Chapter 1036: Unsealing

Not long after, the golden pillar of light that shot into the sky suddenly flickered violently. Under the swaying golden light, the ancient stone gate appeared somewhat blurry.

Seeing this, the scene instantly fell silent. The gazes of those around all focused sharply on the golden pillar of light.

Everyone held their breath, as if waiting for something.

The flickering of the light pillar lasted no more than the time it takes to burn an incense stick. Then it blazed brightly, becoming dazzlingly brilliant, but in the next moment it rapidly shrank, vanishing without a trace within a breath or two. The stone gate that had been shrouded by it was suddenly exposed to the air.

Almost at the same moment the light pillar vanished, Su Qianxi, Lei Yuce, and the others shot out like lightning, rushing toward the golden stone gate.

A dull thud rang out. Rippling transparent waves spread across the stone gate, and the figures of several people were sent flying back.

The most impatient, Jin Liu, even had his face bruised, with a gash on his forehead, and he couldn't help but curse loudly.

Others who were also about to rush forward, seeing this, stopped in their tracks.

Only then did everyone see that within the stone gate there was still a transparent light screen, hard to spot without careful observation.

"It's a restriction!" Although Su Qianxi and the others were not injured, they frowned.

Lei Yuce's pupils contracted. He raised his left hand and traced a line in the air toward the stone gate with his five fingers.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

Five golden sword beams, each ten zhang long, materialized before the stone gate, each as bright as the blazing sun, and slashed at the gate like lightning.

The five sword beams shattered upon impact, but the transparent light screen on the stone gate rippled slightly, then returned to normal.

"Although this light screen is sturdy, it is not impregnable. With so many of us here, if we join forces, I believe we can break it given some time," Lei Yuce said loudly, withdrawing his hand.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's break this final restriction quickly. Qingsuo Valley, you have your Qingsuo Grand Formation, which is quite powerful—use it now. Lingxiao Sect, your Lingxiao Blazing Sun Art is decent enough—use it. And Lingyue Pavilion..." Jin Liu shouted, pointing at the eight sects including Qingsuo Valley, his tone harsh as if he were ordering his own grandsons.

The people from Qingsuo Valley and the other sects were secretly angered but said nothing, as the secret realm was at hand. They each employed their methods to attack the restriction within the stone gate.

Su Qianxi, Lei Yuce, and the others were not idle either; they all joined in the attack.

For a time, beams of immortal artifacts and secret techniques struck the stone gate's restriction, producing a dense, rain-like roar.

The light screen on the stone gate flickered incessantly. Though it appeared thin, it was exceptionally sturdy, firmly withstanding the fierce assault without weakening at all.

Seeing this, everyone was shocked.

"Don't stop! Continue attacking with full force!" Lei Yuce stared at the light screen, his eyes flickering, and shouted.

Qi Mozi stood at the back of the crowd, not attacking, silently watching the scene before him.

The aura he displayed at the moment was only at the Golden Immortal level. Standing among the crowd, he was inconspicuous. Only the Tongtian Sword Sect, Tianshui Sect, the seven major sects, and a few other forces were attacking from the front.

After all, the stone gate was only so large; too many people would be counterproductive.

"Sir, do you think they can break the restriction like this? Would you like to lend them a hand?" Xiong Shan beside him asked in a low voice.

"The method is a bit crude, but it should work—just a matter of time. It's not yet time to reveal our identities," Qi Mozi shook his head.

Xiong Shan nodded upon hearing this.

Time passed bit by bit, and before they knew it, a day and a night had gone by.

The Tongtian Sword Sect, Tianshui Sect, and the others took turns bombarding the restriction. After enduring a day and a night of assault, the restriction on the stone gate finally began to thin.

"The restriction is loosening! Everyone, put in more effort!" Lei Yuce's eyes lit up, and he urged them on.

Those attacking were invigorated and intensified their assault.

Another half day passed in the blink of an eye. The restriction light screen within the stone gate was finally breached, shattering with a bang.

A vast expanse of golden light surged forth within the stone gate, forming a golden vortex. Countless golden specks leaped within it, like a starry whirlpool in the vast cosmos, mysterious and unfathomable.

...

Deep within the secret realm, Han Li was in the midst of breaking a restriction outside a palace when his expression suddenly changed slightly. He looked toward the entrance of the secret realm.

He could sense a strong spatial fluctuation coming from there.

"The entrance to the secret realm is finally about to be discovered... I wonder how many people will break in?" He furrowed his brows, murmured to himself, then a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he let out a low shout.

Han Li's entire body blazed with golden light. He activated his Giant Ape Transformation and punched the palace's restriction.

Where his fist struck, the void directly collapsed into a patch of nothingness.

After the palace restrictions fluctuated violently, they were torn apart. Not only that, but the residual force of Han Li's fist spread, causing some damage to the palace within the restrictions.

Han Li paid no heed to this and immediately flew into the palace.

Now that he knew outsiders had entered, he didn't have much time.

…

Within Green Silk Hollow.

“Let’s go!”

Lei Yuce, a look of joy on his face, was the first to fly into the golden vortex and vanished without a trace.

Although there were many Taiyi Stage cultivators present, a full dozen or twenty, in terms of status, strength, and reputation, Lei Yuce was unquestionably the foremost. Thus, the others had no objections and simply followed one after another into the vortex within the stone gate.

After the people from the major sects entered, those from other forces also went into the vortex one after another.

The Lan siblings, Qi Mozi, and others, hidden among the crowd, entered the golden vortex one after another and arrived within the secret realm.

The place where everyone appeared was precisely the canyon where Han Li had first entered the secret realm.

Behind the crowd, a golden vortex slowly rotated in midair, faintly revealing the situation outside.

Qi Mozi looked around, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

“Xiong Shan, follow these people and seek your fortune here. I’ll go on ahead.” Qi Mozi said to Xiong Shan, and without waiting for a reply, his figure flickered and he vanished without a sound.

Xiong Shan watched Qi Mozi disappear, showing nothing on his face, but inwardly he was somewhat pleased.

After all, he no longer had to consult Qi Mozi about everything. Yet without Qi Mozi by his side, he, a mere Golden Immortal, was inevitably isolated and weak, which made him somewhat worried.

She Chan and the Lan siblings also did not linger here. Taking advantage of the slight chaos, they quietly used techniques to conceal themselves and headed deep into the canyon.

In another corner of the crowd, two black-robed men and women stood.

“Lan Yuanzi and the others have gone deep into the secret realm. Let’s go too, lest they get ahead of us,” the black-robed girl transmitted. The black-robed young man beside her nodded.

Then their figures blurred and also vanished without a trace.

The techniques of these few were each more exquisite than the last, and even someone as powerful as Lei Yuce did not detect anything.

They were all marveling at the environment of the secret realm, and it took a while before they composed themselves and prepared to explore deep into the canyon.

Just then, the sky of the secret realm suddenly fluctuated violently, trembling incessantly. White light like lightning appeared on the canopy of heaven, accompanied by a series of muffled but enormous sounds, as if several immense forces were pressing and colliding against each other.

The crowd’s faces changed as they looked up at the sky, Lei Yuce and the others included.

Rumble!

The entire secret realm shook like an earthquake. Then, with a creaking, muffled sound from the sky, black cracks appeared on the heavenly canopy, stretching across the sky, extremely conspicuous.

Then, a scene that astonished everyone appeared!

The golden vortex in midair suddenly expanded and contracted several times before bursting apart with a “bang” and vanishing without a trace.

The shaking of the ground and the trembling of the sky only then slowly subsided.

“What’s going on now?” Deep within the secret realm, Han Li flew out of that palace and, seeing the strange changes in the sky, his expression shifted slightly.

The palace behind him was now riddled with holes, its roof torn off, and a scene of utter devastation met his eyes.

Han Li frowned, quickly withdrew his gaze, and continued flying deeper into the secret realm.

At the same time, Lei Yuce and the others who had just broken into the secret realm were also startled. In particular, the closing of the spatial passage connecting to the outside made many feel uneasy, their expressions changing drastically.

“Daoist Lei, Daoist Su, you two seem quite familiar with this cave dwelling? Do you know what’s happening?” The broad-faced man from Lingxiao Sect looked at Lei Yuce and Su Qianxi, asking.

The others, hearing this, also looked over.

“Regarding this Tai Sui Immortal Mansion, I, Lei, do know a thing or two. Tens of millions of years ago, there was a Da Luo stage expert named Tai Sui Immortal Venerable. This person cultivated one of the three supreme laws, the Law of Time. Naturally, his strength goes without saying. However, he was solely devoted to the Dao and rarely made his name known. Later, he disappeared without a trace. If I hadn’t come across relevant documents in my sect’s archives, I wouldn’t know this either. As you all have seen, this place is called ‘Tai Sui Immortal Mansion.’ I speculate that it was most likely left behind by that Tai Sui Immortal Venerable.” Lei Yuce exchanged a glance with Su Qianxi and spoke in a loud voice.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s faces showed joy, and the unease caused by the disappearance of the entrance earlier faded considerably.

A Da Luo Immortal Venerable’s legacy cave dwelling, and one of a Time Da Luo at that—who knew how many treasures lay within? Moreover, if it had indeed been dormant for tens of millions of years as Lei Yuce said, even the age of some rare herbs and plants in the cave dwelling would have reached an astonishing level.

Lei Yuce’s gaze shifted slightly as he looked at Su Qianxi again. With a thought, he sent a voice transmission.

Su Qianxi’s beautiful eyes flickered, and she gave an almost imperceptible nod.

“Then what about the current situation? Do you two have any idea?” The broad-faced man’s face showed little joy as he pressed on.

“What I, Lei, know is limited to this. However, regarding the strange changes in the secret realm’s sky, in my opinion, it is likely that this immortal mansion space has been sealed for too long. Just now, we forcibly broke open the entrance restrictions, and the secret realm space has begun to collapse. It won’t last much longer.” Lei Yuce pondered for a moment before saying something that made everyone’s hearts tighten.