Volume 1, Chapter 131 – Lingxu Secret Realm

With Luoshui’s departure, silence returned to the hall.

A-Yao gave a tiny yawn in Gu Han’s arms. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she soon fell fast asleep.

Gu Han gently laid A-Yao on one side of the cloud couch, covered her with a thin blanket, and gazed at her tenderly for a moment.

Then she suddenly remembered something.

“System,”

Gu Han called inwardly.

[Ding! I’m here, Host! Did you miss me? Or were you… thinking about the Empress who gave you that bracelet?]

Gu Han ignored the System’s teasing and asked directly,

“What’s the sect’s reputation score now?”

“I remember you saying that reaching 3,000 reputation points would unlock a special secret realm.”

[Calculating the sect’s current reputation score… Calculation complete!]

[Due to the ongoing impact of the “Yaochi Empress” incident and the widespread circulation of accounts of the rescue of various sects’ disciples from the secret realm…]

[Current sect reputation score: 9,680 points!]

[This far exceeds the minimum requirement for unlocking a secret realm: 3,000 points!]

[Host, would you like to unlock a secret realm?]

“9,680 points?”

Gu Han’s eyes brightened slightly.

That number was considerably higher than she had expected.

It seemed the influence generated by the “Yaochi Empress” skin truly was extraordinary.

“System, unlock it! And please give me a good one.”

[Ding! Host’s request detected! Screening for the secret realm best suited to the sect’s current needs… Screening complete!]

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[Lingxu Blessed Paradise: Contains mountains, rivers, lakes, marshes, demonic beast lairs, and ruined relics. Its diverse environments and dense spiritual energy make it suitable for disciples from Foundation Establishment through the Nascent Soul realm to temper themselves, seek treasure, and gain insight.]

[Note: This secret realm has growth potential. The Host may spend Master Dao Points or specific resources to upgrade it!]

“Lingxu Blessed Paradise…”

Gu Han murmured the name, a flicker of interest in her eyes.

“Suitable for disciples from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul! I can even spend Master Dao Points to upgrade the dungeon…”

This secret realm was clearly a perfect fit for her. Whenever she had nothing else to do, she could even raise the difficulty and give her disciples a tougher challenge.

That meant it would pose a considerable challenge even to anomalies with heaven-defying combat strength like Liu Ruyan, Gu Luoli, and Ye Ling’er.

For disciples in the Foundation Establishment realm, it would be an exceptional training ground.

“I’ll take it.”

Gu Han made her choice without hesitation.

[The “Lingxu Blessed Paradise” secret realm has been generated! Host, please designate its placement location!]

The moment the System’s notification ended, Gu Han felt a slight weight settle into her palm.

A palm-sized “key” appeared in her hand, pale cyan throughout, with intricate Dao patterns flowing across its surface.

“Designate its placement location…”

Gu Han pondered for a moment, then looked beyond the main hall.

The Immortal Palace covered a vast territory, but she needed somewhere suitable for housing an independent secret realm while still allowing disciples easy access for training…

Her gaze finally settled on the relatively open plaza near the Myriad-Phenomena Tower.

The Myriad-Phenomena Tower was sacred ground for the disciples’ cultivation. Placing the Lingxu Secret Realm beside it would be ideal.

“Put it on that open ground beside the Myriad-Phenomena Tower.”

Gu Han quietly issued the instruction to the System in her mind.

[Ding! Placement instruction received! Locating secret realm anchor point… Unfolding spatial folds… Integrating laws…]

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As the System issued a string of notifications,

Gu Han clearly sensed an almost imperceptible change in the space near the Myriad-Phenomena Tower on the western side of the Immortal Palace.

It was as though an invisible giant hand were carefully “stitching” an independent miniature world into the Yaochi Immortal Palace’s existing spatial structure.

[Ding! “Lingxu Blessed Paradise” is currently merging. Estimated time required: two hours…]

Gu Han inclined her head slightly. With a thought, she understood the key’s exact function.

Once the System finished setting up the secret realm, she could use the key at any time to open and close it, and even adjust its laws to a certain extent.

At the same time, as Gu Han waited inside the Yaochi Immortal Palace for the System to install the Lingxu Secret Realm,

far away in the heart of the Canglan Continent lay Central Province.

The spiritual energy here was far denser than in the other four regions. Sects abounded, and mighty experts were as numerous as clouds. It was a cultivation holy land in the truest sense.

At that moment, deep within an expansive mountain range known as Falling Star Valley in southern Central Province,

the valley teemed with people, banners fluttering overhead.

More than ten sects and factions considered second- or third-rate even in Central Province had gathered there.

Some hovered in midair aboard flying vessels, while others had erected temporary camps on the ground. Their disciples stood solemnly at attention, an undercurrent of excitement running through the otherwise dignified atmosphere.

Today was the day Lingxu Blessed Paradise opened of its own accord, an event that occurred only once every hundred years!

Though it was only a small secret realm, it contained varied and complex environments, along with numerous opportunities.

For Central Province’s minor sects, it was already a rare and precious training ground.

Every faction had long been raring to go, ready to send its finest disciples inside to fight for their chance.

“The time is almost upon us. Disciples of every sect, prepare to enter the secret realm!”

A highly respected elder in the Void Return realm hovered in the air, his resonant voice carrying throughout the valley.

He was presiding over the secret realm’s opening and was an outer sect steward from the Pavilion of Heavenly Secrets, one of Central Province’s three hegemonic factions.

Below, the disciples of every faction immediately perked up at his words. Gripping their artifacts tightly, they stared eagerly toward the center of the valley.

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There, space had already begun to distort slightly as rings of pale white ripples spread outward.

The familiar spatial fluctuations of Lingxu Blessed Paradise were now unmistakable.

“Lingxu Blessed Paradise never opens in a fixed location, but judging by these spatial fluctuations… Yes, this is the place!”

An experienced elder stroked his beard and nodded, then instructed the disciples beside him,

“Once you’re inside, follow the plan. Prioritize gathering Star-Patterned Ironwood and Illusory Heart Grass. If you encounter people from other sects, avoid them if at all possible…”

“Yes, Elder!”

The disciples answered in unison.

“Hahaha! Our Blazing Sun Sect has come fully prepared this time. We’re sure to take first place!”

“Hmph. Don’t boast too soon. Our White Cloud Sect is no pushover either!”

“Opportunities go to those with the ability to seize them. Let’s settle this with our skills!”

Several elders who knew one another traded barbs, filling the air with a faint sense of impending conflict.

Everyone’s attention remained fixed on the increasingly distinct spatial ripples.

Based on past experience, no more than ten breaths remained before the secret realm’s entrance fully stabilized and opened!

Ten…

Nine…

Eight…

Everyone silently counted down.

Seven…

Six…

The spatial ripples shook ever more violently, and a fist-sized spot of light had already appeared at their center!

Five!

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Four!

The spot of light rapidly expanded to the size of a washbasin. Beyond it, the secret realm’s bizarre, dazzling scenery was just visible!

Three!

Two!

One!

“Open!”

The elder presiding over the secret realm suddenly bellowed!

However…

The expected sight of that washbasin-sized spot of light bursting open and transforming into a stable gateway… never appeared.

At the very instant the countdown ended!

The violently shaking spatial ripples, along with the spot of light at their center that had already expanded to the size of a washbasin…

seemed to have been seized by the throat by an invisible giant hand!

And then…

“Pop.”

A crisp sound, so faint it was almost inaudible, made the heart of everyone present skip a beat.

The ring of pale white spatial ripples, along with the spot of light within it…

was like a soap bubble suddenly bursting in the sunlight.

Without the slightest warning, it shattered.

It vanished.

Utterly and completely, without leaving a single trace.