The cold wind that blew through the secret realm had a scent of metal and blood and damp earth. Weathered mountains rose like walls, dividing valleys wrapped in mist. With every step Jun Tian took, soft impressions were left on the damp earth—and the soft rumble of beasts in the distance echoed through the hills.
Since when he arrived in this place, he had already managed to avoid more than a dozen battles. The Spiritual Lotus in his essence sea was always guiding him, emitting feeble pulses of strength every time a spiritual beast approached.
"There is a spiritual herb three hundred meters to the northeast,"
the soothing voice of the Lotus echoed in his mind.
Jun Tian controlled his breathing and moved stealthily. He did not enjoy wasting energy fighting minor monsters, but the world seemed to desire to push him to his breaking point.
The trees surrounding them were soon shaken by an enormous explosion. A giant spirit boar appeared, its body plated with bones and its red eyes fixing onto Jun Tian. The aura of a fourth-stage cultivator could be felt in the air.
Jun Tian let out a sigh, knowing he was in for a fight.
He raised his hand and let his power go. His eyes briefly turned purple before returning to normal. The power crashed into the ground with a great deal of force, and the boar stumbled back, bellowing out in pain.
Hmph. those beasts are still so slow.
Using the temporary pause of the creature, Jun Tian advanced quickly. A simple attack on the neck weak point of the beast made it fall to the ground.
He took the spirit core without hesitation and continued on his way.
As in another part of the occult world, Li Ze wiped his blood-stained arm with a cold smile.
There were three young cultivators with him, nervous as spiritual density grew stronger and stronger.
"Is he going to come?" one of them asked, looking around.
Li Ze smiled in silence.
"He will. Jun Tian is too conceited to stay hidden forever. And when he does come out. it will be the end of him."
But inside, the young disciple was wracked by fear and macabre excitement. In his thoughts, he could still hear Li Heng's words, spoken just as he entered the world of hiding:
"Li Ze, you've traveled too far to turn back now. If this Jun Tian continues to exist, he will be your shadow. and a demon within your heart.
Destroy him. Here is something that will help you do so."
As a reminder of him, Li Ze recalled the day his master presented him with a small token enveloped in black silk—a dagger inscribed with ancient script, grayish in hue and a dull sheen.
"This dagger was resonated with soul poison and spirit crystal powder. Even a Soul Formation practitioner would not remain unscathed.
But remember, use it only when certain. One mistake. and you'd be annihilated along with it."
That memory made him smile with a hint of evil pleasure.
Li Ze silently touched the hilt of the dagger concealed beneath his robes, feeling the artifact's feeble hum.
"Jun Tian. try to live as long as you can."
Meanwhile, Jun Tian slept beneath a gnarled tree. The fallen blue light from the clouds lent the scenery an ethereal air.
He cast a glance towards the horizon and thought.
"There's something strange about this world. The veins of spirits here are too dense. This is not a plain world of tests."
The Lotus reflected,
"Aye. This world was closed off thousands of years ago. There's an old power lying dormant at its center. something even these cultivators might not know about."
Before he could speak, the ground slightly shook. A strong energy radiated throughout the area, even trees swayed. Jun Tian was also worried.
"It came from the center of the secret realm."
There were lights appearing in the distance one by one, as if something had been awakened.
Some nearby cultivators felt the pressure and ran in the same direction. Some cried out about awakened treasures and ancient heirs.
Li Ze, who stood behind Jun Tian, also felt the power and was astonished.
"The core energy. something's on!"
He clenched his fists and smiled.
"Great. He'll make his move. and no one will get in his way."
The wind grew stronger, and the beasts began running amok. The entire world turned into a mess.
Jun Tian sensed the pressure mounting and looked up at the sky.
Ancient glyphs drifted across the clouds, attracting glowing circles that migrated towards the center.
"The energy is gathering. in the middle area."
The Lotus spoke softly:
"There lies the true intention of this secret world. But be cautioned, Jun Tian—all who enter it shall be tried more than with simple tests."
He nodded, his gaze unswerving.
Even surrounded by peril, complete peace emanated from his figure.
"Then let us see what fate has in store for us."
Behind him, the spirit boar's body dissolved to ash.
Far away, the light of the world's center pulsed like a living heart—calling all the young cultivators into a trap that nobody could have imagined.