Chapter 189 - 188: Secret Realm

Chapter 189: Chapter 188: Secret Realm

He had long, cyan hair and was dressed in a profound robe. His face was that of an old man in his twilight years—creased with wrinkles and withered, no different from any other gaunt elder.

His back was hunched, and in his hand, he held a bamboo staff. It was a vibrant green, like a piece of fine jade, with a ring of gold inlaid at each joint. His expression betrayed no joy or sorrow; it was simply stiff, almost lifeless.

The only thing that distinguished him from an ordinary old man was his eyes. They were not cloudy but shone brightly with a cyan light, possessing none of the imposing might one would imagine from a Golden Core True Monarch.

This was actually Chen Qingyang’s first time seeing a Golden Core True Monarch in person. With Purple Sun True Monarch, he had only perceived his spiritual presence, not his physical form. But even though this True Monarch was present in both body and spirit, Chen Qingyang couldn’t make heads or tails of him.

’Based on what I know about Cultivator lifespans, for a Golden Core True Monarch to show such signs of aging, it’s either a personal preference or he’s been at this realm for a very long time and is now facing the natural decline of his life.’

’I heard from Fourth Brother that besides aiding a Cultivator’s breakthrough, Earth Deities can also extend life and preserve youth. That’s why cultivators at the True Monarch level will fight to the death over one. The more comfortably and longer one lives, the less willing one is to simply die.’

Qing Yao True Monarch simply appeared out of thin air in the sky. Wind gathered at his feet as he slowly descended before the crowd. The disciples all followed Master Jing Yuan’s lead, bowing and saluting. "We greet Qing Yao True Monarch."

’This True Monarch’s name, Qing Yao, contained the word for medicine. He must be highly skilled in the Alchemy Dao and with Spirit Plants. And with "Qing" meaning cyan, and that bamboo staff in his hand... perhaps that’s the origin of the name Cyan Bamboo Peak.’

The True Monarch simply raised his hand, and Master Jing Yuan turned back. "You may all rise."

Afterward, the True Monarch walked through the crowd, leaning on his staff. Though he could hardly be called imposing, he still had a considerable presence.

Then, to everyone’s surprise, he stopped right in front of Chen Qingyang.

"Heh heh!" When he smiled, his mouth was so stiff it looked like a crack splitting open a piece of old tree bark. "Good lad. You almost withstood my test!"

Chen Qingyang’s first reaction wasn’t joy, but relief. ’Thank goodness I reacted in time,’ he thought. ’Otherwise, everyone would know that my willpower is strong enough to resist a True Monarch’s methods.’

Just as he was wondering how to reply, Master Jing Yuan came to his rescue. "Master, Chen Qingyang only recently joined my tutelage, and it has only been a few days since he became an Inner Sect disciple. The fact that he could endure your power for so long is a testament to his firm willpower."

The True Monarch shook his cyan hair and lightly tapped the ground with his bamboo staff. "No, this has nothing to do with cultivation, only willpower. I was thinking that if he had managed to endure, I would have told him about the great opportunity outside this mountain. A pity, though..."

He forced another smile, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "It’s not his fate!"

’What the...’

Chen Qingyang was stunned. ’If I’d known there was an opportunity waiting, I wouldn’t have been so cautious! I feel like I just missed out on five million Spirit Stones.’

Master Jing Yuan also seemed regretful. "Master, what exactly is the opportunity? It looked like he almost had it."

But Qing Yao True Monarch just smiled and shook his head. "I don’t care if he missed by a hair or a mile. Not enough is not enough," he said, taunting Chen Qingyang again. "The boy’s not fated for it."

Chen Qingyang lowered his head, seething but not daring to speak. It was Master Jing Yuan who broke the silence. "Master, could you be referring to that *thing* in the mountains?"

"Heh heh, if I explained it all to you, you’d just go look for it yourself."

At this, he patted Master Jing Yuan’s arm. "I knew you’d be the first to arrive again this year, so I thought I’d cause you some trouble. But you still made it... I estimate the next fastest lineage won’t be here for another two or three days. So, I’ll let your disciples have a little head start!"

He waved his sleeve, and a transparent vortex seemed to appear in the sky, instantly growing to the size of the heavens and earth. Wherever it passed, everything began to change.

Qing Yao True Monarch was very amiable toward Jing Yuan, grabbing his arm and walking forward.

The world before Chen Qingyang’s eyes grew increasingly clear. The fields on both sides had transformed into Spirit Fields, where all sorts of Spirit Plants glowed brilliantly in a myriad of colors. Auspicious clouds hung in the sky, unfurling in waves of light.

The entire world was awash in a kaleidoscope of colors, like a fairytale kingdom. It felt so real, yet completely unreal at the same time. And though it seemed illusory, everything was solid to the touch.

Amidst the countless Spirit Fields, figures moved back and forth, tending to the Spirit Plants. ’So there are other people in this Secret Realm,’ Chen Qingyang realized.

That cluster of buildings everyone had been searching so hard for finally revealed its true form.

Immortal platforms stood in groves. Palaces and grand halls shimmered. Shooting stars flashed between them, and mist swirled through their foundations. Waterfalls materialized from nothing, and plants, trees, and stones floated in mid-air, all connected by white jade bridges that spanned impossible chasms.

A realm fit for an Immortal Sect, a kingdom within a kingdom... ’I never would have imagined that a world like this could be hidden on Cyan Bamboo Peak!’

The True Monarch and the Master vanished into this Immortal Realm. Eldest Brother Shen Chongzhou then addressed the others. "Junior Brothers and Sisters, we have a two-day limit. After two days, we will gather here again. Don’t be late."

Everyone voiced their assent. Only Chen Qingyang was confused about the situation. As if sensing his questions, Shen Chongzhou walked straight over to him. "Junior Brother, since this is your first time in the Sumeru Illusion Realm, allow me to explain."

The Eldest Brother seemed no different than usual. His Qi Mechanism was always so restrained that Chen Qingyang couldn’t tell if he had reached Foundation Establishment.

"Thank you, Eldest Brother."

Shen Chongzhou continued, "Let me start from the beginning. You should know that Cyan Nether State has no shortage of famous mountains and great rivers. Even when the Sect was founded, this place didn’t have the most abundant Spiritual Qi. So why was this specific location chosen?"

After a moment’s thought, Chen Qingyang understood. "Senior Brother, are you talking about the Sumeru Illusion Realm?"

Shen Chongzhou’s long hair was unbound, and strands of silver glinted within it as he nodded lightly. "’Sumeru’ is a Buddhist concept; it refers to the idea that a single drop of water can contain three thousand worlds. Our Tai Xu Sect established itself here because this is where Cyan Nether State’s most important Lost Secret Realms from the Ancient Celestial Court are located."

"Besides Cyan Bamboo Peak, there are twelve other such places. Even the famous Bridge of Longevity was originally a relic from the Ancient Celestial Court."

"Most of these Secret Realms are guarded by a Golden Core True Monarch. Over time, they refined these Lost Secret Realms into Sumeru Illusion Realms to ensure the Qi Mechanism here does not dissipate, the Yin and Yang remain balanced, and the world remains stable..."

Hearing this reminded Chen Qingyang of Duling City, a place under the jurisdiction of the Nine Nether Mechanic Divine Palace. ’The place where I found the *Great Soul Scripture, Volume Two*, in the vast mountains near that city, must have also been a ruin from the Ancient Celestial Court.’

’If the *Great Soul Scripture, Volume Three* is also in Cyan Nether State, could the clues to finding it be here?’

"Junior Brother, is there something you don’t understand?" Shen Chongzhou asked, seeing Chen Qingyang’s slight daze.

"Master also mentioned a thing or two about the Ancient Celestial Court, so I have no questions about that. I just don’t understand what we’re supposed to do during these two days we’re allowed to stay?"

Just then, a head leaned in. It was a dignified, handsome face with three long wisps of a beard, giving him a somewhat divine air. "Junior Brother, it’s so you can wander around and find your own opportunities, of course! But this place has been picked over by countless people for thousands of years. They’ve probably turned over every blade of grass. I doubt there are any opportunities left!"

The speaker was Ji Rang, his expression completely serious. Shen Chongzhou shot back at him, "Fourth Brother, don’t speak such nonsense. Everyone has their own destiny. If you haven’t found an opportunity, it just means your time hasn’t come. I think our new Junior Brother is deeply blessed by fortune. He should go have a look around. At the very least, it would be a good experience."

"Heh heh!" Ji Rang snickered. "I’m not going to waste my time on that. I’d be better off sensing the Spiritual Qi. I think our new Junior Brother should give it a shot!"

With that, he headed inside.

Shen Chongzhou shook his head and pointed to the cluster of buildings ahead, where many of their martial brothers and sisters had just gone. "Junior Brother, you should start here. This is the center of the Secret Realm. If there are any opportunities left, this is where you’re most likely to find them."

Chen Qingyang glanced over. "Thank you for the reminder, Eldest Brother. I’ll go have a look around."

Shen Chongzhou nodded, then vanished before his eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the others had all left, leaving him standing there alone.

He looked around, finding himself enclosed by the mountain range. He was inclined to believe what his Fourth Brother had said. ’If there were any real opportunities, they would’ve been taken long ago. Anything left now is probably something that can’t be moved.’

’Even though Qing Yao True Monarch mentioned it, that’s a True Monarch’s perspective. I doubt something like that would just fall into my lap.’ Since he had nothing better to do, he decided to just wander around, heading in a direction away from the others.

Now, it finally felt like he had truly entered the Secret Realm. The faster he used his Wind Control Skill, the faster the mountains ahead drew near. He released his Conscious Fish, and his Divine Sense instantly shot out hundreds of miles.

The scenery was pleasant as far as the eye could see. In the blink of an eye, he had surveyed tens of miles, but none of what he saw was as extravagant as the central area. His fellow disciples were all gathered there; Chen Qingyang didn’t see a single soul for a long time.

Fortunately, he was a patient person and didn’t find the search boring. He simply kept exploring with his Conscious Fish, scanning the area again and again.

After crossing what felt like a thousand li, he seemed to reach the edge of this self-contained world. He saw a stone pillar that pierced the clouds and guessed it must be an Array Building.

It stood atop a majestic peak. No plants grew within a radius of dozens of yards around it. Though invisible to the naked eye, he could distinctly feel a hidden Qi Mechanism surging toward the heavens from it.

Beyond this stone pillar was a barrier—a barrier that separated the world inside from the world outside.

Using the pillar as a base point, he traveled a hundred li south and a hundred li north, finding an identical Array Building at each location. ’If I could get past this barrier,’ he thought, ’would I be back on Cyan Bamboo Peak?’

’If I could mark a location on Cyan Bamboo Peak, couldn’t I sneak back here whenever I want? An opportunity I can’t find in two days, I could surely find in two years, or even twenty!’

This was the very meaning of the saying: "To roam immortal realms at will, forging cultivation through fortune and Dao."