Chapter 8: Xuantian Mijing, Opening

"Young people certainly have hot tempers."

Feng Shenzi smiled lightly and said, "It will not be too late for you all to contend once the secret realm opens."

"Fine, once we enter the secret realm, I shall see how you suppress me," Mengchen retorted coldly.

"Rest assured, you will see it," Wudao said, refusing to be outdone, his aura overbearing.

Seeing the two calm down, Feng Shenzi said, "Next, taking advantage of the remaining time, I shall explain the rules for this Genius Battle."

"This Genius Battle will take place within the Xuantian Mijing. Only those no older than ten years of age may enter. The Xuantian Mijing will only be open for three months; after three months, the secret realm will close, and everyone will be teleported out."

"The secret realm contains countless heavenly treasures, but besides the fighting among yourselves, there is no lack of other dangers. Therefore, every disciple entering the secret realm will be issued a life-saving Rune, which can be crushed in times of life-or-death peril to be teleported out immediately."

"As for the title of the number one young Supreme of the Xuanyu, it will be reached by consensus among everyone during the three months of fighting in the secret realm; there is no need to set conditions for a ranking."

"Therefore, this Genius Battle is both a test and an opportunity. Everything obtained within the secret realm belongs to the individual."

"Finally, I wish the disciples of every sect an unparalleled encounter."

After Feng Shenzi finished speaking, he distributed a life-saving Rune to every disciple about to enter the secret realm.

No sooner had the distribution of the Runes ended than a mist rose at the end of the distant mountains outside the plaza, hazy and ethereal, followed by a loud boom that shook the heavens and the earth, shooting out ten thousand rays of colorful light.

At the end of the mountains, chaos churned, lightning intertwined, and thunder roared deafeningly! A vortex quickly took shape and gradually expanded.

"The secret realm has opened; it actually forms a world of its own."

Seeing this scene, many young disciples exclaimed in shock, as it was their first time witnessing such a sight.

"Children, your opportunity has arrived. You may obtain great fortune inside and win the title of young Supreme, or you may die without a burial place. But as long as you make good use of your life-saving Runes, you can ensure your safe return!" Feng Shenzi shouted, shaking the entire plaza.

The Xuantian Mijing had opened no fewer than a hundred times.

Hundreds of years ago, someone obtained a secret treasure in the realm, soared to the heavens upon returning, and eventually achieved the Venerable Realm. Others faced death nine times out of ten, only to return and step into the Upper Realm, becoming supreme sect masters.

Likewise, along with opportunity came countless withered bones.

In an instant, the plaza erupted into chaos as all the living beings began to scramble to rush into the vortex entrance of the secret realm.

There were flying divine flood dragons, Jinmao Shizi, flying divine monkeys, flying stones, wing-flapping magic butterflies, giants over ten meters tall, and so on...

All of them had Runes flickering across their bodies as they charged straight in.

"What are you still waiting for?"

Seeing that many living beings had already entered the secret realm entrance, Zhangliu turned his head to look at Mengchen and asked, with a hint of urging.

"I am waiting for someone," Mengchen replied casually, his eyes fixed on the Xuanmen Shengnyu.

He was waiting for Xiyao, thinking of entering with her so that they could walk side by side in the secret realm after getting acquainted.

Zhangliu was anxious; with this attitude, he feared this kid wouldn't even get a bite of hot food.

This child represented the Western Sect; if not for the sake of the sect's reputation, he really wanted to kick him inside.

"Alright Xiyao, no need to wait. The secret realm has opened, you can go in. Remember to be careful in all things; if there is danger, use your life-saving Rune at the first opportunity," Feng Shenzi instructed.

"Understood! This disciple will set off now."

Afterwards, Xiyao stood up, brilliant treasure light shining behind her, and a pair of colorful butterfly wings spread from her back, flapping as she flew toward the vortex entrance.

Seeing this, Mengchen leaped up and gave chase with all his might.

The Divine Flame Sect's Wudao, the Old Mountain's Qin Hao, and a crowd of human geniuses also scrambled to pour in.

After Mengchen and the others entered, some living beings reached the vortex entrance and unleashed their treasure tools, blocking the crowd of living beings behind them.

If one fewer person entered, naturally there would be one fewer person to contend for supremacy, and more fortune to go around.

Consequently, fierce fighting broke out at the vortex entrance, and some living beings began to fight directly.

Seeing their own disciples blocked outside and unable to enter, some elders from the clans who had come to escort their juniors looked at certain living beings and could not help but jeer: "Hmph! With such faces, the disciples you teach have such greedy appetites? Aren't you afraid of being choked to death by your own greed?"

"Heavenly treasures belong to those who are capable. If they cannot even pass this small hurdle, why come here to lose face and make a spectacle of themselves!" the jeered living beings immediately retorted.

The tone was sharp, and the situation was already on the verge of breaking out into violence. At this moment, many people on the plaza revealed murderous glares, as if they were about to take action.

Seeing this, Feng Shenzi spoke up: "Fellow Daoists, do not let the fighting between disciples affect our harmony."

Then Feng Shenzi said loudly: "All disciples listen: anyone who blocks the entrance again will have their qualification to enter the secret realm revoked."

No sooner had the words fallen than the fighting at the entrance stopped immediately. Those disciples who had been blocking others' paths put away their treasure tools and dove into the entrance.

With the obstruction gone, the young disciples of various clans scrambled to pour in.

For a time, as the disciples of their own clans entered smoothly, the tense atmosphere on the plaza instantly calmed down.

Because Mengchen and the others had entered early, they were not delayed.

Inside the vortex passage, they ran forward at high speed. After an unknown amount of time, the mist gradually thinned, and light shone through.

When they reached the end, they discovered that the Mysterious Sect's Holy Maiden Xiyao, whom he had been following closely, had strangely disappeared, and even the Divine Flame Sect's Wudao and the other living beings who had been traveling alongside were nowhere to be seen.

Running out of the passage and finding himself in this place, he was the only one around.

"It seems that the moment we reached the secret realm, we were all teleported to different areas."

"This Small World is a treasure; cultivating here yields twice the result with half the effort!"

Mengchen was somewhat amazed; the spiritual energy here was abundant, truly an excellent place for cultivation.

Looking around, he saw that the mountain peaks here were flowing with brilliance, covered in spiritual vines and fine trees, waterfalls falling vertically, and the ground was covered in flowers and lush greenery, like a fairyland.

By chance, Mengchen clenched his fist, Runes shining on his arm, and turned to smash a punch at an inconspicuous rock behind him.

"Ah..."

A shattering sound rang out, a wail echoed through the sky, and the rock crumbled into slag, turning into fly ash, leaving only a life-saving Rune behind.

Clearly, this was a rock that had gained sentience and was one of the living beings entering the Genius Battle. It had tried to ambush him just now, but Mengchen had sensed it in advance and launched a fatal blow immediately.

Alas, it didn't even have time to use its life-saving Rune before being killed by Mengchen.

Faced with those who harbored ill intentions toward him, Mengchen never showed mercy.

Then, a large, pitch-black bird swooped down from the distance, radiating a terrifying fluctuation.

Seeing this, Mengchen swung his fist once more, and a streak of light fist-imprint shot out explosively.

With a bang, that bird opened its beak and shot out a black radiance, striking the streak of light fist-imprint until it dissipated.

Immediately following, that pitch-black giant bird dove down at extreme speed, its sharp beak like a keen sword, pointing straight at Mengchen's brow.

Its speed was incredibly fast, arriving in the blink of an eye.

"Let me show you whether this poor monk's fist is harder, or your beak is harder."

Having said that, Mengchen swung his arm to gather strength, his entire arm becoming brilliant, his fist looking as if it had been gilded, shining intensely.

"Bang!"

"Crack!"

The fist and the bird's beak collided violently, and the pitch-black giant bird's sharp beak was smashed and broken in an instant.

Under the impact of the immense force, the pitch-black giant bird retreated explosively; its beak was broken, its maw was split open, blood dripped everywhere, and its bird mouth was ruined beyond recognition.

Mengchen began to sneer loudly, "A big bird without a beak is truly a sight to behold! I wonder if a big bird without legs or wings would look good; by then, I could call you a bird-stick!"

"Oh my mommy! This bald guy is too terrifying."

Upon hearing this, the pitch-black giant bird spoke with a sobbing tone, screaming and shouting as it instantly crushed a life-saving spirit talisman, disappearing right then and there.

"Crying for daddy and mommy already," Mengchen said, speechless.

Afterward, he walked at a leisurely pace, heading toward other regions to explore.

(End of this chapter)