Chapter 125: The Wu Huang's Proposal

A secret realm refers to a space independent of the Yuanwu Continent yet capable of mutual travel with it.

Legend says secret realms are spaces opened by experts beyond the Saint realm, but legends are merely legends; no one has verified them.

Existing secret realms are all remnants from ancient times; almost every Imperial-level power possesses at least one or more secret realms.

Secret realms vary in size; small ones are about the size of a village, while large ones are comparable to a commandery, or even as vast as a province...

Secret realms are broadly divided into two categories: those with living creatures and those without.

A secret realm without living creatures is like a barren, uninhabited desert; not even a single blade of grass exists, and there is no starry sky, no sun, no moon, only pitch darkness.

There is also no air; low-level martial artists and ordinary people who enter will die.

However, it is not entirely useless; though there are no living creatures, there are inanimate objects.

As long as it is a secret realm, there must be exploitable resources, and resources that do not exist on the Yuanwu Continent, such as certain mineral deposits.

Among the secret realms with publicly available data, the Qin Empire's imperial family controls a secret realm rich in 'Black Crystal' metal ore.

Black Crystal is entirely transparent black; in terms of strength, it is rated as a Grade Seven material, capable of forging Grade Seven rune weapons, with the sole drawback being poor durability; it will shatter after prolonged use.

Although durability is low, the advantage lies in its immense production volume; Black Crystal equipment is standard issue for Qin army officers of all ranks.

Black Crystal equipment made the Qin army the most powerful force on the Yuanwu Continent.

Secret realms with living creatures are even more precious and scarce, far more valuable than those without living creatures.

Mineral resources are naturally indispensable, along with various heavenly treasures and earthly herbs.

For instance, spiritual medicines that can make someone become a Wu Huang, or even a Wu Di expert, overnight...

Beyond that, there are the living creatures within the secret realm; although there are living creatures, they are not necessarily of the human race.

Most of these creatures are low-level beasts that have not developed civilization; ugliness is their trademark; they are generally called monsters or demonic beasts, and serve as excellent subjects for secret realm owners to train their troops...

Everyone wants to possess a secret realm; everyone wants to enter and seek treasure.

Controlling a secret realm is one of the conditions for founding and becoming an Imperial-level power.

The Five Elements Hall, Star Palace, Sky Sword Pavilion, Return Origin Sect, Xi Family, Yin Family, Wang Family, and Chen Family; the eight Royal-level powers attending this auction were all filled with intense interest in the black stone tablet.

They believed the Martial Artists' Alliance when they said the black stone tablet recorded clues to a certain secret realm.

As for whether it was the location of the Qin Empire's dragon vein? They were not very convinced.

On the stage, the auctioneer smiled satisfiedly, then announced: "This stone tablet is now up for bidding; the starting price is... one thousand pieces of Supreme Spirit Stones; each bid must be no less than one hundred pieces of Supreme Spirit Stones."

Below, Facing Facing Cang Luo was slightly surprised; he felt the starting price was a bit low.

The cub of the Grade Eight demon beast, the Roaring Sky Tiger, had fetched one thousand five hundred pieces of Supreme Spirit Stones, yet this stone tablet recording clues to a secret realm is only one thousand pieces of Supreme Spirit Stones?

Facing Facing Cang Luo shook his head in confusion, looked up at the private rooms on the gallery, and hoped they would bid an astronomical price.

However, five minutes passed, and no one made a bid.

At this moment, someone laughed: "Everyone has seen the text and murals on the stone tablet; what difference does it make whether we bid or not?"

Upon hearing this, everyone burst into laughter, looking at the auctioneer on stage as if he were a fool.

The auctioneer took no offense, did not even look at the speaker, and smiled at the several people on the gallery: "Elders and family heads, I assume you have all figured it out?

This stone tablet not only records clues to a secret realm but is also the key to opening it; only by assembling the stone tablets can the secret realm passage be opened."

Facing Facing Cang Luo was stunned, staring blankly at the photo of the stone tablet; he had also thought that recording the content on the stone tablet would suffice, never imagining the stone tablet itself was the key to opening the secret realm...

The several people on the gallery exchanged glances; they indeed had figured it out. Everyone present possessed at least the cultivation of a Wu Wang, and among them were several Wu Huang experts.

They saw at a glance that the black stone tablet was strange; it not only flowed with mysterious energy, but the stone material did not belong to the Yuanwu Continent, nor to any known secret realm; it could only belong to the secret realm recorded on the stone tablet.

The Yin Family head transmitted a voice: "Everyone, since the Martial Artists' Alliance wishes to use our hands to draw out the remaining stone tablets, might we as well grant their wish?"

The Wang Family head transmitted a cold laugh: "Yin Tonggu, if you want to bid, then bid; why ask us?"

Speaking thus, he looked at the empty private room in the middle of the crowd; no one was there, then transmitted again: "The stone tablet concerns a secret realm; why does no one from the Xuan Tian Gate appear?

And why have all the Royal-level powers of Tongzhou arrived?"

Everyone turned to look at the private room belonging to the Xuan Tian Gate; the Zheng Zhanglao of the Star Palace transmitted: "Did the Martial Artists' Alliance fail to invite the Xuan Tian Gate, or does this stone tablet actually belong to the Xuan Tian Gate?

No, if it belonged to the Xuan Tian Gate, then the Xuan Tian Gate should have sent someone even more..."

Everyone nodded slightly; the Xi Family head spoke in a deep voice: "The Royal-level sects of Tongzhou... Could it be that the remaining stone tablets are in Tongzhou? Or even among us?"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately fell silent, looking at each other.

After a long while, the Yin Family head, Yin Tonggu, smiled: "I have a proposal; would everyone be willing to hear it?"

"We wish to hear the details!"

"Brother Yin, speak directly; there is no need to play games."

Yin Tonggu spoke in a deep voice: "Whether this stone tablet belongs to the Martial Artists' Alliance or the Xuan Tian Gate, since they have gathered us all here, they probably assume the remaining stone tablets are either in Tongzhou or already among us.

Of course, even if they exist, it is only a portion."

Speaking thus, Yin Tonggu swept his spiritual sense over the crowd, observing everyone's expressions, and continued: "Their goal is simple: collect the stone tablets and open the secret realm.

Whoever bids for this stone tablet has the greatest possibility of possessing the remaining stone tablets!"

Regarding this point, most people had thought of it; this was also the reason they hesitated to bid, for even without the stone tablet, they would be suspected of having it.

A common man is not guilty, but possessing a treasure makes him guilty; they dared not take it!

The Martial Artists' Alliance has Saint-level experts; even the increasingly declining Xuan Tian Gate has a Martial Emperor stationed there.

Whether the Martial Artists' Alliance or the Xuan Tian Gate, either is sufficient to exterminate any one of them and their entire clan!

Everyone's faces grew heavy; the Zheng Zhanglao of the Star Palace transmitted: "Brother Yin, are you asking us to abandon this stone tablet? To abandon a secret realm with infinite possibilities?"

Yin Tonggu shook his head: "No! No..."

Everyone looked impatient but did not respond; they all knew Yin Tonggu loved playing games; the more you responded, the less he would speak.

Yin Tonggu smiled, ceased his unnecessary words, and continued: "Among those present, whoever possesses the remaining stone tablets, they certainly lack the fortune to enjoy them.

Our only option is to form an alliance; at least cooperate on this matter, collectively collecting the stone tablets and sharing the secret realm.

Only thus can we respond to the trap set by the Martial Artists' Alliance or the Xuan Tian Gate."

Saying this, Yin Tonggu fell silent, waiting for them to make their decision.

No one spoke; no one knew whether they were thinking or whispering to their allies.

Beside Yin Tonggu, Yin Wuchen looked at the cowering young Xiaotian Tiger and whispered, "Grandfather, will anyone besides the Guiyuan Sect agree?"

Though Yin Tonggu was past seventy, his face remained that of a handsome middle-aged man, for he was a Wu Huang, his cultivation profound and unfathomable—maintaining his youthful appearance was trivial.

He smiled: "They will. They must agree..."

No sooner had he spoken than the head of the Xi family whispered: "I concur with Brother Yin's proposal!"

Yin Tonggu did not whisper back; he immediately laughed: "Brother Xi, wise choice! By the way, has Xiao Lanqing returned?"

Xiao Lanqing, whom he referred to, was the granddaughter of the Xi family head, an inner disciple of the Kong Sheng Academy, of the same age as Yin Wuchen, and a Wu Ling cultivator.

Hearing the name Xiao Lanqing, Yin Wuchen's eyes lit up—he had long admired her, but since he trained in the Guiyuan Sect, he saw her only a few times a year.

The head of the Xi family glanced at Yin Wuchen from afar and said coolly: "Not yet."

At that moment, the senior elder of the Xingxiu Palace whispered: "I speak for the sect master—I agree with Brother Yin's proposal."

The Guiyuan Sect also whispered: "Agreed!"

After the Xingxiu Palace and Guiyuan Sect agreed, the other two imperial-level sects—the Wu Xing Hall and Tianjian Pavilion—also expressed their agreement.

Only the Wang family and Chen family remained; they both sighed helplessly, exchanged glances, and thought: If we refuse, won't it look like we're hiding a stele?

The head of the Wang family: "Agreed!"

The head of the Chen family: "Agreed..."

Seeing all agree, Yin Tonggu laughed: "If we unite, what is the Xuantian Gate to us? Tongzhou is not ruled by Xuan Qiankun alone!"

No one spoke. Yin Tonggu said no more.

The next moment, he called down to the stage below: "This stele—we bid for it together. One thousand top-grade Yuan Stones!"

At these words, not only did the host freeze, but everyone present was stunned—could you even do that? Bid together?

The host was about to speak, but at that instant, a voice whispered an order: "Let them bid together!"

The one who whispered was Zhen Gu Yang, the highest authority of the Danyang County Martial Artists Alliance, a Wu Huang of the seventh layer—his strength was no less than, and likely greater than, those in the upper gallery.

The host, slightly surprised but not questioning, immediately announced loudly: "Congratulations, my lords, you have jointly won the Secret Realm Stele..."

Thus ended the auction gathering the eight imperial-level forces of Tongzhou.

As soon as the auction ended, Facing Facing Cang Luo rushed straight to the back of the auction hall to retrieve his vehicle.

Upon reaching the back, Facing Facing Cang Luo immediately saw the electric motorcycle, abandoned in the corner, lonely and discarded like a pile of scrap metal, utterly ignored.

"Damn! These alien barbarians don't recognize quality—they've left the only electric motorcycle from the Yuanwu Continent sitting idle..."

Facing Facing Cang Luo muttered under his breath, flashed forward to the motorcycle, and without checking anything else, immediately began searching for the key—without it, he'd be stuck.

Fortunately, he was delighted to find a set of keys stuck in the front of the vehicle—and it was still in ignition mode.

Since it was in ignition mode and no one had discovered the motorcycle's ability to be ridden, it meant either the battery was dead or it had malfunctioned.

Facing Facing Cang Luo tried pressing the headlight button—no light. He twisted the right throttle—no movement.

"Is it just a dead battery, or is it broken?" Facing Facing Cang Luo muttered.

The former would be easy—just charge it with Thunder-element Yuan Force. But if it's broken, he couldn't fix it.

"Let's leave first. This place isn't safe to linger."

So Facing Facing Cang Luo hastily paid one upper-grade Yuan Stone at the counter, then pushed the electric motorcycle out of the Martial Artists Alliance, planning to find an inn to study it properly.