Chapter 22: Entering the Beast Island Secret Realm

Dressed in a white immortal robe and silver light armor, the young immortal who emerged from the teleportation array exuded an aura of arrogance, his entire being sharp and dazzling like a sword about to be unsheathed. Behind him was a young man dressed similarly, but this young man was clearly inferior in comparison. Especially his proud expression, which was so obnoxious that even his good looks couldn’t stir any interest in others.

However, Immortal Wuyi showed great respect and even took the initiative to step forward, greeting the young man: “Young Master, you must have had a hard journey. I have prepared the immortal residence, waiting for your arrival.”

“No rush.” The young man waved his hand. “My father has asked Senior Brother Li to bring a message to you.”

“Understood.” As soon as the young man spoke with a teasing tone, Immortal Wuyi couldn’t help but feel a slight tension in his heart.

The young man was none other than the son of Qingyun Sect’s Sect Master, Lingyunzi—the Immortal True Sword. According to the ^[1]Shuowen refers to Shuowen Jiezi (《說文解字》), an ancient Chinese dictionary compiled by Xu Shen during the Eastern Han Dynasty (c. 100 CE). It is one of the earliest comprehensive … Continue readingShuowen, “True means the transformation of an immortal ascending to heaven.” Since the young man was also a disciple of sword cultivators, he was given the title True Sword. Although his position was much higher than that of Immortal Wuyi, the latter’s unease stemmed from the young man standing in front of the Immortal True Sword—the leader of Qingyun Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall, Li Qianling.

When one carefully considered it, Li Qianling was only at the Golden Immortal level and rarely left the sect. But his name echoed throughout the Lower Three Immortal Realms, and even Immortal Wuyi, a Daluo Golden Immortal, would feel fear upon hearing it.

Because the name Li Qianling represented not just the Law Enforcement Hall but also slaughter and destruction!

A hundred years ago, a immortal being in the Qingyun Immortal Domain had disrespected the Qingyun Sect. Although it was only a matter of words, Sect Master Lingyunzi became enraged and ordered the annihilation of the family. The one leading the charge was none other than Li Qianling.

That night, hundreds perished at the edge of Li Qianling’s sword. The blood pooled into a sea, and white bones piled into mountains, while the immortals on Lingyunzi’s execution list all became sacrifices to Li Qianling’s blade. No one escaped.

After that event, Li Qianling’s reputation skyrocketed, becoming the most dreaded Asura in the Lower Three Immortal Realms.

“The Sect Master has ordered that Chen Xi is arrogant and hard to tame. In order to prevent him from growing too powerful, he must be killed immediately!” His voice was cold and emotionless, and his entire demeanor resembled a sharp blade ready to cut through the air, with killing intent emanating from him as he pronounced death upon Chen Xi.

—

Time passed, and the atmosphere on Beast Island grew increasingly tense as the Beast Island Secret Realm finally opened on schedule.

At noon, with the distant and solemn sound of bells, several agile figures soared into the air from various parts of Beast Island, heading straight for the Beast Island Secret Realm in the north. At the same time, other immortals following them closely were also filled with sharp energy and imposing momentum.

At this moment, all the lower-tier immortals on Beast Island looked up in awe or admiration. Every figure soaring through the air, even those with just Earth Immortal cultivation, was a peak they could never hope to reach.

The young master of Qingyun Sect, Immortal True Sword, the young master of the Misty Celestial Mansion, and the chief disciples of many affiliated sects—all were truly remarkable figures whose names were worthy of being recorded in history. Yet, because of this, it became even clearer how fierce and brutal the competition would be in the upcoming Beast Island Secret Realm.

Before the entrance to the Secret Realm, over a thousand immortals had gathered. However, only one among them would be able to pass the trials of the Beast Island Secret Realm and obtain the inheritance.

“I heard from the elders that within the Secret Realm, the illusionary formations are incredibly dangerous, with only one in ten surviving. And every time the Secret Realm opens, it’s a bloody storm. Even before entering, just the competition for qualification will claim many lives.”

“Then why do these elites still rush in? Even the elders of their sects don’t stop them—aren’t they afraid they won’t make it back alive?”

“Driven by benefits!” The person lowered their voice, pointing to Li Qianling, who was standing beside Immortal True Sword. “Do you see him? He’s the one who came out alive from the Beast Island Secret Realm three hundred years ago. Li Qianling was originally just a menial laborer on Beast Island, fetching water and chopping wood. Now, after over a thousand years of ascension, he is the top immortal below the Daluo Golden Immortal! Do you understand? As long as you can walk out alive, even if you don’t gain the inheritance, the rewards are immense. With that in mind, wouldn’t you want to go in?”

Of course, they would want to… The immortal didn’t answer, but the look of yearning on his face said everything.

—

At this moment, nearly every immortal on Beast Island was discussing the opening of the Secret Realm. On the other side, the immortals who were actually going to enter the Secret Realm had already arrived. After finding what they considered advantageous positions, they exchanged heavy glances with each other.

The air was thick with danger, the kind of tension that felt as though a storm was about to break. Even every breath felt uneasy and restless. But in the midst of this crisis, they unexpectedly noticed that one person was missing from the crowd—it was none other than Chen Xi, who had caused an uproar throughout the Lower Three Immortal Realms and had planned to gather ten Daluo Golden Immortals.

“Has that mortal not come?” someone murmured softly, their surprise clear, but the understanding was also present in their eyes. This expression was mirrored on the faces of others.

After all, Chen Xi was a mortal. Even though he had gathered ten Daluo Golden Immortals to protect him and forcefully claimed the qualification to enter the secret realm, what would happen once inside? Even those of them with immortal techniques might not be able to keep their lives, so what could a mortal, who couldn’t even tie a chicken, possibly do?

“It’s fine if he doesn’t come,” many sighed, but a hint of disappointment flickered in the eyes of Immortal True Sword.

Immortal True Sword had originally planned to personally end Chen Xi in the battle for qualifications. He had even thought about how to torture him so that he would wish for death. But unfortunately, Chen Xi hadn’t come.

“Such a coward,” Immortal True Sword snorted coldly, refusing to say more. However, Li Qianling, standing behind him, subconsciously lifted his head and looked in the direction of Zefeng Cave Mansion.

—

Inside Zefeng Cave Mansion, everything was far from what the others had imagined. At this moment, Chen Xi was not cowering, but was rather making his final preparations.

After calculating his accumulated popularity points, Chen Xi spent a million points to roll the dice. The various consumables were not worth mentioning, but what pleased him the most was that after activating the 【Fortune Talisman】, he successfully drew two volumes of 【Heavenly Dao Fragment】 and over thirty volumes of 【Formation Fragment】. This greatly enhanced his self-preservation abilities. While it couldn’t guarantee absolute safety, it at least ensured he could survive.

After learning all the skill books, Chen Xi checked his situation once again. Then, he tidied his clothes and walked out of the cave with steady steps, ready to join the Daluo Golden Immortals who had been waiting to enter the Beast Island Secret Realm.

The orange, chubby little creatures lined up neatly at the entrance, waiting for him. As usual, the Moonlight Celestial Beast jumped onto Chen Xi’s shoulder and stood firmly there. However, Chen Xi could clearly see the concern in their eyes.

Because this time, once he entered the secret realm, he would truly be alone. He wouldn’t have any teammates, nor would there be any benefactors coming to his rescue. His survival would depend entirely on himself. Even the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who had been with him through thick and thin, could only escort him to the entrance and couldn’t enter with him.

Taking a deep breath, Chen Xi’s expression was more solemn than ever before.

The investigations of the past days had made him understand the significance of the Beast Island Secret Realm to the Lower Three Immortal Realms and how dangerous it could be. The Beast Island Secret Realm was the only trial realm in the Lower Three Immortal Realms. Those who passed could obtain the Beast Island inheritance, and celestial beasts from the Beast Realm would come to the Beast Island for help.

Thus, it was said that whoever controlled Beast Island could rule the world. Despite the many restrictions, every time it opened, countless prodigies followed in pursuit of this rare opportunity.

However, what Chen Xi sought today was not power or glory, but the right to stand tall and speak his mind in the Immortal Realm.

Closing his eyes, memories of the past flooded back. The bullying he suffered when he first arrived on Beast Island, being repeatedly manipulated and controlled. If it weren’t for the protection of the Moonlight Celestial Beast and the timely assistance from the system’s golden finger, he might not have even survived this long. This realization caused Chen Xi’s blood to boil, and his determination to seize the inheritance grew more urgent and firm.

After all, why?

Just because he was a mortal, should he endure all these restrictions, even to the point of barely hanging onto his life?

Just because he was a mortal, should he be looked down upon by people like the Immortal Wuyi, treated as a pawn to be played with?

Just because he was a mortal, should he live a mere few decades while immortals live as long as the heavens?

Why should all of this be the case?

The heavens are indifferent, treating all things as mere straw dogs. Even these so-called righteous immortals cultivate mortal hearts and bodies. Since that is the case, rather than remaining beneath others, allowing oneself to be trampled, why not take the island and become king?

Opening his eyes once again, Chen Xi’s resolve was firm. He reached up and patted the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who was anxiously watching him, then nodded at the Daluo Golden Immortals waiting in the courtyard. With their guidance, he headed toward the Beast Island Secret Realm.

As those who had arrived first murmured about him, Chen Xi silently arrived.

He actually came?

Chen Xi’s sudden appearance caused the people who had been discussing him to immediately fall silent. As for Immortal True Sword, the moment he saw Chen Xi, he shot him a malicious glance. Only Li Qianling, noticing the Moonlight Celestial Beast on Chen Xi’s shoulder, instinctively took a step back.

However, none of this posed any trouble for Chen Xi. He stood in the corner, carefully making final arrangements with the Daluo Golden Immortals. His actions, trying to make the most of every second, quickly influenced the other teams, and the atmosphere grew increasingly tense.

A chilling air suddenly rose, rapidly spreading throughout the area. Just then, a roaring sound, like cracking stone, echoed, followed by the gradual spread of mist, enveloping everyone present—over a thousand people—obscuring their figures.

The Beast Island Secret Realm had finally opened!

—

On a small hillside near the entrance to the Secret Realm on Beast Island, Chen Xi and the ten Daluo Golden Immortals stood. Interestingly, Immortal True Sword, who had been fixated on killing Chen Xi, was not present. The teams they encountered were all hastily assembled scattered cultivators.

“Young friend Chen, greetings,” an elder greeted Chen Xi first, and at the same time, a number of thoughts and plans quickly formed in his mind.

According to the rules of Beast Island, after the Secret Realm opened, the immortals would enter three separate areas. Each area was connected to the Secret Realm entrance, but only one team could enter each.

Although they were all scattered cultivators, upon closer inspection, Chen Xi’s team had the fewest members. Despite their cultivation being at the Daluo Golden Immortal level, they were a temporary group, and these immortals would not have any deep loyalty to Chen Xi. They were only here for personal gain.

In that case, why not start with Chen Xi?

The elder thought to himself, exchanging a look with his juniors. Interestingly, other immortals shared the same thoughts.

Immortal decisions, immortal swords. Amidst the roaring thunder and fiery rain, the battlefield transformed into a hellish scene. The immortals moved like lightning, their killing intent overwhelming the sky, each using their best techniques. Their figures were so fast that they could not be caught by the naked eye, like spirit serpents weaving through the heavens and earth.

Where there was fighting, there was death. As time passed, the smell of blood began to spread. But for those immortals who would never retreat, this only intensified their fighting spirit.

One Earth Immortal was struck by a spell and completely fell, followed by a Golden Immortal who was severely injured and had to withdraw from the battlefield. The battle escalated, and Chen Xi’s group, situated at the center and bearing the brunt of the attacks, was forced to gradually retreat, trying to avoid the sharpest blows.

“Young friend Chen, don’t worry. I only wish to send my juniors into the Secret Realm. I will not harm your life,” the immortal closest to Chen Xi whispered. He was a guest elder from a small sect and had heard of Chen Xi’s beast-taming abilities, so he had no intention of completely offending him.

After considering how to carefully control his power, the elder was pondering how to send Chen Xi into the Secret Realm without causing harm. But in the brief moment he lost focus, he realized that he could no longer move.

No, not just him—every immortal in the area was affected!

It seemed that invisible shackles appeared around them, completely binding their bodies, and even their immortal spiritual power was slowly dissipating under the influence of these colorless chains.

“What is this?” the immortal exclaimed, startled.

Just then, a beast’s roar suddenly shattered the clouds and broke through the sun, seemingly responding to the question. Golden-wu-colored inscriptions surged wildly in the heavens and earth. A massive beast’s shadow moved behind the clouds. As it moved, a chilling, battle-hardened aura spread, and thunderous lightning suddenly struck from the sky, landing and transforming into a cage that surrounded everyone present.

“Formation?” A familiar scholar of ancient texts hesitantly uttered the word. Soon, the only person still able to move confirmed all their suspicions.

Dressed in simple robes, the young man, handsome and graceful, stood at the center of the formation, holding a chessboard in his hands. Around him, ten Daluo Golden Immortals stood, each holding an immortal weapon, positioned at the key points of the formation.

The whole assembly was in shock.

Although Chen Xi was well known, it was mostly because of his mysterious beast-taming techniques. Even though many knew he was proficient in formations, few took it seriously, thinking that as a mortal, he could never truly compete with immortals.

But now, they were all heavily slapped in the face. This mortal, whom they hadn’t regarded as an equal or a real opponent, had, without anyone noticing, used a formation to trap them all completely. Life and death were in his hands, to be decided with a snap of his fingers.

Everyone instinctively held their breath, staring at Chen Xi in astonishment.

“Fellow Daoists, would you mind making it easier for me?” Chen Xi spoke politely. Even though everyone was under his control, there was no sign of arrogance in his tone.

Despite this, some still tried to use their status to forcefully break the formation, immediately retorting, “What if I don’t?”

“It’s fine.” Chen Xi smiled gently, but his movements were swift and precise. With just a light touch on the Myriad Phenomenon Chessboard, the entire formation suddenly became far more dangerous.

A ferocious demon beast descended from the clouds, its cry as mournful as an owl’s hoot or a ghost’s wail. Accompanied by waves of thunder, the immortal’s face paled instantly, and he collapsed to the ground, unable to resist even a single strike.

“Qiongqi!” Someone shouted the name of the demon beast, their voice filled with fear.

In the northwest, there is a beast that resembles a tiger, with wings and the ability to fly. It preys on humans, understands human speech, and when it hears a dispute, it devours those involved. If it hears of betrayal or wickedness, it kills and feeds on the beast’s offerings. It is called Qiongqi.

This was one of the true ancient Four Fierce Beasts, a powerful entity in the Immortal Realm, second only to the Immortal Emperor Qing Yang. Not even the immortals from the Upper Three Immortal Realms could resist it. Therefore, even though the Qiongqi in Chen Xi’s formation was just an illusion, it was more than enough to intimidate them.

“Chen Xi, you have trapped us, but you alone can’t pass the trial. How about we make a deal?” Some quick thinkers immediately tried to negotiate with Chen Xi. The Beast Island Secret Realm opened only once every hundred years. If they missed this opportunity, they might not have the chance to enter in the next century.

However, Chen Xi directly refused: “Sorry, I only plan to enter alone.” After saying this, he resolutely walked toward the entrance.

Truly, he was audacious to the extreme.

The entire battlefield fell into a deep silence at Chen Xi’s words, so quiet that a pin drop could be heard. As for the immortals, their expressions as they looked at Chen Xi were extremely complicated.

From the battlefield to the entrance of the Secret Realm was only a dozen meters. But sweat began to form in Chen Xi’s palm. He understood that from here on out, the path ahead was something only he could face. It could only be a success, not a failure.

“Chen Xi!” A clear voice suddenly rang out from behind him. Then, a light body leaped onto his shoulder, and a pair of claws wrapped around his neck.

Chen Xi turned his head to meet the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s green cat eyes.

“Don’t worry,” he whispered, gently kissing the fluffy ear tip against his cheek, soothing the cat that seemed even more nervous than he was.

However, to his surprise, this time, the Moonlight Celestial Beast didn’t immediately bristle and run away. Instead, it seemed to have made some kind of decision and actively leaned in.

The soft fur on the beast’s head brushed against Chen Xi’s cheek, and then a cool kiss landed on the corner of his lips. At the same time, an ancient formation suddenly appeared beneath Chen Xi’s feet. In the depths of the void, a voice echoed, saying “Contract completed.”

“Contract completed?” The unfamiliar energy surging through his body made Chen Xi furrow his brows, and he vaguely felt that the Moonlight Celestial Beast had made some incredibly important decision.

But before he could think further, he was suddenly slapped in the face by the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s paw: “Hurry back, I’ll be waiting for you to return for dinner.”

Not even turning to look at Chen Xi, the beast’s every fur seemed to express disdain. But the ears, which constantly twitched behind its head, betrayed its worry and nervousness.

It was still that proud, silly cat.

The scene made Chen Xi unable to hold back his laughter. He leaned in and tousled the neat fur on the Moonlight Celestial Beast’s head, then strode toward the Secret Realm entrance.

“Wait for me to return.” The clear voice seemed to linger in the air, while the Moonlight Celestial Beast, who had been facing away from him, turned to solemnly gaze at Chen Xi’s retreating figure, standing motionless at the entrance.

The qualification was set, and the entrance closed. Once Chen Xi entered the Secret Realm, he was completely cut off from the outside world, while the immortals still trapped by the formation were left stunned, unable to speak a word in the face of what had just happened.

A life-and-death contract.

The Moonlight Clan’s most pure-blooded celestial beast had, right before their eyes, signed a life-and-death contract with Chen Xi, pledging to live and die together, sharing honor. It was important to note that if Chen Xi were to die inside the Secret Realm, the Moonlight Celestial Beast would also perish with him.

So why did the Moonlight Celestial Beast make such a move? Was it because it trusted Chen Xi, believing he could survive and return unscathed? Or did it simply refuse to live without Chen Xi?

Either reason was enough to completely win their admiration.

“If Chen Xi can make it out alive, the Lower Three Immortal Realms will probably undergo a complete change,” said the leader of a small sect with a bitter tone.

“Exactly. And this Beast Island might be the first to suffer,” responded the elder who had previously led the attempt to surround and capture Chen Xi.

The two exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with mixed emotions. Even the most difficult-to-dominate celestial beasts, like the Moonlight Clan’s creatures, had been made to submit by Chen Xi, pledging their lives to him. So, looking across the entire Immortal Realm, were there any beasts that Chen Xi couldn’t tame? If he were to claim the Beast Island’s inheritance… what would happen next?

Subconsciously swallowing, even the Daluo Golden Immortals who had assisted in setting up the formation couldn’t help but feel a twinge of fear.

—

However, on the side of Immortal Wuyi, upon hearing this news, he couldn’t help but sneer repeatedly.

“Chen Xi is truly audacious. Even the Moonlight Celestial Beast has lost its mind, rushing to seek its own death. But this works out well, it solves my concerns.” As he spoke, he sent a reply to Lingyun, the Sect Master.

Originally, Lingyun’s plan had been to wait for Chen Xi to enter the Secret Realm, and then, using the peculiarities of Li Qianling’s technique, find an opportunity to eliminate Chen Xi. After all, the Beast Island Secret Realm only had one entrance. Even if Chen Xi didn’t end up in their group during the qualification contest, as long as he entered, he would inevitably encounter them. If Chen Xi failed to qualify, that would make things even easier—just take advantage of the chaos and create an accident.

They had originally worried that, if Chen Xi died and the Moonlight Celestial Beast sought revenge, it would be difficult to deal with. But unexpectedly, the Moonlight Celestial Beast had proactively signed a contract with Chen Xi, vowing to live and die together before Chen Xi even entered the cave.

With this, their plan had become flawless.

“Chen Xi, your luck has finally run out,” Immortal Wuyi muttered, a long-awaited smug expression finally appearing on his face.

—

However, inside the Secret Realm, Chen Xi’s situation was completely different from what Immortal Wuyi had imagined. Not only had he not immediately encountered a life-or-death crisis with the Immortal True Sword upon entering, as they had planned, but he was instead standing safely inside a luxurious cave residence.

As for the furnishings within the cave, they completely stunned him, leaving him speechless with a mixture of amusement and disbelief.