Xu Long gasped in disbelief. How could Wu Feng, a mere middle-stage Core Formation cultivator, block Hei Mo's Serpent's Fang Fist?

Hei Mo met Xu Long's gaze and said apologetically, "Young Master, please forgive me. I won't let this trash get away with his insolence!"

Xu Long narrowed his eyes and scanned the Soul Palace Realm puppets that were watching them closely.

He sighed and said, "Enough, Hei Mo. Don't push your luck. The puppets might interfere if you go too far."

Hei Mo clenched his fists in anger, but he had to obey Xu Long.

He then sneered at the group of four and said, "Don't think you can escape from the Young Master's wrath. Anyone who dares to offend him will die a miserable death."

Wu Li snorted and said, "Get lost, you lapdog! I'll see if you still have the guts to act so high and mighty in the Secret Realm."

Hei Mo shot a hateful look at Wu Li but kept silent and followed Xu Long.

After Xu Long's group left, Wu Li, Wu Yang, Wu Feng, and Lin Xiaoqing wondered what they should do in the Secret Realm.

Wu Yang asked his group, "Do you guys have any plans? We'll be separated when we enter the Secret Realm. It won't be easy to wander around without a goal."

Wu Feng smiled slightly and said, "How about this? We all try to head south-east and meet at the farthest point. If you guys are closer to the most north-western point, then head there instead."

Wu Li nodded in agreement. "That sounds good to me. Brother Feng has a great idea. Most groups will go for the center, where there are more resources. I think we'll have a better chance if we regroup quickly."

Wu Yang turned to his brother and asked, "Big Brother, do you know what factions are here and who we should watch out for?"

Wu Feng nodded and said, "There's the Nine Divine Stars Sect. They have 15 disciples here. The other two big sects are the Eternal Flame Sect and the Iron Fist Sect. They also have 15 people each. These are the three strongest factions."

He continued, "Because of them, most participants will either join one of their sides. Some will also form an alliance, so we must be careful about the them too."

Wu Yang frowned and said, "I see. Then what if someone tries to recruit us? Should we join them or not?"

Wu Feng shrugged his shoulders and said, "I don't really care."

Wu Li gave his opinion and said to his group, "I think we shouldn't trust anyone else, especially since they know we're from the Extreme Jade Sword Sect. This is their territory. Even a mighty dragon can't suppress a local snake, let alone our sect that is on par with theirs."

Wu Yang agreed, "Yeah, and our sect doesn't get along well with these three sects."

Wu Feng changed the topic and asked, "Brother Li, what did you do to make Xu Long your enemy? You know he's the grandson of a Pavilion Leader of the Nine Divine Stars Sect, right? And that Feng Lian's ancestor is a famous Earth Grade Alchemist from the same sect."

Wu Yang was amazed by his brother's knowledge. "Brother, how did you find out about Feng Lian's ancestor? I never heard of this."

Wu Feng smiled, "I did some digging and learned that her ancestor is her real support."

He continued, "It is a secret, so you wouldn't know. But Feng Lian is not someone to be underestimated. She's well-known in the Jiaolong Continent, not just because of Xu Long."

Wu Yang frowned. He knew alchemists were tricky to deal with. They might not be very strong themselves, but they could get help from other cultivators.

Wu Li didn't seem to care that he had made two powerful enemies. He laughed and said, "So what? They provoked me first. Do you think they'll live long after crossing me?"

Wu Feng shook his head and smiled, but didn't say anything.

Wu Yang noticed a group of people walking towards them. They all had powerful and imposing auras. They wore Daoist robes that were black with gold embroidery. The patterns on their robes depicted flames and dragons. They were from the Eternal Flame Sect.

A tall and muscular man with a scar on his face led the group. He had the aura of a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator. He said in a loud and commanding voice, "Greetings, fellow Daoists. I am Zhen Longwei, a Core Disciple of the Eternal Flame Sect. I see that you are in a difficult situation, since you have offended Xu Long. How about you join our group? I can offer you protection and benefits."

Wu Yang smiled politely and said, "Senior Brother Zhen, thank you for your kindness, but we are fine on our own."

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Zhen Longwei's eyes flashed with anger and he said coldly, "Don't be foolish! I can tell that you are an Inner Disciple of the Extreme Jade Sword Sect. You should know that Xu Long is not someone you can afford to provoke. Without my help, you will die a horrible death!"

Wu Yang nodded and said, "You are right, Senior Brother Zhen. But we don't want to trouble you too much."

Zhen Longwei snorted and said, "Suit yourself! Don't regret it later!" He then turned around and left with his group.

Soon, another group came into view. It was the Iron Fist Sect's group. They wore bright yellow Daoist robes that had iron fists embroidered on them. Their leader was a burly man with huge muscles that bulged under his robe. He had a square face and a thick beard. He looked like a lion.

He was over two meters tall and his voice was deep and booming. He greeted them with a friendly smile and said, "Greetings, brothers and sister. I am Liang Kuangshi, a Core Disciple of the Iron Fist Sect. I wonder if you would like to join our group."

He was much more polite than the arrogant Zhen Longwei, and he seemed very easy-going, despite his intimidating appearance.

Wu Yang smiled back and said, "Senior Brother Liang, thank you for your generosity, but we don't want to trouble you too much. Since Xu Long is after us, it will be very dangerous for you to have us in your group."

Liang Kuangshi laughed and said, "Don't worry, brother! You are too modest. If I, Liang Kuangshi, decide to protect someone, who would dare to harm them?!"

Another muscular man named Bai Xiongdi also chimed in and said, "That's right! Our Boss is the strongest! No one can mess with him or his friends!"

Wu Yang was moved by this group's loyalty and said, "Thank you, but we still have to decline."

Liang Kuangshi nodded and said, "It's alright. I respect your choice. I just hope you guys are safe. I also can't stand that Xu Long brat. He's too conceited!"

They then left and continued to look for more allies for their faction.

The time passed quickly as everyone waited in anticipation. After an incense stick had burned away, the puppet that had spoken before spoke again.

The middle-aged man said, "Good, the time is up. I will now open the entrance to the Secret Realm."

As he said that, he raised his hands and formed a complicated hand seal. A surge of energy erupted from his body and formed a huge circle in the air. The circle shimmered and rippled, creating a portal that was over a hundred meters in diameter.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw the portal. They could feel a mysterious and ancient aura coming from it.

The middle-aged man said, "This is the entrance to the Secret Realm. If you step inside, you will enter a different world!"

He continued, "In that world, you can find lucky encounters that can make you soar into the skies in one step!"

He then said, "In the Secret Realm, there are 27 Soul Palace Realm inheritances, 9 Great Ocean Realm inheritances, and 3 special inheritances. You can compete for these inheritances, and you can obtain more than one if you are lucky."

The puppet then warned them, "But be careful of the dangers that lurk in the Secret Realm. To obtain these inheritances, you will have to pass through trials and challenges. If you are not cautious, you will lose your life!"

He then said, "If anyone here doesn't want to risk their life, then step out of the Jade Platform now."

Everyone looked around. No one moved. Who would give up such a rare opportunity?

9 Great Ocean Realm inheritances and 3 special inheritances! These were most likely Mortal Extremity Realm inheritances!

Mortal Extremity Realm! That was a realm that no one in the Jiaolong Continent had ever reached!

And the Great Ocean Realm experts were as scarce as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns!

The middle-aged man looked at the 100 people in front of him and nodded in satisfaction. Good, they had courage and confidence. They were worthy of being cultivators.

Cultivators should defy the Heaven and Earth, conquer the myriad of beings and be supremely proud. They should not fear death, but embrace it as a chance to transcend their limits.

The middle-aged man gestured to the 100 people and said, "You can enter now. I wish everyone good luck!"

The first group to enter the portal was the Eternal Flame Sect's group. They had 22 members.

The second group was the Iron Fist Sect's group. They had 30 members.

The third group was the Nine Divine Stars Sect's group. They had 23 members.

The fourth group was a large alliance of 21 people from different forces of the Heavenly Spirit Empire. They called themselves the Earthly Spirit Faction.

The last group was Wu Li's group, which had 4 people in it.

The puppet who was guarding the portal scanned the four of them with its eyes. It felt a surge of admiration for their cultivation.

The puppet saw that three of them had cultivated their Dao Hearts to the first stage, where they could calm their emotions and desires.

One of them had even reached the second stage, where he could ignore worldly troubles!

The Dao Heart had three stages, each one much more difficult to reach than the last.

The first stage is the Peach Blossom Serenity stage, where one attains a serene state of mind by harmonizing and balancing one's emotions and desires. This stage requires calmness and moderation, as well as a good attitude.

The second stage is the Mountain Peak Tranquility stage, where one reaches a tranquil state of being by isolating and detaching oneself from worldly distractions and troubles. This stage requires quietness and solitude, as well as a clear vision and direction.

The third stage is the Mystic River Stillness stage, where one achieves a still state of existence by flowing and merging with the natural order and Dao. This stage requires emptiness and simplicity, as well as a profound wisdom and enlightenment.

The Illusion Trial was a special trial that could measure the Dao Heart level of anyone who entered it. It allowed only those who had reached the half-step Peach Blossom Serenity stage to pass.

It could also accurately test the cultivators of the first and second stages.

However, the third stage was too sublime and mysterious to be tested by the Illusion Trial.

As the group entered the portal, they felt a strange sensation of being torn apart and reassembled in another place. They saw complex symbols and patterns flashing around them. They seemed to contain some secrets of the universe, but they were too hard to comprehend.

After a few moments, Wu Yang landed on solid ground again.

Wu Yang had arrived at the Azure Profound Secret Realm, a hidden world that was isolated from the Jiaolong Continent. The Secret Realm was vast and expansive, covering more than 1,000 kilometers in area.

The sky in the Secret Realm was a bloody red color, and the clouds were dark and ominous.

The air was thick and oppressive, making it hard to breathe even for Wu Yang, who was a Core Formation cultivator.

He sighed and started walking towards the south-east direction, where he hoped to meet his group again.