Shi Lang took out his knife and began to clean all the precious material from the corpse of the dragon snake—the scales, tendons, and bones. Like Raksha wanted the spinal cord forged as a sheath, I was thinking about it. The beast’s scales were strong, and the young man used them as custom armor. One scale would protect his chest and another for the back.
The terran finished cleaning up, and it was already night. He rushed back to the defense line and found that everyone was gathered on the spot and seemed to be waiting for him.
Bo Qingtan stood up and approached Shi Lang. The former embraced Shi Lang and said, “Thank you for saving us, Brother Shi Lang. We owe you one.”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “You are overreading the situation, Brother Bo. I did what a fellow warrior should do for the other when they face dangers.” 𝑜𝓋𝓵xt.𝚌𝑶𝓂
The disciples greeted Shi Lang, and everything seemed good, but the terran found that twenty disciples still passed away in the beast tide. The terran shook his head and heard the people reminiscing about them.
He sighed and shook his head. Bo Qingtan asked, “What is it, Brother Shi Lang?”
The terran was leaning against the deck wall and gazing at the dimly lit city below. He said, “I do not know. Death of a comrade is unsettling to me.”
Bo Qingtan nodded and asked, using his spiritual energy, and said, “Is it because you lost someone in the lower realms?”
Shi Lang was surprised, and the young man said, “The grand elder told me.”
The Terran nodded and continued, “I never lost anyone on my watch. I do not want to sound arrogant, but that is true.”
Bo Qingtan was surprised and asked, “I cannot relate. I have often lost many people.”
Shi Lang nodded faintly and said, “Do you know anything about the secret realm?”
Bo Qingtan shook his head and said, “I have only heard about it in the scrolls. They say that the place is accessible only once in fifty years.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Hmmm, fair enough.”
The young man sighed and said, “Guess I will just have to wait to find out.”
Bo Qingtan nodded with a smile. The two talked about the differences between the lower and immortal realms. Shi Lang found out that his world was not the only lower plane. There were multiple lower realms.
Shi Lang smiled and remarked, “If the people from my world learned this, they would go mad. For centuries they have been trying to prove the existence of different worlds with similarities to ours. However, they are not within the same dimension.”
Bo Qingtan commented, “Your people sound wise.”
Shi Lang chuckled and replied, “Misconceptions can be deadly, brother.”
Bo Qingtan chuckled along and said, “I still have some lingering fatigue, so I will go and rest.”
Shi Lang agreed. He also wanted to consolidate the foundation of his new realm a bit more. He sat in the lotus position and began to cultivate. The sword in his dantian was akin to a big needle, but if he invoked the power in this spiritual weapon, he would easily deal with an Immortal King-level cultivator.
…
In half a day, the spirit vessel traveling at full speed reached the Dragon Sword Sect. Long Shan took Shi Lang to the peak of the sect where the sect leader lived. Shi Lang followed behind calmly.
Lei Wang seemed to be waiting for the two of them. Shi Lang greeted the senior, and the Sect Leader said, “Xiao Lang, forgive me for not maintaining order in the sect for a long time. The people have grown complacent. They caused you great discomfort.”
Shi Lang shook his head and said, “Only when the strength is tested can a person know what they lack. I do not mind what they did. Please do not worry, Senior.”
Lei Wang nodded solemnly and asked, “Can we do anything to make it up to you?”
The terran took some material from the dragon snake corpse and said, “Senior, please accept these materials to make a sheath and armor for me from the bones and the scales.”
The two Elders glanced, and the Sect Leader said, “This will be done. Now for the reward you deserve from winning the competition, tomorrow morning, you can enter the secret realm with Bo Qingtan and the prime core disciple of the Snow Maiden Peak.”
Shi Lang was confused, and the Sect Leader continued, “The Sect Master of the Snow Maiden Peak has come forward in person and wishes to give her one of the three quotas to enter the secret realm. She said that Yun Xue intends to head to the central plain and challenge the Heavenly Warrior List.”
Shi Lang recalled that Tian Long also said something like this to him. The sect master nodded and said, “Yes, you thought right. The secret realm is dangerous, but it will allow the people a great amount of experience, and once you survive it, you will become strong enough to reach a position on the heavenly list.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “Senior, what is the purpose of the Heavenly Warrior List?”
Lei Wang replied, “The Tianxu Pavilion makes the list. The people on this list enjoy great prestige and are also recruited by the members of prestigious forces to counter the demon cultivators.”
Shi Lang nodded and asked, “No wonder Old Tian wants me to join his dragon army. Well, anyhow, senior, thank you for your guidance.”
Long Shan said, “You should come to the elder hall in the morning. We will leave at dawn. Okay?”
Shi Lang paid his respects and left the place. Lei Wang asked, “What do you think of this kid?”
Long Shan stroked his beard and said, “This kid is unfathomable.”
Lei Wang raised his brows and asked, “Why do you say that?”
The old man sighed and replied, “You did not see him fight with Immortal Sovereign Tian Long. The ferocious actions, the courage, everything was above his peer. Even if Bo Qintang were to face Senior Tian Long, he would lose.”
Lei Wang was shocked at this, and he did not expect this boy to have fought against an Immortal Sovereign. He said, “Seeing him climb two realms of immortal cultivation in two months is shocking. To think he can get past the barrier of realms and fight Senior Tian.”
Long Shan went on to tell the sect leader about what Shi Lang faced when he was in the lower realm. He did not disclose that Shi Lang possessed a heavenly spiritual weapon. Tian Long had instructed him specifically to keep these things under wraps.
The people discussed things, and the sun came up in the sky. Lei Wang sighed and said, “Let us hope these guys return safely. The youth is the future of the immortal army. If not for them, the demons would have taken over the plain and created chaos.”
Long Shan nodded and replied, “Xiao Wang, do not think too much. Times are changing. The youngsters know what to do and what not to do.”
That said, the two people made their way to the elder hall. They found Shi Lang standing there with Bo Qingtan and Yun Xue. The three of them were not talking but gazing at the horizon silently.
Lei Wang said, “Come along, it is time.”
The three of them greeted them and walked behind them. They circumnavigated the elder hall and came behind it. Shi Lang frowned, and so did the other two. Long Shan said, “You have entered a formation, do not worry. Before you go to the secret realm. I want to tell you there is a chance that you might come across other geniuses. This secret realm has seven gates. The world knows about six of them.
Anyone below the realm of an Immortal King can enter inside. For safety reasons, cover your faces and change your names if you meet people. If the world knew that the eastern barren has an entrance to this portal, they would not stop to get it under their control at any cost.”
The three people nodded, and Lei Wang said, “You three will stay together and help each other. If you find an opportunity that could endanger the life of your comrades, give up. You will find better opportunities. Understood?”
The three people nodded and exchanged glances. Lei Wang took out a jade medallion from his space ring and stuck it on the stone monolith on the side.
The space shook, and a portal appeared in the void. Long Shan said, “Hold each other’s hand and do not use any spiritual sense until you have reached this void tunnel’s end. Go quick. This portal will open after thirty days and will bring you out.”
Shi Lang was standing in the middle; he did not give the other two any chance and held their hands before he yanked them forward and jumped inside the portal.
