"Wait, what's inside the Free Secret Realm?"
Although Chen Bugu's description suggested the Free Secret Realm was almost a zero-risk, high-reward attempt, Bai Ting was accustomed to caution and still wanted to know the specifics.
"I don't know either, but it should generally be a fictional illusion; otherwise, its return to reality after death cannot be explained."
Chen Bugu shook his head; although the Free Secret Realm was very famous, it was always a rare encounter.
In his previous life, at a large auction in a certain city, Chen Bugu witnessed a "trigger stone" being sold for the high price of five "Lord-level" Beast Cores.
It was also at that auction that Chen Bugu learned about the Free Secret Realm.
However, he was not clear about the specific contents of the Secret Realm.
From rumors, those who had entered the Free Secret Realm seemed to describe their experiences vastly differently, so no one could be sure what they would encounter inside.
Perhaps some landed directly in a dragon's treasure trove, then filled their storage rings with endless Beast Cores and items, contentedly committing suicide to leave; others might have been swept into a gale, waking up in an endless desert, ultimately gaining nothing before dying and returning...
In short, aside from not truly dying, the Free Secret Realm was full of unknowns, and it was precisely this point that attracted Awakeneds of all races.
After all, unless one was truly unlucky beyond measure, a normal person would not gain absolutely nothing.
"Understood. Should we wait for Wang Bin and Lin Lin?"
"Lin Lin's insect poison on her leg can't be removed that quickly, and we can't leave her alone in the camp. Therefore, I suggest we enter the Secret Realm first, and we can bring them both later if there's an opportunity."
"That's true. In that case, let's prepare to go in."
As Bai Ting spoke, he took out several recovery pills from his ring and distributed them to Yan Kuan and the others.
Their experience in the Muka Tribe's Secret Realm made them realize that after entering a Secret Realm, they could very well be separated. In such a situation, it was always good to be more prepared.
Chen Bugu then noticed that apart from Bai Ting, who had a white storage ring, the others did not yet have one.
Storage rings were no longer rare at this stage; some excellent craftsmen were capable of making them, and they were sold in camps or cities.
"None of you have storage rings? I saw some for sale in the camp's breeding grounds. A white-grade storage ring should only be worth a few Beast Crystals," Chen Bugu asked, somewhat confused.
"We only exchanged for two, one for Bai Ting and one for Lin Lin. Anyway, we don't really need them for team activities, so we save what we can. Most of our Beast Crystals were exchanged for pills and strength enhancements, because back then we thought you were trapped in the Starting Forest, so we were all saving money. Who knew your luck would be so heaven-defying, actually encountering a big shot who imparted cultivation? It's unfair!"
Yan Kuan shook his head, looking heartbroken.
Chen Bugu's heart warmed upon hearing this, and he then chuckled.
"Looks like Kuan Ge is hinting at me here. Understood, understood. Take them."
Chen Bugu casually tossed two items, one to Yan Kuan and one to Lin Xiaoxiao.
They caught them and realized they were green-grade storage rings.
"One is Alek's, and one is Dongcheng Xiuwu's. I've taken the things inside; the rings are for you."
As Chen Bugu spoke, he also took out many recovery medicines, Burning Body Pills, and other explosive drugs, as well as a small amount of reserve food from his own ring, and distributed them to the others.
"Ba Dou, for your storage ring, I'll get you one when we get back."
Ba Dou didn't mind, merely nodding slightly.
"Bai Ting, are your injuries alright?"
"Those that could be recovered with pills have mostly recovered. Those that can't will have to trouble Lin Lin when we get back, but there's one more thing."
"What is it?"
"I also want a green-grade storage ring..." Bai Ting said expressionlessly, his tone firm.
"..."
"No problem, I'll get you one in the city then."
"Alright, is everyone else ready? Then let's begin!"
After confirming that everyone else was prepared, Chen Bugu turned around and was the first to step into the mysterious black mist.
As he stepped into the black mist, he felt as if he had truly walked into a dark, foggy night. The environment was pitch black yet hazy, making it impossible to see his surroundings.
Turning his head, the original entrance had vanished, and Bai Ting and the others were not behind him.
Chen Bugu shouted, but found that his voice seemed to be swallowed by the surrounding darkness as soon as it was uttered, so much so that he himself could not hear it.
After several attempts, he had no choice but to continue forward.
After walking for a few minutes in the black mist, Chen Bugu felt his head growing increasingly heavy. Immediately after, he felt as if the black mist before him had dispersed, but beneath the mist, there was only complete and utter darkness.
Chen Bugu's consciousness seemed to blur, and he could see nothing in the darkness.
After a while longer, Chen Bugu seemed to smell a strange odor. The smell was pungent but also very familiar, like the scent of garlic.
Immediately after, a cacophony of sounds reached his ears: footsteps, the roar of something exploding, and faint cries for help from an unknown source.
Finally, Chen Bugu perceived temperature. The surrounding air temperature seemed to rise rapidly, the air becoming scorching hot, and the darkness before him gradually turned crimson from the heat.
Immediately after, flames ignited in the crimson area, spreading rapidly, peeling away layers of darkness.
When Chen Bugu regained his senses, he found that the scene before him had already changed.
What greeted his eyes was a narrow space.
This space was less than two meters wide, with a total of six berths distributed on the left and right sides, upper, middle, and lower. On the head side was a large window.
Chen Bugu lay on the ground, stunned for a moment.
Then, suppressing the dizziness, he immediately sat up.
He was actually inside a train car!
The structure here was clearly that of a second-class hard sleeper compartment.
What's going on?
Before Chen Bugu could figure out what had happened, he suddenly noticed that the glass window behind him was already shattered, and fire snakes were spewing out, frantically encroaching into the compartment.
The two uppermost berths were already ignited by the flames, their pillows and duvet covers becoming the best fuel, carrying the fire to spread throughout this space.
At the same time, violent roars continuously came from outside the train window.
After each roar, the ground seemed to tremble, and some of the glass fragments remaining on the window frame would shake loose.
Chen Bugu couldn't comprehend what was happening before him, but the scorching sensation of the flames truly stung his skin.
The fire element in this area was incredibly abundant, even reaching a violent degree.
Chen Bugu instinctively spread his hands, producing black water droplets. Immediately after, black Rin Water rose from thin air, and the temperature in the air rapidly dropped.
The black Rin Water froze the encroaching flames and repaired the broken train window, making the entire compartment surprisingly "cold" and quiet.
Having done all this, Chen Bugu, suppressing his dizziness, struggled to walk out of the compartment.
The second-class hard sleeper compartment had no door. As soon as he stepped out, he could see that the entire corridor was engulfed in fierce flames, a scene of devastation with broken glass and debris scattered everywhere.
Chen Bugu noticed that there seemed to be no one in the train car he was in, but faint cries for help could vaguely be heard from the train car behind him.
The air was still filled with a strong garlic smell, which helped Chen Bugu clear his head considerably.
He turned around and hurried towards the other train car.
However, as he passed the junction between the two train cars, Chen Bugu suddenly stopped. His pupils abruptly dilated, and he instantly became completely clear-headed at that moment.
He turned his head and looked at the restroom at the train car junction.
Through the already damaged door, from that narrow space, Chen Bugu's peripheral vision caught sight of a corpse.
The corpse sat lifelessly on the ground, leaning against the restroom wall, its chest pierced by a flaming dagger, glowing red-hot.
From its pale lips, blood dripped, drop by drop.
"Drip, drop, drip..."
Chen Bugu's mind went blank.
Simply because that corpse was himself...