4377 Three Months Later
Duan Ling Tian was so focused on cultivating that he lost track of time completely. He did not even use his Divine Consciousness to monitor his surroundings. He only left a small opening in Little World so the Five Divine Elements could protect him.
With the help of the divine fountain, the Five Divine Elements had recovered significantly. They could now protect Duan Ling Tian while they continued to recover. Although he was in a precarious situation, none of them had any complaints. After all, it was difficult for them to have a better future if they left Duan Ling Tian. If he managed to grow stronger, escape from this place, and became a supreme powerhouse in the future, their future would be very bright. If they switched to another host, not only was there no guarantee the other party might become a supreme powerhouse, but the other party might not trust them as well. Even if the other party was highly talented and could become a supreme powerhouse, there was also a chance the other party could die prematurely.
In the Five Divine Elements’ eyes, Duan Ling Tian was extremely lucky. They had witnessed his growth, and all of them were certain he would become a supreme powerhouse. He was undoubtedly the best host they could find.
Duan Ling Tian was also aware of the Five Divine Elements’ thoughts so he felt rest assured and left them to guard him. Moreover, in this place, the Five Divine Elements only needed to protect him from the other prodigies. If the Crimson Demon, who was a supreme powerhouse, attacked him, he would not be able to defend himself even if he was not cultivating, let alone Five Divine Elements.
‘The divine fountain is truly miraculous. My soul feels refreshed, and I seem to perceive the world in a different way now. Although it was easy for me to perceive Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy in the past, it’s even easier now…’
Duan Ling Tian, who was cultivating, felt as though he was one with the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy. He discovered that he could easily absorb the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy. Not only that, but the liquid from the divine fountain was also emitting an energy similar to the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy. As that energy grew stronger, his cultivation speed increased again.
While Duan Ling Tian was focused on cultivating, he was suddenly awakened by a voice that seemed to reverberate in his soul.
“Everyone, prepare yourselves! After three months, you’ll enter a secret realm. It’s the same as before. I’ll those who refuse to enter the secret realm. I hope all of you don’t make a mistake…”
Duan Ling Tian naturally recognized the voice that interrupted his cultivation. It was the voice of the Crimson Demon, the owner of the Crimson Demon Ridge who imprisoned him here.
Duan Ling Tian’s expression was solemn at this moment. His heart, which had calmed down, began to grow restless again. He was like an ant in front of the Crimson Demon, who was a supreme powerhouse. As such, how could he dare to refuse to enter the secret realm when ordered by the Crimson Demon?
‘I don’t know when I’ll become a supreme powerhouse… Currently, even if I find that supreme powerhouse from a soul clan who merged with Yun Qing Yan, there’s nothing I can do since I’m no match for him. How can I force him to release Ke’er’s soul?’
When Duan Ling Tian thought about this, his eyes shone with determination. His desire to grow stronger intensified.
After calming down, Duan Ling Tian continued to cultivate.
…
At this time, in the Crimson Demon’s Little World.
The other prodigies were not as calm as Duan Ling Tian was.
A young man walked out of his cultivation ground and met up with the other prodigies. He said with a bitter and helpless smile on his face, “The Crimson Demon is going to open another secret realm again… This time, among the 31 of us, I don’t know how many will survive…”
“No, there are now 32 of us,” another young man said as he shook his head, “Two years ago, a newcomer came. He’s an intermediate Supreme God. He was only seen when he first appeared. I haven’t seen him since. He’s quite patient and calm…”
“Indeed.”
The other prodigies agreed with these words.
“He might have been calm before, but I’m not sure he’ll be able to keep calm now. I know where his cultivation ground is. Let’s make a bet. I bet that he’ll come out soon.”
“I won’t bet with you on this. The possibility of losing is high.”
In the end, only one young man took the bet.
The result came quickly as well; the person who initiated the bet lost.
Even a few days after the Crimson Demon’s announcement about the secret realm, no one saw Duan Ling Tian coming out of his cultivation ground.
“He’s really calm…”
Although the person lost the bet, he did not have any complaints. However, he really did not expect that a newcomer who was only an intermediate Supreme God was able to maintain his composure for so long.
…
There were still many people who were still injured from their last visit to a secret realm and had yet to recover. As such, when they learned that they would have to enter another secret realm in three months, their hearts sank. There was no doubt that their trip to the secret realm would be even more dangerous now that they were injured.
At this time, Wang Yi Yuan, the person whom Duan Ling Tian was most familiar with in this place, walked out of his cultivation ground with a grim expression on his face.
“I didn’t expect him to open a secret realm again so soon. The last time he opened a secret realm was nine years ago. When there were no newcomers, he only opened a secret realm once every twenty years. Even when someone new came, he would only open a secret realm once every ten years. Brother Ling Tian has only been here for a few years, but he’s already going to open a secret realm. What’s wrong? Is he growing impatient to find a body to possess? I thought Brother Ling Tian’s arrival will delay the opening of another secret realm for another few years. Who knew it’ll be the other way around?”
Wang Yi Yuan was understandably upset. Perhaps, if Duan Ling Tian did not come, the Crimson Demon would only open a secret realm seven years later at least.
Based on past patterns, instead of once every twenty years, the Crimson Demon would open a secret realm once every ten years.
Wang Yi Yuan thought he would have more time to heal his injuries before the secret realm opened again. He did not expect that it would be brought forward.
‘I’ll definitely die in the secret realm this time,’ Wang Yi Yuan thought to himself, feeling worried.
“Wang Yi Yuan!”
At this moment, while Wang Yi Yuan was still depressed, a young man with a dark expression on his face flew over from the distance and asked, “How much of your injuries did you recover?”
Wang Yi Yuan looked at the young man and shook his head. “What about you?”
Similar to Wang Yi Yuan, the young man was seriously injured during the last trip in the secret realm.
The young man’s expression was gloomy as he said in a deep voice, “I’ve only recovered about 60% to 70% of my injuries. If the secret realm opens as usual, I’m sure I would’ve healed my injuries completely at that time. I really didn’t expect the Crimson Demon to open a secret realm ahead of schedule. It’s all that newcomer’s fault!”
The young man clearly resented Duan Ling Tian.
Wang Yi Yuan shook his head and said, “You can’t say that. It might not have anything to do with him. Even if it really has something to do with him, it’s all the Crimson Demon’s decision. Moreover, we don’t know for sure. Perhaps, the Crimson Demon has long planned to open the secret realm in advance.”
Wang Yi Yuan’s attitude was very different from that of the young man.
The young man glanced at Wang Yi Yuan and said tonelessly, “Wang Yi Yuan, I heard people say that you’re quite close to the newcomer. I didn’t expect you to take his side despite only knowing him for a short time. No matter what, he annoys me! This is all his fault!”
In fact, it was understandable that the young man blamed Duan Ling Tian. After all, before Duan Ling Tian’s arrival, the secret realm would open on schedule. After Duan Ling Tian came, the schedule was brought forward. How could there be such a coincidence?
“Like I said before, it might not have anything to do with him,” Wang Yi Yuan said with a helpless smile, “Perhaps, the Crimson Demon is impatient to find a suitable body to possess. The timing is indeed strange. In any case, before he came, the situation in the secret realms had grown increasingly brutal. More and more people died each time. You don’t think that’s normal, right? In the past, the number of people who died in the secret realms was roughly the same. However, the number has been increasing and more than doubled.”
Although Wang Yi Yuan’s words made sense, the young man clearly did not want to listen to his words. As soon as Wang Yi Yuan finished speaking, he frowned and left after scoffing.
Wang Yi Yuan sighed helplessly as he watched the young man leave. His eyes shone with despair as he murmured, “It seems like I won’t be able to return to the clan again in this life… I really didn’t expect my journey to come to an end so soon. If only I could turn back time, I wouldn’t have left the clan…”
…
At this time, there were many people in the Crimson Demon’s Little World who were despairing like Wang Yi Yuan. Nonetheless, they gathered themselves after a while and prepared to enter the secret realm that would open in three months.