Chapter 79: Core of the Realm

The gratitude for surviving the calamity has long been replaced by endless Exhaustion and bone‑deep lingering dread.

Looking at the surrounding inferno‑like scene and the corpse of an evil Dragon that, even in death, still exuded a heart‑pounding oppressive pressure, many people's greed and fervor had already been doused by the cruel reality.

"It's… it's too terrifying… this is simply a situation we cannot take part in…"

A small sect's Sect Leader muttered dejectedly, his elite disciples all annihilated, and he himself had lost an arm.

"Several Immortal great beings have already fallen… if we keep going deeper… can we even survive to get out?"

Another person's voice trembled, fear filling their eyes.

"A chance… a destiny‑defying chance… you also need a fate to have it…" Someone gave a wry smile, shook their head, already harboring thoughts of retreat.

Continue deeper?

With what to go deeper?

Even the three major hegemon powers have suffered heavy losses; these remnants of defeated troops, if they encounter any more danger, will likely face total annihilation!

In the corner where the Shura Divine Hall squad stood, Duan Wutian's complexion was as pale as paper, his breath uneven, occasionally letting out a light cough, with a few strands of blood at the corner of his mouth.

To protect Duan Shura and Ye Wuque from the terrifying onslaught of the sky‑devouring Xie Di Dragon, he forcibly activated Primordial, his injuries already severe, even shaking his foundation.

Duan Shura's condition was slightly better, yet his face was still pallid, one arm hanging limp, clearly his Bones shattered, his combat power reduced to less than a tenth.

Duan Wutian swallowed several precious pills, exhaled a breath, looked at Ye Wuque, his voice hoarse and heavy:

"Ye Xiaoyou… this foray into the secret realm far exceeds our expectations. The current situation, nine deaths to one life… I am badly wounded, and Shura… likely lacks the strength to continue onward."

He gazed toward the deep interior of the secret realm, his eyes filled with dread and helplessness:

"The danger deeper within is probably no weaker than that sky‑devouring Xie Di Dragon… go further, and it may be ten deaths with no survivors."

Duan Shura also spoke with difficulty, his tone tinged with unwillingness but more concern: "Brother Ye, let's go together! As long as the green mountains remain, we need not fear lacking firewood! This cursed place is simply not fit for people!"

Ye Wuque looked at the badly wounded father and son, understanding in his heart that their choice was the most rational.

He slowly shook his head, yet his gaze remained steadfast toward the secret realm's depths, where something seemed to faintly beckon him, perhaps the breakthrough opportunity of the eleventh Saint King.

"Duan Hall Master, Duan brother, your injuries are serious; indeed you should not risk further."

Ye Wuque's tone was calm yet carried undeniable resolve: "But my path must be tempered between life and death, fought through in a dire strait. Having come this far, how can I return empty‑handed? Even if the road ahead is a mountain of knives and a sea of fire, I must go and see."

Duan Wutian looked at Ye Wuque's deep and steadfast eyes, fully aware that the youth's will was unshakable, beyond anyone else's influence.

He sighed deeply, both regretful and slightly admiring: "Alas… Ye Xiaoyou is no ordinary person; I understand. In that case, we shall part ways here. Everything… be sure to stay safe! If the matter cannot be done, survival comes first!"

He struggled to his feet, took out an ancient‑looking token and handed it to Ye Wuque: "This is my Shura Divine Hall Guest Elder Token; with it, you can seek aid in any Star Domain that has a Shura Divine Hall branch. Should the chance arise in the future, you must come to the Shura Divine Hall, and we will extend our hospitality!"

Duan Shura also gave Ye Wuque a firm pat on the shoulder: "Brother Ye, take care!"

"Take care." Ye Wuque tucked away the token, bowing respectfully.

Without further words, Duan Wutian activated his remaining Divine Power, whisked Duan Shura up, turning them into a streak of light, hurrying rather clumsily toward the direction they came, soon vanishing into the dim star wasteland.

Their departure sparked many in the arena to rouse, and eventually another twenty‑to‑thirty Dark Cultivators with heavier injuries or sheer terror, gritted their teeth and fled this dead‑zone.

The number remaining in the arena fell below seventy, almost all belonging to the three major hegemon powers and several other strong factions, plus a few independent cultivators confident in themselves.

The royal uncle Duan Tianxiao of the Zhen Tian Immortal Dynasty watched all this coldly, offering no obstruction.

The departure of these cannon fodders meant nothing to him.

He steadied his breath for a moment, rose, scanned the remaining people, his voice grand yet tinged with cold: "Anyone still wants to leave? Depart now, and you can still make it."

No one answered.

Those who stayed had already placed life and death beyond measure, their eyes burning with final madness and greed.

"Fine!" Duan Tianxiao nodded, pointing toward the depths, "Then follow me! The true core location lies ahead!"

The group forced their injured bodies, following the three major hegemon forces, and pressed onward toward the core.

The deeper they went, the more oppressive the vast ancient pressure became, as if each step tread upon a spacetime older than ten thousand ages.

Finally, after passing through a canyon split as if by a Great Axe, the scene before them opened brightly.

At the far end of a relatively intact massive plaza stood an ancient stone gate that pierced heaven and earth, seemingly linking to the cosmic Honghuang, towering majestically!

The gate's height seemed to reach the Nine Heavens above and descend to the Nine Nether below; looking left or right, no horizon could be seen.

The door's surface bore a dark, Gray White hue, as if cast from stardust bone powder, etched with countless intricate, twisted, utterly incomprehensible strange patterns and runes, exuding a timeless Immortal, indestructible, majestic aura!

Simply gazing at it made one feel as tiny as dust, the soul seemingly being drawn into those endless ancient ages.

An indescribable vast, mysterious, even slightly… unsettling oppressive feeling seeped faintly from behind the stone gate.

Everyone's breath was held at that moment!

Duan Tianxiao, Xuan Wuzi, and Ye Lingyun stood at the forefront, their expressions all exceedingly solemn.

Duan Tianxiao turned, faced the crowd, his voice deep as iron: "Everyone, you must have felt it. Beyond this gate lies the core of this secret realm, the place of the destiny‑defying opportunity!"

He shifted his tone, becoming even more serious:

"But I must be frank again! What lies beyond this gate—whether celestial fate or hell—is unknown! The fragmentary ancient texts our Zhen Tian Immortal Dynasty obtained only record that this place holds a great secret related to breaking the Immortal bottleneck, yet its specifics are entirely unknown! Its peril, I fear, far exceeds what we have faced before!"

"Once stepped into, ten deaths with no life, and that is no empty words!" Xuan Wuzi said, sweeping his dust cloth lightly, his expression solemn.

Ye Lingyun also said coldly: "Now, I give you one final chance to choose. Turn and leave, and you can preserve your lives. Those who wish to advance must unite, act together, to move this gate! Once opened, life or death, each must accept their destiny!"

The words of the three great powers struck each person's heart like a heavy hammer.

The scene fell into Dead Silence.

Fear, greed, hesitation, resolve… a myriad of emotions intertwined in everyone's eyes.

In the end, no one retreated.

Having come this far, paying such a heavy price, who could willingly give up at this final step?

Even if hope is only one in ten thousand, it is worth risking one's life for!

"If that's the case…" a sharp glint flashed in Duan Tianxiao's eyes, "Then… act!"

"Ha!" Duan Tianxiao burst forth first, imperial dragon qi soaring skyward, transforming into a snarling, roaring golden giant dragon that slammed violently into the stone gate!

Xuan Wuzi's rotating Tai Chi Dao diagram churned, Yin Yang Dual Qi grinding like a millstone, imprinting upon the stone gate!

Ye Lingyun then extended a huge white hand, obscuring the sky and sun, and slammed it at the center of the stone gate!

"All together!" the surviving living beings, and all Dark Cultivators who still had a fight left, all with reddened eyes, squeezed out the last of their inner strength, hurling their strongest attacks, without reservation, toward that ancient stone gate that pierced heaven and earth!

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Countless dazzling yet terrifying torrents of energy, like a hundred rivers converging into the sea, raged wildly against the stone gate!

The stone gate, however, did not budge a hair, as if it had existed eternally since antiquity.

Yet under the combined onslaught of so many strong ones, the ancient runes upon it finally began to glow gradually, as if being awakened from slumber!

Buzz—

The stone gate began to emit a low hum, and the entire plaza trembled along with it!

"It's working! Keep going!"

Duan Tianxiao roared.

Everyone gritted their teeth and persisted, wildly outputting Divine Power!

Crack… Crack…

Finally, amid a friction sound that seemed to come from the primeval ages, heavy to the extreme, that ancient stone gate that pierced heaven and earth, after gathering the power of all survivors present, slowly, laboriously… opened a fissure!

A boundlessly rich, infinitely ancient, misty light that seemed to contain the scent of the Primordial opening of the universe spread out from that fissure, accompanied by a heart‑pounding unknown vibration…

Everyone's hearts rose to their throats at that moment!