363: Chapter 363 Enlightenment Heavenly Crystal

"Taichu Secret Realm?" Upon hearing this, many people felt a shock in their hearts.

That was an important Secret Realm controlled by the Great Yan Imperial Family. It was said that ancient Legacies might be left within, but it was also extremely dangerous. In the past, members of the Imperial Family had forcibly entered the Secret Realm, only to never return.

The Imperial Family also sent many people in to search, but in the end, they never found that person and suffered heavy losses.

The competition ended, and the crowd gradually dispersed, but the discussions about today's battle would surely sweep through the entire Imperial Capital and spread in all directions.

In the following days, Ye Tian barely left his room, focusing entirely on healing his injuries.

The Life-Sustaining Creation Pill had extraordinary effects. Coupled with his own recovery power, his injuries healed at an extremely fast pace.

While healing, he repeatedly reflected on the battle with Bei Minghong, especially the final blow. Such repeated insights allowed his understanding of the Dao of Chaos to deepen significantly.

By the evening of the third day, Ye Tian's injuries were mostly healed, and his True Essence had recovered by more than half.

"Junior Brother Ye," Feng Xuan's voice rang out from outside again. "Prince Rong sent someone to deliver this item, saying it is a reward from Your Majesty to congratulate you on defeating Bei Minghong and upholding our national prestige."

Feng Xuan now ran to Ye Tian's place whenever he was free; it seemed he truly admired Ye Tian.

However, Ye Tian also held great respect for this knowledgeable and enthusiastic Senior Brother.

Ye Tian opened the door and saw Feng Xuan holding a jade box wrapped in bright yellow silk.

"Senior Brother, what is this?" Ye Tian took it.

"The eunuch who delivered it didn't say much, only relaying Your Majesty's oral decree: 'This item may be of use to you. I hope you will achieve something in the Taichu Secret Realm and not fail my expectations.'" Feng Xuan said in a low voice, his eyes filled with contemplation.

Ye Tian unwrapped the silk and opened the jade box.

Inside the box, there were no glittering jewels, only a strange, Chaos-colored crystal.

The crystal lay quietly in the box, yet it naturally emitted an aura of evolving the Great Dao, very similar to the Chaos True Essence within Ye Tian's body!

"Is this... a Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment?!"

Feng Xuan cried out in shock, his voice trembling with disbelief. "And it's... a Chaos-attribute Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment?!"

"This is a true priceless treasure! It can help one comprehend the Great Dao's true intent of the corresponding attribute, and even offers a certain chance to awaken a special Physique or Talent! The Imperial Family actually bestowed this upon you?!"

Hearing Feng Xuan say this, Ye Tian also felt very surprised.

This reward from the Imperial Family could not be considered light.

Defeating Bei Minghong certainly demonstrated strength and potential, but it didn't seem enough to make the Imperial Family pay such a high price.

Could it be that Prince Rong, or even the Great Yan Emperor, had seen something from his battle with Bei Minghong?

"I shall remember Your Majesty's grace," Ye Tian performed a solemn salute toward the Imperial City.

Regardless of the Imperial Family's motives, he accepted this heavy reward.

With this Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment, he could enhance his combat power before entering the Taichu Secret Realm.

That night, Ye Tian held the Chaos Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment and sank his mind into it.

Chaos is the beginning of all things and the foundation of the Great Dao.

Holding that Chaos Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment, Ye Tian's spiritual sense sank into a "singularity" that was without beginning or end, without light or darkness, yet contained infinite possibilities.

There were no specific Cultivation Techniques or Moves, no Dao patterns or trajectories, only the crudest "Chaos" aura, wrapping around him like amniotic fluid.

He "saw" thunder exploding with the first flash of light in the Chaos; that was the burst of "life."

He also "felt" the silence of all things withering and returning to Chaos; that was the Reincarnation of "destruction."

Chaos is not a dead thing; it is "evolving," "encompassing," and "bearing."

His previous understanding of "Chaos" leaned more toward "encompassing" and "restraint," which was static.

But now, under the guidance of the Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment, he touched upon the deeper wonders of "evolution" and "bearing."

"Chaos is the stage, the canvas. Thunder is the brush, the sword is the intent. I use Chaos as the foundation, evolve thunder as the edge, and use Sword Intent as the soul..."

Hazy insights flowed through his heart, faintly aligning with the general principles in the Chaos Thunder Emperor Sword Scripture, and many key points suddenly became clear.

He did not try to create new sword Moves but instead integrated this understanding of "evolution" into his own Dao.

Three days of meditation passed in a flash.

When Ye Tian slowly woke up from his state of enlightenment, the gray Chaos luster in the quiet room flashed and vanished, immediately returning to a deep calm.

He looked down at his palm; the color of the Chaos Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment had already dimmed by more than half, and the Great Dao aura contained within had been completely absorbed by him.

His injuries had been nourished by Chaos True Essence during the enlightenment process and were now ninety percent healed; the remaining minor injuries no longer had any impact.

"Sea Transformation First Layer Peak..." Ye Tian inspected his internal self. His Qi Sea had expanded slightly more than three days ago, and his cultivation had steadily reached the absolute Peak of the Sea Transformation First Layer, only a thin line away from the second layer.

This was not only thanks to the Heavenly Dao Crystal of Enlightenment but also the result of his life-and-death battle with Bei Minghong, which pushed his potential to the limit.

"Taichu Secret Realm..." He whispered the name, his eyes flashing with anticipation.

The Imperial Family would not bestow such a heavy treasure without reason. Within this Secret Realm, aside from the Legacy, there was likely also fatal danger.

"Junior Brother Ye, the time is approaching. It's time to set off." Feng Xuan's gentle voice sounded outside the quiet room.

Ye Tian sheathed his sword, stood up, and pushed open the door of the quiet room.

Outside, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the morning mist had not yet dispersed.

Feng Xuan, Yu Miaoqing, Pei Tieshan, Shui Qingdie, Dongfang Xinghe, and Yun Wuji were all waiting, and Elder Qinglan and Elder Xing Tiexin were also there.

When everyone saw Ye Tian, their gazes all narrowed.

Three days ago, Ye Tian had returned heavily injured, his aura withered.

But now, although his clothes were still simple, as he stood in the morning light, his aura was steady and his gaze clear, giving off a sense of returning to one's true self.

The exhaustion and scars from his battle with Bei Minghong had been washed away, leaving only a restrained sharpness.

"Junior Brother Ye, you..." A flash of surprise crossed Feng Xuan's eyes. He could feel that this Junior Brother seemed different again, though he couldn't say exactly how—he just felt that he was even more... dangerous?!

"I was fortunate enough to gain a little. Thank you for waiting, Elders and Senior Brothers and Sisters." Ye Tian nodded to everyone in greeting.

"Haha, good! Looking at Junior Brother Ye's spirit, you'll surely sweep through everything once you enter that Taichu Secret Realm!" Pei Tieshan grinned.

"Do not be careless," Elder Qinglan said solemnly. "The Taichu Secret Realm is an Imperial Forbidden Ground. The mysteries within are unpredictable and far from comparable to ordinary Trial Grounds.

His Majesty has set the fourth round here for a profound reason.

Although the six of you (looking at Ye Tian, Yun Wuji, Yu Miaoqing, Feng Xuan, Dongfang Xinghe, Pei Tieshan, and Shui Qingdie) are all outstanding talents, you must remember that within the Secret Realm, variables are infinite.

You must work together and act with caution. Although treasures and Opportunities are good, protecting yourselves and returning safely is the primary goal."

"We shall follow the Elder's teachings!" everyone responded in unison.

"Let's go," Elder Xing Tiexin said concisely, leading the way.

The group left Cuiwei Island, took a Cloud Platform, and headed toward the entrance of the Taichu Secret Realm deep within the Imperial City.

Along the way, they could see Cloud Platforms, flying boats, and even Cultivators riding Spirit Beasts from other forces, all converging on the same place from different directions.

The top twenty-five almost represented the highest level of the younger generation on this session's Supreme Ranking. The forces behind them also sent important figures to see them off, making the atmosphere even more solemn than the previous arena battles.

When the people from the Liuli Xuan Sect arrived, the white jade square outside the Secret Realm entrance was already crowded with people.

At the end of the square stood an ancient archway a hundred zhang high, its surface flowing with pale gold runes.

Behind the archway was a golden vortex. The scene inside was unclear, and only a heart-palpitating aura emanated from it.

That was the entrance to the Taichu Secret Realm.