#2150 - Secret Mountain

As dusk approached, the sun began to set.

A vast lake appeared at the end of their vision.

This lake was situated at a relatively high altitude, stretching out as far as the eye could see.

Under the twilight, the entire lake shimmered with golden-red light, making it exceptionally beautiful.

Numerous islands dotted the lake, resembling large ships floating on the water from a distance.

Twilight Lake was rich in aquatic life, and its islands were abundant in resources such as sacred herbs and divine medicines.

Historically, many individuals had crossed the lake to gather herbs, fruits, and other resources from these islands.

However, all those who landed on the islands traveled in groups; lone travelers were rarely seen.

Twilight Lake was beautiful, but beneath its alluring exterior lurked hidden dangers.

To this day, no one knows what powerful creatures lie dormant within the lake.

Sometimes, one might encounter beings at the Celestial God Realm or the God Lord Realm.

However, there have also been instances of encountering beings at the God King Realm, or even powerful beings at the Ancestral God level!

Entering Twilight Lake was all about luck and fate.

It was said that some adventurers who landed on the islands had heard singing from the lake, its voice beautiful and captivating, causing listeners to become mesmerized and unable to extricate themselves.

Whenever the singing began, many would become completely lost in the melody, unknowingly walking into the lake and disappearing forever.

Others claimed to have seen beautiful women bathing in the lake at sunset, dancing gracefully in the water and singing ancient, moving ballads.

People say that mermaids live in Twilight Lake, and they are known as Twilight Mermaids.

The major forces in the cultivation world, however, suspect that they are not mermaids but an ancient bloodline race: the Jiao people.

The Jiao people are naturally endowed with extremely beautiful appearances and heavenly voices.

Their songs are captivating, possessing a bewitching power that can seize one's soul.

According to the legends of the Jiao people, they do not readily display their singing voices.

Usually, when encountering other races, if the Jiao people's bloodline senses malicious intent, they will begin to sing ancient ballads.

And their songs possess unique effects.

Those without malice in their hearts will only hear heavenly music, a form of enjoyment, and will not lose their minds.

But it is different for those with malice in their hearts; after hearing the song, the negative desires within their hearts will be infinitely amplified, causing them to lose themselves and be bewitched by the song.

"So beautiful..."

Linglong gazed at the distant lake, its shimmering surface breathtakingly beautiful under the twilight.

She felt an urge to swim freely in the lake, to embrace its clear waters.

"Indeed, it is beautiful."

"Although I have been to this area before, I only passed through, catching a fleeting glimpse, never having admired its beauty from such a close distance."

Jun Wuxie could not help but exclaim in admiration.

The entire lake appeared like a golden-red crystal rippling with gentle waves.

"There is a special place within the lake that even blocks my divine sense, preventing me from exploring it.

I also sensed the aura of the Supreme God Realm within it.

This Twilight Lake is not simple," said Little Boundary Tree softly.

Among the four of them, Little Boundary Tree possessed the strongest primordial spirit and the highest realm.

She was originally an Emperor Realm expert.

Even though her realm has not fully recovered to its peak, it has recovered by more than half.

Jun Wuxie paused slightly, "In that case, the Jiao people are not native to the God-Ancient World but come from a higher world.

Their race should have suffered a devastating disaster in the past; otherwise, they would not have come to the God-Ancient World to take root.

The special place you mentioned should be the means left behind by the ancestors or ancient ancestors of the Jiao people.

Being able to sense the Supreme God Realm means that there should also be Jiao powerhouses above the Supreme God Realm within that special place.

Throughout the ages, the Jiao people have been mysterious and unpredictable, never leaving Twilight Lake. Apart from punishing those who enter the lake with malice in their hearts, they have not engaged in any conflicts with the outside world."

After standing for a moment, they turned and left.

Not far from Twilight Lake was a vast canyon.

This canyon was Twilight Canyon.

Twilight Canyon did not immediately appear as a canyon at first glance.

It existed between two large mountain ranges.

There was a wide distance between the mountain ranges.

A winding river flowed out from within, merging into Twilight Lake.

They followed the river, entering Twilight Canyon.

Inside, there were wide open spaces, as well as towering peaks and strange ridges shrouded in clouds and mist.

After walking for some time, a towering mountain came into view.

At dusk, one-third of the mountain shimmered with golden light under the twilight, making it exceptionally beautiful.

That mountain was the location of the entrance to the Twilight Secret Realm, named Secret Realm Mountain.

Halfway up Secret Realm Mountain, there was a large open space that could be seen clearly even though the mountain surface was covered with dense vegetation.

Because deep within the open space halfway up the mountain was a huge gate of light, flowing with water-like energy.

Near the gate of light stood a hundred-zhang-tall ancient stele made of green stone.

The edges of the stele were engraved with divine patterns, each strand of which flowed with divine light.

That was the Twilight Secret Realm Glory Stele.

The Twilight Secret Realm opened once every ten thousand years.

All those who showed outstanding potential during the testing phase would have their names recorded on the Twilight Glory Stele.

After entering the secret realm, those whose names were left on the stele, if they competed or fought with each other, the names on the Glory Stele would be ranked according to their performance within the secret realm, increasing or decreasing their glory weight.

This was to allow those outside the secret realm to intuitively understand which of the geniuses entering the secret realm were more outstanding, and to bestow glory upon them.

Jun Wuxie and his group of four arrived at the foot of Secret Realm Mountain and walked up the mountain along the ancient steps.

The steps were very wide, as wide as several tens of meters, with either ancient forests or jagged rocks on both sides. As they ascended, the steepness of the mountain, its towering presence, and its majestic aura were revealed.

When they arrived halfway up the mountain, stepping onto that wide open space and seeing the entrance to the Secret Realm Valley,

pairs of eyes instantly looked over.

Many people had already gathered here, several hundred of them, divided into different small groups, obviously from different forces.

Everyone sized up Jun Wuxie and his group of four.

Judging from their temperament, they were quite extraordinary, but their faces were very unfamiliar.

No one remembered any of the top-ranked forces having such figures.

Moreover, they had come alone, without the elders of their sect or family accompanying them.

"Are they outsiders?"

The crowd in the distance revealed strange expressions.

Since ancient times, there have not been many outsiders participating in the Twilight Secret Realm; it was extremely rare.

Firstly, the forces of other states would not be able to quickly learn the precise time of the Twilight Secret Realm's opening.

Secondly, after all, it was the Twilight State's secret realm, and to avoid unnecessary conflicts, people from other states would not allow their geniuses to participate.

Of course, the Twilight Secret Realm did not prohibit people from other states from participating.

It was just that the forces of other states had reached a tacit agreement not to easily participate.

Lest, when a similar secret realm was born in their own state, the forces of other states would also come to snatch the opportunity.

The Twilight Secret Realm was a legacy secret realm of Twilight State. From ancient times to the present, it had always opened approximately once every ten thousand years.

Many states had such secret realms, and the forces of each state tacitly regarded such secret realms as exclusive to their own state, so they would not compete with other states.

Beneath the towering Glory Stele was a circular crystal stone whose surface was covered with rhombus edges.

That crystal stone was the test stone for obtaining the qualification to enter the Twilight Secret Realm.

Jun Wuxie glanced at it and immediately led Mu Ciyin and the others towards the test stone.

He felt many unkind gazes locking onto him instantly.

"Hold on!"

As they walked halfway, several people blocked their path.

They were several young men, dressed in brocade clothes, with faces full of arrogance and disdain. Their eyes swept over them, and they said, "Which force are you people from?"

"We are just rogue cultivators.

This Twilight Secret Realm, as long as one passes the test, one can obtain the qualification to enter, regardless of whether one is a rogue cultivator or a member of a force.

Everyone, please step aside and do not block our test."

"Rogue cultivators?"

The young men immediately sneered, "What level are you? How dare rogue cultivators come to participate in the test?

Get lost!

Now, get off the mountain immediately, and do not let us see you again.

Our patience is very limited. If you do not get lost within three breaths, we will break your legs and make you crawl away!"

Anger flashed in the eyes of both Mu Ciyin and Linglong.

These people were too arrogant, truly treating the secret realm as their own private territory, weren't they?

Jun Wuxie did not show any emotion on his face.

He looked at a middle-aged man near the entrance to the Twilight Secret Realm and said, "I heard that the Twilight Secret Realm has always been presided over by Twilight Heaven.

Now, someone is being tyrannical and blocking testers here. Does your Twilight Heaven not intend to step in and manage this?"

Upon hearing this, the cross-legged middle-aged man opened his eyes and said indifferently, "Young man, you are right, we of Twilight Heaven are indeed the hosts of the Twilight Secret Realm.

But we are only the hosts of the secret realm, responsible for opening the secret realm and maintaining the order of the secret realm qualification test, but we will not interfere in the personal grievances between others.

Right now, these geniuses dislike you and have blocked you, which is a personal grievance. We of Twilight Heaven have no reason to forcibly intervene.

Unless you pass the test, obtain the secret realm qualification, and become explorers entering the secret realm.

With this status, if someone troubles you before entering the secret realm, and you ask for help, we of Twilight Heaven will naturally not stand idly by."

The crowd erupted in an uproar, with much discussion.

In the past few days, the people of Twilight Heaven had not arrived, and it was fine if someone blocked the testers, preventing them from obtaining the qualification to explore the secret realm.

Now that the Twilight Heavenly Race people should have already arrived, they still don't care and even come up with such a seemingly self-consistent robber logic.

Some young prodigies from distant forces wanted to speak several times, seemingly wanting to say something, but their elders tugged at their sleeves, signaling them not to meddle in other people's business, as offending the Twilight Heavenly Race might bring trouble to their sect.

"Very good, the Twilight Heavenly Race is indeed fair and just.

Everyone has heard it, the Twilight Heavenly Race said that this is my personal grievance with them, and the Twilight Heavenly Race has no reason to interfere."

After Jun Wuxie finished speaking, he continued to walk towards the testing stone, but Mu Ciyin, Linglong, and the Little World Tree stood still.

"It seems that you are determined to humiliate yourselves.

Since that's the case, we don't mind beating them half to death and throwing them down the mountain!"

Seeing that the newcomers dared to approach, those young men immediately sneered.

One of them stepped out, crossing a distance of more than ten meters in one step, his palm forming a claw, tearing several black cracks in the space, attacking Jun Wuxie's neck, which was quite ruthless.

This kind of attack clearly showed murderous intent!

People from some distant forces all sighed secretly.

It seems that someone is going to be unlucky again today. Not only did they fail to obtain the qualification for the Secret Realm, but they also lost their lives.

There were also many forces waiting to watch the show, and some people had indifferent faces, showing indifference to this.