The Emergence of the Secret Realm

“You’ve hit the nail on the head with that. I won’t be joining any factions for now. I’d advise you all to keep a low profile too, lest you become the nail that sticks out and gets hammered down,” Ye Qingyun said.

Seeing that Ye Qingyun was resolute in his refusal to join, Liu Fufeng found herself with no recourse but to depart.

After she left, Mo Qinyin sidled over.

“Sister, why won’t you join? Honestly, I don’t see any harm in it. This is probably just like a guild, and what you mentioned are only possibilities,” Mo Qinyin said.

However, Ye Qingyun simply shook his head once more.

“I don’t like it. I dislike managing people; I’m used to being free and unburdened,” Ye Qingyun replied.

With his firm stance, Mo Qinyin naturally refrained from further persuasion.

The moment Liu Fufeng stepped out, she converged with Guo Xin and the others. They had all arrived together, initially hoping that with Ye Qingyun’s participation, their five factions could form an alliance to contend with the senior disciples. However, the outcome was undeniably disappointing.

“Junior Sister Liu, how did it go? Is Senior Sister Ye still unwilling?” Guo Xin urgently inquired.

Liu Fufeng shook her head.

“Alas, Senior Sister Ye believes our approach is too high-profile and will attract the attention of the senior disciples. That’s why she’s reluctant to join for now. She probably wants to observe first, to gauge the senior disciples’ reactions,” Liu Fufeng explained.

“Hm, Senior Sister Ye’s words have certainly given us pause. Senior Sister Guo, I agree with Senior Sister Ye; it’s best we keep a low profile,” Su Fang, from the Scorpion Spirit Faction, remarked.

The others all nodded in agreement.

Soon after, they dispersed.

News of the new disciples forming their own factions naturally reached the ears of the senior disciples.

At present, the senior disciples of the Five Poisons Sect were led by Miao Yuxuan, Lei Hongfei, Lu Bin, Xie Yashuang, and Zhao Shu. These five were the strongest remnants of the sect, each possessing truly masterful power.

In the demonic path, strength reigned supreme; this was an immutable law.

Within their underground palace, numerous high-ranking disciples of the Five Poisons Sect were once again gathered. Li Qing was among them. Approximately a hundred individuals, all advanced disciples, were assembled in this place.

These were the current elite of the Five Poisons Sect.

“I hear a few organizations have emerged among the junior disciples. What are your thoughts on this? Should we give them a stern warning? Let them know they won’t be the masters of the Five Poisons Sect,” a sinister-looking youth in blood-red robes declared.

This individual was Zhao Shu, originally a disciple of the Centipede Spirit Faction within the Five Poisons Sect.

“Miao Yuxuan, did you really gather us to discuss those mere ants? Please, they’re just a bunch of fledgling disciples. What’s there to worry about? Do you honestly think they can surpass us?” a captivating, almost bewitching woman scoffed. This was Xie Yashuang.

“Precisely. Instead of wasting time focusing on those youngsters, we’d be better off cultivating diligently and striving for higher realms,” Lei Hongfei echoed.

The others clearly dismissed Guo Cai and her group, yet two individuals held a different opinion: Miao Yuxuan and Lu Bin. These two appeared remarkably calm, immediately revealing themselves as shrewd and calculating figures.

“Hmph, how short-sighted. Don’t you realize that Elder Ziling and the others are specifically nurturing these new disciples? Joking aside, they haven’t placed their hopes on us at all. Yet here you are, dismissing them. When the leadership of the sect inevitably shifts, I wonder what you’ll do then,” Lu Bin stated with a grave expression.

What did he mean by a change in the sect’s leadership? It was because as Liu Ningxue and her peers grew stronger, they would undoubtedly gradually assume control over the sect’s administration.

Ziling and Yuemei, one awe-inspiring and the other peerless, were both formidable powerhouses. They had little time to oversee the sect themselves. At the opportune moment, they would certainly step back, handing over stewardship to successors like Liu Ningxue and her group. This was an absolute certainty.

Currently, they were dedicating immense effort to cultivating these six individuals, whose cultivation levels were advancing at an astonishing pace.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Liu Ningxue was destined to reach the realm of a Grandmaster within a few years.

“I think you’re overthinking this. Do you truly believe Elder Ziling would entrust power to a group of women like Liu Ningxue? I find it impossible. What if they harbor ulterior motives?” Xie Yashuang challenged.

Upon hearing her words, Miao Yuxuan immediately burst into laughter. This, he mused, was the stark difference between the intelligent and the foolish.

“Haha, Xie Yashuang, that’s what you’re worried about? Having already fallen into the demonic path, do you truly believe you can still turn things around? Give it up. In any case, I advise you to pay more attention to those youngsters, lest you regret it later. My words are spoken; you can decide what to do. As for me, I’ll be keeping a close watch,” Miao Yuxuan declared, then rose directly and led his people out of the main hall.

Lu Bin followed suit.

Once outside, they began conversing with each other.

“Such short-sighted fools. Senior Brother Miao, what do you think we should do?” Lu Bin inquired, walking alongside Miao Yuxuan.

“What to do? For now, let’s leave them be. We’ll see what kind of trouble they can stir up before we act,” Miao Yuxuan chuckled.

Lu Bin nodded, acknowledging that it was indeed wise to observe first.

Thus, another year passed in the game world, and life itself had fully settled into its normal rhythm. Everything seemed to have become peaceful.

However, on this very day, Phoenix Cry Mountain, home to the Five Poisons Sect, suddenly began to shake violently.

Ye Qingyun, who had been deep in cultivation, was instantly jolted awake.

“Hm? What’s happening? An earthquake?” Ye Qingyun murmured, his eyes snapping open.

Mo Qinyin also opened her eyes. The two exchanged a glance, then quickly rushed out of their room. It wasn’t just them; such a massive disturbance surely alerted all the disciples and high-ranking members of the Five Poisons Sect.

After all, their Five Poisons Sect was situated right within Phoenix Cry Mountain.

Once Ye Qingyun and Mo Qinyin emerged, their gazes immediately shot northward. In the northern sky, a towering pillar of golden light now pierced the heavens, appearing dazzlingly brilliant.

“What is that?” Ye Qingyun uttered, a hint of bewilderment in his voice.

The commotion was immense.

‘I’m not sure, but it feels as though some treasure has just emerged,’ Mo Qinyin thought.

[Notification: A random secret realm has appeared. Players may enter the realm to acquire treasures.]

The system prompted.

At the system’s alert, Ye Qingyun and Mo Qinyin’s eyes brightened. This was clearly a world-level event. Not only had they received the notification, but players who had joined other sects also received the same prompt. Several years had already passed in the game world, and they were far from the only players who had joined sects.

A treasure had emerged, causing a grand commotion. But what kind of treasure could possibly trigger such a heaven-shaking phenomenon?

Meanwhile, Ziling, Yuemei, and Liu Ningxue emerged from the main hall of the Five Poisons Sect, their attention similarly drawn to the towering pillar of light.

“Hm? What potent energy fluctuations. It seems a treasure vault or an ancient cultivator’s dwelling has appeared. It’s not far from our Five Poisons Sect, right here within Phoenix Cry Mountain,” Yuemei remarked, a frown creasing her brow.

Logically, the emergence of a treasure should have been cause for celebration. However, observing Ziling’s grave expression, she hardly seemed pleased.

“Such a massive disturbance will undoubtedly be noticed by all sects within the Song Kingdom. In less than three days, Phoenix Cry Mountain will likely be swarming with martial artists. Yuemei, come with me; we’ll investigate the situation first. Once we understand what’s happening, we’ll return to make arrangements,” Ziling instructed.

Yuemei nodded. Immediately afterward, the two of them soared through the air on the wind, employing their exquisite lightness skills to fly towards the location where the secret realm had appeared.