Volume 1, Chapter 105 – Liu Ruyan’s First Move

Just as everyone was still reeling from the arrival of the Yaochi Immortal Palace disciples…

“Rumble!”

At the center of the Tianqiong Plains, the enormous vortex of clouds suddenly began to spin faster.

At its heart, space twisted and shuddered violently, as though some colossal, invisible force were tearing it apart.

Then a massive gate of light, hundreds of yards tall, slowly emerged from the center of the vortex.

The instant it appeared, an ancient, boundless aura laced with shattered Dao laws swept across the entire Tianqiong Plains like a tidal wave.

“The secret realm is open!”

“Charge!”

The brief silence shattered. The eyes of countless young cultivators blazed with fervor, and they could no longer hold themselves back.

Figures swarmed toward the enormous gate of light, some riding artifacts or flying swords, others relying on movement techniques.

“Disciples of Qingyun Sacred Land, enter the secret realm!”

From the ranks of Qingyun Sacred Land, Sacred Son Mubai gave a clear shout. He took the lead, transforming into a streak of azure sword light that shot toward the gate.

Holy Maiden Su Wan’er led the remaining disciples close behind him.

“Lingxu Sacred Land, move out!”

“Disciples of Tianyuan Sacred Land, set out!”

“Flowing Cloud Sword Sect, follow me inside!”

“Heavenly Fire Valley, let’s go!”

Led by their respective leaders, the disciple contingents of the various top factions sprang into action.

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Every contingent cut an impressive figure, with an unmistakable undercurrent of rivalry between them.

Yet whenever their gazes swept over the Yaochi Immortal Palace contingent, their expressions inevitably grew more solemn.

The disciples of this new faction, whether in cultivation or equipment, far exceeded their expectations.

In front of the Yaochi Immortal Palace spirit vessel…

Li Hanyi calmly watched the gate of light and the torrent of cultivators pouring through it.

Her cool, clear voice reached every disciple behind her.

“The secret realm is open.”

“Remember the Palace Master’s words: Don’t cause trouble, but don’t be afraid of it either. Your fellow disciples are your brothers and sisters. As for opportunities, rely on your own abilities and know your limits.”

“Now…”

She slowly turned, her cool eyes sweeping over one hundred and three young, resolute faces.

“Set out!”

“Yes, Grand Elder!”

The disciples answered in unison.

The next moment, led by the three personal disciples Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, and Ye Ling’er, all one hundred and three figures rode their artifacts toward the gate of light.

They moved with extraordinary speed and perfect coordination, as though they had rehearsed it a thousand times.

Their imposing display once again drew the attention of numerous factions.

“Has Yaochi Immortal Palace… truly been established for only a year?”

The elder leading a second-rate sect murmured, his face filled with disbelief.

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“Their disciple training, resources, discipline… every aspect is at the highest level of a first-rate faction! In fact… they may even surpass them!”

A well-traveled elderly rogue cultivator stroked his beard and sighed in admiration.

Just as the Yaochi Immortal Palace disciples were about to enter the gate of light…

“Hah! What a pretentious display!”

A mocking laugh, thick with provocation, suddenly rang out.

From within the Heavenly Fire Valley contingent, the young valley master Huo Wushuang, who resembled a miniature sun, abruptly accelerated.

Spiritual power erupted around him as he barreled straight toward Liu Ruyan at the head of the Yaochi Immortal Palace contingent.

At the same time, a crimson spear appeared in his hand. Blazing flames coiled around its tip as he thrust it forward.

The sudden attack caught many people off guard.

Huo Wushuang had actually attacked a Yaochi Immortal Palace disciple at the entrance to the secret realm, right in front of everyone?!

“Huo Wushuang! Don’t be insolent!”

The elder leading Heavenly Fire Valley paled and shouted for him to stop, but it was already too late.

Clearly, Huo Wushuang had been provoked by Yaochi Immortal Palace’s earlier display. Young, hot-blooded, and accustomed to doing as he pleased, he had decided to act.

He wanted to publicly test what the disciples of this new faction were made of.

Faced with this sudden, domineering, and vicious spear strike, Liu Ruyan’s expression did not change.

She did not even dodge. She merely raised her right hand and struck out with her palm.

“Hum…”

A strange, intangible ripple spread from the center of her palm.

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The instant Huo Wushuang’s ferocious spear strike touched the ripple, it seemed to plunge into an impossibly thick quagmire.

“What is this?!”

Huo Wushuang’s pupils contracted sharply, and the arrogance on his face instantly gave way to horror.

That seemingly casual palm strike had actually sent his soul into a momentary daze.

It was as though he had seen himself go from a spirited young man in his prime to a decrepit old man nearing the end of his life…

Liu Ruyan did not press the attack. She simply withdrew her hand and looked calmly at Huo Wushuang.

“There are countless opportunities within the secret realm. Why waste time here?”

With that, she paid him no further attention. Her figure blurred, and she vanished into the gate of light.

Gu Luoli, Ye Ling’er, and the other Immortal Palace disciples did not even spare Huo Wushuang another glance. They followed close behind, entering the secret realm one after another.

From Huo Wushuang’s attack to Liu Ruyan neutralizing and countering it, then to the entire Immortal Palace contingent entering the secret realm, the whole exchange lasted only a few breaths.

It happened so quickly that many people had yet to process it.

By the time the crowd came to their senses, Huo Wushuang was frozen in midair, his face shifting between red and pale as he stood in silence.

Ahead of him, every Yaochi Immortal Palace disciple had already disappeared through the gate of light.

“Hiss…”

Sharp intakes of breath sounded from every direction.

“What… kind of technique was that?”

“She neutralized Huo Wushuang’s attack that easily?”

“That Liu Ruyan… didn’t even seem to use her full strength.”

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“Was that last remark… meant to mock Huo Wushuang for overestimating himself?”

“Huo Wushuang really picked a fight with the wrong person this time! Hahaha!”

The surrounding chatter held everything from schadenfreude and shock to deepening wariness toward Yaochi Immortal Palace.

Among the Heavenly Fire Valley contingent, Huo Wushuang’s face alternated between red and white. He gripped his spear so tightly that his knuckles turned pale.

That bizarre power he had just sensed…

If Liu Ruyan had not chosen to let the matter drop, he might truly have suffered a serious setback.

“Young Valley Master, the secret realm takes priority.”

The red-browed elder stepped forward and reminded him in a low voice, a trace of helplessness in his tone.

Huo Wushuang glared fiercely at the gate of light, then forced several words through gritted teeth.

“Let’s go!”

With that, he led the Heavenly Fire Valley disciples into the gate of light in a somewhat disheveled rush.

This minor interlude did nothing to slow the tide of cultivators entering the secret realm.

Disciples from every faction continued pouring inside.

But after this incident, Yaochi Immortal Palace undoubtedly carried even greater weight in everyone’s minds.

To neutralize a strike from Huo Wushuang, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, with such casual ease, Liu Ruyan was clearly far more powerful than her early-stage Golden Core cultivation suggested.

And Yaochi Immortal Palace had another disciple of this caliber: Gu Luoli, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator with Innate Double Pupils…

No one knew what kind of terrifying might she would display if she were the one to strike!