Abyssal Crystal Depths

Outside Xuanjing City on the Tianxuan Continent lies the Xuanjing Abyss.

As soon as they appeared near the Xuanjing Abyss, a biting cold wind carrying a strong earthy smell assaulted their senses.

"This is the Xuanjing Abyss."

Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang landed steadily on the cliff platform at the edge of the abyss. The rock beneath their feet was cold and hard, its surface embedded with fine golden crystal particles that sparkled faintly under the dim sky light.

"Many peculiar ores," Bai Qianshuang also noted this point.

After all, Ye Chuan wanted those special forging materials to craft weapons, making a trip to the secret realm within the Xuanjing Abyss essential.

Ye Chuan looked around curiously—

Looking up, the Xuanjing Abyss resembled a giant axe-split fissure, extending vertically downward into endless darkness, its bottom unreachable even by spiritual sense.

The cliff walls on either side of the abyss were steep as if sliced by a blade, covered in deep brown grooves from which pale spiritual mist seeped. This mist did not disperse in the wind but coiled and drifted between the rock faces. Occasionally, when it touched the Xuanjing ore on the rocks, it would stir up tiny sparks of spiritual light.

The sky above the abyss was pressed low by thick grey clouds. Only occasionally did a few beams of sky light pierce through the cloud layer, slanting into the abyss to illuminate a faintly visible, massive curtain of light below—that was the entrance to the secret realm.

"Husband, there are many people," Bai Qianshuang's gaze swept indifferently before slowly withdrawing.

"It's a secret realm after all; it would be strange if it weren't crowded," Ye Chuan smiled.

By now, quite a few cultivators had gathered around the cliff platform, standing in small groups within temporarily erected spirit arrays. Most wore the standard attire of various sects.

It seemed independent cultivators would have a hard time getting a share; the arrivals were basically teams of sect disciples.

"Young man, a quick inquiry," Ye Chuan casually grabbed a passing cultivator.

"Out of my way!" The cultivator frowned, looking displeased upon seeing Ye Chuan.

"Hmm?" Ye Chuan released a wisp of his spiritual power. "I'll give you a chance to rephrase that."

"E-esteemed senior, please ask," feeling Ye Chuan's vast and terrifying spiritual power, the other man shuddered in fear.

Where did this living ancestor come from?

"Introduce these sect disciples."

"Uh..."

The cultivator could only point to a group of cultivators on the east side, dressed in crimson robes with flame patterns embroidered on their sleeves.

"That's the Golden Sun Sect."

The leader of the Golden Sun Sect was a young man with a face like fine jade. Concentrated fire-attribute spiritual power lingered around him, and a longsword inlaid with a ruby hung at his waist, giving him an air of extraordinary bearing.

The cultivator then introduced to Ye Chuan,

"Senior, that is the Golden Sun Sect's Holy Son, Zhao Lieyang. Rumor has it he has already reached the Golden Core realm; he's a super genius."

After saying this, the cultivator paused, then pointed to another area—

There, several female cultivators in light blue dresses embroidered with ice crystal patterns were conversing in low voices.

"Those are people from the Ice Cloud Sect."

Among the Ice Cloud Sect group, one aloof-looking young woman was particularly conspicuous. Chilling air swirled around her, even freezing the surrounding spiritual mist into tiny ice crystals. The cultivator continued the introduction,

"And that is the Ice Cloud Sect's Holy Maiden, Su Qinghan. It's said she's also at the Golden Core realm."

The cultivator introduced the various sects to Ye Chuan one by one. Led by the Golden Sun Sect and the Ice Cloud Sect, over a dozen sects, large and small, had come. The crowd was numerous, all drawn by the treasures within the Xuanjing Abyss.

"Senior, as for more details, I'm not clear. It's said there's also a legacy hidden within the Xuanjing Abyss, but the specifics..." The cultivator shook his head.

He had only heard rumors; the Xuanjing Abyss was never short on such hearsay and intelligence.

"Alright." Ye Chuan waved his hand, and the cultivator fled as if granted a great reprieve.

Currently, most cultivators on the cliff platform were discussing matters related to the Xuanjing Abyss. Occasionally, arguments broke out over occupying spots in the temporary spirit arrays, but out of respect for each sect's reputation, no one actually resorted to violence.

After all, the Xuanjing Abyss secret realm was exceptionally dangerous. Most sects chose to temporarily maintain a non-aggression pact to avoid wasting combat strength.

"I didn't expect so many sects to come," Bai Qianshuang said softly, the Emperor's Mark between her brows flickering slightly, as if sensing the surrounding auras.

She could feel that the strength of these Holy Son-level cultivators wasn't particularly high. Especially Zhao Lieyang and Su Qinghan, their auras were merely at the Golden Core realm, yet they were considerably stronger than ordinary Nascent Soul realm cultivators.

They were indeed prodigies.

But prodigies weren't even qualified to meet the threshold of Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang.

Bai Qianshuang's increased cultivation was also at the Golden Core realm, the same level as those Holy Sons and Maidens, yet she had long since left them countless miles behind.

Not to mention Ye Chuan's strength.

Ye Chuan's gaze swept over the crowd on the cliff platform. "A large crowd has nothing to do with us."

He took Bai Qianshuang's small hand. "Let's go, wife. Let's check the situation at the secret realm entrance."

Bai Qianshuang nodded gently.

The two walked side by side toward the edge of the abyss. As soon as they neared the direction of the entrance, they were blocked by a Golden Sun Sect disciple.

"Halt! This spot was occupied first by the Golden Sun Sect!"

The disciple's tone was arrogant. His longsword was partially drawn, revealing a glint of the blade as a threat.

Simultaneously, Ye Chuan noticed several other Golden Sun Sect disciples looking over.

Dressed like independent cultivators, Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang naturally wouldn't receive friendly looks from these sect disciples, especially since they both appeared so young.

But hearing that this group's cultivation levels were all below Golden Core, with only a few elders at Nascent Soul, Ye Chuan didn't even have the thought of pulling them into his banner.

Blocked by the Golden Sun Sect disciple, Ye Chuan didn't stop walking. He merely cast a faint glance at the disciple.

An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the other. The disciple's face changed drastically. His sword clattered to the ground, his body trembled uncontrollably, and he couldn't even form complete words.

"You... you..."

The Golden Sun Sect's Holy Son, Zhao Lieyang, happened to notice the commotion and turned to look. When he saw Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

He couldn't sense Ye Chuan and Bai Qianshuang's cultivation levels, but that faint, elusive pressure inexplicably tightened his heart.

He stepped forward, cupping his hands toward Ye Chuan. "My apologies for the offense, fellow Daoists. I am Zhao Lieyang of the Golden Sun Sect. May I ask which sect you two belong to?"

"Control your dog." Ye Chuan's light, airy remark made the Golden Sun Sect disciple who had spoken earlier flush red with anger.

Zhao Lieyang's expression also shifted repeatedly. Unable to gauge Ye Chuan's background and seeing his fearless demeanor, he could only drag the disciple back.

The secret realm hadn't opened yet; it was not the time to cause trouble.

Ye Chuan paid them no further mind, as if noticing something. His gaze passed over the Golden Sun Sect disciples, looking toward the entrance within the abyss.

At that moment, pale spiritual mist continuously seeped from the rock crevices. The light at the entrance swirled incessantly, clearly indicating the secret realm's restrictions had loosened to their limit and could open at any moment.

Just then, a violent tremor suddenly came from deep within the abyss. Rubble clattered down from the cliff walls. The cultivators on the platform all changed expression, looking up toward the depths of the abyss!

The light blazed brilliantly!

"It's open, it's open!"

"Everyone, get in!"

The disciples rushed in one after another. Ye Chuan took Bai Qianshuang's small hand beside him. "Let's go."

"Mm."