Chapter 9: The Secret Realm Opens

The number of disciples sent into the Nine Nethers Secret Realm by the four top-tier sects was roughly equal.

Too many, and there was the risk of an accident that could damage a sect's foundation.

Thousands of years ago, the Nine Nethers Secret Realm had seen a complete wipeout — not a single person who entered made it out.

Too few, and the benefits might be snatched away by rival forces.

After all, the treasures inside were of considerable value. If your sect didn't obtain them and another did, they could close the gap on you.

Over time, everyone had gradually settled into an unspoken agreement: each time the Nine Nethers Secret Realm opened every one hundred years, the talented disciples sent in would number no more than one-tenth to one-fifth of a sect's total strength — enough to handle whatever situation might arise.

The people of Qingyun Sect departed quickly.

Everyone was waiting for the Nine Nethers Secret Realm to open.

Lin Feng had just tried to quietly slip away from Ye Qingxuan when she called out to him.

"Lin Feng, when we enter the Nine Nethers Secret Realm, everyone will be scattered and separated. Each person may appear in a different location. I'll leave markers along the way — when you spot them, come find me as quickly as possible so we can regroup. Otherwise, I can't guarantee your safety. The Nine Nethers Secret Realm is dangerous at every turn. Be extremely careful."

"Mm! Alright! Thank you, Junior Sister Qingxuan!"

Lin Feng responded with a calm expression, but inwardly he was overjoyed. He had been thinking of finding an opportunity to slip away on his own once inside — and now it seemed he wouldn't even need to try. They'd be separated the moment they entered.

As for going to find Ye Qingxuan?

That was never going to happen.

At that moment, a massive flying vessel sailed across the sky, bearing two large characters on its hull — "Wuji."

The Wuji Demon Sect, one of the four top-tier powers of Li Continent, had arrived.

Standing at the prow of the ship, facing the wind, was the Grand Elder of the Wuji Demon Sect — Qian Daoxiong.

He was a tall, imposing old man with a salt-and-pepper beard and a face full of murderous intent.

Those below instinctively shrank back at the sight of him, a fear rising from the depths of their hearts.

This was a butcher whose hands had been soaked in blood.

Even a single glance from him was enough to terrify an ordinary person out of their wits.

Both Gu Mingzhou and Wang Chuan were inwardly startled at the sight of Qian Daoxiong.

This demon had actually come?

Decades ago, Qian Daoxiong had massacred an entire city of over a million people in order to cultivate his demonic art, sending shockwaves through all of Li Continent.

For a time, the Wuji Demon Sect became the common enemy of the entire Li Continent.

Whether small or mid-sized factions, or independent cultivators, all condemned the Wuji Demon Sect with words and writing.

Many members of the Wuji Demon Sect even died without apparent cause while carrying out missions abroad.

Although the Wuji Demon Sect was powerful, it dared not make an enemy of the entire Li Continent.

In the end, they had no choice but to have Qian Daoxiong temporarily disappear from public view, while publicly announcing that he had received the Wuji Demon Sect's harshest punishment and guaranteeing that nothing of the sort would ever happen again.

As time passed, the incident faded from public memory, and Qian Daoxiong had only recently reappeared in the public eye.

Not long ago, he had led dozens of Wuji Demon Sect experts to ambush Zhao Ziwen, the Master of the Leiming Sword, and Jiang Zhe, the Master of the Chenyuan Sword, who had been traveling to the Luocha Sect. In the end, the two were forced to form the Yin-Yang Dual Extremes Sword Formation just to escape.

Neither Gu Mingzhou nor Wang Chuan had expected the Wuji Demon Sect to send Qian Daoxiong.

It seemed this trip to the Nine Nethers Secret Realm would not end so simply.

All four top-tier powers of Li Continent had now assembled. Mid-sized and smaller factions, along with independent cultivators, continued to pour in, nearly surrounding Nine Nethers Valley until it was packed to the brim.

Even though everyone knew the Nine Nethers Secret Realm was dangerous — even capable of wiping out an entire group — the Fortuitous Encounters within were simply too enticing.

Born in this era, no one was unwilling to climb higher, even at the cost of their own lives.

Two days later.

A tremendous sound erupted from within Nine Nethers Valley.

Rumble!!!

Immediately after, a spiraling vortex of energy appeared in the sky above, spinning ceaselessly.

Everyone present knew — the Nine Nethers Secret Realm was about to open.

Who would seize a Fortuitous Encounter and soar to the heavens, and who would be buried in a foreign land — all of it remained unknown.

Time ticked by, moment by moment.

Crack!!!

A bolt of lightning split down through the very center of the swirling vortex above Nine Nethers Valley.

Then space rippled, and a massive passage appeared before everyone's eyes.

Qian Daoxiong leapt into the air and called out in a booming voice: "Ha ha ha… The Nine Nethers Secret Realm has opened! Listen up, all members of the Wuji Demon Sect — once you're inside…"

He paused for a moment, then broke into a chilling smile.

"Those who follow me shall prosper; those who defy me shall perish!!!"

"Anyone who stands against my Wuji Demon Sect — kill them without mercy!!!"

Although the Nine Nethers Secret Realm was a sealed space where killing and plundering were commonplace, declaring such things openly before nearly every power on Li Continent still required considerable audacity.

Even the Seven Slaughter Sect, which had always maintained friendly ties with the Wuji Demon Sect, furrowed their brows at this moment.

"We obey the Grand Elder's command!!!" Every member of the Wuji Demon Sect answered in unison.

One by one, they broke into bloodthirsty grins.

Outside, they dared not act too recklessly — but inside was a different story.

"Go! Fortune awaits you! Don't disgrace the name of my Wuji Demon Sect."

The Wuji Demon Sect members surged forward in an instant, charging madly toward the spatial passage.

The other three major powers were not to be outdone.

They each ordered their disciples to enter the Nine Nethers Secret Realm.

Lin Feng blended into the crowd, deliberately keeping his distance from Ye Qingxuan, all so he could act alone once inside.

Being with the sect's people was too restrictive. Besides, everyone else's goal was Fortuitous Encounters and treasures — his goal was singular: the Bianhua Flower.

Only after all four major powers had entered did the mid-sized and smaller sects follow, with independent cultivators going last.

Twelfth Elder of the Shenxiao Sword Sect, Gu Mingzhou, gazed at the entrance to the Nine Nethers Secret Realm with an expressionless face, though a trace of worry stirred in his heart.

Thousands of disciples had gone in this time. He wondered how many would come out alive.

The passage into the Nine Nethers Secret Realm would close completely after two hours, and would not reopen for three months.

During that time, no one could force it open.

The Shenxiao Sword Sect had left behind over twenty Elders, who would stand watch here for three months, waiting for their disciples to emerge.

"Alright! Everyone's in. Let's follow the old custom and make a wager!"

The speaker was Liao Jun of the Seven Slaughter Sect.

He too was a demon whose hands were drenched in blood.

The Seven Slaughter Sect and the Wuji Demon Sect operated quite differently.

The Wuji Demon Sect was arrogant and domineering, always seeking to rule Li Continent by force and make everyone submit to their might. The Seven Slaughter Sect, by contrast, kept a low profile and excelled at concealing themselves.

Yet how virtuous could a faction that had built its path on slaughter truly be?

The wager Liao Jun spoke of was actually quite simple.

Each time the Nine Nethers Secret Realm opened, the four top-tier powers would place a bet — each contributing a treasure. After three months, whichever faction had the most survivors would claim the winnings.

The treasure itself might not matter so much, but face did.

Whoever won could hold their head above the other three powers, bringing glory to their own sect.

It was a way to add a little excitement to the long wait.

Liao Jun had barely finished speaking when a massive demonic claw swept toward the Shenxiao Sword Sect's encampment.

Then a sword beam flashed out and collided with the towering demonic claw.

Boom!!!

The violent collision shook the earth and mountains all around.

When calm returned, Gu Mingzhou stood with his longsword in hand, glaring at Qian Daoxiong with fury.

"Qian Daoxiong, what do you think you're doing?" Gu Mingzhou demanded angrily.

"Nothing much! I've been in closed-door cultivation for a long time and just wanted to stretch my limbs!" Qian Daoxiong replied with a smile.

"If you're stretching your limbs, why strike at my Shenxiao Sword Sect? I can see you're deliberately targeting us!"

"And what if I am?" Qian Daoxiong said dismissively.

"The Wuji Demon Sect instigated the Luocha Sect to move against my Shenxiao Sword Sect in secret — that score hasn't been settled yet! Are you looking for a war?"

"War it is, then! Does my Wuji Demon Sect fear your Shenxiao Sword Sect?"

"Fine! Since the Wuji Demon Sect wants war, I'll notify the Sect Master immediately." Gu Mingzhou's fury reached its peak.

"Do as you please! But before that, let me test whether your Shenxiao Sword Sect has made any progress over the years!"

With those words, Qian Daoxiong swept his hand through the air. Heaven and earth instantly changed color — the previously clear sky was gradually swallowed by darkness.

At the same time, countless terrifying sounds echoed throughout the heavens and earth.

Gu Mingzhou's heart lurched at the sight.

Was this not Qian Daoxiong's signature technique — the Heaven-Devouring Devil Art?

It was precisely this demonic art that he had used to slaughter millions of lives in an entire city all those years ago.

"Demon Qian Daoxiong, do you intend to kill everyone here and use them to cultivate your Heaven-Devouring Devil Art?" Gu Mingzhou shouted.

At that moment, fear was written across every face.

The fearsome reputation of Qian Daoxiong and the Heaven-Devouring Devil Art was said to surpass even that of the Wuji Demon Sect's own Sect Master.

Wang Chuan of Qingyun Sect stared at Qian Daoxiong with a grave expression, ready to join forces with Gu Mingzhou at any moment.

Only the Seven Slaughter Sect's people wore the look of spectators enjoying a show.

"I have no such intention! As long as your Shenxiao Sword Sect can break through my demonic art, we'll consider today's matter settled!" Qian Daoxiong said unhurriedly.

Besides the four top-tier powers, there were countless mid-sized and smaller factions present.

Even as the Grand Elder of the Wuji Demon Sect, Qian Daoxiong did not dare strike against so many people.

Decades ago, he had already become the common enemy of Li Continent and was forced to retreat into seclusion.

He had no desire to go through that again.

"Very well! Since you said it yourself — today I shall experience the might of the Heaven-Devouring Devil Art firsthand! Form the formation!!!"

Gu Mingzhou roared.

The Elders of the Shenxiao Sword Sect moved swiftly, each summoning their own sword. Twenty-four longswords in total formed a sword formation and soared into the sky. Gu Mingzhou added his own sword to the formation as well.

The sword formation transformed into a colossal sword hundreds of meters long, thrusting upward into the heavens.

"Break!!!"

A thunderous crack rang out.

The sky was pierced through.

A ray of sunlight streamed down.

Then the entire sky shattered like broken glass, dissolving into countless fragments that vanished without a trace.

The dim sky brightened once more.

Clap! Clap! Clap!!!

Qian Daoxiong applauded while taunting: "Not bad, not bad! What a sword formation — to think it could break through my Heaven-Devouring Devil Art at fifty percent power. Sword Cultivators truly do have tremendous destructive force. I, Qian Daoxiong, am a man of my word. We'll leave it at this for today."

Those words made the faces of Gu Mingzhou and the assembled Shenxiao Sword Sect Elders turn exceedingly ugly.

They had combined the strength of over twenty people into a sword formation, and had only barely managed to break through fifty percent of the man's demonic art. What if he had used one hundred percent?

After decades of closed-door cultivation, this demon's power had grown ever stronger.

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Edited by Fat Goose