The next day, according to the customs, people from various sects gathered in one place to meet each other. 

A hundred years after the great war, the immortal sects had declined, with only the Yunshang Immortal Sect maintaining a large scale, boasting over ten thousand disciples. The other sects were similar to the Peifeng Sect, with three to four thousand considered large sects, while smaller sects had only a few hundred, or even just dozens of members. 

Fortunately, a hundred years ago, the various sects had formed a blood pact of alliance, which allowed them to coexist peacefully under the heavens. Otherwise, the instigator would suffer backlash from the heavenly laws, their soul eternally falling into hell, and their sect would also decline, never to rise again. Without this restraint, the cultivation world might have repeated its past mistakes. 

The initial agreement lasted for two cycles of the zodiac, during which the cultivation sects would not infringe upon each other. Lin Ji remembered that in his previous life, the Yunshang Immortal Sect indeed harbored ambitions to annex other sects, but unfortunately, before the agreed time arrived, the Peifeng Sect and the Lingyun Sect had already risen, forming a restraining force. 

In any sect, as long as a talented individual emerged, they could easily expand their influence and become a well-known figure. Thus, the disciples present today, who were about to enter the secret realm, were the most valued hopes of their respective sects. 

Lin Ji had once stood at the forefront of the Yunshang Immortal Sect, but now he found himself at the forefront of the Peifeng Sect. He deliberately turned his head to observe the disciples of the Yunshang Immortal Sect and noticed that the new disciple of his former master, whom he had seen yesterday, was not at the front but had moved back several rows, swaying slightly. This made him feel a bit more at ease. 

Song Ruoci despised the inexplicable sense of ritual that humans had; every time they did something, they had to gather everyone for a meeting. The elders could sit and boast to each other, while the younger generation could only stand around, showing off in every direction. Just as he was about to doze off, he felt a sharp gaze on him. Looking up, he found Lin Ji from the adjacent formation staring at him ominously. 

Song Ruoci was quite puzzled; he had been trying to blend in and not draw attention to himself, so why was Lin Ji fixated on him? Suddenly, he recalled the trope of the tragic, powerful antagonist: obsessive, competitive, and ultimately corrupted by hatred… 

Although the character card didn’t use the term “possessive,” it fit him perfectly! 

Song Ruoci’s expression turned pained: “No way? Lin Ji can’t possibly think that being under Xuan Yi Zhenren is a good thing, right? Xuan Yi Zhenren treated him that way in his last life, and he still can’t let go of that old grudge?” 

Being targeted by the antagonist right off the bat was not a good sign. Song Ruoci quickly pretended not to notice the hostile gaze and began to look around aimlessly. 

The first person to catch Song Ruoci’s attention was naturally the protagonist. Upon seeing Lu Xiaobai, he felt as if he was enveloped in a sense of security. Song Ruoci made up his mind that he had to befriend him. It was said that the Dragon Ao Tian of this story was very loyal; anyone he took under his wing would be in a protective circle. 

However, Lin Ji was still fixated on this person. When he saw Song Ruoci’s gaze linger, he followed it— 

Although Lu Xiaobai was a direct disciple, he stood a bit on the edge during the formal lineup, not right next to Lin Ji. 

Suddenly, Lin Ji felt a stir in his heart; it was as if he was seeing Lu Xiaobai’s features for the first time, and he could vaguely see the handsome appearance from his previous life. Although he still looked like a pretty boy, he was much more attractive than when he was younger, and his hair had grown from shoulder-length to waist-length. 

Having spent three years with Lu Xiaobai, he hadn’t paid much attention to the changes in him, or perhaps being in the midst of it made him oblivious to such subtle transformations. But now, seeing him, he felt a sudden sense of astonishment. 

Suddenly, Lu Xiaobai turned his head and quickly winked at him. 

Lin Ji: “……” 

After a long while, Lin Ji came back to his senses, waiting for the inexplicable heat on his face to fade. 

He looked back at Song Ruoci, only to find him still staring at Lu Xiaobai, his face showing a longing expression. 

The inexplicable flame that had surged in Lin Ji’s heart was doused with a bucket of cold water. 

Lin Ji tightened his grip on his sword, his hostility rising. 

Receiving the other’s killing intent, Song Ruoci was confused: “??? Did I provoke him again?” 

Thus, two hours passed. 

The elders on the stage spoke about various matters, but the few people with their own thoughts didn’t absorb a single word. 

Aside from a few things they didn’t hear, most disciples were only half-listening, feeling bored and just wanting it to end sooner. 

These esteemed elders of the immortal sects were indeed just talking nonsense. 

One elder suggested that since everyone had gathered with great difficulty, why not let the disciples spar with each other, treating it as a preliminary competition for the sects? However, this was quickly dismissed by others. 

After all, the main purpose of this gathering was to enter the secret realm. If the disciples were defeated in the competition, it would shake their resolve, which would be a loss. 

After rambling on until the end, the sect leader of the Yunshang Immortal Sect finally announced the various matters regarding the trip to the secret realm: 

“The path of immortality is vast; this is an opportunity for all of you to level up and expand your horizons.” 

“This sect leader, along with the leaders and elders of various sects, has calculated the best time and place to open the secret realm, which will be at the peak of the Wenda Mountain in three days. Please prepare in advance.” 

“There are three trials within the secret realm. If you can pass them one by one, you will surely gain benefits. However, what each of you can gain depends on your own fortune.” 

The sect leader of the Yunshang Immortal Sect walked back and forth, his robes fluttering, exuding the aura of a leader of the immortal sect: 

“Some may gain insights to break through their realms, some may find rare treasures, and at the very least, you will gain practical experience. Moreover, with the endorsement of us righteous path leaders, you will not return empty-handed.” 

“The first hundred to exit the secret realm will be able to go to the four great ruins for training after the tribulation; the top ten will receive magical artifacts provided by each sect. The higher your rank, the more precious the artifacts.” 

The sect leader raised his hand, and suddenly ten magical artifacts appeared in the air, each varying in shape and size, all radiating dazzling light. 

In the end, there were hardly any who could truly ascend in the cultivation world. Those who had barely reached the semi-immortal stage were often struck down. 

But humans had worked hard to open the path of cultivation, and as long as they could pass it down, many immortal leaders were willing to offer their lifelong treasures to the younger generation. 

If the younger generation failed, they would have to pass it on to the next generation, allowing the cultivation world to continue thriving. 

They didn’t believe that since humans could cultivate, they couldn’t become immortals. 

The day before, these old men had gathered to evaluate and rank the magical artifacts. 

All the disciples raised their heads, their blood boiling with excitement, all yearning for ascension. 

But many were merely yearning and hadn’t made up their minds. The failures of their predecessors were right before their eyes; they were already considered outstanding, powerful enough to destroy the world, yet they still fell before dawn. 

So, could they… succeed? 

Lin Ji also raised his head, filled with ambition, his gaze firm as if he were about to break through the heavens at any moment. 

However, Lu Xiaobai seemed to recall some unwilling memories and quickly lowered his head, his eyes filled with a cold desolation. 

He glanced at Lin Ji and finally smiled. 

Those with lofty aspirations always appeared more charming than others. 

Lin Ji was a once-in-a-century talent, strong in power, and diligent in practice, with almost no imperfections. In his previous life, if it weren’t for the joint persecution of others, he would have been well-suited for ascension. 

“Lin Ji, if you want to ascend and prove your path, then go see the scenery beyond this world.” 

In this life, Lu Xiaobai had long made up his mind not to let any factors hinder Lin Ji. 

But even if he transcended the world, he could not escape the heavenly laws. Lu Xiaobai lowered his gaze, not wanting to recall the exhausting process of leveling up from his last life. 

The sect leader’s voice pulled everyone’s thoughts back: “The first person among you to exit the secret realm doesn’t need me to say much; you should understand the implications.” 

Ascension was too far away; it was more practical to compete for the title of the first among the sects. 

After all, in any competition, there would always be a first. This time, with all the sects gathered, being able to claim the first place would not only bring fame in the cultivation world but also be recognized as the most outstanding person, with a bright future ahead. 

“However, don’t just think about the benefits; the secret realm is fraught with dangers, and not everyone will be able to make it out. Some of you may remain trapped inside forever.” 

Competing for a chance at fortune, the path of cultivation was inherently brutal. 

Finally, they were allowed to disperse, and the disciples, who had been filled with ambition, now felt a weight in their hearts. 

Song Ruoci internally complained that novels loved to use the number three: three years, three times, three people… His attention was suddenly drawn to a woman on the stage. 

The woman stood next to an elder from the Peifeng Sect, having been by his side, sword in hand, with a smile that never wavered from beginning to end. 

Song Ruoci scanned her with his eyes and quickly learned her identity. 

Luo Xiang… Didn’t the book say she was a delicate little girl? She didn’t resemble the description at all. 

What a pity that such a good girl would soon meet her end. 

Song Ruoci felt regretful. 

“……” 

Lin Ji knocked on the door next door for a long time, but no one responded, so he pushed it open. 

Inside was empty, with only a missing wooden doll and a messy bundle. Lin Ji walked over to take a closer look and found that a few pieces of clothing were missing. 

Looking down, he saw remnants of a teleportation array on the ground. 

Lin Ji: “……” 

When he found Lu Xiaobai, he was indeed in a small town within the protective range of the Yunshang Immortal Sect, selling wooden dolls. He had already sold more than half, and the wooden rack was much emptier. 

He was dressed in a fur coat, blending in with the crowd, looking no different from ordinary mortals. 

“Are you selling the wooden dolls of the renowned immortal lord to mortal men and women for their collection? Did you get their consent?” 

Lu Xiaobai looked up upon hearing the voice and saw Lin Ji picking up a doll, looking disdainful. Lu Xiaobai smiled and said, “How did you end up here?” 

“And why are you here?” Lin Ji put down the doll, lifted his robe, and sat down beside him. 

Lin Ji didn’t particularly like the sky blue color; he found it too plain. He only wore it when the Yunshang Immortal Sect had a uniform. 

The Peifeng Sect had always allowed free dressing, and this time they only issued a set of uniforms for the trip to another sect, which was white and gold… even plainer. 

Lin Ji paired it with a red belt to make it less monotonous. 

“As you can see,” Lu Xiaobai replied, “business is good.” 

“You don’t have to worry about anyone coming after you; men will only secretly grumble about why their dolls don’t sell as well as others, not appealing to girls.” 

“Oh, so you understand?” Lin Ji scoffed lightly, then paused and asked stiffly, “Why didn’t you call me when you came down the mountain?” Didn’t he like to borrow his sword? 

“The trial in the secret realm is approaching, and I didn’t want to disturb you. Who knew you would come down yourself?” Lu Xiaobai picked up a doll and fiddled with it. “But since you’re here, it’s fine for you to sit here.” 

Lu Xiaobai only learned in this life that Lin Ji liked bright colors, so he had to match it himself. 

But his taste was as good as his looks; although he liked the extravagant, he didn’t look tacky. Every time he changed his outfit, it was eye-catching, showing that he had been raised well as a wealthy young master in the mortal world. 

Before long, Lin Ji understood why Lu Xiaobai said it was good for him to sit here; the wooden doll immortal was mostly favored by women, and they stopped when they saw Lin Ji passing by. 

In white robes with red silk and long flowing hair, the rebellious beauty was hard to look away from. Soon, the stall was crowded with people, and the way every woman looked at him said it all. 

Lu Xiaobai took advantage of the situation and sold the dolls for twice the original price; after all, they were enchanted by his beauty and didn’t bargain. 

Lin Ji felt a surge of anger as he realized what was happening, but having been born into a wealthy family in the mortal world, he quickly understood Lu Xiaobai’s selling strategy. 

Suddenly, Lin Ji extended his hand, his slender eyes slightly misty, and spoke in a captivating tone: “Looking at me also requires a fee; one tael of silver for a stick of incense.” 

Lu Xiaobai looked at him: “?” 

One tael of silver was indeed expensive; although Lin Ji was worth it, the surrounding women wouldn’t dare spend their family’s food money just for a fleeting glance. 

A bold woman asked, “Why are you so expensive? Are you an immortal lord?” 

Lin Ji simply admitted, “Yes.” 

After saying that, he gathered spiritual power in his palm, manipulating fire and water, causing the crowd to gasp in amazement. 

In a moment of silence, another woman asked, “If we pool together one tael, can we see you for a stick of incense?” 

“No, you have countless pairs of eyes; wouldn’t I be at a loss?” 

“Then can we touch you? Or can you give us some small items? Otherwise, wouldn’t we be at a loss if we each paid one tael?” A woman dressed more luxuriously began to haggle; she was teachable. 

“No!” This time it was Lu Xiaobai who stood up, grabbing Lin Ji’s arm: “What are you all here for? I don’t do improper business here!” 

“…… Can we touch you?” 

Alright, the women saw Lin Ji’s suddenly sharp gaze and retreated, shifting from openly looking to secretly glancing. They couldn’t possibly charge for that, could they? 

They had asked if there were any wooden dolls of Lin Ji, and upon learning there were none, they could only regretfully take the remaining dolls and glance back at the real person as they left. 

The dolls were sold out, and the stall was successfully closed. 

Lu Xiaobai leaned on the wooden rack, looking at Lin Ji with a very indignant expression: “You came to stir up trouble, didn’t you?” 

“Didn’t we sell out?” Lin Ji retorted. 

He wasn’t stirring up trouble; he just enjoyed stealing Lu Xiaobai’s spotlight. 

This was the first time Lu Xiaobai was at a loss for words, and he was so angry he blew out a breath: “You really broadened my horizons; who uses people as merchandise?” 

First of all, wasn’t there a lot of that in the mortal world? Secondly, there was no such thing as a merchant who couldn’t let go of their pride. Lastly, his actions actually avoided being stared at. 

Lin Ji mentally listed a few rebuttals but chose not to say them. Instead, he happily leaned closer to Lu Xiaobai and said, “Dare you say you weren’t using me as merchandise just now? If I don’t charge, I’m the one at a loss.” 

After saying that, Lin Ji took a piece of broken silver from Lu Xiaobai’s palm, “I’ll take the handling fee.” 

Lu Xiaobai: “……” 

After Lin Ji walked away with his hands behind his back, Lu Xiaobai blinked, coming back to his senses. 

Soon, he used his spiritual power to collect the stall and quickly walked up to join Lin Ji, who was walking at a leisurely pace. 

At that moment, Lu Xiaobai was more angry than anything else, but as he reflected on it, he felt increasingly delighted. 

He had rarely seen Lin Ji smile like that in two lifetimes; suddenly, it seemed he was finally behaving in a way that matched his current age. 

“Ah Ji,” Lu Xiaobai suddenly called out, seeing Lin Ji turn his head to look at him, and quickly added, “It’s nothing.” 

I think you’re doing great like this. 

Lu Xiaobai swallowed the words in his throat; it was better not to break this unawareness. Making him realize it would only disrupt this moment. 

Lin Ji enjoyed watching Lu Xiaobai get flustered, especially because it was due to him. He felt quite good and even took the initiative to ask, “Do you have any goals in mind for this trip to the secret realm?” It couldn’t be that he was just there to participate. 

Lu Xiaobai’s eyes sparkled: “Of course, you’ll know in the future.” 

Lin Ji recalled how Lu Xiaobai had silently taken the first place in his previous life, and his heart sank, the excitement clouding his mind fading. 

What was wrong with him? Was what had just happened really worth being happy about? Winning against Lu Xiaobai in the secret realm was the real deal. 

Lin Ji’s good mood didn’t last long, and his expression returned to indifference. 

While Lu Xiaobai was feeling regret, he was suddenly called out: “You two, young masters!” 

Confirming they were being called, the two turned around to see an old man at a fortune-telling stall waving at them: “Care for a fortune?” 

Lin Ji was speechless, and Lu Xiaobai’s expression changed. 

Lin Ji: “Do you know who we are? Give us a fortune.” 

In the immortal sects, the teachings of Laozi and Zhuangzi were foundational, and divination was part of the required curriculum. If it came to fortune-telling, cultivators would know a bit, more or less. 

The old man stood up, pretending to be mysterious: “Not at all, even if you are immortal lords, as long as you haven’t ascended, you’re still human, and I can still read your fortunes. Just because you can doesn’t mean you’re proficient in this art.” 

“Do you believe that I don’t need your birth date and time? Just by looking at your faces and using my fingers to calculate, I can tell your destinies?” 

“But I don’t believe in fate.” 

Lu Xiaobai suddenly said, and Lin Ji was puzzled as to why his expression had turned serious. 

“But I was drawn to you and wanted to give you a reading.” The old man hurriedly walked over to him. 

As Lu Xiaobai passed by his stall, the fortune-teller seemed to see a flash of golden light, and the rare fate made him unable to sit still! 

“Looking at your face, you have a rare noble fate, and the outcome is excellent!” 

“I still need to take a closer look… I can also read bones; do you want to give it a try?” 

Lu Xiaobai helplessly emphasized, “I don’t want a reading.” 

“It’s fine; I can calculate with my fingers too!” The old man seemed not to have heard, continuing, “Your fate is extremely precious, it’s just…” 

Lu Xiaobai suddenly turned around and placed a piece of broken silver in the old man’s hand. 

The old man’s eyes lit up; he was very skilled in this art but was quite poor, rarely making a profit. The money Lu Xiaobai gave him was like a timely rain! 

The fortune-teller clicked his tongue, “But…” 

“There’s no but.” Lu Xiaobai placed another piece of broken silver in his palm, smiling. 

“Uh…” It seemed he wanted to hear good things; the fortune-teller hesitated for a long time before deciding to betray his professional ethics: “Next time you come, I’ll give you a 50% discount!” 

Lu Xiaobai turned and walked away. 

Lin Ji, confused, wanted to call him back, but upon hearing the fortune-teller’s praise of Lu Xiaobai’s noble fate, he stopped in his tracks, feeling gloomy again. 

Lu Xiaobai was indeed of noble fate; in this world, he was the protagonist, the chosen one. 

While he was just a supporting character. 

But why did Lu Xiaobai seem so unusual after hearing this? He had spent all the money he made from selling dolls. 

Lin Ji looked at the piece of broken silver in his palm; fortunately, he had taken one, or he would have lost everything. He thought to himself, trying to find humor in his misfortune. 

“Do you want a reading?” The old man asked enthusiastically when he saw Lin Ji stop. 

Lin Ji opened his mouth to curse: “Get lost.” 

The old man: “……” 

What was there to read about his miserable fate? His mood had been good today, but this old man had ruined it. 

Lin Ji glared at him fiercely, lifted his sword, and turned to leave. 

Indeed, fortune-telling was not an easy business. When encountering someone with a good attitude like Lu Xiaobai, it was fine, but when faced with someone like Lin Ji, it was a different story. 

The old man returned to his stall, shaking his head, recalling Lu Xiaobai: “Noble fate, with past setbacks, but after hardship comes peace.” 

“But…” 

Then he thought of Lin Ji and quickly calculated: “This kid with a bad attitude, I’ll give him a reading!” 

After a long time, the old man looked confused: “Why can’t I read anything at all?” 

Looking at this person, his features were stunningly beautiful, but being too outstanding wasn’t good either; he seemed to have a tendency towards a tragic fate… Now, however, his destiny was completely inscrutable. 

Great talents often hide in plain sight; there were a few masters among mortals. 

The old man endured the pain of backlash, his eyes shining: “This person is interesting; his future can be forged by himself; perhaps he will carve out a brand new path.” 

Three days later, the secret realm opened on time. 

All the disciples of the immortal sects gathered at the snowy peak of Wenda. The leaders of various sects joined forces to unleash their spiritual power, opening the secret realm. 

In mid-air, countless whirlpools opened, resembling entrances, yet each was unique. 

They had heard from the elders of each sect that entering different whirlpools would lead to completely different domains. 

The environments of these domains varied, and the monsters and beasts produced were also different, with varying strengths and dangers depending on luck. 

Each time they killed a monster, they would receive a spirit core, which represented their achievements, and they could use it to claim rewards from their sect upon exiting. 

Meng Wanqiu looked at his two disciples; he had already said what needed to be said before, and now he could only silently encourage them. 

Lu Xiaobai nodded at him, suddenly hearing a voice from the side that was more angry than authoritative: “Clearly, when I took you in, your talent was excellent, at least a heavenly spiritual root. Why have you made no progress in these years?” 

“If you fail to surpass others in the secret realm this time, don’t call me master in the future!” 

Lu Xiaobai looked over: Oh? Xuan Yi Zhenren? Scolding someone in public again? 

At a glance, Xuan Yi Zhenren looked worse than Ling Yun Zunzhe; although he was much younger than Meng Wanqiu, he appeared at least ten years older than his master, likely due to his unstable emotions. 

Lu Xiaobai became interested and quietly moved closer, wanting to see who Xuan Yi Zhenren’s unfortunate disciple was this time. 

Song Ruoci had been staring blankly with dead fish eyes, but now he perked up: “Is there such a good thing?” 

However, he wasn’t one to accept scolding; his master had just fallen back into the old habit of pushing his disciples! 

Song Ruoci smiled and looked up, suddenly asking loudly, “Master, have you been stuck at the Nascent Soul stage for decades?” 

Xuan Yi Zhenren was stunned. 

Song Ruoci began to output wildly: “People around your age have already become Dao Masters; why are you still just a Zhenren?” 

“Master, do you want me to write you a thirty-year Dao Master plan and a fifty-year Venerable plan? You can practice at home first! Or you can come with me to the secret realm; maybe you can gain insights and break through!” 

“Forget it; I just want to live peacefully and watch some plays in my spare time.” 

After finishing, Song Ruoci quickly jumped into the whirlpool, ignoring the suddenly quiet crowd. 

Lu Xiaobai almost wanted to applaud: “That’s exactly my type!” 

He carefully searched his mind for this disciple and found he had no impression of him at all; he could make friends! Moreover, if he wasn’t mistaken, the disciple had even nodded at him before entering. 

“Ah Ji, come and see…” This attitude is what we should aspire to! 

Lu Xiaobai turned around, only to find that Lin Ji had already disappeared. 

Meng Wanqiu couldn’t help but remind him: “Ah Ji was the first to jump in.” 

…Forget it, he really is ambitious. 

Disciples from various sects also took to the skies on their swords, jumping into the whirlpool. Lu Xiaobai found a low spot and walked in. 

“……” 

After a long time, Xuan Yi Zhenren finally reacted, furious, his voice echoing through the air: “Rebellious disciple!!” 

The elders were startled by the sudden commotion, and the sect leader of the Yunshang Immortal Sect quickly scolded: “Don’t shout on the snowy mountain!” 

Didn’t they have any common sense? 

However, it was useless; the snow… collapsed. 

In an instant, the Wenda Peak was filled with the figures of elders and powerful beings from various sects flying away on their swords to escape the avalanche.