Translator: AnubisTL
"Chu Yanfeng, you carry the noble blood of the Great Chu Dynasty's royal family. How can you be so despicable?" Chu Youhuan's face turned ashen, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her fists, her voice filled with fury.
"Hahaha, despicable?
I possess the noble bloodline of the Great Chu Dynasty's royal family. Why should I be exiled to this godforsaken place to cultivate?
There are no resources here, no cultivation methods. Why should I be treated the same as those lowly martial artists...
I refuse to accept this, I am unwilling—" Chu Yanfeng suddenly erupted into a crazed roar, as if she had lost her mind.
"This is the trend of the times, necessary for the revival of the Great Chu Dynasty!
As long as we work hard in our cultivation, we will eventually return to the capital..." Chu Youhuan said solemnly.
"Nonsense about the trend of times! The royal family has always enjoyed privileges in the Great Chu Dynasty. Why should it be different for our generation?
It's all your father's fault, establishing the 'Grand Harmony Academy,' weakening the royal family's privileges, saying that everyone can cultivate top-tier methods as long as they work hard, claiming that only this can inspire the people's passion for cultivation and strengthen the Great Chu Dynasty...
Nonsense about universal equality and education for all! People are born into different classes, and the lowly are only fit to cultivate trash methods..."
"Do you know, from the day I left the capital, I decided that you would never return. I want to see the expression on your father's face, whether he will regret it!"
"The Secret Realm has been open for more than half the time. The hunting must have already begun.
I'll give you a chance. Enter the Secret Realm and fight me. This is the only way you can save your subordinates and your little lover!"
"Don't think about taking my Secret Realm key here. I admit I'm no match for you, but if I want to leave, you can't stop me!"
Chu Yanfeng's eyes gleamed with killing intent, her madness evident in her expression.
"Aren't you afraid that when the Secret Realm ends, I'll kill all your subordinates?" Chu Youhuan narrowed her eyes, a fire burning in her chest, eager to strike her down immediately.
But she had to restrain herself. If Chu Yanfeng was determined to escape, it would be difficult to stop her, and even if she could, she couldn't prevent her from destroying the Secret Realm key.
By then, the Secret Realm could only be opened fifteen days later, and Qi Tingting and the others, surrounded by a group of Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm cultivators, wouldn't last that long.
"What do you say? Time waits for no one. While you hesitate, they might already be slaughtered!" Chu Yanfeng waved the Secret Realm key in her hand, her face twisted with malice.
"Open the Secret Realm!
I want you to know that the strong remain strong, and the weak remain weak. Changes in the environment mean nothing.
Even if you're at the Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm, I, Chu Youhuan, have nothing to fear!" With that, Chu Youhuan took out her Secret Realm key and flung it into the air. The breeze lifted her crimson robe, and a blood-stained aura spread around her.
"Chu Youhuan, today you will fall at Golden Ridge!" Chu Yanfeng let out a long howl and also threw her Secret Realm key.
The two keys merged in the air, and the lake surface churned once more, this time revealing only one entrance to the Secret Realm.
Chu Youhuan glanced at Chu Yanfeng and charged into the Secret Realm without hesitation.
Seeing this, Chu Yanfeng sneered, licking her crimson lips, and followed closely behind.
"Hahaha, you think you can save them? Dream on! Today, you will surely die!" As soon as they entered the Secret Realm, Chu Yanfeng overtook Chu Youhuan, appearing in front of her in a flash, blocking her path.
"You can actually unleash Fifth-stage Postnatal Realm strength in the Secret Realm?" Chu Youhuan's pupils contracted. Chu Yanfeng's talent was only slightly inferior to hers, but the gap of two minor realms was like an insurmountable chasm.
However, she did not falter. With a low shout, Spiritual Radiance shimmered on her body, and her silver greatsword exuded a terrifying aura as she launched a fierce attack at Chu Yanfeng.
"Bring it on!" Chu Yanfeng grinned cruelly and met her head-on.
The two figures clashed, engaging in a deadly battle.
...
"Hehe, I finally found you two little rabbits." A sinister laugh echoed, and Gu Feng jolted awake, leaping to his feet and shouting toward the cave entrance, "Who's there? Show yourself!"
Beside him, A Fei rubbed his sleepy eyes, looking confused as he got up.
"I've searched the entire Secret Realm, and I never expected you to be hiding here." As the voice spoke, a figure in a black robe emerged from the cave entrance.
Was it that black-robed cultivator suspected to be in the Innate Realm?
Gu Feng's heart sank as he realized that the black-robed cultivator's cultivation level was now at the Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm.
A sense of foreboding washed over him, and he quickly took out the Voice Transmission Stone Chu Youhuan had given him. The runes representing Qi Tingting and the others were still glowing, indicating they were safe. He let out a heavy sigh of relief.
Although Gu Feng had planned to let them be robbed before stepping in to reap the benefits, he would never stand by and watch them perish.
Whoosh—
Just as Gu Feng was about to bring the Voice Transmission Stone to his lips to warn Qi Tingting and the others, the air around him suddenly turned scorching hot. A crimson flame shot toward him at an incredible speed, leaving no time to react.
Crack—
The Voice Transmission Stone shattered into pieces.
"You can't even save yourself, yet you still care about others?" This time, the black-robed cultivator didn't lower his voice. He even removed his green ghost mask, revealing a familiar face.
Qiu Tian?
Gu Feng had considered that the black-robed man might be from the Qiu family, but he never expected it to be Qiu Tian himself.
"Hand it over, and I'll give you a quick death!" As he spoke, Qiu Tian's eyes gleamed with a fiery light. He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
"Heh, I thought you were here to avenge Qiu Ze," Gu Feng sneered.
"The strong survive, the weak perish. This is an eternal truth. Qiu Ze was weak, and his death was simply the natural order of things!" Qiu Tian said coldly, showing no sorrow for Qiu Ze's demise.
In this Secret Realm, Qiu Tian had somehow suppressed his cultivation to the Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm, but the aura he exuded was far beyond that level.
Gu Feng narrowed his eyes and silently activated the "Twenty-Four Bridges on a Moonlit Night" technique.
"A Fei, be careful—"
Before he could finish, Gu Feng felt a surge of powerful Spiritual Power beside him, followed by a voice booming in his ear, "Who do you think you are? I haven't even gotten a single treasure, and you dare to come here and steal?"
A Fei, thinking Qiu Tian was here to steal treasures, was furious. His massive body lunged forward, and with a swift punch, he sent rocks flying as he aimed for Qiu Tian's chest.
Despite being at the Third-stage Postnatal Realm, A Fei's special physique allowed him to unleash attacks that rivaled those of a Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm cultivator.
Yet, this powerful punch was effortlessly blocked by Qiu Tian with a single palm.
Qiu Tian sneered, his palm lightly pressing forward. Spiritual Power surged like a tidal wave, sending A Fei flying. He crashed into the cave wall, and rocks tumbled down.
So strong!
Gu Feng's eyes widened. He keenly sensed that in Qiu Tian's attack, aside from the immense Spiritual Power, there was an indescribable aura that made the attack far surpass the level of a Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm.
"Hehe," Qiu Tian chuckled softly, taking steady steps as he walked deeper into the cave.
"The Secret Realm can perfectly suppress cultivation levels, but it can't fully suppress martial intent, especially since my level is higher than yours!
Accept your fate. I'll make it quick for you."
So Qiu Tian's attack was infused with martial intent. No wonder he could send A Fei flying with such ease.
This was trouble. Against an ordinary Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm cultivator, Gu Feng was confident he could win. But Qiu Tian, who had mastered martial intent, created an unprecedented sense of pressure. Defeating him would be extremely difficult.
Moreover, as an Innate Realm cultivator, Qiu Tian's understanding and application of martial skills were likely far superior to Gu Feng's, tilting the scales of victory even further in his favor.
"Are you okay?" Gu Feng took a few steps back and helped A Fei up.
"Ouch~~~ that hurt!" A Fei grimaced, rubbing his back with his large hand. It seemed the blow had been quite heavy.
"Later, I'll hold him off. You rush out of the cave and try to contact Qi Tingting and the others with the Voice Transmission Stone..."
Gu Feng whispered instructions into A Fei's ear. Facing the formidable Qiu Tian, A Fei's presence or absence wouldn't affect the outcome. It was better for him to leave the cave and regroup with Qi Tingting and the others.
With A Fei there, along with Qi Tingting and the others, they should be able to hold off the remaining Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm cultivators from Chu Yanfeng's side.
After all, the other Fourth-stage Postnatal Realm disciples hadn't mastered martial intent and were likely no match for A Fei.
"No, he's too strong. You can't fight him alone!" A Fei, though simple-minded, wasn't stupid. From the brief exchange, he could tell how terrifying this opponent was.
Leaving Gu Feng alone here was no different from sending him to his death.
"Stop talking nonsense! Qi Tingting and the others are worth 500,000 Spirit Stones each, totaling a million. If you save them, you can earn a month's interest.
I have a huge debt of 200 million outside. I won't die so easily!"
"Go now!"
"Ah!"
Gu Feng roared, his Spiritual Power surging rapidly. A white jade bridge flashed across his brow as he unleashed his full power.
Kill—
He swung his iron fist, stepping on the "Immortal by the River," his movements erratic, as if a dozen Gu Fengs were attacking simultaneously, launching a fierce assault at Qiu Tian.
Spiritual Power clashed violently within the cave, the fierce winds cutting into A Fei's face, and the flying debris forcing him to close his eyes.
A loud boom echoed in his ears, as if two savage beasts had collided. The powerful shockwave spread, and the cave walls crumbled, sending down a shower of dust.
When he opened his eyes, he saw a figure flying past him, crashing into a large rock.
Gu Feng had been sent flying.
At the cave entrance, Qiu Tian looked down at the fist mark on his chest, his face filled with disbelief.
He had actually been hit squarely by Gu Feng.
This was a humiliation, an unacceptable disgrace!
An Innate Realm cultivator being struck by a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, even if unharmed, was a massive insult.
"Very well—
You're strong, strong enough to excite me!!!"
Qiu Tian's face twisted into a sinister grin, the chilling aura in his smile making even the simple-minded A Fei shiver.
"First, I'll deal with this fat pig!"
In the next moment, Qiu Tian roared, his body moving at an incredible speed. He appeared in front of A Fei in an instant, bringing his palm down on the latter's head.
The gathered Spiritual Power was immense, and before the palm even landed, the surrounding rocks had already turned to dust.
A Fei wanted to react, but his large body was inherently slow, and with Qiu Tian determined to kill, there was no way to block it.
At this moment, A Fei felt as if he were in a vast ocean, facing a towering wave. He had no strength to resist, nor the courage to fight back. He could only watch as the fatal palm descended.
At the critical moment, he felt a hard kick to his waist, sending him tumbling to the side.
Looking up, he saw that Gu Feng had rushed over, kicked him down, and then crouched like a true deity, his arms firmly blocking the descending palm.
Boom—
The entire cave shook violently, as if a massive earthquake had struck.
Under Qiu Tian's pressure, blood trickled from Gu Feng's mouth, his arms twisted, and his body sank deeper into the hard rock. Cracks spread across the cave, looking terrifying.
"Since you want to die first, I'll grant your wish!"
Qiu Tian grinned savagely, taking a deep breath. The palm imprint in his hand suddenly doubled in size, runes flashing as it accelerated toward Gu Feng's head.
"Ah—"
Gu Feng let out a roar, a spray of blood erupting from his mouth. His face turned pale, and with a crack, one of his arms dislocated under the immense pressure of the palm imprint.
Gritting his teeth, with only one arm, he held up against the fatal blow. Half of his body was buried in the rock, as if tectonic plates were colliding. Large chunks of rock jutted out, and the entire cave was in chaos.
A Fei was stunned, lying on the ground in a daze, staring at Gu Feng in disbelief.
Gu Feng was like an indomitable warrior. Half of his body was buried, yet his upper body remained straight and upright.
"What are you waiting for? Get out!"
As he spoke, Gu Feng spat out another mouthful of blood!
"Ah—"
With the strength to move mountains, Gu Feng let out a thunderous roar. His entire body flickered like a faulty light bulb.
Like a savage beast awakening, baring its fangs; or a god reviving, opening its closed eyes!
He unleashed the hidden potential within his body. The Spiritual Power in his Dantian surged rapidly, flooding his 108,000 acupoints, granting him boundless strength.
With one arm, he pushed against the palm imprint above him, gradually emerging from the rock—
First, he kicked the dazed A Fei out of the cave, then punched upward, shattering Qiu Tian's attack. He grabbed Qiu Tian and charged wildly through the cave.
The cave collapsed, the mountain shook violently, and large boulders tumbled down the slope.
"Big brother!!!"
A Fei wiped his tears, kneeling on the ground, pounding the earth.
After a while, he took out the Voice Transmission Stone and called Qi Tingting and the others, running aimlessly through the Secret Realm. The rumbling of the collapsing mountain gradually faded behind him.
TL/N: I was getting a little confused, so here is a clarification. Qiu Tian's cultivation is in Innate Realm but in this Secret Realm it has been suppressed to Postnatal Realm 4th Stage.
(End of the Chapter)
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