The sect leaders of the Thirty-Six Caves pondered for a while and generally agreed with the Lake Master's decision. They nodded in unison and said:

"No problem, Lake Master!"

...

"Very well, the selection tournament can begin." Long Ren, hearing the crowd's response, felt relieved in his heart and then spoke to the sect leader from before.

At this moment, the disciples from the Thirty-Six Caves in the square also naturally heard some of Long Ren's words and felt very surprised. They never expected that the Lake Master's big brother would also participate in the selection tournament. The crowd couldn't help but feel a bit pressured, as even though he was young, being the Lake Master's brother, he must possess some strength.

It was indeed curious that the so-called big brother would participate in the selection tournament. The crowd couldn't help but discuss among themselves, with some feeling worried. Although the so-called big brother is also a very young cultivator, since he could become the Lake Master's brother, he must have some capabilities. His participation in the Great Alchemy Competition made these disciples worry that there might be one fewer spot for them in the secret realm.

However, most disciples did not think highly of Ding Fan. Although he was the Lake Master's brother, he didn't appear to have anything special, and the True Qi in him was quite thin, with cultivation that seemed ordinary, making it unlikely for him to be a threat. Moreover, the competition in this selection tournament wasn't solely about cultivation strength, as there were also some special contests like alchemy.

The crowd couldn't help but start whispering.

"This big brother might not be simple; our competition spots might decrease by one..."

"I doubt it. Even if he's the Lake Master's brother, it's nothing remarkable. You know, he hasn't even reached the Emergence Stage. He probably climbed this Giant Peak because of the Lake Master's favor!"

"Haha… maybe! The True Qi fluctuation on him is weak. Since he managed to become the Lake Master's brother, he might just be a sycophant!"

...

"His cultivation is quite strong, at least killing a few of you wouldn't be a problem!"

While everyone doubted Ding Fan, suddenly a young cultivator in the crowd stood out and said with a slightly playful tone, but his words were very certain and not at all joking. This young cultivator was the Gaoyuan Sect disciple who had previously clashed with Ding Fan.

The young cultivator's words were like pouring a bucket of cold water into boiling water. The crowd suddenly fell silent and looked seriously and puzzled at the young cultivator, with a few asking:

"Why do you say that, cultivator? Are you also trying to gain favor with the big brother?"

A tall young cultivator, with a somewhat sinister smile on his face, said. The rest heard the tall young man's words and couldn't help but look at the previous young cultivator with a very contemptuous smile.

"I have fought with him before, although my strength might not be as good as yours, I am at least at the Nascent Soul Mid Stage. Even if I'm slightly worse than you, it wouldn't be by much, but that big brother handled me with ease, not even using half his strength to completely defeat me. Therefore, consider for yourself the strength of this Lake Master's brother."

After the young cultivator finished speaking, he directly returned to his original position, no longer paying attention to those cultivators.

The crowd's expressions turned a bit heavy, and they looked at Ding Fan sitting next to the Lake Master with serious expressions. If what the young cultivator said was true, that the Lake Master's brother defeated him without even using half his strength, then his strength would indeed be terrifying.

All the members in the crowd were the elites of the Thirty-Six Sects, and although there were some differences between them, they weren't too great, except for a few exceptional prodigies. They knew the young cultivator wasn't bad; after all, he was also at the Nascent Soul Mid Stage.

They thought they would need to use eighty or ninety percent of their strength to defeat him. It would be impossible to achieve what the Lake Master's brother did, using only half his power. If this were true, the Lake Master's brother's strength could rival those exceptional disciples!

"Even if the so-called big brother's strength is good, remember that this selection tournament isn't just about strength. There are also some very special projects, like alchemy. It won't be easy for him to take one of our secret realm spots!"

"Exactly! Remember, those few exceptional disciples among us are not only strong in cultivation but also extremely proficient in alchemy and formations!"

"The big brother is young, and doing well in cultivation is already impressive. Competing with us for spots, though, he's still lacking!"

"Heh… indeed..."

...

Although everyone believed the words of that young Gaoyuan Sect disciple, they still were not optimistic about Ding Fan, and even regarded Ding Fan as a common enemy. After all, for some disciples, even if they couldn't get a spot to enter the Xuantian Secret Realm, they didn't want to see the spot handed over to an outsider.

Among all the discussions, there was a particular cultivator disciple who was evidently very special. He just stood there with a look in his eyes that was somewhat smug, somewhat excited, and more than anything, insidious and vicious! Especially when he heard the words "Big Brother," the resentment and viciousness in his eyes became even more intense.

This cultivator was none other than the burly youth Leng Jian from the Qinghe Sect. Before the arrival of the Lake Master and others, Leng Jian was already full of resentment towards Ding Fan and even began to ponder over an opportunity to kill him! After all, the opponent was the Lake Master's elder brother, and such a thought was clearly hard to execute.

But when he heard that the elder brother would also participate in the selection for the competition to enter the secret realm, Leng Jian was suddenly delighted. Among all the disciples from the Thirty-Six Caverns, who least wanted Ding Fan to enter the secret realm, only Leng Jian most wished for that so-called elder brother to enter the secret realm.

Because for Leng Jian, it was the best chance to kill the opponent!

Inside the secret realm is isolated from the outside world and is filled with numerous dangers. Leng Jian knew that even if he killed that so-called elder brother of the Lake Master inside the secret realm, no one outside would know, and the Lake Master certainly wouldn't, so no one would blame him!

Leng Jian felt quite smug, his face inadvertently turning quite ferocious. It seemed that even the heavens were helping him. If it weren't for the opponent wanting to enter the secret realm, who knows when he would get another chance to kill him. After all, the opponent was the Lake Master's elder brother, and it was difficult to say if he would ever have the chance again.

But now the opportunity has come! How could he not be excited? At this moment, Leng Jian didn't care about the opponent's strength. Surviving in the secret realm requires more than just strength; it requires various means. Leng Jian knew that his strength indeed fell short compared to the opponent's, but it didn't mean his other means were inferior. Besides, he had a very powerful item that he had never used and wouldn't mind using it on the opponent!

...

At this moment, Ding Fan, sitting next to Long Ren, seemed nonchalant, but he heard the discussions below clearly. However, Ding Fan didn't take it to heart, knowing that to those disciples of the Thirty-Six Caverns, he was indeed a competitor, so it was normal for them to have opinions about him.

"Everyone, please be quiet. I'm sure everyone has already heard the Lake Master's words. The Sect Master's elder brother will also participate in this selection competition, so nobody should have any complaints. You must know that the elder brother has a life-saving grace for our Thirty-Six Caverns. If it weren't for the elder brother, you might not even have the chance to stand here and wait for the selection competition, nor any opportunity to enter the Xuantian Secret Realm and gain fortune. This is something we all have to thank the elder brother for!"

The hosting sect master said with a serious and stern expression. The disciples below also quieted down, not expecting that the Lake Master's elder brother had saved them from the Thirty-Six Caverns. Although they didn't know the full story, since the sect master agreed, these disciples naturally dared not voice any opposition.

Yet, everyone was a bit puzzled, not quite understanding.

Of course, the sect masters of the Thirty-Six Caverns wouldn't tell them about the previous ambush by the Wild Wolf Gang; it wasn't a glorious thing, and keeping things confidential was a very strict discipline of the Thirty-Six Caverns.

The host glanced at the somewhat confused looks from the disciples below and continued:

"The specifics aren't something you need to know, because we are the Thirty-Six Caverns, and you are the best disciples of the Thirty-Six Caverns, the future of the Thirty-Six Caverns. Therefore, you must learn the strictest discipline of our Thirty-Six Caverns, which is secrecy. Even your parents, or cultivation partners, or your best siblings must not hear even a bit about the Thirty-Six Caverns' secrets, just like this selection competition, understand?"

The host sect master asked sternly, with a force that allowed no room for doubt, knowing that this host sect master was also a Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, wielding great authority over those disciples below.

"Understood!"

"Understood!"

...

The disciples, hearing the host's words, all earnestly agreed. After all, these matters were emphasized heavily before their respective sect masters brought them here. They understood the gravity of the situation, knowing that if they divulged any secrets of the Thirty-Six Caverns, it wouldn't be the Lake Master who'd deal with them first. It would be their sect master, who cherished and nurtured them, who would be the first to take their lives!

After all, these secrets of the Thirty-Six Caverns concerned not just an individual, or a sect master, or even a sect, but the survival of all thirty-six sects, the entire Thirty-Six Caverns, and this was, naturally, the gravest matter. All disciples knew that if they couldn't keep this one secret, their coming here wouldn't be a lucky chance to enter the secret realm, but rather the cause of their downfall in the future!

The host did not emphasize the issue further, knowing that the discipline of the Thirty-Six Caverns was not just spoken, but was built on a mound of blood and heads. Violating the discipline of the Thirty-Six Caverns led only to death, whether you were a sect master or an ordinary disciple!

Ding Fan watched this scene, internally agreeing with Long Ren's philosophy of managing the Thirty-Six Caverns. To be the most powerful and hidden underground organization in the Cultivation World, confidentiality was indeed crucial.