Chapter 14: The Infinite Secret Realm

Li Ji’an revealed sixty percent of his alchemical prowess, informing Xiao Changfeng that his current success rate for crafting fine-grade pills and his monthly output were nearly on par with the promising second-tier alchemist candidates specifically cultivated within the Biyun Sect.

This caused Xiao Changfeng to begin viewing Li Ji’an with newfound seriousness. He no longer treated him merely as an ordinary rogue alchemist, nor did he associate with him solely out of gratitude for that morning eighteen years ago when Li had awakened him. His alchemical skill now qualified him for an equal standing in their friendship. If the sect were ever in short supply of pills, they could even purchase them from him.

"Brother Li, my eyes were clouded before; I apologize for my previous oversight," Xiao Changfeng said, bowing with much greater sincerity this time.

Li Ji’an remained unperturbed. "Brother Xiao, you are too formal."

From that point on, although Xiao Changfeng’s demeanor remained unchanged, his conversation flowed more freely. He began sharing various observations with Li Ji’an, no longer worried about whether certain topics were appropriate. Previously, there were things he wanted to say but feared Li Ji’an’s level of understanding might be insufficient or that he might feel discouraged; now, he fully acknowledged Li Ji’an’s standing.

"Brother Li, are you aware of the Wuji Secret Realm in Tianyuan Province?"

Li Ji’an nodded. When Yan Qingwan first brought him to the Immortal City eighteen years ago, he had heard people talking about it at the Taiping Inn. Back then, it was said the Wuji Secret Realm would open again in twenty years—which, in the present, meant it would happen within the next year or two. Two years ago, while researching natural spiritual flames, he had even stumbled upon detailed records regarding the Wuji Secret Realm.

It was located eighty thousand miles southwest of the Wanfa Palace in Tianyuan Province. It was an ancient ruin discovered by the Wanfa Palace three thousand years ago. However, the ruins were extraordinary; even a superpower like the Wanfa Palace, which boasted Nascent Soul True Monarchs, could not breach the core restrictions. Led by the sect’s top quasi-fourth-tier formation master and nearly a hundred veteran formation masters, and with the True Monarch ancestor himself taking action, they still failed. After nearly a thousand years—and even after exhausting one of their True Monarch ancestors to death—they had only managed to break through the outermost layer of the ruins before eventually giving up in frustration.

After stripping the outermost layer of anything of value, they accidentally discovered an entrance adjacent to the inner restrictions. Years of research led them to speculate that it was a secret realm once used by the ancient sect to evaluate the fortune of its disciples. The secret realm was likely connected to the interior of the ruins and still functioning. Inside, it was a small world constructed by formations.

It opened once every century, allowing a maximum of one hundred people to enter at a time. Those below the Foundation Establishment stage could enter, but the small world left a mark; one could only enter once in a lifetime, and upon exiting, one would lose all memory of what occurred inside.

The Wanfa Palace subsequently arranged for disciples to enter. Over the course of nearly a thousand years, ten groups of disciples—a total of one thousand people—were sent in. In the end, thirty percent obtained some kind of opportunity, though most were merely pills, medicinal herbs, spiritual fruits, or low-grade artifacts for the early and middle stages of Qi Refining. Only ten percent obtained opportunities suitable for the late Qi Refining stage. Out of the thousand, only three had ever obtained a Foundation Establishment opportunity.

The first was a Dao Origin Fruit, a near-extinct item; it was said that Foundation Establishment Pills were imitations based on its effects. A century-old Dao Origin Fruit could increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by thirty percent, while a thousand-year-old one could almost guarantee success. The second was a visualization diagram that could strengthen spiritual sense during the Qi Refining stage. The third was a vial of ancient savage beast essence blood, capable of tempering the physical body. Besides these, only one person had ever obtained a Golden Core opportunity—a type of heavenly spiritual object that assisted in condensing liquid mana into a core.

By a thousand years ago, the Wanfa Palace concluded that this secret realm, known as the Wuji Palace, was only suited for those with deep fortune, and the highest level of opportunity it offered was likely the Golden Core stage. To demonstrate the stature of a great sect and the magnanimity of the Wanfa Palace in governing the entire Tiancang Domain, they opened the secret realm to the public and allocated quotas to sects in various provinces. The Biyun Sect happened to have five spots.

Over the past thousand years, another thousand people have entered and explored it. The results were comparable to the previous millennium, though the types of items obtained varied, leading to the speculation that the secret realm was connected to the sect’s internal treasury and automatically replenished its opportunities each time it opened. To date, there had been no casualties.

Li Ji’an naturally wanted to try his luck. Of course, it wasn’t to gamble on fate, but to test whether the memory loss caused by the secret realm would manifest in his next life. However, he estimated it would be very difficult for him to obtain such a quota in this lifetime.

"Has Brother Xiao obtained a spot for this term?" Li Ji’an asked.

Xiao Changfeng nodded with a smile. "Luck, it’s all luck. Do you remember when we participated in the trial? I passed almost every time by sheer luck. Rumors often spread in the sect that I am lucky and possess deep fortune, haha. Because of this, the sect elders gave me a spot. However, there is an agreement: if I obtain any Golden Core-level opportunities, I must turn them over to the sect."

"Congratulations. Brother Xiao possesses deep fortune; I am already looking forward to what kind of surprise you will bring back."

"I fear I may disappoint you, Brother Li. I have never felt that I have any special fortune. If I were truly fortunate, would my life be filled with so many twists and turns?" Xiao Changfeng said with a wave of his hand and a laugh.

They chatted along the way, making the journey much more relaxed and far from tedious. To ensure Xiao Qiao would not be bored, Li Ji’an had prepared some cooking utensils and ingredients for her, so she had plenty to keep her occupied. It is worth mentioning that shortly after leaving the Biyun Sect’s sphere of influence, Li Ji’an’s powerful spiritual sense detected two waves of bandit cultivators lying in ambush from afar. However, before they could even make a move, Xiao Changfeng’s Biyun Sect inner-disciple robes were enough to frighten them away—something Xiao Changfeng himself did not even notice.

Two months later, after passing through a vast, barren stretch of land, the spiritual energy began to rise again, indicating the presence of spiritual veins nearby. One day, while aboard the flying vessel, Li Ji’an’s brows furrowed slightly. He had sensed the scent of blood ahead.

Soon after, Xiao Changfeng also stood up abruptly, focusing his senses toward the side.

"Brother Li, things don't look right over there."

As a sect that governed Cangyun Province, the Biyun Sect held the responsibility of protecting the entire region.

"Wait for me here; I shall return shortly." Even though he acknowledged Li Ji’an’s status and value as a veteran fine-grade alchemist, the prejudice that alchemists were poor at combat persisted. Of course, this was also to protect Li Ji’an.

"Very well, Brother Xiao, please be careful. Know your enemy and know yourself; do not act recklessly," Li Ji’an replied, remaining behind with Xiao Qiao.

Xiao Changfeng nodded and cast a spell toward the spot where Li Ji’an was standing.

"Brother Li, wait in this area. This is a defensive technique I have refined—the Quicksand Domain. It can hold off even powerful late-stage Qi Refining enemies for a time. Wait for me to return."

Before his voice faded, Li Ji’an felt the ground beneath him vibrate. Within a five-zhang radius, the earth churned like quicksand, ready to spring into action. He felt that if any enemy were to attack, walls of sand would rise to block the assault.

"Many thanks, Brother Xiao," Li Ji’an said sincerely.

Xiao Changfeng then turned the flying vessel and flew toward the southeast. Just after he left, Li Ji’an released Gua Gua, instructing it to follow Xiao Changfeng while sharing its vision with him.

Not long after, Gua Gua caught up with Xiao Changfeng, and the scene came into Li Ji’an’s consciousness. Before them lay a gathering place for mortals, not as large as the ones near the Wasteland Joint Market. At this moment, it looked dilapidated and ruined; corpses were piled high on the roads, and blood flowed like a river.