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."
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
close your eyes and open them again, only to find yourself transmigrated into the role of a villainous male supporting character. Readers familiar with urban wish-fulfillment novels know that it is only through the relentless antics of the villainous male supporting character that the plot between the male and female leads can progress. As the villainous male supporting character, Long Aotian not only has to bully the female lead, harass the second female lead, and flirt with the third female lead, but he also has to go all out to antagonize the male lead. In the end, when his body is discovered, he is still clutching half a moldy fried dough stick in his hand. Fully aware of the plot, Long Aotian is determined to change his fate, starting with the female lead! In the beginning, the female lead lacks confidence: "Big brother, I hope I didn't scare you?" In the middle, the female lead treads carefully: "Brother Long, please don't hit me, okay?" Later on, the female lead becomes coquettishly clingy: "Aotian, it's time to pay the 'public grain' tonight." Long Aotian's legs go weak, and he feels like crying: "I taught you to be thick-skinned, not shameless!"
young master of the Shen family—a figure of immense power and wealth beyond measure—and awakened the "Destined Ultimate Villain System"! His starting scenario? Running into his icy fiancée who shows up with a mountain-descending divine doctor to break off their engagement. The divine doctor arrogantly taunts: "What does your Shen family have besides a bit of stinking money? You're not even worthy of tying Qingxue's shoelaces!" Shen Fei just smiled. He completely defied the usual script: "Fine, I agree to break off the engagement. Also, notify the finance department to withdraw all investments from the Su family." Minutes later, with its capital chain severed, the Su Group teetered on the brink of bankruptcy! The once aloof and proud ice queen CEO was thrown into utter panic. That very night, she went to Shen Fei's villa, casting aside all dignity to beg and plead desperately... From then on, in this world teeming with Sons of Destiny, Shen Fei embarked on a path of extreme dimensional suppression! A mountain-descending divine doctor? Peerless medical skills? Shen Fei: "Reporting you for practicing medicine without a license! I'll gladly take your ancient medicinal cauldron and twin sister assassins." The Crooked-Smiling Dragon King? Commanding a hundred thousand soldiers with a single order? Shen Fei: "Illegal assembly and suspected treason! Let a fleet of attack helicopters sanitize the area and teach you what the state apparatus really means!" A reborn tycoon? Knows all the golden opportunities of the next decade? Shen Fei: "A trillion in capital to reverse and pump the stock market, making you blow your margin and jump on the very first day of your rebirth!" What Chosen Ones? What bearers of Heavenly Fortune? In Shen Fei's eyes, they're all just chives (i.e., suckers/marks) waiting to be harvested! Shen Fei: "Sorry, but as the Destined Ultimate Villain, I don't play by the rules of honor. I only play the game of dimensional suppression."
transmigrates into the world as the sect master of the Heavenly Yan Sect, which is on the verge of being wiped out. He binds a system that grants him cultivation power based on the number of disciples he has: for each disciple, he automatically gains a year's worth of cultivation every single day! Take one disciple: every day he gains 1 year of cultivation power. While others struggle through a year of bitter training, he gets the same just by sleeping through a single night. Take ten disciples: every day he gains 10 years of cultivation power. Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul—he breezes through all bottlenecks without lifting a finger. Take one hundred disciples: every day he gains 100 years of cultivation power. Even a Soul Transformation Venerable before him can’t survive a single blow. Take ten thousand disciples: every day he gains 10,000 years of cultivation power! With a wave of his hand, he topples empires. With a single step, he crushes the sacred grounds of the universe. ... While others fight tooth and nail for secret techniques, Lin Yan casually hands out Nascent Soul-level cultivation manuals as beginner textbooks. While others strain to find talented recruits, Lin Yan opens his doors to anyone—so long as they’re human. In just three short years, the Heavenly Yan Sect went from a backwater sect made up of three crumbling huts to a sacred land that every cultivator under heaven would kill to enter. ... One day, otherworldly demon gods invade, with a million demon soldiers pressing down upon the realm. Lin Yan, yawning, rises from his lounge chair and glances at the system panel: [Current Disciples: 1.28 million] [Daily Cultivation Increase: 1.28 million years] He waves his hand casually, and the countless demon soldiers are reduced to ashes in an instant. “So noisy… interrupting my fishing.”
