Chapter 63: Whoever dares to touch you, I'll deal with them first!

Outside the gates of the Profound Heaven Sect.

Including Li Wudao, the ten newly appointed true disciples waited in high anticipation, having been assembled for quite some time.

Not long after, a flying boat several hundred meters wide approached from the distance, descending slowly and kicking up a considerable plume of dust.

The flying boat was a yellowish-brown color, refined from an unknown ancient wood, exuding an aura of majestic antiquity. A large banner flew from its bow, bearing the three prominent characters of the Profound Heaven Sect, fluttering in the wind with breathtaking momentum.

This was a flight treasure of the sect, propelled by spirit stones and true essence, capable of traveling hundreds of thousands of miles in a single day with astonishing speed.

Naturally, the consumption of resources was equally astronomical, starting at a minimum of tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones per journey. Only a top-tier sect possessed such a profound foundation.

Because the Myriad Flower Secret Realm was located too far away, novice disciples were unable to fly there and had to rely on this vessel for transportation.

The upper echelon of the sect attached great importance to this exploration of the secret realm, directly dispatching two peak masters to lead the team.

One of them was Du Quan, the master of Purple Cloud Peak, an elderly man past fifty years of age, with a benevolent expression, white hair, and a white beard.

As for the other, Li Wudao was not unfamiliar with him at all.

It was none other than the master of Blazing Sun Peak—Cheng Yuanliang, with whom he had previously harbored some friction.

"It's this damned bald monk again!"

Li Wudao frowned, instinctively feeling a strong aversion to this individual.

Putting aside the fact that this bald fellow had previously backed Ruan Liangcai in trying to pressure him, just his slightly sinister physiognomy and conceited temperament made Li Wudao wish to avoid any contact.

"Hmm?"

Cheng Yuanliang seemed to have sensed something, his gaze suddenly locking onto Li Wudao. His expression shifted uncertainly, as if pondering something.

After several breaths, he slowly averted his gaze.

"Could this damned bald monk be holding a grudge and plotting against me?"

A chill ran through Li Wudao's heart as he muttered inwardly.

He couldn't be blamed for thinking this way; the bald man simply didn't look like a good person.

"The hour is late. Everyone, please board the vessel."

Du Quan, the master of Purple Cloud Peak, stood at the edge of the deck and called out with a smile.

"Boom—"

Under the watchful eyes of numerous disciples, the ten true disciples boarded the flying boat one after another. The hull then vibrated, transforming into a streak of rainbow light that soared into the firmament.

Time trickled by, and the atmosphere inside the cabin gradually grew somewhat peculiar.

One faction, represented by Jiang Churan and others, sat aloofly on one side, burying themselves solely in cultivation, speaking only when absolutely necessary.

The other faction, represented by Li Wudao and his peers, gathered together, chatting animatedly with rising voices, creating a striking contrast akin to "fire and ice."

Among them, Qiu Zishi and Wang Zhao were the most enthusiastic, talking about everything without restraint and inadvertently exposing several embarrassing stories that drew waves of laughter.

Shortly after, someone brought up the topic of the secret realm, instantly capturing everyone's attention.

"Do you all know who discovered the Myriad Flower Secret Realm in the first place?"

A disciple asked in a mysterious tone.

"Wasn't it the three major sects?"

The others asked suspiciously.

"Naturally not. The first to discover it was the Venerable Reclining Thunder."

"I know of him. A thousand years ago, his name already resounded throughout the Eastern Wasteland, hailed as the undisputed strongest person beneath the Martial Emperor realm—a figure entirely capable of founding his own sect!"

One disciple said with a yearning tone and deep reverence.

"But what does Venerable Reclining Thunder have to do with the Myriad Flower Secret Realm?"

Qiu Zishi asked, puzzled.

The other disciples leaned in closely to listen, as this was also a point of confusion for them.

"Of course it's related. Legend has it that Venerable Reclining Thunder spent his twilight years in seclusion within the Myriad Flower Secret Realm, and it is highly likely that he left behind his ultimate legacy."

"So that's how it is! No wonder the secret realm only permits those under twenty-five years of age in..."

Many disciples suddenly understood, strange glints flashing in their eyes.

Right at that moment, the master of Purple Cloud Peak joined the discussion.

"Your guesses are quite accurate. The Myriad Flower Secret Realm is most likely a trial set by Venerable Reclining Thunder to select his true successor."

Du Quan stroked his white beard, speaking in a rather solemn tone:

"To my knowledge, the mental cultivation method practiced by Venerable Reclining Thunder is an unflawed Emperor-grade technique called the *Reclining Thunder Scripture*, which is fully capable of rivaling the foundational inheritance of our Profound Heaven Sect."

Emperor-grade technique...

Aside from Li Wudao and Jiang Churan, the remaining true disciples all wore shocked expressions, their eyes widened into circles.

As true disciples, they were only ever permitted to practice ordinary Heaven-grade techniques, and even top-tier Heaven-grade techniques required a sufficient amount of sect contribution points to exchange.

Above Heaven-grade techniques lay King-grade techniques.

And beyond King-grade techniques were Emperor-grade techniques!

A burning fervor ignited in the eyes of many disciples, and their breathing grew ragged.

One had to know that the gap between techniques of different tiers was vast; the higher the tier, the higher the ceiling.

Under conditions of identical aptitude, someone practicing a Heaven-grade technique would undoubtedly be no match for someone practicing a King-grade technique.

This disparity manifested not only in combat prowess but also in cultivation speed and the difficulty of breaking through boundary bottlenecks.

"The ten of you are the cream of the crop among disciples of the appropriate age, which is why the sect chose you to enter the Myriad Flower Secret Realm. This is a trial, but even more so, an opportunity. It all depends on whether you can seize it."

Du Quan said with a nostalgic smile, his eyes filled with high expectations.

"Master Peak Master, if a disciple is fortunate enough to obtain the inheritance, must it be handed over to the sect?"

Someone could not help but ask.

"The *Reclining Thunder Scripture* naturally must be turned over to the sect. As compensation, the sect will provide a King-grade technique in return. As for any other treasures, the sect will not interfere."

Du Quan explained patiently.

Faced with this answer, although the disciples held some minor grievances, it was still an acceptable outcome.

After all, an Emperor-grade technique was of monumental importance. If word leaked out, it would easily attract covetous eyes and potentially bring calamity upon the sect.

If they could secure a King-grade technique, it would still count as a massive harvest and a worthwhile trip.

"You haven't even entered the secret realm yet, and you're already losing your minds and daydreaming in broad daylight?"

Just as the disciples were letting their imaginations run wild, Qi Xingyu unceremoniously poured a basin of cold water over them.

"What do you mean by that?"

Someone looked at him with resentment.

"What do I mean... Do I really need to spell it out for you?"

Seeing the other's unconvinced expression, Qi Xingyu sneered, "With your meager strength, entering the secret realm is simply acting as cannon fodder. If you run into a tier-three ferocious beast, I'm afraid not even your bones will be left. Stop indulging in pipe dreams."

According to reports, tier-three ferocious beasts were not uncommon within the Myriad Flower Secret Realm, and a rare few could even rival grand perfection True Essence realm cultivators.

Even with his combat strength, encountering such beasts would make it difficult to contend with them, forcing him to flee in disarray.

However, such formidable beasts possessed extremely strong territorial awareness and generally stayed deep within the secret realm, making them unlikely to be encountered casually.

"You..."

That disciple gritted his teeth, wanting to retort but finding himself speechless.

His performance in the recent novice competition had indeed been mediocre, possessing only the strength of the mid True Essence realm.

"Junior Brother Peng might not make the cut, but you think you do?"

Wang Zhao curled his lip in open disdain.

"Hmph, whether this prince makes the cut or not is none of your concern! Who asked you to run your mouth?"

Qi Xingyu's expression stiffened as he frowned and rebuked.

Hearing this,

Wang Zhao glanced at him and sneered with a wide grin, "That's right, since it's none of your concern, why are you sticking your nose in? A dog meddling in a rat's business, just poking your nose where it doesn't belong—did you have too much time on your hands?"

As his voice fell, it immediately drew the support of many disciples.

Most of them were only at the early or mid True Essence realm. Qi Xingyu's remarks could be considered an offense to all of them, so naturally, they weren't about to give him any pleasant expressions.

On the spot, they retreated far to the sides, casting looks of disgust and indifference toward him.

Witnessing this scene,

Qi Xingyu's face instantly darkened, his hands clenched tightly inside his sleeves, and a pair of icy glares locked onto Wang Zhao.

"Your name is Wang Zhao, right? This prince will remember you!"

After tossing out this harsh threat, he withdrew his gaze.

Then, he sat alone in a corner, closed his eyes to rest, and said no more.

"Sigh..."

The master of Purple Cloud Peak looked at Qi Xingyu and gave a slight shake of his head.

This boy's temperament was far too impatient; focusing solely on internal strife would never do.

He silently prayed that things would smooth out after entering the secret realm and that they wouldn't engage in disputes that would mar their harmony.

As for all of this, the master of Blazing Sun Peak remained entirely indifferent, watching from the sidelines like a bystander without the slightest intention of intervening.

"Old Wang, it looks like you've caught his eye. You must be extremely cautious once we enter the secret realm."

Qiu Zishi's face revealed worry as he whispered a reminder.

During the novice competition, the strength Qi Xingyu displayed was not to be underestimated, and Qiu Zishi knew he was no match for him.

Wang Zhao nodded, his expression devoid of the slightest trace of regret.

His temperament was simply such; he could not stand such sneering and mockery, and even if it ended in bloodshed, he would still speak up for justice.

"It's fine. At worst, the two of us will stick together. Whoever dares to touch you, I'll deal with them first."

Beside them, Li Wudao smiled faintly to lighten the mood, showing no trace of anxiety.

Mere Qi Xingyu was no different from a pack of stray dogs and chickens; he was simply not worth taking seriously.

His voice was not deliberately lowered, and it traveled clearly into everyone's ears.

The various disciples wore differing expressions, shaking their heads and exchanging knowing glances, subtly gesturing for him to watch his words.

Though they loathed to admit it, Qi Xingyu's strength truly outmatched theirs, and they naturally hoped Li Wudao wouldn't follow in Wang Zhao's footsteps.

From beginning to end, Jiang Churan sat cross-legged in the corner, detached and ethereal like an outsider who cared nothing for the proceedings.

Only when Li Wudao spoke did she imperceptibly glance sideways, showing a sliver of attention.

Of course, even the young girl herself failed to notice this subconscious shift.

"Li Wudao, come over here for a moment."

She suddenly stood up, gazing quietly at the young man with eyes like clear water.

Then she turned and walked away with light steps, her white robes fluttering, her dark hair smooth and lustrous, her figure graceful and overflowing with charm.

"Oh..."

Li Wudao acknowledged her call and followed behind the young girl with a puzzled look.

Under the envious gazes of the surrounding disciples, the two of them stepped out of the cabin.

At that exact moment,

Qi Xingyu opened his reddened eyes, staring fixedly at Li Wudao's retreating back as the jealousy and murderous intent in his heart reached their absolute peak.

"Damn them! They all deserve to die..."

He swore viciously before casting a sinister glance back at Wang Zhao.

Indeed, besides Li Wudao, Wang Zhao had also landed firmly on his execution list.

And the sole reason for all of this was simply because the other party had dared to talk back to him.

"Damn it, this prince is furious! Once we enter the secret realm, let's see how I tear the two of you apart!"