Chapter 3208: Grade-Three Secret Realm
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The glowing black pill that Jun Chong Shan had consumed was called the Reversal Poison Pill. Most people used the pill to harm others. It could even cause a Celestial Lord’s cultivation base to regress if the antidote was not taken.
In Jun Chong Shan’s case, however, he had taken the pill so that his cultivation would regress back to that of a Ten Directions Celestial King, which would then allow him to enter the upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.
Due to Jun Chong Shan’s precise and tight control over the pill’s effect, he was able to retain part of the strength of his Celestial Origin Energy that was akin to that of a One Basic Celestial Lord despite having reverted to a Ten Directions Celestial King.
To raise his cultivation base back to that of a One Basic Celestial Lord, he would first need to cleanse the poison left behind by the Reversal Poison Pill in his body. It would take him at least thirty to fifty years to do so.
Nevertheless, Jun Chong Shan did not feel regretful. Nothing mattered as long as he could enter the upper realm to avenge his great-grandchildren.
…
When Jun Chong Shan appeared in one of the safe zones in the upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, there was a core disciple from the Wind Thunder Dao Sect present in the safe zone.
“V-vice Hall Master Jun?” The core disciple of the Wind Thunder Dao Sect discovered Jun Chong Shan immediately. He was dumbfounded when he saw his sect’s Vice Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall in the upper realm. He was certain the Vice Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall was a Celestial Lord so how did the vice hall master enter the upper realm?
It was an unbreakable rule in the upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm that those who were above the stage of a Ten Directions Celestial King would not be able to enter. This meant Celestial Lords would not be able to enter the upper realm at all. Even those Ten Directions Celestial Kings who suddenly had a breakthrough and become a One Basic Celestial Lord in the upper realm would be transported out immediately.
Soon after, a shocking thought appeared in the mind of the Wind Thunder Dao Sect’s core disciple. ‘D-don’t… Don’t t-tell me Vice Hall Master Jun took the Reversal Poison Pill just to avenge his great-grandchildren?!’
The Wind Thunder Dao Sect’s core disciple was no stranger to the Reversal Poison Pill. This was because one of the chief alchemists in the sect specialized in refining the Reversal Poison Pill. However, the pills were usually used to harm others. No one, at least not to his knowledge, had ever knowingly and willingly consumed the pill.
‘It seems like Vice Hall Master Jun had heard about that Huan’er reappearing in the upper realm…’ The Wind Thunder Dao Sect’s core disciple sighed as he watched Jun Chong Shan collect an Ident.i.ty Jade Token before he left the safe zone.
“Hm?” All of a sudden, a contemptuous expression appeared on the face of the Wind Thunder Dao Sect’s core disciple. He had seen a few people following Jun Chong Shan out of the safe zone. He said with a sneer, “Those people are seeking death!”
Although Jun Chong Shan’s cultivation base had regressed to that of a Ten Directions Celestial King, he had been, up until recently, a One Basic Celestial Lord, after all. As the Vice Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall and a former One Basic Celestial Lord, ordinary Ten Directions Celestial Kings were naturally no match for him. Moreover, he had retained his comprehension of all nine profundities from the law of fire.
Perhaps, in the entire upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, Huan’er was the only one who was a match for him in terms of comprehension of their respective laws. Even the Tao Scholar Profound Sect’s Yan Ru Yv who topped the scoreboard continuously for 100 years could not beat Jun Chong Shan in this aspect.
…
A month later, somewhere in the upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.
Zhang Jin Yi had just killed a middle-aged man. He waved his hand and obtained the middle-aged man’s points.
‘It seems like they’ve returned to the safe zone or intentionally stopped eliminating others like I did previously.’ When Zhang Jin Yi checked the scoreboard through the Ident.i.ty Jade Token, he discovered Huan’er and Duan Ling Tian’s rankings had dropped.
During this one month, Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s points did not change. As a result, their ranks began to drop. Since the scoreboard would be refreshed tomorrow, no matter how low their ranks dropped, it was impossible for them to fall below 50th place.
‘Just you wait.’
Currently, Zhang Jin Yi’s points put him in 40th place. With this, he would be able to follow Huan’er and Duan Ling Tian into the grade-three secret realm.
Up until now, he was still uncertain if the duo were impostors or not. However, based on the duo’s performance this time, he was inclined to believe they were impostors. Nevertheless, he still planned to confirm the matter.
…
Meanwhile, Jun Chong Shan who entered the upper realm a month ago looked at the scoreboard through his Ident.i.ty Jade Token as well. He saw he was ranked 59th.
Jun Chong Shan did not use his real name. Instead, he used the name Jun Qiu Chen, a portmanteau of his two great-grandchildren’s names.
His eyes flashed coldly as he muttered to himself, “It’s almost time. The scoreboard will be refreshed tomorrow, and the secret realms will open… The grade-three secret realm will be their burial ground!”
…
The Imperial Tutor Pavilion in the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate.
“Let’s go.” Duan Ling Tian held Huan’er’s hand after he brought the Formation compa.s.s out so they could enter the upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm again.
After the duo left the upper realm a month ago, they returned to the Imperial Tutor Pavilion. During that time, they spent most of their time with the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion.
Since the scoreboard would be refreshed in an hour, and the secret realms would open, it was, naturally, time for Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er to return to the upper realm.
…
When Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er appeared in the safe zone, they did not attract much attention.
Most people were focused on their Ident.i.ty Jade Token, watching the scoreboard.
An hour pa.s.sed by quickly, and the rankings for the year were finalized.
Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s rankings dropped all the way below 60th place. Nevertheless, their ranks would still grant them entry to the grade-three secret realm.
“There will be 70 people in the grade-three secret realm, and all of us only have ten days in there.” Although Duan Ling Tian had never been to the grade-three secret realm, he had heard a thing or two about it. Not only was the duration one was allowed to stay in the grade-three secret realm shorter compared to the other two secret realms, but the tests and obstacles were also the most difficult. Compared to the grade-three secret realm, one would feel like they were strolling in a park in the grade-one secret realm.
‘I wonder if seventy of us will be transported to the same place in the grade-three secret realm,’ Duan Ling Tian wondered inwardly.
Soon after, Duan Ling Tian felt the Ident.i.ty Jade Token in hand warming up. His hand instinctively tightened its grip around Huan’er’s hands.
Darkness crowded his vision, and when his sight was restored, he discovered he was in a cage.
Apart from that, he discovered there were many huge bear-like beasts chained outside of the cage. There were a few smaller beasts as well. Despite their size, they looked incredibly terrifying and ferocious.
Apart from that, there were other cages as well.
“Brother Ling Tian, these beasts are all an illusion.”
Huan’er’s voice rang in Duan Ling Tian’s ears, pulling him back to the present.
As a Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox, Huan’er was a master of illusions. She did not need to care about Illusory Formations or techniques at all. It was only natural that she easily saw through the illusions outside the cage.
After Duan Ling Tian regained his senses, he discovered there were another eight people in the cage. ‘I thought all seventy of us would be transported to the same place… It seems like we’re split into groups of ten instead…’
After Duan Ling Tian swept his eyes across the other eight people, he found two familiar faces. The others were complete strangers.
As though they could sense Duan Ling Tian’s gaze, the two people turned around. They seemed pleasantly surprised when they saw him and Huan’er.
“It’s Miss Huan’er and Duan Ling Tian.”
When the other six people heard these words, they turned around immediately to look at Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er. The duo was hard to miss, especially Huan’er with her beauty that eclipsed everything in her surroundings.
“Huan’er? Duan Ling Tian?”
“Hey, it’s really Huan’er!”
“It’s really them! I didn’t expect this. I thought they were impostors”
“Why are they in the grade-three secret realm?”
“It doesn’t matter why. Their presence in the grade-three secret realm is beneficial to us.”
The six people seemed pleased that Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er were with them.
When the seventy people were transported to the grade-three secret realm, they were split into seven groups. One lucky group would be able to enter the secret realm immediately while the other six groups would have to fight. Out of the six groups, only the three victorious groups would be able to enter.
At this moment, someone cried out, “Hey, we’re in group three!”
Soon after, Duan Ling Tian discovered a sign with the number three had appeared at some point in midair in the cage.
At this moment, a monotonous voice rang in the air. “Group five will have a bye1.”
Everyone in Duan Ling Tian’s cage heard it as well. In fact, everyone in the seven cages heard these words.
Someone laughed. “It’s us! We’re group five!”
“We just have to wait before we can enter the secret realm! I didn’t think I’d be so lucky to draw a bye.”
“After twenty years, this is my first time drawing a bye.”
Group five’s cage was noisy. Everyone, except for one person who stood in a corner with a frown on his face, was excited and delighted.
At this moment, a middle-aged man approached the frowning young man and said with a good-natured smile, “Brother, we drew a bye. Aren’t you happy?”
“F*ck off,” the young man said coldly.
The middle-aged man’s expression darkened immediately,
Meanwhile, the other eight people in cage five looked on as though they were watching a show.
“Brother, I’m merely asking if you’re happy. There’s no need for you to be so hostile, right?” the middle-aged man said in a deep voice. He, naturally, felt humiliated and embarra.s.sed, especially since everyone was watching.
“One more word from you, and I’ll kill you,” the young man said tonelessly as he looked at the middle-aged man.
“Did you say you’ll kill me?” The middle-aged man laughed mockingly. “Brother, do you know I rank 33th on the scoreboard?”
The young man sneered at the middle-aged man’s words. It did not seem like he had moved at all, but a faint wave of energy brewed in the air suddenly.
Thud!
Just like that, the middle-aged man fell to the ground, dead. His mocking smile was frozen on his face.