51: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (Sixteen)

A few days passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day the Blackwater Secret Realm opened, a massive spirit boat was already hovering in mid-air above the Overlord Blade Sect's gate plaza, its hull branded with the Sect's emblem and emitting a faint spiritual light.

Led by Xu Yuan, thirty elite Disciples of the Overlord Blade Sect, all possessing fierce auras and cultivation levels at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation, had gathered.

These Disciples were all outstanding members of the inner Sect, with sharp eyes and full of fighting spirit; they were the Sect's team for exploring the Secret Realm this time.

The team leader was none other than Xu Yuan's father, Elder Chen Ping, a Mid-Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

At this moment, Chen Ping's expression was solemn as his gaze swept over the Disciples below. His voice, containing the pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, clearly reached the ears of every Disciple:

"All Disciples, listen to my orders!"

Hearing this, the group of Disciples, including Xu Yuan, all tightened their expressions, straightened their bodies, and focused their gazes on Chen Ping.

"In the Blackwater Secret Realm, Opportunity and danger coexist."

"Not only are there naturally formed poisonous miasmas and Vicious Beasts within, but what you must be even more vigilant against are the Cultivators from other Sects!"

Chen Ping's voice was heavy and condensed, carrying a hint of murderous intent.

"Within the Secret Realm, the rules are simple: the weak are prey to the strong! In the struggle for Opportunity, there is never any room for mercy!"

Chen Ping's sharp gaze swept over the crowd: "Once you enter the Secret Realm, you must remain vigilant at all times. If you encounter a Heaven And Earth Treasure, do not yield; strive your hardest to seize it! If you encounter Disciples from other Sects..."

Chen Ping paused, his tone suddenly becoming incomparably cold: "There is no need for any hypocritical pleasantries, and even less need to be scrupulous about your methods!"

"Whether it is sneak attacks, encirclement, or any other method, the best means is whatever allows you to seize the Opportunity and eliminate potential threats with the minimum cost!"

"Remember! In the Secret Realm, everyone except your fellow Sect members is an enemy!"

"Being merciful to the enemy is being cruel to yourself, and it is even a betrayal of your fellow Sect members!"

"Everything must have the primary goal of seizing resources and preserving yourself!"

"Everything must have the Sect's interests as the highest guiding principle!"

"Do you all understand?!"

Chen Ping's final sharp shout was like a thunderclap.

"Understood!"

The group of Disciples shouted in unison, their voices shaking the clouds, and their eyes flashing with eager Battle Intent.

Since they were chosen to be sent here, they were naturally not soft-hearted people and had long prepared themselves mentally for the slaughter and struggle.

Chen Ping's gaze finally landed on Xu Yuan, with a bit more concern in his dignified eyes as he urged: "Yuan'er, as the Dao Child, you shoulder heavy responsibilities and must be careful at all times."

"In the Secret Realm, there are many variables. Although your talent is strong, you must not lower your guard, especially against possible encirclement by other Sects targeting you."

Xu Yuan met his father's gaze and nodded calmly: "Father, rest assured, I know what I'm doing."

Xu Yuan naturally understood that as the Overlord Blade Sect's Dao Child, the news of him defeating Zhao Zheng in one strike had likely already reached the Geniuses of other Sects.

This time, he would definitely be a key target of attention and perhaps even the primary target for elimination by the Geniuses of other Sects.

But this was exactly what he was looking forward to.

His Saber Dao had now reached a Bottleneck, and perhaps he could hone it through the slaughter against other Geniuses!

Seeing that Xu Yuan's eyes were clear and steady, Chen Ping felt a little more at ease and said nothing more.

"Board the boat!"

Following Chen Ping's order, everyone flew onto the spirit boat in order.

The spirit boat immediately turned into a stream of light, breaking through the clouds and speeding towards the direction of the Blackwater Secret Realm.

About half a day later, the spirit boat slowed down and descended slowly outside a valley with peculiar terrain, shrouded in a faint, distorted halo.

This place was the entrance to the Blackwater Secret Realm.

At this moment, hundreds of Cultivators had gathered on the open ground outside the valley, divided into seven or eight camps according to their different attire and auras, maintaining a vigilant distance from each other.

The air was filled with a repressive and tense atmosphere, with various gazes intertwined—some curious, some scrutinizing, but mostly filled with undisguised competition and hostility.

The arrival of the Overlord Blade Sect's spirit boat immediately attracted all attention.

Xu Yuan was the first to step off the spirit boat, followed closely by Chen Ping and the other twenty-nine 9th Layer of Qi Condensation Disciples.

The group was neatly arrayed with fierce auras, especially Xu Yuan at the head; although his aura was restrained, that calm demeanor made people dare not underestimate him.

"The people from the Overlord Blade Sect have arrived!"

"Is that the Overlord Blade Sect's newly appointed Dao Child, Chen Yuan? I heard he possesses peerless talent and defeated Zhao Zheng in one strike while at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation?"

"He looks so young, and his aura seems quite ordinary..."

"Hmph, just putting on an act. We are both at the 9th Layer of Qi Condensation; we'll see the real truth in the Secret Realm!"

Xu Yuan turned a deaf ear to the surrounding discussions, his gaze calmly sweeping over the teams from other Sects.

Azure Wood Sect, Black Iron Mountain, Purple Cloud Pavilion, Joyful Union Sect... The lineups of these major competitors were indeed extremely powerful.

As far as his eyes could see, they were almost all 9th Layer of Qi Condensation Cultivators, each with a heavy, condensed aura, clearly all Genius Disciples carefully selected from within their Sects.

Even if a few were at the Eighth Level of Qi Condensation, they were without exception at the Peak of the eighth level, with exceptionally thick spiritual power fluctuations, likely only a line away from the ninth level; their true combat power would certainly not be weaker than an ordinary ninth-level Cultivator.

At this time, several other Foundation Establishment Cultivators leading the other Sects also came up to exchange superficial pleasantries with Chen Ping.

A middle-aged Cultivator dressed in Azure Wood Sect attire with a gentle face spoke first, smiling and cupping his hands at Chen Ping:

"Elder Chen, long time no see. Your Sect is truly full of talent this time, especially this young man; he must be your Sect's newly appointed Dao Child, right? Truly, a tiger father has no dog son; heroes emerge from the youth, and his bearing is extraordinary."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Xu Yuan as if unintentionally, carrying a bit of inquiry.

Another Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Black Iron Mountain, with a sturdy build like an iron tower, spoke with a voice like a booming bell and grinned: "Fellow Daoist Chen, I heard your Dao Child is very fierce? Able to defeat a 9th Layer of Qi Condensation Peak Cultivator in one move while at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation? That wouldn't be a rumor spread deliberately by your Overlord Blade Sect to build hype, would it? Hahaha!" His laugh was bold, but carried obvious provocation and probing intent.

The leading Elder of Purple Cloud Pavilion was a stern-faced middle-aged man who snorted coldly, his tone sharp: "Whether it's a rumor or not, we'll know once we go in. In the Secret Realm, there are no Elders to protect you; if a Genius is lost then, it will become a joke."

Facing these overt or covert probes and provocations, Chen Ping's expression remained steady. He chuckled and exchanged a few casual pleasantries, but did not mention Xu Yuan's strength at all.

Seeing Chen Ping's tight-lipped response, those Foundation Establishment Cultivators felt suspicious and uncertain.

Seeing Chen Ping's calm and unconcerned appearance, could the rumors actually be true?

Does this seemingly ordinary young man really possess such terrifying strength?

Especially the beautiful, alluring woman leading the Joyful Union Sect; her peach-blossom eyes swept over Xu Yuan a few times, and she giggled: "Elder Chen is too modest. Such a handsome and powerful young man really makes one quite curious."

"I only hope that in the Secret Realm, the children of my Sect will have the Opportunity to properly 'seek advice' from Dao Child Xu."