The sun rose over Thunder City, casting golden rays upon the stone streets. Today was no ordinary day. It was the long-awaited Secret Realm Trials, held once every five years. Young geniuses from sects across the continent gathered at the plaza, their eyes filled with ambition, pride, and hunger for power.
Among the crowd stood four figures—Zhen Huan, Yun Sha, Feng Xuan, and Mu Lingyao—waiting before the glowing gate that would soon transport them into the secret realm.
High above them, atop a secluded rooftop of a nearby inn, a lone figure watched. Qing Chen, her arms folded across her chest, let the wind stir her silver-blue robes and flutter her dark hair. Her expression was unreadable, but deep within her heart, a storm brewed.
"So… this is how it feels," she thought, "to watch someone you care about walk into danger, knowing you can't follow."
Though her strength was sealed, her instincts remained. Once a feared cultivator in the Upper World, now Qing Chen sat restrained at the Emperor Realm—unable to interfere, unable to help.
She clenched the railing. "Zhen Huan… do you truly see her as your wife?"
Her thoughts flickered to that night—the warmth of his arms, the way he had looked at her with quiet understanding, not awe or fear.
"Foolish…" she whispered. "Why do I care?"
But her chest ached nonetheless.
In the plaza below, a Void Refinement Realm elder clad in black robes stepped forward. His cultivation leaked out like an unseen storm, silencing the crowd.
"All participants will enter the Secret Realm in groups. The deeper you go, the more peril you'll face. Those who emerge with core treasures will be rewarded beyond imagination!"
A massive shimmering gate unfolded before them, its energy swirling like a whirlpool. Tokens lit up. Zhen Huan turned to his companions.
"Stay together. Don't underestimate anything in there."
Yun Sha grinned. "Worry about yourself. I'll be watching your back."
Zhen Huan glanced back once, scanning the rooftops, as if hoping to glimpse someone who wasn't there.
He stepped into the portal.
Qing Chen let the curtain fall and turned away from the window. Her sword rested beside her bed, untouched for days.
"I'm Qing Chen of the Upper World," she murmured, her voice trembling faintly. "I don't chase anyone…"
Yet in the silence of her room, she whispered,
"Zhen Huan… come back safely."
---
Inside the Secret Realm – First Floor
Mist rolled over ancient stones. Zhen Huan stood by the edge of a river with Yun Sha beside him. Feng Xuan and Mu Lingyao had been teleported elsewhere—scattered, like all other participants.
"There are five floors in this realm," Zhen Huan said, scanning the terrain. "We need to find them quickly."
"Right," Yun Sha nodded. "Let's move."
As they crossed the riverbank, a sudden chill ran down Zhen Huan's spine.
"Ambush!"
He spun around, blade flashing, blocking a sneak attack from the shadows.
"Yun Sha! Are you alright?"
She parried another strike, her eyes narrowing. "I'm fine. Let's take them down."
But the enemy merely smirked. "Do you think it'll be that easy?"
Dozens emerged from the gloom, clad in black robes and masks, surrounding them on all sides.
Zhen Huan's gaze darkened. "Thirty-plus Nascent Soul cultivators? Impossible. No one else was supposed to arrive in the same place…"
The leader laughed cruelly. "Our clan possesses a secret art—Shadow Merge Technique. We hid within the shadows of others… and now, you'll die. After I take this beauty for myself."
Zhen Huan's fury exploded. His eyes turned red.
DING!
Host, do you want to unlock advanced sword techniques?
Wind Defence – 19,700 XP
Immortal Wood Body Art – 20,000 XP
Divine Eyes of the Immortal Tree – 20,000 XP
Aqua Field – 21,000 XP
Rebound Slash – 21,000 XP
"Yes," he growled.
101,000 XP deducted.
The attacker sneered. "What are you smiling at? Who's going to save you?"
DING!
New skills acquired:
Wind Defence: Blocks attacks up to two levels above yours without injury.
Immortal Wood Body Art: Doubles body strength with each breakthrough.
Divine Eyes: See through illusions, techniques and formations; unleashes Divine Ray.
Aqua Field: Boosts water and ice element users in range.
Rebound Slash: Reflects incoming attacks.
Current XP: 18,700
Zhen Huan laughed—a dark, unhinged sound that chilled the air.
"I don't need anyone to kill you all."
The leader barked, "Kill him!"
The masked men lunged.
Yun Sha drew her sword. "Zhen Huan—"
"Stay back!" he shouted. "Protect yourself. I'll handle this."
Zhen Huan charged.
One slash.
Another.
Enemies fell like wheat before a scythe.
One killed.
Two.
Three…
By the end, the field was soaked in blood.
DING!
25 Nascent Soul – 7th Layer killed: 87,500 XP
10 Nascent Soul – 8th Layer killed: 45,000 XP
10 Nascent Soul – 9th Layer killed: 60,000 XP
Current XP: 211,200
Only the leader remained—pale and trembling.
"Y-You… You killed all of them…!"
Zhen Huan stepped forward. "They were your clan's guards, weren't they?"
The man backed away. "Wait! I'm the son of Kong Xu!"
"I don't care."
Yun Sha's eyes widened. "Zhen Huan—Kong Xu is Void Refinement Realm!"
Zhen Huan's gaze remained icy. "He should've taught you better."
And with one clean slash, he severed the man's head.
Suddenly, a projection burst forth from the corpse—a middle-aged man with burning eyes.
"You bastard! You killed my son. I will hunt you down!"
Zhen Huan met the projection's glare.
"Then come find me. When you have the courage."
With a flick of his blade, he shattered the image.
The wind grew quiet again.