Chapter 73: Since I

After leaving the imperial study, Li Chen changed into ordinary attire.

Following the system’s prompt, he searched for wild realms outside the capital.

A realm, in essence, is a heavenly gift of opportunity.

Wild realms spawn randomly in the wilds, and since the resources they yield are mostly of very low value, no major factions bother to control them.

Ordinary wild realms can spawn resources suitable for Foundation Establishment and Spirit Condensation realms.

Those mid-tier realms are mostly controlled by major factions and the TianCe Dynasty’s official authorities.

Only outstanding disciples of sects or top students from the TianCe Dynasty’s Combat Academy are eligible to enter.

They serve to cultivate talent for their own factions.

Mid-tier realms usually spawn at fixed locations.

Controlling one mid-tier realm means a steady stream of talent cultivation for one’s faction.

As for high-tier realms, they are also called Gates of Heavenly Revelation, or even a kind of heavenly calamity.

Inside, one may find magic treasures, cultivation techniques, and immortal elixirs from the higher realms.

Each time a high-tier realm descends, celestial and terrestrial disturbances occur.

At that time, countless powerful cultivators are drawn in, sparking fierce battles.

Li Chen judged, based on the system’s usual patterns, that he had already reached the mid-Stage of Foundation Establishment.

That was why the system sent him to seek wild realms—the lowest-tier realms.

And he had to follow its instructions precisely; any higher-level realm wouldn’t count.

He had experience with this, so there was no need to waste time.

Following the system’s directional hint, he soon arrived at a majestic mountain range east of the capital.

The realm’s entrance stood like a marvel, towering between heaven and earth, radiating an ancient and mysterious aura.

As soon as Li Chen reached the designated spot, he saw before him a massive gate.

The gate stood a hundred meters tall, like a portal between two different worlds.

Its grandeur inspired awe at a single glance.

Its body was carved from unknown black stone, smooth as a mirror yet exuding an archaic simplicity.

At the very top of the gate, a giant disc was embedded, emitting continuous ripples of spatial energy.

When Li Chen looked up at the gate, he saw within it as if a deep mirror.

The reflections within shifted unpredictably—sometimes like a black hole, sometimes like stars—impossible to discern their true nature.

Hundreds, even thousands, had already gathered outside the realm’s entrance.

They came from surrounding cities, some alone, others in groups.

Despite the crowd, there was no crowding, for the space was simply too vast.

More people kept arriving continuously from all directions.

It was as if the world had no paths until these cultivators forged them by walking to the realm.

As soon as Li Chen entered the area, he heard numerous calls.

“Spiritual Soul experts offering group runs—only 2 spots left! Don’t miss this rare chance!”

“Spirit Condensation self-reliant team needs one member—preferably front-line, with a female support!”

“Anyone in Foundation Establishment with wind affinity? Join for mutual aid—priority to those with speed-boosting treasures!”

“Need a Spirit Condensation sword cultivator to form a sword array! Experienced Spirit Condensation sword cultivators, join now!”

Hearing this, Li Chen was puzzled—was this wild realm really this complicated?

In his mind, a realm was just about entering, defeating a boss, and leaving.

For convenience, he always came alone.

He glanced around and saw many people eagerly watching the disc on the gate, waiting for the realm to open.

Some were leaving dejectedly, clearly dissatisfied with their performance.

Others even stood at the entrance maintaining order, urging everyone not to push, assuring them all would get in.

To understand how this realm worked, Li Chen decided to ask someone experienced.

At that moment, a sword cultivator in cultivation robes approached him.

“Brother, first time in a realm?” “Yes, could you tell me, young brother, how does one play this realm?”

Li Chen immediately called the sword cultivator “young brother,” leaving the man momentarily stunned.

But he said nothing—he merely sensed, faintly, that Li Chen’s status might be high.

The sword cultivator’s name was Luo Yong; he loved making friends.

Seeing Li Chen’s attire, he came over to greet him.

Even though Li Chen had simply changed clothes, the fabric was top-grade, unavailable in the mortal world—no ordinary person could afford it.

He was at least a noble’s son.

I have to say, Luo Yong really knows what he's looking at.

Those who reached this realm’s entrance were mostly from the capital.

In the capital, knowing one more person meant one more path.

Someday, you might need help—and a single word could do it.

Luo Yong’s personality, Li Chen thought, was acceptable—at least he was straightforward.

!

Not knowing the realm’s details himself, Luo Yong simply told Li Chen everything after being asked.

Inside the realm was a special world, filled with rare treasures and ferocious beasts.

Cultivators entering the realm were randomly teleported to different locations within it to explore.

If lucky, one could directly find high-grade spiritual herbs or rare ores.

Most resources were guarded by beasts—defeat them, or have teammates lure them away, then claim the resources and divide them upon exiting.

But taking resources out was no simple matter.

Each wild realm lasted two hours; one hour after opening, a beam of light descended from the sky.

Step into the light to take your collected resources out.

If you didn’t reach the light by the end of two hours, you were forcibly ejected, and all resources inside were lost.

That’s why many sought to follow Spiritual Soul cultivators.

Because low-tier realms only yielded resources needed by Foundation Establishment and Spirit Condensation cultivators—high-level cultivators rarely came here.

A Spiritual Soul cultivator running this kind of dungeon was a big leg to hold.

To enter a wild realm, wait until the disc on the gate glows at the top of the hour.

Luo Yong grumbled: “Damn, last time a Void-Breaking expert brought a few Foundation Establishment guys to farm this wild realm—it was shameless.”

According to Luo Yong, a Void-Breaking cultivator’s presence raised the beasts’ cultivation levels, but the resource types and quantities remained unchanged—still only Foundation Establishment and Spirit Condensation materials.

That’s why high-level cultivators usually avoided such places.

Low-level cultivators who accidentally entered such a “high-end game” had no chance of gathering resources—they could only hide and wait for time to end.

“What? Even Void-Breaking cultivators dare show up? Do they have no shame? If I catch them, I’ll give them a scolding!”

Li Chen ranted with righteous fury.

He didn’t care—he wasn’t Void-Breaking; he was a Saint Realm cultivator.

We're cursing Void-Breaking cultivators, not him—just join in the cursing.

At first, Luo Yong thought Li Chen was some fierce type, but when Li Chen ended with “give them a scolding,” Luo Yong realized he was just a loudmouth.

Still, he figured—Void-Breaking cultivators were true heavenly prodigies; who’d dare offend them?

Thinking Li Chen might be nervous as a newcomer, Luo Yong reassured him: “Don’t worry—the realm isn’t just one world. High-level cultivators usually group together. As long as we’re not unlucky, we won’t end up with them.”

Hearing this, Li Chen understood—those who came to bully the weak all grouped with others like them.

So those Void-Breaking cultivators bringing others to bully? They were probably just matching with me.

Thinking of this, Li Chen’s lips curled slightly.

He’d felt a bit embarrassed coming here at his level to farm low-tier dungeons—that’s why he came alone.

But if he could bully those who came to bully others, that would be fun.

Let’s see who the unlucky ones are who get matched with me.

Meanwhile, at another wild realm entrance outside the capital, four masked figures appeared.

Their leader was Wu Qi, a top prodigy of the capital, Void-Breaking realm.

(End of Chapter)