3: Secret Realm

He watched helplessly as 'he' reached into the box on the table once more, fished out a porcelain bottle, and casually tucked it into his pocket.

"Ding! Gift delivery complete. Thank you for using the System, Host. I am your most loyal and caring assistant on your path to immortality!"

Caring? What kind of 'caring' is this?

Are you leading me toward immortality or to my death?

Hong Yu ignored the Deceptive System and ran at full speed, returning to his Immortal Cave as fast as possible. At this moment, his only thought was to get as far away as he could.

Fortunately, the Formation at the Laiyi Courtyard was one-way, specifically targeting outsiders; there were no restrictions on those leaving from within. This allowed Hong Yu to escape smoothly.

After packing his bags, Hong Yu was just about to flee when he heard the Summon Bells ringing outside.

Clang, clang, clang...

The bell tolled nine times—eight short and one long. It was the highest-level assembly signal.

Every Disciple in the Outer Sect had to drop everything immediately upon hearing the bell and gather at the Square.

Any Disciple who failed to arrive within the time it took for an incense stick to burn would be executed without mercy.

Hong Yu frowned as he began to weigh his current situation.

He definitely had to go to the assembly. For the Outer Sect to ring this bell, something major must have happened. If he didn't show up, the Law Enforcement Hall would purge any disobedient Disciples after the incense burned out. With his cultivation at the fourth level of the Qi Refining Stage, he wouldn't be able to run far enough in that time.

The larger the sect, the more they emphasized rules.

His intrusion into the Laiyi Courtyard likely hadn't been exposed yet; otherwise, with the Law Enforcement Hall's speed, they would have stormed his Immortal Cave by now. Furthermore, everyone in the Outer Sect knew the importance of the Laiyi Courtyard, so the area outside was usually deserted.

Even if someone discovered the intrusion, it would take time to trace it back to him. His biggest fear now was that Pang Hu had left some hidden trap in the room that had locked onto him without him noticing. If that were the case, he would truly have no way to escape.

The best course of action now was to head to the Square to see what was happening and then look for an Opportunity to flee.

Putting down his bundle, Hong Yu sprinted toward the Square.

A few moments later, at the Outer Sect Square.

The Outer Sect Disciples who had rushed over upon hearing the news already filled the entire Square.

Hong Yu hunched his shoulders and cautiously blended into the crowd, trying to remain inconspicuous. He mimicked the expressions of the surrounding Disciples, looking at the three people standing on the high platform in the center of the Square with a mix of curiosity and fear.

Hong Yu recognized the elderly man on the far left. He was the Outer Sect Leader, a great Cultivator of the Foundation Establishment Stage, Zhou Gu.

This powerhouse, who was stern and humorless in his memories, was currently standing to the side with a face full of flattery and subservience. Clearly, the protagonists today were the other two.

Standing in the very center was a woman in a white dress, her face obscured by a light veil.

She stood there quietly, her figure appearing ethereal and indistinct, as if she didn't belong to this world.

Presumably, she was that True Disciple from the inner mansion of the Xuan Yun Residence.

On the right was a burly man over two meters tall and weighing over two hundred pounds, dressed in short-sleeved martial attire. This was the Core Disciple of the Xuan Yun Residence, Pang Hu. Standing there with his eyes closed, he looked like a Vicious Beast, his blood and Qi surging with a terrifying Aura.

Pang Hu was brawny with a face full of coarse flesh; just looking at him inspired a heart-pounding sense of pressure. Judging by the cultivation fluctuations within him, he was clearly a level stronger than Zhou Gu.

Upon seeing the victim of his theft, Hong Yu quickly lowered his head, not daring to look further. Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators had already tempered their Divine Sense and were incredibly sensitive to the gazes of others. Hong Yu did not dare to draw Pang Hu's attention.

Since Pang Hu hadn't immediately charged over to attack, he likely didn't know about the incident in the Laiyi Courtyard yet. This allowed Hong Yu to relax slightly.

Seeing that the Outer Sect Disciples had all arrived, Zhou Gu said with a beaming smile, "Mountain Master Pang, the Outer Sect Disciples have been assembled. Please give us your instructions."

Pang Hu opened his eyes, which flashed with a sharp light. He glanced casually at the crowd below and said, "The reason I have gathered you all here today is to grant you a Heaven-Defying Opportunity."

Pang Hu's voice was so loud it made Hong Yu's ears ache, which only increased his deep wariness of Pang Hu's strength.

I have to run. I must run. Once the truth comes out, I'm dead for sure, Hong Yu thought to himself.

"The sect has received news that a Secret Realm has appeared thirty miles from this city. After investigation by my Senior Sister and me, it has been confirmed as the meditation site where the great Core Formation Stage Cultivator, Shu Wangnian, passed away."

"My Senior Sister and I intended to retrieve the relics within the Secret Realm ourselves, but unfortunately, a Formation was placed outside that only allows Qi Refining Stage Cultivators to enter. If we force our way in, everything inside will be destroyed."

"Therefore, what you need to do is enter the Secret Realm and retrieve all the items inside for my Senior Sister, especially the Cultivation Technique practiced by Shu Wangnian!"

"Upon your success, my Senior Sister and I will provide generous rewards. Have I made myself clear?"

As soon as Pang Hu spoke, the entire Square erupted in a commotion.

The cultivation Realms of this world were divided into Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation, with each Realm further divided into nine levels.

As for the Realms beyond Core Formation, at least the current Hong Yu had never seen any records of them in the Outer Sect's archives.

Outer Sect Leader Zhou Gu, as the number one expert of Qifeng City, possessed power and influence here that made countless people envious.

It could be said that if he wished, he could slaughter everyone in Qifeng City single-handedly. Despite this, his cultivation was only at the fourth level of the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Not to mention, the information Pang Hu revealed concerned the relics of a Core Formation Cultivator. To the people present, that was undoubtedly a mountain of gold beyond their wildest imaginations.

Even Zhou Gu's cloudy old eyes revealed a hint of greed and longing.

Though wealth moves the heart, there was a sensible person who spoke up to ask, "May I ask Mountain Master Pang, are there dangers within the Secret Realm?"

Pang Hu looked toward the voice and said displeasedly, "How should I know if there's danger? However, for a Core Formation Cultivator's meditation site to have a Formation specifically for the Qi Refining Stage, it's likely intended to select a suitable successor. You all should just go and do your best."

Hearing this, the fanatical crowd regained a bit of their senses. However, they soon rationalized it for themselves: the path of cultivation was already an act of defying heaven, and opportunities always came with risks. If one didn't dare to take a gamble, why bother cultivating at all?

Looking at the heated atmosphere on the field, Pang Hu nodded in satisfaction.

Mixed in the crowd, Hong Yu did his best to mimic the excitement and longing of those around him, but in reality, his heart was filled with irritation. At this moment, he had zero interest in the relics of a Core Formation Cultivator; he just wanted to get as far away as possible.

One could guess with their toes that the Secret Realm would be fraught with danger. He already had a System—even if it was a Deceptive one—so why risk his life?

Lying low and cultivating was the true way!

He really wanted to ask if he could choose not to go, but he didn't dare draw Pang Hu's attention because of it.

Fortunately, someone soon helped him ask that very question.