Chapter 29: Difficult to Deal with
Translator: 549690339
After consulting the information provided by the Sky Mechanism Tower, Jiang Li had a comprehensive understanding of the Mysterious Secret Realm.
Initially, he just wanted to know the location of the Mysterious Secret Realm.
The founder of the Mysterious Secret Realm, known as the Dream Hermit, was a cultivator at the Body Integration Realm who exhausted his strength and died during the Transcendance Tribulation eight hundred years ago. Perhaps he sensed that he would not pass the trial, so he left behind the Mysterious Secret Realm before crossing the tribulation, leaving something behind for future generations and providing some opportunities for Foundation Establishment stage youths, thereby creating good karma.
The Mysterious Secret Realm opens once every ten years, and the challenges it presents each time are different. Sometimes it tests comprehension, sometimes combat power, sometimes resistance to money and beauty. Even the Sky Mechanism Tower cannot find a pattern. What is certain is that the Mysterious Secret Realm has two levels, and the rewards one ultimately receives vary depending on performance.
For example, the challenge of the Mysterious Secret Realm five hundred years ago was related to combat power. Each person had a token that could be snatched away by others. The person with the most tokens would be ranked first.
Zhou Dynasty. Each time it opens, it attracts nearby sects. These sects, regardless of whether they have Divinity Transformation stage cultivators, would not refuse a secret realm left behind by a power almost at the Transcendance Tribulation Stage.
Jiang Li, having disguise his appearance, arrived near the Mysterious Secret Realm.
At this point, many sects had already brought their core disciples here, waiting for the secret realm to open.
Although Jiang Li’s cultivation exceeded the Foundation Establishment Stage and did not meet the standards for entry into the secret realm, his cultivation was also superior to that of the Dream Hermit.
The opening of the Mysterious Secret Realm was a minor event for the southern part of the Great Zhou. At that time, all known sects from the southern part of the Great Zhou would come to participate, showing off their outstanding disciples.
Jiang Li looked around but was unable to recognize any sects. The actual situation was similar to what the system had said. Most of those present were in the late Foundation Establishment Stage, with only a few in the middle Foundation Establishment Stage. Naturally, the sects at the later stage would give advice to those at the middle stage.
Without making a fuss, Jiang Li disguised himself as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator and blended in unnoticed among the crowd.
He could also straightforwardly admit his identity: “Stop pretending, I’m the Human Emperor. Give me some respect and let me enter the secret realm to take first place.”
Jiang Li might not value faith, but he cared about his reputation.
A dignified Mahayana Realm cultivator intruding into a secret realm intended for Body Integration Realm cultivators, competing with a group of Foundation Establishment Stage juniors for opportunities—it would be a joke among his friends if word got out.
“Hey, brother, so your sect didn’t send anyone either?” A friendly fellow approached Jiang Li. “Would you look at that, neither did mine.”
Most people had their elders present to watch over them, to prevent the juniors from being bullied. However, there were always exceptions, such as the man beside Jiang Li.
He introduced himself as Qin Luan, first brother and retired disciple of the Wind Stabilizing View. His master had been wandering for over a decade and had not returned. As his disciple, he was pleasantly unoccupied, practicing cultivation happily on his own.
“Can’t be helped, I’m the oldest in my sect, so there’s no one to accompany me.”
Jiang Li’s words were not false. His sect, the Imperial Palace, was run by him, the Hall Master of the Imperial Palace; naturally, he was the highest in seniority.
But from Qin Luan’s perspective, Jiang Li was implying that all the elders in his sect had died, leaving him alone.
He thought his Wind Stabilizing View, with only two members, was the most miserable sect. He never expected that there could be a sect more miserable than his own, which subsequently aroused his sympathy.
“Don’t worry, Brother Kong Li. Considering we share the same plight, I’ll cover for you in the Mysterious Secret Realm!” Qin Luan assured himself, patting his chest.
Jiang Li didn’t use the alias “Zhang Li”, instead, he modified his surname to “Kong Li”.
Every time he heard “Zhang Lit‘, he would remember the face of the smug Sect Master of Dao Sect, which annoyed him to no end.
“Hopefully, there won’t be any underhanded people this time.” Qin Luan was a chatterbox. Seeing Jiang Li not talking much, he continued to talk enthusiastically.
“You know, Brother Kong, the last time, there was a guy who intentionally suppressed his strength. It was only after entering the secret realm that he broke through to Golden Core and came out on top. Such people are so shameless. If I ever meet one, I’ll make sure to give him a couple of swift kicks while he’s breaking through, teaching him not to cheat.”
Jiang Li felt that Qin Luan might not be looking for a companion, just a listener.
Suddenly, it went dark above their heads. An enormous eagle landed nearby, its piercing eyes seemingly imbued with Sword Qi.
“A hawk with a trace of golden eagle lineage. Who could it be?” Qin Luan cried out, diligently playing his part as a commentator.
Two individuals descended from the hawk, both were carrying long swords, donned in spotlessly clean white robes and staring straight ahead, completely ignoring the hullabaloo of the crowd.
“It’s people from the Forgetful Sentiment Sect. Members of this sect place no value on emotions, trusting no one but their own swords,” Qin Luan accurately identified these two,” that’s Daoist of the Seven Murders and his elder.”
A hint of solemnity crossed Qin Luan’s face: “A difficult opponent to deal with.
I’ve fought him before and only won eight out of ten matches.”
Jiang Li was slightly surprised: “Using ‘Seven Murders’ as a title, does he have anything to do with the Seven Murders Stele in the Immortal Realm?”
He was supposed to have heard of such a person, so why hadn’t he heard anything previously?
“No, he just thinks the title ‘Seven Murders’ is pretty cool.”
“Hmm? Where did these flower petals come from?” Qin Luan looked up to see two women in pink skirts gently descending, with pink petals dissipating around them. The younger one was lively and cute, while the elder one was cold, keeping admirers at a distance.
“It’s people from the Falling Cherry Blossom Sect!” someone called out before Qin Luan could.
“It’s Song Ying and her master.” There was a hint of seriousness once again on Qin Luan’s face: “A difficult opponent to deal with. I’ve fought her before and only won six out of ten matches.”
As soon as Song Ying landed, she looked around eagerly. Spotting Qin Luan, she hopped up to greet him enthusiastically.
“Hehe, Qin Luan, we meet again. I won’t lose to you this time.” After saying this, she shook her small, pink fist.
However, Qin Luan ignored her and instead warned Jiang Li.
Qin Luan grew even more serious: “Be wary of Song Ying. She knows she can’t beat me, so she wants to unsettle my Dao heart with her beauty. She’s quite calculating!”
Jiang Li thought, even a blind person like me can see that she likes you. Can’t you see that her master can hardly wait to draw his sword and slash you, this fool?
“Is it possible that she genuinely likes you?” Jiang Li couldn’t help but ask.
“Absolutely not,” Qin Luan said unequivocally. “One time I asked her, ‘Do you like me?’ and she said, ‘Who would like an idiot like you?”‘
Jiang Li nodded slightly; it seemed that Song Ying indeed did not like Qin Luan.
“You have to be careful of these two, they will be your biggest competitors.”
This time, Jiang Li didn’t nod. In his view, the biggest competitor this time was someone else.
He set his eyes on an insignificant disciple.
A late-stage Foundation Establishment body, but a Divinity Transformation
soul within.
Possession..