AWB Chapter 314 The Secret Realm Opens
Chapter 314 The Secret Realm Opens
Several days passed in the blink of an eye.
Chen Jinshu's injuries sustained while defending against the beast tide in Liusha City have mostly recovered, and the golden core in his dantian is now more refined than before.
However, the foundation of his soul, which was eroded by the evil energy on the ancient battlefield that day, still needs time to be nurtured.
"Senior." Jiang Yi strode in from the valley entrance, holding a communication jade talisman in his hand, his expression solemn.
"A message from the leader of the Sand Scorpion Alliance."
Chen Jinshu took the jade talisman, tapped it lightly with his fingertip, and a hoarse voice came from the talisman:
"Fellow Daoist Chen, the entrance to the Chenguang Secret Realm has appeared, located atop the 'Burning Heaven Volcano' in the Southern Frontier. I am already on my way, and I hope you will come to join me as soon as possible. Remember, the phenomena in this secret realm are extremely turbulent, and forces from the Western Regions, the Southern Frontier, and even the Eastern Regions are rushing here, so do not delay."
The message abruptly ended there.
Chen Jinshu held the jade talisman and remained silent for a moment.
"Are we about to set off?" Jiang Yi asked in a low voice.
"Okay." Chen Jinshu put the jade talisman into her storage bag and turned to look at him. "You stay in the valley and keep an eye on Sha Ling'er and tide Yue."
"Senior, you're going alone?" Jiang Yi frowned slightly, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.
"That secret realm is extremely dangerous and coveted by various forces, and you, senior, are all alone..."
"Too many people will only get in the way," Chen Jinshu interrupted him, her tone calm but unquestionable.
"Your cultivation has not yet reached the Golden Core stage, so you would only be a burden if you went. Stay in the valley and cultivate diligently. I will test your 'Nine Slashes of the Blazing Sun' when I return."
Jiang Yi opened his mouth, but ultimately clasped his hands in a respectful bow:
"This junior obeys."
Chen Jinshu said no more. With a flick of his sleeve, the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle flashed with azure light and hovered three feet off the ground.
She stepped onto the flying shuttle, glanced back at the things in the valley, and then said loudly, "If I do not return in three months, you shall take them and find another place to go." Her voice was calm, but carried a hint of solemnity that was hard to detect.
Jiang Yi's heart tightened: "Senior..."
"Just in case," Chen Jinshu said calmly, then said no more. With a surge of spiritual power, the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle transformed into a streak of emerald light, soaring into the sky and disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
……
Burning Sky Volcano, located in the far west of southern Xinjiang, is a dormant volcano that has existed for tens of thousands of years.
The mountain rises high into the clouds, its entire body is charred black, and the mountainside is shrouded in sulfurous and fiery mist all year round.
At the summit is a huge crater, hundreds of feet in diameter and bottomless, from which hot steam rises year-round.
At that moment, a three-zhang-long crack tore open in the sky above the crater.
The crack was dark gold in color, with its edges constantly twisting and shimmering, emitting strong spatial and temporal fluctuations.
Inside the crack, a gray-yellow world can be faintly seen, with sand and dust filling the air, and the ruins of ancient buildings appearing and disappearing.
Dozens of people have gathered around the crater.
Some sat cross-legged in groups of three or five, closing their eyes to rest; others stood alone on high places, their eyes scanning their surroundings warily.
Others clearly belonged to different factions, separated by dozens of feet, wary of each other, their eyes filled with scrutiny and hostility.
When Chen Jinshu arrived, he could see the dark golden spatial rift from afar.
She maneuvered the shuttle to land on a relatively flat rock on the south side of the crater, retracted the shuttle, and quietly spread her divine sense, scanning everyone present.
There were three late-stage Golden Core cultivators, five mid-stage Golden Core cultivators, more than ten early-stage Golden Core cultivators, and as many as twenty or thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Quite a show of force," she muttered to herself, her gaze falling on the three late-stage Golden Core cultivators.
The most conspicuous figure was an old man dressed in a colorful robe, with a withered face, high cheekbones, and a pair of triangular eyes that gleamed with a sharp light as they opened and closed.
Behind him stood two disciples, also dressed in colorful robes, with bulging leather pouches hanging from their waists, from which the faint sounds of insects chirping could be heard.
"People from the Five Poisons Sect," Chen Jinshu thought to himself.
The other cultivator, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, was a middle-aged, robust man with a burly build. He was shirtless, revealing his bronze-colored muscles.
He carried a giant axe on his shoulder, its blade gleaming with a cold, sharp light, and stood there like an iron tower.
He was accompanied by several equally burly men, who were clearly body cultivators.
The third late-stage Golden Core cultivator was a sinister-looking old man in black robes.
He sat cross-legged on a huge rock, his eyes slightly closed, surrounded by a faint layer of black mist, his aura cold and sinister, making people afraid to approach.
“People from the Blood Fiend Sect…” Chen Jinshu’s gaze lingered on the black-robed old man for a moment, his heart sinking slightly.
Just then, a slightly weak voice came from behind:
"Fellow Daoist Chen, you've arrived."
Chen Jinshu turned around and saw Sha Xie slowly walking out from behind a rock, leaning on his boxwood cane.
His injuries seemed to have healed somewhat, and his complexion was rosier than it had been a few days ago, but the ashen look between his brows was still quite noticeable.
He was wearing a gray cloth robe with the sandalwood box hanging at his waist. He looked more energetic than when he was in Flowing Sand City, but he still couldn't hide his dejected state.
"Alliance Leader." Chen Jinshu nodded slightly.
"Is your injury any better?"
"Thanks to you, fellow Daoist, I can hold on for a while longer." Sha Xie gave a bitter smile, walked to her side, and glanced at everyone present.
"The number of people who came this time is more than I expected."
He lowered his voice: "The 'Hundred Insects Master' of the Five Poisons Sect, the 'Mountain-Splitting Axe' of the Southern Border, and the 'Black Fiend Old Ghost' of the Blood Fiend Sect are all well-known late-stage Golden Core experts."
Especially that Black Fiend Old Ghost, who is said to be the senior brother of the Blood Hand Old Demon, and whose methods are extremely ruthless.
Chen Jinshu's expression remained unchanged, but his heart skipped a beat: "Blood Hand Demon's senior brother?"
“Exactly.” Sand Scorpion nodded.
"This old ghost is even more troublesome than the Blood Hand Demon. His specialty is the 'Soul-Devouring Claw,' which is specifically designed to damage the soul. If you encounter him, do not engage in close combat."
Chen Jinshu silently made a note of it, then his gaze fell once again on the spatial rift.
The edges of the crack undulated constantly, emitting a peculiar rhythm, as if something was breathing and pulsating deep within the crack.
"When will the secret realm open?" she asked.
"We still have to wait." Sand Scorpion looked up at the sky.
"According to my calculations, the spatial rift will reach its maximum when the sun shines directly on the crater at noon, and that will be the best time to enter."
"However, this crack won't last long; it will close in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. If you can't get out before it closes, you'll be trapped in the secret realm for thirty years, and you'll only be able to escape when it opens again."
“Thirty years…” Chen Jinshu repeated softly, his gaze slightly narrowed.
"Therefore, fellow Daoist, please remember not to be greedy. Once you have what you need, come out as soon as possible." Sand Scorpion's voice carried a hint of solemnity.
Chen Jinshu nodded without saying anything more.
……
Time passed slowly, and the atmosphere around the crater grew increasingly tense.
Some people began to whisper among themselves, exchanging information about the secret realm; others silently adjusted their state, preparing to rush into the secret realm the moment it opened.
The Hundred Insects Master of the Five Poisons Sect never glanced at anyone from beginning to end, but simply closed his eyes to meditate, as if everything around him was irrelevant.
Lie Shan Fu sat casually on a boulder, holding a gourd of wine in his hand, gulping it down his throat. The wine dripped down his thick beard and onto the ground, but he didn't bother to wipe it up.
The Black Demon Old Ghost remained seated cross-legged on the boulder, surrounded by black mist, his entire being seemingly merging with the shadows.
Sha Xie, leaning on his cane, stood beside Chen Jinshu, his gaze sweeping over the group, and said in a low voice:
“Fellow Daoist Chen, once we enter the secret realm, we may be randomly teleported. If we get separated, we can meet up at the ‘Bone Tower’ in the center of the second level of the stone forest.”
"The Tower of Bones?" Chen Jinshu turned his head to look at him.
“It’s information I obtained from the jade slip,” Sand Scorpion explained. “It’s a ruined tower located in the center of the stone forest. The tower is made of bones and is easy to identify. I have some knowledge of the terrain of that secret realm. If we can reunite, we’ll have a better chance of success.”
Chen Jinshu nodded without asking any further questions.
Noon is approaching.
The sun slowly moved to directly above the crater, its scorching rays shining down onto the dark golden spatial rift.
The crack began to ripple violently, hissing at its edges as if something was tearing and expanding.
The width of the crack expanded at a visible speed, from three zhang to five zhang, then to seven zhang, until finally, it turned into a giant rift that was ten zhang wide.
Deep within the crack, the grayish-yellow world became clearer, and one could even see distant sand dunes and broken stone pillars.
"It's open!" someone shouted in a low voice.
Almost at the same moment, several figures moved simultaneously.
The Hundred Insect Master of the Five Poisons Sect was the first to rush out. His figure was like a ghost, leaving several afterimages in the void before disappearing into the crack in the blink of an eye.
His two disciples followed closely behind, and the three figures disappeared into the depths of the crevice.
The Black Demon Old Ghost was no slouch either. With a swift movement, he drifted silently toward the crevice like a wisp of black smoke, his speed so great that his trajectory was almost imperceptible.
The other cultivators followed closely behind, some flying on swords, others riding on beams of light, all rushing toward the crack.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, let's go!" Sand Scorpion shouted, leaning on his cane, his figure swayed in place, turning into a streak of earth-yellow light, and followed the crowd towards the rift.
Without hesitation, Chen Jinshu unleashed her spiritual power, and the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle shone brightly, carrying her as a streak of light, closely following behind the Sand Scorpion, and rushing into the crevice.
The moment he passed through the crack, Chen Jinshu felt his body being torn and twisted by a tremendous force, and everything in front of him became blurry.
Time and space seemed to be out of control at that moment, and the air was filled with the sharp sound of the wind and a deep hum.
Her consciousness was compressed to the extreme, unable to even extend three feet in front of her. She could only grip the shuttle tightly, letting the force carry her to an unknown direction.
I don't know how much time passed, maybe just a few breaths, maybe the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, but the tearing sensation suddenly disappeared.
……
When Chen Jinshu opened his eyes, he found himself standing in a vast, gray-yellow desert.
The sky was overcast, without sun or clouds, just a uniform gray-white, as if shrouded in a thick veil.
The desert stretches as far as the eye can see, with undulating sand dunes that never end. Occasionally, a few broken stone pillars can be seen peeking out from the sand, exuding an ancient and desolate atmosphere.
A faint smell of decay permeated the air, mixed with the scent of sand and dust, making it dry and stifling.
"The leader of the Sand Scorpion Alliance?" Chen Jinshu looked around but did not see Sand Scorpion.
Just as he said, the entrance to the secret realm will randomly teleport those who enter.
She put away the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle, stepped onto the sand, and felt the texture beneath her feet.
The sand was very fine and felt soft and spongy underfoot, like stepping on flour; with each step, you would sink half an inch deep.
She squatted down, grabbed a handful of sand, and rubbed it between her fingertips.
The sand was cold and had a strange texture, as if it were not ordinary sand grains, but some kind of fine bone meal.
“No wonder it’s called the Dawnlight Secret Realm…” she murmured to herself, her gaze falling on the broken stone pillars in the distance.
The stone pillars varied in height, some were intact and some were broken. Their surfaces were covered with dense runes, but most of them had been weathered and blurred, and only some simple lines could be vaguely discerned.
Just as she was about to take a step forward, she suddenly sensed something and turned around abruptly.
Dozens of feet behind them, a figure was climbing up from the sand.
The man was wearing a tattered Taoist robe, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in sand; he looked utterly wretched.
His cultivation was at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, and he had a decent-quality spirit sword hanging at his waist. At the moment, he was brushing the dust off his body while cursing:
"Pah! Pah! Pah! This lousy secret realm, if you're going to teleport, you have to bury people in the sand!"
He brushed the sand off his clothes, looked up and saw Chen Jinshu, paused for a moment, then grinned, revealing a set of white teeth:
"Fellow Daoist, you've also just arrived? I am Zhao He, 'Wind and Sand Hermit,' a rogue cultivator from the Eastern Region. May I ask your name?"
"Chen Jinshu," she replied curtly, without saying anything more.
"Fellow Daoist Chen." Zhao He cupped his hands in greeting, his gaze sweeping over her, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
"Fellow Daoist, are you a sound cultivator?"
"How do you know?" Chen Jinshu raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Fellow Daoist, you possess a musical charm reminiscent of the zither," Zhao He said with a smile.
"Although my cultivation level is not high, I have traveled all over the country for many years and I still have this kind of insight. Sound cultivators are rare, and those who dare to venture into secret realms alone at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm are even rarer. Fellow Daoist, your courage is extraordinary, I admire you."
Although he spoke warmly, he didn't come across as greasy; instead, he exuded the straightforwardness of a江湖人 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world).
Chen Jinshu didn't reply, but just glanced at him:
"Does Fellow Daoist Zhao know the way out of this first layer of desert?"
Zhao He scratched his head: "To be honest, this is my first time here too. However, before I came in, I bought a tattered map from an old cultivator. It marked a route that said that if you cross this desert, you can reach the second layer of the stone forest."
He pulled a yellowed animal hide map from his pocket and unfolded it for Chen Jinshu to see.
The map was indeed incomplete, with many charred marks along the edges, but the central part was relatively intact. Several winding routes were drawn on it in vermilion, and some place names were marked, such as "White Bone Hill," "Scorpion King's Nest," and "Dry Well."
Chen Jinshu's gaze fell on a mark on the map: "The Tower of Bones?"
“Oh, that one.” Zhao He pointed to a mark in the center of the map.
"That's a ruined tower in the center of the second level of the stone forest, said to be one of the core areas of the secret realm. However, that place is very dangerous, and the map specifically marks it with the words 'Enter with Caution'."
Secretary Chen Jin left that location, looked at the other markings on the map, and memorized the entire map.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, would you like to come along?" she suddenly asked.
Zhao He paused for a moment, then laughed:
"It is my honor to travel with you, fellow Daoist! However, I must make this clear beforehand: if we encounter any danger, I will be the first to run."
"Likewise," Chen Jinshu replied casually.
After discussing for a moment, the two decided to head southwest, pass through the area marked "Scorpion King's Nest," then bypass "White Bone Hill," and enter the second layer of stone forest from the east.
"Let's go." Chen Jinshu took the lead and walked towards the southwest.
Zhao He quickly followed, talking incessantly as he walked:
"Fellow Daoist Chen, what treasures do you think are inside this secret realm that make it worthwhile for so many people to risk their lives to venture in..."
Chen Jinshu did not answer, but simply walked forward in silence.
The desert was more vast and more dangerous than she had imagined.
After walking for about half an hour, the two encountered a group of desert scorpions.
Those scorpions were about half the size of a person, with earthy yellow shells that blended almost into the sand.
They lurk in the sand, only revealing a pair of pincers and a tail hook. When the two approach, they suddenly burst out of the sand, their tail hooks dripping with dark green venom, aiming straight for the two men's faces.
Chen Jinshu was prepared. With a flick of her right hand, the Star and Moon Zither appeared out of thin air, and she gently plucked the strings with her fingertips.
"Boom--!"
The sound of the zither transformed into a moon-white blade of light, sweeping out and slicing the three poisonous scorpions that were the first to charge in half.
Dark green blood spurted out and landed on the sand, making a sizzling, corrosive sound.
Zhao He didn't hesitate either. He moved swiftly, his spirit sword unsheathed, and with a flash of light, he cleaved the other scorpion in two.
The two worked together seamlessly, and in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they had killed all the scorpions.
"That was close." Zhao He sheathed his sword and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"These scorpions were really well hidden. If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Chen's quick reaction, I would have been in serious trouble." (End of Chapter)