The Cangyun Secret Realm was a matter of grave importance; no one wanted to ruin the grand plan due to a slight oversight.
Gu Changge watched everyone bustling about, getting ready to make their move, and a faint smile touched the corners of his lips.
He gently raised a fingertip without any superfluous movements, yet the void surrounding the forbidden ground suddenly rippled with fine, shimmering spiritual light.
Those spiritual lights flowed rapidly along the veins of the stone peaks in the forbidden ground, instantly coalescing into a semi-transparent screen of array patterns.
The runes on the light screen were as dense as woven fabric, faintly exuding a rhythm that resonated with heaven and earth. They firmly locked in the aura of the forbidden ground, not allowing a single trace of spiritual energy to leak out.
What was even more shocking was that as soon as this array appeared, the surrounding space seemed to solidify. Not even the divine sense of a Quasi-Saint could penetrate it in the slightest.
No one knew that this seemingly temporary array was actually the sect's Emperor-grade guardian array, the Cosmic Starry Sky Array, which Gu Changge had laid down many years ago.
The array bases had long been buried deep within the earth veins of the seven main peaks, acting like an indestructible steel fortress rooted deep in the earth.
And what maintained the operation of this array were ten Emperor-grade spiritual veins acting as its core.
Emperor-grade spiritual veins were the rarest existences in the world; their preciousness was beyond imagination.
In this world, even the most renowned Sacred Grounds would find it difficult to possess a single Emperor-grade spiritual vein.
The majestic spiritual energy they contained was like an endless ocean, inexhaustible and boundless.
With ten Emperor-grade spiritual veins powering the Cosmic Starry Sky Array, even if a Great Emperor came in person and attacked with full force, they would hardly be able to breach it in the slightest.
Normally, this array remained hidden in the void like a dormant dragon, not revealing a hint of its aura. Only when it sensed danger to the sect would it awaken like an ancient behemoth, unleashing its world-shocking power to protect the sect's safety.
This is...
The First Patriarch's movements to gather spiritual energy suddenly halted, and a shocking light erupted from the depths of his cloudy eyes.
Having lived for over a thousand years, he had seen countless arrays, but he had never witnessed such an exquisite barrier.
To be able to seal the forbidden ground's aura so tightly just by relying on the array's own rhythm, this level of mastery was at least that of a Saint-grade array!
Xuanyangzi's eyes widened even further. He pointed at the light screen, his voice trembling: Junior Brother Changge! D-Did you set this up?
It is just a grand array I casually set up before. It can stabilize the aura of the forbidden ground, saving us from any mishaps when establishing the secret realm.
These words fell upon everyone's ears, but they set off a stormy sea in their hearts.
The Fourth Patriarch's hands, which were holding the Marrow Cleansing Pills, trembled, and the pills almost rolled onto the ground. He looked at Gu Changge in disbelief.
Casually set up? Changge, do you have any idea that an array capable of sealing the forbidden ground's aura so tightly would consume at least several hundred years' worth of spiritual material reserves?!
The Fifth Patriarch was so excited that he repeatedly stomped his feet; his hair, which still had traces of black, trembled slightly from shock.
With such an array in place, let alone leaking the secret realm's aura, even if scouts approached the forbidden ground, they wouldn't be able to detect the slightest movement!
Gu Changge looked at their shocked expressions, his tone remaining flat. It is just to be on the safe side. There is no need to make a fuss.
He turned to the First Patriarch, pointing a finger deep into the forbidden ground. There is no need to worry about the array. We can start setting up the secret realm now.
The First Patriarch took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart, and offered a deep bow to Gu Changge.
Changge, your thorough consideration is truly admirable! With this array backing us up, we have nothing to worry about while setting up the secret realm!
Seeing everyone rubbing their hands together in eagerness yet not knowing where to start, Gu Changge's smile deepened. He reached out and took the bronze token from the First Patriarch's hands.
Setting up the secret realm involves connecting spiritual veins and overlapping spaces. The slightest carelessness could trigger spatial turbulence. Better leave it to me.
Before his words even faded, a wisp of pale gold spiritual energy gathered at his fingertip, and he gently tapped the center of the four characters Cangyun Secret Realm on the token.
The seal script instantly lit up with a brilliant golden light. Layers of spatial ripples spread around the token, and the phantom image of the secret realm rapidly expanded above the stone peaks.
Floating stone peaks wreathed in clouds and mist, bubbling spiritual springs, and ancient cave dwellings hidden among the forests, the details grew increasingly clear. Even the spiritual energy in the air became as thick as honey, as if one could touch the vegetation of the secret realm just by reaching out.
Gu Changge suddenly waved his hands outward. The token turned into a streak of light and shot straight into the void of the forbidden ground. At the same time, he softly shouted, Secret Realm, take your place and hide!
In an instant, violent fluctuations of spiritual energy rippled through the void. The phantom of the secret realm precisely connected with the spiritual veins of the forbidden ground. Three invisible barriers spread out like water ripples, clearly dividing the secret realm into Inner, Middle, and Outer domains.
In a dimension invisible to the crowd, the array patterns of the Cosmic Starry Sky Array completely interlocked with the secret realm's barriers, forming a double layer of protection.
Immediately after, the entire secret realm slowly faded away as if swallowed by the void, until even the last trace of spiritual light completely vanished.
If it were not for the dense spiritual energy lingering in the air of the forbidden ground, and if everyone had not personally witnessed the phantom of the secret realm, perhaps no one would have believed that this seemingly empty void hid an innate secret realm capable of driving the entire Xuanhuang Continent mad.
The First Patriarch tremblingly reached his hand into the void. His fingertips touched nothing but cold air, and the shock in his eyes practically overflowed.
I-Is it already set up? It didn't leave a single trace! Changge's methods are truly miraculous!
Gu Changge retracted his hand and handed the bronze token back to the First Patriarch, his tone still placid.
The secret realm has completely overlapped with the void of the forbidden ground and remains hidden. Unless one holds an exclusive token, even if a Saint Realm cultivator came, they wouldn't be able to find the slightest trace.
He tapped the void with his fingertip, and several bronze tokens appeared.
These bronze tokens have been bound to the auras of the Patriarchs and the Sect Master. From now on, you simply need to inject spiritual energy, and a golden portal of light will manifest in the void. Only you can enter and exit freely. Even if someone else obtained the token, they wouldn't be able to open it without your aura.
The First Patriarch hurriedly took the token and tried injecting a sliver of spiritual energy.
Sure enough, a golden portal about ten feet high rippled into existence in the void before him. Behind the door, a floating Dao Enlightenment Platform and swirling innate Dao rhythm were faintly visible.
Overjoyed, he withdrew his spiritual energy. The portal of light vanished without a trace instantly, and even the air returned to its calm state.
Wonderful! Truly wonderful! The First Patriarch clapped his hands in praise, his eyes full of admiration as he looked at Gu Changge.
Additionally, when disciples arrive at the entrance of the secret realm, they will first pass through a Heart Clearing Array. This array tests a disciple's character. If they harbor malicious intent or are reckless and prone to anger, the array will automatically block them. It absolutely will not allow those with wicked intentions to enter the secret realm.
The First Patriarch, holding the bronze token, offered another deep bow to Gu Changge.
Changge, you have exhausted yourself for the sect to such an extent. On behalf of the entire Qingxuan Sect, I thank you! With this secret realm, this protection, and these rules, the future of our Qingxuan Sect is destined to be bright!
Everyone chimed in to agree. The atmosphere on the stone peak was as lively as a festival, and everyone's face was filled with longing for the future.
Gu Changge looked at the scene before him, his fingertip quietly withdrawing the last lingering wisp of the array's energy.
The Emperor-level guardian array, the Cosmic Star Array, continued to operate silently, firmly sheltering the sect and the secret realm within. However, he still had no intention of revealing this absolute security just yet, treating it instead as a hidden trump card reserved for the Qingxuan Sect.
Gu Changge thought to himself: Sect Master, Patriarchs, I will hold off on telling you the true power of the grand array for now. I am afraid it might go to your heads...
"What are we waiting for? Let's hurry inside and take a look!"
At that moment, Xuanyangzi's voice rang out...

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.”

m back to his original world. In the end, he realized he had overthought things. [Hey, why is Shen Manni, the female lead, acting strange? Shouldn't she be fawning over the male lead at this point?] [Zhou Qiaoqiao, are you sick? Weren't you supposed to break off your engagement today?] [Damn it! An Youyi, please do your job as an undercover agent and sell my information to the protagonist, you idiot!] ... At this moment, Xu Mo himself didn't know that these female leads had already heard his inner thoughts. Then they decided not to play by the rules. Xu Mo: Please respect my profession as the big villain!

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."

e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.