CHAPTER 90: CHAPTER 89: SECRET REALM, BLESSED LAND, CAVE HEAVEN! (3200 WORDS MEGA CHAPTER)_1

In the end, Li Zuoyue couldn’t bring himself to refuse Huang Yunchong’s request to join them. After all, they were both True Disciples of the Sanqing Immortal Sect and ranked among the Ten Great True Disciples, so it wouldn’t be right to make things too awkward. One has to give face. It has nothing to do with any so-called ’juicy intel.’

Once an extra ticket was added, Huang Yunchong immediately made himself at home, clapping shoulders and calling everyone brother.

"This Junior Brother looks unfamiliar," Huang Yunchong said with a smile as he looked at Wang Xiu. "May I ask which sect you hail from?"

Wang Xiu smiled and cupped his hands. "Wang Xiu of Spirit Turtle Peak. It’s an honor to meet Senior Brother Huang. I have long heard of your magnificent presence and dashing style, a man known as the most handsome in the Chamber Sect."

"Seeing you today, I can confirm that you truly live up to your reputation. To see for oneself is so much better than to hear!"

*Ahem.*

Originally, upon hearing Wang Xiu introduce himself as a disciple from Spirit Turtle Peak, Huang Yunchong couldn’t help but feel a sliver of animosity. However, when Wang Xiu opened with ’magnificent presence and dashing style, a man known as the most handsome in the Chamber Sect,’ Senior Brother Huang’s expression softened considerably.

After all, while the Divination Sect had a bad rap, those were grievances from over eight hundred years ago. Huang Yunchong’s aversion to the Divination Sect, much like that of other young disciples, was based on stories he’d heard from his elders; it wasn’t a deeply held conviction.

Now, with Wang Xiu being so complimentary and leading with such flattery, it was a classic case of praise begetting praise. Huang Yunchong, a man long seasoned by the mortal world, was certainly not foolish enough to give Wang Xiu the cold shoulder. Besides, when it came to reputations, was his really that much better than Wang Xiu’s? It was a case of the pot calling the kettle black; they both had rather infamous reputations.

"Junior Brother Wang, you certainly have a way with words," Huang Yunchong chuckled. "But if we’re talking about magnificent presence and dashing style, your own looks are by no means inferior to Senior Brother Zuoyue’s or my own. You’re just a little younger and lack experience, so you still seem a bit green."

"But give it time!" Huang Yunchong declared earnestly. "Once you’ve been tempered a bit in the mortal realm and have acquired a touch of worldly maturity, I’m sure your charm will be no less than mine! When that time comes, won’t all the senior and junior sisters of our sect be absolutely captivated by you? Come visit the Chamber Sect when you have time, and I’ll teach you a few techniques for courting women. I guarantee it’ll be a complete transformation; you’ll become a true man."

[Ding!]

[Detected someone boasting. Congratulations, Host, you have acquired Mana +99.]

With a look of pure admiration, Wang Xiu said, "To be honest, Senior Brother Huang, I have long heard of your vast experience and your frequent journeys into the mortal realm. When it comes to the experience of worldly training, I fear not even many Elders or Peak Lords can compare to you. On this journey together, I hope Senior Brother will be generous with his teachings."

Listening to Wang Xiu’s ’sincere and heartfelt’ flattery, Huang Yunchong couldn’t help but flash a smug grin. "But of course! Junior Brother, I’m not just boasting! When it comes to meditation, cultivation, or slaying demons and monsters, I may not be on par with Junior Brother Zuoyue. But when it comes to experience in the mortal realm, the distribution of power in the various cities, and all the interesting and fun places they have to offer... across the entire Sanqing Immortal Sect, absolutely no one knows more than I do."

[Ding!]

[Detected someone boasting. Congratulations, Host, you have acquired Mana +99.]

Getting caught up in his own hype, Huang Yunchong lowered his voice conspiratorially. "Junior Brother Wang, Senior Brother Zuoyue, and you three Junior Brothers from the Li family, what are you looking to do in Vermilion Bird City? Gourmet food? Fine wine? Or maybe you’d like to try your luck for a round or two at a reliable casino? Or perhaps... *ahem*, you’d like to find a ’nourishing’ establishment to practice the arts of my Chamber Sect and discuss the Dao together? I’m not just boasting, but as long as I’m leading the way, I guarantee you’ll get the best treatment. Absolutely no scams!"

[Ding!]

[Detected someone boasting. Congratulations, Host, you have acquired Mana +99.]

Good heavens. Huang Yunchong’s words made Li Zuoyue and his three brothers, Li Longhao, Li Longji, and Li Longyou, exchange stunned glances.

How should we put this? His words certainly made our hearts itch with curiosity, but with our cousins right here, we’ve always maintained the image of ’perfect gentlemen.’ If we were to get mixed up with a character like Huang Yunchong and indulge in such activities, what would the others think of us?

Just as Li Zuoyue and the others were hesitating, Wang Xiu’s voice cut in. "Senior Brother Huang is truly in a class of his own! With you as our guide, we will surely be able to experience all the mortal pleasures Vermilion Bird City has to offer. Senior Brother Zuoyue, why don’t we travel with Senior Brother Huang? We can all look out for one another."

*Ahem*~ Li Zuoyue’s gaze flickered, and he gave a light cough. "Since my dear younger brother wishes to see the world, I shall reluctantly join in on the fun and accompany you!"

Li Longhao: "Same here."

Li Longji: "Same here."

Li Longyou: "Same here."

At that moment, a sense of anticipation bloomed in the hearts of the four naive youths from the Sword Sect.

Ahem. Of course, this is all to accompany Junior Brother Wang Xiu. It’s definitely not because we want to go ourselves!

And so, the group of five quickly settled on a rough itinerary. First, they would head to the Phoenix Perch Building in Vermilion Bird City for drinks, merriment, and some music. Then, they would split up to complete their sect-assigned missions so as not to neglect their duties. Finally, with Huang Yunchong as their guide, the brothers would explore the local culture and customs of Vermilion Bird City.

The Transport Array activated. Their vision was instantly filled with a bizarre, kaleidoscopic swirl of light. Through the distorted passage of the void, they could see countless mottled colors streaking past. Wang Xiu knew that these colors were streams of chaotic void energy.

According to the ancient records, the void was not a single plane but was divided into many layers, each containing violent tides of energy. In most cases, a full-powered strike from a Golden Core Stage Perfected Person could cause the void to tremble, but only the most outstanding among them could actually manage to crack it open. Most Nascent Soul Stage Venerables could easily tear the void, and the strongest among them could even travel within it. Using void-traversal spells, they could travel vast distances and reach their destinations with incredible speed.

However, this was merely the first layer of the void, the lowest stratum of the endless expanse. If one’s cultivation reached the Emergence Stage, they could tear open the second layer and step inside, where the chaotic void currents were even more ferocious. A Nascent Soul Stage Venerable who rashly entered would be torn to shreds in an instant. Even an Emergence Stage Great Ability had to proceed with extreme caution in the second layer. If they were unlucky enough to encounter a void vortex or a void storm, even a Great Ability risked becoming trapped and perishing.

Nonetheless, the void held not only risks but also immense opportunities. A person with great fortune might find an ancient treasure that had been exiled into the void. They might discover various void-based spirit herbs that took root in the void, drawing power from it, or even other natural wonders. If one’s luck was truly off the charts, they might even find a small world born from within the void’s chaos. These small worlds were born from the will of the void, each with its own unique characteristics.

But without exception, all of them possessed the ability to absorb void energy and convert it into spiritual energy. These small worlds often gave birth to Spirit Veins, which could continuously produce Spirit Stones. If an Immortal Sect managed to claim one, it could serve as a base of operations and drastically increase the sect’s wealth. With good fortune, one could even discover all sorts of celestial treasures.

Generally speaking, worlds born in the first layer of the void were relatively small and unstable. Their spatial passages often couldn’t be maintained in a stable, open state. Some opened only once every five years, others every ten, and some as rarely as once a century. Furthermore, their capacity to bear life was limited, imposing restrictions on the cultivation level of those who could enter. Some only allowed Qi Refinement Realm cultivators, while others only permitted those at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Their overall value was much lower, and they were typically used for disciple trials. These small void worlds were commonly known as Secret Realms.

The worlds born in the second layer of the void, on the other hand, were much larger and many times more stable. While restrictions still existed, most could be kept open long-term. The Spirit Stone Veins within these worlds were also many times larger than those in Secret Realms. These small void worlds were known as Blessed Lands. The current Seventy-Two Blessed Land Immortal Gates of Nanzhou were situated near these Blessed Land-level worlds, with their core members cultivating inside them, achieving twice the results with half the effort.

As for the third layer of the void and beyond, it was even more chaotic. Even an existence at the Saint Manifestation Stage risked getting lost and perishing if they weren’t careful. However, the small worlds born in this third layer were of a quality that surpassed Blessed Lands by more than a single measure, sufficient to support the resource consumption of an entire Cave Heaven-level power.

Back in its golden age, the Sanqing Immortal Sect commanded three great Cave Heaven-level small worlds, twelve Blessed Land-level small worlds, and an endless number of trial Secret Realms. The daily output of Spirit Stones, spirit herbs, and other treasures was an astronomical figure, enough to make any other power green with envy.

Unfortunately, the great catastrophe over eight hundred years ago led to the complete exile of the Three Great Caves and nine of the Blessed Lands. Countless trial Secret Realms were destroyed in the fighting, with fewer than one in ten remaining. Now, only three Blessed Land-level small worlds and a handful of Secret Realms were left. Supporting the consumption of the entire Sanqing Immortal Sect while also constantly recruiting disciples to recover its strength was like trying to douse a raging inferno with a single cup of water.

If not for this dire situation, the disciples of the Sanqing Immortal Sect would not be so desperate as to fight over minor jobs like overseeing the weddings and funerals of ordinary people. They were haunted by poverty!

It was said that many of the few remaining old ancestors of the Sanqing Immortal Sect would personally venture into the void from time to time. They hoped to use the special senses of their cultivation arts to locate the lost small worlds and bring them back. Some had even spent centuries searching within the turbulent void. Unfortunately, the void was endless. Even if those small worlds retained the sect’s imprint, one had to be close to sense it. Finding those lost worlds was purely a matter of luck; there was no other way.

For eight hundred long years, not a single one of the exiled Three Great Caves or nine Blessed Lands had been recovered. It was estimated that if someone could one day recover even a portion of the sect’s lost lands—forget a Cave Heaven, even finding a single Blessed Land—they would instantly become the darling of the entire Immortal Sect. Their prestige would soar to rival that of the Peak Lords of the various sects. After all, such a deed was a monumental contribution concerning the ’territorial integrity of the Immortal Sect’!

I wonder if I’ll ever get the chance to draw a spell related to void positioning, Wang Xiu mused, his mind filled with a thousand thoughts as he gazed out at the endless void beyond the Transport Array. This great age of void navigation held boundless opportunities. It’s just a pity that the threshold for exploring the void for treasure is far too high. My current Core Formation Stage cultivation is nowhere near enough.

BOOM.

Suddenly, the Transport Array began to rumble. The scene before them swirled and inverted once more, and the bizarre, dazzling spectacle slowly faded away.

A tall, majestic city appeared before them.