Starting with warding off evil and disaster, one can ascend to immortality after countless tribulati

After a loud bang, the old demon Yun Shou was in a sorry state, with one arm broken off and his sleeve hanging empty. He knew that there was no hope of escaping.

He stared intently at Jiang Ming, and said with a hint of pleading, "Things have come to this point, and I don't think I can leave now."

But you have to let me know why you want to kill me...

"Hehe, I won't tell." With a hearty laugh, Jiang Ming made another move. In the blink of an eye, the light of the calamity pierced through Yun Shou's body, turning him into ashes.

If it were a one-on-one fight, Yun Shou might be able to put up a fight against himself, but faced with a large-scale attack and the restrictions of the formation, even with his many skills, Yun Shou was completely unable to use them.

They could only perish in frustration under the siege.

Picking up Yun Shou's storage bag, Jiang Ming summoned the Myriad Soul Banner and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that Old Man Li's soul was intact.

There is still hope. As long as the shackles of the Ten Thousand Souls Banner are removed, Old Man Li can regain his freedom.

After dispersing Ao Shu and the others and leaving first, Jiang Ming took advantage of the fact that no one was around and immediately summoned a phantom image of a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator.

Seeing Jiang Ming display his supernatural abilities, he laughed heartily, looking quite pleased. "You have already grasped some of the essence of the Eternal Immortality Scripture, which is very good."

"Unfortunately, I don't have the second half here. Otherwise, if you studied it properly, your strength would definitely reach a higher level."

Jiang Ming cupped his hands in greeting, but he didn't feel proud of the praise from the Foundation Establishment Perfection illusory figure. He simply sat cross-legged on the ground and began to take stock of his gains.

"This old thing has quite a few treasures, senior, why don't you take his soul away..."

Nodding, the Foundation Establishment Perfection phantom did not refuse. It stepped forward, stood still, and with a wave of its hand, extracted Yun Shou's soul.

Under the tempering of the cultivation technique, the soul gradually became dim and dull, while at the same time, the pure soul power continuously enriched the Foundation Establishment phantom.

"I won't disturb you any longer, senior." After taking Yun Shou's storage bag, Jiang Ming, worried about any further complications, did not linger there.

Outside the mausoleum, Ao Shu and the other two had been waiting for a long time. Their eyes, which were sizing up Jiang Ming, were filled with a hint of curiosity. However, even so, none of them asked any questions. They all followed behind Jiang Ming tactfully, listening to his next move.

"Let's go back to the Myriad Laws Sect. Old Demon Yun Shou has quite a few treasures. I'll only take one or two useful ones, and the rest will be distributed among you."

After patiently explaining, Jiang Ming went ahead and returned to the Wanfa Sect.

Release Old Man Li from the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.

When the two met, they were immediately filled with sighs.

Looking at Jiang Ming's current cultivation level, Old Man Li couldn't quite figure it out, but judging from his own rescue, he knew that Jiang Ming had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

"I never expected that you, kid, would fulfill my long-cherished wish before me. Thanks to you, otherwise I would probably have been at the mercy of that demon for the rest of my life."

Unfortunately, after being tormented by the Myriad Soul Banner, I lost a huge amount of vital energy. If I no longer have the chance to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm...” Thinking of this, Old Man Li’s expression became somewhat somber.

He had longed to reach the Foundation Establishment stage his entire life, but now, although he had survived, he had lost the possibility of doing so. For him, this outcome was no different from death.

After observing Old Man Li's condition, Jiang Ming frowned, feeling somewhat helpless.

Old Man Li is over 130 years old, so it's normal for his qi and blood to be declining. The most serious problem is that his foundation has been damaged by the Ten Thousand Soul Banner.

Without a foundation, Old Man Li had no hope of surviving either the fierce winds or the lightning tribulations.

If you insist on trying, the result will invariably be death.

However, judging from Old Man Li's state, he is not afraid of death now, and even longs for it.

As you hear the news, you can die in the evening.

Rather than letting this old man silently wait for death to come more than ten years later, it's better to forcefully replenish his vital energy and let him have one last burst of life.

Even if he fails, he must fall on the path to breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Life is like a game of chess; once a move is made, there's no going back!

Instead of presumptuously helping the old man prolong his life, it's better to go with the flow and choose to fulfill his wish.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ming placed his hand on Old Man Li's thin shoulder, and then pure life essence flowed into it.

Sensing the vitality surging within his body, Old Man Li's face lit up with joy. After holding his breath for a moment, he deliberately cut off Jiang Ming's supply.

"That's enough. In my current state, I can still try to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Thank you."

It's a pity Old Qin died so young, otherwise he would definitely be proud of you...

Next, I will bid farewell to my acquaintances and embark once again on the path to Foundation Establishment. We will meet again someday…

After saying this, Old Man Li left on his own initiative. Jiang Ming shook his head and returned to his cave with no other choice, watching Old Man Li's figure gradually disappear into the distance.

Even if there is an 80% chance of failure, one should still give it a shot for the sake of that remaining possibility. This is generally how the path of cultivation works!

Back in the cave, Jiang Ming spread out all of Yun Shou's belongings on the ground. He took two pieces of shimmering material and then pushed the rest of the items in front of Ao Shu and the other two.

"The remaining treasures are all yours. Each of you can choose one. If there is any treasure you particularly need, you can discuss it with each other."

After a moment of eye contact, Ao Shu, quite kindly, squinted her eyes and said gently, "You two sisters can choose first. This Dragon Pattern Steel and Black Gold Iron are both very precious materials, and you should be able to use them."

Seeing how generous Ao Shu was, Ye Tao and Cheng Ya felt embarrassed to compete with her.

Seeing how modest they were, Jiang Ming felt a bit of a headache, worried that they would give him the power to make the decision, so he quickly made a suggestion.

"How about this, just tell me what you need, and we'll split the rest equally."

With a slight blush, Ao Shu nodded in agreement, then made no attempt to hide her thoughts, "To be honest, I want black gold iron."

I am currently lacking a suitable weapon. The Dragon Palace has a weapon that I have long desired, and I happen to know the materials needed to forge it.

I plan to forge it to increase my strength…

After he spoke quite sincerely, neither Ye Tao nor Cheng Ya objected.

In the end, Ye Tao generously handed over the item, her eyes full of kindness, "Since Sister Ao needs it, please take it without worry."

"Let me think... this bottle of pills should be a Qi Condensation Pill. I have a spell that requires this to assist me. Sister Cheng Ya, could you lend me this?"

"No problem, this item isn't very useful to me, so I'll take this talisman. A Foundation Establishment realm talisman will be extremely useful for my cultivation of talismans..."

With a gentle smile, Cheng Ya also selected a treasure she needed.

They got off to a good start and gradually became acquainted.

In just a short while, they had divided up all of Yun Shou Lao Mo's treasures.

"Alright, now it's my turn to repay you all."

With a warm smile, Jiang Ming took off his clothes, revealing his strong physique.

"Keep dreaming." Sticking out her tongue, Ao Shu made a move to slip away, but honestly, she was also very uncomfortable with this kind of scene.

Ye Tao raised an eyebrow, somewhat puzzled, but when she saw Jiang Ming grinning as he reached out his clutches to Ao Shu, she immediately understood.

They shook their heads in a show of shared indignation, "No, it's too embarrassing, let us go."

Although she had never experienced love and romance, she had a slight expectation for it. However, seeing Ao Shu and Ye Tao's reactions, Cheng Ya finally realized what was going on. She rolled her eyes at Jiang Ming with disdain and turned to run away.

Seeing Cheng Ya sneak away alone, Ye Tao became a little anxious. In a daze, her light red embroidered bodice was already fully exposed.

Without Ye Tao's help, Ao Shu was immediately left helpless. Her snow-white skin flushed red, and she lowered her head shyly, remaining silent.

Upon seeing this enchanting scene, Cheng Ya's mind went completely blank.

I wanted to leave, but it was too late.

A moment of passion is worth a thousand pieces of gold; by calculation, the three of them owe him ten thousand taels of gold.

Jiang Ming lay down contentedly among the flowers to rest for a while, then smiled kindly at Cheng Ya, who was filled with shame and indignation.

"I hate you." After leaving those words, Cheng Ya hurriedly fled, afraid that if Ao Shu and the other two woke up, the three of them would feel awkward recalling the scene just now.

A moment later, Ye Tao slowly woke up, her face turning deathly pale as she looked at Ao Shu, unable to hide her shame and indignation.

She pounced on him and scratched him a few times. Ao Shu sat up in pain, scratching her head innocently. Then, without any hesitation, she reached out her little hand.

After a few moments of playful banter, the two calmed down and went their separate ways.

In the empty cave.

Jiang Ming held his breath and began to ponder the cultivation insights left behind by the old demon Yun Shou.

Although the old demon Yun Shou's combat power was average, he recorded these trivial matters of cultivation in great detail.

He provided answers to all the difficulties in cultivation after the mid-stage.

When the influence of the Dao Path expands to a certain extent, it involves competition with other cultivators. However, since the Great Zhou Dynasty prohibits Foundation Establishment True Persons from fighting for the Dao Path, for most cultivators, forging the Origin Treasure becomes the only path.

Jiang Ming sighed, looking somewhat troubled.

His choice of the unorthodox path allowed him to benefit from the five different fruit positions, which meant that when he forged his primordial treasure, he had to concentrate materials of all five attributes.

However, Yun Shou, the old demon, has wasted many years and has not yet collected all the materials for a single fruit level. If he wants to pass through this path, Jiang Ming will need to collect at least five times more materials than Yun Shou.

Such a massive amount of resources would take decades to accumulate.

……

In the blink of an eye, four years have passed quietly.

Jiang Ming's Daoist lineage has indeed hit a bottleneck. Even though all the major families in Tongzhou have reached cooperation agreements with him and are willing to switch to cultivating the lineage.

Even so, Jiang Ming's cultivation level only stopped at the middle stage and could not advance further. Roughly speaking, to reach the late stage, he would need to get at least half of Tongzhou to switch to his own lineage, which was almost impossible!

At least for Jiang Ming right now, there is no chance for this.

Upon returning from the capital, Master Tianlu smiled as he learned that Jiang Ming had undertaken sweeping reforms of the outer sect.

"Junior Brother Jiang, it's been a long time. You've changed a lot for our Myriad Laws Sect. Well done."

Elder Han Li, who was always serious and unsmiling, walked over slowly and looked Jiang Ming up and down. His eyes flashed with a deep meaning. "Continuing to cultivate like this will not end well."

The late stage of Foundation Establishment is not easy to achieve. You have rendered meritorious service in guarding the Myriad Laws Sect, so I will grant you an opportunity.

Upon hearing this, Master Cao Jie's expression changed slightly. He looked at Jiang Ming with a hint of envy. "The Void Heaven Secret Realm is about to open. This time, our sect has three seals."

I don't need it. You've just broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and have enough combat power, so you can go and explore this time.

Upon hearing the words "Void Heaven Secret Realm," Jiang Ming was shocked.

To cover his tracks, he feigned shock and asked curiously, "Senior brothers, what is the Void Heaven Secret Realm?"

"Haha, it's perfectly normal that Junior Brother Jiang, who has only been cultivating for a short time, is unaware of the renowned Void Heaven Secret Realm."

The so-called Void Heaven Secret Realm, inherited from ancient times, is one of the recognized holy lands for cultivation. There are many treasures inside, and as long as you pass the test, you can take away the corresponding items.

This secret realm has long been occupied by overseas entities, but due to Zhou Jun's strength, he is able to intercept some slots from overseas every year.

With the Wanfa Sect's promotion to a first-class sect, we also gained several qualifications.

There are three in total. Junior Brother Jiang can come with us this time, but there are many people entering the secret realm.

Junior brother, you must be careful. If you are not strong enough, you may perish inside!

"Junior brother, think it over some more. If you're willing to go, then I'll give you the seal. In another year or two, when the Void Heaven Secret Realm opens, you can go with us. At that time, we brothers can look after each other."

Understanding that Jiang Ming had some questions, Master Tianlu patiently answered them, as if he was certain that Jiang Ming would not refuse, and gave him special instructions.

"I see. In that case, thank you both for your kindness. I am willing to go to the Void Heaven Secret Realm. Please allow me to go back and make some preparations!" Jiang Ming readily agreed, naturally not wanting to let go of the resources that were delivered to his door.

After chuckling, Master Tianlu watched Jiang Ming leave, his smile gradually fading, replaced by a slightly serious expression.

"Senior Brother Han Li, is it really okay to bring this kid along?"

He is an unorthodox Foundation Establishment cultivator, which might limit him in the Void Heaven Secret Realm. His strength might not even be as good as that of an early Foundation Establishment cultivator...

Shaking his head, Han Li, looking mature beyond his years, combined his own judgment with his rebuttal.

"Logically speaking, no. I have observed his lineage and found that he has adopted the fusion of five fruit positions. In this way, he may have a certain advantage in the Void Heaven Secret Realm."

Don't worry, no matter what, it's better than not having this person at all.

Junior Brother Cao Jie is too old to enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, so we can't just waste this spot.

"Giving this to someone else is not as good as trusting this junior brother. Look at him, he only took seven years to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. It's clear he's no ordinary person. Trust him."

After hearing Han Li's explanation, Tianlu naturally had no objections.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the peak of his cultivation, even if Han Li asked him to stay in the sect and voluntarily give up entering the Void Heaven Secret Realm, he wouldn't dare to raise any objections.

"I understand, senior brother. We'll do as you say and trust him!"

I'll go back and make some preparations. This time, I'm competing for resources with so many powerful people, and I feel some pressure. I need to plan carefully.

Otherwise, there is a risk of perishing...

Nodding, Master Han Li did not deny it. After recalling some past events, he patiently instructed, "Remember to prepare more treasures that can protect your divine sense."

Those damned bald monks will also enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm this time. What these Buddhist cultivators are best at is disturbing people's minds.

"Remind Junior Brother Jiang to make some preparations as well, otherwise all our efforts will be wasted if he gets assimilated by this bunch of scum."

Nodding solemnly, Master Tianlu dared not delay and immediately chased after Jiang Ming to stop him.

Unsure why Master Tianlu had come again, Jiang Ming respectfully cupped his hands, his mind filled with doubt, and asked, "Senior Brother, what guidance do you have?"

"Be very careful of Shi Xiu. After you encounter those bald monks in the Void Heaven Secret Realm, do not get entangled with them."

These bastards are all scoundrels, infamous throughout the cultivation world. Their cultivation method is very special; once they control your mind, they can assimilate you into their own.

Shi Xiu's fighting ability is extremely powerful, and his physical body is also terrifying. You must be very careful and never take your senior brother's words lightly or treat them lightly.

After patiently explaining, Tianlu Zhenren, fearing that Jiang Ming might not take it seriously, then described several vivid examples.

"You know the Cangwu Master of the Daoist Sect, right? This old man's Daoist partner was assimilated by Buddhist cultivators back then and was forced to abandon the Cangwu Master, choosing to become a nun in the Pure Land."

And then there's that Frost Immortal. Don't let his imposing appearance fool you; he's actually suffered in silence. His own son was even kidnapped by the Pure Land.

Even though he was in the late Foundation Establishment stage, he dared not show any dissatisfaction, let alone seek revenge in the Pure Land. Therefore, once you enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, you must remember your brother's instructions: upon seeing Shi Xiu, immediately stay far away..."

Upon hearing some of the secrets, Jiang Ming's expression immediately turned serious.

He had always believed that apart from overseas and the Great Zhou, no other lineage existed, but now it seems that this is not the case.

With a sigh, Jiang Ming felt more vigilant, but he couldn't help but feel excited. Meeting more powerful people in this world would also be beneficial for improving his cultivation.

Back in his cave, Jiang Ming asked Ao Shu about the Void Heaven Secret Realm, but Tianlu Zhenren's answer was very vague, leaving him unsure of what to do.

Furthermore, although they are from the same sect, conflicts are inevitable when interests are involved. Being able to learn more about the situation will be very helpful in exploring the Void Heaven Secret Realm.

Inside the cave, Ao Shu learned that the Void Heaven Secret Realm had opened, and a sense of disappointment flashed through her heart. If she were still a cultivator from the Dragon Palace, she should have been able to enter the secret realm through the Dragon Palace's quota this time.

But now that the Taoist tradition has been reformed and the Dragon Palace has been abandoned, we can no longer hope for such things.

"In the Void Heaven Secret Realm, the most important thing is the seal, and this must be kept in your possession at all times."

If someone else takes it away and uses it to threaten chaos, things will be very difficult, as a seal is required to enter the secret realm.

Leaving the secret realm also requires a seal; once this seal is taken away, one cannot leave.

Many cultivators entered the Void Heaven Secret Realm, but in the ensuing battles, their seals were taken away, forcing them to remain inside forever. This is one reason.

Secondly, if you encounter a Buddhist monk in the secret realm, it is best not to offend him. If there is absolutely no other way, then you must eliminate him completely.

Otherwise, if these bald monks set their sights on us, we'll be in big trouble.

They don't talk about killing, they only talk about conversion. If a bald monk or nun says they want to convert you to monastic life, you must be careful.

Once you enter the Buddhist order, it will be difficult to break free. You will not be allowed to have sex with women and will have to be a vegetarian and chant Buddhist scriptures for the rest of your life.

Although Shi Xiu was very strong, the price of losing his freedom was too high.

Thirdly, the Void Heaven Secret Realm is home to many ancient mythical beasts, such as the White Jade Spider and the Black Tiger Mantis. These beasts possess intelligence and choose to devour humans.

If you encounter one, do not engage it unless you are confident in your ability to fight it, because the beast possesses ancient bloodline.

Once awakened, it can unleash three times its usual strength, although this is only temporary, and even in such a short time, there is a risk of death.

Finally, within the Void Heaven Secret Realm, there are still some ancient demons sealed away, though they are no longer a threat.

But I've heard from my elders that these demons are very troublesome. Once someone is possessed by one, their mind will be immediately erased and they will be replaced by another demon.

Against the demons, there is one treasure that is of utmost importance: the Golden Thunder Bamboo. Since you have a complete set of Golden Thunder Bamboo flying swords, this saves you a lot of trouble.

That's all I know. The Void Heaven Secret Realm is an extremely precious opportunity, so you must seize it.

Try to gather enough materials so that when you reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment, you will have more confidence to expand your lineage.

At that time, I will also benefit from this and successfully break through to the mid-stage...

He patiently explained at length.

Ao Shu was afraid that Jiang Ming wouldn't remember, so she repeated it from beginning to end.

Filled with apprehension about the Void Heaven Secret Realm, Jiang Ming dared not be negligent and immediately went down the mountain to make full preparations.

Judging from the reminders given by Master Tianlu and Ao Shu.

In the Void Heaven Secret Realm, there are two most important things: one is something to save one's life, and the other is a treasure that can keep one's consciousness clear.

Jiang Ming did not have any reserves of life-saving items.

After searching carefully in the Gongshan Hall, Jiang Ming still couldn't find anything he wanted. After much thought, he had no choice but to go down the mountain to beg for money from the Cheng family.

……

Cheng family.

Now that Cheng Ya has taken over the family business and become a truly powerful figure, Jiang Ming doesn't stand on ceremony when he sees her and directly asks about the family's wealth.

"Does the Cheng family possess any life-saving artifacts? I am about to enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, where I may face the risk of death, but unfortunately, I do not have any suitable magical treasures."

"Risk of falling?" Exclaimed in surprise, Cheng Ya was so excited that she almost didn't hesitate and immediately took Jiang Ming to the Cheng family's treasury.

Although the Cheng family has never produced a true Foundation Establishment cultivator, they have accumulated a substantial fortune over the past few hundred years, and possess several powerful magical treasures.

"This magical artifact is called the Qiankun Realm. It can deflect one fatal attack. You can keep this."

Oh, and this too. This armor was taken from a Foundation Establishment level demon beast. It's very sturdy, and wearing it will protect you from fatal attacks.

These are all the items the Cheng family has to protect themselves. It's a pity my talisman skills haven't reached a level of perfection yet, otherwise I could have crafted a protective talisman for you..."

Jiang Ming was delighted to receive the armor and magical artifacts, and he immediately felt more confident. No one would complain about having too many of these life-saving items.

Although the sect did not have suitable magic weapons, these two items had already solved Jiang Ming's immediate problem.

In a short while.

After saying goodbye to Cheng Ya, Jiang Ming arrived at the Ye family's residence.

When Ye Tao learned that Jiang Ming was going on a long trip and risked his life, she wanted to persuade him not to go, but then she heard that the Void Heaven Secret Realm involved opportunities in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

She didn't try to persuade him any further. After thinking for a moment, she immediately took Jiang Ming to search for treasures in the Ye family's treasury.

Compared to the Cheng family, the Ye family is wealthier.

All sorts of cultivation resources filled several warehouses.

"There are indeed some life-saving items, but there aren't many that can deal with Foundation Establishment cultivators."

As far as I know, there are only three pieces. Two of them are intact, while the other is a damaged piece, with most of its exterior broken.

Now, although this item can be infused with spiritual power, I'm not sure if it's even usable.

The remaining two items are called the Tranquility Umbrella, which can withstand attacks from the divine sense, and the Primordial Chaos Bowl, which, when turned upside down and activated, is equivalent to a temporary cave dwelling and can withstand a brief attack from an early Foundation Establishment cultivator.

I'm not sure if it will work if I encounter a stronger cultivator.

With a hint of apology in her eyes, Ye Tao felt slightly ashamed that she couldn't help more. She hugged Jiang Ming and said in a deep voice, "Be careful. If you encounter any danger, just quit in advance. At worst, you can give up the resources..."

With a wry smile, Jiang Ming didn't believe that the Void Heaven Secret Realm was as easy as Ye Tao had described.

Since you've chosen to venture in, getting out smoothly won't be easy. The lowest level of cultivation you can enter is a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Although there aren't many Foundation Establishment cultivators, the total number of Foundation Establishment cultivators across all the various sects is probably in the hundreds.

Among so many cultivators, probably not one is easy to deal with.

If it weren't for the system that wards off evil and disasters, Jiang Ming would have to weigh the risks.

"Don't worry, once I return safely, your cultivation levels will also improve..." He patiently reassured them.

Ye Tao frowned, her face full of sorrow, "If something happens to you, what use is my high cultivation level?"

On this long path to immortality, I do not seek to reach the pinnacle, I only wish to be with you...

Unable to bear the emotional appeal, Jiang Ming silently returned to the Wanfa Sect.

one year later.

Outside the cave, True Person Han Li and True Person Tianlu took the initiative to visit. They had received inside information that the Void Heaven Secret Realm was about to open.

Entering the secret realm is based on a first-come, first-served principle; you must compete for a spot to enter the Void Realm as soon as possible to search for resources.

In order to prepare in advance, Master Tianlu suggested setting off ahead of time to observe the situation. After all, as Foundation Establishment True Persons, they had all made enemies to some extent.

By scouting ahead early, one can be aware of any potential dangers.

"Junior Brother Jiang, I heard that you killed Old Demon Yun Shou. You'd better be careful this time. Old Demon Yun Shou was the junior brother of True Person Gu Ling. He even served as True Person Gu Ling's attendant when he was young."

Although this happened decades ago, you still need to be careful. You can't stop a Foundation Establishment cultivator from trying to deduce cause and effect...

As Han Li summoned a flying boat amidst a sea of ​​clouds and urged it onward, his tone was undeniably serious.

The Cloud Sea Flying Boat was extremely fast, and it arrived overseas in just one hour. Along the way, Jiang Ming saw more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators from overseas.

They all looked adorned with jewels and exuded an extraordinary air.

"Those useless fools in the Dragon Palace are still so arrogant. If I get the chance this time, I'll definitely peel off a dragon sinew and make a fine longbow..."

With a sinister smile, True Immortal Tianlu glanced at the passing Dragon Palace cultivators, his eyes filled with covetousness.

"Junior brother, when you're out and about, don't cause trouble unnecessarily. I know your Heavenly Fire Bow is still missing a bowstring."

But overseas is the dragon clan's training ground. If we get stained with dragon blood, we probably won't be able to return to Tongzhou..."

Shaking his head, Han Li quickly stopped Tianlu Zhenren's idea.

"There's a celestial palace in the clouds over there. Could it be the entrance to the Void Heaven Secret Realm?" Jiang Ming asked, pointing into the distance.

With a hearty laugh, Tianlu was slightly surprised. "Junior Brother Jiang's divine sense is quite strong. He can actually see the Void Heaven Palace from such a distance."

That's right, that's the entrance to the Void Heaven Secret Realm, but it's not open yet, otherwise a burst of purple light would erupt above the Void Heaven Palace.

At that time, ten high platforms will appear outside the hall. You will need to activate the seal on these platforms and wait for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before you can successfully enter the secret realm.

During this process, there may be people trying to take over the stage, and the scene will be very chaotic. Junior Brother Jiang, remember that.

If you encounter a cultivator with higher cultivation level vying for the stage, temporarily avoid their sharp edge and let them have the stage. Enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, and sooner or later, you will at least gain some opportunities.

But if you anger those powerful cultivators, they might kill you in a fit of rage, and then you'll have nothing left.

This is especially true when entering a secret realm. As the saying goes, fortune favors the bold, but there are certain prerequisites.

If you have the ability, you can go and take the risk, but if you don't, taking the risk rashly will only cost you your life.

You are still young, so please don't risk your life for a petty argument. Once you enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, come find us as soon as possible.

"If the three of us get together, united in purpose, we're sure to reap even greater rewards..."

Jiang Ming nodded, neither confirming nor denying Tianlu Zhenren's statement.

For precious cultivation resources, it is not uncommon for cultivators to kill each other.

In more serious cases, it could even lead to fathers and sons killing each other.

In this atmosphere, Jiang Ming really didn't dare to easily trust Master Tianlu. After entering the secret realm, it would be better to search for resources on his own.

When the time comes, if we encounter a strong enemy, we can simply retreat.

There wasn't much discussion on this issue.

When Master Han Li arrived outside the Void Heaven Palace in his Cloud Sea Flying Boat, he immediately frowned upon seeing Buddhist disciples in the distance.

With a heavy tone, he instructed Jiang Ming, "Don't look over there, and don't have too much contact with them."

"These bald monks appear kind on the surface, but they are actually very wicked. Look at the cultivators around him; many of them have been poisoned. They look radiant with Buddhist light now, but in reality, they have lost their own consciousness and become puppets of Buddhism..."

Jiang Ming glanced over there and saw the so-called puppets.

They all had kind and gentle faces, and possessed a kind of compassionate nature reminiscent of monks.

However, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had endured countless hardships and was extremely cunning, their behavior was far too unusual.

Conversely, the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators from overseas all looked wary.

Looking around, everyone had their own plans. When acquaintances met, they would only nod and greet each other, rarely gathering together to talk loudly.

Buddhism is not only for monks, but also for female practitioners. They do not shave their heads, but wear white monastic robes, and have a sacred and otherworldly aura.

Without looking closely, Jiang Ming was afraid of making contact with this group of Buddhist cultivators, so he sat down with Tianlu Zhenren and patiently waited for the Void Heaven Secret Realm to open.

Several days later.

Suddenly, a dazzling purple light burst forth from the tranquil Void Heaven Palace behind them, and several arenas soared into the sky, appearing even more ethereal and sacred amidst the sea of ​​clouds.

Each arena has a corresponding teleportation array, and in the center of the arena is a deep recess, which is about the same size as the seal.

"Junior brothers, I'll go first." The moment the arena appeared, Master Han Li rushed forward and took the initiative to join the competition.

As a cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, his strength was among the best on the scene, and he naturally wouldn't give up the opportunity to enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm as soon as possible.

For someone at his level, many treasures are actually not of much value.

That's why the treasures he needs are even more sought after.

If you can't get in early and someone else snatches the treasure, then this trip to the Void Realm will have been for nothing.

The first to step onto the arena were several Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators and late Foundation Establishment cultivators, each of them possessing top-tier strength.

Each of them had a renowned reputation.

For this reason, no one dared to disturb them. After they were allowed to enter the Void Realm, the second round of competition began.

Looking around, he realized that he was in a relatively advantageous position.

Master Tianlu also joined the scramble, turning back to look at Jiang Ming and patiently giving him instructions.

"Junior brother, I'll say it again: never lose your life because of a fight over pride."

If someone stronger asks you for the ring, just let them have it; it'll just mean waiting a little longer.

Most of the resources in the Void Realm are useful to you, so don't ruin your future for the sake of saving face.

Nod emphatically to indicate that you understand.

Jiang Ming was certainly not so foolish as to risk a life-or-death conflict with someone just to save the time it takes to burn a few incense sticks.

He looked around, glanced at the cultivators who were arriving one after another, and silently retreated.

This group also includes top-tier experts who should not be provoked.

Let's delay it a little longer. Even if it takes longer to get in, it's still much better than dying outside.

Ok?

With a slight look of surprise in his eyes, Jiang Ming saw a familiar figure and immediately felt a chill run down his spine.

Xu Youwei has also reached the Foundation Establishment Realm! How is that possible? No matter how fast her cultivation speed is, she shouldn't have reached this level.

Most importantly, her cultivation level seemed to be slightly higher than his own, which was definitely suspicious.

After a careful investigation, Jiang Ming noticed something amiss. The oppressive feeling Xu Youwei gave him was similar to that of Han Li Zhenren.

She's also become a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator?!

After a moment's thought, Jiang Ming immediately dismissed the idea. He had established a new lineage and gone through countless hardships to reach the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, which was already considered outstanding among his peers.

Let alone the fact that Xu Youwei's talent couldn't possibly be that high, even if she were truly gifted, she absolutely couldn't have reached the Foundation Establishment stage so quickly.

Right now, there's only one possibility: she's been possessed by the Gu Spirit Master!

Jiang Ming knew Xu Youwei's background perfectly well, and he immediately thought of this possibility.

After much deliberation, he moved further away from the arena, fearing that Gu Ling Zhenren would discover him and kill him with a single palm strike.

Fortunately, after being possessed, Xu Youwei's memories were not inherited by the Gu Spirit Master.

Even when she glanced at Jiang Ming, she didn't notice anything unusual, treating him as just an unrelated junior.

Arriving at the arena outside the Void Heaven Palace, she calmly sat down and activated her seal.

Facing the disapproving gazes of the Buddhist monks, he swung out a palm fiercely, "What are you looking at? You bunch of bald monks, do you want to die?"

Others may fear you, but I don't. My years of experience haven't been for nothing. If you want to die or exorcise demons, feel free to try.

Raising an eyebrow, Jiang Ming didn't understand why demonic cultivators could also obtain the seal, but considering the infamous reputation of the Witchcraft Cult, he quickly figured out the reason.

They probably stole the seal; after all, with their Foundation Establishment cultivation at its peak, plundering a seal wouldn't be difficult for them.

Staring angrily in this direction, the Buddhist disciples, though harboring murderous intent towards the demonic sect, now found that their senior, who had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm, had already entered the secret realm.

Even if they wanted to kill the demonic cultivators, they didn't have the ability to do so.

"Ah!" He softly recited a Buddhist chant.

Following Gu Ling Zhenren, other experts entered one after another.

At this moment, the mid-Foundation Establishment stage is the highest level of cultivation.

Jiang Ming was the first to step onto the arena. He had just sat cross-legged, intending to activate his seal to enter the Void Heaven Secret Realm, when he saw a group of bald monks approaching from a distance. Their bronze skin was covered in scars; they looked like ruthless warriors.

He smiled kindly, then put on a sincere expression and said earnestly, "Fellow Daoist, could you do me the honor of letting me enter the 10-day secret realm first to reunite with my master?"

Consider it a favor that my Buddhist sect owes you, fellow practitioner.

Having heard many warnings about Buddhism, Jiang Ming remained tight-lipped, not uttering a single word, and quickly stepped back, unwilling to get entangled with them.

It's just giving up a ring, what's the big deal? As long as the green hills remain, there's always firewood to burn.

Nodding, Jiang Ming silently took the seal and left, then went to another arena.

Seeing that Jiang Ming was practicing an unorthodox path and seemed weak and easily bullied, a Foundation Establishment cultivator from overseas approached. This man had a large beard and a fierce look on his face. He sneered and said, "Boy, get out of the way."

Jiang Ming rolled his eyes at him, speechless. He had chosen to back down for the time being because Shi Xiu had a large and powerful force and a fearsome reputation.

This unknown overseas cultivator actually dared to utter such arrogant words.

If I can't beat Shi Xiu, I can still beat you!

"You're courting death!" Jiang Ming coldly rebuked, and immediately took action, instantly condensing seventy-two Golden Thunder Bamboo Flying Swords into an array.

After the Primordial Sword Formation was formed, the rogue cultivator's expression changed drastically. He wanted to beg for mercy, but it was too late.

boom!

The sword formation attacked the rogue cultivator from all directions. In just a moment, the man exploded into a cloud of blood mist under the sword light, leaving no trace of life.

"Hiss." A collective gasp rippled through the crowd of cultivators around Jiang Ming, their expressions inscrutable. No one dared to approach and disturb him.

After coldly surveying his surroundings and finding no further threats, Jiang Ming inserted the seal into the arena. In an instant, a chaotic purple aura enveloped Jiang Ming.

Then it transformed into a beam of light, shot straight into the sky, and disappeared!

A moment later, they arrived at the secret realm.

Looking at the radiant light emanating from afar, Jiang Ming raised an eyebrow and tentatively flew over on his sword. He saw several Foundation Establishment cultivators at the peak of their cultivation fighting each other, and it seemed that True Person Han Li was not present.

Frowning, Jiang Ming dared not linger. Taking advantage of the fact that everyone was fighting over the treasure, he immediately fled in the opposite direction.

None of these guys are easy to deal with.

The things they fight over may be precious enough, but they are definitely not something Jiang Ming can get his hands on.

It's best for him to keep his distance from such a treasure.

Wear shoes that fit your feet.

Now, he's not strong enough, and it would be a real loss for him to compete with these old fogies for resources.

There's a risk of injury or even death if things go wrong, so it's better to retreat for now and look for other resources.

The most urgent task at hand is to gather available resources as quickly as possible to ensure that one's cultivation level is improved while remaining in good condition.

After escaping for over a hundred miles, Jiang Ming looked at the cave not far away, a sense of curiosity rising in his heart.

This place seems ordinary, but upon closer inspection, there are some strange fluctuations of spiritual energy, suggesting that some kind of treasure may remain here.

This mysterious cave is most likely the place where cultivators pass away peacefully.

There might be treasures and valuable cultivation resources hidden inside. Since there's no one around, this place should be searched.

If we can gain something from this, we might be able to increase our strength and compete for some more valuable resources for our own use!