The morning air grew crisp as two figures streaked across the sky, soaring thirty miles south from Mist Town toward the Crimson-Cavern Ravine.
Su Yan flew through the air wrapped in a radiant aura of golden Phoenix fire, a standard flying ability of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Beside her, Gu Chen drifted through the clouds with total ease. Though his outward cultivation appeared to be a mere 9th-Stage Qi Refining weakling who shouldn't be able to fly, he casually tread upon the air using an ancient Sovereign spatial step, making invisible ripples in the atmosphere beneath his boots.
Gu Chen's dark robes whipped in the wind as he flew. Beside him, Su Yan adjusted her golden hairpins mid-flight, her face still carrying a faint, flushed warmth from their midnight dual cultivation session.
While staring out over the mountain ridges below, Gu Chen focused his consciousness inward, opening a direct mental link to the blue interface floating in his mind's eye.
‘Parasite,’ Gu Chen sneered silently in his mind, his soul voice dripping with cold, abyssal authority. ‘Speak. What is the true origin of your existence? A divine artifact? A residual soul of an ancient Dao Ancestor? Or a curse left by the Higher Realms?’
A cheerful, golden notification box flashed directly before his mental vision.
[DING!]
[System Notice: Host, I am the Supreme Virtuous Moral Rehabilitation Interface! My sole cosmic purpose is to guide lost, bloodthirsty souls onto the glorious Path of Righteousness! Sparkle, sparkle!]
‘Virtuous?’ Gu Chen’s mental laughter was dark and mocking. ‘You bind yourself to my soul, monitor my actions, and reward me for playing the saint. Do you truly think an ancient Demonic Sovereign cannot see through your crude shackles? Once my cultivation reaches the Golden Core Realm and my soul force recovers, I will drag you out of my dantian and refine your entity into lamp oil.’
[System Notice: Violence against your loving System is strictly against the Rules of Virtue! Please remember: Evil deeds bring karmic tribulation, while good deeds bring heavenly rewards! Let us spread love and peace throughout the Eastern Azure Kingdom together, Host! You can do it!]
Gu Chen closed his mental eye, a cold sneer curling his lips.
He didn't believe a single word of its cheery, cartoonish persona. In the higher realms, any entity that disguised itself as a benevolent benefactor always harbored an insidious, parasitic motive. For now, the System was useful, it provided Qi stones, system alerts, and raw resources. But Gu Chen made a silent vow: the moment he reclaimed his apex power, he would tear this "Righteous System" apart and consume its core.
"Gu Chen, look," Su Yan’s voice broke his thoughts, her hand lightly touching his forearm as they descended from the clouds. "We’ve arrived."
Gu Chen opened his eyes.
A few miles ahead, a massive, jagged fissure tore across the earth, the Crimson-Cavern Ravine. From the depths of the dark subterranean pit, a towering 300-foot pillar of crimson light shot straight into the clouds, bathing the entire sky in a blood-red haze. The air reeked of ancient sulfur, dense earth Qi, and the intoxicating aroma of buried spiritual treasures.
Gathered around the edges of the vast ravine were hundreds of cultivators. Rogue mercenaries, local clan elders, and uniformed disciples from various regional sects had established temporary encampments, waiting for the subterranean gravity arrays to completely collapse.
Su Yan and Gu Chen glided down from the sky, landing gracefully upon a high stone plateau overlooking the ravine.
The moment they touched down, several eyes from the crowd turned toward them in shock.
"Look! Isn't that Fairy Su Yan, the lead disciple of Lotus-Phoenix Peak?" a rogue cultivator whispered.
"It is! But... who is that young man stepping down from the sky beside her?! He only radiates Qi Refining aura, yet he was flying on air without a sword?!"
Before Su Yan could answer the murmurs, a sudden burst of scorching heat erupted from the sky above.
RUMBLE!
A massive, crimson-gilded carriage pulled by four fiery spiritual beasts slammed onto the plateau with a heavy thud, sending a wave of hot wind blowing through the crowd.
The door of the carriage burst open, and a tall, broad-shouldered young man stepped out. He wore luxurious gold-and-red inner court robes, a blazing sun emblem embroidered over his chest, and a heavy fire-sword slung across his back.
This was Huo Tian, the arrogant lead disciple of Sun-Refining Peak and the favored scion of the influential Huo Clan.
Having recently broken through to the Early Foundation Establishment Realm, Huo Tian’s fiery aura flared outwards without restraint, crushing the pressure of the surrounding Qi Refining loose cultivators. Among the younger generation of the Sun-Moon Sect, his talent was considered top-tier.
Yet, as Huo Tian’s oppressive pressure washed over Gu Chen, the former Sovereign didn't even blink.
Huo Tian’s fiery eyes scanned the plateau, instantly locking onto Su Yan. A broad, confident smile spread across his face as he strutted over. "Junior Sister Su! I heard rumors that you were traveling near Mist Town, but I didn't believe it until-"
Huo Tian froze mid-sentence. His eyes drifted from Su Yan’s radiant face down to her side, where Gu Chen stood with his hands tucked casually inside his sleeves.
Huo Tian’s smile vanished, replaced by an instant wave of pure, burning jealousy. He had been pursuing Su Yan for two years, only to be met with her legendary, icy indifference. Yet here she was, traveling through the sky side-by-side with an unknown youth!
"Who is this trash?" Huo Tian demanded, his voice dropping into a harsh, hostile bark as his Foundation Establishment aura surged. "Junior Sister Su, why are you traveling alongside a ragged, low-born 9th-Stage Qi Refining pest? Did this beggar trick you?"
Su Yan’s face instantly hardened, her ruby eyes turning as cold as glaciers as she stepped slightly in front of Gu Chen.
"Senior Brother Huo, watch your mouth," Su Yan snapped coldly, her tone laced with sharp warning. "Gu Chen is an honored guest of Lotus-Phoenix Peak, personally invited by me. His standing is no concern of yours."
Huo Tian’s jaw clenched, the veins on his neck bulging. Seeing the proud, unattainable Fairy Su Yan actively defending another man made his blood boil with humiliation.
"Invited by you?!" Huo Tian sneered, glaring at Gu Chen like a hawk looking at a snake. "Boy, I don't know what cheap tricks you used to fool Junior Sister Su, but inside the Crimson-Cavern Secret Realm, status means nothing. Keep your filthy eyes off her, or I'll personally break your legs and throw you to the fire beasts!"
Gu Chen stood at his full height, looking down at Huo Tian with hollow, deadpan violet eyes. He didn't even bother to respond. The loud barking of an insect wasn't worth a single breath of his energy.
Before Huo Tian’s temper could explode further, another arrogant laugh echoed from a nearby stone pavilion.
"Huo Tian, as hot-headed and uncouth as ever," a tall, handsome youth in silver sword robes stepped forward, flanked by four armed clan guards. His chest bore the crest of the Lin Clan, the number one noble clan of the Eastern Azure Kingdom.
This was Lin Feng, the famed genius sword cultivator of Heavenly Sword Peak and the Young Master of the Lin Clan.
Unlike Huo Tian, Lin Feng had already forged his physical frame into the Start of the Bone Refining Realm. His bones were tempered with sharp, metallic sword Qi, granting him physical durability and striking power that far surpassed ordinary cultivators of his generation.
Lin Feng glanced at Gu Chen with supreme condescension, as if gazing upon a speck of dust beneath his boots. "A 9th-Stage Qi Refining loose cultivator entering a secret realm is nothing more than cannon fodder. Senior Brother Huo, why waste your breath on a dead man walking?"
Lin Feng turned his eyes toward the glowing crimson fissure, his gaze burning with undisguised greed.
Three hundred years ago, the Blood-Flame Sovereign, a legendary Core Formation Master who wielded a terrifying, blood-soaked demon blade ruled over the ancient Blood-Sky Dynasty. Driven by brutal ambition, he attempted to conquer the entire world, nearly wiping out three major sects before a joint alliance of ten nations finally mortally wounded him, forcing him to seal himself beneath this very ravine.
As a sword cultivator, Lin Feng’s true motive for entering this realm was to claim that legendary sealed sword for himself, using its ancient killing intent to push his sword technique to the peak.
Gu Chen captured Lin Feng's subtle, greedy glance toward the fissure. A dark, predatory smirk carved across Gu Chen's handsome face as he casually eyed both young masters.
To Gu Chen, their grand titles and arrogant cultivation realms were completely laughable. He didn't see geniuses; he saw two walking spatial rings packed with spirit stones and weapons, eagerly preparing to deliver their treasures straight to him.
Suddenly, the ambient temperature across the entire plateau plummeted violently!
A freezing, frost-laden gale swept over the ravine, turning the surrounding pine trees white with delicate icicles. The crowded cultivators gasped, hurriedly parting to create a wide path.
Gliding down through the icy mist was a magnificent flying chariot drawn by two Frost-Phoenix birds.
As the chariot settled onto the ground, a single figure stepped out.
She wore pristine white-and-blue robes belonging to the Celestial Frost Sect, the number one rival power of the Sun-Moon Sect. Her long, silver-white hair cascaded down her back like a frozen waterfall, framing a face of ethereal, breathtaking perfection. Her skin was as pale as carved jade, and her eyes resembled two clear, icy sapphires.
This was Ye Hanling, the famous twenty-year-old "Ice Empress," lead disciple of the Celestial Frost Sect and daughter of the elite Ye Imperial Clan.
At just twenty years of age, she had already cultivated to the Late Foundation Realm, making her one of the most formidable prodigies in the kingdom. Combined with her legendary Nine-Cold Absolute Yin Physique, her icy presence alone was enough to suppress ordinary Foundation Realm cultivators.
"Fairy Ye!" Lin Feng’s eyes lit up as he immediately straightened his silver robes, stepping forward with a polite, suave bow. "I did not expect the Celestial Frost Sect to send you to this ravine!"
Huo Tian also puffed out his chest, stepping forward to flaunt his fiery aura.
Ye Hanling didn't even give them a glance. Her icy sapphire eyes remained completely indifferent, her expression unreadable as she glided past the bowing young masters with utter, aloof silence.
However, as she walked past the stone plateau where Gu Chen stood, her steps suddenly came to a halt.
THUMP!
Deep inside Ye Hanling’s chest, her Cold meridians, which perpetually froze her blood with agonizing pain, instantly twitched! A strange, magnetic wave of warmth rushed through her veins, causing her pale skin to tingle with an electric, unexplainable sensation.
Ye Hanling stopped in her tracks. She slowly turned her head, her clear sapphire eyes locking directly onto Gu Chen’s dark violet pupils.
For a brief, suspended second, time seemed to stand still.
Ye Hanling’s heart skipped a beat. She felt a terrifyingly deep, coldness radiating from the slender youth,an aura so dark, and primordial yet so warm that her own Cold Physique naturally yearned to draw near it, like a frozen ember seeking its origin fire.
Who is he...? Ye Hanling thought, her long eyelashes trembling slightly in subtle shock. Why is my core reacting so violently to a 9th-Stage Qi Refining cultivator?!
Gu Chen looked back at her, his dark eyes unbothered by her Late Foundation aura. He saw right through her cold facade, recognizing the dense, frozen essence locked within her body.
A Cold Absolute Yin Physique, Gu Chen evaluated inwardly, a cold smirk touching his lips. A second celestial furnace... and with comparable quality to Su Yan's fire.
To him, her high status and Late Foundation Realm meant nothing. She was simply a high-grade tool waiting to be harvested for his return to the apex.
Seeing her gaze linger on Gu Chen, both Huo Tian and Lin Feng felt their faces turn red with outrage. The untouchable Ice Empress, who had ignored every grand genius in the kingdom, was staring at a nameless orphan!
BOOM!
Before the mounting tension could explode, a deafening rumble shattered the quiet. The 300-foot crimson light beam collapsed into a swirling vortex, and the ancient stone gates at the bottom of the ravine swung open with a heavy, ancient groan!
"The Secret Realm is open!" someone screamed from the crowd.
Hundreds of cultivators instantly surged forward like a tide, charging down into the subterranean abyss!
Right on cue, bright golden lights flashed cleanly in Gu Chen’s vision.
[DING!]
[MAIN QUEST ACTIVATED: The Crimson-Cavern Secret Realm!]
[Objective: Explore the Blood-Flame Sovereign's Abode, protect fellow disciples, and foster peace between the Sun-Moon Sect and Celestial Frost Sect!]
[Reward : 1 Earth-Grade Spirit Herb!]
Gu Chen closed his eyes, stepping off the plateau alongside Su Yan as he walked toward the dark, yawning entrance of the secret realm.
Foster peace?
I am going to plunder this realm clean.