This was an intuition. He felt that this person was somewhat special, vaguely familiar, and that there was a sense of blood connection that made his heart race.
Shi Hao’s heart trembled with immense excitement.
It wasn’t recognition by sight, but an instinct, a natural closeness, just like the feeling he had on the Demon Island.
Shi Hao felt uneasy; he didn’t know if he had mistaken the person.
Because this cultivator was too young, appearing no more than twenty or thirty years old, not at all aged, brimming with vitality, clearly a youth, and his appearance was different from the Fifteenth Elder’s.
“Is it Grandfather?”
He activated his Heavy Eyebrows, but still couldn’t see through him; the person had not revealed his “true form.”
“Why do I feel he is so similar, with a sense of blood-related closeness?” Shi Hao murmured to himself, his heart hard to calm, yet he couldn’t show it in front of so many people.
He stood far away, observing that person with his Heavy Eyebrows, discovering that sometimes the person’s eyes would become deep and distant, carrying a trace of The vicissitudes of time, a slight anomaly, which could only be captured after a long, focused gaze with his Heavy Eyebrows.
Shi Hao remained expressionless, using the Primordial True Scripture to conceal his aura, so no one could detect him. He blended into the crowd, silently watching that person.
Soon after, he saw that person casually glance toward the crowd from the Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth, as if searching for something.
This shook Shi Hao’s heart. Perhaps… it really was his grandfather!
Even in such a critical moment, his grandfather had come too, wanting to see Shi Zi Ling and others, unable to sever that emotional bond.
Shi Hao discovered that this “young man,” whom he had accidentally found, had registered for the competition, aiming for one of the three thousand spots to gain entry into the secret realm.
“Is Grandfather trying to do something? Could it be that he wants to see Qin Hao and get an opportunity for a private meeting?” Thinking of this possibility, Shi Hao’s heart trembled; this was undoubtedly a great risk.
He carefully considered and silently compared, wanting to confirm whether it was truly his grandfather. Finally, he felt seventy percent certain—it was his grandfather!
Shi Hao guessed his grandfather’s feelings and gradually understood.
The Fifteenth Elder was deeply emotional, yet he did not wish to have any further contact with the Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth. He only wanted to secretly see how this grandson was doing, wanting to enter the secret realm to quietly watch over him.
“Grandfather…” Shi Hao felt a pang of sorrow for him.
The Fifteenth Elder had indeed registered to enter the secret realm.
“His broken arm… could it be regenerated?” This was the only thing that didn’t make sense, vastly different from the Fifteenth Elder’s characteristics.
However, Shi Hao recalled his grandfather’s words—he had obtained the Devil Lord’s True Blood, partially refining it, which had greatly affected him.
It was equivalent to a supreme treasure herb; given time, if he continued refining it, perhaps it could regenerate flesh and blood. Could that be the reason?
But only a few days had passed; the change was too fast, making him somewhat doubtful.
Moreover, the Fifteenth Elder’s appearance had drastically changed, and he was full of youthful vitality, clearly a young man. Even with his Heavy Eyebrows, Shi Hao couldn’t see through the mystery, leaving him puzzled.
“Grandfather once said he obtained a Glyph from the Devil Lord’s True Blood. Could it be related to this?”
Regardless, such a young man would hardly attract attention. Qin Clan and others who wanted to eliminate the Fifteenth Elder wouldn’t suspect it was him.
After a brief hesitation, Shi Hao stepped forward to register. He also wanted to enter, following this “young man” who was likely his grandfather, to meet and confirm his identity inside.
Outside the city, the open area was packed with countless beings, so densely populated it was hard to count how many there were.
All sects worked together to maintain order, eventually having to divide participants into groups for selection. Each group would have nearly ten thousand people, resulting in a total of about sixty to seventy groups.
This surprised everyone; the participants were too enthusiastic.
“Let me repeat once again: those over a hundred years old should not register, and those who have ignited their divine flames should also withdraw. Don’t waste each other’s time!”
A sect leader, exuding immense authority, projected a grand Dao voice, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd like a towering mountain pressing down, making people gasp for breath.
The Yuan Tian Secret Realm had special laws, allowing only those who had ignited their divine flames to enter, but the number was limited. Obviously, great sects like the Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth would not give these spots to outsiders.
The selection trials began!
A grand formation emitted light, displaying green symbols, hazy and indistinct. This was the first trial; only those who passed could proceed to the next test.
The first group of nearly ten thousand rushed into the massive formation at once.
As soon as they entered, thick mist surged, scattering everyone. The formation seemed boundless, endless, and many were instantly lost.
Eventually, only a thousand successfully emerged, many panting and exhausted, having barely made it through. This formation was extremely complex, leaving everyone drained.
The remaining eight or nine thousand were all trapped inside, many collapsing from exhaustion, unconscious. It was an astonishing maze-like formation.
“This is so difficult!” everyone exclaimed. Yet they knew it had to be this way; there were only three thousand spots, meaning most would be eliminated.
The second group, the third group… all followed the same pattern. Each group had nearly ten thousand cultivators, with barely a tenth passing.
The young powerhouse suspected to be the Fifteenth Elder was assigned to the twenty-first group. He calmly passed the trials without any concern.
It was Shi Hao’s turn now; he was in the forty-ninth group. As he stepped into the formation, thick fog obscured the sky, accompanied by eerie ghostly cries that attacked the mind, creating illusions.
Shi Hao walked slowly on purpose but still passed smoothly.
From the initial 670,000 beings, about 60,000 remained, all the best among them. Yet there were still too many, as only 3,000 spots were available.
“Did I hear that right? Wasn’t this supposed to be a small gathering? Why are there so many powerful beings rushing here?!” some people grumbled.
To everyone’s alarm, they saw a Taotie calmly standing there, making nearby beings shiver involuntarily. This was an Invisible Aura of Power—an invisible pressure.
“The young Supremeof the Taotie clan, he… why is he also trying to pass the trials? It’s not fair!”
The spots were already limited, yet such a powerful clan’s genius also came to compete, likely to crush and sweep away many cultivators, making people feel helpless.
On the other side, people gasped in surprise as a white-robed girl appeared, radiating gentle light. Her bright eyes and jade-like teeth caused a sensation.
“This is the first Jade Maidenof the Yin Rabbit clan!”
Don’t be fooled by the name; this was definitely a supreme race. The Yin Rabbit clan’s ultimate experts would become silver moons hanging in the sky after death.
Then, a golden divine vine appeared, followed by a black orchid, making everyone instinctively step back.
The former came from the Solar Divine Vine Temple, while the latter hailed from the forbidden land—Black Orchid Mountain, plant-based experts, both prodigies from their clans, extremely formidable.
The Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth quickly stepped forward to escort these powerful beings away.
This caused a sensation; some young Supremehad come uninvited, making people even more excited. Everyone understood that the upcoming competition among the first generations inside the secret realm would be extremely fierce.
The second trial began, testing combat strength. Several stone tablets stood ahead, requiring everyone to strike them with full force to test their actual power.
Shi Hao had once inscribed his name on the Divine Tablet established by the Devil Lord, so naturally, he wasn’t worried about failing the test. Instead, he had to be very careful not to shatter these tablets.
As a result, he ranked around 2,900th, barely avoiding elimination due to excessively suppressing his power!
“What a close call!” Shi Hao was astonished, almost failing to enter the secret realm, leaving him at a loss for words.
The “young man” naturally passed the trial smoothly.
Finally, tens of thousands were eliminated, deeply disappointed, not to mention those older generation figures who didn’t meet the criteria. This showed how significant the impact of this secret realm opening was.
“To avoid casualties, we did not have you fight each other. Now the spots are determined.” An energetic sect leader spoke from the high platform, his voice resonating like a golden bell.
He scanned the crowd and said, “I want to repeat once again: the Yuan Tian Secret Realm is extremely dangerous, filled with various divine insects and fierce beasts. You could lose your lives at any moment. You must think carefully.”
No one stepped back; everyone decided to seek great fortune.
Two days later, the time for the secret realm’s opening arrived.
In the sky, one hundred and eight great stars appeared in succession, accompanied by chaotic energy, rotating on the celestial dome before finally connecting into two lines, forming a massive cross.
The void was split by the cross, chaotic energy spread, and then brilliant immortal light gushed forth, making the misty depths dazzlingly bright!
It was a gate, already opened, presenting a vast celestial expanse. Everyone was deeply shocked, realizing that such an opening required one hundred and eight great stars connected into a cross to form a passage.
It was as if they were about to enter the other side of the stars!
A group of young first generations appeared, each displaying extraordinary phenomena, standing in their own directions, surrounded by glyphs, as if a group of divine kings had descended.
After the secret realm was opened, they would be the first to enter, meaning they were one step closer to great fortune.
The stars shone brightly, all young Supremefrom various provinces. Any one of them appearing would shake the heavens, yet today they gathered together, making this an extraordinary event!
These were like chosen children of fate, each possessing great fortune. Now, for the first time, they would confront each other—who was truly the strongest, who could be Invincible?
All of this would be revealed within the secret realm. The first generations would compete, and the young Supremewould engage in a grand showdown!
One hundred and eight great stars formed a cross, cleaving the void. The gate was large, its interior dazzlingly bright.
Inside the gate was an altar. Stepping onto it allowed one to enter different regions of the secret realm.
Before the gate, some high-ranking figures from various sects personally presided, guiding these first generations and geniuses to ascend the altar, sending them to different regions.
No one wanted these young Supreme to appear in the same area right from the start, as that would lead to a bloody melee.
Each first generation ascending the altar received a white beast tooth, leaving the crowd outside puzzled and confused.
“This is a holy relic brought out from the secret realm in ancient times. It has been refined by the Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth’s Immortal Ancestor with his own heart’s blood, possessing a mysterious function that can save lives.”
Someone whispered, causing many hearts to race. They eagerly asked what exactly it was.
This white beast tooth was a rare “Life Talisman.” Holding it, if one were killed inside the secret realm, it could take their place and teleport them back to the altar.
Upon hearing this, everyone inhaled sharply, realizing the immense value of this Life Talisman. At the same time, they felt it was extremely unfair.
“Without such a Life Talisman, do you think those immortal sects would risk sending their holy sons, first generations, and divine maidens on such a dangerous mission?” someone sighed, acknowledging the truth.
The Life Talisman could only be used once. The holder would be wrapped in glyphs and teleported back to the altar. If they insisted on re-entering the Yuan Tian Secret Realm and were killed again, they would perish for real.
“Once struck down, would anyone dare to risk going back in?”
“That’s hard to say. Some first generations are so confident in having no equals, dominating an entire province. If they accidentally perish or are ambushed and killed, they might still fight their way back in.”
Countless people gazed at the sky, envying how these young Supremewere so well protected. After all, these people had already proven themselves, their lives valuable enough to warrant such treatment.
Suddenly, people were stunned. When it was the young master of the Immortal Palace’s turn to ascend the altar, he actually brought along a young man and woman of similar age.
The elders guarding the secret realm’s gate hesitated slightly but still allowed them to enter together.
“Why is he bringing helpers?” Many people below were dissatisfied, murmuring quietly.
“With the Immortal Palace heir’s personality, he naturally wouldn’t need helpers. Those are his two servants, extremely powerful experts surpassing many sects’ holy sons and daughters, with extraordinary talent. Bringing them in allows them to seek their own fortune.”
“The Immortal Palace really is exceptionally strong, even capable of doing something like this!”
…
Moon Chan Fairy did not walk alongside the Immortal Palace heir, as all the young geniuses had been separated into different regions. It would take some time before they could meet and collide in a grand confrontation.
Teng Yi from the Fire Metal Clan sat cross-legged in the Void, his back a blazing sun, flames surging—he also entered.
Then, the Taotie, Solar Divine Vine, Yang Zi, and others also set off.
Following them, lightning streaked across the sky. A person’s fist light could illuminate the heavens—it was undoubtedly the Son of Lightning.
Next, the legendary Zhen Gu, who was said to be born with Coagulationand capable of piercing through all obstacles, appeared with golden wings on his back, stepping onto the altar.
The Devil Girl, cunning and mischievous, with a sly smile, entered the gate effortlessly, completely unafraid.
Feng Wu, exuding a powerful aura, slightly domineering, covered in glyphs, hazy and indistinct, leaped in as well.
Then, Qin Hao appeared. He was the youngest here, only fourteen or fifteen years old, yet his figure was tall and straight, already not much shorter than adults.
“That’s…” Many people opened their eyes wide, staring at his five-colored battle armor forged from five divine metals, radiating auspicious light, five-colored energy soaring into the sky.
“Ah, so it’s the Immortal Battle Armor!” some exclaimed.
This was crafted by the Immortal Ancestor of the Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth. It was a supreme battle armor. No matter how high one’s cultivation was, wearing it would boost one’s combat power by an entire realm.
Earlier, many had been puzzled. Although Qin Hao’s talent was extraordinary, dominating ten provinces, he was still young, not yet reaching the Venerable Onerealm. In a direct confrontation, he would likely be overpowered.
Perhaps, many first generations had already planned to use him as a sparring partner, wanting to test the miraculous effects of his two Immortalbones.
Now people understood. The Immortal Mountain of Eternal Youth had been well-prepared. No wonder they had invited various sects’ holy sons, first generations, and divine maidens for this competition. With the Immortal Battle Armor, he could fight on equal footing!
Then, the Yin Rabbit, Black Orchid, Golden Phoenix, and other races’ young elites also entered, each occupying their own territory.
Next came the Qin Clan and several major sects from the Five Elements Province. The secret realm originally belonged to this province’s top power, so they dispatched their disciples to enter.
Moreover, to everyone’s dismay, among them were quite a few who had ignited their divine flames, not many, but they occupied all the allowed spots for this realm.
Finally, it was the turn of the three thousand external cultivators. They were the last group to set off.
The high-level figures guarding the gate began assigning them, sending each group to different regions, with a fixed number in each area.
Obviously, each region had one first generation, then a group of such powerful beings.
Seeing this, everyone was speechless.
Some couldn’t help but consider retreating. Indeed, such great fortune wasn’t easy to obtain!
Suddenly, the gate emitted light, and a cultivator was shaken out. The high-level figures shot cold glances, and one elder spoke, “You have been disqualified.”
Everyone couldn’t help but gasp.
“It was already stated clearly: the qualification is yours alone. You must not secretly bring others in using spatial artifacts. You cheated.”
The elder pointed a finger, purple light surging, enveloping the person. From him, a small cauldron flew out, overturning, and immediately several people fell out.
Everyone was silent. The cultivator was ashamed, quickly fleeing with his companions, fortunate to have survived.
Shi Hao saw everything clearly, sighing deeply. He had known that with sect leaders presiding, there would be no room for trickery. Originally, he had a sleeping Silver Phoenix in his The Cosmosbag, but before coming here, he had handed it over to the Divine Stone, not even daring to bring Butterfly along.
The only pity was that the young man suspected to be his grandfather had already been transmitted in first. The two were destined to be in different regions, requiring time to find each other.
Due to Shi Hao’s overly conservative performance during the combat test, his ranking was nearly at the bottom. As soon as he approached the altar with those ranked similarly, he was recognized.
The high-level figures guarding the gate were extremely indifferent toward them, looking at them like insignificant fish. Some even sneered.
“I’ll say it again: it’s very dangerous inside,” a high-level figure coldly stated, clearly considering them too weak to survive.
Beside him, an old man smiled meaningfully, personally sending Shi Hao and the others to the altar, saying, “Go to the area where my Fire Demon Palace’s disciples are stationed.”
His eyes carried cruelty and contempt, clearly viewing them as insignificant. Sending them to the Fire Demon Palace disciples’ area meant they wouldn’t pose any threat.
Other elders regretted not acting sooner. If they had known, they would have grabbed these “weaklings” first. These “fish” had no competitiveness, making them easy prey for their sect’s disciples to gain more rewards.
“Wait!” someone called out, feeling it was unfair and wanting to claim the last batch of low-ranked people.
Shi Hao was speechless. They really didn’t consider him and the others as worthy opponents, being too obvious and excessive in their disdain.
However, he secretly nodded in approval. The glyphs recorded in the Primordial True Scripture were indeed extraordinary, concealing his aura so that even these elders couldn’t see through him.
Among the three thousand external spots, no one wanted the top-ranked individuals, or they were directly sent to the first generations’ regions. These sect elders actually wanted to claim Shi Hao and the others, making many onlookers feel speechless.
“Don’t delay; hurry up and go,” a distant sect leader spoke.
“We don’t want to go anymore; we’ll withdraw,” several people hesitated, feeling something was wrong and deciding not to enter.
This situation left people at a loss for words.
“Do you still want to go in?” an elder who didn’t get anyone asked.
“I still want to go in,” Shi Hao replied.
“It’s very dangerous inside,” the elder said.
“I won’t risk my life fighting. I’ll just gather some medicinal herbs inside,” Shi Hao answered.
“Then go!” someone said.
“Begin the transmission; send them to the area where my Fire Demon Palace’s disciples are stationed,” the old man from the Fire Demon Palace eagerly transmitted the remaining people inside.
“I’ve heard that the beings in the Fire Demon Palace are powerful Red-Feathered Cranes. I wonder what they taste like,” Shi Hao muttered to himself with a slight smirk before disappearing.
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