The System Arrives: Leading My Clan to Become the Strongest

72: Chapter 72 Secret RealmBack in the Family’s main hall, Jiang Chen pondered how the Jiang Family should continue to develop next.

Just then, Second Elder Jiang Liejun rushed in hurriedly.

Seeing that the Second Elder was already at the Fifth Level of Foundation Establishment yet still so reckless, Jiang Chen didn’t know what to say to him; since this wasn’t the first or second time, speaking too much would just be a waste of breath.

“Second Elder, what is this about?”

Jiang Chen looked at the panting Second Elder with a face full of black lines; for a dignified Foundation Establishment expert to be out of breath from traveling really lowered the prestige of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

“Clan, Clan Chief, a Secret Realm has been discovered. Our Clan Members are guarding it; please make a decision as soon as possible.”

Jiang Liejun finally explained the matter clearly. Today, while leading the War Hall Disciples to continue land reclamation, they resolved a Foundation Establishment Realm Wild Beast in a cave and discovered a Secret Realm Teleportation Passage inside.

Not knowing what lay behind this Secret Realm, he didn’t dare to recklessly lead the War Hall Disciples inside. Instead, he returned himself to find the Clan Chief, as it would be faster this way.

“Oh, a Secret Realm.”

Hearing that the Second Elder was here because of a Secret Realm, Jiang Chen was also somewhat surprised.

He had only heard of things like Secret Realms but never seen one. Different Secret Realms varied; some were rich in resources, while others were indeed full of danger.

However, some powerful Sects and Families would directly move a Secret Realm into their own Family estate to become their own Family resource.

Now that the Second Elder had discovered an unclaimed Secret Realm, there was a high hope of it becoming the Jiang Family’s exclusive Secret Realm. If it was a resource-rich Secret Realm, the Jiang Family’s development could be even more rapid.

A sharp glint flashed in Jiang Chen’s eyes, and without hesitation, he stood up directly.

“Let’s go, take me to see it.”

Jiang Chen followed the Second Elder forward while inquiring:

“The news hasn’t leaked, has it? Is that place hidden?”

Although he knew the chances of encountering outsiders in the Great Wilderness were small—especially since the Second Elder had reported back immediately, leaving no time for a second person to find it—he still wanted to ask clearly.

“Rest assured, Clan Chief, that Secret Realm is in a cave deep within the mountain forest. It can’t be found without careful observation.”

The Second Elder guaranteed confidently.

Jiang Chen gave a slight nod, calculating in his mind.

With their speed, it wasn’t long before they landed in front of a mountain forest, and the Second Elder led Jiang Chen deep inside.

Because the Second Elder had previously led the Clan Members to clear the area, Jiang Chen didn’t encounter a single Wild Beast along the way.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, under the cover of vines, a cave entrance just wide enough for one person to pass through was vaguely visible; the Spiritual Qi fluctuations at the entrance had been cleverly masked.

“Clan Chief.”

A War Hall Disciple emerged from the shadows of the cave entrance and spoke in a low voice.

“The passage is stable; no abnormalities for now.”

Jiang Chen nodded slightly and entered along with Jiang Liejun.

Deep within the cave, a Pale Blue Light Gate about ten feet wide, rippling slowly like water, floated in mid-air, emitting mysterious spatial fluctuations as the halo circulated.

Jiang Chen did not approach rashly. Instead, he closed his eyes slightly, and his majestic Divine Sense, like invisible tentacles, carefully probed every inch of space and energy Meridians around the light gate.

A moment later, he opened his eyes, his expression easing slightly.

“The spatial passage is stable, with no obvious malevolent or violent Qi leaking out. Initial judgment is that it’s not a place of extreme danger, but the situation inside the Secret Realm is unknown.”

Thinking of this, Jiang Chen said to everyone:

“Stay here and don’t move; I’m going in to take a look.”

As Jiang Chen spoke, his figure flashed, and he entered the passage.

“Clan Chief...”

The Second Elder, who had just wanted to advise Jiang Chen not to enter rashly, saw him go straight in; he had only uttered two words before the rest got stuck in his throat, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

“Everyone, stay alert and wait for the Clan Chief to come out.”

Since things were already like this, the Second Elder could only instruct the War Hall Disciples to guard carefully to prevent any accidents.

Hearing the Second Elder say this, the War Hall Disciples one by one became twelve-fold alert to prevent any accidents.

The moment Jiang Chen entered the light gate, he felt a slight dizziness, as if passing through a layer of viscous water curtain.

The surrounding space distorted and changed, with colorful lights and shadows flowing rapidly for about a few breaths of time.

Finally, the feeling of solid ground returned. Jiang Chen steadied himself, his Divine Sense instantly spreading out like a tide, scanning the surroundings vigilantly.

Immediately, a flash of shock couldn’t help but cross his eyes.

Before him was not a sinister land of death, but a vibrant, spiritual-rich paradise!

The sky was clear and azure, and though there was no sun, warm light spilled down from somewhere unknown.

He was currently standing on a small hillside with lush green grass. Looking out, the scenery was intoxicating.

Directly ahead was a sparkling lake, the water so clear one could see the bottom, with faint spiritual light flickering. Along the lakeshore grew clumps of spiritual plants with leaves like green jade and pearl-like white fruits at the tips—it was actually the First-Grade spiritual fruit, ’Jade Pulp Berry’!

This fruit can gently nourish the Meridians and help Qi Refinement Stage Disciples solidify their foundation. It was considered rare in the outside world, yet it grew in patches here.

Jiang Chen’s gaze continued to sweep across the surroundings.

Earth Fire Spirit Flower, Cold Jade Gold Core Lotus, Sandalwood Gold Leaf Wood... These dazzling spiritual plants made even someone with Jiang Chen’s steady Heart-Nature sigh: What a fine resource Secret Realm.

Releasing his Divine Sense, he felt no traces of Wild Beasts. Jiang Chen sped forward directly to see how large this Secret Realm was, if there were any dangers, and where the Secret Realm Stone was. If he found it, he could move the Secret Realm back to the Jiang Family without effort.

While Jiang Chen was exploring the Secret Realm alone, a group of uninvited guests arrived outside.

“Captain, there’s a cave here. Should we go in?”

About a hundred yards outside the cave entrance, a team of about seven or eight figures moved cautiously through the forest.

They wore uniform dark brown leather armor, with standard-issue long sabers hanging at their waists. Their movements were efficient and their eyes sharp, clearly well-trained.

The leader was a lean, scarred man whose aura had reached the First Level of Golden Core. He was the captain of this small team, named Stone Python, a member of a very famous Hunter squad that ordinary people dared not provoke.

Their captain, Stone Python, was particularly vengeful; if someone offended him, he would usually retaliate on the spot, unless the opponent’s strength was so great he didn’t dare provoke them.

Previously, they had been active in a Market Town overseen by another Golden Core power, but recently that Market Town had also hit a Bottleneck.

Because a Golden Core True Person oversaw it, the area around that Market Town was cleared quickly, but there were also limits. If they wanted to continue expanding the reclamation range, it would be difficult for a Golden Core cultivator alone to keep watch.

Especially the deeper they went, the stronger the Wild Beasts became. If they wanted to expand further, there was a high chance of encountering Nascent Soul Realm Wild Beasts, which they were unwilling to face.

Therefore, that Market Town had to temporarily stop its land reclamation and expansion.

This resulted in it becoming harder for Hunters in that Market Town to obtain resources, especially for Cultivators above the Golden Core Stage.

The resources that originally belonged to them were already few, and with no further expansion, they were stuck in a dilemma.