39: Netherworld

Suddenly, a violent sound rang out.

"There's something below!" Di Tianxiao shouted.

Di Qianjie leaned over to look and saw dozens of giant sandworms emerging from the sand, each as thick as a water bucket, spitting corrosive liquid at them.

"They're Red Desolation Sandworms, a pack-dwelling Vicious Beast!" Di Wushang said coldly.

"Hmph, seeking death!" The Snow Eagle spoke in human tongue. Such tiny sandworms dared to attack her; if she hadn't restrained her aura, how would they have dared to approach her?

"Senior, please do not act, let us handle this!" Di Qianjie hurriedly called out.

Suddenly, a sand dune ahead rose up, and a Sandworm King ten times larger than the previous ones burst out, opening its bloody maw to bite them.

A cold light flashed in Di Qianjie's eyes as the Thousand Tribulations Sword unsheathed. A jet-black sword light streaked across the sky, accurately slashing into the Sandworm King's mouth.

At the same time, Di Lingxiao's dragon fall spear turned into a streak of light, piercing through the Sandworm King's eye. With the combined strike of the two Geniuses, the Sandworm King let out a shrill roar and crashed heavily back into the sand, kicking up yellow dust everywhere.

The Sandworm King burrowed back into the desert, and the rest of the sandworms vanished as well.

"Good coordination." Di Lingxiao put away the dragon fall spear.

Di Qianjie nodded in acknowledgment, "Your 'dragon fall spear' is even better than before."

Di Xingyun couldn't help but sigh inwardly; the Di Clan truly was a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. Di Qianjie and Di Lingxiao's strength was not at all inferior to his, even though they were only in the Divine Mansion Realm while he was in the Purple Mansion Realm.

After this small interlude, everyone became more alert. The light from the netherworld token grew stronger, guiding them to a seemingly ordinary sand dune.

"It's here," Di Tianxiao said, the netherworld token in his hand already becoming burning hot.

Everyone landed. When they stepped onto the scorching sand, the netherworld token suddenly flew up on its own, hovering in mid-air and emitting a blinding blue light. Immediately after, the desert began to vibrate, and the sand beneath their feet receded like flowing water, revealing a massive circular platform engraved with ancient runes.

"This is... the Seal of the Secret Realm's entrance!" Di Qingge said in surprise, quickly taking out a Jade Slip to record the runes.

The netherworld token flew to the center of the platform, its blue light resonating with the runes. The sky suddenly darkened, filled with thick clouds and lightning. A spectral blue pillar of light shot up from the netherworld token, piercing into the clouds.

Cultivators within a thousand-mile radius were alarmed by this phenomenon.

"Not good, this will attract other forces!" Di Tianxiao frowned.

Di Tianxiao made a swift decision: "Prepare to enter the Secret Realm, move fast!"

The runes in the center of the platform began to rotate, forming a vortex-like entrance. The netherworld token flew back into Di Tianxiao's hand, and a piece of information entered his mind: "The Secret Realm will fully open in fifteen minutes."

Upon learning this, Di Qianjie immediately called out: "Get ready, we're going in first!"

Just as the Di Clan members were about to enter, several streaks of light could be seen rapidly approaching in the distant sky.

"It's the local forces of the Red Desolation Province, they've come so quickly!" Di Tianxiao gripped the netherworld token tightly.

"Ignore them, let's go!" Di Qianjie was the first to leap into the vortex, with the others following close behind.

As the last one, Di Tianxiao, disappeared into the vortex, the first wave of outsiders arrived. It was a red-robed old man stepping on fire clouds, with a powerful aura, at least at the Peak of the Heaven-Reaching Realm.

"This is a Secret Realm!" Greed flashed in the old man's eyes. "I didn't expect the rumors to be true! A Secret Realm is actually hidden here." He tried to rush into the vortex but was repelled by an invisible barrier.

"Damn it, there's a cultivation level restriction!" the old man cursed and immediately took out a communication jade talisman. "Quickly send Purple Mansion Realm Disciples here, a Secret Realm has appeared!"

Within just half an hour, various major forces from the Red Desolation Province arrived one after another.

Old Ancestor Blazing Fire of the Red Flame Sect, Blade King of Mobei from Sand Emperor City, Granny Jiuyou of the Xuan Yin Cult... These Heaven-Reaching Realm and Law Realm experts, who were rarely seen, were now gathered in the desert, only able to watch the Secret Realm entrance in frustration.

"Only those up to the Purple Mansion Realm can enter?" Old Ancestor Blazing Fire's beard twitched in anger. "Isn't this just playing with us!"

Granny Jiuyou chuckled eerily, "Old Blazing Fire, if those Disciples of yours can find an Opportunity inside, isn't it the same?"

The various forces quickly sent messages back to their Sects, summoning their best Purple Mansion Realm Disciples. Soon, flying boats gathered in the sky above the desert, flags of all colors fluttering, as a grand drama to fight for the Secret Realm's opportunities was about to begin.

Meanwhile, the Di Clan members were already standing in a strange space inside the Secret Realm. Around them were floating boulders and distorted light, with an ancient and mysterious aura permeating the air.

When the Di Clan members recovered from their dizziness, they found themselves in a strange space. The sky was dark red, with countless glowing crystals and boulders floating about. Mountains rose and fell in the distance, but a closer look revealed those "mountains" were actually the skeletons of some giant beasts.

They had originally thought the Secret Realm would be a closed Immortal Cave, but after entering, they realized it was actually a vast and boundless world.

The netherworld token in Di Tianxiao's hand glowed again, this time projecting a phantom map with seven points of light marked on it.

"Is this... a partial map of the Secret Realm's interior?" Di Lingxiao said in pleasant surprise.

Di Jintian leaned in, rubbing his hands excitedly. "It seems we've hit the jackpot."

Di Qianjie carefully observed the map and found that three of the seven points of light were particularly bright: "Sword Tomb, War God Hall, Starry Platform..."

Suddenly, the Thousand Tribulations Sword trembled violently, and the blood-red patterns on the scabbard lit up one by one. Di Qianjie pressed down on the hilt, feeling a strong summons: "Something is calling the Thousand Tribulations Sword..."

The starfall pagoda inside Di Xingyun's body was also vibrating slightly.

"Then we shall split up," Di Tianxiao made the decision.

Just as he finished speaking, a slight tremor came from the ground.

"Something is approaching!" Di Wu Shang barked coldly.

"Roar—"

A low growl came from underground, and immediately after, dozens of dark shadows burst out from the soil!

They were a pack of Yao Beasts shaped like giant wolves, pitch black all over, with ghostly green flames swirling around their fur, eyes as red as blood, and grim fangs.

"Netherworld Wolves!" Di Wu Shang quickly identified them. "They feed on Netherworld Qi, they are extremely fast, and their claws and teeth are highly toxic!"

"Kill!" Di Qianjie didn't hesitate, and the Thousand Tribulations Sword unsheathed!

*Chiii—*

A jet-black sword light swept out, instantly slicing three Netherworld Wolves in two! However, the corpses of the slain Netherworld Wolves actually turned into black mist and reformed!

"They can undergo Rebirth?!" Di Lingxiao's pupils constricted.

"It's not Rebirth, it's Netherworld Qi!" Di Xingyun said coldly. "Normal attacks are useless; you must use extreme yang power or Divine Soul attacks!"

"Then let me do it!" Di Lingxiao laughed loudly, his whole body glowing with brilliant golden light. He swept his spear across, and his fierce Battle Intent turned into physical flames, directly incinerating the bodies of the Netherworld Wolves!

"Roar—" The Netherworld Wolves let out shrill screams. This time, they couldn't reform and were completely turned to ash.

Working together, they quickly wiped out the pack of Netherworld Wolves. But Di Wu Shang's expression became even more solemn: "These are only the lowest-level Netherworld Yao Beasts. In the depths of the Secret Realm, there are likely even more terrifying existences."

"Everyone, be extremely careful!"

Just as everyone was about to split up, a spatial fluctuation suddenly came from the entrance.