While the factions were still fiercely exchanging words, a noble and overwhelming aura suddenly erupted from the lower realm. It surged with such intensity that it felt as though the light of the heavens would tear the world asunder. Deep green energy burst forth like a tidal wave, pressing down upon the atmosphere with such force that everyone instantly froze.
The expressions of all present shifted at once. No one uttered a word. All eyes turned sharply toward the source in perfect unison, and without a single exchange, the leaders of each faction acted immediately to seal the outburst of power.
That wave of energy was swiftly suppressed, leaving not even the faintest trace to escape.
They all knew well that if anyone in the upper realms were to sense this aura, those gathered here might suffer great losses in the battle for whatever treasure lay hidden. And since none of them had brought large forces, precisely to avoid drawing too much attention in the upper realm, they had to move cautiously.
At that moment, though Mu Nansi's heart was filled with shock and suspicion, her face still bore the faint smile at the corner of her lips, as if enjoying the mounting tension around her. But deep within, she had begun to feel that something was very wrong.
She remained silent for a moment before gathering her thoughts and speaking.
"Let's make it simple… first come, first served."
As soon as she finished speaking, she gave a slight flick of her sleeve. The void behind her split open into a special dimension. Without hesitation, Mu Nansi stepped inside.
The others, seeing that the aura had been completely sealed, immediately tore open their own dimensional gates and rushed in without delay.
At the heart of the Celestial Jade Continent, within the lower realm, spiritual energy surged violently from beneath the earth and shot toward the heavens. The eruption was so intense that the surrounding area for several li was blasted by a crushing force. Lower-tier cultivators caught nearby instantly exploded into pieces, unable to withstand the pressure.
Amidst that violent tide of power, a spatial gate materialized in the sky. It shimmered with streaks of golden-green light, and from within, a voice echoed out.
It was the voice of an elderly man deep, resonant, and commanding.
"I am the lingering will of the God of Herbs..."
His words carried a weight so immense that even high-level cultivators could feel the overwhelming gap between them and the speaker.
"I offer both opportunity and death. If you are willing to take the risk, if you desire to grow stronger… then come find me at the center of this world."
"What I seek is the strongest successor... Fight your way to the core of this hidden realm, and I shall grant you my entire legacy. I will teach you everything I have learned throughout my life."
The voice paused briefly, then continued, now with a tone more solemn and resolute.
"But I will not allow anyone to take my knowledge without offering something in return. If your soul is bound elsewhere or you've made arrangements for reincarnation... then know this: when you die, half your cultivation will vanish instantly."
"In this hidden realm, anyone with a cultivation above the Heavenly Immortal level will be barred from entry. Once inside, whether you are an Immortal, a Great Emperor, or a newly initiated cultivator, your cultivation will be suppressed to the Saint level."
"I hope… that someone among you will become my heir."
That voice did not merely echo through this world it pierced through dimensions, breaking past the barriers and formations that sealed off this realm. It reached toward the upper realms. However, a dark force devoured the sound entirely, swallowing it before it could reach its destination. A dim veil of light slowly descended, cloaking this world completely, cutting off all awareness of its existence from the outside.
In the skies above the Tomb of the God of Herbs, a large flying vessel drifted peacefully, bearing the flag of the Holy Land of the Immortal River fluttering atop its central mast. Han Ming stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing down at the ancient tomb of the divine figure from a bygone era.
Beside him, his seven disciples stood quietly, each emanating a stable Saint-level spiritual aura. However, in truth, all seven had already reached the level of Great Emperor. Their cultivation had been hidden by the system. In just five days, they had undergone a profound transformation. With the pills acquired from the system and further refined by Han Ming himself, their strength had advanced rapidly, with foundations that could only be described as invincible.
For the safety of his two newest disciples, both of whom possessed extraordinary origins, Han Ming had specially created a unique imperial-grade weapon: the Mask of Hidden Form. This artifact could alter external appearance and other traits to such an extent that even top-tier Immortals would be unable to see through it. Additionally, the system concealed their special bloodlines and unique physiques, ensuring that the only way to uncover their true identities would be to kill Han Ming and destroy the system with him.
Suddenly, the void tore open, and Mu Nansi stepped onto the ship. She let out a soft sigh before turning to face Han Ming, who stood calmly at her side. Though her expression remained neutral, her eyes held a strangely gentle glimmer.
"Han Ming, are you ready?"
Han Ming gave a faint smile and replied in an even tone, "I'm ready, Sect Master."
Upon hearing this, Mu Nansi chuckled softly and nodded. "That's all I needed to hear to feel at ease."
With a flick of her hand, her robe fluttered in the breeze. "Very well then, let's go."
In the blink of an eye, Mu Nansi's figure shot into the spatial gate, followed by Han Ming, his seven disciples, and over a hundred men in black robes who moved in unison without hesitation.
Behind them, Zhou Luocheng immediately followed, unwilling to let anyone move ahead even for a second. Sui Zimeng retrieved a ring engraved with a special symbol and slid it onto her middle finger, allowing her to enter the hidden tomb at once. Members of the Ten Thousand Oceans Chamber of Commerce and the Holy Land of the Immortal Flower all produced similarly styled rings, wore them, and likewise entered the hidden realm without delay.
...
...
...
Inside the hidden realm, Han Ming found himself standing in the middle of a dense forest. The air was filled with a thick herbal mist, and his body relaxed in a way he had never felt before.
A voice echoed throughout the entire realm.
"All of you, come to the heart of my domain…"
"To the one who reaches it first, I shall bestow all of my legacy, regardless of who you are. I will teach you everything I know… I'll be waiting."
Han Ming furrowed his brow slightly as he noticed his cultivation had been suppressed to only the Saint level.
Shiiing!!
A sword of light formed in his hand and shot through a towering tree with pinpoint precision. A creature fell from the high branches above.
It was a Rainbow Lizard, one of the rare herbal beasts with a power level comparable to a Saint Emperor. Its bones and blood could be used to craft powerful healing or enhancement elixirs.
Suddenly, a sharp screech pierced the sky. A black bird with its wings fully spread swooped down at Han Ming. Its aura surged across the land so fiercely that even the ground trembled.
The sword in Han Ming's hand flared with brilliance. A deafening sound of tearing ripped through the air.
In an instant, the black bird was shredded into tens of thousands of pieces. It didn't even have the chance to let out a final cry.
Han Ming stood still amidst the slowly descending fragments, like blood-colored snowflakes drifting through the forest. Then, he commanded the system to conceal his presence, and without hesitation, he jabbed the Finger of Light into his own neck. Instantly, a pitch-black liquid poured out.
His expression turned icy cold as he flicked his finger lightly.
A massive black serpent emerged from beneath the earth, locking eyes with Han Ming in fear. Without giving it a chance to flee, Han Ming tossed the dark liquid into its mouth. The serpent immediately fled at full speed, vanishing into the distance.
Han Ming didn't chase it. Instead, he shot toward the center of the hidden tomb with astonishing speed, as if he already knew the path from the beginning.
At the very heart of the hidden realm, a glowing green portal shimmered amidst thick fog and potent herbal fragrance. Without a moment's hesitation, Han Ming dashed into the portal and arrived within in the blink of an eye.
What appeared before him was an endless field of medicinal herbs. The aroma of rare herbs wafted through the air. Every tree, every blade of grass here was extraordinary. Some released faint scents that, merely by breathing them in, could strengthen his spirit and extend his lifespan.
Han Ming's gaze swept across the countless herbs before him. Most were unfamiliar to him, but he didn't waste time inspecting each one. He strode directly forward, heading for an old wooden hut situated in the middle of the garden.
The hut looked dilapidated and untrustworthy. The roof was thatched with dry straw, the walls cracked, and only a faint light leaked out from within. Yet the closer he got, the more he felt something unusual.
Han Ming slowly pushed open the door with one hand. The creaking of aged wood echoed through the silence. He stepped inside, and upon seeing what lay before him, a faint smile formed on his lips.