31: The surprised elder

Lin Chuan looked at the two people teaching Ergou and his sister, nodded with satisfaction, and turned back to the entrance of the Secret Realm.

Seria walked up to Lin Chuan with a light smile and said, "Master, you're back!"

"Yeah. Have many people been buying vouchers lately?" Lin Chuan asked.

"It's been getting less and less these past few days. Everyone's enthusiasm has faded a lot," Seria replied.

Lin Chuan looked at the task prompt, which showed he was still tens of thousands of Spirit Stones short of completion, and fell into deep thought.

"It seems the people currently participating in the trials have been squeezed for all they're worth. I'm still short quite a few Spirit Stones. Where can I find more people?" Lin Chuan thought, feeling quite troubled.

Just as he was thinking, a middle-aged man walked over from a distance. He stopped in front of Lin Chuan and said, "Little friend, is this the Underground City Secret Realm of Tianquan Peak?"

Lin Chuan sensed an air of authority from this middle-aged man. Although the man had restrained his aura and his Realm was unknown, the temperament cultivated from long years in a high position could not be hidden.

"Yes, it is. And you are?" Lin Chuan asked in return.

"Haha, my son is currently participating in your Secret Realm trial. He told me your Secret Realm is not only interesting but also allows one to learn Martial Skills. I was curious, so I came to take a look." The middle-aged man did not give his name but explained instead.

Hearing this, Lin Chuan had some guesses. Those currently in the Secret Realm were basically all the Prodigies of various Sects. Since this man claimed to be someone's father, he must be a high-ranking official in some Sect.

"Did you design this Secret Realm? Are you the administrator?" the middle-aged man asked.

Lin Chuan immediately nodded and said, "That's right, I designed this Secret Realm."

"Hmm, not bad. The younger generation is indeed formidable. I wonder how many Spirit Stones I need to pay to enter the Secret Realm?"

"Haha, Senior, there's no need for that. My Secret Realm is free of charge. You can just go in and experience it," Lin Chuan quickly replied.

"Oh? Interesting. In that case, I'll go in and take a look. I won't trouble you then, little friend." The middle-aged man chuckled and walked directly into the Secret Realm.

While Lin Chuan was pondering the man's identity, it just so happened that the Grand Elder and Elder Yang also arrived at the entrance of the Secret Realm, preparing to continue their training.

Lin Chuan's eyes darted around as he stepped forward to greet them. "Greetings, Grand Elder, Elder Yang."

"Haha, Lin Chuan, why are you personally guarding the Secret Realm today?" the Grand Elder laughed.

"I didn't have much to do today, so I just happened to come by and take a look," Lin Chuan replied with a slight smile.

"Grand Elder, I have an idea I'd like to ask your permission for," Lin Chuan said bluntly, looking at the Grand Elder.

"Oh? What matter requires my permission?" The Grand Elder was somewhat puzzled.

"It's like this: I want to open up this Secret Realm. Not just for the Prodigy Disciples of the various Sects, but even all the Loose Cultivators in the Southern Border can come and participate," Lin Chuan said solemnly.

"Absolutely not!"

As soon as Lin Chuan finished speaking, the Grand Elder immediately spoke up to refuse.

Seeing Lin Chuan's confused expression, the Grand Elder continued, "Lin Chuan, do you know why our Sect takes thirty percent of the Secret Realm's profits?"

Seeing Lin Chuan shake his head, the Grand Elder sighed and said, "Although this Secret Realm is man-made, the secret realm foundation beneath it is not something found everywhere."

"To maintain the secret realm foundation, the Sect has to spend a large amount of Spirit Stones every year for maintenance and repairs. It's one thing for you to let people in for free now, but if you open it to the entire Southern Border, where will our Sect find so many Spirit Stones?" the Grand Elder said with a bitter smile.

"Oh? Then conversely, if there were enough Spirit Stones, would there be fewer restrictions?" Lin Chuan asked excitedly.

"Not necessarily. The more people participating in the Secret Realm at once, the greater the pressure on the Secret Realm designer. Can your Secret Realm withstand so many people participating at the same time without collapsing?" the Grand Elder inquired patiently.

"System, is there an upper limit to the number of participants for this modified Secret Realm?" Lin Chuan asked silently in his heart.

[Host, rest assured. The Secret Realm modified by the System will not collapse regardless of the number of people!]

Seeing the System's answer, Lin Chuan felt relieved and immediately said, "Grand Elder, please rest assured on this point. This Secret Realm I designed will not collapse because of too many participants. I guarantee it."

The Grand Elder and Elder Yang glanced at each other and both nodded slightly. In their hearts, this Secret Realm was definitely not something Lin Chuan, who was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, could have designed independently. The person behind him must have heaven-defying abilities.

Seeing that the Grand Elder didn't say anything more, Lin Chuan took out a Storage Pouch from his robes and said, "As for the Spirit Stones, Grand Elder needn't worry. From now on, it won't be thirty percent; I'll give fifty percent of the profits to the Sect. I assume that should be enough for maintenance?"

The Grand Elder laughed upon hearing this. "Haha, even if it's fifty percent, how many Spirit Stones could you possibly have?"

The Grand Elder took Lin Chuan's Storage Pouch and swept his Divine Sense inside. He was instantly stunned on the spot.

Standing beside him, Elder Yang saw his old friend suddenly daze out. With a face full of confusion, he tugged at the Grand Elder's sleeve and asked, "What's wrong?"

The Grand Elder snapped out of it, his beard trembling as he asked in an incredulous tone, "This is your profit from just over a month?"

Lin Chuan nodded as if it were a matter of course. "Yes, this is fifty percent of the profit. Do you think it's enough for the maintenance and repair costs?"

"Just fifty percent?!" the Grand Elder cried out in shock.

Seeing the Grand Elder lose his composure like this, Elder Yang reached out to grab the Storage Pouch for himself. He wanted to see just how many Spirit Stones could make the Grand Elder look like he'd never seen the world before.

Seeing Elder Yang trying to snatch the Storage Pouch, the Grand Elder immediately stuffed it into his robes and asked with a wary expression, "What are you doing?"

"Just how many Spirit Stones are in there to make you lose your composure like this? Could there be eighty or a hundred thousand?" Elder Yang looked frustrated.

The Grand Elder excitedly grabbed Lin Chuan's hand and asked, "Tell me, in just over a month, your Secret Realm's profit from selling revival coins and vouchers exceeded 400,000 Spirit Stones?"

Lin Chuan nodded affirmatively. "Yes. Do you think 200,000 Spirit Stones is enough for maintenance and repair costs? About what I said regarding opening it to the entire Southern Border?..."

"Open it! It must be opened! Tell me if anyone tries to stop you, I'll have a word with them!" the Grand Elder roared.

Hearing the Grand Elder's words, Elder Yang was stunned at first, then asked, "Old man, what did you say? In just one month, a profit of 400,000?"

The Grand Elder excitedly held onto Lin Chuan's hand and wouldn't let go, while shooting a sideways glance at Elder Yang. "That's right, what of it? Jealous?"

Seeing the Grand Elder's smug look, Elder Yang curled his lip. "Hmph, I wonder how much my Divine Sword Sect Disciples were swindled out of for that!"

"What kind of talk is that? What kind of talk is that?" the Grand Elder retorted arrogantly. "Did we force them to buy revival coins? Did we force them to buy vouchers?"

Lin Chuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry as he said to the Grand Elder, "Since it's okay, then please, Grand Elder, issue a notice on behalf of our Spirit Realm Sect. Anyone in the Southern Border can come and participate in the Secret Realm."

"Easy. I'll go right now." The Grand Elder didn't waste any time and left while clutching the Storage Pouch in his arms.