Chapter 276

Wang Ping and the others didn't wait long; two days later, the instructor notified them they could enter.

When all the cultivators returned to the entrance, the edge of the spatial rift was no longer twisted, and the chaotic airflow gradually subsided.

When only the splendid flow of light circulating steadily within remained, the atmosphere at the edge of the Meteor Sea suddenly tightened to the extreme.

All the noisy discussion, suppressed exclamations, and those probing clashes of hidden currents fell eerily silent at that moment.

Tens of thousands of cultivators, whether from hegemonic strong clans or minor forces, whether arrogant or cautious, now held their breath, their eyes fixed on the massive "gate" spanning the dark star‑bone sea.

It was no longer just a crack; it resembled the eye of an ancient primordial beast.

Within the pupil, it was not black, but countless indescribable, high‑speed flowing, intertwining and shifting colors—

Blazing white lightning flashed and vanished, deep purple gloom like veins, verdant vitality and ashen decay entwined, pure golden light slicing through pale blue ice crystals…

This was the manifestation of the secret realm's inner laws torn open—beautiful enough to shock the heart, yet dangerous enough to make the soul tremble.

The destructive aura ceased its wild outbursts, transforming into a pressure that silently permeated every inch of space.

Many cultivators with slightly weak cultivation and unsteady resolve began to pale, cold sweat beading on their foreheads, instinctively shrinking back.

"The time has come."

From an unknown direction came an aged, plain proclamation.

The sound was not loud, yet it seemed to carry some strange regulatory power, ringing clearly in every cultivator's ear and completely igniting that taut string.

Boom——!!!

In the next instant, the previous calm was shattered!

Hundreds to thousands of streams of light, like a reverse‑flying meteor shower, erupted from all directions, from various floating magic treasures, mounts, and the void itself, rushing without hesitation toward that gate resembling the pupil of a colossal beast!

Naturally, those at the forefront were the proud scions of the hegemonic clans, the deepest‑rooted and most confident.

In the Holy Feather Clan's camp, several brilliant rays shot out first.

The Holy Son‑level figure with golden wings sprouting from his back and edges sharp as divine swords merely flicked his wings, tearing the air.

He trailed a long golden light tail behind him, the first to plunge into the resplendent gate; his figure was instantly swallowed, leaving only specks of golden radiance fading away.

Immediately after, the Holy Feather Clan's proud ones wrapped in crimson flames and accompanied by azure winds likewise transformed into soaring swallows and dove in.

Almost simultaneously, from the Evil Dark Clan's region of dead‑still darkness, like ink diffusing in water, several black shadows flowed out.

Their movement was soundless yet eerily swift; wherever they passed, light seemed to be devoured, bringing an uncomfortable chill, and they followed the Holy Feather Clan into the secret realm's entrance.

"Roar!"

The Heaven Punishment Clan's thunder exploded violently; several wild figures rode massive thunder snakes, laughing madly as they charged, the lightning colliding with the entrance's light and emitting a loud crackling roar.

The Fallen Immortal Clan appeared far more ethereal, treading auspicious clouds, with immortal grace faint and elusive, yet their speed was undiminished—like banished immortals descending to the world, they plunged into that unknown land.

The Monster Clan's charge was the most violent and chaotic, dragon chants and phoenix calls, beast roars and bird cries blending into one, various demonic lights and blood energy shooting to the heavens, like a breached flood surging tumultuously toward the entrance.

The disciples of the Ten Great Dao Institutes also moved. On the Azure Void Patrol Vessel, the two Transformation God Instructors' gazes grew solemn, and they simultaneously swept their sleeves:

Ninth Dao Institute disciples, enter the secret realm! Remember, come out alive!

Go!

The opportunity is right before our eyes!

The nearly hundred disciples of the Ninth Dao Institute shouted in unison, transforming into streaks of evasive light of various colors, which merged into the flood rushing toward the entrance.

Wang Ping, Luo Qingyang, and Qin Xue exchanged a glance, nodded at each other without a word, and leapt up simultaneously.

Wang Ping's five-colored spiritual light quietly circulated around him, forming a thin yet solid shield outside his body that slightly protected him, Luo Qingyang, and Qin Yan as they surged with the crowd toward the ever-closer, ever more heart-pounding gate.

The closer they got, the more immense the gate appeared, as if it could truly devour the stars.

The law-flowing light circulating inside became clearer, and one could sense the violent power it contained all the more.

The space near the entrance was extremely unstable; visible to the naked eye were countless tiny, pitch-black space rifts that appeared and disappeared like centipedes, only to be quickly smoothed over by the flowing light.

Ah——!!!

A miserable cry suddenly rang out, shattering the frenzied atmosphere of the charge.

One could see a cultivator from some unknown small clan, with cultivation roughly at mid Golden Core, perhaps due to nervousness or perhaps bumped by a nearby demon, whose evasive light deviated slightly, failing to align perfectly with the most stable central area of the entrance, and grazed past the edge.

The instant his body touched that variegated flowing light, the protective spiritual light on his surface shattered like paper.

Immediately afterward, one of his arms and half of his shoulder vanished as if erased by an invisible rubber, disappearing soundlessly, the cross-section smooth as a mirror, with no blood spurting out, because his flesh and blood were utterly obliterated upon contact.

That cultivator emitted a shrill cry unlike a human voice; his remaining body was swept up by chaotic spatial power, flung who knows where, his life or death unknown.

This bloody and bizarre scene was like a bucket of ice water poured over the hearts of many cultivators who had lost their heads.

The momentum of the charge stalled, and more people began to proceed cautiously, striving to adjust their evasive light to aim for the center of the entrance.

But this was only the beginning.

No!! Save me......

Another brief cry rang out. A cultivator wearing the attire of some powerful clan, whose evasive light had clearly entered the central area, nevertheless seemed to have plunged into an invisible meat grinder.

The space around him violently twisted and folded; his whole body became like a crumpled painting, instantly pulled apart and torn into countless flesh fragments, which were then devoured by the flowing light, leaving not a trace.

That was a hidden spatial turbulence, more lethal than sharp space rifts, formless and substanceless, impossible to defend against.

Watch the left! There's a rift!

Avoid that cluster of gray light!

Cries of alarm and warnings rose and fell, the vicinity of the entrance utterly turned into a death trap.

Constantly, cultivators fell, screaming, due to bad luck, insufficient strength, or being schemed against and shoved, their bodies and spirits annihilated.

This is the Spirit Void Secret Realm, a trial ground left by ancient mighty beings; its admission fee must first be paid in blood and life!

Wang Ping's eyes were sharp as an eagle's; he spread his divine sense to the fullest, daring not to relax in the slightest.

The five-colored divine light shield circulated incessantly, not only defending himself but also faintly sensing the minute fluctuations of the surrounding space.

He skillfully rode his evasive light through the tumultuous flood, avoiding one after another of bright or dark space rifts, detouring around clumps of turbulent energy.

Luo Qingyang followed closely at his side; his Scarlet Yang Battle Body had been activated, a faint red glow appearing beneath his skin, its scorching breath slightly pushing away the overly near, chaotic energy.

Qin Xueze's body was filled with internal cold qi, his eyes icy, constantly vigilant against possible malice from other cultivators.

The three cooperated tacitly, their speed undiminished, steadily advancing toward the center of the entrance.

It was as if they had pierced a tough water membrane, and the surrounding suffocating chaos and pressure suddenly vanished.

Fresh air rushed into the lungs, a solid feeling underfoot, and they once again sensed the presence of gravity.

Wang Ping staggered slightly, quickly steadied his stance, and the five-colored divine light shield dissipated on its own the moment they left the passage.

He immediately scanned his surroundings, and at the same time his spiritual sense spread out cautiously like mercury spilling on the ground, checking his condition and remaining alert to any potential danger.

He was now standing on a … indescribable stretch of land.