I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Qin Yuan gazed into the distance.

In the distance, the sun sets in the west, and twilight deepens.

"wait."

"What are you waiting for?"

"Wait for the arrival of the Otherworldly Demons."

He paused.

"Before that, go see someone."

Ouyang Ming knew who he was talking about.

"That one from the Aoki Sect?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

Ouyang Ming smiled.

"Go ahead. I'll guard this place."

Qin Yuan looked at him.

Thank you.

Ouyang Ming waved his hand.

"Don't mention it. From now on, we'll fight side by side."

Qin Yuan nodded, turned around, and flew away into the distance.

Behind him, Ouyang Ming gazed at his retreating figure and murmured to himself.

"Lin Qing'er, that girl is really lucky."

Several days later, in Qingzhou, at the Qingmu Sect.

Lin Qing'er was cultivating in the courtyard.

The old plum tree has blossomed, its branches laden with flowers that exude a faint fragrance in the sunlight.

She sat under the plum tree, closing her eyes to meditate.

Suddenly, she opened her eyes.

Outside the courtyard gate, a figure stood quietly.

A blue robe, black hair, and calm eyes.

Qin Yuan.

Lin Qing'er was stunned.

She thought she was dreaming.

But that figure felt so real.

"Brother Qin Yuan..."

She stood up, her voice trembling.

Qin Yuan looked at her.

She has matured a bit since a year ago, but her eyes remain as clear as ever.

"The old plum tree has blossomed," he said.

Lin Qing'er was taken aback, then remembered what she had said when she saw him off years ago.

"I will come to find you when it blooms."

Her eyes reddened.

"You...you're back."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"I'm back."

He walked into the courtyard and stood in front of her.

"However, we can only stay for a few days."

Lin Qing'er was taken aback.

"Leaving again?"

Qin Yuan nodded.

"I still have things to take care of."

Lin Qing'er lowered her head and remained silent for a moment.

Then she looked up and forced a smile.

"It's okay. I'll wait for you."

Qin Yuan looked at her.

"Aren't you going to ask what it is?"

Lin Qing'er shook her head.

I won't ask. You'll definitely come back anyway.

Qin Yuan remained silent.

Then he reached out and gently ruffled her hair.

"it is good."

He said.

"wait for me."

Lin Qing'er nodded vigorously.

The two stood facing each other under the plum tree.

Petals drifted down and landed on their shoulders.

At this moment, all is peaceful and serene.

But they all knew that the real storm was yet to come.

Ancient Heritage and System Upgrade

The first level of heaven, the Star Pavilion.

Qin Yuan stood atop the main peak of the Star Pavilion, overlooking the layers upon layers of palaces and pavilions below. Three months had passed since his ascension to the upper realm, and he had a thorough understanding of the layout of this heaven.

The Upper Realm is divided into nine heavens, each with its own independent rules and forces. The spiritual energy concentration in the First Heaven is a hundred times that of the Lower Realm, and cultivators there are generally at the Dao Integration stage or above, with Mahayana stage elders not uncommon. The Star Pavilion is one of the top three forces in the First Heaven, occupying a vast spiritual vein, with three thousand disciples, and its Pavilion Master is a terrifying late-stage Mahayana stage being.

Qin Yuan was able to join the Star Pavilion because of his stunning performance in the entrance competition—with his mid-stage Dao Integration cultivation, he defeated seventeen late-stage Dao Integration opponents in a row and ultimately won the championship. After that battle, the name "Qin Yuan" became known to everyone in the Star Pavilion.

But Qin Yuan knew that this was just the beginning.

A system notification sounded in my mind:

[Current Host Status:]

[Cultivation Level: Mid-stage Dao Integration]

[Techniques: Ninth level of the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique, Third level of the Universe and Stars Unbound, Fifth level of the Ice and Fire Dual Extremes Scripture, First form of the Nine Forms of the War God]

[Magic Items: Xingtian Sword (fragmented), Nine War God Tokens]

Daily cultivation time: 2000 years

[Energy Points: 84500]

System completeness: 95%

[Detection indicates that the Star Pavilion is about to open the "Starry Realm," which contains abundant ancient resources. Host participation is recommended.]

[If one can obtain the core inheritance of the secret realm, it is estimated that daily cultivation will increase to 3000 years, and new system functions will be unlocked.]

Qin Yuan's eyes flickered slightly.

He had heard of the Starry Sky Secret Realm.

This is the most important trial ground of the Star Pavilion, opening once every hundred years. The secret realm contains the relics of the ancient powerful being "Star True Monarch," including cultivation techniques, elixirs, magic weapons, and the most precious item—Star Essence.

It is said that star essence is an excellent material for refining the "Universe Star Body Technique". If he can obtain enough essence, his body refining technique is expected to break through to the fourth level.

"Junior Brother Qin!"

A voice came from behind.

Qin Yuan turned around and saw a burly young man striding towards him. This man was named Lei Potian, a core disciple of the Star Pavilion, with a late-stage Dao Integration cultivation level. He was one of the few people Qin Yuan could talk to within the sect.

"Senior Brother Lei."

Lei Potian walked over and patted Qin Yuan on the shoulder.

"Great news! The list of winners for the secret realm has been released, and you've been shortlisted!"

Qin Yuan nodded.

"Thank you for informing me, senior brother."

Lei Potian chuckled.

"What are you thanking me for? Your strength speaks for itself; it would be strange if we didn't let you go. However..." He lowered his voice, "the competition in this secret realm is fierce. Not only our Star Pavilion, but several other forces in the First Heaven will also send people to participate."

Qin Yuan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"Other forces?"

Lei Potian said, "The Heavenly Sword Sect, the Myriad Laws Sect, and the Profound Heaven Sect—these three also have a foothold in the Upper Realm. There's also the Loose Cultivator Alliance, the Netherworld Palace… they're all formidable forces."

Qin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly.

The Netherworld Palace.

This name is the Netherworld Cult in the lower realm and the Netherworld Palace in the upper realm. It seems that this persistent force is also a behemoth in the upper realm.

"When will it open?"

"Three days later," Lei Potian said, "an elder will lead the way and take you to the entrance of the secret realm. Life and death in the secret realm are left to fate, but there is one rule—you must not harm your fellow disciples, otherwise you will have your cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect after you come out."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Three days is enough time to prepare.

Three days later, at the Star Pavilion Martial Arts Arena.

Three hundred core disciples gathered, the weakest of whom was at the early stage of Dao Integration, while the strongest, Lei Potian, was already at the peak of Dao Integration.

On the high platform stood three elderly men with white hair.

The leader had an unfathomable aura—the Grand Elder of the Star Pavilion, Xinghe Daoren, a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator.

He glanced at the three hundred disciples below and slowly spoke.

"The Starry Sky Realm opens only once every hundred years. It holds countless opportunities, but is also extremely dangerous. Of you, less than half may emerge alive."

"But the path of cultivation is inherently like this. If you want to seize an opportunity, you have to risk your life."

"I will only offer one piece of advice: if you encounter any members of the Netherworld Palace in the secret realm, kill them without hesitation. They are mortal enemies of our Star Pavilion."

As soon as he finished speaking, a low murmur arose from the crowd.

Qin Yuan's expression remained unchanged.

A mortal enemy? Perfect. He and the Netherworld Palace are also mortal enemies.

Xinghe Daoist raised his hand, and a beam of light shot into the sky, tearing through the void and revealing a rotating portal.

"The secret realm has opened. Let's go in."

Three hundred figures simultaneously took to the air and rushed towards the gate!

Qin Yuan flashed into the crowd and stepped through the doorway.

The scene before my eyes suddenly changed.