Chapter 17: Set off to explore the secret realm

“However, opportunities often come with risks, and no one knows the specific situation inside,” Liu Qingtian reminded.

“The Secret Realm will disappear within a month. Everyone must come out within a month, otherwise, if the Secret Realm closes, death is certain.”

“Now, if anyone wants to withdraw, raise your hand. This Sect will not force you,” Sect Master Liu Qingtian continued.

No one raised their hand.

After all, most Cultivators never encounter such an Opportunity in their lifetime.

Even with risks, as long as they come out alive, the gains will drive ordinary Cultivators mad.

“Very good. All Disciples participating in this Secret Realm will have their Inner Sect Grand Competition rewards doubled. You may all return to your residences for now. We will depart tomorrow morning, escorted by Ninth Elder.”

Sect Master Liu Qingtian finished speaking and left.

Zhou Chen also left.

Now, his residence was the best living quarter in the Sect, apart from those of Core Disciples. Zhou Chen occupied the Heaven Rank One residence on the Third Pill Refinement Peak’s Inner Sect.

After Zhou Chen left, he did not return to his residence immediately but instead went to the Core Disciple residences on the mountainside of the Main Peak.

He saw that the female Disciple on duty outside Liu Qianru’s Immortal Cave had been replaced by another.

“This Junior Sister, please be so kind as to inform her. I have something important to discuss with Senior Sister Qianru,” Zhou Chen politely said to the female Disciple on duty outside the Immortal Cave.

“Senior Brother, please wait a moment. I will inform her for you,” the woman politely bowed to Zhou Chen and then left. Zhou Chen waited in place.

He did not encounter the same cold reception as last time. After all, a person’s reputation precedes them, and Zhou Chen’s fame had spread among the Outer and Inner Sects, and even among Core Disciples.

A moment later, the woman came out and made a gesture of invitation to Zhou Chen.

“Come in,” a pleasant voice, Liu Qianru’s sound transmission, echoed in Zhou Chen’s ears.

So, Zhou Chen entered.

“Speak, what is it?” Liu Qianru asked, a musky scent emanating from her.

“Senior Sister, I will be going to the Secret Realm tomorrow. Before leaving the Sect, I came to bid Senior Sister farewell and to offer a small gift to express my gratitude for Senior Sister’s help.”

Zhou Chen then took out a jade bottle and handed it to Liu Qianru.

Liu Qianru extended her beautiful jade hand, took the jade bottle, and without looking inside, nodded to Zhou Chen.

“You are thoughtful. Here is a bottle of High Grade Healing Medicinal Pills. For those below the Foundation Establishment Stage, most injuries can be quickly recovered,” Liu Qianru also took out a bottle from her Storage Ring and handed it to Zhou Chen.

“Then I will not disturb Senior Sister any further. Farewell.”

Zhou Chen tactfully left.

After Zhou Chen left, Liu Qianru casually used her Divine Sense to look at the contents of the jade bottle.

The next moment, her face changed color, yet she looked at the jade bottle in her hand with surprise.

It was actually the legendary Beauty Retaining Medicinal Pill, and a Top Grade Beauty Retaining Medicinal Pill at that!

This type of Medicinal Pill had basically been lost on the Heavenly Profound Continent, mainly because many of the Materials recorded in the Beauty Retaining Pill Formulae had become extinct, making it impossible to refine them.

It was rumored that a few Holy Lands still preserved Beauty Retaining Medicinal Pills, but Zhou Chen unexpectedly had one in his hand and even gave it to her!

No female Cultivator does not love beauty, and Liu Qianru was no exception!

The Beauty Retaining Medicinal Pill could allow a Cultivator to maintain a youthful appearance without aging. The Top Grade Beauty Retaining Medicinal Pill could even keep a Cultivator’s skin in optimal condition, and even allow some overly aged Cultivators to return to their appearance Peak, never growing old!

Thinking of this, Liu Qianru’s heart couldn’t help but race, and a thought arose in her mind.

“He couldn’t possibly like me, could he?”

“But he’s only at the Qi Refining Stage. This is truly nonsensical. Perhaps in the next life.”

Liu Qianru shook her head.

However, recalling her earlier casualness and the insignificant healing Medicinal Pill she had given, her cheeks couldn’t help but flush.

She was probably utterly embarrassed in front of this boy, Liu Qianru was so ashamed she wished she could burrow into a hole.

Little did she know, Zhou Chen had a hundred such Beauty Retaining Medicinal Pills, and they were obtained by intercepting Liu Qianru’s return.

If Liu Qianru knew, who knows what she would think.

The next morning.

The top ten Inner Sect Disciples had all arrived, gathered at the Sect’s Main Peak station.

Ninth Elder waved his hand, and an ancient, luxurious flying boat appeared on the ground.

The flying boat was covered with various Formation patterns and unique designs. From the aura it emitted, it was a treasure above Earth Rank.

“All Disciples, depart immediately,” Ninth Elder said loudly.

Without any superfluous words, once everyone was assembled, Ninth Elder activated the flying boat and departed.

…

Half a day later, at the Secret Realm entrance.

Various Sects, dressed in different attire, had already arrived here.

A group of Formation Masters, wearing various Sect uniforms, were systematically setting up something in front of the entrance.

The other Sect Disciples were waiting outside. Zhou Chen counted, and there were as many as five Sects participating in this Secret Realm.

They were Wenxian Sect, Qingshan Sect, Huangfeng Valley, Tianlong Temple, and Emei Grotto.

It seemed this trip carried some risks, but within the Qi Refining Stage, Zhou Chen was confident in handling everything, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator did not scare him.

They were all Immortal Cultivation Schools on par with Wenxian Sect. Among them, Emei Grotto consisted entirely of female Disciples, which was a pleasing sight from afar.

Leading the Qingshan Sect was a young man in a green robe.

The man had sword-like brows and starry eyes, appearing remarkably handsome, and his cultivation fluctuation was at the Qi Refining Tenth Layer.

The people from Huangfeng Valley were relatively low-key, standing towards the back of the line and not interacting with people from other Schools.

Tianlong Temple consisted of a group of monks in kasayas, most of whom appeared solemn, but one short, stout bald monk was an exception, looking around at the female Disciples of Emei Grotto.

“Void Realm, why are you still so unstable? Do not look around,” the leading monk of Tianlong Temple reprimanded the short, stout monk who was looking around.

The short, stout monk pouted, his face bitter.

“Understood, Senior Brother Xuku. I was just curious.”

He reluctantly returned to the team.

“Everyone, the Formation has been set up. You may now enter the Secret Realm,” the voices of the Formation Masters from various Sects came from the front.

Five Secret Realm entrances appeared in front, with each different Sect guarding one entrance, so there was no need to argue over the order of entry.

Zhou Chen took this Opportunity to almost scan the System panels of everyone around him. Various Opportunities emerged endlessly, but none were as good as Ye Chen’s Opportunity.

“First, I’ll harvest Ye Chen’s Opportunity. For the others, I’ll just have to seize the time,” Zhou Chen secretly sighed with regret, but he also knew that he couldn’t obtain all the Opportunities.

Zhou Chen didn’t notice that Ye Chen, looking at Zhou Chen’s back, had a flash of hatred in his eyes.

However, even if Zhou Chen knew, he wouldn’t care, for his goal was Ye Chen’s great Opportunity.

Thinking of this, Zhou Chen couldn’t help but quicken his pace and entered the Secret Realm.

Subsequently, the other Sects also entered the Secret Realm one after another.

With a flash of white light, Zhou Chen appeared in the Secret Realm.