"Can the Red Flame Gang enter it?"Xiao Wei asked.
Shadow Ming voice echoed in his mind.
'They likely can, if their leader is at the Ninth Layer of the Martial Master Realm, then he's qualified. But remember, just because they're stronger doesn't mean they'll make it out alive. In a Secret Realm, the environment, ancient formations, traps, and monsters can all kill even powerful Cultivators.'
Then Xiao Wei lowered his voice.
"Can I enter a Human Grade Secret Realm?"Xiao Wei asked.
There was a pause.
Xiao Wei sat in silence for a moment as Shadow Ming's voice echoed in his mind.
'Yes, a Martial Apprentice and a Martial Master Cultivator can also enter a Human Grade Secret Realm. But I suggest you don't even think about it. Human Grade Secret Realms are home to terrifying Tier 3 and Tier 4 monsters. Those monster will tear you apart before you even understand what's happening.'
Xiao Wei nodded slowly.
"I understand"Xiao Wei murmured softly, his eyes flicking back to the conversation taking place across the restaurant.
The group of Cultivators continued to crowd around the young server, urging him to reveal more.
"Brother, do you know exactly where the Secret Realm was found?"one man asked, his tone eager.
The boy, enjoying his newfound attention, puffed up his chest.
"I think it was somewhere in the Dark Tree Forest. That's what I heard, anyway."the boy said.
A buzz of murmurs spread through the crowd like wildfire.
"Dark Tree Forest? That's huge! How are we supposed to find the entrance to the Secret Realm in a place like that? It could be anywhere."a man exclaimed.
Xiao Wei finished the last bite of his meal and quietly rose from his seat. He left a few Spirit Coins on the table and stepped out of the restaurant without another word. The sun had already begun to dip behind the horizon, casting long shadows through the streets of Yen City.
Without delay, Xiao Wei activated the Water Flow Steps, his body moving like a graceful stream as he weaved through the streets and out of the city. He moved swiftly and with purpose, his robe fluttering behind him like a silent banner.
As he ran, Shadow Ming began to explain, his voice echoing in his mind.
'Dark Tree Forest is a massive region filled with dense vegetation and countless monster. It spans across several territories. Back in my time, it was already considered one of the most dangerous wild zones in the Mo Empire'
Xiao Wei furrowed his brows.
"What kind of monsters live there?"Xiao Wei asked.
Shadow Ming replied.
'A wide variety, but you need to be especially careful. The last time I entered the Dark Tree Forest, the strongest monster I encountered was a Tier 5 monster. But that monster was in the inner region, so you must hope that the Secret Realm appered in the outer region.'
Xiao Wei took a deep breath as the wind rushed past him. Despite the danger, he felt no fear. His path was clear.
With Shadow Ming guiding him from within the shadow, Xiao Wei charted a straight course through the terrain. The two of them avoided populated roads and bypassed the occasional traveling caravan. Days passed in a blur, with Xiao Wei using every moment to train his Water Flow Steps while conserving his stamina. He camped under trees and meditated to recover his Spiritual Energy, slowly building a rhythm between rest and movement.
On the morning of the fifth day, the outline of the Dark Tree Forest appeared on the horizon.
Dark Tree Forest lived up to its name. Towering black-barked trees stretched high into the sky, their leaves forming a thick canopy that dimmed the sunlight. A strange mist curled around the roots and trunks, making the edges of the forest look like the mouth of a sleeping beast.
But what truly caught Xiao Wei's attention was the number of people gathered at its edge.
Martial Apprentice and Martial Master realm Cultivators crowded the surrounding area of the outskirt. Tents had been pitched, makeshift camps established, and various vendors already set up stalls selling recovery pills, weapons, and defensive talismans.
The atmosphere buzzed with excitement, tension, and anticipation.
Cultivators dressed in different robes stood in small groups, some from small sects, others from regional clans. Xiao Wei recognized some from his time in Kin City and Yen City. Crimson robes of the Red Flame Gang were here too, clearly staking their claim on the area.
Xiao Wei observed them from a distance, keeping his presence low. He didn't want attention, not yet. He listened to passing conversations and gathered information as he walked among the fringe of the crowd.
"Some people have already tried to explore deeper into the forest but didn't return"a nervous-looking Martial Apprentice Cultivator said.
"They may be already dead. In places like this, you not only have to be in guard against Monsters but from other people's too"a senior said.
Xiao Wei moved quietly, taking it all in.
"This place... it's like a gathering of hungry wolves"Xiao Wei said softly.
Shadow Ming voice echoed in his mind.
'Exactly. Everyone here is hoping to rise above their current level. A Secret Realm offers that chance, but few will survive the trial. You need to be cautious.'
Xiao Wei looked up at the canopy, his expression calm and determined.
As he took a few steps into the forest, Xiao Wei felt the hair on his neck rise. Someone was watching him. He turned his head slightly and locked eyes with a boy standing under the shade of a twisted black tree. The boy began to walk toward him with measured steps. Recognition dawned on Xiao Wei almost immediately.
"You… I remember you from Tiger Mountain"the boy said as he approached, his tone calm but commanding.
"Yes, senior, it was a few months ago. You saw me then."Xiao Wei replied respectfully, giving a deep bow.
The boy nodded.
The boy was none another than Shi Feng, one of the Cultivators who had appeared in the inner area of Tiger Mountain during the last expedition. His long white robes fluttered gently as he stood before Xiao Wei, his eyes sharp and steady.
"Are you here for the Secret Realm as well?"Shi Feng asked, his tone less inquisitive and more cautionary.
Xiao Wei nodded.
Shi Feng studied him in silence for a moment before speaking again.
"Boy, my advice is this: turn around and go back to where you came from. The Secret Realm is not a place for someone like you. Death comes swiftly and without warning in places like that. I only say this out of kindness."Shi Feng said.
Xiao Wei looked down for a moment, then raised his gaze, determination lighting his features.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior. But I still want to go. This may be the only chance someone like me will ever have."Xiao Wei said.
Shi Feng sighed and gave a short nod.
"Very well. Do as you wish."Shi Feng said.
With that, he turned and walked away, returning to the spot he had stood at before. Standing beside him now was a shorter young boy with sharp features and piercing eyes. The two exchanged a few words before quietly vanishing into the depths of the forest, as though the trees themselves had swallowed them whole.
Xiao Wei watched them disappear and muttered under his breath.
"That youth with Shi Feng… he must be another of your descendants, Shadow Ming"Xiao Wei asked.
From within his mind, Shadow Ming's voice responded, laced with interest.
'That one's talented, no doubt. Seventeen years old, and already at the Sixth Layer of the Martial Master Realm. He has keen eyes too, the kind that don't miss his target. But I still think Shi Feng is superior in terms of overall potential.'
Xiao Wei didn't reply. He turned and looked back at the sprawling forest, letting out a small breath. There was no turning back now.
He began his search in earnest. Moving from one section of the forest to another, Xiao Wei pushed past thick underbrush and old gnarled trees, his senses fully alert. Despite the vastness of the forest, it was nearly impossible to find a quiet place. Every clearing, every trail, every hill was occupied by Cultivators. Some stood in silent meditation, trying to attune to the Spiritual Energy fluctuations in the air. Others formed small groups, sharing rumors, maps, and theories about the Secret Realm's possible location.
Several times, Xiao Wei caught the eye of other Cultivators who seemed to size him up, weighing whether he was a threat or an easy target. He ignored them and kept moving.
"Why is everyone's finding the entrance so desperately"Xiao Wei murmured to himself.
Suddenly, Shadow Ming voice echoed in his mind.
'Because Secret Realms don't stay open forever. Once the entrance appears, it will last a limited time before vanishing. And the competition inside the Secret Realm will be brutal.'