female disciple cried out as one monkey grabbed her, claws ripping her robes, revealing her pale skin.
"You beast! Let her go!" a male disciple roared, launching a flying sword at the monkey—but it clanged harmlessly off its hide.
"No… Please don't…" the girl sobbed in despair, feeling hot breath behind her.
Boom!
The monkey suddenly ignited in flames, its body reduced to ashes.
In walked Hong Qianye, clad in red, face stern. "Are you alright?"
He thought to himself—women are always trouble.
The disciple wiped her tears, sobbing, "Thank you, thank you, Senior Brother Hong…"
Hong Qianye: "..."
"Roar!!"
The white monkey king leaped into view, pointing at Hong Qianye with wild screeches.
The intent was clear—it had taken a liking to him.
In an instant, all the white monkeys charged toward Hong Qianye, eager to impress their leader.
"You're all courting death."
Hong Qianye's hair whipped in the wind, his red robes blazing like fire. His killing intent erupted, exuding the aura of a demonic sovereign.
Boom!
Flames erupted, burning every monkey that dared approach.
The white monkey king trembled, urinating itself before attempting to flee.
But flames sparked along its back, engulfing it in seconds.
With a shrill scream, the Transformation Stage monkey king was reduced to ash.
"Senior Brother Hong is mighty!"
"He's incredible! He truly inherited Master Ye's legacy!"
"The Crimson Sovereign is both fierce and righteous!"
A group of cultivators rushed over, shouting praise.
The more they spoke, the darker Hong Qianye's face became.
"Shut up, all of you!!" he snapped coldly.
"Huh?" Everyone froze, confused as to what they'd done wrong.
Hong Qianye calmed down slightly, glancing around with a puzzled look.
"Hm? Where did that guy go?"
At that moment—
Ye Junlin was soaring deeper into the ancient forest.
"System, you mentioned a unique energy fluctuation. Are you sure it's this way?"
[Ding! Yes, host. It's in this direction!]
Ye Junlin's eyes sparkled.
The system had just detected a powerful energy source nearby, and that alone made this adventure even more worthwhile.
---