Chapter 552 - 399: Leaving the Secret Realm, Founding a Sect, Corpse Evil Sea

"If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself?"

Lin Chang’sheng replied, not wanting to be the first to test it out. If something went wrong, he’d be screwed. Better to let someone else go first—safer that way.

The old man couldn’t make up his mind either, so he glanced toward the others.

"I’ll go!"

Finally, someone who’d had enough of staying in the Secret Realm decided to give it a shot. Even if he died, it was better than being trapped here for life.

"Take this!"

The old man saw his courage and immediately took out two beads from his Storage Bag, pressing one into the guy’s hand.

"If you really make it out and it’s safe, crush the bead!"

The old man instructed him solemnly.

Because that would mean everything had gone smoothly.

"Yes, Chief!"

With that, the man lightly leapt straight into the tunnel.

The next moment, he vanished without a trace.

The old man stared grimly at the bead in his hand—if it shattered, that would mean the outside was safe.

This thing was called the Mother and Child Jade Soul Bead, with the trait that if one was destroyed, the other would be too, even across space or time.

If one shatters, the other also shatters, no matter where.

But after the man had been gone for a good half-stick of incense, the bead was still intact, making both the old man and Lin Chang’sheng uneasy.

Could it be the outside isn’t really the Immortal Realm?

Or maybe he died in the tunnel?

"Looks like—"

Crack—

Just as the old man was about to say this tunnel didn’t lead to the Immortal Realm, the bead in his hand suddenly shattered.

Everyone’s hearts raced—so the tunnel really does lead to the Immortal Realm?

Instantly, they were all fired up.

But the old man gestured for Lin Chang’sheng and the others to go first.

"Then I’ll take the liberty!"

Lin Chang’sheng’s words fell, and he led Gu Shan and Xiaonan toward the tunnel.

From the very start, Lin Chang’sheng had been seventy percent sure this tunnel led to the Immortal Realm, but still, it was too risky.

Now that someone had gone out, it proved it was perfectly safe.

So there was no reason to keep waiting.

As the group entered the tunnel, a dazzling light flickered outside.

The next moment, Lin Chang’sheng actually found himself back in Scorpion Valley.

He’d thought they’d be teleported somewhere else—never expected a return by the original path. Even Lin Chang’sheng was surprised.

Right now, outside Scorpion Valley, all the crowds from before were gone, the place was deserted.

After all, Lin Chang’sheng had spent an entire year inside. Most people assumed he’d died.

The Secret Realm obviously couldn’t be opened again.

But unexpectedly, today the Secret Realm reopened, a blinding green glow shooting straight to the sky.

The next moment, hundreds and thousands of clan members trapped for centuries inside all left the Secret Realm, appearing in Scorpion Valley.

Once out, everyone looked around, curious about this unfamiliar world.

Some, feeling the vastness of the Immortal Realm, were beyond excited, leaping for joy.

After all, space in the Secret Realm was limited and full of dangers.

While the Immortal Realm had boundless landscapes.

"Let everyone know—those who want to stay and follow me, stay. Anyone who wants to explore on their own can just go."

Lin Chang’sheng was straightforward, except for the eight Mahayana experts he needed to keep close; the rest didn’t matter that much to him.

If they wanted to leave, let them go—he didn’t really need them.

The various Chiefs spread the word. Most clan members opted to continue following their Chiefs, but a small portion wanted to explore the vast Immortal Realm.

Lin Chang’sheng let them leave without fuss.

Only, their fates probably wouldn’t turn out well, because the dangers in the Immortal Realm were no less than in the Secret Realm, possibly even worse.

In the Secret Realm, they had their clans to defend against Demon Beasts, with many people protected by their kin.

And the Secret Realm only had Demon Beasts as a threat.

But the Immortal Realm was different—there were Demon Beasts, cultivators, demon cultivators, and all sorts of threats.

One careless move and you could lose your life.

"So what’s our plan now?"

The old man sized up Lin Chang’sheng, asking. Though he had other ideas, he didn’t dare act rashly. After all, they’d taken elixirs from Lin Chang’sheng, and crossing him meant death for sure.

"Next, I’m heading to the Immortal Palace. You’ll come with me. With your help, I plan to found my own sect, establish a Major Sect!"

Lin Chang’sheng laid out his plans, seeing what they thought.

The moment he spoke, many Mahayana experts fell silent.

They’d all been stars of their own sects; creating a new one was basically betraying their old homes!

"Why hesitate? If not for Elder Lin, we could never have left the Secret Realm. Back then, you’d all be dead in there! Now we’re free. I, Cheng Liang, am the first to agree! With Elder Lin’s talent, he’ll surely lead this sect to greatness!"

The old man was the first to agree, taking a stand for Lin Chang’sheng.

Lin Chang’sheng was clearly satisfied.

"I, Gao Zhenyuan, am in too!"

"I, Luo Shaofeng, join!"

"I, Li Xiuhua, will join too!"

...

Once the old man spoke up, everyone else quickly followed suit.

"Very good. If you follow me, I promise you’ll never waste your talent, and maybe even reach greater Realms!"

Lin Chang’sheng promised.

"We swear to follow Elder Lin to the death!"

They all answered in unison.

Behind them, Gu Shan couldn’t help silently clicking his tongue. This kid not only has amazing cultivation talent, he’s also got a talent for winning people over?

Hit ’em, then toss ’em a treat?

Since Lin Chang’sheng needed to continue to the Immortal Palace, and dragging this many people was inconvenient, he told them to go back into the Secret Realm, and he’d let them out once he’d found a suitable sect headquarters.

Though some were disappointed, they obeyed his orders.

One by one, they returned to the Secret Realm.

Once everyone was back inside, Lin Chang’sheng activated Array Power, closing off the Secret Realm tunnel. Then he cut the Divine Pattern off the stone wall with his blade and took it along.

That way, no one else could get into the Secret Realm.

Otherwise, if someone else learned the three Grand Arrays, maybe they could open the passage too.

Though these three Grand Arrays were incredibly Brahma-level; most people could never master them.

But a few geniuses could never be counted out.

...

Corpse Evil Sea.

Located in the southern ocean of Futian Province, here storms rage and waves tower.

On the endless, vast sea stands a jet-black island like ink.

This island is called Immortal Corpse Island, home to a Major Sect—the Immortal Corpse Sect.

Right now, in the Great Hall of the Immortal Corpse Sect, a gold-robed man sits on the Skull Bone Chair atop the hall.

The man is frighteningly thin; if not for the rise and fall of his chest, you could think he was dead—skeletal barely begins to describe him.

Strangely, even though he’s so frail, the aura coming from his body is incredibly strong.

He’s obviously a Tribulation Crossing Stage powerhouse.

"Hmm?"

The man’s eyes suddenly snapped open, seeing the clay figure before him start to melt. He was shocked.

"The array is broken, my corpse stolen? Who has the guts to steal from me?"

The gold-robed man roared in fury.

The corpse atop Secret Divine Mountain—he was refining it there himself.

Let it refine for a thousand years, and its body would become incredibly strong, immune even to the power of Celestial Thunder Immortal Treasure.

Plus, its physical talent was exceptional; it could one day become an Immortal Corpse. Never expected someone to ruin it.

"Unforgivable!"

The gold-robed man slammed his fist on the bone chair, shattering it into dust.

That corpse was something he’d managed to obtain with great difficulty—once in a thousand years!

After refining, he could even use it to replace his own body. Afterward, he’d have hope of reaching the Immortal Realm.

Never imagined someone would ruin it.

"You ruined my plans—I won’t let you off!"

Cold fury flashed in his eyes, sending chills down the spine.

"In half a year, when my Immortal Corpse Technique reaches perfection, I’ll come to reclaim the corpse. You little bastard—don’t let me find you, or you’ll die with no remains left!"

The skeletal old man muttered, then closed his eyes, resuming his cultivation.