While the obsidian skinned man was scheming to prey on more people, the five people from the Sword Way sect were still running away with their scalps tingling.
The guy with silver blades for hair was still shocked by what he saw. His shock was evident in his voice as he asked, "What the hell was that?"
The scholar with the large sword on his back replied thoughtfully, "Most likely a spiritual attack with a power of 220 units. Since he was at the peak of the second mortal coil, his attack is surely at 220 units and has a wide range of effect. So they stood no chance at all."
The silver-bladed hair guy shivered when he heard that reply. He said, "It is unnatural, is what it is."
Another person spoke in agreement. "I have to agree with Chris. It is unnatural. That wasn't a fight. It was a slaughter. It was a horrible…"
Chris shivered again and quickly interrupted, "Enough already."
The last person in the group asked, "Are the people from the Blood Skull Sect so terrifying?"
Their leader, the small bald child in baggy clothes, answered the question solemnly. "I wish I could tell you otherwise, but yes, they are."
"Maybe not all of them are terrifying at the second mortal coil. But I've heard that once they reach the third mortal coil, they become monsters."
The person who asked the question was unreconciled. She asked with indignation, "But why? Isn't he an S grade just like you? Why is the gap so wide?"
The bald boy shook his head and said, "The short answer is the combination of talent and armament."
"The person you just encountered is in the top 1,000 of the outer sect. That means he must be very talented out of everyone who uses armaments in the outer sect of the Blood Skull Sect. That's what makes them terrifying."
"I have talent, but not armament. But that person has both. Even in the outer sect of the Blood Skull Sect, they are terrifying. So it is no wonder that the people from other sects couldn't even fight back."
Chris asked fearfully, "Is there no way to fight back? Are we going to be hunted with no recourse?"
The bald boy sighed and said, "We can only rely on our skill, luck, determination, and each other."
"Don't despair. Think of this as a furnace. We are being hammered, and the impurities are being beaten out of us. If we survive this, we will be better and more refined. So this is an opportunity for us."
The scholar also encouraged him. He said, "Our situation isn't hopeless. If we can achieve the second state of one with the sword, we will also have the power of armaments and can double our power."
Another person shook his head and said, "It is possible, but it is too difficult. At least, I don't see it happening in my future."
The bald boy insisted, "That's why this situation is a good opportunity for us. Living at the edge of life and death can help us achieve enlightenment and achieve the second state of oneness with the sword. All you need to do is fight with your body, heart, and mind."
Despite how compelling this argument was, Chris wasn't buying it. He was still afraid of death. But he didn't want to say so.
They have been told that the inter sect competition won't start until after the secret sect has been completely harvested. Once the disciples don't have plants to harvest and beasts to kill, they will turn on each other.
This usually happens halfway into the 24-hour duration of the competition. That means in another 11 hours, the disciples of the Blood Skull sect will begin hunting everyone.
Now that he has seen a glimpse of what is in store for them, he can't help but regret participating in the secret realm. What he saw has chilled him to the bone and made him unable to see the upside to this situation.
He didn't say anything, but he had become quiet. This was enough for everyone else to know that something wasn't right with him.
But no one pointed out his weird state. They continued to chat while roaming the secret realm.
They encountered a lot of people along the way. Some of them are disciples of the Blood Skull sect.
Anytime they met disciples of the Blood Skull sect, they would take a large detour to avoid them. This was unpleasant but necessary for survival.
Chris still didn't talk. But he had begun to grit his teeth in anger.
He is angry at everything and everyone. He is angry at himself for not picking the Blood Skull sect. He is angry with himself for not doing better during the regional sect examination.
He is angry at his sect for bringing him to the secret realm and putting him in this dangerous situation. He is angry at his companions for thinking that this dangerous situation is a good opportunity but not having the guts to confront one of the disciples of the Blood Skull sect that they have encountered and fight them.
He is angry with himself again for being afraid of the disciples of the Blood Skull sect. He is angry with himself for not being talented enough to learn the state of oneness with the sword.
Most importantly, he is angry that he is blaming others for his weakness. He has a lot of reasons to be angry with himself, which makes him very angry.
But he didn't voice any of his anger or complaints. Instead, he focused on trying to synchronize his body and mind with the swords in his baskets.
The state of oneness with the sword is a special state of unity with the sword. There are several levels of this unity.
The first state is the state of full body. It is the state in which all of the power of the body, including the power of their life force, can be transferred into the sword without any loss.