Duanmu Xiong gave Luo Feng a cold glance, then quickly melted into the crowd. Right now, Luo Feng was with Zi Hongyuan and his group, so it wasn’t the right time to strike. He planned to wait for Luo Feng to exit the Secret Realm before seizing an opportunity. If Luo Feng managed to bring out one or two treasures from the Secret Realm, that would be even better. The blazing sun in the sky gradually tilted west, dyeing the Red Flame Desert a bloody red. "Luo Feng, all of you get ready. We’re about to enter," Zi Hongyuan called Luo Feng and his three companions over, instructing them. Zi Yuan asked in surprise, "So soon?" Zi Hongyuan replied with a grave expression, "The news about the Secret Realm has spread. If we continue to wait, the situation will become increasingly difficult to manage." Luo Feng nodded. Even now, martial artists were continuously arriving, only deterred from making any moves by their fear of the major families and the experts from the two academies of the Red Maple Lead. But as the numbers grew, no one could predict what might happen. "Where is the entrance to the Secret Realm?" Zi Yuan scanned the surroundings, but seeing nothing out of the ordinary, she couldn’t help but ask. Luo Feng pointed at the desert ahead and said, "It should be right in front." Zi Yuan followed his gaze, her beautiful brows furrowing slightly. "There’s nothing there." Beside her, He Qin and Bing Ruolan also nodded, having found nothing. Luo Feng smiled but didn’t explain. His soul power was strong. The moment he arrived, he felt an unusual fluctuation of the natural Yuan Qi about a hundred steps in front of him. Though invisible, there had to be something there. "Luo Feng is right. The entrance to the Secret Realm is about a hundred steps ahead. We can’t see it because it’s protected by a Formation," Zi Hongyuan confirmed, glancing at Luo Feng with a hint of surprise; the protective Formation at the Secret Realm’s entrance was difficult for even Spiritual Rotation Realm martial artists to perceive, yet Luo Feng had somehow detected it. Upon hearing this, Zi Yuan looked at Luo Feng in astonishment. "How did you know?" "I just guessed," Luo Feng replied lightly, scratching his nose. Zi Yuan was about to ask more when a group of more than a dozen elders from the Ivy School and Changxin Academy suddenly stepped forward, lining up together. Feng Linshan and Zhu Huo were among them. Intense fluctuations of Yuan Qi suddenly erupted around these masters, and colorful streams of Gang Qi soared into the sky. Among these dozen or so experts, the weakest possessed a cultivation at the Eighth Level of the Hell Realm, while Zhu Huo and Feng Linshan were Spiritual Rotation Realm powerhouses. The group joined forces, their combined momentum soaring into the sky as the surrounding yellow sand was swept up into golden whirlwinds. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on 𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹✶𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗲✶𝗻𝗲𝘁 "Attack!" Feng Linshan bellowed. With his deep shout, the combined Gang Qi surged forward like a tidal wave. There was no explosion as expected. The Gang Qi struck something invisible about a hundred meters ahead, causing the air to ripple violently like water. Subsequently, a curtain of light, crystalline like glaze, appeared between heaven and earth, stretching into the void as if it were the sky itself. This was the protective Formation! Luo Feng gazed at the celestial curtain before him, inwardly stunned by such a wondrous sight. Zi Hongyuan exhaled heavily and warned Luo Feng and his three companions, "The entrance to the Secret Realm is open. All of you, go in. Once inside, no matter what you encounter, stay calm and don’t lose your composure. Be especially careful when you encounter other people!" The four agreed and had just turned around when a grey figure shot towards them from afar. "The treasures of the Secret Realm belong to the virtuous! You major powers want to monopolize them? I, Cloud Python, won’t allow it! Let’s see who dares to stop me today!" "Exactly! ’Only those under eighteen can enter’? Such a clumsy lie won’t fool me, Silver-faced Wolf!" Another figure leaped from the crowd, darting towards the Secret Realm’s entrance. Their voices had barely faded when their figures had already flown near the assembled crowd, moving with incredible speed. Their bodies cut through the air, even producing sharp, piercing whistles. Luo Feng raised an eyebrow as he watched the two men. Both were formidable martial artists at the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm. Judging by their tone, they seemed to be well-known figures in the Jianghu. The allure of the Secret Realm’s treasures is truly immense. Luo Feng looked around to see how Feng Linshan and the others would handle the situation. Strangely, the leaders of the major powers made no move to stop them. Many experts merely shook their heads, while quite a few others wore expressions as if they were watching a play unfold. An astonishing scene unfolded. The two Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm experts smacked into the curtain, and their bodies instantly erupted into flames. Their Gang Qi violently combusted, and in an instant, they were engulfed in fireballs. Flames shot out from all seven of their orifices, and they were incinerated to ash in a moment! Seeing this, the surrounding Jianghu martial artists were all shocked, their eyes wide in disbelief. "What just happened? Cloud Python and Silver-faced Wolf, both masters of the Ninth Level of the Heavenly Court Realm, just died like that!" "It seems the rumors are true. Only young martial artists under eighteen can enter the Secret Realm." "Luckily, I wasn’t reckless, or I’d be nothing but dust by now." It took a moment for the crowd to recover, their faces etched with lingering fear and a dawning realization. Many had harbored thoughts of seizing the opportunity to enter the Secret Realm while others were unprepared. However, most of the martial artists present were over eighteen years old. Unlike the horrified expressions of the others, the higher-ups from the Ivy School and Changxin Academy wore cold, mocking smiles. At this moment, Luo Feng’s mind was as clear as a mirror; if anyone could enter, the principals and elders of the two academies would have done so long ago. While the crowd was still regaining their composure, a black figure dashed towards the entrance to the Secret Realm. It was Zhou Jianyi, one of the three great Ninth Level Heavenly Court Realm experts. As Zhou Jianyi rushed into the Secret Realm’s entrance, the celestial curtain rippled like water, and his figure vanished. "Zhou Jianyi, the treasures in the Secret Realm aren’t just for you!" As soon as Zhou Jianyi disappeared, a hearty laugh echoed. Hengmu, a towering figure, charged forward with the momentum of a tiger. With every step he took, it felt as if he exerted the force of a thousand catties, making the entire desert seem to tremble. Almost simultaneously, numerous young martial artists qualified to enter the Secret Realm activated their Light Martial Arts and rushed towards the entrance like a swarm of locusts. Everyone worried about being a step too slow, fearing others would gain the upper hand. Some who blocked the way were immediately struck by blasts of palm force and fist Gang Qi, intent on clearing a path. A few of the weakest cultivators were sent flying, spitting blood, before they even neared the curtain. "Are they already resorting to violence?" Zi Yuan asked in surprise. He Qin remained calm and said, "Eliminating a rival now increases your chances of obtaining treasures in the Secret Realm." Luo Feng was not surprised. It’s said that people die for wealth, and birds die for food. In the face of great treasures, even blood relatives might draw blades against each other, let alone strangers who have never met. Seeing that most people had already gone, Luo Feng said, "Let’s enter as well." "Okay." The three women agreed and followed Luo Feng into the luminescent curtain. Zhu Huo, the principal of the Ivy School, drew Qin Huan and another student with small eyes aside to a quiet corner, his face stern as he instructed, "Qin Huan, Qin Lin, remember this: if you encounter students from Flowing Cloud Region in the Secret Realm, kill them if you can. Show no mercy! Especially that brat Luo Feng—make sure to eliminate him!" Qin Lin, the small-eyed student Luo Feng had noticed earlier, had a savage glint in his eyes. He sneered, "Principal, rest assured. That Luo Feng dared to injure my younger brother; I will personally make him pay. This time, even if I don’t obtain any treasures from the Secret Realm, I will ensure that all four of Flowing Cloud Region’s New Stars are buried there!" Qin Lin was Qin Honglie’s older cousin. He had originally been admitted to the Golden Palace but was specially summoned by Zhu Huo to replace the severely injured Qin Honglie, his main purpose being to target Luo Feng. Having witnessed Luo Feng’s strength, Qin Huan gritted her teeth and said, "Principal, I also want to avenge my elder brother. But Luo Feng’s strength..." Zhu Huo waved his hand dismissively, saying, "A spear in the open is easy to dodge, but a hidden arrow is hard to guard against. The more outstanding Luo Feng is, the more he’ll be targeted in the Secret Realm. When he’s caught in a bitter fight with others, you’ll naturally have your chance!" Hearing this, Qin Huan’s eyes lit up. She nodded, grinning wickedly. "Principal, I understand!" After a moment’s hesitation, Zhu Huo took out a dark red pill and discreetly handed it to Qin Lin. "This is the Black Blood Pill. It allows a martial artist to unleash their full potential. However, for one day after taking it, your strength will be reduced to half. Use it only when absolutely necessary!" "Yes. Luo Feng definitely won’t make it out alive." Qin Lin accepted the Black Blood Pill but was inwardly dismissive. He was already a Golden Palace student. Even if they were both at the peak of the Eighth Level of the Hell Realm, the strength of a Golden Palace student was simply not comparable to that of an ordinary martial artist. Why would he ever consider Luo Feng a threat? Zhu Huo watched Qin Lin and Qin Huan vanish into the Secret Realm. "Zi Hongyuan, that old fellow Zhu Huo seems to be up to no good," Zhou Zhiyun remarked, noticing Zhu Huo speaking with Qin Huan and Qin Lin. Her elegant brows furrowed slightly. Zi Hongyuan nodded. "I sensed it too. Zhu Huo is narrow-minded and vindictive, holding grudges for the smallest offense. The defeat of Ivy School’s two young prodigies at Luo Feng’s hands caused him to lose face, so he certainly won’t let it go. However, for now, we can only trust that Luo Feng will be safe. The path of Martial Arts is perilous, fraught with danger at every step. This is also a trial for them." The moment Luo Feng stepped through the light curtain, he felt space itself twisting around him. His vision was filled with a vast expanse of white, and it felt as if he were adrift in the clouds. He lost all perception of time; it was an incredibly strange sensation. He didn’t know how long it had been—perhaps days, perhaps only an instant—when his feet suddenly touched solid ground, and the white light before his eyes dissipated. He was in a hall, seemingly inside a building. The light was dim, with only a few pearls emitting a faint, dusky glow. Noting the eerie surroundings, Luo Feng quickly called out, "Stay close to me and be careful." However, after waiting for a moment, there was no response. Only then did Luo Feng realize that Bing Ruolan, He Qin, and Zi Yuan, who had entered the light curtain with him, were nowhere to be found. It quickly dawned on Luo Feng that entry into the Secret Realm was randomized; even those who entered together would be separated. Worrying about the three of them now wouldn’t help. Luo Feng pushed those thoughts aside and scanned his surroundings, spotting a large door in the hall. He took a step towards it, but just as he did, a sudden change occurred! The originally dim hall was instantly flooded with an intensely bright, blinding white light!