Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Over the next month, Lin Zhao studied the runes while secretly visiting dozens of cultivation families in the city.

After a series of "friendly" exchanges, these people obediently handed over their family's rune tomes, which had been passed down for thousands of years.

Their knowledge of runes varied in depth, but they had been passed down for thousands of years, each possessing their own unique strengths.

Lin Zhao accepted them all.

At the same time, he also sensed that the Su family was monitoring him. As the controllers of Xuanze City, the Su family had spies everywhere in the city.

Lin Zhao's visit to the cultivation family could not be kept secret from them, but the Su family did not interfere and even secretly helped him avoid a lot of trouble.

Later that night, Lin Zhao even sensed the aura of a so-called martial arts master testing him.

As he had predicted, he didn't have the strength to form a Core Formation, but was only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Its destructive power might barely reach the threshold of Core Formation, but that can only be achieved with the help of external forces.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Zhao has finally achieved a preliminary integration of the rune system with his own magic domain.

His divine sense was partially liberated, his storage ring could be opened, he could use magic weapons, and his magic domain could be expanded again, although it was only a few miles long. But with his methods, he had virtually no opponents in the secret realm except for the trump cards held by the ancient clans.

The Su family also tacitly accepted his existence.

Needless to say, Tianfeng Martial Arts School has been greatly improved. The Su family must have said something to the school, because now the school is very accommodating to Lin Zhao's every request.

Lin Zhao didn't know what the Su family was after. But since it wouldn't cause any harm for the time being, he didn't delve into it.

For some mortals, this three-month-long secret realm is hell.

The Cult of Ten Thousand Spirits has conquered more than ten cities. Their demonic forces, numbering over five million, have swarmed an ancient city. Outside the city, mortals transformed into demons abound.

They still retain some human consciousness, but their minds have been burned out by demonic blood, leaving only bloodlust and obedience.

The ancient city's defensive array was activated around the clock, and the guards on the city walls took turns without stopping, sending out messages for help in batches.

However, the nearby cities were struggling to survive, so few people dared to come.

The news is relatively relaxed for Qin Tianjun.

He took down a martial arts master.

On the other side's territory, in front of all their disciples, I challenged them head-on and then knocked them flying.

The Luo Tian Secret Realm is full of martial artists who have comprehended the essence of martial arts. Although most of them are not skilled, there are still many of them.

He had a lot of fun.

As for sect missions—just cause trouble, and fight everyone you can in the secret realm.

This is indeed the way sword cultivators operate.

The style is different on Xia Jin's side.

His "Xia" clan had previously led a group of followers to forcefully take over an ancient city.

They fought for three months with the ruling family of that ancient city, with each side experiencing victories and defeats.

Then, three months later, they suddenly got married.

Xia Jin married the eldest daughter of that family. The two families merged into one, and the speed was so fast that it seemed as if it had been planned in advance.

When Lin Zhao heard this news, she almost choked.

Xia Jin... If Xu Chuan's information is correct, he already has thirteen concubines and dozens of children.

Now they're pretending to be young to marry their fourteenth wife...

Even more outrageous, Xia Jin somehow found out Lin Zhao's location and secretly sent her an invitation with the wedding date and location listed.

Lin Zhao stared at the invitation for a long time, speechless.

This guy really knows how to have fun.

Of those who entered the secret realm, only Yan Feng and Pei Yue have little information available. No one knows what they're doing.

----

Tiancheng is the largest ancient city in the Luotian Secret Realm.

The city walls were twenty zhang high, the city had a population of several million, and the streets were as wide as a plaza.

In the center of the city stands a palace, covering an area of ​​several miles, with a roof of golden glazed tiles that gleams like a burning fire in the sunlight.

The Luo family lives here.

Descendants of the Luo Tian Sect. After the great calamity ten thousand years ago, the remaining bloodline of the Luo Tian Sect took root here and multiplied to this day.

They even established a dynasty that ruled the secret realm for over a thousand years, but it was overthrown later. However, even a centipede with a hundred legs will not die easily, and the Luo family remains the strongest force in the secret realm.

Yan Feng stood in the reception room of the Luo family palace, a smile on his face, but no smile in his eyes.

Sitting opposite him was the head of the Luo family, a middle-aged man in his fifties with a square face and steady eyes.

He wore a black brocade robe with dark gold dragon patterns embroidered on the hem. He sat upright with his hands on his knees, exuding an air of authority without anger.

Yan Feng is also a descendant of the Luo Tian Sect from ten thousand years ago.

Yan Feng's bloodline and the Luo family share the same origin; theoretically, they share the same ancestor.

With the opening of this secret realm, True Monarch Beichen is the one who can dominate its future.

As a disciple of True Lord Beichen, Yan Feng naturally represents a portion of True Lord Beichen's will.

The mortals in the secret realm don't know what a dominant force means, but doesn't the Luo family, with its lineage spanning tens of thousands of years, understand?

The secret realm has been targeted by the overlord and is destined to be destroyed.

A fifth-tier spiritual treasure could not withstand the will of the overlord.

The Luo Tian Secret Realm has nine sacred sites, one of which has been breached by the Luo family using special methods. They possess a fourth-tier magic treasure, the Luo Huang Cauldron.

This is also the reason why the Luo family has been able to prosper for thousands of years.

Yan Feng just said something.

The gist is that the secret realm has been targeted by the overlord, and there's only one possible outcome.

Beichen Zhenjun is a powerful cultivator in the late Nascent Soul stage, holding a high position and great influence in the Yunhai Cangming Sect.

He is a disciple of True Lord Beichen and can represent True Lord Beichen. If the Luo family wants to obtain protection after the collapse of the secret realm, they need to show sincerity.

He spoke very politely, but his meaning was clear: hand over the fourth-tier magic weapon to me, and I will speak to True Lord Beichen on your behalf.

After listening, the head of the Luo family nodded.

"Fellow Daoist Yan is right." His voice was steady. "But this matter is of great importance, so let the Luo family discuss it further."

Yan Feng said a few more words, but seeing that the other party still wouldn't budge, he looked a little embarrassed.

He stood up, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and then turned and left.

As he walked out of the reception room, his face darkened.

The Luo family doesn't trust him.

The Luo family's intention was to offer the Luo Huang Ding directly to Beichen Zhenjun in exchange for the Luo family's protection.

Yan Feng had just offered to deliver it himself, but the Luo family refused.

He is different from the Holy Son of Ten Thousand Spirits, who is the leader of the Myriad Beasts Spirit Lord's Palace and keeps his word.

The Yunhai Cangming Sect has no leader; he cannot represent the sect.

He successfully won over two sect disciples by leveraging his relationship with True Lord Beichen.

However, there are still a few powerful sect disciples active outside.

The most conspicuous one is Xia Jin—who dared to confront him face-to-face in the Beichen Palace, and who thrived in the secret realm, forcefully taking over an ancient city.

Both are declining forces, so why is Xia Jin born as a prince of the imperial dynasty, lacking nothing, protected by a Nascent Soul cultivator, and possessing the bloodline of a Divine Transformation Heavenly Lord?

He was about to be implanted with a body-snatching mark by a Nascent Soul cultivator, and would have to flee from the outer continent to Yunzhou, where he would endure countless hardships.

He finally managed to become a disciple of True Lord Beichen, but he was only a nominal disciple.

He was not reconciled.

He's determined to climb to the top step by step.

The most suitable target for establishing authority was Lin Zhao.

The champion of the competition, without a Nascent Soul background, is easy to manipulate and probably won't be able to exert much strength in the secret realm.