At first glance, it seemed like Chu Zhiyuan was hallucinating.
A small stone wall couldn't possibly contain so many towering peaks; it was too unreal, yet it was the most real situation.
But he knew that hallucinations were impossible with his heightened senses.
The only possibility was that the stone wall did indeed conceal vast mountains.
This inexplicably reminded him of a term: Secret Realm.
Information regarding Secret Realms and Blessed Lands was almost entirely sealed, and he had only glimpsed fragments of it in miscellaneous books within the Tongtian Pavilion and Mingwu Hall.
Originally, when Chu Qingfeng and the other five hadn't appeared on time, he had made various speculations.
The Myriad Spirit Pearl had granted him boundless deductive and interpretive abilities.
One of his conjectures was that they had discovered a Secret Realm and were drawn into it.
He learned through the Tongtian Grass that time within the Secret Realm was different.
It was possible that they felt like they were only in the Secret Realm for a short while, but a whole day had passed outside.
That's why they hadn't appeared yet.
"Secret Realm?!" Huang Shirong turned to look at him.
The two walked side by side in the moonlight, floating as if their feet weren't touching the ground.
The Grandmaster's protective Qi allowed them to interact with the ground through a foot-thick layer of Qi.
Zou Fang was like a shadow hidden within his shadow, almost impossible to notice.
In the moonlight, the two were handsome and beautiful, like a perfect couple.
The moonlight made Huang Shirong even more beautiful.
Her beautiful face was filled with surprise.
Chu Zhiyuan slowly said, "It's not impossible."
"A new Secret Realm has appeared?" Huang Shirong's eyes lit up: "If that's the case, then it's a great joy!"
A Secret Realm meant cultivation resources.
The more resources, the more the Great Jing Dynasty would benefit, and of course, the experts of the Zhenwu Division and the Four Great Sects would also be beneficiaries.
Chu Zhiyuan said, "It might be a new Secret Realm, but it might not be a new Secret Realm either.
Don't be too happy yet."
"..." Huang Shirong was puzzled.
Chu Zhiyuan smiled and said, "Maybe a Secret Realm from somewhere else ran over here."
Could that happen?
"We know too little about Secret Realms."
"Alas... it would be great if it were a new Secret Realm."
Chu Zhiyuan nodded: "Let's hope it's a new one."
The two floated back to the outer city, passed through the outer city, and then entered the inner city.
The lights were bright, like a city that never sleeps.
It was noisy and bustling, extremely lively.
It seemed like everyone in the city had come out of their houses and appeared in the streets and alleys, making it extremely lively.
Chu Zhiyuan and Huang Shirong were like fish swimming through water, agile and free.
After entering the inner city, the two separated at Phoenix Avenue.
Chu Zhiyuan went directly to the Zongzheng Division, and Huang Shirong went to the West Second Hall.
"The thirteenth and the others are all missing?"
Grand Zongzheng Chu Qingyan looked at Chu Zhiyuan in confusion, suspecting that he had misheard.
Chu Zhiyuan then recounted the situation of the day.
In complete detail, including the battle with Zhang Youling.
True disciple?
"This Zhang Youling should be a true disciple of the Jade Cauldron Sect, the future Sect Master."
Chu Qingyan said, "The Jade Cauldron Sect still has some luck.
Within a hundred years, they can always produce a genius who grows into a pillar of the Jade Cauldron Sect, thereby supporting the Jade Cauldron Sect from collapsing."
"Can he become a Grandmaster?"
Chu Qingyan nodded: "There's a great chance of becoming a Grandmaster, but not everyone can succeed.
Otherwise, the Jade Cauldron Sect would have been the number one in the world long ago, and there would be no place for us to stand!"
Chu Zhiyuan breathed a sigh of relief.
Chu Qingyan said, "You said that place is a Secret Realm?"
"This junior thinks it's very likely, but I've never seen a real Secret Realm, so a Grandmaster has to go and take a look."
"Well, you go back and guard it well.
I will report to the Emperor and send someone over."
"Yes."
Chu Zhiyuan first returned to the Qing Prince's residence and changed his clothes.
This set of clothes had been through a battle, and he always felt that the smell of blood couldn't be removed.
The smell of blood had already penetrated into the inside of the clothes and merged with the fabric, and even the vibration of Qi could not clean it.
He had heightened senses, and his senses were many times more acute than ordinary people, so he could always feel a faint smell of blood in his nose, which was very uncomfortable.
After a wash under the care of Mo Yi and the others, and changing into a clean and refreshing set of clothes, he asked Chu Yi to go to the Anguo Duke's mansion and report his safety to Xiao Ruoling before leaving.
He could foresee that Xiao Ruoling must be worried in the mansion.
Chu Yi saying a word would put her mind at ease.
Chu Yi agreed with a smile.
As expected, Li Suyue was also there, and the two went to the Anguo Duke's mansion together to report his safety.
When Chu Zhiyuan returned to the valley, the outside of the valley had already been surrounded by experts from the Zhenwu Division, including some of the experts who participated in this cleanup operation.
They all greeted Chu Zhiyuan, respectfully and enthusiastically calling him Fourth Young Master.
Chu Zhiyuan nodded in response to each of them.
When Chu Zhiyuan returned to the valley, Huang Shirong was already standing at the entrance of the valley waiting: "Are these people enough?"
Chu Zhiyuan nodded.
More than thirty experts from the Zhenwu Division, including several Grandmasters, were already enough to seal off this place.
The two started chatting.
The extermination of the Jade Cauldron Sect outside the city went smoothly.
With the concerted efforts of the experts of the Zhenwu Division and the heroes summoned by the conscription order, not a single one escaped, and they were completely wiped out.
Everyone gained a lot of merit and didn't lose any more manpower.
The experts of the Secret Shadow Sect were nowhere to be seen.
This situation was not considered abnormal.
After all, the Secret Shadow Sect and the Jade Cauldron Sect were both evil sects, and they were wary of each other.
Their cooperation was only aimed at entering the city, and they didn't see each other outside the city.
Chu Zhiyuan suddenly stopped: "The Grandmaster has arrived."
He stepped out and came to the outside of the circle surrounded by the experts of the Zhenwu Division, smiling at the purple-robed eunuch who was walking slowly: "Eunuch Huang, it's actually you."
Huang Cheng laughed and said: "Young Master, this old servant was ordered to come and take a look."
Behind him followed two middle-aged eunuchs in red robes, with solemn expressions, both of whom were Grandmaster experts.
"Eunuch Huang is indeed deeply trusted by the Imperial Grandfather," Chu Zhiyuan said with emotion: "Eunuch Huang, please come in."
"Please, Young Master!"
Huang Cheng followed Chu Zhiyuan inward with a smile, and said as he walked: "Young Master, you have displayed great power this time.
This old servant has heard the news in the palace."
Chu Zhiyuan said: "I just got rid of some vermin...Eunuch Huang, the Grandmasters are all very busy today."
"This old servant didn't pay attention to the situation of the Grandmaster's mansion," Huang Cheng said with a smile.
Chu Zhiyuan secretly shook his head.
As expected, he was a cunning old fox, not revealing any information.
It was impossible for Huang Cheng not to know what Xuanri was.
Chu Qingyan was also tight-lipped.
Chu Zhiyuan guessed that it was very likely about the Four Great Blessed Lands and the Four Great Secret Realms, whether it was similar to a monster beast tide or something, where the monster beasts would be irritable on this day and Grandmasters would need to be dispatched to guard it.
The Myriad Spirit Pearl and heightened senses combined, he felt that his guess was very close to the truth.
Arriving in front of the cliff, Huang Cheng's expression was solemn, and the smiling expression on his face disappeared, suddenly adding a bit of solemnity and gravity.
The surrounding air seemed to become viscous.
He turned his head with a serious face and said: "Quickly return to the palace and ask the Emperor to send more Grandmasters over, at least three!"
"Yes."
The two middle-aged eunuchs in red robes cupped their fists and turned to leave.
"Everyone get out of the valley!" Huang Cheng said in a low voice.
His voice was low, but it exploded in everyone's ears like a thunderclap.
Huang Shirong waved her hand, and Wen Qianqian and Xu Mengyu followed her out.
Chu Zhiyuan also waved his hand.
Except for Zou Fang, Guo Chi and the others could only withdraw as well.
In the blink of an eye, only three people were left in the valley.
Chu Zhiyuan looked at Huang Cheng.
Huang Cheng stared at the mountain wall, and said solemnly: "Young Master Yuan, you should retreat first, the farther away the better."
"Isn't it our original four Secret Realms and Blessed Lands?"
Huang Cheng stared at the mountain wall, and said solemnly: "It's the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm...once the monster beasts of this Secret Realm come out, I'm afraid..."
"Today is Xuanri, so the monster beasts will come out?"
"...Young Master knows?"
"I guessed it."
Huang Cheng said: "Xuanri is the time when the world's spiritual energy in the Secret Realm is the most concentrated and abundant, and it is also the time when many monster beasts undergo tribulation, which is very troublesome, but I didn't expect that the Dragon Mountain Secret Realm would actually..."
"Shouldn't such a situation occur?"
"...It shouldn't."
"Then isn't that a good thing?"
"The mutation of the Secret Realm is probably inappropriate."
"Does this Dragon Mountain Secret Realm have other entrances?"
"...Young Master, the entrance to the Secret Realm is a secret among secrets, this old servant doesn't know either."
"Haha..." Chu Zhiyuan smiled.
