Fang Hao stepped on his Flying Sword, using every ounce of his strength, racing like lightning, desperately rushing toward that hellish place in the southernmost part of the Southern Border known as the "Hundred Thousand Mountains."

His heart was pounding like a drum—he was absolutely frantic!

On one hand, he was terrified of missing the opening time of the Secret Realm, which would be an unbearable loss; on the other hand, the scorching bottle of forming golden core in his embrace was like a little seductress, constantly tempting him: "Eat me, eat me and you can achieve Core Formation..."

After two days and two nights of this internal struggle, flying in a frantic rush, he finally followed the map and reached the general area of the entrance to the Tianyan Secret Realm.

This place was already near the border of the Mingling Empire, and further south lay a desolate wilderness that no one dared to tread lightly.

Just as he approached the valley shrouded in thick fog, Fang Hao was startled.

Good heavens, there were so many people!

In the clearing outside the valley, a dark mass of at least several hundred people had gathered!

Each and every one of them had a powerful aura; the lowest were at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, most were at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment, and there were even a few quasi-Golden Core Cultivators with exceptionally condensed auras who had already stepped half a foot into the threshold of the Golden Core Stage.

Hovering in the sky were several magnificent flying boats that clearly cost a fortune, their banners fluttering, engraved with the insignias of the Imperial Dynasty, royal mansions, or major Sects, obviously carrying the "connected" individuals.

On the ground, there were more Loose Cultivators and Disciples from small sects like Fang Hao, who had either earned their spots through their own abilities or had come to try their luck, gathering in twos and threes, whispering to each other with eyes full of vigilance and expectation.

The air was filled with a sense of tension and excitement, much like waiting for an examination.

Fang Hao quickly retracted his Flying Sword, low-key blended into the crowd, found an inconspicuous corner to crouch in, and observed in secret.

He had to figure out the situation first.

He looked at the sun, then asked a seemingly kind fat Cultivator nearby, only to learn that the Secret Realm wouldn’t open for about another two hours.

A great weight finally lifted from Fang Hao’s heart; thankfully, he had made it in time!

While pretending to regulate his breathing, he secretly scanned the entire scene with his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes.

Upon looking, he actually saw a few "acquaintances"!

In the front of the crowd, a group of people stood out; they were all dressed in white martial attire, carrying long swords on their backs, with sharp auras—they were the Disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect, the overlords of the West Province!

Fang Hao recognized the two young men leading them at a glance!

One was Soaring Wind, with sword-like eyebrows, star-like eyes, and a cold temperament!

The other was Nether Child, with a pale face and gloomy eyes!

"It’s them!" Fang Hao’s heart stirred.

These two were old rivals; back at the West Province Five Sect Martial Competition, Soaring Wind had taken second place, Nether Child third, and he had fought with his life on the line to luckily take first place and obtain the heavenly derivation secret key.

Unexpectedly, after a few years, both of these guys had reached the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment; it seemed they had received plenty of cultivation in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Soaring Wind seemed to sense something; his cold, electric gaze swept over, rested on Fang Hao for a moment, and he nodded slightly as a greeting. There was no hostility in his eyes, only a pure Battle Intent.

Nether Child shot a sinister glance at Fang Hao, a faint, imperceptible sneer curling the corner of his lips, before looking away.

Fang Hao sneered internally; this Nether Child was still the same old type; it seemed he had to be on guard against this kid playing dirty once they entered the Secret Realm.

Besides the people from the West Province, there were more local Cultivators from the Southern Border, as well as Geniuses who had rushed over from other provinces of the Mingling Empire.

Their attire varied, and their Cultivation Technique auras were diverse—some radiated fire, some were eerie, and some were filled with righteous energy; they all looked like people not to be trifled with.

What put the most pressure on Fang Hao was the group of young men and women gathered together, surrounded by numerous guards.

These people were all luxuriously dressed, with extraordinary bearing, and a natural sense of superiority between their brows.

The men were handsome, the women beautiful, but their gazes all carried a condescending, scrutinizing air.

They were the most numerous, accounting for nearly half of the total number of people!

"People from the Imperial Dynasty..." Fang Hao muttered to himself.

The Mingling Empire’s royal family and the sons of the nobles under their command were said to have monopolized fifty spots!

These guys had been piled with resources since childhood, and their Magic Treasure and Cultivation Technique were definitely the best; they were absolutely one of the forces in the Secret Realm that could not be provoked.

"Damn, it’s really like Golden Core Cultivators are as common as dogs, and Geniuses are walking all over the place..." Fang Hao clicked his tongue secretly.

The hundred or so people present could be said to be the absolute top tier of Geniuses in the Mingling Empire below the Golden Core Stage!

Competing for Opportunity with this bunch of people was incredibly stressful!

He subconsciously touched his Dantian, where his spiritual power was full, but the barrier was solid.

Thank goodness! Thank goodness he had held back and hadn’t rushed to Breakthrough to the Golden Core Stage!

This Secret Realm restricted entry to those below the Golden Core Stage; if he had achieved the Breakthrough a few days earlier, he would only be able to stare blankly from the outside now!

That would have been truly unjust!

He secretly sensed the cultivation level of everyone present again; they were all at the Great Perfection Foundation Establishment, with not a single Golden Core Cultivator among them.

It seemed the rules of this Secret Realm were indeed powerful; no one could exploit a loophole.

Time passed bit by bit, and the fog at the valley entrance began to churn violently; five-colored rays of light faintly shone through the fog, and an ancient and vast spatial fluctuation spread out.

"It’s opening!" The crowd stirred, and everyone stood up, staring at the fog with tension and expectation.

Fang Hao also took a deep breath, adjusted his state to the best, and clenched his fists.

The temptation of forming golden core was temporarily suppressed; the most important thing right now was to survive in the Secret Realm and find his own Opportunity!

Two hours passed in the blink of an eye.

The moment the time arrived, the thick fog at the valley entrance was pushed aside as if by an invisible hand, and it opened with a boom!

Revealing a seven-colored light gate that was ten zhang high and about five zhang wide, rippling like water waves!

Behind the light gate was a twisting and rotating spatial vortex, emitting a powerful suction force!

"The Tianyan Secret Realm is open! Those holding the heavenly derivation secret key, enter quickly! The Secret Realm will remain open for three months; no waiting for those who miss the time!"

A loud voice resounded in the air like a thunderclap, suppressing all the noise.

In mid-air, three elders dressed in royal attire had appeared at some unknown time, their auras as deep as the sea; they were astonishingly all Nascent Soul Stage experts! They were responsible for maintaining order at the entrance.

As soon as the voice fell, the crowd that had been waiting for a long time immediately moved!

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Figures turned into streams of light, rushing toward the seven-colored light gate in a scramble!

Especially the Disciples of the royal family and those major Sects, who, under the protection of the Nascent Soul Cultivator, were the first to rush in!

Soaring Wind and Nether Child also did not hesitate; with a flash of sword light, they disappeared into the light gate.

Fang Hao did not dare to delay; he activated his Divine Spirit Steps, mixed into the crowd, wove through the crowd like a fish, and the moment he approached the light gate, he took out the "heavenly derivation secret key."

The secret key emitted a faint light, resonating with the light gate.

He felt a powerful suction force, his vision blurred, and he was sucked into the light gate!

After a dizzying sensation of weightlessness, his feet touched solid ground again.

Fang Hao shook his somewhat dizzy head, looked closely, and gasped!

Before him, it was no longer the valley in the Southern Border, but a completely strange world.