noffsinger Chapter 148 Underwater Secret Realm
Chapter 148 Underwater Secret Realm
As dawn broke, after a night of sailing, the group finally entered the deep waters.
Two more hours passed, and under the blazing sun, finally, rows of lavishly decorated ships appeared in the distance.
One glance was enough to tell that only powerful clans and forces could afford those large ships. Sure enough, each ship had a different flag, representing their respective power.
Qiao Lingwei introduced, "Young Master Ye, the ships ahead are those of the Iron Fist Sect, the Flying Clouds Sect, and the Overlord Spear Sect. These three are among the most prominent sects in Poyang Lake. Our Crane Spirit Sect's ship is at the very front."
Ye Kang nodded, secretly observing the people on the boats.
Warriors dressed in various uniforms walked back and forth; some had fists as big as sandbags, some carried heavy iron spears on their backs, and others wore gorgeous clothes.
Without exception, they all wore arrogant expressions.
They watched the small boat pass by with indifference, and no one stopped it; they were clearly used to it.
After all, it's impossible for all the disciples from the major sects to be present; some will eventually return to their respective sects by small boat.
Around the large ship, there were some medium-sized ships and small boats scattered around.
The martial artists above were much more reserved, each one either masked or with their heads down, clearly from small sects, or simply independent cultivators.
Shao Ziping was right after all. Such treasure hunting events do not discriminate against independent cultivators from getting a share of the pie, as long as they are not officials of the imperial court.
After passing several large ships, the small boat finally arrived at the front.
A large ship flying a crane flag guards the four directions.
The people above were all wearing the same uniforms as He Shaoziping and his companion.
It's not that the Crane Spirit Sect is powerful, but because the Crane Spirit Sect is leading the charge this time, they are naturally in charge of the overall situation and therefore are at the forefront.
Shao Ziping cupped his hands to one of the people on the boat and said, "Uncle Mo, we've arrived. This is Young Master Ye, a rogue cultivator we met on the road."
The middle-aged swordsman, referred to as Uncle Mo, nodded and said, "Since we're friends, let's all come up together. Perfect timing, we'll start serving the main dishes soon."
Ye Kang also bowed slightly to Uncle Mo, and then flew up.
He never revealed his presence, so he didn't attract anyone's attention and was simply seen as a young master from a prominent family who came to watch the spectacle.
As long as it doesn't interfere with their treasure hunt, we'll just watch the show.
At this moment, on the large ship of the Overlord Spear Sect, a muscular and strong man shouted: "Crane Spirit Sect, we've been waiting for so long, shouldn't you tell us what's going on? The brothers followed you here, we can't just jump into the water without knowing anything, can we?"
Immediately, countless voices echoed in agreement.
"Exactly. Even though we've cooperated so many times and trust each other, you still have to tell us where the treasure is, right?"
"Stop dawdling and get to work! My iron fists are itching to get going!"
A seventh-rank expert from the Iron Fist Sect pounded his fists, producing a sound like metal striking metal, his aura surging, attracting the attention of the group of rogue cultivators.
At this moment, a short, elderly man with white hair and a youthful face walked out of the cabin of the Crane Spirit Gate with a smile.
"Please do not be anxious, everyone. If it were not for a great opportunity, why would I have personally summoned you all?"
As soon as the old man came out, the shouting immediately quieted down.
The Iron Fist Sect expert reluctantly lowered his fist, not daring to meet the old man's gaze.
Shao Ziping whispered, "Young Master Ye, this is Sect Leader Yunhe. He is a great master of the eighth rank in the middle realm."
Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Yunhe smiled and nodded at Ye Kang.
Ye Kang nodded in acknowledgment. This old man was highly skilled, yet he was quite approachable.
Sect Leader Yunhe continued, "Fellow Daoists, now that everyone is here, I will not keep you in suspense any longer. Right beneath our feet, there is a hidden vortex. I have unexpectedly discovered that passing through this vortex will lead to a strange and mysterious realm."
"what!"
Exclamations came and went.
A secret realm! This is something that can't be described simply as a treasure!
Why is the imperial court able to control the world and suppress the martial arts world? It's because the imperial court controls all the secret realms in the world.
The secret realm opportunities in the Azure Scale Treasure Vault, which can be exchanged for great merit, are just like this.
The secret realm is rich in spiritual energy, and there are countless precious plants, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.
For martial arts sects, apart from reclusive sects, obtaining a secret realm is a pipe dream.
Now that they hear there is a secret realm not controlled by the imperial court right at their feet, who wouldn't be excited?
Instantly, three equally powerful auras soared into the sky from the other three large ships.
A deep voice rang out, saying, "Old man Yunhe, are you perhaps joking with us?"
Sect Leader Yunhe smiled slightly, put his hands behind his back and said, "Brother Changlin, how could I deceive you with such a thing? To be honest, the secret realm is indeed a secret realm, but it requires our joint efforts to open. Moreover, I guess that this secret realm is a one-time event and will collapse when the time is up."
As soon as he finished speaking, a soft, melodious female voice rang out.
"Even if it's a one-time opportunity, it's still a great chance, worth our effort. In that case, why don't we make our move?"
Sect Leader Yunhe shook his head and said, "The secret realm is underwater, and it is easiest to open when the sunlight is strongest. Besides, we should first discuss the distribution."
Upon hearing this, the female voice said indifferently, "The old rules apply. Everyone can enter, and they are responsible for their own gains. Life and death are not a concern. When the teleportation time is up, no one is allowed to make a move, and no one is allowed to try to seize treasures after they come out. Anyone who violates this rule will be executed on the spot."
"agree."
"good."
The bigwigs spoke one after another, without any objection.
The rogue cultivators on the periphery all had ashen faces, and some of the more timid ones had already quietly retreated.
There's no way around it; that's just how it is for independent cultivators. Alone, they face a difficult situation in secret realms, and a slight misstep could lead to their death in the treasure-hunting frenzy.
Unlike the disciples of these sects, who form teams and look out for each other.
However, most independent cultivators still choose to stay. No matter what they can get, as long as they gain something, they are not at a loss. Opportunities are earned by themselves. How can they improve if they don't work hard?
Upon hearing this, Sect Leader Yunhe nodded and said, "Then let's follow the old rules. The sun is high in the sky now, so let's all go down together."
He laughed as he flew out, then fell straight into the water, followed by three more figures who quickly caught up.
The others then set off and dived into the water.
Ye Kang, Shao Ziping, and Qiao Lingwei went into the water together. In the blink of an eye, everyone except a few disciples who stayed behind jumped in.
Ye Kang turned around and saw several hundred people underwater, many of whom were only first-class or top-class martial artists.
He then looked down into the water, where the Cloud Crane Sect Leader and three mid-level eighth-grade experts simultaneously stirred up the silt, causing the water to rush in at an alarming speed.
Sure enough, there was a hidden underwater passage.
Sect Leader Yunhe glanced at the crowd, signaling them to follow, and then took the lead, rushing into the whirlpool of dark currents.
The rest of the people were relieved and followed.
Ye Kang found it amazing that there was such a strange existence underwater, with undercurrents connecting them. Could it be that there were two different spaces?
He wasn't in a hurry. After seeing that most people had gone inside, he went in with Shao Ziping and Qiao Lingwei.
As the suction force of the undercurrent came, Ye Kang felt a dizzying sensation, and the scene before his eyes turned into circles of water mosaic.
The dizziness lasted for about ten breaths before it disappeared. When I looked again, I found myself in an underwater cave.
The cave is vast, surrounded by jagged rocks, and glowing plants sway with the water flow.
At the very back of the cave, an ancient bronze wall is embedded in the cave wall.
The bronze walls are engraved with strange patterns and many ferocious beasts, with a pair of bronze rings engraved in the very center.
It's not easy to talk underwater, so Sect Leader Yunhe gestured, and the other three immediately understood, raising their hands and channeling their true energy into the wall.
Instantly, the bronze wall shone brightly, and the faces of the four powerful figures visibly paled. They poured in an unknown amount of true energy, and the pair of carved bronze rings mysteriously transformed into real bronze rings, which then floated up.
Then the copper ring was pulled open, and a terrifying suction force swept over.
Before Ye Kang could react, everything went white and he vanished from his spot. The cave was empty; they had all been teleported away at the same time!
"Woqu!"
Ye Kang exclaimed in surprise. The next second, he opened his eyes and found himself in a brand new space.
There was no one around, only swamps and mangroves as far as the eye could see. The sun and moon were not visible in the sky, yet there was light. A thick fog filled the air, accompanied by eerie wind sounds.
"Wow! This really is teleportation!"
Ye Kang was immediately shocked, but fortunately, he had the Shadow Step technique before him, so his surprise was only fleeting.
He moved forward a few steps and found nothing unusual. Moreover, this was not underwater, but a swamp ecosystem, like a paradise, which was truly amazing.
"The secret realms controlled by the Great Jin Dynasty are probably the same. I wonder where so many secret realms came from. Oh well, since we're here, let's make the best of it and focus on finding treasures."
Ye Kang stopped thinking and opened all five senses, extending his aura to instantly take in everything around him.
Then, a strange figure came into his view. He turned his head and saw a huge spider, half the height of a person, suddenly droop down and shoot a string of spider silk at him.
Whoosh!
The Hundred Flowers Sword Qi pierced through, cutting the spider silk and penetrating the spider's head at the same time.
"It's actually a demon beast that hasn't reached the Innate Realm yet."
Ye Kang immediately understood that this place was a place where opportunities and risks coexisted.
This also reminded him that the stronger the monsters, the more treasures there would be.
A smirk appeared on his lips as he carefully sensed the aura. Wisps of demonic energy seeped in, and in a moment, he headed towards the direction where the demonic energy was strongest.
……
at the same time.
In a mangrove forest, two martial artists were glaring at each other, swords drawn.
A swordsman roared, "Boy! I discovered this Split-Petal Crimson Flower first, do you dare to lay a hand on me!"
The other person was very young and arrogantly said, "Open your dog eyes! I'm wearing Iron Fist Sect uniforms. What I want is what Iron Fist Sect wants. You disagree?"
Upon hearing this, the swordsman gritted his teeth and said, "Don't push your luck. The secret realm is randomly teleported, and there are no Iron Fist Sect members with you."
"What do you mean? You dare to kill me?"
"you are right!"
Enraged, the swordsman swung his blade at the enemy, but the other man, undaunted, met the blade head-on with his own fists, showing no fear whatsoever.
The two were locked in fierce combat when a handsome man with long, disheveled hair and a stubble beard walked over and sent both of them flying with a single punch.
It was Ye Kang, but he had already used the Spirit Butterfly Thousand Illusion Body to transform into Wang Yintai's appearance.
The Spirit Butterfly Thousand Illusions stored two appearances, so it naturally used them in rotation. Using Mr. Kang's face all the time would easily expose its true nature.
The two men were sent flying, but dared not utter a word; they could only glare fiercely at Ye Kang.
The Iron Fist Sect disciple said, "Who are you! I am from the Iron Fist Sect!"
Ye Kang flicked his hair with one hand, mimicking Wang Yintai's carefree manner, and said, "I have never been fond of fighting, and I prefer to resolve conflicts. You two should stop fighting and leave quickly. This place's precious plants are mine now."
As he spoke, he didn't even look at the other person, but instead looked down at the two red flowers at his feet, inadvertently revealing the aura of a fifth-grade innate being, making the two people dare not speak out in anger.
There was nothing they could do; they were only two third-rank officials, how could they dare to make a move?
In the end, the rogue cultivator with the knife left helplessly.
The Iron Fist Sect disciple gritted his teeth and said, "Fine, here's the stuff, but I'll remember you."
With that, he quickly left and disappeared into the thick fog.
Ye Kang didn't care, nor was he afraid that Ye Kang would remember it.
You remember Wang Yintai, what does that have to do with me, Ye Kang?
Killing him wouldn't yield any enlightenment, so let him go.
On the contrary, the two flowers on the ground are quite interesting.
"The petal-shaped red chrysanthemum is a common precious plant that grows in shady places. Its function is to refine elixirs, but it is useless to the physical body."
Ye Kang recalled a book he had read before, which contained a detailed record of this precious plant.
In the past, this kind of precious plant that couldn't be tempered wouldn't have attracted him at all, but now it's different.
He stretched out his hand, activating the demonic power "Snake Shedding," and a powerful suction force acted on the two red flowers. Instantly, the spiritual energy of the precious plants was completely absorbed, turning into a small piece of cloth from the Snake Shedding Immortal Robe.
The two variegated crape myrtle plants withered quickly, showing no signs of life.
"What a wonderful place! Although the concentration of spiritual energy here is only about 15% higher than outside, we've found two precious plants so quickly. We've really struck gold!"
Ye Kang chuckled and continued heading towards the direction where the demonic energy was most concentrated.
That's right, he was just passing by and happened to witness two unlucky guys fighting.
There was nothing he could do; Ye Kang was fond of fighting, so he had no choice but to lend a hand.
Continuing forward, Ye Kang killed several more ignorant little demon beasts. Their cultivation levels were not high, and he gained more than ten points of comprehension.
The demons in the secret realm couldn't have eaten humans, so the demon furnace was useless, and Ye Kang had no interest in chasing after these little demons.
If we're going to fight, let's fight the big ones!
Soon, the big one arrived.
Following the direction where the demonic energy was strongest, Ye Kang finally found a large swamp, where a heavily armored alligator turtle, as heavy as five elephants, was squatting in the mud.
Its shell was hard, with sharp edges, and its demonic aura was so strong that it was equivalent to a sixth-grade innate level!
Unfortunately, a martial artist had already spotted the place first, and she was a spirited young woman carrying a large iron spear.
The young girl, despite her young age, had already reached the sixth rank of the initial realm. She held a large spear in her hand, her high ponytail swaying back and forth, and her eyes were filled with determination.
Upon seeing Ye Kang arrive, the girl was slightly surprised and suspicious, then coldly snorted, "Get out of my way! This prey is mine, don't try to take it from me!"