At the peak of a mountain, Xu Ning stood with his hands behind his back, his dark robe fluttering in the wind as he looked down upon the masses below.
Behind him stood Yao Ling’er and the other two women. Behind them followed a group of Great Zhou Empire royal experts, led by three 1st stage Heavenly Venerable Realm cultivators, while the rest were all at the peak of the Primordial Essence Realm.
Ever since he had “taken” Zhou Shuxian’s body, Zhou Yan had already regarded him as his future son-in-law. As a result, he had dispatched every royal expert he could mobilize to protect Xu Ning.
Xu Ning did not refuse. Instead, he accepted it quite readily.
After all, as a great villain, if he had no subordinates or lackeys around him and had to handle everything personally, not only would it lack style, it would also be troublesome.
He didn’t rush into the secret realm. Instead, he sent out the royal experts to gather intelligence. It didn’t take long before he had a clear understanding of the situation inside.
“Tsk, tsk… as expected of a child of destiny, favored by the heavens.”
“A Great Saint Realm inheritance, yet restricted to cultivators below the Heavenly Venerable Realm… this is practically an experience dungeon tailor-made for Long Lingtian.”
“Once this trip through the Demon Lord’s Heavenly Tomb ends, the outcome is obvious. All the major forces will suffer heavy losses, while Long Lingtian will gain everything—breaking through to the Heavenly Venerable Realm, obtaining powerful techniques and divine abilities…”
“Unfortunately, with me as a variable, the heavens’ plan is bound to fail.”
Hearing him mutter to himself, the royal experts behind him were utterly confused, yet their expressions remained respectful, like students listening to a teacher’s lecture.
Zhou Yan had given strict orders—they were to serve this future imperial son-in-law well. Even if Xu Ning told them to die, they were not allowed to hesitate.
“Let’s go,” Xu Ning said calmly. In the next instant, he transformed into a streak of divine light and flew toward the secret realm.
Although his strength would be suppressed inside the realm, he still had countless ways to crush Long Lingtian.
The entrance to the secret realm was a spatial rift embedded within the mountains, spanning dozens of meters, resembling a black hole from his previous life.
A mist-like aura surged within it, emitting a terrifying devouring force.
Step into it, and one would enter an entirely different world.
Around the entrance, cultivators from various forces had already gathered.
Most of them were at the Primordial Essence Realm, though there were also experts at higher levels. Leaders of certain major factions had even reached half-step into the Heavenly Venerable Realm.
Their eyes gleamed with greed and desire. Many had formed groups, guarding the entrance and demanding tolls from those wishing to enter.
Others lurked silently, watching like hunters waiting for prey, clearly intending to kill and rob.
“This is…”
“People from the royal family!”
When Xu Ning arrived with his escort, many experts were startled.
It didn’t take long before they recognized him, and shock spread instantly.
“It’s… it’s Young Master Xu Ning!”
“Not good—make way!”
Those capable of camping at the entrance were no saints. Many belonged to the top forces of the Great Zhou Empire, and some were ruthless figures who lived on the edge of death.
Yet when faced with Xu Ning—the infamous, ruthless enforcer of the Mystic Saint Empress—they seemed insignificant by comparison. Not a single one dared to block his path. They quickly retreated, clearing a passage several hundred meters wide.
Among them were also many young prodigies who had come with their elders to gain experience. They looked at Xu Ning with admiration, envy, and even infatuation, their reverence akin to that of worshippers before a deity.
Xu Ning’s reputation was at its peak. He was already regarded as the number one among the younger generation in the Mystic Saint Heavenly Domain, an object of admiration for countless prodigies.
Sensing the gazes directed at him, Xu Ning couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly.
If he were a child of destiny, there would surely be some foolish upstart stepping forward to mock him.
But he was the villain.
No one dared provoke him.
Ignoring the crowd, he stepped directly into the secret realm.
Buzz!
A mysterious spatial force surged through his body. The world spun, heaven and earth flipping upside down.
When he regained his senses, he found himself standing on a vast, open grassland.
A pressure as heavy as mountains descended upon him. He immediately restrained his aura and suppressed his cultivation, stabilizing it at the peak of the Primordial Essence Realm.
Looking around, endless plains stretched as far as the eye could see, shrouded in mist and glowing with auspicious light.
Groups of cultivators stood scattered across the area, each wearing the uniforms of their respective factions, forming alliances.
When they noticed Xu Ning’s arrival—and the respectful royal experts behind him—they quickly deduced his identity. They retreated immediately, though not too far, as if fearing something in the distance.
Feeling the dense spiritual energy in the air, the royal experts behind Xu Ning were visibly intoxicated by it.
“This secret realm must be extremely ancient to accumulate such dense spiritual energy!”
Hearing their amazement, Xu Ning’s lips curved into a faintly disdainful smile.
The spiritual energy here was only comparable to the outer area of the Xu Residence—nothing worth mentioning. Only cultivators from remote backwaters would consider this dense.
Suddenly, as if sensing something, his brows lifted slightly and a playful smile appeared on his lips.
“So that’s how it is… the heavens have truly gone to great lengths to support that piece of trash, Long Lingtian.”
“In a world like this, only those holding a token can likely venture deeper.”
“Good thing I left a backup plan and had Yuwen Shuang stay by Long Lingtian’s side as a spy. Otherwise, this would’ve been troublesome.”
At that moment, one of the royal Heavenly Venerable experts behind him suddenly exclaimed, “The spatial order here is different from the outside! The space is chaotic!”
A wave of shock rippled through the group, and fear appeared on their faces.
What did chaotic spatial order imply? The answer was obvious.
Without special means, even if one spent a lifetime trying, they might not move an inch—or worse, become lost forever.
Even Zhou Shuxian, who was well-traveled, turned pale. “Your Highness, none of our people understand the Dao of space. If we proceed recklessly, we may lose our way. Please reconsider!”
Yao Ling’er and Yuwen Rou also looked uneasy, though they said nothing.
Having followed Xu Ning for some time, they had witnessed his methods and schemes. A strange confidence in him had taken root.
“No need,” Xu Ning said calmly, as if everything was already within his expectations.
Then, following the spatial mark left by Yuwen Shuang, he stepped forward and appeared 100 meters away.
The royal experts hesitated, struggling internally. Zhou Shuxian’s expression grew even worse, but remembering her father’s command, she reluctantly followed.
“As expected of Young Master Xu Ning, daring to act even here!”
“Could it be that he has studied the Dao of space?”
“I doubt it. He’s probably overconfident. This time, he might finally stumble!”
The surrounding crowd burst into discussion, some even sighing at what they thought was his impending downfall.
In their eyes, while Xu Ning’s reputation was indeed overwhelming, he was still part of the younger generation. No one believed he could navigate this chaotic space.
Under his lead, however, their figures gradually twisted under the distortion of space… and vanished without a trace.