Chapter 205: The Three Holy Lands
Time passed by second by second. When the Spiritual Qi vortex inside the bronze gates finally stabilized, the two massive doors trembled violently. The floating mountains around them were drawn toward the gates by an invisible force.
The cultivators knew that the secret realm had opened. The smaller bronze doors led to minor secret realms, their Spiritual Qi vortex glowing purple. The larger bronze gates led to major secret realms, accessible only to Nascent Soul Stage cultivators and above, marked by a golden vortex.
This was because, at this time every year, the accumulated Spiritual Qi from the dragon veins below would burst open the passage between Cangyun Realm and the Ancient Battlefield. The vortex functioned like a teleportation arrayâany cultivator who approached it would be transported into the battlefield.
Despite the opening of the secret realm, no one moved.
Everyone was waiting for the arrival of the Three Holy Lands.
It was tradition that the chosen prodigies of the Three Holy Lands entered first.
Finally, the sound of nine chimes echoed through the sky. In the sea of clouds above the floating mountains, three colossal figures gradually emerged.
To the west, a hundred-zhang-tall Buddha sat solemnly above the clouds, forming the Flower-Hand Seal, supporting a hundred dignified Buddhist cultivators in his massive hands.
To the east, purple mist billowed from the clouds. On a Taiji Dao platform where yin-yang fish revolved, dozens of black-and-white-robed cultivators stood in formation, their robes flowing with Daoist essence.
To the south, a vast emerald lotus pond rippled gently. Three hundred female cultivators, dressed in light green robes, stood atop lotus platforms, their ethereal voices filling the air like a celestial melody.
Upon witnessing this scene, all sect cultivatorsâincluding the rogue cultivators from the Ten Thousand Mountainsâheld their breath, not daring to utter a word.
The Three Holy Lands had arrivedâFanjing, Zhenwu, and Yaochi.
Lu Changtian gazed at the towering Taiji Dao platform with deep yearning.
Zhenwu Holy Land was the one he longed to join the most.
If he could catch the attention of one of its True Masters, he would gain entry and learn their teachings. Zhenwu cultivated the balance of extreme yin and extreme yangâone of the fundamental Dao principles. It was leagues above sects like the Joyous Zen or Hehuan Sect, which only grasped yin-yang through superficial techniques. Zhenwu had long reached a profound state, touching upon the very essence of the Dao.
"Three hundred rounds of divination, and at last, the Gate of Zhongzhou opens!"
At the center of the Taiji Dao platform, an elderly man sitting cross-legged opened his eyes.
His pupils swirled with yin and yang, and from them, two beams of sword intentâone of pure yang and one of pure yinâsoared into the sky.
This man was Zhang Yibai, the Lord of Zhenwu Holy Land and widely recognized as the strongest sword cultivator in Cangyun Realm.
He stroked his beard with a smile and said, "Fellow Daoists, you've been waiting long enough, so I won't waste any more time." Then, he glanced toward the other two Holy Lands, his voice carrying across the floating mountains. "Revered Jade Yao, Master Fanyeâdo either of you have anything to add?"
"Amitabha."
Master Fanye, the Lord of Fanjing Holy Land, stood upon a fiery dragon. Behind him, a three-headed, six-armed Vajra apparition loomed large, yet his face bore an expression of benevolent serenity.
"Daoist Zhang, Iâve noticed that many great cultivators have been performing Heavenly Divinations in Cangyun Realm recently. Could it be... that you have foreseen some great treasure appearing in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm?"
He clasped his hands together, smiling. "Why donât you share your insights? After all, fate has brought us all together here."
Zhang Yibai's expression stiffened.
Something valuable had indeed appeared in the Zhongzhou Secret Realm.
But it wasnât something he had divined through Heavenly Calculationâhe had foreseen it years ago through an ancient divination ritual.
Heavenly Calculation was a technique that shortened oneâs lifespanâwho would use it so recklessly?
"Master Fanye jests," Zhang Yibai replied. "The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is entirely isolated from Cangyun Realm. I am hardly capable of such precise calculations."
Fanye remained silent for a moment, pressing his palms together. Then, with a chuckle, he asked, "Then tell me, Daoist Zhangâare you going in or not?"
"I have reached a bottleneck in my Dao comprehension," Zhang Yibai replied. "Naturally, I must enter and seek an opportunity to ascend."
"Amitabha. Then this humble monk shall also enter."
Fanye nodded in satisfaction.
Zhang Yibai's expression darkened as he flicked his dust whisk behind his back.
Copycat monk.
Just then, a melodious female voice drifted from Yaochi Holy Land.
"If the two of you are going, then I suppose I shall join in as well."
A woman in plain robes stepped forward from Yaochiâs Dao grounds.
A bluebird, carrying a flowering branch in its beak, flew past the sea of clouds, forming a bridge of iridescent light. Jade Yao, veiled by a flowing silk curtain, walked gracefully across the bridge. A delicate ancient bell at her waist chimed with each step.
The ancient bronze inscriptions on the massive gate gleamed with azure light, reflecting upon her robes like flowing moonlight.
The moment she reached the other two Holy Lords, a strange occurrence took placeâFanyeâs Buddhist prayer beads suddenly heated up, while Zhang Yibaiâs sword hummed within its sheath.
No one could see her face beneath the veil, but no one doubted her beauty.
After all, she was the one woman in the world who could make even Master Fanye close his eyes and recite scriptures for inner peace.
"Mother, Jade Yao is so beautiful! So strong and elegant! If only I could enter Yaochi Holy LandâŠ"
Yun Suxin, the young mistress of Lingxi Valley, gazed at the bronze gates, eyes shining with admiration.
Yun Baiyu glanced at her daughter and sighed.
Thankfully, Yun Suxinâs talent wasnât high enough to qualify for Yaochi Holy Land.
Otherwise, she would have had to worryâthat place was far from what it seemed.
"What a divine beauty," murmured Xu An, shaking his head as he paced back and forth. "Though her face is unseen, she has already stolen myâ"
Before he could finish, Duan Feng swiftly stuffed a cloth into his mouth.
"Master?"
Most of the cultivators had their eyes locked on Jade Yao.
Li Qingran, however, anxiously turned to look at his master.
"Huh?"
Chen Huaiâan lay sprawled across a dragon throne, chin resting on his palm.
Seeing his disciple glance back, he barely opened his drowsy eyes, yawned, and looked even more uninterested.
This whole Zhongzhou Secret Realm thing had way too much pretense.
Couldnât they just storm through the gates the moment they opened?
He wanted to see battle! He wanted bloodshed! He wanted chaos!
Not a bunch of old fogies standing around, exchanging fake pleasantries before queuing up like it was some fancy banquet!
"Hehe, it's fine~"
Seeing her master nearly dozing off, Li Qingran covered her mouth and giggled, her silver anklet chiming lightly.
Her master was different from the others.
Even the Pavilion Lord Su and several sect elders had been staring at Jade Yao in aweâbut her master?
He didnât even spare her a glance. Instead, he was falling asleep.
Jade Yao was stunning.
Her presence was intoxicating.
But Chen Huaiâan only cared about facesâand since hers was hidden, she might as well have been invisible to him.
Not to mention, all this formal pageantry made him feel like he was stuck in a boring business meeting.
âŠ
Unbeknownst to them, however, Jade Yaoâs hidden gaze flickered toward their direction.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She cultivated the Shangqing Jade Derivation Art, a technique that made all living beings, intelligent or not, develop a natural affection for her.
Even Master Fanye had to activate his Buddhist techniques to resist.
Even Zhang Yibaiâs twin swords trembled with reaction.
YetâŠ
This sword cultivator wasnât affected at all.
And she had never seen him before.
Who was he?
Would he become an unexpected variable in the secret realm?
Suppressing her curiosity, Jade Yao lightly tapped the spiritual ring beside the bronze gates.
A chorus of birdsong echoed through the sky, and spiritual rain drizzled down from the clouds.
The concentration of Spiritual Qi surged, reaching the level of an Intermediate Spirit Gathering Formation.
This was the moment most cultivators had been waiting forâthey immediately sat down to cultivate, eager to absorb the abundant Qi.
"The Zhongzhou Secret Realm is now open."
Jade Yaoâs red lips parted slightly.
"The prodigies of the Holy Lands shall enter the minor secret realm first."