I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 158: Chapter 132: Entering the Secret Realm

Deep within Cangyan Valley.

Jiang Yuebai and her group took advantage of the night to traverse the outer illusion array and arrived at the secret realm entrance; the teams from various sects had mostly gathered and were queuing to inspect their tokens.

All around were towering reddish-brown mountains, with sparse vegetation and jagged rocks, only this open space before them.

Eighteen stone pillars marked with the traces of time stood unwavering, carved with ancient runes, exuding mystery.

Jiang Yuebai looked up, feeling as if someone was meditating atop the pillars, the scorching heat waves high above blocked her divine sense and eye power, making it hard to see clearly.

”Junior Sister Jiang.”

Zheng Chong, who appeared to be in his twenties and of ordinary looks, walked over to Jiang Yuebai.

”It’s your first time entering the secret realm, shouldering such an important task, let me offer a piece of advice.”

Jiang Yuebai’s attitude was calm, ”Please, Brother Zheng, enlighten me.”

Zheng Chong said, ”While our Heavenly Interence Sect is strong and not inferior to Guiyuan Sword Sect and Vajra Platform, in the secret realm, disciples from other sects still don’t take us seriously, especially the disciples from Hundred Yang Sect, Chixiao Sect, and Sun Erosion Sect, who have had numerous conflicts with our sect’s disciples these past months. Junior Sister Jiang, be wary when you encounter them.”

”Go on, don’t belittle yourself. Junior Sister, don’t listen to him. Stick close to us after entering, and we’ll ensure your safety.”

Gu Liu approached, and Zheng Chong, finding no amusement, shook his head and retreated to the side.

”Don’t be afraid, Junior Sister Jiang, as long as we work together and don’t get separated, there’s nothing to fear in the secret realm.”

Outside, Jiang Yuebai adhered to the principle of speaking less and observing more, listening patiently to Gu Liu’s words.

Soon, Yuu Qiuqi returned with the inspected tokens and led everyone in.

Zheng Chong and Gu Liu followed behind Yuu Qiuqi, while Jiang Yuebai ran to Yun Shang and Ge Yuchan’s side.

”Have you interacted with those two?”

Both shook their heads, and Jiang Yuebai said no more.

Yun Shang occasionally gazed at Yuu Qiuqi’s back, feeling uneasy, ”It’s definitely her again, deliberately arranging for me to be under her, annoying!”

Jiang Yuebai didn’t hear Yun Shang’s words, watching the line ahead, recalling what Lu Nanzhi mentioned.

Sun Erosion Sect disciples wear red robes, Chixiao Sect wears purple robes, and Hundred Yang Sect wears dark red garments. These three sects focus on fire methods and artifact refining. Spiritual Crane Sect disciples have crane patterns on their clothes, while Spirit Controlling Sect is more casual, but they are all Beast Tamers with Spiritual Beast Bags at their waists.

Also, the Feihua Sect has female cultivators in red and pink, Liuyun Sect disciples carry Spiritual Water Gourds, Thousand Talisman Sect members wear yellow robes with Vermilion Talismans painted on the back, the outer robe itself being a spirit talisman.

Vajra Platform consists of stick-wielding Martial Monks, already familiar with Guiyuan Sword Sect, while other sects each have distinctive features, making them easy to identify.

As the line gradually advanced, Jiang Yuebai’s eyes brightened.

Extraordinary People!

West of Wuu Province, across the Chiyang Mountain Range, lies the Fire Feather Country, the Extraordinary People Country closest to the Central Plains Three Continents.

At this moment, many Extraordinary People with wings on their backs and large, sturdy feet were carrying heavy supplies, queuing to follow the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from various sects into the stone pillar center, disappearing with the array’s activation.

Seeing Jiang Yuebai’s curiosity, Ge Yuchan explained in a low voice, ”These are Feather Clan Extraordinary People enslaved by Sun Erosion Sect. Regular storage bags only have a space of about ten feet square, so many large and special supplies still require manpower for transport. The secret realm’s perimeter is currently being set up as a forward camp, and it has always been these Extraordinary People doing the hard labor.”

”They’re so pitiful,” Yun Shang remarked softly.

Jiang Yuebai frowned slightly; those extraordinary people’s necks bore rune collars, among them the young and strong, women and children, all with weary and distressed expressions, their shoulders bruised and purpling from the weight of the supplies, struggling to move.

”Hurry up, all of you, move quickly! Do you want to taste the whip?”

Beside them, a Sun Erosion Sect disciple cracked a whip, urging them on.

As Jiang Yuebai looked around, most people seemed indifferent, showing no surprise, though a few displayed discomfort and sympathy—perhaps it was their first time witnessing such a scene, just like the younger disciples.

Maybe one day, she too would become one of those unfazed individuals; thinking deeply, it was truly sad!

But she had no power to change anything; all she could do was... not become the person wielding the whip.

”It’s our turn.”

Yuu Qiuqi directed everyone to wait inside the stone pillars as she drew lots nearby. Entering together were Zhuo Qingfeng and his group, the two sides nodding in acknowledgment without exchanging words.

The Extraordinary People carrying supplies gradually gathered behind the crowd.

A young Extraordinary girl, about fourteen or fifteen, suddenly fell in front of the crowd.

”Clumsy! Do you have a death wish?”

Whack!

The whip lashed out, and the Extraordinary girl trembled, tense from the resistance.

The whip had not yet fallen, but was caught in Jiang Yuebai’s hand.

”I’m still standing here, are you not afraid of hitting me with the whip?”

The disciple of the Sun Erosion Sect awkwardly apologized, while Jiang Yuebai reached out and helped the Extraordinary People girl to her feet, ”Go to the back.”

The girl from the Extraordinary People cautiously looked at Jiang Yuebai, her gray-brown wings fluttering slightly, then she quickly retreated to the back of the team.

”Xiaoque, are you alright?”

The girl from the Extraordinary People shook her head, sneaking a glance at Jiang Yuebai’s retreating figure with envy in her eyes.

Yuu Qiuqi and the other team captains returned with their drawn lots, and the Spiritual Energy surged in the disc-shaped Talisman Array beneath their feet.

A moment of distraction later, when they focused again, everyone was already inside the Secret Realm.

Above them, the scorching sun was obscured, replaced only by a fiery red cloud, scorching the earth.

They were now on high ground, with a view of a thousand miles of red land, jagged rock formations, and celestial peaks rising and falling.

The gorge, carved by supernatural forces, twisted and turned like a defiant giant serpent, lying amidst the flames, grand and majestic.

Not far away, the clanging sound of chiseling stones echoed in the valley, with a large number of the Extraordinary People standing on scaffoldings against the mountain walls, constructing an outpost camp.

”Take a Fireproof Elixir, then apply an Eighth-Grade Heart Clearing Talisman, and remember to replace it regularly. There’s malice within the fire here, you must guard against it.”

Yuu Qiuqi reminded them, glancing at Yun Shang.

Zheng Chong and Gu Liu had just entered and taken the elixirs immediately, while Ge Yuchan offered an elixir to Jiang Yuebai. Jiang Yuebai patted her storage bag, ”I have some.”

Taking the Fireproof Elixir eased the heat within, and Jiang Yuebai activated an Eighth-Grade Heart Clearing Talisman, patting it on her chest.

The talismanic light swept over her body, leaving a faint glow, insulating her from the heat waves, and the burning sensation on her skin diminished significantly.

Newly-arrived teams gathered, and the Extraordinary People lined up in a long formation, like ants, marching towards the outpost camp under construction.

Yuu Qiuqi distributed Jade Talismans for departure to a few people, specifically instructing Jiang Yuebai: ”The Great Array of the Secret Realm requires the power of eighteen Nascent Soul True Monarchs to activate each time, so it only opens once every seven days. The sensor Jade Talisman will take people out, and the area around the camp is currently safe, protected by the Great Array, so there’s no need to worry.”

”Once the arraying succeeds this time and the Laws are stabilized, we can establish a long-term entrance, so our mission is vital.”

Gu Liu said, ”Senior Sister Yuu, please check what lot we drew.”

Yuu Qiuqi set up a Sound Insulation Array, took out the jade beads obtained before entering, sensed them, and her expression changed slightly.

”It’s a real lot, the northern Coiled Snake Valley.”

Zheng Chong’s expression turned serious, ”So far! Coiled Snake Valley is the territory of the Red Line Flood Dragon, and we also have to pass through Ten Thousand Beasts Tomb, Broken Intestine Slope, and Evil Blood River. It was only explored seven days ago, and it’s currently the furthest point explored in the Land of Azure Flame.”

Gu Liu looked horrified, ”We really are unlucky.”

Yuu Qiuqi looked worried and glanced at Yun Shang.

”Since we drew this lot, we must complete the task. If we fail to form the Great Array because of us, everyone will be punished.”

Jiang Yuebai saw Ge Yuchan’s calm expression, and Yun Shang was somewhat excited, while she felt nothing.

The three of them were typical fearless young calves!

”In the Secret Realm, we cannot Sky-Controlling for now. The journey is long, so let’s set off early. I’ll lead the way in a Goose-Shaped Array, Jiang Yuebai, you’ll be on my right rear, Ge Yuchan on the left rear, Gu Liu and Zheng Chong at the left and right end positions, Yun Shang... you follow behind me, in the center.”

Yun Shang frowned with displeasure, and as Zheng Chong was about to speak, Gu Liu pulled him back, and he could only cast a discontented glance at Yun Shang.

After checking their equipment, the group immediately delved into the gorge below.

At that time, in the Heavenly Interence Sect camp.

Lii Jiuchuan invited Qing Nangzi into the tent for tea, inquiring about the recent casualties in the Secret Realm exploration.

Xie Jingshan hobbled into the medical camp, lying flat on the grass mat.

”Huaxi, come quickly and take a look at me. My whole body aches, especially my legs. I must have contracted a severe illness. I’ll need to recuperate here for a month.”

Shen Huaxi’s expression remained unchanged as she removed the last trace of fire poison from a patient and wiped her hands with a cloth before walking over to Xie Jingshan, giving him a glance.

”Your body is sturdier than the Martial Monks of the Vajra Platform. If you’re trying to shirk duties, just say so.”

Xie Jingshan grinned shamelessly, resting his head on his arms and closing his eyes.

”They’re jealous of my prowess, so they reported me. Master Qinghuan said she saw me with a headache, so I had to come to you. Go on with your work, don’t mind me.”

Shen Huaxi shook her head and continued her work.

Xie Jingshan rested with closed eyes, remaining discreetly silent.