After clearing the level, the fairies were reborn!

Despite the opposition from his family and elder brother, he took on the role of 'host' in order to win over the hearts of this generation of outstanding talents, build connections, and establish his authority.

On the other hand, they must also be trying to gain some benefits for themselves.

Unfortunately, he doesn't have a single capable military commander under his command.

Song Yubai's original fantasy of being in control of the situation and surrounded by a group of geniuses was shattered.

They're all just as proud and arrogant as you are; who's going to listen to you!

Unless you have absolute strength or prestige that can convince everyone—unfortunately, he has neither.

However, Song Yubai was not entirely unprepared.

“I have a rough map of the secret realm here. Since they are so arrogant, let them be.”

“We’ll follow the map and go to the areas marked as potentially containing treasure. That’s much more efficient than them wandering around aimlessly.”

After saying that, he took out a crumpled piece of parchment from his pocket.

The paper has yellowed and the edges are somewhat torn, but the mountains and terrain outlined in dark red lines are still clearly visible, and some areas are marked with special symbols.

This was brought out by another survivor when the secret realm opened back then.

Upon seeing the map, the remaining prodigies around them finally brightened up, and the atmosphere eased considerably.

Several people who originally planned to leave also temporarily put aside their thoughts.

"Young Master Song is indeed well-prepared!"

"With a map, our chances of finding an opportunity increase significantly! And our safety is also guaranteed!"

"Following Young Master Song is still the best option!"

Immediately, flattery arose from all sides.

Song Yubai enjoyed the compliments from everyone, his complexion improved considerably, and the frustration in his heart dissipated a lot.

Little did they know, at this very moment...

It happened in a place that no one noticed.

At the entrance to the secret realm, there stands a stone gate ten feet high, which has been silent for twenty years.

Those magic arrays that had long since lost their luster and were considered completely ineffective.

Surprisingly, spiritual energy began to emanate from the dead silence once again!

Chapter 76 Do me a small favor

at first.

The stone gate emitted only faint, scattered light, like stars just appearing in the night sky, so faint as to be almost imperceptible.

But soon, the lights began to connect, flowing rapidly along the patterns of the magic array, gradually emitting a dazzling light.

"Buzz-"

At the same time, a deep vibration came from inside the stone gate, causing the entire ice path to tremble slightly.

Song Yubai was unfolding a map, pointing to an area marked with a palace symbol:

“Let’s go here first. According to records, this may have been the ‘Transmission Hall’ of the Xuanling Sect back then…”

"Ok?"

He was halfway through the map when he suddenly looked up. "What's that noise?"

Soon, not only he noticed, but the other disciples around him also looked around.

"what happened?"

"Could it be an earth dragon turning over? But how could an earth dragon turn over in a secret realm?"

Everyone turned around and looked towards the entrance.

The magic array on the huge stone gate, which had been dim, was now fully lit.

Countless ancient and complex runes flowed across the facade, radiating a dazzling light of interwoven colors, illuminating the entire entrance area as if it were daytime!

The ice path trembled violently, and large chunks of ice and rock crumbled from the top, crashing to the ground with a dull thud. Everyone's expression changed drastically, and they all channeled their spiritual energy to protect themselves, dodging the falling ice and rocks.

"What's going on? Wasn't it said that the formation in this secret realm had already become ineffective?!" someone shouted in alarm.

"Yes! It should have been lifted twenty years ago! How could this be?!"

"Look at the stone gate!"

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, the massive stone door began to slowly close.

The once unobstructed entrance is now being pushed together by an invisible force, with the two heavy stone doors slowly but irresistibly closing in!

"The entrance is closing?!"

"Run! Get out before the door closes!"

Several quick-thinking cultivators immediately rushed towards the entrance, hoping to escape the secret realm before the stone gate completely closed.

However, as soon as they rushed near the stone gate, they were bounced back by an invisible barrier and slammed heavily to the ground.

"Oh no, there's a barrier!"

"...We can't get out!"

Fear began to spread among the crowd.

Just then, an ancient and weathered voice, seemingly from eternity ago, resounded throughout the entire secret realm, clearly reaching the ears of everyone:

"The sect entry trial has begun."

The voice was devoid of emotion, as cold as an ancient glacier, yet it carried an undeniable majesty.

It penetrated to the very depths of their souls, causing everyone present to tremble violently.

Some people with lower cultivation levels have completely panicked.

Three full breaths passed before someone finally spoke, trembling:

"W-What do you mean?"

"Entry Trial? The Xuanling Sect has been destroyed for tens of thousands of years, where would an entry trial come from?!"

In response, an older woman in green robes analyzed, "We must have accidentally triggered some kind of unknown restriction. The Xuanling Sect has an astonishing foundation, and it's not impossible that they have such a backup plan!"

"So what do we do now?"

"Don't panic. Let's quickly use the communication jade slips to contact our respective sects or families. This place is no longer something that a group of Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators like us can touch," the woman in green said calmly and clearly.

These words enlightened everyone.

"Yes, yes, and there's also the jade slip for transmitting sound..."

"Contact your family immediately!"

They took out their respective jade slips and began sending messages to their respective factions.

Song Yubai gritted his teeth. Although he was very unwilling, he knew that once Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation stage cultivators came, they would be out of the picture.

Such a sudden and unexpected change might actually indicate a lingering opportunity or a legacy.

But the danger of such a horrifying scene is self-evident.

You might lose your life and gain nothing.

Looking at the jade slip in his hand, he made up his mind after much agonizing thought, and decided to contact his elder brother, who had already reached the Nascent Soul stage.

"We can only take this long to figure out," Song Yubai sighed inwardly, channeling his spiritual energy into the jade slip.

However, at that moment, the other disciples from the aristocratic families beside him suddenly exclaimed in alarm: "Oh no! Why can't my message get out?!"

"Me too, my telepathic communication hadn't even traveled a hundred miles before it seemed to encounter some kind of obstacle..."

"Mine too!"

"How could this be?"

They tried many more times, using all sorts of methods, but ultimately they still couldn't contact the outside world.

All the transmitted sounds were intercepted by an invisible force within a certain range and eventually dissipated.

Fear, like cold tentacles, silently climbed up everyone's spine.

A trembling voice voiced what everyone was thinking:

"Could we... have lost contact?"

It's a small matter that they're trapped here; for the time being, there doesn't seem to be any danger lurking around them.

But what if the elders in the family can't find out?

That would be troublesome!

To limit the age of participants, the highest cultivation level among all participants in the Heavenly Pride Tournament is only the late Golden Core stage.

Otherwise, if any Nascent Soul cultivator came along, they wouldn't even need to compete; it would be a complete crushing defeat.

That's why the top combat power in the secret realm now consists of the three lone wolves who just left, and that Fairy Qing Shuang!

How much of a ripple can a late-stage Golden Core cultivator cause in such a historically significant secret realm?

A feeling of despair began to spread like a tide.

Several cultivators with weaker mental fortitude had already collapsed onto the ice, their faces ashen.

"The first trial: collect 'Earth Spirit Grass'."

People were filled with anxiety.

That mysterious and aged voice rang out once more.

Without any warning.

Those who collect the most items will advance to the next stage.

This time, everyone understood.

There's something wrong with the formation in this secret realm.