Chapter 545 – The Path of Divine Souls, the High Grand Duke's Schemes

The sudden opening of the Divine Soul Realm’s gate took many by surprise.

According to estimates, this stage should have taken at least a few more days.

But no matter how unexpected, the allure of the World Secret Realm was irresistible. Any strong individual who could spare the effort sought to enter.

Danger? Where in the Eternal World wasn’t dangerous!

With the great calamity approaching, they had to compete even more fiercely—only through struggle could they secure more chances of survival.

Unlike when the Legendary Realm’s gate opened, the flow of people at the secret realm’s entrance was sparse now, with only a few Divine Soul Realm experts arriving from elsewhere.

The number of Divine Soul Realm experts was far fewer than that of the Heaven-Earth Realm to begin with.

However, if only one super expert could emerge from every ten or several dozen Heaven-Earth Realm cultivators, the proportion of “ordinary experts” to “world-class experts” in the Divine Soul Realm was much smaller.

At this moment, very few Legendary Realm experts were preparing to leave the secret realm.

After all, not long ago, the World Secret Realm had faced assaults from massive monster tides and monster legends. Those who deemed themselves insufficiently capable had already retreated.

The experts who remained inside the secret realm and possessed the ability to continue surviving and exploring were not intimidated by “mere” Divine Soul Realm opponents.

Almost all of them were at the peak of the Heaven-Earth Realm, or even experts of the ten-thousand-meter level.

Many among them were fully confident in their ability to step into the Divine Soul Realm. The reason they hadn’t broken through sooner was simply to solidify their foundations further, ensuring they could advance even farther in the future.

The generals of Tianyuan City also continued their exploration.

However, for the sake of caution, Mu Yuan arranged for T1-level experts to form pairs, or for one T1 expert to lead eight or nine T2 and T3 experts, forming a medium-sized squad.

Each squad maintained a certain distance from the others, allowing for timely support if needed.

This was the advantage of the Mental Sky Net—it could still provide precise positioning even in unfamiliar environments.

“Moreover, I can now enter the secret realm, and the Mental Sky Net’s capabilities can be fully utilized.”

Without waiting for Deadbone, Dolai, or the others to arrive, Mu Yuan took a few steps into the air and entered the secret realm.

He showed not the slightest hesitation.

After all, this was merely a secret realm that “could only accommodate up to the Divine Soul Realm.” Lord Mu prided himself on having combat power that rivaled 99.9% of Divine Soul Realm experts, and he held more than one ultimate trump card in his hands.

He was utterly confident.

As soon as he entered the secret realm, beyond the distorted spatial bubbles surged a tide of monsters, with visible Crimson Mist drifting above them.

At least twenty or thirty monster legends were crouched outside, lying in wait.

Mu Yuan also sensed some monster legends racing outward, likely in pursuit of the Divine Soul Realm experts who had entered the secret realm earlier.

There were no other living beings in the vicinity.

“Very well.”

Mu Yuan raised his palm high, and an enigmatic mark on the back of his hand appeared, radiating a cyan divine light.

Countless strands of cyan light intertwined, enveloping his entire form. In the blink of an eye, he transformed into a majestic, noble, azure divine bird with wings spanning dozens of meters.

Wind King’s Wings—Asun—Plus Edition!

Asun was merely an Epic Three-Star life form.

However, after the advancement of his Lord Power, Mu Yuan could not only unleash the majority of the Epic Skill’s capabilities but also achieve 120% effectiveness when utilizing his generals’ skills or talents.

120% × 99% was still far greater than 100%.Not to mention, Mu Yuan’s own basic three attributes, willpower, Divine Soul, and Domain far surpassed Asun’s.

Of course, if he were to utilize the power of Deadbone and Dolai, that would be a downgraded version—though not as severely downgraded as before.

The magnificent great bird appeared in the world, and with a single flap of its wings, it stirred the elemental tides of wind across tens of thousands of kilometers in all directions.

The purest and fiercest storm arrived later but struck first, shattering the Heaven-Earth power gathered by the monster Legends.

Immediately after,

“Hoo~”

Mu Yuan exhaled a breath, his sigh resembling that of a deity—distant and prolonged. It began as a soft murmur but quickly escalated into a thunderous roar.

The sighing wind swept across the heavens and earth.

One after another, the monster Legends froze mid-air, their bodies completely pulverized. Under the assault of the raging wind, they dissipated like sand, leaving not a single fragment of bone behind.

“Gulp~!”

A Soul Realm existence who had just stepped into the Secret Realm stared at the twenty to thirty monster Legends gradually turning to dust and couldn’t help but swallow hard.

How could a Soul Realm be this absurd?! When surrounded and attacked by multiple Heaven-Earth Realm beings, one could only flee in disarray.

Who had ever heard of a single sigh annihilating countless Legends?!

The outside world was too terrifying. Was it too risky for him to venture into a World Secret Realm?!

Mu Yuan glanced at this unfamiliar Soul Realm figure but paid no further mind. As if piloting a ‘Super Wind King’s Wings’ mecha, he willed the massive form to soar upward and vanish into the clouds.

At the same time,

Deadbone, Dolai, and Isloria were also rushing toward the Secret Realm entrance via the Star Gate.

The A Sun Number was transporting several injured and weakened Tianyuan City Legends back while also picking up Deadbone and the others.

—After all, the world outside the Secret Realm still needed Legendary Realm guardians.

Even though hundreds of Tianyuan City elites—more than half of whom possessed Domains—could easily handle not just one or two Legends but even ten or twenty when working together.

…

Simultaneously,

Shortly after the Soul Realm gate opened, various World Secret Realm entrances within the Land of Red Mist also welcomed numerous Soul Realm existences.

Among them were no shortage of world-class powerhouses.

The path of monster ascension differs from that of living beings. In the first stage of Legend, the Heaven-Earth Realm, monsters don’t have particularly outstanding powerhouses. But by the second stage, the Soul Realm, the distinctions between strong and weak, ordinary and exceptional become starkly apparent.

Only a very few exceptional individuals have the chance to advance to the Law Realm, or even progress further.

It is for this reason that Dragon’s Slumber Valley established the title ‘Hunting Grand Duke,’ alongside other titles symbolizing world-class powerhouses such as ‘Flesh Wall,’ ‘Gnawing Swarm,’ and ‘Shadow Grand Duke.’

Take ‘Hunting Grand Duke Eye Blade,’ for example. His frontal combat prowess isn’t vastly superior to that of an ordinary Soul Realm being, but his signature killing move, the Eye Blade, can effortlessly slay common Heaven-Earth Realm beings as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables.

He can rapidly eliminate large numbers of Heaven-Earth Realm existences.

Thus, he is recognized as a world-class powerhouse and granted an honorary title.

At this moment, world-class monsters were breaking into Secret Realms across the Land of Red Mist.

“I, Pupil Blade, have returned!”

Pupilblade Grand Duke roared, his eyes blazing with golden light as his petite form shot into the Secret Realm.

In another location,

A massive serpent was crunching and squeezing its way into the Secret Realm entrance.This is the Fallen God’s servant, ‘Great Serpent’.

“For the great Serpent God!”

In the region of Dragon’s Slumber Valley bordering the Ten Directions Island Region.

A colossal dragon beast of immense size was concealed within the thick Crimson Mist, its eyes blazing like two scorching suns.

—Firewing Grand Duke!

He cast his gaze southward, as if trying to pierce through the boundary barrier to the city on the vast land beyond.

However, being only at the Law Realm, he was still unable to project his gaze across domains.

“The gate to the Soul Realm has opened. Now is likely the most vulnerable moment for that human Tianyuan City.”

Over the past period, Firewing Grand Duke had made extensive preparations.

Superior plan, middle plan, inferior plan.

And a contingency for failure.

By exploiting the celestial rift and employing a certain degree of sacrifice and strategy, he was confident he could manifest his true form in the Ten Directions Island Region.

Even so, he continued to wait, biding his time for a more opportune moment.

The opening of the World Secret Realm meant both timing and terrain were in his favor.

“Just a little longer, just a bit more. Wait until the strong ones of Tianyuan City delve deeper into the secret realm, then…”

He could commence his plan to annihilate the human Tianyuan City.

Perhaps, he, Firewing Grand Duke, wouldn’t even need to take action personally.

“Human territory…”

Truth be told, a mere human lord wasn’t even worthy of being targeted by their Dragon’s Slumber Valley.

What did it matter if he was a prodigy lord who repeatedly created miracles?

Even if this human could become a top-tier Law Realm expert in the future, or even transcend beyond the Law Realm, his impact on the grand scheme would still be negligible.

Had it not been for this Tianyuan Lord repeatedly obstructing their plans, the King wouldn’t have even been aware of such a minor lord.

“Destroying the territory is the middle plan.”

Firewing Grand Duke pondered, “It’s indeed not as thorough as the superior plan, but it’s more reliable and offers better chances. Moreover, the speed of a Miracle Lord’s advancement is related to ‘heavenly fortune.’ Destroying this territory and sacrificing the Lord Altar would be equivalent to severing some of this human’s ‘destined fate.’ Thereafter, this human would no longer be able to advance with such unstoppable momentum.”

Many powerful beings initially progressed by leaps and bounds, but after suffering a major setback, even if they recovered later, they would gradually fade into mediocrity, losing their peerless brilliance.

The reason Firewing Grand Duke had schemed for so long wasn’t merely to eliminate a human genius lord; what he truly desired was…

Sacrifice!

“Tianyuan City’s rapid development must mean it’s a Miracle Territory blessed by the world.”

“Sacrificing such a territory would bring me countless benefits. In the future, I might even have a chance to ascend to the Saint Realm.”

…

Mu Yuan was unaware that Firewing Grand Duke was poised to strike. If he had known, he would have warmly welcomed this ‘old friend.’

At the moment, he was rampaging through the World Secret Realm.

Even though he was merely borrowing Asun’s form, combined with his own extraordinary stats, Perfect Domain Realm, and perfect divine foundation, no one could withstand a single blow from him.

“Steady, steady.”

“The top priority is to find an Opportunity Treasure Land that can enhance the Divine Soul.”

He introspected.

Above his flawless, brilliantly golden divine foundation lay a Divine Soul resembling a golden sword.

This Divine Soul was already formidable, having evolved from the Perfect Domain Realm and perfect divine foundation.

But it was far from reaching its maximum potential.

Not even one-tenth.

Theoretically, he was merely a newly advanced Soul Realm cultivator.”The stronger the Divine Soul, the more Incarnations one can split off, and the more power one can exert upon descent.”

“Additionally, as the Divine Soul strengthens, the perception of the Legendary Realm will significantly improve, and Willpower Light and Heart Light will also experience a certain degree of enhancement.”

The latter reflects the combat power improvement in the Soul Realm.

Enhanced perception allows one to evade danger and expand the range of elemental command; Willpower Light and Heart Light can boost resistance in certain aspects.

However, unless one possesses an Epic ability to utilize Willpower Light, the combat power improvement in the Soul Realm compared to the Heaven-Earth Realm is indeed minimal.

It is a transitional stage.

Even so,

“Before refining my Divine Soul to Perfection, I cannot Breakthrough to the Law Realm, even though I already hold the key to entering it.”

This hurdle, reputed to be even harder to overcome than the chasm of the Legendary Realm, is almost negligible in his eyes.

He could even force a Breakthrough now.

But doing so would be equivalent to severing his own Foundation and cutting off his future.

“The Taixuan Alliance lacks any Treasure Lands for Soul Realm cultivation, and such cultivation Treasures are exceedingly rare.”

“If I don’t want to spend a great deal of time in the Soul Realm, I must find corresponding Opportunities Inside the Secret Realm.”

Whether it’s Treasures or Treasure Lands, either will do!

Among the Treasures acquired in recent days, there were indeed items for cultivation.

The Epic Material ‘Extreme God Water’!

A consumable Treasure that continuously strengthens one’s Divine Soul, though its value falls short of true Epic Treasures.

Most importantly, there’s too little of it.

What can one portion of Extreme God Water accomplish?

It’s not even enough for one person, let alone the large number of dependents he has to support.

Whoosh—

After soaring over the monster tide and entering the deeper parts of the Secret Realm, Mu Yuan dispersed the power of the Wind King’s Wings, Asun, and switched to using the power of the ‘Sophia.’

Countless Black Crows fluttered out in all directions.

By this point, Treasures and Treasure Lands had become much scarcer, and even with Sophia’s power, he couldn’t quickly locate any Treasures.

He merely picked up an Epic Treasure, the ‘Law Stele · Wind,’ casually along the way.

Beep—!

The Mental Link suddenly vibrated, a message coming through.

One of his subordinates had found a similar Opportunity Treasure Land!

“Indeed, having many capable subordinates makes all the difference—I don’t have to toil away searching myself.”

At this stage in the Secret Realm, he estimated there weren’t many territories that could assemble more exploration squads than his.

After all, he had over a dozen squads!

The one who discovered the Opportunity Treasure Land was Sario’s squad.

Sario’s squad consisted of nine Legendary Realm members: Sario himself, Bone Two Three Four, Azure Frost and Cold Frost, Kibi, as well as Hundred Fierce and Soul Loss.

They were stationed in front of the Opportunity Treasure Land and had already repelled two groups of explorers attempting to seize it.

Suddenly,

A ferocious, colossal serpent head emerged from the white mist, followed by a majestic serpent body several times larger than an entire skyscraper.

It revealed itself, its large and small serpent eyes like shimmering sun and moon in the high sky, gazing down upon the figures below.

“It’s the Fallen God Attendant · Great Serpent! A terrifying being who commands gravity and the power of Devour!”

A certain Legendary Realm expert, who had just broken through the mist and caught sight of both the Treasure Land and the Great Serpent’s shadow, trembled as he spoke.

With that, he turned and fled into the distance without looking back.Great Serpent! Among world-class powerhouses, he is a powerhouse himself, and the projections he descends are nightmares for countless ordinary Lords.

The number of Miracle Lords who have fallen to Great Serpent’s maw must be in the thousands, tens of thousands, or even more.

He is a being of immense terror!

“It’s the Fallen Divine Attendant—Great Serpent, awoo!”

Sario wagged his tail and spoke excitedly.

Their team had originally set out to find Great Serpent’s true form in the Shenluo Great Domain. For this, he had been so thrilled that he rolled around in a graveyard and had repeatedly practiced simulated battles against Great Serpent.

Little did they expect that, without finding the Shenluo Great Domain, they would run into him Inside the Secret Realm.

“Excellent!”

Several Tianyuan Experts let out excited roars.

(End of Chapter)