Chapter 125

A secret realm is a space independent of the Yuanwu Continent, yet capable of mutual access with it.

Legends say secret realms were created by Qiangzhe above the Saint rank, but such tales remain unverified.

All existing secret realms are relics from ancient times, and nearly every Imperial-level faction possesses at least one.

Secret realms vary in size: small ones are roughly the size of a village, while large ones rival a commandery, or even an entire province...

Secret realms broadly fall into two categories: those with living beings, and those without.

Secret realms without living beings are like barren deserts—devoid of even a single blade of grass, with no stars, no sun, no moon, only utter darkness.

There is no air; low-level warriors and ordinary people who enter perish instantly.

Yet they are not entirely useless: though lifeless, they contain inanimate resources.

Every secret realm holds exploitable resources unknown on the Yuanwu Continent, such as certain mineral deposits.

Among currently documented secret realms, the Qin Imperial family controls one rich in “Black Crystal” metal ore.

Black Crystal is entirely black, rated as a Grade Seven material, suitable for forging Grade Seven rune weapons; its sole flaw is low durability—it shatters with prolonged use.

Though its durability is low, its abundance compensates; Qin Army officers and commanders are all equipped with Black Crystal gear.

Black Crystal equipment has made the Qin Army the strongest on the Yuanwu Continent.

Secret realms with living beings are even more precious and exceedingly rare, far more valuable than those without.

Mineral resources are naturally present, along with all manner of heavenly treasures and earthly wonders.

For instance, spiritual herbs capable of elevating a cultivator to the rank of Wu Huang—or even Wu Di—in a single night...

Beyond that, there are the living creatures within the realm; though alive, they are not necessarily human.

Most are primitive, uncivilized beasts, their ugliness their defining trait—commonly called monsters or demonic beasts, ideal for training troops by the realm’s owners...

Everyone desires to possess a secret realm, everyone yearns to enter and seek its treasures.

Controlling a secret realm is one of the conditions for founding or ascending to an Imperial-level faction.

The Five Elements Hall, Star Constellation Palace, Heavenly Sword Pavilion, Guiyuan Sect, the Xi Family, the Yin Family, the Wang Family, and the Chen Family—all eight Imperial-level factions attending this auction—were deeply interested in the black stone tablet.

The Warrior Alliance claimed the tablet held clues to a secret realm; they believed this.

But that it marked the Qin Empire’s dragon vein? They found that far less credible.

Onstage, the auctioneer smiled satisfiedly and announced: “This tablet is now open for bidding. Starting price: one thousand Jipin yuan stones. Each bid must be no less than one hundred Jipin yuan stones.”

Below, Cang Luo was slightly surprised—he thought the starting price too low.

The juvenile of the eighth-rank demonic beast, Xiaotian Tiger, had sold for one thousand five hundred Jipin yuan stones; yet this tablet, bearing clues to a secret realm, was only one thousand?

Cang Luo shook his head in confusion, glanced up at the private booths upstairs, hoping they would drive the price sky-high.

Yet five minutes passed without a single bid.

Then someone laughed: “Everyone has seen the inscriptions and murals on the tablet—what difference does it make whether you bid or not?”

At this, the crowd burst into laughter, staring at the auctioneer as if he were a fool.

The auctioneer paid no mind, ignoring the speaker, and smiled at the figures in the private booths: “Lords and Elders, surely you’ve realized it too?”

“This tablet not only records the secret realm’s location—it is also the key to opening it. Only by gathering all tablets can you unlock the passage.”

Cang Luo froze, staring blankly at the tablet’s image—he had assumed merely recording its contents would suffice; he hadn’t realized the tablet itself was the key to the secret realm...

The figures in the private booths exchanged glances; they had indeed noticed. All present were at least Wu Wang cultivators, several even Wu Huang.

They saw at a glance the black tablet’s strangeness: it radiated mysterious energy, and its stone was neither from the Yuanwu Continent nor any known secret realm—it could only originate from the secret realm it described.

The Yin Family patriarch whispered: “Gentlemen, since the Warrior Alliance wishes to use us to draw out the remaining tablets, why not oblige them?”

The Wang Family patriarch coldly whispered back: “Yin Tonggu, if you want it, bid for it—why ask us?”

He glanced at the central booth—empty, Wuren —then added: “Why is there no one from Xuantian Sect here? The tablet concerns a secret realm.”

And why have all the Imperial-level factions from Tongzhou arrived?”

All turned toward the Xuantian Sect’s booth. Zheng, Elder of the Star Constellation Palace, whispered: “Did the Warrior Alliance not invite Xuantian Sect—or is this tablet actually theirs?”

No, if it were theirs, Xuantian Sect should have sent someone...”

The crowd nodded slightly. The Xi Family patriarch spoke gravely: “The Imperial sects of Tongzhou... could the remaining tablets be in Tongzhou? Even among us?”

At this, silence fell. They looked at each other, wordless.

After a long pause, Yin Tonggu smiled: “I have a proposal—will you listen?”

“We are all ears!”

“Yin Brother, speak plainly—no need for riddles.”

Yin Tonggu said gravely: “Whether this tablet belongs to the Warrior Alliance or Xuantian Sect, their gathering us here suggests they believe the remaining tablets are either in Tongzhou—or already among us.”

Of course, even if present, they are only partial.”

As he spoke, Yin Tonggu extended his yuan consciousness, scanning the crowd, observing their expressions. He continued: “Their goal is simple: collect the tablets, open the secret realm.”

Whoever bids for this tablet increases their likelihood of possessing the others!”

Most had already realized this—that was why no one had bid. Even without the tablet, one would be suspected of possessing it.

An innocent man suffers for possessing jade; they dared not claim it!

The Warrior Alliance has Saint-rank Qiangzhe ; even the declining Xuantian Sect has a Wu Di in residence.

Either faction could annihilate any one of us—root and branch!

Faces grew grim. Zheng, Elder of the Star Constellation Palace, whispered: “Yin Brother, are you suggesting we abandon this tablet? Abandon a secret realm with infinite potential?”

Yin Tonggu shook his head: “No! No...”

The crowd grew impatient, silent—they knew Yin Tonggu loved to tease. The more they prodded, the less he said.

Yin Tonggu smiled, dropped the pretense, and continued: “Whoever among us holds the remaining tablets will never be able to enjoy them.”

Our only option is to form an alliance—cooperate on this matter, collect the tablets together, share the secret realm.”

Only then can we counter the trap set by the Warrior Alliance—or Xuantian Sect.”

With that, Yin Tonggu fell silent, waiting for their decision.

No one spoke—whether thinking, or whispering to allies, none could tell.

Beside Yin Tonggu, Yin Wuchen stared at the cowering juvenile Xiaotian Tiger and whispered: “Grandfather, will anyone besides Guiyuan Sect agree?”

Though in his seventies, Yin Tonggu bore the face of a refined middle-aged man—his profound Wu Huang cultivation had preserved his youth effortlessly.

He smiled: “They will. They must agree...”

No sooner had he spoken than the Xi Family patriarch whispered: “I... agree with your proposal, Yin Brother!”

Yin Tonggu did not whisper back, but laughed aloud: “Wise of you, Xi Brother! By the way, has Xiao Lanqing returned?”

Xiao Lanqing was the Xi Family patriarch’s granddaughter, a core disciple of Confucius Academy, of the same age as Yin Wuchen, and a Wu Ling cultivator.

Hearing Xiao Lanqing’s name, Yin Wuchen’s eyes lit up—he had long admired her, but trained at Guiyuan Sect, seeing her only a few times a year.

The Xi Family patriarch glanced at Yin Wuchen from afar and said coolly: “No.”

Then, Zheng, Elder of the Star Constellation Palace, whispered: “I speak for the Sect Master—I agree with Yin Brother’s proposal.”

Guiyuan Sect also whispered: “Agreed!”

After Star Constellation Palace and Guiyuan Sect agreed, the Five Elements Hall and Heavenly Sword Pavilion, also Imperial-level sects, voiced their consent.

Only the Wang and Chen Families remained. They exchanged weary glances—refusing would imply we’re hiding tablets ourselves.

Wang Family patriarch: “Agreed!”

Chen Family patriarch: “Agreed...”

Seeing all agree, Yin Tonggu laughed: “If we unite, what threat is Xuantian Sect? 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: “We shall jointly bid for this tablet—one thousand Jipin yuan stones!”

His words stunned not only the auctioneer, but everyone present—could you do that? Joint bidding?

The auctioneer opened his mouth to speak—when suddenly, a whispered command came: “Let them bid jointly.”

The voice belonged to Zhen Gu Yang, the highest authority of the Danyang County Warrior Alliance—a Wu Huang Seventh Layer cultivator, his strength equal to or surpassing those in the private booths.

The auctioneer, startled but not questioning, immediately announced: “Congratulations, Lords—your joint bid secures the secret realm tablet!”

Thus ended the auction, where the eight Imperial-level factions of Tongzhou had gathered.

As soon as the auction concluded, Cang Luo rushed to the backstage to retrieve his vehicle.

At the backstage, he immediately spotted the electric motorcycle, abandoned in the corner—lonely, discarded like scrap metal, ignored by all.

“Damn! These ignorant alien primitives—throwing away the only electric motorcycle on the Yuanwu Continent...”

Cang Luo muttered under his breath, flashed forward to the motorcycle, ignored all else, and began searching for the key—without it, he’d be stuck.

Fortunately, he discovered a keychain inserted into the handlebar—still in ignition mode.

Since it was in ignition mode and no one had discovered its driving secret, it wasn’t out of power—it was malfunctioning.

Cang Luo pressed the headlight button—no light. He twisted the right throttle—no movement.

“Is it a dead battery, or a mechanical failure?” he muttered.

The former is easy—use Thunder-element yuan energy to recharge. The latter? He couldn’t fix it.

“Leave first. This place isn’t safe to linger.”

He hastily paid one superior yuan stone at the counter, then pushed the electric motorcycle away from the Warrior Alliance, heading for an inn to examine it properly.