Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments-Chapter 59 - 57: Flame Pool Secret Realm

Xiao Chen immediately understood. ’So that’s how it is.’

However, he didn’t agree directly. "Thank you for the invitation, Senior Sister, but I want to enter the Secret Realm first and confirm that I can resist the Fire Qi before deciding whether to go deeper."

This was actually just one reason.

Another reason was that if he could act alone, he could use the Profound Fire Crow to kill the Guardian Spirit Beasts, which in theory would be a bit more efficient.

Liu Shi Qing nodded. "No problem. I was also planning to decide whether to go deeper based on the number of Spirit Beasts after we get inside."

After that, the Liu Family Siblings went to find others, clearly wanting to recruit as many teammates as possible.

After they walked away, Su Yuanpeng whispered a reminder, "Junior Brother Xiao, I suggest you don’t go to the inner layer."

"As far as I know, every single Guardian Spirit Beast in the inner layer has strength comparable to a late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator."

"Moreover, these Spirit Beasts travel in groups of three to five, making them very difficult to deal with."

As he spoke, he pointed at the Liu Family Siblings who were recruiting everywhere, and then at the group of people in the distance surrounding the Song Family brothers.

"The Fire Crystal Ore is limited. With so many people going together, how many pieces can one person get?"

"Besides, you’ve only just joined the Inner Sect. Why take the risk of getting injured to go adventuring with them? If the Fire Qi invades your body, the loss would far outweigh the gain."

"I’m still waiting for you to break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining soon, so we can have a proper match without holding back."

When he spoke of a match, his eyes lit up, clearly filled with anticipation.

Xiao Chen nodded his thanks. "Thank you for the reminder, Su. I’ll be careful."

Su Yuanpeng didn’t know his current strength. With the Vertical Earth Golden Light protecting him, even a horde of Tier One Spirit Beasts couldn’t threaten him.

So, he appreciated the kind sentiment.

’As for Magical Combat, if we really wait until I reach the ninth level of Qi Refining, even ten Su Yuanpengs combined probably won’t be a match for me. It’s best to just avoid it.’

Just as Xiao Chen was thinking about how to politely refuse Su Yuanpeng, he saw Elder Liu emerge from the boat’s cabin again.

"We are about to arrive at the Secret Realm. There are a few things I need to emphasize again."

As Elder Liu spoke, he used a trace of Magical Power to spread his voice.

This ensured it wasn’t too loud for the disciples standing close, while also allowing those far away to hear clearly.

"First, in a moment, I will give each of you a map of the Secret Realm with the safe areas marked."

"Based on past experience, disciples below the eighth level of Qi Refining, as well as those who have been in the Inner Sect for less than three years, should not leave the safe zones."

"Second, the Flame Pools in the Secret Realm are also different. The closer to the inner layer, the better the effect of the Flame Pool, but the Fire Qi is also more concentrated."

"After entering the water, act within your limits. Don’t force your Body Tempering, or you might burn your own Meridians."

"Third, this expedition into the Secret Realm will last for ten days. Elder Fu and I will be waiting for you outside."

"So, after you go in, you fellow disciples should look out for one another."

"Also, keep track of the time. Especially those of you who want to gather Fire Crystals, do not miss the deadline."

Afterward, Elder Liu distributed the maps.

He also tirelessly recounted in detail the accidents that had befallen disciples who were injured or even died in the Secret Realm in the past.

He hoped they would learn from these examples and not repeat the same mistakes.

Xiao Chen listened to these stories very attentively and gained a much better understanding of the Flame Pool Secret Realm.

Elder Liu estimated that time was about up. "Is there anything you don’t understand? Don’t keep it to yourselves. Just ask me."

Song Zhongwen immediately spoke up, "I have something I don’t understand."

Elder Liu looked over. "Ah, Zhongwen. What is it that you don’t understand?"

Song Zhongwen asked, "Just now, the Elder mentioned that a senior brother once went deep into the inner layer to search for a Fire Spirit Crystal."

"And then, relying on that Fire Spirit Crystal, he broke through directly to the ninth level of Qi Refining."

"This disciple wishes to know why the location of this type of Spirit Crystal is not marked on the map?"

When he asked this question, the other disciples all perked up their ears.

Many people present had not yet reached the ninth level of Qi Refining. A Spiritual Object that could allow a direct Breakthrough Realm was naturally extremely precious to them.

Xiao Chen also felt a stir of interest and turned to look at Elder Liu.

Elder Liu shook his head. "Sigh. You all only heard about him achieving a Breakthrough Realm. Do you remember what happened to him?"

Song Shengying, who was next to Song Zhongwen, answered, "Of course, I remember. The Fire Qi entered his body and burned away half of his Meridians."

"Although his life was saved, he forever lost the hope of reaching Foundation Establishment."

Elder Liu nodded. "That Fire Spirit Crystal only appears in the very center of a Fire Crystal deposit. You must go deep into the inner layer to even have a chance of finding one."

"Since the Flame Pool Secret Realm was discovered, only three disciples have ever obtained a Fire Spirit Crystal and returned safely."

"You are all elites with bright futures. Why take such a risk?"

While they were speaking, Elder Fu also walked out.

He swept a cold gaze over the crowd. "Let me give you a piece of advice: get rid of these ideas sooner rather than later. Don’t ruin your own prospects."

Then, he performed a series of Magic Formulas and lowered the Flying Boat.

They had arrived at the Flame Pool Secret Realm.

An exceptionally massive volcano stood amidst a cluster of smaller ones.

At the edge of the crater, the Flying Boat passed through orange-red smoke and landed steadily on a platform that had clearly been artificially carved out.

Getting off the Flying Boat and looking down from the edge of the platform, one could see dark red lava flowing slowly below.

On the other side of the platform, an archway had lit up, its center shimmering with watery ripples.

Through the ripples, one could faintly see a Grotto Heaven within.

This time, Elder Fu lowered a gangplank, then walked down, pulling a long rope behind him.

Tied to the rope, surprisingly, were four thoroughly bound Cultivators.

Their upper bodies were bare and covered in scars, as if they had been subjected to brutal torture.

Xiao Chen recognized one of them at a glance—it was the burly man who had been selling a Flying Sword in the Black Market that day.

’It seems the Li Huo Sect moves quite fast, and they show no mercy when it comes to revenge.’

Elder Liu stepped forward just in time to announce, "After an investigation by the sect, it has been confirmed that these men are all Tribulation Cultivators from Quanzhou."

"They were audacious and reckless, going so far as to murder three of our sect’s Outer Disciples and five Servant Disciples. They deserve a thousand deaths for their crimes."

"The reason they were kept alive until today was to make use of this trash."

Next, Elder Fu untied the first Cultivator from the long rope and, ignoring his frantic pleas for mercy, shoved him directly into the archway.

"AHH—!"

Following a bloodcurdling scream, the Cultivator’s entire body instantly burst into flames, and he was burned to ashes on the spot.

Elder Fu nodded. "It seems the Secret Realm hasn’t fully opened yet. We need to wait a little longer."

Elder Liu, meanwhile, took the opportunity to warn the other disciples, "Did you all see that? If you exceed the time limit inside and don’t come out, that will be your fate as well."

Before long, the watery ripples in the archway stabilized, almost becoming a solid opening.

Elder Fu grabbed another person and threw him in.

This time, the Cultivator’s skin only turned red, but he didn’t catch fire as expected.

Elder Fu directly performed a Hand Technique. A golden light immediately flared up behind the man, pushing him into the Secret Realm and into a fissure on the ground.

This was followed by another round of miserable screams.

This time, Elder Liu pointed at the fissure. "See that? There are many such fissures within the Secret Realm. Be careful after you go in, and whatever you do, don’t fall in."

He looked at Song Zhongwen. "Especially when hunting Spirit Beasts, pay close attention to where you step."

Elder Fu grabbed another Tribulation Cultivator. "I’ll show you one more time. All of you, remember this well and weigh for yourselves whether you want to take any risks."

With that, he threw the man directly through the archway, landing him precisely in the fissure.

The screams rang out for a third time. The last remaining Tribulation Cultivator’s legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, snot and tears streaming down his face.

Elder Liu commented, "No need to test with this one. They should have learned their lesson by now. Besides, hearing those screams too many times is quite unsettling."

Hearing this, the Tribulation Cultivator was immediately ecstatic. He hurriedly shouted his thanks, overjoyed that he had escaped disaster.

Elder Fu shot him a look of disgust, then kicked him off the platform.

This time, there was no sound. His departure was a quiet one.

Then, Elder Fu took out a disk-shaped Magical Artifact and carefully measured the entrance to the Secret Realm.

Only then did he announce, "The Secret Realm is now stable. You may enter safely."