234: Chapter 233 The Azure Cloud Trial Begins

More than ten days passed quietly.

Today was the day the Liuhuo Secret Realm officially opened.

On the central square of the Flowing Fire Sect, the noise of voices was deafening, Spiritual Qi surged, and Cultivators from all over the Southern Region gathered here.

Qin Changsheng did not appear in person but instead had Wang Cheng and Hu Nan go to the square.

On the square, Cultivators gathered in small groups, talking in low voices; their conversation always revolved around the Liuhuo Secret Realm.

Some looked forward to the Heaven And Earth Treasures and Divine Abilities or Cultivation Techniques within the Secret Realm, some worried about the Yao Beasts and dangers inside, and others secretly calculated how to stand out on the Qingyun Ranking.

"I hope I can find some high-level medicinal herbs in the Secret Realm this time so it won't be a wasted trip!"

"I heard the northern part of the Secret Realm is extremely dangerous; even Cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection don't dare to step foot there lightly. We should try to avoid the north and focus on finding low-level Yao Beasts to earn points!"

"For this Qingyun Ranking, Senior Sister Shen Bing is a favorite to win..."

"Hu Nan's strength is also very formidable!"

"Ling Hao from the Azure Cloud Sect is also a major favorite!"

"Senior Sister Shen Bing won't be able to participate this time!"

"Senior Sister Shen Bing had a mishap during her Cultivation a few days ago and has been recovering from her injuries!"

"That's truly a pity!"

Many Cultivators of the Flowing Fire Sect were lamenting that Shen Bing was injured and could not participate in the Qingyun Ranking.

Listening to the crowd's discussion, Qin Changsheng understood very clearly.

Shen Bing was not injured at all, nor was it some Qi Deviation during seclusion; rather, she was unwilling to enter the Liuhuo Secret Realm and be plagued by the Yao Race's cursed qi.

Shen Bing was a Prodigy of the Yao Race and naturally knew their secrets.

She used a cultivation injury as an excuse to avoid this Secret Realm trip.

Before long, Chen Erniu's figure appeared not far away.

He looked around and then handed a list to Hu Nan.

"Brother Hu, the people on this list are all from the Yao Race!"

"Wait, after entering the Secret Realm, kill all these people from the Yao Race!"

After Chen Erniu finished speaking, he left in a hurry.

Hu Nan carefully picked up the paper and saw more than a dozen names written on it.

Among them were the names of Wang Cheng and Manager Ma Yingjie.

Furthermore, there was a note behind Wang Cheng's name.

"[Formerly of the Blood Demon Sect; after the death of the Blood Demon Sect's Young Lord Li Hu, he followed Manager Ma Yingjie to defect to the Yao Race!]"

A quarter of an hour later, several terrifying Pressures suddenly appeared in the sky above the square.

Everyone looked up one after another and saw that more than ten people had already appeared on the high platform ahead.

The one leading them was Elder Huoyun of the Flowing Fire Sect.

Elder Huoyun's gaze slowly swept across the dense crowd of Cultivators below as he spoke, "Everyone, today is the day the Liuhuo Secret Realm opens, and it is also the time when the Qingyun Ranking trial officially begins."

"I am Elder Huoyun of the Flowing Fire Sect, and today I will preside over the opening of this Secret Realm!"

Elder Huoyun paused and continued, "Before the Secret Realm opens, I will first read out the trial rules of the Liuhuo Secret Realm for everyone. You must keep them firmly in mind."

As his voice fell, a silence descended upon the square. All the Cultivators listened intently, afraid of missing a single detail.

Elder Huoyun said, "This Qingyun Ranking will be based on the points you obtain within the Secret Realm; the more points you have, the higher your ranking."

"The points are acquired as follows: killing a Qi Refinement Stage Yao Beast earns 1 point; killing an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Yao Beast earns 10 points; killing a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Yao Beast earns 20 points; killing a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Yao Beast earns 50 points; and a Golden Core Yao Beast is worth 100 points."

He paused and added, "In addition, Heaven And Earth Treasures and ancient relics within the Secret Realm can also be exchanged for corresponding points. The specific exchange standards are recorded in detail on the stone tablets inside the Secret Realm."

"You must remember that the Secret Realm is unpredictable and dangerous, and killing is not forbidden."

Upon hearing that killing was not forbidden, the faces of some low-cultivation Cultivators changed drastically.

After all, once they entered the Liuhuo Secret Realm, they would not only have to face Yao Beasts but also the Cultivators participating in the Qingyun Ranking trial.

Once the discussions on the square gradually subsided, Elder Huoyun spoke again, "The rules have been read. Next, I will display the ranking rewards for this Qingyun Ranking to everyone."

"The rewards this time are generous and sufficient to help you Fellow Daoists reach the next level on your path of cultivation!"

After saying this, he raised his hand and signaled to the deacons beside him.

The dozen or so deacons behind him immediately stepped forward, holding several exquisite jade trays in their hands, and walked slowly to the edge of the platform.

Elder Huoyun gave a gentle wave of his hand, and streaks of brilliant light burst forth from the jade trays, swirling above the platform. This caused the Cultivators below to cry out in surprise, their eyes filled with greed and yearning.

Elder Huoyun also slowly began to introduce the treasures within the jade trays.

Among these treasures were Profound Grade High Grade Magical Artifacts, Profound Grade High Grade Cultivation Techniques, and Profound Grade High Grade inner armor.

There were also precious Medicinal Pills such as foundation establishment pills.

Qin Changsheng's gaze was fixed on the tenth jade tray.

Because what lay on that jade tray was a heavenly dao fragment.

After Elder Huoyun finished introducing the rewards, he continued, "The first place on the Qingyun Ranking can choose three treasures!"

"Second place chooses two!"

"Third to tenth place choose one!"

Hearing Elder Huoyun's introduction, many Cultivators were extremely excited.

They all wanted to leave their names on the Qingyun Ranking.

And then obtain the treasures listed.

Especially those Profound Grade High Grade Cultivation Techniques and Profound Grade High Grade inner armor.

Elder Huoyun stood on the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the boiling crowd below. Once the chatter gradually died down, he slowly raised his hand and announced loudly, "The Qingyun Ranking trial officially begins!"

The moment his voice fell, Elder Huoyun flipped his wrist, condensing a surge of scorching spiritual power in his hand. With a gentle wave toward the Void Realm, a golden longsword, translucent and engraved with flame patterns, emerged. Accompanied by the sound of whistling wind, it slowly flew above the square and hovered directly over the high platform, emitting majestic spiritual power fluctuations.

"Set the Formation!" Elder Huoyun shouted in a deep voice, his sound piercing the clouds and reaching the ears of every deacon.

The dozen or so Flowing Fire Sect deacons lined up on both sides of the platform immediately sprang into action upon hearing this, their expressions solemn and without a hint of slack.

They all raised their hands to sacrifice their Magic Treasures—some longswords, some jade seals, some bells. Various Magic Treasures shone brilliantly, carrying spiritual power fluctuations of different attributes as they flew into the air in unison, arranging themselves around the golden longsword according to specific positions.

For a moment, the sky above the square was filled with thousands of rays of light, as the spiritual glows of various Magic Treasures intertwined to form a magnificent net of light.

The deacons chanted incantations and quickly formed hand seals, continuously injecting spiritual power from their bodies into their respective Magic Treasures. The light from the Magic Treasures grew more intense, and the aura of the Formation became increasingly dense. A vast power of heaven and earth slowly surged from the Formation, enveloping the entire square.

As time passed, the deacons continued to inject spiritual power, and the light of the Formation above grew even brighter.

Various Magic Treasures slowly rotated around the longsword, and the patterns of the Formation gradually became clear. An invisible spatial rift slowly emerged in the center of the Formation, and from within the rift, a dense and ancient Secret Realm aura emanated.

In the next instant, a golden portal several zhang high appeared abruptly beneath the Formation in the center of the square. Inside the portal, mist swirled, and the outlines of mountains and rivers within the Secret Realm could be vaguely seen. Dense Spiritual Qi gushed out from the portal, making people feel refreshed.

Elder Huoyun looked at the shocked crowd below and said, "The Secret Realm portal is open. You may enter the Liuhuo Secret Realm in turn to begin this Qingyun Ranking trial!"

He paused, his tone becoming increasingly solemn as he added, "Remember, the duration of this trial is five days. After five days, the Secret Realm portal will close again. Any Cultivator who has not exited the Secret Realm on time will remain inside forever, their fate unknown! I hope you Fellow Daoists cherish your time, compete for Opportunities based on your own strength, and be sure to keep the trial rules in mind. Do not seek your own destruction!"

"Five days!" The Cultivators below all felt a chill in their hearts and quickly noted the trial time limit.

Five days seemed like a long time, but with the unknown dangers within the Secret Realm, the need to kill Yao Beasts for points, search for treasures, and avoid hazards, the time was actually very tight.

Many Cultivators could no longer restrain themselves. They straightened their clothes, gripped their Magical Artifacts tightly, and stared intently at the golden portal, ready to step into the Secret Realm at any moment.

"The Secret Realm portal is open. Fellow Daoists, you may enter in turn!" Elder Huoyun announced the opening of the Secret Realm.

The Cultivators below had long been unable to contain their urgency and desire. No longer maintaining their usual reserve, they rushed toward the golden Secret Realm portal one after another.

For a time, the square was filled with a chaotic yet orderly scene as Cultivators scrambled to step into the portal. Their figures were swallowed by the mist inside the portal one by one, disappearing in an instant.