The Second Secret Realm is famously far more dangerous than the first. Its sky is always shrouded in gray clouds, as if sunlight itself refuses to penetrate. On the ground, thin mist crawls between black trees with unnaturally twisted trunks, while the air carries a faint metallic scent—a sign of dense yet untamed spiritual energy.
Here, the terrain varies: there are poisonous swamps with surfaces covered in bright red flowers, narrow cliffs with winds cutting like blades, and vast rocky plains that serve as lairs for mid-level spiritual beasts. Students entering this realm must remain vigilant, as danger comes not only from wild creatures but also from fellow participants.
Since the start of the trial, the number of Ascension Tokens, originally one hundred, has dwindled to just thirty-seven. The rest have been stolen, wagered, or lost along with their fallen owners. Rumor has it that one token holder was massacred by a group of external sect students who formed a secret alliance to dominate the path.
Some major battles have shaken this realm:
In the Blood Swamp, Five students fought over a rare spiritual beast, but one student from the Bronze Spear sect accidentally revealed an Ascension Token. Within seconds, the duel turned into a bloodbath. Two were killed, three seriously wounded, and the token changed hands.
At the Yellow Lake's Edge, A female student in white defended herself against six pursuers attempting to steal her token. Using narrow paths and the sharp gusts of wind, she fended off their attacks one by one. Though eventually outnumbered, her bravery caused two attackers to be thrown into the lake—never to return.
On the vast rocky plains, Two large alliances clashed. One side consisted of twelve external sect students; the other was a coalition of three internal students. The battle raged until nightfall, drawing spiritual beasts out of their lairs. In the end, no side achieved absolute victory—the spiritual beasts "devoured" most participants, leaving only traces of blood.
Now, everyone knows: the fewer the tokens, the more brutal the battles will be. Many students choose to hide and observe, while others hunt openly, spreading fear with every step.
The First Secret Realm is the initial gateway for trial participants—a region that appears peaceful but hides danger beneath its beauty. Blue skies stretch wide, gentle winds carry the scent of wildflowers, and in the distance, a river gurgles through green valleys. Though it looks serene, everyone knows that calm is deceptive.
When the news first spread about the discovery of Ascension Tokens, tranquility shattered instantly. The news came from a group of sword-path participants who accidentally found a token in the lair of a low-class spiritual beast. Initially, they were hunting for medicinal materials, but among the piles of snake skins and spirit stones, they discovered a small golden plate emitting a soft glow. Within an hour, the news spread across the realm.
Since then, the atmosphere changed drastically. Some greedy participants formed small groups, combing forests and rivers with sharp eyes, hoping for similar luck. Others chose to hide, observing from afar, waiting for a chance to seize a token from others. Meanwhile, highly skilled participants began hunting anyone carrying suspicious items. Small skirmishes erupted in multiple locations.
In the first three days, of the total hundred tokens available, ten had been found—five discovered directly, five transferred after fierce struggles. Some participants were forced to leave the trial due to severe injuries, while others vanished without a trace, perhaps retreating before the situation worsened.
The clang of weapons and screams carried on the wind, mingled with the faint scent of blood. On the eastern riverbank, two arrow-path participants engaged in a fierce duel against a lone bell-path participant. Despite being outnumbered, the lone participant seized a token and escaped, proving that courage and strategy can sometimes outweigh sheer numbers.
The First Secret Realm may only be the first step, but once the token news spread, everyone realized that a single misstep could end their journey before they even set foot in the next realm.
Third Secret Realm
A young girl stood amidst a pile of beast corpses, her body smeared with blood—both hers and that of her foes. Her once-clean clothes were soaked and stained, crimson droplets running from her hair tips to her shoes. With calm yet lethal movements, she swung her weapon, severing the neck of a forest wolf attempting to attack her. Not a hint of tension crossed her face, only a cold, piercing gaze.
She was Xuan Ying'er.
Anger had filled her heart since earlier. The petty thief who had toyed with her had vanished, leaving a burning frustration in her chest. Unable to direct her rage at the true target, she unleashed it on every wild beast that dared approach. One by one, they fell without resistance, leaving behind an increasingly pungent scent of blood in the air.
When the battle ended, Xuan Ying'er stared at her now-filthy clothing. She sighed irritably and turned away, following the winding river to a clear water source reflecting soft light from the sky. The water flowed calmly, as if inviting her to cleanse all stains that clung to her.
As Xuan Ying'er crouched by the water's edge, her fingers touched the cold surface. She was about to wash her face when the water rippled violently, as if something beneath the ground had stirred. A deep rumble echoed from the trees, followed by a dense spiritual energy that made the surrounding air tense.
From the thin mist emerged a giant figure—a horned dragon. Its black, glossy scales gleamed, twin curved horns on its head crackling with faint electricity, and its yellow eyes pierced like they could see into one's soul. Xuan Ying'er stood firm, gripping her weapon tightly. Rather than retreating, a faint smile formed on her lips.
The battle erupted. The horned dragon lunged with terrifying speed, its claws striking the ground and leaving massive craters. Xuan Ying'er leapt to evade, countering with swift strikes that cut through some protective scales on the dragon's shoulder. Her movements were agile, dancing between attacks, until she found a gap under its jaw. With a precise thrust, her weapon pierced the flesh, and the dragon roared before collapsing lifelessly.
Before she could breathe a sigh of relief, another massive shadow passed overhead. From the forest emerged a second horned dragon, much larger, with silver scales reflecting the afternoon sun. Its attack came without warning—its tail struck the ground, sending Xuan Ying'er flying several steps back. She survived, but deep cuts on her arm began to bleed.
Xuan Ying'er's eyes narrowed. The pain only sharpened her focus. Though her cultivation was high, the Secret Realm's rules here applied pressure even on her.
Elsewhere, Bai Tian finally arrived at the foot of the Highest Mountain.
The air felt colder here, winds carrying a damp scent from towering trees. At the lower slope, dozens of participants gathered—some observing the surroundings, others in serious discussions. Some checked maps, shared path information, or even recruited allies.
Soon, a simply dressed participant—likely a servant student—approached, offering cooperation.
"We plan to hunt together. Loot will be split evenly, half for us, half for you," he said convincingly. Bai Tian sized up the group, six or seven armed fully. In his mind, he imagined how cooperation would end—too many people, too many interests, ultimately trouble.
With a faint smile, he politely declined.
"Thank you, but I prefer to move alone."
He then walked away, scanning for a vantage point. Soon, he spotted a large tree on the slope. Climbing to its upper branch, he carefully observed the mountain's topography.
From that vantage point, he noticed something—the slopes formed a natural path leading to a dense northern forest, so thick and dark that sunlight barely penetrated.
A strange sensation crept into his mind. Without hesitation, he descended and moved toward that forest.
His departure did not go unnoticed. Some participants glanced his way, and a five-member group decided to follow him secretly, hiding behind bushes and trees.
Bai Tian continued quickly along the trail. He spotted two figures on the roadside—a woman and a man—sitting weakly, bodies full of wounds. Blood flowed from legs, hands, and abdomen, clothes torn, breaths ragged. Bai Tian paused, observing cautiously.
After some consideration, he approached.
"Are you conscious?" he asked flatly.
The woman lifted her head, eyes wary but pleading. They negotiated briefly; the injured promised valuable information about the mountain if Bai Tian would help them survive. He assessed whether the offer was worth accepting.
Bai Tian looked at them silently for several seconds. Their heavy breaths and darkening blood indicated minor poison. The woman spoke, voice trembling.
"We… aren't lying. There's a secret path on the northern slope. Few know… we can show it… if you help."
The man nodded weakly, eyes wary, fearing Bai Tian might leave once healed. Bai Tian exhaled softly, crouching to examine their wounds.
"You're lucky I'm not in a hurry," he said briefly. He took some simple herbs from his bag, stopping the bleeding and neutralizing the poison.
While treating them, he heard faint footsteps behind. He didn't turn but narrowed his eyes. Those following him… were getting closer.
Once treatment finished, Bai Tian stood.
"Can you walk? Go south," he asked. The woman nodded weakly, the man leaned on his sword, attempting to stand.
Dry leaves cracked underfoot—five figures emerged from the trees, smirking. Their leader glanced at Bai Tian, then the injured.
"Seems we arrived just in time,"
he said slyly. "Two weak, one alone… and maybe something valuable among them."
Bai Tian stared at them expressionlessly. In a flash, his hands moved—puff! puff!—throwing smoke bombs to the ground, releasing thick mist that swallowed everyone's sight. Coughs and curses came from the opponents, while Bai Tian used the moment to drag the injured behind a massive moss-covered tree.
"Don't move… and don't make a sound," he whispered, eyes sharp, ensuring they hid safely.
Without waiting, he turned and moved quickly in the opposite direction, cutting through the smoke into the forest's depths.
Heavy footsteps and snapping branches sounded behind—five pursuers had realized his direction and gave chase. Their shadows moved swiftly through trees, like starving wolves hunting prey.
The forest thickened. Low branches whipped faces, tree roots sprawled like traps, and the sounds of nocturnal birds mixed with the pursuers' breathing.
The afternoon sunlight faded above, deepening the darkness. The scent of wet earth and decaying leaves filled the air—a perfect place to turn the tables.