A pale white vortex hung silently in the depths of the abandoned mine shaft, its edges swirling with faint glimmers of Five Elements spiritual light. At first glance, it appeared utterly ordinary.

In the eyes of the gathered experts, the entrance looked no different from any common portal to a minor realm. Generally, the paler the dominant color of such a gate, the lower the spiritual energy contained within; a world with sparse energy usually meant a lower threat level.

The faint Five Elements glow at the vortex’s edge indicated the presence of all five primordial elements—a common characteristic for a stable, self-contained world.

“Heh, it does indeed seem ordinary,” Xingyin chuckled. “However, when I deployed the Heaven Net Sealing Boundary Formation, the entrance began to tremble violently, nearly breaking free from its anchor. That alone indicates this realm is far from simple.”

The others nodded in agreement. A secret realm was essentially a miniature version of a minor world, and its entrance was typically fixed in place, much like the portal to the Liang Kingdom.

For it to resist the Heaven Net Sealing Boundary Formation and attempt to escape suggested a high level of autonomy; at the very least, the world possessed a will of its own.

“Something is coming out,” Wangya said thoughtfully. He watched the vortex, the first to notice the shift in the spiritual tide.

As the words left his lips, Zhiyin stepped out from the swirling white mist.

Supervisor Zhiyin possessed fourteen identical puppets, each bearing her name. To distinguish them, each was marked with a number embroidered upon its chest. This time, it was Zhiyin Seven who emerged, while Zhiyin Two remained outside with the group.

“What did you find?” the group asked in unison.

Zhiyin Seven’s beautiful face was etched with a solemn expression. “It is too normal. The interior looks like a standard minor world—there is a small country and a population of mortals. The territory isn’t vast, roughly the size of Yunshui City’s jurisdiction.”

“There is even a struggling cultivation sect inside,” she continued. “The sect leader is only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. I even questioned the ruler of the country; he is a mere mortal who knows nothing of the outside world.”

Typically, secret realms were either the hidden abodes of ancient powers or nests for fierce beasts. One that functioned as a mundane minor world was, in itself, an abnormality.

“Should we send more people in to investigate?” Liu Huaigu suggested.

Several elders immediately agreed. Everyone present was a top-tier expert; they were not about to be intimidated by a minor world of mortals. According to the divination, Jianchen was hiding inside. If Zhiyin Seven couldn’t find him, a collective search would surely uncover the truth.

“A pale white vortex with a Five Elements glow… mortals inside, resembling a minor world…” Wangya frowned, a sudden epiphany striking him like a bolt of lightning.

“Everyone, wait!”

The group startled at his sudden outburst.

“Does this description not sound exactly like the realm where Wangchuan and Xuanzhou were lost two hundred years ago?” Wangya’s voice turned ice-cold.

He recalled Nangong Yao’s detailed report from that era: a pale white vortex, the circulation of the Five Elements, and a mortal kingdom hiding lethal, unseen dangers.

While the others were not entirely clear on the details, Wangya, having served as the Chief Internal Affairs Elder, connected the dots instantly.

He recounted Nangong Yao’s description. The tragic loss of that expedition was a dark chapter of history they had all heard of.

Back then, Yun Wanqing’s husband, Xuanzhou, had led a party including the Spirit Sword Peak Master Wangchuan, his head disciple, and Nangong Yao. Of the six Golden Core cultivators, only Nangong Yao had escaped by relying on a one-time ephemeral artifact.

“Send word to Nangong Yao!” Wangya commanded sharply. “Tell her to get here immediately!”

The moment he spoke, the secret realm entrance trembled violently. The formation stones embedded in the surrounding ground cracked with a sickening crunch, their spiritual energy being siphoned away like a receding tide.

“It’s trying to escape!” Elder Xingyin roared. Several golden talismans shot from his sleeve, transforming into ethereal chains that bound the edges of the vortex. “Heaven Net Sealing Boundary Formation—suppress!”

Boom!

A blinding eruption of spiritual light followed. The vortex contorted and shrieked before slowly stabilizing, but its edges had already begun to fade into transparency.

Xingyin’s gaze was like lightning. “We can hold the gate for a quarter-hour at most before it teleports! If it moves, we may never find it again.”

Wangya stared into the vortex, his eyes icy. “The moment we mentioned Xuanzhou, it tried to flee… there is definitely a problem.” He paused, then added, “Contact the Cloud Raiment Pavilion as well. Request their best divination and formation masters for support.”

“It’s too late for that,” a voice noted.

Wangya sighed heavily. “I want to inform Wanqing. Xuanzhou might still be alive in there.”

Though he had harbored a secret affection for Yun Wanqing for years, Xuanzhou had been his brother-in-arms. The possibility that his friend was still trapped stirred a desperate hope within him.

Liu Huaigu asked quietly, “Should we notify Li Fuxi? Her master was Wangchuan…”

Wangya shook his head. “No. Not yet.”

If Li Fuxi knew, she would charge in without a second thought. Given the bizarre nature of this realm, it already exceeded his expectations of danger. Moreover, unlike Xuanzhou, it was confirmed that Wangchuan had perished during that initial expedition.

The group deliberated rapidly and decided on a scouting party: Zhiyin Two, Liu Huaigu, and Han Lie would enter, accompanied by one formation elder from both the Yunmiao Sect and the Great Xia Imperial Court.

Elder Xingyin performed a final divination for the group. The omen indicated “moderate good fortune.”

Looking at his old friend, Liu Huaigu, Xingyin felt a sudden, inexplicable tightening in his chest. He raised a hand. “Wait!”

“Old Liu,” Xingyin said, “Zhiyin’s account suggests this realm might obscure heavenly secrets or project illusions. I worry you won’t find the truth on your own. Let me go in your place.”

Liu Huaigu frowned. “Old fellow, you are a Main Peak Master. You shouldn’t be the one taking such risks.”

Xingyin offered a wry smile. “What risk? My divinations never err unless the opponent is a god of the craft. I am the best suited to see through the lies of that place.”

Liu Huaigu hesitated, then nodded. “Fine. But be extremely careful.”

Before they departed, Wangya pressed a jade token into Xingyin’s hand. “This is Xuanzhou’s identity jade. It contains his aura. If this truly is that same realm, check the imperial mausoleum…”

The elders nodded and stepped into the vortex. As they vanished, Wangya’s heart suddenly sank, as if an invisible hand had gripped his soul.

The agreed-upon protocol was for Zhiyin Two to send out one puppet doll every half-hour to relay their progress.

When the first interval passed, the vortex trembled. A wooden puppet stepped out, its voice mechanical and flat:

“The masters have arrived at the royal city.”

“The mortals here have abnormal lifespans, averaging only forty years.”

“We have located the imperial mausoleum but have not entered. We are discussing the next step.”

The group outside waited in tense silence. Wangya received a message from Yun Wanqing:

Hold the entrance at all costs. I am coming with all speed.

Just as Wangya prepared to reply, the vortex twisted wildly. The chains of the Heaven Net Sealing Boundary Formation shattered like glass.

“Not good!” Han Yichen shouted. “The entrance is collapsing!”

Boom!

As the dust settled, the vortex was gone. Only scorched earth remained where the gate had stood.

Zhiyin Seven remained calm. “It’s fine. As soon as the second puppet emerges, I can lock onto the new coordinates—”

She froze mid-sentence, her wooden eyes widening. “Zhiyin Two’s core… has been dismantled.”

The faces of everyone present turned deathly pale. Wangya roared, “Check the Longevity Hall! Check the soul lamps of the elders!”

If a soul lamp went out, it meant the total demise of both body and spirit.

Seconds later, a disciple’s trembling voice came through the communication jade:

“Elder Xingyin and Formation Elder Song… their soul lamps have both gone out!”

At the Yunmiao Sect’s Longevity Hall, the heavy mourning bells suddenly began to toll, their mournful peals echoing through the mountains.

Dang… Dang… Dang…

The sound lingered, refusing to fade.

Disciples looked toward the peaks, their faces drained of blood. “The mourning bells only ring nine times for the highest tragedy. This time… it rang eight times. A Grand Elder has fallen.”

When the seventy-two peak masters of the past had passed, the bells had only tolled seven times.

Hearing the bells from his courtyard, Zhang Xian felt an inexplicable wave of sorrow wash over him. His communication jade chimed. He opened the message, and his face instantly lost all color.