Chapter 72: Secret Realm Enters Reality

Vehicles passed by, the noise somewhat chaotic.

Zhang Yunlu was on her way to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

She had taken an afternoon leave.

Because she ranked first in that combat test, and now most of the school’s teachers knew she had begun practicing the Gathering Method, the leave was granted easily.

Even Fang Chi, who used to clash with her, now dared not make things difficult for her, and even wanted to mend their teacher-student relationship.

But she paid no attention.

As for Zhang Xiu, since he was on night shift, he had already arrived at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall ahead of time.

Today, she planned to complete the final stage of the Gathering Method, then prepare for the upcoming trial.

Unlike the first two stages, the final step—Gathering the Sun’s Essence—must be completed at noon.

According to the Nine Qi Gathering Method, this final step is best performed when the celestial luminary stands at zenith, its light pouring down from the eight directions.

After this, she could also consider joining the Sword Sect…

She was just thinking.

“Hey! Isn’t this little Yunlu?”

As the voice reached her ears, she saw Chi Jiu Yu pedaling a tricycle, slowly approaching her side.

“Where are you headed? Let me give you a ride!”

She had just delivered the items to the Discipline Hall, as her uncle had instructed.

On the way, she encountered a group of disciples from other immortal sects, and deliberately slowed down—but not a single one recognized her.

If her uncle hadn’t warned her beforehand, she might have thought her fame had truly faded.

“...No thanks,” Zhang Yunlu shook her head slightly in refusal.

“Tsk tsk!”

How short a time it’s been, and already she’s turned so cold.

Clearly, I’m still the real deal—I’ve died so many times and still haven’t changed at all!

“Judging by your look, you’re heading to practice the Gathering Method?”

“Mm.”

“Which stage?”

“The third stage.”

“That’s the final stage already? Not bad!”

This little Yunlu really is impressive.

In this peaceful era, she’d have had a hard time discovering her talent.

But her luck was just that good—she happened to meet her uncle upon his emergence from seclusion.

And now she’s soared beyond measure, nearly ready to establish the Celestial Foundation—joining the Sword Sect is a sure thing!

She’d also heard that Zhang Yunlu lost both parents young, and was raised by her older brother.

Wait.

This plot feels so familiar.

Parents dead, then a master discovers her talent, and she soars to greatness.

Hmm…

Sounds a bit like the protagonist of a novel…

No no!

According to those comeback stories, you’d at least need a few enemies, right?

And a family heirloom!

That too.

In conclusion, I’m the real protagonist!

“I’m here.”

Huh? She looked up—and sure enough, just a short turn down the alley was the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall building.

She’d been too absorbed to notice.

Too bad—she’d wanted to chat a while longer with her little fan, the only person in Xuanjian City I ever guided.

“Alright, alright! Good luck with your cultivation!”

Saying that, Chi Jiu Yu kicked hard—the tricycle shot off at once.

Wuhu!

Zhang Yunlu watched the departing tricycle for a moment, then turned and walked into the alley.

I used to truly admire her…

City Hall, Mayor’s Office.

Knock knock!

The mayor’s secretary knocked, then entered.

“Mayor, the Discipline Hall sent an application—someone wants to host a large-scale event and seeks your opinion.”

Huh? This kind of trivial matter still comes to me?

“My opinion? Deny it!” the mayor waved his hand irritably.

What large event? Don’t we have enough trouble already?

Years of stagnation in Xuanjian City have worn out his enthusiasm.

He just wants to retire peacefully, then find a place to advance to Soul Transformation and head to the Star Battlefield.

Soaring through the stars—that’s true masculine romance!

“Actually, I think you should take a look.”

“What’s there to look at? With the current chaos, hosting a big event? That’s just pure trouble—”

As he complained, the secretary had already placed the application on his desk and pointed to the name—Chi Jiu Yu.

The name of the proposed large-scale event: Third Trial.

My sword sect’s little junior ancestor, you’re really giving me face—so this is connected to you! “What do you think?”

“...”

The way you say that makes it sound like I actually have a choice.

The mayor picked up the crude application and read it carefully.

To avoid missing anything important, he read it several times.

How to put it…

The format was standard enough, but it was absurdly minimal—and the most crucial detail, the location, was written as “None”? Yes—not left blank, but deliberately written as “None.”

“What do you make of this?” the mayor asked the secretary.

“I think…” The secretary, about to voice his guess, glanced out the floor-to-ceiling window behind the mayor.

That one glance froze him.

“I think… we don’t need to guess anymore.”

Huh? The mayor turned around in confusion—and froze too.

Outside the window, the entire sky was covered by a faint red glow.

What was that? Was it another demonic cultivator?! “Quick! Pull up the satellite map!” the mayor snapped back to his senses.

The secretary quickly recovered and swiftly formed a hand seal, projecting a light screen.

What was called a satellite was, in essence, a magic treasure.

Ancient devices such as the Kuitian Mirror and Guanshi Platform are now classified by Saint Emperor Yuan as "satellite" magic treasures.

The screen quickly displayed an image: an aerial view of the entire Xuanjian City.

On the map, a massive pale red, phantom sphere now hovered in the sky—just from this projection, it was nearly half the size of Xuanjian City.

And it was steadily growing more solid, as if approaching reality from another dimension.

After staring for a long while, the mayor slowly uttered two words.

“Secret Realm!”

This was a Secret Realm gradually entering reality—and the mastermind behind it intended to use an entire Secret Realm as the venue for the Third Trial!

Xuanjian City’s total area: 487,000 square kilometers.

That meant, even without accounting for internal spatial folding, its interior contained over 200,000 square kilometers.

The mayor strode to the window, opened it, and stepped out.

Hovering in midair, he looked up.

The Secret Realm, hidden behind the sky, resembled a red moon magnified dozens of times—silent, yet radiating a terrifying pressure.

The ghostly banners released by the demonic cultivator during his cultivation of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner paled in comparison to this Secret Realm—like fireflies beside the full moon.

The vast Secret Realm nearly obscured the horizon.

This sight reminded the mayor of his past experiences on the Star Battlefield.

Once, on a mission, he had witnessed a small asteroid pierce the atmosphere, blazing with fire as it crashed down.

Back then, he was only a Nascent Soul cultivator; only the intervention of a Soul Transformation cultivator saved him by destroying it.

But that was the Star Battlefield!

Please collect, please follow!! (End of Chapter)