Chapter 289: Blessed Secret Realm

A flash of light swallowed the Heavenly Bronze Empire Team.

For a brief moment, everything disappeared. There was no ground beneath their feet, no sky above their heads, and no sense of direction. Then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the light faded, and the representatives found themselves standing in an entirely different world.

The first thing they noticed was the scenery.

The blessed secret realm was unlike anywhere they had been before. Strange structures floated in the distance, enormous trees grew from seemingly empty air, and rivers of shimmering light flowed between mountains that appeared to have been carved from different materials. Some areas were covered in flowers that glowed without sunlight, while others contained enormous crystals that pulsed like living hearts. Even the sky looked unusual, with several layers of colors overlapping one another in patterns that changed whenever someone tried to focus on them.

There were simply too many strange things to understand at a glance.

However, Ren wasn’t particularly interested in the scenery.

His attention had already shifted to the atmosphere.

The energy fluctuations in this secret realm were absurdly rich. They weren’t merely dense, like the spiritual energy found in ordinary cultivation grounds. They were loaded with concepts, laws, and manifestations, all interwoven in a way that made the surrounding space feel almost alive. Every breath carried traces of different energies, and even the slightest movement seemed to interact with the world around him.

Ren could feel the differences between them without needing to investigate closely. Some were warm and gentle, others sharp and aggressive, while a few possessed characteristics that he couldn’t immediately identify. The energy wasn’t simply something that existed in the environment; it seemed to embody principles that governed the world itself.

This place was extraordinary.

Ren’s eyes moved across the landscape as his sensory perception expanded. There were several locations within his line of sight that made his heart palpitate when he examined them, their presence so strange and powerful that even he couldn’t immediately understand what he was seeing. Nevertheless, he couldn’t sense any genuine danger. Those places might contain overwhelming power or incomprehensible phenomena, but none carried the unmistakable hostility of something that intended to kill him.

The World System hadn’t lied.

This secret realm posed no danger to their lives.

Then Ren noticed something else.

A faint sensation had appeared somewhere far beyond his current position, as though an invisible thread were pulling at his consciousness. It wasn’t a sound or a physical sensation, yet he could feel its direction with absolute clarity. Whatever was calling to him existed at a considerable distance, but the connection between them was surprisingly solid.

He had never experienced anything like it before.

That was precisely why he recognized it so quickly.

Ren turned his head toward the distant horizon, his expression growing thoughtful as he tried to understand the sensation. It wasn’t unpleasant, nor did it feel like a command. It was simply there, quietly drawing his attention toward something that seemed to be waiting for him.

Around him, several representatives began discussing similar experiences.

"Can anyone else feel that?"

"Yeah. It’s like something is calling me."

"Mine’s coming from the north, I think. No, wait, it’s more toward the northeast."

"I can feel it too, but I can’t explain what it is."

The conversation spread rapidly as more people realized they were experiencing the same phenomenon. Everyone seemed to have a different direction in mind, and even those who couldn’t determine the precise location could still feel a faint pull guiding them somewhere.

Ren clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

"All right, listen up before you leave."

The representatives gradually gathered around him. After six months of working together, they had grown accustomed to listening whenever Ren had something to say. His decisions had carried them through the Imperial Ranking War, and even now, with their competition officially over, they were willing to hear him out.

"This is your opportunity to find something for yourselves," Ren began. "That feeling you’re experiencing is probably connected to the opportunity the World System promised. Think of it as a fated encounter. The realm is guiding you toward something that suits you, so there’s no need to overthink it. Follow the direction you’re being drawn toward and see where it leads."

He paused briefly before continuing.

"There’s also a chance that more than one person will be drawn to the same place. If that happens, remember that we’re not competing against each other anymore. We came here together to represent our empire, and we’ve already accomplished our objective. There’s no reason to turn against one another over a reward."

Nobody objected. In fact, several representatives nodded immediately. They had spent six months relying on one another, and the idea of fighting their own teammates over an opportunity was unappealing.

"Good. Then go and find what you’re looking for."

Ren’s expression softened slightly.

"It has been an honor working with all of you to represent the Heavenly Bronze Empire. Whatever happens from here, don’t waste this opportunity. I sincerely wish you all good luck."

For a moment, the representatives were quiet.

Then they responded with their own words of gratitude and encouragement. Some bowed, while others raised their fists in salute. A few exchanged promises to meet again after returning to the empire, already looking forward to sharing their experiences.

Ren nodded to them before the gathering began to disperse. One by one, the representatives followed their respective callings, disappearing into different parts of the strange landscape.

Lily remained beside him.

She had been quiet throughout the discussion, but Ren had noticed her glancing toward the same distant direction he had been observing. When the others had begun leaving, she simply stepped closer and slipped her hand into his.

Ren looked at her.

"Same direction?"

Lily nodded, a small smile appearing on her face. "It seems so."

"Then let’s go."

Their fingers intertwined as they began walking toward the source of their calling. Neither knew what awaited them, but there was no reason to hurry blindly. They had time to explore, and the realm itself would not endanger their lives.

For once, Ren could follow an opportunity without having to calculate how many people might die if he made the wrong decision.

It was a welcome change.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Bronze Empire was celebrating.

The Imperial Council had received the World System’s announcement and the details of the rewards granted to their representatives. The news had spread through the palace like wildfire, and the council chamber, which was usually filled with serious discussions and political arguments, had become almost unrecognizable.

Several ministers were laughing openly, while others were enthusiastically discussing the implications of the rewards. Even those who normally maintained a dignified appearance had difficulty concealing their excitement. The upgrade to imperial fortune alone was enough to justify a celebration, and the remaining four rewards had only made the situation better.

The Heavenly Bronze Empire had struck gold.

No, that was an understatement.

It had struck an entire mountain of gold, and the mountain would continue producing more for generations.

Emperor Christopher Augustus Lunareigh sat at the head of the chamber, watching his ministers celebrate with an expression that was considerably more relaxed than usual. As the Emperor of the Heavenly Bronze Empire and Diana’s father, he had more than enough reasons to be pleased. His daughter had participated in a competition that had ultimately delivered enormous benefits to their nation, and the empire would reap the rewards long after the current generation had passed.

He made no effort to stop the council from celebrating.

Hell, if he weren’t so concerned about maintaining his imperial image, he would have joined them.

The live broadcast had been cut off days earlier, so the council could no longer observe what their representatives were doing. That was fine. They already knew the most important result, and the World System had confirmed that their representatives would receive their personal rewards in a separate secret realm.

There was no need to watch every moment.

Besides, personal rewards were personal rewards for a reason. Whatever opportunities their representatives discovered were theirs to pursue, and the council had no intention of interfering without cause.

Christopher waited until the excitement had settled enough for his voice to carry across the chamber.

"Enjoy yourselves tonight," he announced, raising his cup. "You’ve earned the right to celebrate. But beginning tomorrow, I want every relevant department to start planning how we will make the best possible use of these rewards."

The ministers immediately straightened.

"The Resource Ministry will assess the changes to our deposits and medicinal plants. The scholars and martial institutions will prepare for the opening of the heritage domain, and the people responsible for our territorial defenses will examine how the protection blessing can be incorporated into our existing formations."

He looked across the chamber, making sure everyone understood the importance of what came next.

"Most importantly, we must determine how to maximize the benefits of our improved imperial fortune and the hundred-year opportunity decree. These rewards are not something we should leave to chance. We will establish the necessary plans and begin implementing them as soon as possible. I want the empire to digest these benefits as quickly and efficiently as possible."

The ministers answered with firm acknowledgments.

They understood that receiving such rewards was only the beginning. If the empire failed to make proper use of them, a portion of their potential would inevitably be wasted. Their task was to ensure that the benefits spread throughout the nation, strengthening its foundations and improving its prospects for the future.

Christopher nodded in satisfaction.

"Good. We will begin the formal discussions tomorrow. For tonight, the banquet continues."

That was all the permission the ministers needed.

The chamber erupted in celebration once more, and the banquet continued late into the night. Wine was poured, food was served, and the ministers discussed the empire’s bright future with enthusiasm that would have been unthinkable only a few weeks earlier.

For the first time in a long while, they weren’t celebrating a victory over a rival or the resolution of a political crisis.

They were celebrating the beginning of a better future for their entire empire.

And somewhere within the blessed secret realm, their representatives were already walking toward the opportunities that awaited them.