System crash? I prove it with my control panel!

The next day.

The morning bell resounded throughout Qingchi Peak.

Although there are no more morning classes.

But all the disciples filed out.

Chen Wenyi Hospital was also among the crowd.

As soon as he stepped outside, he noticed that nearly half of his disciples were missing.

The once bustling lecture square now appears somewhat deserted.

Chen Wen couldn't help but exclaim in astonishment, "So many people can't even break through to the second level of Qi Refining?!"

Jia Xu, standing to the side, couldn't help but speak up to explain:

"Senior Brother Jingwen has always been in the First Class Academy, so he naturally doesn't know the hardships of those in the Lower Class Academy."

"I spent three months in Courtyard B and have experienced it firsthand. The spiritual energy in Courtyard B is less than half of what we live in. Courtyard C is even worse, and if you go to Courtyard D, there is only one-tenth left."

"Those people were recruited to do menial tasks, but the Qingming Sect still gave them a chance. If they have outstanding comprehension, they can also become inner disciples."

"Then why don't they just...?"

Chen Wengang opened his mouth, then fell silent.

He had come to understand that those people, while not outstanding in terms of talent, were still in the middle tier among the other forces.

But they came here for the same purpose as Chen Wen: better to be the tail of a phoenix than the head of a chicken.

A thought suddenly arose in Chen Wen's mind, sending chills down his spine that lingered for a long time.

Could it be that the so-called "coming here and being able to cultivate the Purple Mansion Technique" is also a lie?

Actually, the selection process has always been the same.

They just lure people in first and then change the rules.

The Qingming Sect sets the rules, so no matter how dissatisfied the people below are, they can only watch helplessly as they say what they will do.

If that's really the case... Chen Wen actually thinks it's normal.

Because this is the Qingming Sect that Qin Shuiru mentioned when they arrived.

In the year he had been there, he had never seen the dark side of the Qingming Sect, and he vaguely suspected that Qin Shuiru was deliberately scaring him.

But if that's really the case...

Chen Wen raised his eyes and looked at Bai Zhantang in front of him.

Could he know something?

Chen Wen could only think of this as a way to obtain the truth.

Because of his prior criminal record, he leaked information about the assessment.

However, Chen Wen did not step forward. He would ask the servants after the assessment was over; there was no need to rush.

And even if we knew, what could we do?

We have no choice but to endure it.

...

Just now.

"Clang clang clang~"

The sound of bells rang out.

Everyone in the square looked up at the high platform.

On the high platform, Li Xuan's expression was solemn, unlike his usual casual demeanor. He formed hand seals and chanted an unknown incantation, his body radiating a powerful spiritual energy.

Chen Wen felt as if a huge mountain had appeared before him, and he was like an ant at the foot of the mountain.

"Imperial Edict!"

Li Xuan gave a low shout.

With a flick of his sword, a portal suddenly opened up in front of him, emanating terrifying energy.

After the operation was completed, a slight cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and his face was pale.

He then turned and bowed respectfully, without looking at the disciples below:

"Reporting to all peak masters, the secret realm of Qingchi Peak has been opened. We would like to request your instructions!"

Get ready!

A faint sound came from the sky.

There are even experts here!

Peak Master? Is it the principal or the deputy peak master?

Chen Wen looked up at the sky, but all he saw was blue sky and white clouds, nothing else.

Li Xuan respectfully agreed, then turned around and instructed the disciples below:

"Next, you will all be sent into the Azure Pool Secret Realm for a survival of the fittest. You must not take anyone's life. The trial will end when only one person remains."

Before the disciples could react, he waved his sleeve, and streaks of azure light descended, flying to each disciple's side.

"This is a life talisman, one for each person. It cannot be stored in a storage bag. If the life talisman is crushed or a fatal blow is received, the person will be teleported out, but their ranking will also be fixed here."

"The Azure Pool Secret Realm is a treasure of the sect, opening once every ten years. It contains a body-cleansing spiritual spring and will open in three days. There are countless other opportunities there as well. I hope you will cherish it. The secret realm information is contained in your destiny talisman. You can check it yourselves."

After speaking, he stood aside and waited quietly.

The disciples below erupted in excitement upon hearing this.

A secret realm! A spiritual cleansing pool! An opportunity!

These are things that are rarely seen outside, but now the sect is opening them up to some newly admitted disciples.

Chen Wen was only attracted by the preparations mentioned in the sky.

Does this mean that there are nine more such secret realms within the sect?

If new disciples can use such secret realms, then are there even stronger ones?

As expected of a major sect encompassing an entire realm, it possesses profound resources. Even a small portion of what it offers is something that outsiders would desperately try to obtain.

With so many disciples, why are there so few Foundation Establishment cultivators...?

"Distracting thoughts are the fuel..."

As for the rules within the secret realm, he already understood them.

He stroked the blue talisman in his hand. He didn't know what material it was, but it was cool to the touch, smooth and delicate, and was not an ordinary object.

He exclaimed that this talisman alone was worth at least ten spirit stones.

The gaze fell upon the entrance to the secret realm, which was still shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland.

However, he was somewhat worried about the upcoming match.

This was not the kind of fight he had envisioned, nor was it a chaotic melee where dozens of people fought to determine the last person, followed by individual duels.

The sect was even more ruthless than he had imagined; they threw all five thousand people into the secret realm to fight until only one person remained.

He probed the destiny talisman with his spiritual sense.

An aerial view of the world came into my mind.

It boasts a complete range of landforms, including jungles, snow-capped mountains, lakes, deserts, and plains.

At the very center of the secret realm stands a towering mountain that reaches into the clouds.

The mountain is marked with the name "Qingchi Peak"!

At the summit lies a clear pool of spiritual spring, brimming with spiritual energy.

It is mentioned that the Azure Pool Spirit Spring can temper the body, enhance cultivation, and even slightly improve aptitude.

Upgrade qualifications?

Then we have no choice but to take action!

A glint of light flashed in Chen Wen's eyes.

After that, he began to observe the surrounding terrain.

The talisman mentions that once you step into the portal, you will randomly appear in various parts of the secret realm.

It may appear directly inside the spiritual spring.

It could also appear thousands of feet in the air.

Everything is random.

It is evident that many unlucky players will be eliminated immediately upon landing.

For example, falling into a crowd or into a poisonous miasma.

As for high altitudes... no one would be that unlucky... right?

Chu Feng, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but feel worried after reading it. He tugged at Chen Wen's sleeve and whispered:

"Brother Jingwen, how about we meet at Qingchi Peak and form an alliance after entering the secret realm?"

"Excellent! That's exactly what I was thinking!"

Chen Wen immediately agreed.

He knew that Chu Feng's cultivation was definitely not as simple as he appeared.

His spiritual sense was extremely strong; he could now extend it to over thirty meters. Yet, standing next to Chu Feng, he could vaguely sense some signs of danger, which made him alert.

He himself was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining and also practiced Body Refining, so ordinary fourth-level Qi Refining cultivators posed no threat to him.

Clearly, Chu Feng also had some tricks up his sleeve, this sixth brother!

...

Time passed second by second.

Fifteen minutes later.

The voice finally echoed again from the sky.

"Disciples of the Ten Peaks, heed my command! Proceed!"

It turns out that all ten peaks started together.

A sudden realization flashed through Chen Wen's mind.

Without pausing, he leaped forward.

Since we'll have to enter sooner or later, we should enter early and seize the opportunity.

Otherwise, someone else might make the first move.

The disciples in green robes ahead also set off, transforming into streaks of light that fell into the portal and disappeared.

Chen Wen leaped several times and arrived at the gate. Without hesitation, he stepped inside.

boom---

He felt a jolt in his head, followed by a series of booming sounds.

Then a multicolored black appeared before my eyes, constantly flashing and changing.

Sudden.

He felt a slight tearing sensation.

Before he could react, his feet slipped, and he fell like a kite with a broken string.

"Fuck your dam!"

Chen Wen opened his eyes and immediately started cursing.

I was so unlucky to be teleported into the air.

Below him was a blanket of white, and the air was filled with an icy chill.

How could he not understand that he had landed in the snowy region?

The bad news is that the snow-capped mountains lack the vitality of vegetation.

The good news is that it's a snow-covered mountain, so you won't die from a fall!

He quickly mobilized his spiritual energy before landing, manipulating his body to move forward a distance.

Although it wasn't enough to completely remove the impact, it at least reduced his suffering.

The situation is unclear now, so we can't waste our spiritual energy.

"puff---"

He fell from the sky, creating a deep crater.

His robust physique caused him to only feel a slight tingling sensation, and nothing else unusual.

After he got up, he didn't rush out of the snow cave. Instead, he used his spiritual sense to explore the surrounding area, trying to match it with the map.

First, check if there are any people around.

Secondly, we need to find our way out as soon as possible.

In another hour, the restricted area will be opened.

If you fail to leave the restricted area before the time limit expires, you will be eliminated and teleported out.

How could the sect not have imagined that someone would want to be the sixth member?

All around, snow-capped mountains stretched into the sky, and icy peaks pierced the clouds.

The north wind howled past, whipping up snowflakes that rustled against the icicles on the cliff edge, turning the entire mountain white.

There weren't even any birds or beasts, let alone people.

Chen Wen was relieved and jumped out of the snow pit.

It cast a cleansing spell to clean itself thoroughly.

He used the Yi Wood Escape Technique, randomly selected a high peak, and leaped up.

For half an hour, he traversed one peak after another, searching for his place in the world.

Finally, he came to a cliff and stopped.

The cliff here is marked on the map, it is unnamed, but it is indeed the boundary of the snow mountain.

Beyond this point, another hundred miles further on, lies a grassland.

Therefore, he only needs to bypass this place, cross the snow-capped mountains, and he can reach Qingchi Peak.

He grinned, thinking that he was lucky; he wasn't on the other side of the snow mountain, and it was only half a day's journey from Qingchi Peak.

However, he needed to get out of the snow-capped mountains and into the grasslands before changing his route.

This place is not friendly to him. Once he enters the grassland, he can use the spiritual energy of the plants and trees to travel quickly with minimal consumption.

In order to quickly restore his magical power, he took out a spirit stone and held it in his hand. While absorbing it, he jumped down and took out a wooden plank from his storage bag, then stepped on it to slide down the broken slope.

Although he is not yet able to fly with his current cultivation level, he can still glide close to the ground using his object manipulation technique.

The cold wind was biting, but it couldn't ruffle a single strand of his hair.

Using his unique way of traveling, he soon saw the grassland gradually appearing ahead.

However, at this very moment...

He suddenly slammed on the brakes, instantly lying face down on the snow, his white robe concealing him within its embrace.

The Cicada Shedding Breath Technique was activated to its extreme, causing the heartbeat to slow down and breathing to become almost nonexistent.

next moment.

Several people ran out from ahead.

One person is leading the way and is fleeing.

Three or four were chasing after them.

Chen Wen possesses spiritual awareness, so he was naturally able to sense it in advance.

These people were all outer disciples at the third level of Qi Refining.

Chen Wen was naturally not afraid, but he was worried that the fight would attract the attention of others.

This is a chaotic battleground, and once trapped, even the strongest cultivation level will be difficult to withstand.

However, sometimes what you don't want to do is exactly what you'll encounter.

Chen Wen didn't want them to come here, but the fleeing people were heading straight for him.

They were getting closer and closer.

Chen Wen gritted his teeth and decided to take action.

He immediately got up and quickly chanted the incantation.

"The fire condenses, burning in the palm..."

A crimson fireball suddenly condensed in his palm, dancing and radiating intense heat. He then pointed his fingers at the disciples chasing behind him.

"disease!"

Chen Wen knew that he did not have a fire elemental root, so even with his fully mastered fireball technique, he could not expect it to be effective.

But he has abundant magical power and is highly skilled; he can conjure fireballs with just a few incantations.

He then quickly conjured six more fireballs and shot them out.

Especially the one being chased, his fireball is a two-in-one.

Who told you to come here? Here's a big one for you!

Chen Wen cursed under his breath.

At that moment, the people who were chasing suddenly saw a person standing not far ahead.

The group was immediately alarmed, and one of them quickly shouted:

"This master..."

However, before he could finish speaking, a fireball suddenly appeared.

"What the hell?! So fast?!"

He was so frightened that he tried to dodge, but it was too late. The fireball struck his abdomen and burst into flames.

"Bang---"

With a loud bang, the life talisman at his waist shattered, and he was instantly enveloped by an invisible force before disappearing.

"What's going on?!"

Before the other three could react, their eyes lit up and one of their teammates was gone.

However, they understood the next second.

"Bang bang bang—"

After three loud bangs, they vanished in an instant.

Only a lingering echo remained: "So strong and still resorting to sneak attacks, shameless!"

The man being chased turned around upon hearing the voice behind him and immediately grinned, "Heh heh, so you think you can chase me? I'm a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator, I'm not so easy to catch!"

He then turned and bowed, saying, "Thank you, Master..."

Before he could finish speaking, a huge fireball appeared before his eyes.

Are fireballs from a fireball spell really that big?!

A hint of doubt flashed through his mind, but he quickly reacted and used his magic to condense a shield in front of him.

Then he shouted, "Senior brother, don't attack! I have something to say!"

"boom--"

The fireball exploded in front of the spirit shield, sending waves of heat rushing towards them.

"Click~"

A crisp cracking sound reached the disciple's ears, and the disciple's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly tried to condense another layer of spiritual shield, but it was too late.

puff~

The spirit shield shattered with a crash, and the disciple felt a sharp pain in his chest before being sent flying backward.

However, before he even landed, crack! The life talisman shattered, and he was teleported away.

After he went outside and realized what had happened, his face was still filled with grief and indignation.

"Wait, how come one fireball spell killed me instantly?"

"Master Li, I want to report someone for using a ritual implement without authorization!"

He shouted at Li Xuan on the high platform.

Upon hearing this, Li Xuan frowned, secretly glancing at the sky. Seeing no further instructions, he felt relieved.

His face darkened, and he shouted, "Get down! Whether you've violated the rules is for the supervising disciples to monitor; it's none of your business!"

The disciple, his face flushed red from the scolding, finally remembered that this was not a place where he could act recklessly. He immediately lowered his head and remained silent, slinking away in disgrace, though his eyes still betrayed his grief and indignation.

The sky over the Azure Nether Sect has finally turned dark!

........