His vision blurred, and Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze appeared in a forest.
They had been holding hands before the teleportation. After arriving, they were still holding hands, less than half a step apart.
They looked at each other and smiled, both letting out a breath of relief. Good, they had not been separated. Xia Yunzhao said, “There’s so little spiritual energy here. Is it because the fragment is incomplete?”
Shang Shuangze shook his head. “I don’t know.”
Spiritual energy in this secret realm was as scarce as water in a desert. With their cultivation, the two of them could normally absorb spiritual energy from the air with every breath. Now, forget absorbing any; even the spiritual energy within their own bodies was leaking away. In this secret realm, let alone fighting, even standing completely still would consume a fair amount of spiritual power.
“Hm?” Xia Yunzhao raised his free hand. A stone had appeared in his palm, with a number carved into it: Group D, No. 666.
He was just about to ask what it was when a voice came from the stone. “A total of 2,300 teams are participating in this competition, comprising 7,913 people. Each team has been issued a numbered talisman stone, numbered according to the order in which teams entered the secret realm. In a dangerous situation, say ‘Withdraw from the competition’ to the talisman stone and you will be removed from the secret realm. The Myriad-Phenomena Spirit Stones are hidden somewhere within the secret realm. Any team that finds one may advance directly to the next round. In addition, gathering spirit herbs, spirit ores, and other spirit items within the secret realm, or killing slaughter beasts, will earn points. The ten highest-scoring teams may also advance to the next round. The detailed scoring rules can likewise be displayed through the talisman stone by channeling spiritual power into it. The competition is limited to five days. After five days, the Heaven-and-Earth Secret Realm will close. Please take note.”
Xia Yunzhao channeled spiritual power into the talisman stone, and sure enough, it projected an image showing the scoring rules: each Level-One spirit item was worth one point, each Level-Two spirit item two points, each Level-Three spirit item five points, and each Level-Four spirit item ten points.
Killing one Level-One slaughter beast was worth two points, a Level-Two beast three points, a Level-Three beast eight points, and a Level-Four beast twenty points.
The image flickered again and changed to display the team numbers in this competition, beginning with Group A, No. 1. Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze were Group D, No. 666, somewhere around the middle of the pack. The competition had only just begun, so every team still had zero points.
Xia Yunzhao read the rules carefully, then examined the talisman stone. The thing was quite interesting. It could transmit voices, teleport people, and even project images, combining the functions of a Voice-Transmission Stone, a teleportation formation, and a Phantom Stone. Who knew how it had been refined? Qianyuan Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a great sect. It had no shortage of talent.
He added, “Judging by the rules, gathering spirit items pays less than killing slaughter beasts.”
Shang Shuangze nodded. “But killing slaughter beasts is riskier.”
It came down to what each team was willing to risk. Still, anyone who had entered the Qianyuan Grand Competition was obviously here for the rewards. Xia Yunzhao guessed that more people would choose to hunt slaughter beasts.
Just then, the rankings changed. Two teams shot to the front at the same time: Group A, No. 18 had ten points, while Group B, No. 42 had three.
Some impatient teams had already started.
Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze exchanged a glance. They needed to hurry too.
Xia Yunzhao said, “There’s hardly any spiritual energy here, so fluctuations from spirit items stand out much more clearly. Left or right?”
Shang Shuangze pointed. “That way.”
Xia Yunzhao smiled. “Same as I thought.” With that, both men sprang into motion and vanished in a blur.
Even though it was only a fragment, the secret realm was enormous. The two traveled for quite a while without seeing a second team.
Suddenly, Shang Shuangze stopped and made a hand signal. Xia Yunzhao stopped with him.
Shang Shuangze tilted his head and listened. Mingyun left its sheath, cold sword light flashing, and a huge snake covered in knobby growths crashed to the ground. Its skin looked exactly like tree bark, even the lumps on it imitating knots in the wood, and its aura was indistinguishable from the surrounding trees. If Shang Shuangze had not run it through with a single strike, Xia Yunzhao would almost have missed it.
When Xia Yunzhao checked again, their score had jumped straight to eight points. That bizarre snake was actually a Level-Three slaughter beast.
The other teams’ scores were climbing too. For the moment, they were in fifth place.
But the competition had only just begun. Their current rank meant very little.
“Let’s go.” Shang Shuangze sheathed his sword, only to see Xia Yunzhao rubbing his chin and staring thoughtfully at the dead snake.
Shang Shuangze knew him too well. He understood at once and said helplessly, “We don’t have storage pouches.”
Xia Yunzhao lowered his voice. “We don’t have storage pouches, but we can use something else.”
Shang Shuangze paused. “Aren’t you afraid someone will notice?”
Xia Yunzhao chuckled. “They won’t know whether it ate the thing or is only storing it temporarily. More importantly…” He lowered his voice even further. “The slaughter beasts here seem a little strange. I want to study them…”
Shang Shuangze smiled faintly. “Do what you want. This secret-realm fragment isn’t enough to trap the two of us.”
Remembering the vortex that had nearly blown apart the Cloud-Swallowing Whale’s home, Xia Yunzhao smiled too. He cupped both hands, green light gathering in his palms, and Xiao Qing appeared.
This competition allowed contestants to bring their lifebound magical treasures, so Xiao Qing and Mingyun were both with them. Xiao Qing had just started bouncing around when Xia Yunzhao pressed it down and sent it a voice transmission, telling it to pretend to be an ordinary magical treasure.
Xiao Qing was remarkably quick on the uptake and immediately crouched there without moving.
Xia Yunzhao lifted its lid and stuffed the huge ugly snake into its belly. Whole slaughter-beast carcasses were excellent material for Xiao Qing, but it forcibly restrained itself from digesting this one.
“Let’s go.” Xia Yunzhao gave Shang Shuangze a look. “Next place.”
They nodded and took off at the same time, continuing in the same direction.
Outside the secret realm, on Tongxuan Platform.
A gigantic Voice-Transmission Wall was displaying scenes from inside the secret realm while countless cultivators crowded around to watch.
Qianyuan Sect was being downright shameless. It had never told the cultivators inside that their every move would be broadcast outside!
Of course, disciples from major sects, or clever people like Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze, had probably suspected something. Disciples from smaller sects might not have guessed, however, and many of them exposed their trump cards as soon as the competition began.
Fortunately for them, nobody paid much attention to the smaller sects anyway. Most people wanted to watch how the disciples of the major powers performed.
“As expected of Qianyuan Sect’s Earth-Vein Office! They found a Level-Four spirit item immediately. Ten points just like that! The Heaven-Measuring Ruler truly is a supreme-grade magical treasure!”
“The disciples from Shuixi Pavilion are impressive too. They actually found a Level-Two slaughter-beast nest. They’re definitely going to rack up a killing next!”
“The Lingxiao Palace disciples…”
“Yunmeng Marsh…”
Below Tongxuan Platform, people had even set up betting pools on which team would find a Myriad-Phenomena Spirit Stone and which teams would make it into the top ten.
In the crowd, a young man finally squeezed his way out, looked around, and ran in a certain direction. “The City Lord and Senior Shang are fifth right now! They killed a Level-Three slaughter beast. They’re amazing!”
The young man was naturally Su Meng.
Zhong Yundu laughed. “I told you that kid’s clever. He definitely wouldn’t expose himself. You’re the one worrying for nothing.”
Du Yan was still frowning. “Don’t get careless.”
Xiang Moyue was the quickest of them at thinking these things through. “If City Lord Xia wants to advance to the second round, it would be best to find a Myriad-Phenomena Spirit Stone. The rankings can change too easily. More importantly, there’s one thing the rules never mentioned…”
“Spirit items might be stealable.” Xia Yunzhao struck out with a burst of spiritual power, dropping a Level-Two slaughter beast dead on the spot. He casually stuffed the carcass into Xiao Qing’s belly.
Shang Shuangze flourished his sword. Several slaughter-beast carcasses lay beside him as well. “If spirit items can be stolen, then hunting other teams is more profitable than hunting slaughter beasts, and less risky.”
Xia Yunzhao nodded. Exactly.
As luck would have it, Xia Yunzhao had just finished putting away the slaughter beasts on Shang Shuangze’s side when a voice sounded behind them. “A two-man team? Well, isn’t that convenient! You two find anything good? Why don’t you take it out and let us have a look?”
Xia Yunzhao turned around in confusion. Behind them stood a full five-man team. All five wore matching sect uniforms, obviously from the same sect. Four were Golden Core cultivators and one was at Foundation Establishment, and among those four Golden Core cultivators, two were even at late Golden Core.
No wonder they dared to rob them. On the surface, Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze were merely two Golden Core cultivators.
Xia Yunzhao looked them over curiously. “Not convenient at all. We haven’t found a single spirit item. What sect are you fellows from? I don’t recognize those uniforms.”
The late-Golden-Core cultivator facing him grinned. “Then I guess we’ll just have to acquaint you with it. Your granddaddy here is from the Blood-Boiling Sect!”
As he spoke, he pulled his palms apart. Blood-red spiritual power appeared between them like mist, and he lunged forward like a giant bat.
Xia Yunzhao had said they had found no spirit items, but the man did not believe him.
This was the first battle since everyone had entered the Heaven-and-Earth Secret Realm. Neither side belonged to a major sect, but the fight still attracted plenty of attention from the cultivators watching outside.
Quite a few people turned to look, and Du Yan’s group naturally did the same.
Du Yan quickly explained, “The Blood-Boiling Sect is subordinate to Qianyuan Sect. Their cultivation method is the Blood-Boiling Spirit-Burning Art, which can increase explosive power and speed for a short time. It gives them a considerable advantage in combat…”
He had not even finished speaking when, on the screen, Shang Shuangze kicked the blood-red ‘bat’ lunging at Xia Yunzhao and sent him flying.
Du Yan: “…Of course, they’re still no match for Xiao Xia and the others.”
On the screen, Shang Shuangze kicked the late-Golden-Core cultivator away. Sword light flashed, and an arm landed on the ground.
Xia Yunzhao leapt into the air and dodged another man’s sneak attack. Speechless, he said, “I already told you we didn’t find anything. Besides, we don’t even know if stolen spirit items count toward the score! Do you really have to go this hard?”
The man gave a vicious grin. “You’ll know once we’re done robbing you!”
The Blood-Boiling Sect fought with extraordinary ruthlessness. Either they won quickly or they died quickly. Losing an arm or a leg barely registered to them.
Xia Yunzhao had not originally intended to kill them. This was only a competition; there was no need to fight to the death. But as their attacks became more and more vicious, he stopped holding back and sent one of them flying with a palm strike.
These five had chosen the wrong people to rob. They might all be Golden Core cultivators, but the gap between one Golden Core cultivator and another could be enormous.
In the end, all four Golden Core cultivators on the other side lay sprawled on the ground, their condition unknown. Only the Foundation Establishment cultivator remained, trembling in terror without having thrown a single attack.
Xia Yunzhao crouched down and began rummaging through them. “How many spirit items did you find?”
The Foundation Establishment cultivator’s voice shook. “O-one Level-Three spirit herb, two Level-Two spirit flowers, and… and some Level-One spirit items…”
“That many?” Xia Yunzhao was surprised. “Your score must be pretty high, then?” He found the talisman stone on the late-Golden-Core cultivator and checked the number. Well, look at that. This team was currently ranked third, several places above them.
He then searched the man’s clothes for the spirit herbs. Nobody had storage pouches, so they could only keep the herbs tucked inside their robes.
When Xia Yunzhao pulled them out, he smiled. “Gold-Spirit Grass and Cloud-Rain Flower? Perfect. I can refine a furnace of Five-Qi Convergence Pills.” He tossed the talisman stone into the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s arms. “Withdraw.”
The cultivator froze. Xia Yunzhao’s gaze turned cold. “You don’t want to withdraw? Then leave your life here.”
“I’ll withdraw, I’ll withdraw!” The Foundation Establishment cultivator finally snapped out of it and shouted at the talisman stone, “Withdraw from the competition! Withdraw from the competition!”
White light burst from the talisman stone and wrapped around all five members of the team. They vanished at the same time.
Xia Yunzhao raised an eyebrow. As expected, the talisman stone could teleport people.
And sure enough, stealing spirit items did award points. Their team’s score shot upward to forty-five, putting them in second place. Group A, No. 18 remained first with fifty-six points.
Xia Yunzhao said, “Let’s go. We’ll find somewhere to refine pills.”
The competition had only just begun, and the rankings were changing extremely quickly. A moment later, another team surged upward and passed them into second place. Group D, No. 666 dropped to third, then quickly to fifth.
Some cultivators outside had been tempted to bet on them after seeing how easily they defeated the Blood-Boiling Sect. But when their ranking fell so quickly, those people immediately abandoned the idea and turned their attention back to the major sects.
Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze kept moving. Whenever they encountered a slaughter beast, they killed it in passing and stored the carcass. Whenever they encountered a spirit item, they gathered it. But their direction never changed; they kept heading the same way as before.
Eventually they reached the edge of the forest and finally heard another sound. It was one they both knew very well: the sea, waves washing onto shore.
They exchanged a glance and raised their guard at the same time. The view suddenly opened before them. Sure enough, there was a coastline ahead.
More precisely, it was a cape.
A vast forest covered the shore, flanked by two mountains. Beyond the forest lay a golden beach and an endless sea. Farther still, where sea and sky met, there was only an irregular stretch of nothingness. This was merely a fragment, not a complete Heaven-and-Earth Secret Realm.
“Looks like the competition area is restricted to the forest,” Xia Yunzhao said.
If so, then whether they wanted points or spirit items, they could only obtain them inside the forest.
Now that they knew the boundary of the secret realm, the two turned back and found a cave in the nearby mountain to refine pills.
It was perfectly normal for a pill cultivator to refine pills, so hardly anyone paid attention. Thus no one noticed that, while refining, the unremarkable-looking pill furnace quietly swallowed several whole slaughter-beast carcasses.
A furnace of Five-Qi Convergence Pills posed little difficulty for Xia Yunzhao. In less than a quarter-hour, he had finished refining them. He did not open the furnace, however, and instead waited for Xiao Qing to finish digesting.
The progress bar visible only to him flickered past and rose by a tiny notch. He raised an eyebrow and sent a voice transmission. “Well? How are these different from the slaughter beasts outside?”
After a moment, Xiao Qing’s faint reply came through: “They taste better than the ones outside! There’s so much spiritual energy. One of these is worth ten out there!”
Just as he thought!
He knew these slaughter beasts felt different. Their fighting strength was about the same as those outside, but they were packed with spiritual energy. He guessed this fragment had originally been rich in spiritual energy, and that either Qianyuan Sect had drained it away or something had gone wrong with the fragment itself, leaving it depleted.
He thought the latter was more likely. If he owned a fragment like this, he certainly would not bear to drain away all its spiritual energy.
The pill furnace opened. Five plump pills sprang out amid a rich medicinal fragrance. Xia Yunzhao caught them in one hand, split them with Shang Shuangze, and said cheerfully, “Let’s go.”
Being able to refine pills himself was wonderful. Everyone else had to endure the constant loss of spiritual energy, but they could replenish theirs with pills.
After that, they continued killing slaughter beasts and searching for spirit items. This only confirmed Xia Yunzhao’s guess. Most of the slaughter beasts in the forest were Level Two or Level Three, and there were even Level-Four beasts, which meant spiritual energy here must once have been extremely abundant.
“That’s strange.” Xia Yunzhao picked up the carcass of a Level-Three slaughter beast and tossed it into the furnace. “We’ve been killing beasts nonstop. How have we not seen a single spirit herb?”
The Blood-Boiling Sect people had found several spirit herbs. What were the two of them missing? Surely it could not just be luck.
Shang Shuangze shook his head at him, indicating he had not found any spirit herbs either.
There was another fairly serious problem. Perhaps their killing intent had become too strong, because after they killed several slaughter beasts in succession, even the beasts started staying farther and farther away from them.
Xia Yunzhao opened the rankings and checked again. Not good. They had already fallen out of the top ten. He finally understood their disadvantage in this competition. Kill too many slaughter beasts and the rest would flee far away; meanwhile, they could not find spirit herbs. No matter how strong they were, it did them no good if they could not earn points.
Just then, faint voices came from not far away. The two immediately held their breath and vanished into hiding.
Before long, a group of people came past, escorting a young monk as a prisoner.
There were more than ten people altogether. Judging by their clothing, they seemed to be three teams that had joined forces.
The young monk had red lips and white teeth and looked only seventeen or eighteen. He wore white robes, was only at Foundation Establishment, and had been bound with a thick tree vine.
Two burly men marched him to the tree where Xia Yunzhao and Shang Shuangze were hiding. One looked around and barked, “Where are the spirit herbs? I’m warning you, little monk, don’t try anything funny! Or I’ll gouge out your eye!”
The young monk said innocently, “The spirit item this humble monk sensed is right here.”
The burly man froze, then waved to the others. “Spread out and search!”
“Yes!”
Another man hesitated. “There doesn’t seem to be any spirit item here. Could the little monk have sensed it wrong?”
The burly man shook his head. “No. We searched dozens of spirit items off this little monk, both spirit herbs and spirit ores. He definitely has some way to sense spirit items!” He handed the monk over to the other man. “I’ll search too. Watch him. If he moves, gouge out one of his eyes!”
The man nodded. “Don’t worry, boss!”
The young monk did not move at all. There was even a faint smile on his face as he raised his head and looked upward.
The man thought he had discovered a spirit item and looked up too, but saw nothing. He yanked the vine roughly. “What are you looking at? Behave!”
The young monk smiled. “I was thinking that this tree is so tall and so lush. Isn’t that a good thing?”
The man: “?”
He cursed inwardly. Were Buddhist cultivators all crazy? The kid had already been captured and was still worrying about whether a tree was growing well. What did it have to do with him?
The treetop shifted slightly, so inconspicuously that it looked like nothing more than a breeze brushing past. A voice transmission sounded beside the young monk’s ear.
The voice was clear and pleasant, carrying a hint of laughter. “Master, if I save you, can you help me find spirit items?”