After transforming into a fairy, I, in my simulation, wreaked havoc in the cultivation world.

Before me lay a desolate valley, jagged rocks, withered grass covering the ground, and the spiritual energy in the air so thin it was almost imperceptible.

The three of you stand before a smooth stone wall. Shi Ying's father steps forward, places his palm on the wall, and a surge of powerful blood energy erupts from him.

After a moment of silence, a muffled rumble came from deep within the stone wall, and a thin crack slowly opened, with gravel falling down in a rustling sound.

The crack widened further, eventually revealing a stone gate about ten feet high, its runes long since blurred and indistinct.

"It's up to you."

Upon hearing this, your eyes flickered slightly, and you slowly approached the stone gate.

Remembering the unease that had welled up inside you earlier, you calmly brought up the control panel.

You focused your thoughts on the entry for "fortune teller," and after a moment, a line of golden words slowly appeared.

[Current hexagram: Auspicious mixed with inauspicious.]

The divination text says: "Place them in a desperate situation, then you will profit."

[Upon seeing this divination, though you harbor doubts, you show no sign of them on your face, and a drop of bright red blood wells up from your fingertip.]

The moment the blood seeped into the stone door, the entire stone wall trembled slightly.

The ancient, long-faded patterns seemed to be reawakened, gleaming with a crimson-gold light.

[“Boom!”]

The stone door slowly opened inward, and a scorching heat emanated from the crack.

[Behind the door wasn't complete darkness; something deep within seemed to be emitting a light, flickering on and off.]

Just as you were about to step through the stone gate, a sinister laugh rang out from not far away.

"Here you go!"

Several figures landed less than five zhang away from you. The leader, dressed in the robes of a Tianheng Sect elder, had a sinister face. His gaze passed over you and landed directly inside the stone door.

"Shi Cang, after hiding this secret realm for so many years, you've finally decided to open it?"

"Helian Zhu, how do you know about the secret realm?"

Shi Cang's expression changed upon seeing the newcomer.

"How would I know?"

Helian Zhu smiled dismissively, stepped aside, and a disciple slowly stepped forward from behind.

The man was pale and weak, but the moment Shi Cang saw him, his pupils contracted sharply.

"Shi Lie!?"

"Master, it's been a long time."

Shi Lie twitched the corners of his mouth, a smile devoid of any warmth.

Shi Cang fell silent; at that moment, all the mysteries were solved.

The young man before him was someone he had picked up from outside, and he possessed exceptional talent, which he had devoted himself to nurturing.

Although nominally master and disciple, their relationship was closer than that of father and son; he even considered marrying Shi Ying to him.

But everything changed after he discovered this secret realm.

[Disciples began to suffer casualties, ultimately including direct disciples and true disciples.]

The person who intervened was extremely familiar with the Tianheng Sect's methods of seeking help; almost no message could be transmitted back.

I should have realized it was my fellow disciples who did it...

Shi Cang didn't ask him why he betrayed him; it was pointless.

His aura surged, and the terrifying power of his power forced everyone to retreat.

"You're insane!"

A crack appeared on Helian Zhu's previously confident face.

As a cultivator at the fourth realm, he was extremely unwilling to fight to the death with his opponent. He had thought that by threatening him, he could perhaps divide this secret realm among himself.

[Unexpectedly, the opponent didn't give any room for negotiation at all, and immediately started by burning their life essence.]

As for the disciples of Rock Peak he had killed earlier, they were nothing but low-level ants. He never imagined that this was the real reason Shi Cang turned against him.

"Young friend, you may take all the inheritance, but I hope you can protect Shi Ying's life."

You listen to the voice beside you and nod slightly.

He swiftly and cleanly chopped Shi Ying's neck, whose eyes were already bloodshot, then hoisted her onto his shoulder and charged into the depths of the secret realm without looking back.

[Just kidding, I'm not qualified to interfere in a battle between body cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage.]

Seeing this, Helian Zhu looked at a middle-aged man beside him, who was also dressed in elder's robes, and said in a deep voice:

"Fellow Daoist Li, let's join forces to hold him off while our disciples go in first."

The middle-aged man nodded slowly.

[Shi Cang's aura continued to rise, yet it did not stop the third-realm body cultivators from entering. Their reddened eyes were fixed on the two people in front of them.]

The next moment, a howling wind suddenly arose...

[You had barely rushed into the secret realm carrying the stone tassel when a deep, muffled roar came from behind you, causing the entire mountain to tremble.]

Your movements became even faster, your entire body blurring into a blur as you raced frantically through the secret realm.

After about half an incense stick's time, the previously narrow passage suddenly opened up.

Before us lay a colossal underground palace, its dome so high it seemed to stretch endlessly.

The surrounding stone walls were densely covered with patterns, resembling some kind of ancient runes or paintings.

Just as you were about to investigate, a strange feeling spread from your chest. It wasn't a fluctuation of spiritual energy, nor a sensation of divine sense, but a deeper kind of attraction.

You paused, your divine sense instantly spreading out, but aside from the empty hall, you found nothing.

The patterns on the stone wall became clearer and clearer, and increasingly familiar.

Suddenly, a thought flashed through your mind. You took out the feather that the Illusionary Phoenix Silk had transformed into and discovered that the pattern carved on it was remarkably similar to the one on the stone wall.

A chill ran down your spine. Could this be... another relic left behind by one of the Azure Phoenix ancestors?

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall. Your gaze sharpened, and you tossed the stone tassel from your shoulder into a corner.

You quickly scanned the main hall and found there was nowhere to hide. The only things that could obscure your view were a few stone pillars, but they were too far apart to provide any cover.

【Then we won't hide anymore!】

You retrieved the Broken Abyss, stood quietly in place, and your breathing gradually became steady.

A moment later, six young cultivators dressed in the robes of the Tianheng Sect filed in.

Before they could even stand still, a golden light suddenly shone deep within your pupils.

【"ah!!!"】

The person at the very front was instantly engulfed in crimson flames, their screams echoing throughout the hall.

At the same time, your long, snow-white hair slowly transformed into a crimson-gold color, and fine golden lines appeared on the surface of your exposed skin.

【"Bang!"】

With a muffled thud, the stone slab beneath your feet shattered, and your figure vanished instantly.

【"careful!"】

The disciple with the strongest aura roared sharply.

But it was too late.

A terrifying gust of wind, as if the sky were falling, crashed down on one of them.

【"No!!!"】

The man's face showed fear, and his blood energy surged wildly, forming a thick shield of blood-red light in front of him.

【However...】

【"puff!"】

The halberd easily pierced his proud defenses, and a cloud of blood mist suddenly exploded in front of them.

A deathly silence fell over the main hall.

You slowly straightened up, the broken blade hanging at your side, drops of blood dripping from its edge onto the ground.

Golden patterns flickered on your skin, and a powerful aura gradually rose within you.

[Facing the stiff faces of the others, you suddenly grinned.]

"Good evening, everyone!"

...