From the fake emperor to the concubine

Just as he was about to investigate in the direction of the demonic beast, he suddenly sensed a familiar aura.

"This is... Yunfan's aura?" Zheng Yi was overjoyed.

Although the aura was very faint and far away, as his master, he was extremely familiar with Zhang Yunfan's aura.

"That's great! Yunfan is still alive!" Zheng Yi almost jumped up with excitement.

He immediately pinpointed the direction of the aura and then used his movement technique to rush in that direction.

Due to the unique spatial laws here, his flight speed was somewhat affected, but it was still much faster than that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Along the way, he encountered many strange sights.

There were strange, glowing plants, fish swimming in the air, and mysterious creatures that looked like puppets. Most of these creatures were not hostile to him; they were just curiously watching this suddenly appearing outsider.

"The ecosystem here is truly unique," Zheng Yi observed as he moved forward, "completely different from anywhere else in the outside world."

After flying for about an hour, Zhang Yunfan's aura became clearer. Zheng Yi could sense that his disciple was not far ahead.

However, he also sensed several other auras. Judging from the intensity of their auras, they were likely the Green Mountain Sect disciples who had accompanied Zhang Yunfan.

"It seems they're still working together, which is a good thing." Zheng Yi felt somewhat relieved.

Teamwork is always much safer than going it alone, especially in places full of unknown dangers.

After advancing a while, Zheng Yi finally saw figures in the distance.

It was a vast grassland, and in the center of the grassland stood an ancient stone platform. The platform was covered with intricate runes, emitting a faint glow.

Around the stone platform, eight young cultivators were carefully studying something. They were all dressed in sect attire and appeared to be Zhang Yunfan's group.

"Finally found it!" Zheng Yi was overjoyed and was about to show himself.

But at that moment, the stone platform suddenly burst forth with a bright light, and a powerful suction force emanated from it.

"Oh no!" Zheng Yi's expression changed drastically.

He saw that Zhang Yunfan and the others were firmly bound by that suction force, unable to break free at all. Moreover, that suction force was constantly increasing, as if it wanted to suck them all into the stone platform.

"What kind of formation is this?" Zheng Yi hurriedly sped up and rushed over.

But just as he was about to arrive, the light from the stone platform reached its peak, and Zhang Yunfan and the others vanished instantly.

"Damn it! I'm too late again!" Zheng Yi stood in front of the empty stone platform, annoyed.

He carefully examined the runes on the stone platform, trying to find a way to track Zhang Yunfan and his group.

"These runes seem to be remnants of some kind of teleportation array," Zheng Yi said thoughtfully. "It looks like they were teleported to another place."

Although the runes on the stone platform were complex, Zheng Yi, with his knowledge, could still discern some clues. It was indeed a teleportation array, and a one-way teleportation one that could not be traced back.

"This is troublesome." Zheng Yi frowned, pondering a solution.

This secret realm was far more complex than he had imagined, possessing not only space compression technology but also various teleportation arrays. If Zhang Yunfan and the others had been teleported elsewhere, finding them would be even more difficult.

As he was pondering, the stone platform suddenly began to glow again.

"Hmm? Another reaction?" Zheng Yi immediately became alert.

But this time the light was different from before; it wasn't a suction force, but rather it projected an image onto the stone platform.

In the scene, Zhang Yunfan and the others are standing in front of a huge palace, seemingly unharmed. The palace is extremely magnificent, built entirely of white jade, and glitters in the sunlight.

"Where is this place?" Zheng Yi carefully observed the details in the picture.

The palace's architectural style is extremely ancient, full of features from ancient times. In particular, the plaque above the palace gate bears the five simple and ancient characters "Hall of Immortal Trials".

"The Hall of Immortal Trials," Zheng Yi murmured the name, a thoughtful expression on his face. "It seems this is the core area of ​​the secret realm."

The image lasted only a moment before disappearing, and the stone platform returned to its calm state.

But this brief glimpse gave Zheng Yi important information. At least he knew that Zhang Yunfan and the others were safe and had reached an important location.

"Since that's the case, I can't fall behind," Zheng Yi resolved. "I must find a way to reach that Immortal Trial Hall."

He began to carefully study the runes on the stone platform, trying to find a way to activate the teleportation array.

The teleportation array is ingeniously constructed, incorporating profound theories of space, time, and formations. Even with Zheng Yi's cultivation level and knowledge, fully comprehending it would be difficult.

But he was not discouraged; instead, he patiently analyzed each rune one by one.

"Things left behind by immortals are indeed not easy to decipher," Zheng Yi remarked as he studied the formation. "However, since Yun Fan and the others were able to activate it, it means that the requirements for cultivation level are not particularly high."

After nearly an hour of research, Zheng Yi finally found some clues.

It turns out that the activation conditions for this teleportation array are very special. It requires eight cultivators to stand in a specific location simultaneously and input their spiritual power together. Moreover, these eight cultivators must be at the Foundation Establishment stage; cultivators above the Golden Core stage cannot activate it.

"I see," Zheng Yi exclaimed in sudden realization. "That's why the island's restrictions only allow Foundation Establishment stage cultivators to enter."

But this presented him with a new problem. He was currently at the peak of the Golden Core stage and could not directly activate the teleportation array. Moreover, even if he could suppress his cultivation, he would need the cooperation of seven other Foundation Establishment stage cultivators.

"It seems we need to think of another way." Zheng Yi considered other possibilities.

Just then, he noticed a line of small characters on the edge of the stone platform, written in ancient script.

Zheng Yi carefully examined these ancient characters and eventually translated their meanings:

"Those who wish to enter the Trial Hall must possess a steadfast Dao heart and a pure soul. Those with high cultivation but impure Dao hearts are not permitted entry. Those with low cultivation but steadfast Dao hearts may be exceptionally admitted."

Upon seeing these words, a glimmer of hope flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes.

It seems that this teleportation array has other special methods besides the conventional activation method. If he can prove that his Dao heart is firm enough, perhaps he can be allowed to enter as an exception.

"My resolve in pursuing the Dao is unwavering," Zheng Yi murmured to himself. "Just how strong is my resolve?"

This question plunged him into deep thought. As a cultivator, he had always pursued higher realms and greater strength. But what was his Dao heart? Was it to protect his family? Was it to pursue immortality? Or was it to uphold justice in the world?

Thinking of Zhang Yunfan's experience in the Refining Heart Tower, Zheng Yi realized that this might be a trial to test one's Dao heart.

"Since that's the case, then let me prove my Dao heart." Zheng Yi walked to the center of the stone platform and sat down cross-legged.

He closed his eyes and began to review his cultivation journey, reflecting on his original aspirations and pursuits.

As he pondered, the runes on the stone platform began to light up one by one, as if responding to the fluctuations in his heart and witnessing the purity of his Dao heart.

One by one, the runes on the stone platform lit up, each one testing the sincerity in Zheng Yi's heart.

In this deep introspection, Zheng Yi seemed to return to the day he first embarked on the path of cultivation. At that time, he was just an ordinary member of the Zheng family, with a simple wish in his heart—to protect his family and the people around him.

As his cultivation level increased, he witnessed the dangers of the cultivation world and saw countless partings and deaths. But no matter what he experienced, his original aspirations never changed.

"My Dao Heart," Zheng Yi murmured to himself, "is to protect. To protect my family, to protect justice, and to protect the peace of this world."

As soon as this idea was established, all the runes on the stone platform lit up, emitting a dazzling light.

A gentle power emanated from the stone platform, enveloping Zheng Yi's body. Under the influence of this power, he felt his cultivation level gradually being suppressed, dropping from the peak of the Golden Core stage all the way to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

"It actually works!" Zheng Yi opened his eyes and was surprised to find that his cultivation level had indeed been suppressed.

However, this suppression wasn't a forced weakening, but rather a subtle seal. His true cultivation level still existed, only temporarily concealed. Moreover, he could sense that this seal was reversible and could be lifted at any time.

More importantly, with the suppression of his cultivation level, the teleportation array's repulsion towards him also disappeared.

"So the immortals had already considered this situation," Zheng Yi thought to himself, marveling at the immortals' wisdom. "As long as one's Dao heart is pure enough, even with high cultivation, one can still enter the trial."

He stood up again, walked to a rune on the stone platform, and channeled his spiritual power into it, following the method he had observed before.

"Buzz!"

The stone platform immediately trembled slightly, and then a dazzling beam of light rose from the platform, enveloping Zheng Yi completely.

"The teleportation has begun," Zheng Yi thought to himself, while simultaneously sensing the changes in the surrounding space.

Unlike the previous experience of entering the secret realm, this teleportation was very smooth, with almost no discomfort. The pillar of light lasted for about ten breaths before gradually dissipating.

When the light completely faded, Zheng Yi found himself standing in front of a magnificent hall.

This grand hall is the "Immortal Trial Hall" seen in the previous footage, even more magnificent than imagined. The entire building is hundreds of feet tall, with wide steps extending all the way to the clouds, giving the feeling of reaching straight to the heavens.

The main hall is built in a simple and solemn style, with each pillar carved with exquisite patterns. These patterns depict various legends of cultivation, including immortals who ascend to heaven, true lords who subdue demons, and various mythical beasts and spirit birds.

The most eye-catching feature is the plaque above the main entrance of the hall. The five characters "Hall of Immortal Trials" are written in ancient immortal script, and each character contains powerful magic, making people feel its majesty at a glance.

"Yunfan and the others should be inside." Zheng Yi quickened his pace and walked up the steps towards the main hall.

The steps were long, with a total of nine hundred and ninety-nine steps, and with each step, one could feel a faint pressure. This pressure did not come from the outside, but from within, as if testing the will of the person climbing the steps.

For ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, climbing these steps would indeed require considerable perseverance. But for a powerhouse like Zheng Yi, even with his cultivation suppressed, this pressure is nothing.

Soon, he arrived at the main entrance of the hall.

The doors to the main hall were open, and a faint spiritual light emanated from within, suggesting there was no danger.

Zheng Yi took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The interior of the main hall was extremely spacious, spanning several miles. The surrounding walls were covered with exquisite murals depicting scenes of immortals cultivating and undergoing trials.

In the center of the main hall, there is a huge Bagua (Eight Trigrams) pattern, shimmering with various lights. The spiritual energy of the entire hall flows around this Bagua pattern, forming a natural spirit-gathering array.

"The spiritual energy concentration here is even higher than outside," Zheng Yi exclaimed. "One day of cultivation here is probably equivalent to a month outside."

He carefully observed the situation inside the main hall, searching for traces of Zhang Yunfan and his group.

He quickly discovered some bloodstains on the left side of the main hall. The bloodstains were still fresh, clearly recent.

"There's blood?" Zheng Yi's heart tightened, and he quickly followed the trail of blood.

The bloodstains stretched intermittently, all the way to a side hall deep inside the main hall.

When Zheng Yi pushed open the door to the side hall, the scene before him enraged him.

Zhang Yunfan was leaning against the wall of the side hall, his face as pale as paper, with multiple wounds on his body, his clothes stained red with blood. Although he was still conscious, he appeared to be seriously injured.

"Yunfan!" Zheng Yi rushed over immediately to check on his disciple's injuries.

"Master-Master?" Zhang Yunfan opened his eyes with difficulty, and a look of surprise flashed in his eyes when he saw Zheng Yi. "Why are you here?"

"Don't speak, healing is the priority." Zheng Yi quickly took out healing pills and gave them to Zhang Yunfan, while using his spiritual power to stabilize his injuries.

After a preliminary examination, Zheng Yi discovered seven or eight wounds on Zhang Yunfan's body, all sword wounds. Moreover, these wounds were located in very insidious places. If Zhang Yunfan hadn't cultivated the Void-Breaking Sword Technique and had a strong protective sword intent, he would probably be dead already.

“These wounds…are man-made.” Zheng Yi examined the shape and angle of the wounds, his expression growing increasingly grim. “And it wasn’t done by one person; at least three or four people acted simultaneously.”

"Master," Zhang Yunfan said weakly, "I have something to tell you."

"Don't speak yet, focus on healing," Zheng Yi said gently. "We'll talk once your injuries have stabilized."

But Zhang Yunfan shook his head and insisted on saying:

“Master, you must know the truth. I was betrayed by my comrades.”

"What?!" Zheng Yi's anger flared instantly. "Who dares to betray you?"

"It was the Green Mountain Sect," Zhang Yunfan said painfully. "Lin Qingshan and his group poisoned me in order to monopolize the immortal's inheritance."

Upon hearing this news, a terrifying murderous intent flashed in Zheng Yi's eyes.

The Green Mountain Sect, that so-called ally of the Zheng family, actually betrayed his disciple!
"Tell me in detail what exactly happened," Zheng Yiqiang demanded, suppressing his anger. (End of Chapter)