The Myriad Manifestations Secret Realm: Rules and the Hunt Begins

“The venue for this chaotic battle has been changed to — the Myriad Manifestations Secret Realm!”

A colossal gate of light abruptly tore open in the void as her words concluded.

Within, shifting light and shadow flickered, revealing faint outlines of mountains and rivers—the very minor secret realm employed by the Xuan Nv Sect for their disciples’ trials.

“Participants will include the top ten from each of the four domains: Jia, Yi, Bing, and Ding, totaling forty individuals, who will all enter the Secret Realm together! There will be no division by groups, no regional restrictions; anyone may be an opponent to anyone else!”

No sooner had these words been uttered than the atmosphere in the arena tightened perceptibly.

Next, Xian Chengyue emphasized the core rules.

First and foremost were the points.

Points would determine the ultimate victor, and could also be exchanged for rare sect items based on their accumulation.

Defeating an opponent of the same cultivation realm grants one point. Defeating an opponent of a higher cultivation realm grants an additional point, with more points awarded for each successive realm surpassed, though a maximum of three bonus points can be accumulated.

Furthermore, those who, when besieged by multiple adversaries, manage to turn the tables, defeat their attackers, and break through the encirclement, will immediately receive five points, with additional points awarded based on the number of besiegers, and no upper limit on these accumulated points.

Even when participating in a siege, only the individual who personally defeats an opponent will earn points; others merely involved in the encirclement will receive none.

This was clearly designed to prevent groups from forming to hunt down other individuals.

Beyond the point system, there was another crucial rule.

This was the [Challenge Right].

Each person initially possesses two mandatory challenge opportunities, each allowing them to designate a single opponent. After winning, they are immune to designated one-on-one challenges from others for the duration of a single incense stick’s burning time.

Moreover, after a one-on-one duel concludes, they may choose whether or not to teleport, with the teleportation location being random.

Another point was that a challenge across realms does not require the opponent’s consent, whereas challenges against those of the same or lower cultivation levels necessitate their agreement. Failure to choose within three seconds will be regarded as consent.

This rule was established specifically to prevent group assaults.

The Secret Realm’s regions were also divided.

The Secret Realm is partitioned into zones such as ‘Profound Ice,’ ‘Flowing Fire,’ ‘Swift Wind,’ ‘Thick Earth,’ and ‘Misty Veil,’ each inherently suppressing or augmenting specific spiritual energy attributes. Every half-hour, the Myriad Manifestations of the Secret Realm will rotate, and the zone attributes will randomly shift. All participants will be forcibly displaced to a new zone, with the exception of those currently engaged in a duel.

This, she declared, was a law of heaven and earth, utterly inescapable!

Most importantly, the competition would last for three days, with the participant holding the highest points emerging victorious. Only if all competitors are eliminated will the victory be declared early.

Though it was a mere drop in the bucket, for Lin Mo, it would be enough.

At this moment, Xian Chengyue, still explaining the rules, suddenly raised her voice, a hint of chilling cruelty in her tone: ‘The key tenets of the Secret Realm’s rules are as follows: First, it is a struggle of life and death, where each must rely on their own capabilities!’

Protected by the sect’s arcane arts, should any participant suffer a fatal attack, a formation will instantly activate, teleporting the injured individual out of the Secret Realm unharmed! Therefore, all disciples may unleash their full power without reservation.

The Myriad Manifestations is a battlefield, a true arena of slaughter, and must be treated with utmost seriousness.

‘And once you are teleported out, it shall be deemed an immediate defeat!’

This provision was designed to prevent immediate fatalities within the confines of the rules, yet the agony and humiliation preceding a near-fatal injury remained unavoidable.

‘Second, any injuries sustained within the Secret Realm—be they from poison, bone fractures, or even… wounds to the divine soul—’ her gaze subtly drifted towards the Qiu family’s direction, ‘will be instantly healed and erased upon exiting the Secret Realm!’

‘This is a miraculous protective array left behind by the Xuan Nv Sect’s ancestors, capable of enveloping all of you within a truly immersive illusion.’

‘So, there is no need to worry; simply give it your all. Now—I wish you all good luck.’

Once the rules were announced, the entire arena fell into a deathly silence.

Lin Mo’s hands clenched imperceptibly into fists; this was the moment he had been anticipating.

A sickly excited smile stretched across Qiu Yue’s face, her gaze upon Lin Mo akin to that of a wolf eyeing a lamb fallen into its pack.

Immediately after, the gate of light shimmered, and the aura of the Secret Realm surged forth.

Beams of light enveloped the participants in their respective areas.

Only Lin Mo remained, left outside the arena.

Qiu Ku, with a sinister undertone, added, ‘Hall Master Xian, why is Lin Mo the only one remaining? Has he lost his qualification to compete?’ His eagerness to thrust Lin Mo into that veritable meat grinder was palpable.

‘Old Ancestor Qiu,’ Xian Chengyue replied calmly, ‘The Hall of Clarity’s regulations stipulate that severely injured individuals may delay their entry. This rule exists, though it has never been mentioned previously, as there has never been a participant as gravely wounded as Lin Mo.’

‘Oh? But Lin Mo isn’t—’

‘If Old Ancestor Qiu does not believe me, you may personally investigate.’

Qiu Ku, naturally, disbelieved her, and immediately gave a meaningful glance.

Qiu Jingwen understood implicitly, soaring forward to stand before Lin Mo. Her divine sense instantly enveloped Lin Mo, a sharp gaze piercing through his body, scrutinizing him thoroughly, inside and out.

She then turned back to report: ‘Reporting to Old Ancestor Qiu, this man is indeed gravely injured, with all his meridians severed.’

‘Hmph, then let him go,’ Qiu Ku scoffed. ‘A mere blockhead with severed meridians won’t be able to stir up any trouble.’

Subsequently, Lin Mo sat cross-legged on the ground and began to regulate his internal breathing.

Indeed, his meridians were completely severed.

However, for him, a modern person, severed meridians were not an irreparable condition.

They were merely severed, not shattered into dust.

As Lin Mo sat on the ground, regulating his breath, he was also gradually repairing the damage within his body.

Even with severed meridians, the physical harm he had endured was real and substantial.

He still needed to recover.

Suddenly, a crisp, clean medicinal fragrance wafted past his nostrils.

Lin Mo opened his eyes, and what met his gaze were Mu Qingli’s bloodless lips and the surging pain in her eyes: ‘It is this master’s incompetence; I could not protect you.’ She cradled the pill in her palm, her voice hoarse, like ice weeping blood. ‘The rules only permit one healing pill for the severely injured… This is all your master can give you….’

Lin Mo knew this was the best Mu Qingli could offer.

‘Master, this is enough for me—’

Before his words could finish, Qing You had already closed the distance.

She abruptly produced a jade-green pill, its intricate patterns coiling like living entities, and a bone-chilling medicinal aroma erupted with explosive force.

‘Open your mouth.’

She uttered the two words coldly, yet her tone was devoid of hostility, carrying instead a trace of… shyness.

Lin Mo opened his mouth, and Qing You immediately used her jade hand to place the pill within.

A surge of vibrant vitality, like molten lava pouring into frozen earth, coursed through him, finally alleviating the injuries and agony within his body.

‘Thank you, Grand Elder Qing You.’

‘It is nothing. Afterward, I shall grant you any single request.’

Without further words, Qing You departed.

Having come to offer aid, Mu Qingli offered no further words. After a brief glance at Qing You, she turned her gentle gaze to Lin Mo, offering her final piece of assistance, and spoke:

‘Go, my disciple. If you cannot escape, your master will help you flee.’

Lin Mo’s heart trembled. Looking into Mu Qingli’s earnest eyes, he slowly shook his head and replied, ‘There is no need to flee, Master. What I will need is merely for you to occasionally take me out for a walk then.’

He had no intention of losing, and he would absolutely not lose.

He quietly gazed at the translucent figure in the sky, then slowly closed his eyes.

He felt the surging medicinal power circulating through his body, nourishing his injured areas.

Qiu Ku, witnessing all this, remained unconcerned, for severed meridians, though a severe injury, would still require several days to slowly repair, even with a medicinal pill.

At present, it was a mere drop in the bucket, a waste of precious medicine.

No one spoke further, simply waiting for Lin Mo to recover.

An hour later, Lin Mo was enveloped by a brilliant light, his body involuntarily rising and flying towards the swirling light of the Secret Realm entrance.

In the next moment, the world spun.

Lin Mo was randomly dropped into a craggy mountain hollow.

He quickly scanned his surroundings. The light here was dim, with towering stone formations obscuring much of the sky’s illumination.

As his spatial perception unfurled, he instantly detected two rapidly moving presences of varying strengths, situated not far to his front-left and rear-right!

One of these presences felt chillingly sharp, unmistakably targeting his exact location!

‘He’s been found! Lin Wan’er of the Bing-Domain! Severely injured! Quick!’ A frantic, excited roar erupted from the other side of the stone forest, laden with undisguised malice.

The chaotic battle of the Secret Realm had begun with a hunt!

Lin Mo drew a deep breath, suppressing the roiling qi and blood within him. His fingertips subtly brushed against the cold stone surface, and a trace of imperceptible Profound Yin cold energy, like a living entity, silently seeped into a fissure in the ground.

His eyes were glacial as he leaned against a colossal, strangely shaped black rock, a chilling curve playing at the corners of his lips.

Indeed, Lin Mo felt that this kind of complex terrain was far more suitable for him than a mere arena.

For if the terrain wasn’t complex, where would be the fun in ambushing others?