227: Chapter 227: Preparations by All Parties

The news that the Secret Realm was about to appear had long since spread among the upper echelons of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

Various factions were all making their final preparations for battle.

The Zhao Family residence, the underground Secret Realm.

This was a secret place for Cultivation created with the painstaking efforts of several generations, located one hundred zhang deep beneath the Zhao Family residence.

The Secret Realm spanned a ten-mile radius, and the Spiritual Qi was so dense it had almost condensed into liquid.

The surrounding walls were embedded with countless Spirit Stones, their spiritual light flickering like stars.

The ground was covered in spiritual flowers and Spiritual Plants, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.

In the center of the Secret Realm, fifteen young people sat cross-legged, eyes closed, regulating their breathing.

They were dressed in uniform black fitted outfits, with a golden character "Zhao" embroidered on their lapels.

Each of them was a Prodigy carefully selected by the Zhao Family from thousands of Disciples.

They had been sent into this Secret Realm twenty years ago, Cultivating diligently day and night, solely to shine brilliantly in the once-a-century Secret Realm.

At the very front, Zhao Wudi stood with his hands behind his back.

He wore a golden brocade robe, his face handsome with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, his black hair draped over his shoulders, moving without wind.

His Peak Soul Transformation Stage Aura was as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a mountain, pressing down so that the surrounding air slightly solidified.

He was the eighteenth son of the Zhao Family head, Zhao Tiangang, and also the most outstanding Genius of this generation of the Zhao Family.

Twenty years ago, when he was sent into the Secret Realm, he was still in the Early Stage of Spirit Severing; now he was at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, only one step away from the Void Refinement Stage.

"Everyone, rise!" Zhao Wudi said indifferently.

The fourteen young people opened their eyes simultaneously and stood up.

Their gazes fell uniformly upon Zhao Wudi, their eyes filled with awe.

Zhao Wudi scanned the circle, a confident smile curling the corner of his mouth.

"It has been twenty years. We have been Cultivating here for twenty years; only we know how much hardship we have endured and how much sweat we have shed."

"Now the Secret Realm is about to open, and this is the time for us to prove ourselves."

He raised his hand, and a mass of golden light condensed in his palm, with the faint sound of a tiger's roar within the light.

"What is the Family motto of the Zhao Family?"

The fifteen people shouted in unison: "Fear no strong enemies, fear not life or death, win glory for the Family, and win honor for the Sword Qi Great Wall!"

Zhao Wudi nodded with satisfaction and put away the light.

"Good, we depart in half a month. In the Secret Realm, we must not only seize treasures but also kill."

"Kill those who compete with us for treasures, kill those Yao Race scums."

He paused, his gaze becoming sharp.

"Whoever dares to block our path, let them die."

The fifteen people agreed in unison, their Aura like a rainbow.

Outside the Secret Realm.

Zhao Tiangang stood with his hands behind his back, watching everything in the Secret Realm through a huge spirit mirror.

Several Elders stood behind him, each with a solemn expression.

"Family head, Wudi, this child, increasingly has your bearing," Grand Elder Zhao Tianyun said in a low voice.

Zhao Tiangang laughed: "He is my son, of course he is like me."

He paused, his gaze becoming deep.

"This Secret Realm concerns the Luck of the Zhao Family for the next hundred years; Wudi and the others must obtain more resources as this era of great contention arrives."

The Grand Elder nodded: "Family head, rest assured, they have made perfect preparations."

Zhao Tiangang did not speak, just looking at those young faces in the spirit mirror, a trace of expectation flashing in his eyes.

...

Meanwhile.

Sword Sect, Sword Tomb.

This was the most mysterious Forbidden Ground of the Sword Sect, burying the life-bound swords of the Sword Sect Seniors of past generations.

Thousands of long swords were inserted into the ground, with various Sword Intents flowing across the sword bodies.

The Sword Intents intertwined, forming an invisible Sword Domain; ordinary Cultivators stepping into it would be instantly shredded by the Sword Intent.

At this moment, deep within the Sword Tomb.

Fifteen young people sat cross-legged, with a long sword floating in front of each person.

They were dressed in uniform white robes, with a small golden sword embroidered on their lapels.

They were Prodigies carefully selected by the Sword Sect from thousands of Disciples, also sent into the Sword Tomb twenty years ago to comprehend Sword Intent day and night, seeking to amaze everyone in the Secret Realm.

At the very front, Sword Dust stood with his hands behind his back.

He wore white clothes, his face cold and stern.

His Peak Soul Transformation Stage Aura was like a sword drawn from its sheath, sharp and unparalleled.

He was the son of the Heavenly Sword Sect Sect Master, and also the most outstanding Genius of this generation of the Sword Sect.

The results of his twenty years of Cultivation were very significant; at this moment, his Sword Intent was clear, only one step away from the supreme Realm of Sword Heart Clarity.

"Everyone, rise."

Sword Dust's voice was not loud, but it carried an irresistible majesty.

The fifteen young people opened their eyes simultaneously and stood up.

The long swords in front of them emitted a buzzing sound, as if responding to Sword Dust's words.

Sword Dust scanned the circle, his gaze like a sword; every Disciple he looked at could not help but straighten their backs.

"It has been twenty years. We have comprehended here for twenty years, companions with swords, friends with swords."

"Now the Secret Realm is about to open, and this is the time for us to be unsheathed."

He raised his hand, and the long sword floating in front of him automatically flew into his palm.

The sword body was entirely silver-white, with a faint blue light flowing on the blade, emitting a bone-chilling coldness.

This was the Frost Sword, High Grade Heaven Rank.

Only the most outstanding Disciples of past generations were qualified to wear it.

"In half a month, we depart."

"Whether it is the scum of the Human Race or the beasts of the Yao Race, whoever dares to block our path, let them taste the Sword Sect's blade."

The fifteen people agreed in unison, their Sword Intent soaring into the sky, shaking the thousands of long swords in the Sword Tomb into a buzzing sound.

Outside the Sword Tomb, Jian Wuxin stood with his hands behind his back.

Watching everything in the Sword Tomb through a huge spirit mirror.

Several Elders stood behind him, each with a stern expression.

"Sect Master, Chen'er, this child, has already surpassed his peers," Grand Elder Jian Wuya said in a low voice.

Jian Wuxin nodded: "His Sword Intent has already reached the extreme of the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, only one step away from the Void Refinement Stage."

"This Secret Realm is the opportunity for his Breakthrough."

...

Sword Qi Great Wall, underground Secret Realm.

This was a Secret Realm created by the City Lord's Mansion with the painstaking efforts of a hundred years, located three hundred zhang deep beneath the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The Secret Realm spanned a hundred-mile radius, the Spiritual Qi was so dense it was like substance, the ground was covered with thousand-year Spirit Medicine, and a golden sun that never set hung in the sky.

That was the Sun Law condensed by City Lord Li Qingge with his Body Integration Stage cultivation, providing a continuous stream of energy for the Secret Realm.

In the center of the Secret Realm, a towering palace rose from the ground.

Inside the palace, eighteen young people sat cross-legged, eyes closed, regulating their breathing.

They were Prodigies carefully selected by the City Lord's Mansion, sent into this Secret Realm twenty years ago.

Cultivating diligently day and night, solely to win glory for the City Lord's Mansion in the once-a-century Secret Realm.

For twenty years, they had not seen the sunlight outside, had not tasted the smoke and fire of the human world, only day after day of Cultivation, fighting, and Breakthrough.

At the very front, Li Qingyun stood with his hands behind his back.

He looked about twenty-five years old.

His Peak Soul Transformation Stage Aura was as deep as an abyss and as heavy as a mountain, pressing down so that the surrounding air slightly solidified.

For twenty years, he had never stepped out of the Secret Realm once, pouring all his energy into Cultivation.

Now, he was the strongest among the eighteen, only one step away from the Void Refinement Stage.

"The Secret Realm is about to open, and the time for us to prove ourselves has arrived."