by Translator: BornToBe; Author: Ordinary Magician (平凡魔术师); Licensed From: 17k
“Not only will there be countless opportunities in the secret realm, but it is also extremely beneficial to your cultivation. It is much easier to break through inside.
“Each time the secret realm opens, the majority of disciples will have reached the Bone Forging realm by the time they leave. So you absolutely cannot look down on the Jiuli secret realm.
“I heard that eighteen hundred years ago, a member of the Corrupt path didn’t bother searching for treasures when he entered, instead focusing on a rapid breakthrough.
“In just a month, he advanced to the Bone Forging realm. With his cultivation base’s superiority, he crazily slaughtered the Righteous disciples.
“In that generation, the Righteous path suffered a huge loss, and over half of those talented disciples were killed by him.” Ling Yunzi was extremely grave.
“How vicious!” Hearing that made their hearts shake. He had killed over half of the Righteous path’s disciples! Those weren’t just ordinary disciples, but core disciples! Some of them also had to be Favored and Chosen.
“That’s why you have to focus on safety above all else in the secret realm. Even if there is a heaven-defying opportunity in front of you, if you don’t have enough strength, it will still be taken by others. And the most infuriating thing is that you not only have to be on guard against the Corrupt path’s disciples attacking you, but you have to be even more on guard against the Righteous path’s disciples’ sneak attacks. Those are the most terrifying,” explained Ling Yunzi.
Other than Long Chen, the other core disciples were startled. Obviously, they hadn’t expected that they not only had to defend against powerful enemies but also their own ‘comrades’.
“There’s nothing strange about this. The Righteous path’s people are all most skilled in internal strife. They don’t dare truly fight against the Corrupt path, but when it comes to handling their own people, they are absolute experts.
“In this world, everyone is selfish. People spend all day scheming and plotting. You scheme against me, I scheme against you. Every disciple in the same sect tries to suppress his peers.
“Otherwise, with how powerful the Righteous path is, how could they still have failed to suppress the Corrupt path after all these years? Other than causing trouble for their own people, the Righteous path doesn’t have much else in the way of skills.” Long Chen was extremely calm.
Ling Yunzi was helpless about this. Long Chen was completely correct. Although the Corrupt path was heartless and vicious, when it came to working together against common enemies, they were much, much better than the Righteous path.
The supermonastery had a total of 108 monasteries. There were many cases of those monasteries suppressing and backstabbing each other. Although those cases were ‘rare’ when it came to out-in-the-open fights, who knew just how many despicable behind-the-scenes schemes were going on?
Their failure to obtain a Chosen position for Long Chen was an excellent example. The Corrupt path had ranked Long Chen number two on their must-kill list. Was it possible that the higher-ups of the supermonastery were unable to see that?
In truth, they had all seen that. But because it involved a few people’s selfish interests, those authorities acted as if they didn’t know about it. As for others who were well aware of it, they could only act as if they were blind as well in order to avoid offending those in power.
That was the Righteous path’s unwritten rules. That was a hierarchy that could not be more rotten even if they tried. Each of them was selfish, only handling their own problems. Who would help you out in times of trouble?
Of course, if that trouble was actually a golden opportunity or treasure, then with the Righteous path’s selfishness, an incredible number of people would come to try and snatch it from you.
Furthermore, for their own interests, they were willing to use whatever despicable, shady methods they could. That really made people sigh. If you simply focused that kind of enthusiasm on fighting the Corrupt path, wouldn’t the Corrupt path have long since been exterminated?
But there were always those ‘smart people’ in the Righteous path who did anything they could to gain a higher position. They constantly thought about how they could suppress people on the same side as them so they could rise higher.
Just thinking of that made people feel downhearted. But people were helpless. Unless you decided to become an ordinary person again, as a cultivator, you had to face this.
Ling Yunzi had long since understood the rottenness of the Righteous path. But he had no way to fix it.
Not only had he had no way of changing the hypocritical side of the ‘Righteous’ path, but he had also almost lost himself in that struggle. If Long Chen hadn’t appeared, he would have forever lost his way.
Ling Yunzi had now understood that he was only a cultivator. There was no need for him to try and change others. So now, he would do whatever he wanted to do. Why bother caring about the consequences so much?
“Once you enter the secret realm, don’t easily trust anyone, especially those ‘comrades’ who smile to your face while hiding a knife. You must be careful.” Long Chen solemnly warned everyone.
The enemies you could see coming at you weren’t dangerous. The real dangers were the ones you didn’t see coming.
Although Tang Wan-er and the others were powerful and he didn’t worry too much about them facing off against the Corrupt path’s disciples, Long Chen was extremely worried about them being stabbed in the back.
That was also why he said Gu Yang’s defeat to that Favored from the thirty-sixth monastery wasn’t a bad thing. That could be said to be a lesson for everyone.
Suddenly, the space around them trembled, and their feet stepped down onto a simple brick path.
Chapter 309 Han Tianyu
“We’ve arrived?”
Long Chen looked around him. This was an extremely large plaza. There were over a hundred groups present.
Those groups were in a semi-circle around the center of the plaza. Long Chen noticed that there was a certain design under each of those groups.
After carefully examining them, Long Chen noticed they were archaic characters for numbers, going from number one to number 108.
All of them suddenly realized that they were actually the last to arrive. The only open area was the spot numbering 108.
Their arrival immediately attracted attention from the others. Some gazes were curious, some were indifferent, but the absolute majority were disdainful.
And yet, when they sensed their auras, that disdain became amazement.
Of their 108th monastery, Tang Wan-er’s cultivation base was the highest. A couple of days ago, she had advanced to the seventh Heavenstage of Tendon Transformation, and her aura was shocking to these people.
Other than Tang Wan-er, the others were also extremely powerful, their auras like sharp, unsheathed blades that made it so others didn’t dare look at them directly.
“Huh? Someone at Blood Condensation?” Some people finally noticed Long Chen. Although he had been hiding amongst the other core disciples, there were still people who noticed him.
There was no way around it. Long Chen’s cultivation base was the lowest of everyone present. It was impossible to hide.
“He is that rumored ‘Chosen’? Tch, what shocking boasting. Even if you beat me to death, I wouldn’t believe he could fight an eight-temper Bone Forging expert.” A core disciple’s sneer rang through the air.
“I heard he was supposed to have defeated Jiang Yifan? I bet that was just a complete lie. With Jiang Yifan’s status, he probably was too lazy to even meet with such a person. He probably felt even explaining the lie would be too disgraceful for him,” added on another person.
Although they were talking quietly, it rang out clearly in all these experts’ ears.
At the first monastery’s position, there was a certain extraordinary, handsome man who was surrounded by several beautiful women, similar to how stars flocked around the moon.
That man was acclaimed as the number one expert within the monasteries, a Chosen amongst Chosen, Han Tianyu.
“That person is Long Chen? He looks like he might have a couple of tricks, but he’s incredibly lacking compared to big brother Tianyu.” A pretty woman beside Han Tianyu indifferently glanced at Long Chen.
That woman was slender with an alluring waist. When combined with her not-bad-looking face, she could count as a beauty.
But her chest was completely flat, a surface so flat that not even a housefly would be able to rest there. That caused her to lose a bit of her seductive beauty.
Han Tianyu shook his head. “Junior apprentice-sister Yi, saying it like that is a mistake. This Long Chen is extremely strong. Those rumors are not necessarily false.”
That woman was called Yin Wushuang. She was also a Chosen, however, she had only just been given that title.
She was precisely the one who had become a Chosen the day after Tu Fang had been told there were no more Chosen positions to give out.
Yin Wushuang was an extremely powerful Favored, and she also had an incredibly powerful background. She had only just joined the first monastery.
However, she wasn’t the same as other disciples. She had joined the first monastery expressly because of Han Tianyu. She was one of his worshippers.
Han Tianyu was acclaimed the strongest junior expert of the Xuantian Supermonastery. He possessed a confident kind of handsomeness, and he had countless female worshippers. Yin Wushuang was one of them, and she was one of the more obsessed members.
“Brother Tianyu, you really are too modest. The current him is definitely unable to block even three of your attacks.” Yin Wushuang smiled.
Han Tianyu shook his head. “The fact that he could defeat an eight-temper Bone Forging expert with his cultivation base means he really is very powerful. But if I were to attack him at this point, that really would be bullying. I’ll wait until he advances to Tendon Transformation. Perhaps then he’ll interest me a bit. As for now… haha.”
Although Han Tianyu appeared a calm and indifferent person, he emitted an unconcealable arrogance. That kind of arrogance had an incredible effect on these young women just awakening to feelings of love.
“Haha, brother Tianyu, sister Biluo has been staring at Long Chen this entire time. It seems she’s a bit interested.” Yin Wushuang’s gaze suddenly turned to the group beside them.
Right beside the first monastery was the second monastery. Within the entire supermonastery, only the second monastery was able to slightly contend against their first monastery.
But in the past thousands of years, they had only ever taken the first ranking once.
Although they were suppressed by the first monastery, the second monastery also had an extremely profound foundation. They might be able to surpass the first monastery at any time.
The second monastery was the only one truly capable of contesting against the first monastery, and the second monastery’s strongest disciple was Hua Biluo.
Hua Biluo was extremely mysterious. She had always been hidden by the second monastery. Only recently had she been revealed to the outer world.
It was said that Hua Biluo was the second monastery’s secret weapon and was extremely powerful. However, none of them knew how powerful she was, as not even the second monastery’s disciples had ever seen her fight.
Han Tianyu frowned slightly. Hua Biluo had an elegant figure. Her long hair fell to her waist, her willowy eyebrows spread out lightly, and a dazzling brightness came from her phoenix eyes. She was curiously gazing at the distant Long Chen.
With that kind of beauty, there was no man who didn’t admire her.
Even Han Tianyu felt his heart beat faster when he looked at her beauty. Yin Wushuang’s words irritated him slightly.
But he didn’t display it, merely smiling slightly. “It’s no wonder she’s curious. Anyone would find it curious that a little fellow only at Blood Condensation would be able to enter the Jiuli secret realm.”
“Oh really? Ok then. If sister Biluo had instead become interested in that little fellow’s face, that would make brother Tianyu hurt.” Yin Yushuang easily saw through what he was really thinking.
Han Tianyu merely smiled without saying anything. But there was clearly a bit of unhappiness in his eyes. Hua Biluo’s actions truly dissatisfied him.
Who knew whether she had done it intentionally or not, but that beauty Hua Biluo hadn’t even looked at him once since arriving. She had even acted as if she hadn’t heard his courteous greeting, causing him a bit of anger.
But as soon as Long Chen arrived, she immediately focused on him. Although he knew that should just be curiosity, it still dissatisfied him.
“Let’s go to our position.” Ling Yunzi obviously was already accustomed to this kind of jeering, and he brought them away.
Long Chen and the others looked back at those gazes. Not only was there dislike and contempt, but there was also a great deal of provocation.
They thought back to what Long Chen had just said before. The Righteous path’s people were all just a bunch of rats—meek when they were weak, but then tyrants when they could be. When they saw their own people, they would look down on them disdainfully, but as soon as they saw those savage Corrupt disciples, they’d flee into the wind.
Tang Wan-er saw that in those groups, there was always one person who was surrounded by beauties at the front. That made it obvious that those people at the front were the lead disciples of their groups.
Tang Wan-er cast a stealthy glance at Ye Zhiqiu. Ye Zhiqiu’s icy face reddened slightly, but she still nodded.
Long Chen had been walking amongst the other core disciples in a very low-key manner when a burst of fragrance appeared, and two soft arms wrapped around his arms, pulling closer towards him.
Long Chen instantly stiffened, looking at Tang Wan-er and Ye Zhiqiu in shock. He had no idea what they were doing. Why were they suddenly acting so affectionate?
“Don’t say anything, and don’t let your imagination run wild. This is just to win some honor for our monastery.” Tang Wan-er quietly whispered to Long Chen while holding his arm.
At this time, Tang Wan-er’s face had a shy bashfulness to it, and a beautiful, charming light shone in her eyes. That kind of look could make a person melt.
As for Ye Zhiqiu, when that trace of redness appeared on her icy face, that made her beauty even more irresistible.
Being escorted, arm-in-arm, by two beauties, Long Chen practically forgot how to walk.
Gu Yang and the others immediately understood what Tang Wan-er and Ye Zhiqiu were doing, and they respectfully opened a path for them to walk to the front.
Just at this moment, Guo Ran took out a gong and smashed a hammer onto it, releasing a loud sound.
After striking the gong, Guo Ran then took out two huge banners, one saying Silence, the other saying Step Back.
Glancing at the solemn Guo Ran, Long Chen had an urge to throttle him. All his face had been thrown away by him today.
As expected, whether it was the disciples or even the sect leaders, they were all stupefied as they watched Long Chen’s procession.
Ling Yunzi smiled and didn’t say anything. If his kids wanted to make some noise, he would let them.
When Tang Wan-er and Ye Zhiqiu walked to the front of the group with Long Chen, quite a few women’s eyes lit up.
Although Long Chen was handsome, he was still slightly inferior to Han Tianyu in that aspect. However, Long Chen possessed a certain wildness that he did not.
Seeing that dangerous, mysterious wildness, it felt as if Long Chen was an untamable leopard, causing people to feel that he was both dangerous, as well as beautiful. They had an urge to attempt to subdue him.
However, most people weren’t thinking of that. That was because most of the ones present were men who wanted to kill Long Chen and take his place.
Tang Wan-er and Ye Zhiqiu were both top beauties, and the most amazing thing
about them was that their beauty was completely different. The two of them contrasted with each other perfectly, and combined, that level of beauty shook their souls and made it so they were unable to breathe.
Each man present felt their envy practically drive them insane. Some of them were able to restrain that envy, but there were some who weren’t able to hold back, and their eyes turned green from their envy.
Even the usually indifferent Han Tianyu revealed some envy in his eyes. Only now did he realize both Tang Wan-er and Ye Zhiqiu were also exceptionally beautiful, not at all inferior to Hua Biluo.
Because they had to go to the 108th position, they had to walk past every single one of the other groups.
When they walked in front of the first monastery, Long Chen sensed something and turned to glance at Han Tianyu. However, at this time, Han Tianyu was sitting down with his eyes closed.
“This person is extremely powerful.”
That was Long Chen’s first thought. He sensed an incredible pressure from Han Tianyu’s body. He also felt an indescribable threat.
Once he arrived at the second monastery, he saw a beautiful woman wearing apricot-yellow robes. She smiled slightly at Long Chen.
Long Chen was a bit startled and based on courtesy, he was about to return a smile when he felt a sharp pain from his waist.
Chapter 310 Domineering Ling Yun-zi
Long Chen was just about to smile back when he felt a sharp pain from his waist. With Long Chen’s powerful physical body, as long as he was on guard, others were unable to cause him any pain by pinching him.
However, he hadn’t been on guard at that time. Furthermore, Tang Wan-er was now incredibly used to doing this. She had practiced her technique on Long Chen so often that now her pinching skills had reached the point of perfection. In fact, perhaps they wouldn’t fall short of Long Chen’s face-slapping technique.
In addition, Tang Wan-er had just advanced to the seventh Heavenstage of Tendon Transformation. The power from her hands was able to break through Long Chen’s defenses, making him feel pain.