Arc 2: Chapter 8 — The Secret Realm Opens
After returning from the Phoenix Nest, the Chu family immediately called a family meeting. The elders and heads of the clan gathered in the grand hall, and with heavy voices, they announced to the world:
"The Chu family is ready for war with the devils… and they close their doors for two years and strengthen themselves."
The news spread like wildfire across the Immortal Realm. The Chu family's doors slammed shut, sealing themselves away for two years of intense preparation.
Rumbling Tensions
Not long after, the He family followed suit, closing their doors and cutting off all contact with the outside world.
Whispers flew through the cultivation world:
"The He family's young master has broken through to the Deity Transformation Level and awakened the ancient Slaughter Domain—a domain said to belong to an ancestor who was rumored to stand among the divine."
In the Shadows
On the same night, deep within a desolate jungle littered with skeletons, two men stood clad in black cloaks. Their leader spoke in a cold, commanding voice:
"Let's start breaking the seal."
The other man threw off his black cloak, revealing the face of the He family's patriarch. He began to chant, his fingers tracing a formation of diamond-shaped stones arranged in a circle. Qi surged from his body, flowing into the formation.
The leader, his voice low and mysterious, murmured ancient words in a language lost to time.As he finished, an immense force erupted—the ground trembled, and a portal of black energy slowly formed.
The black-cloaked man's voice rose in a whisper of triumph:
"He… he… heeeee… it's done! My years of preparation… complete!"
He removed his cloak, revealing the trusted advisor of the Iron Sovereign—the Seeker of the Star Prophecy, an old man whose eyes glowed with cold fire.
"Now… let's wait and see how many devils will come to this realm. I only hope our devils do a good job… slaughtering people like in the ancient times."
(The door they opened at this moment led straight to the Devil Clan's most powerful family—the Tian family, holders of the Throne of Time. This was the family of Fen Hao's mother's birth… though no one knew it yet. And no one knew what horrors might soon descend upon the world…)
Training in the Demon Lord's Castle
Meanwhile, Fen Hao was training with Ziyan and the Demon Lord's soldiers, preparing to break through to the Foundation Realm.Ziyan was already close to breaking into the Golden Core Realm within two days, but Fen Hao was still at the first level of cultivation.Yet his combat strength was already comparable to a normal Nascent Soul cultivator.
"The reason for this," the dragon murmured, "is that you trained your body from a young age… and because of the merged bloodlines flowing within you. But the reason you still haven't broken through to the Foundation Realm… it's probably because you're missing something."
The dragon's voice curled in his mind:
"What are you feeling now, Fen Hao?"
Fen Hao frowned, breathing slowly:
"I don't know… it's like I'm not full, but I can't absorb any more Qi."
The dragon hummed thoughtfully:
"Hmmm… let's slow it down. So, are you going to that secret realm the Demon Lord mentioned—the ancient one?"
"I was thinking of checking my luck there. Who knows… maybe I'll find what I'm missing," Fen Hao replied.
"Hmm… okay," the dragon said. "Take the Ziyan girl with you. It might bring her some opportunity too."
"Are you saying she might break through to the next level?" Fen Hao asked, puzzled.
"Just a thought… you have to work hard, boy. How else will you protect your wife if you're weak?"
"Shut up," Fen Hao muttered.
The dragon's laughter echoed in his mind.
At Dinner
That night at dinner, Fen Hao finally spoke:
"Demon Lord… I've decided to go to the secret realm. Can you tell me more about it?"
The Demon Lord nodded calmly:
"Good. This secret realm is older than some of our ancestors. It opens once every 200 years—it will open again next week. If you're lucky, you might find a treasure there.This secret realm is a training ground for the younger generation, but be careful of the human cultivators—and the traps within. Some traps may no longer work, but… the humans in there are dangerous.Remember, in this secret realm, humans and demons always fight. Sometimes, when it ends, small wars break out between the races.If you plan to bring Ziyan there… be extra careful."
Fen Hao turned to Ziyan:
"Ziyan, would you like to come with me to this realm?"
Ziyan smiled faintly, her eyes bright:
"If you're going… of course I'm coming."
The dragon's voice in Fen Hao's mind was silent, but he felt its amusement.
Preparing for the Secret Realm
After that, Fen Hao and Ziyan began their preparations. Even though Fen Hao still could not break through to the next level, he didn't stop training.
A week passed. The day of the secret realm's opening arrived.
At the Entrance of the Secret Realm
The Demon Lord led his team of ten demon geniuses to the entrance.At the same time, the humans arrived—proud, calm, and ready for conflict.
Harsh words flared in the air, sparking like fire between them.From the human side, a young man stepped forward—black hair, black eyes, his arrogance like a blade.
"So these are the demons' so-called heavenly pride geniuses," he said, looking down at them with contempt.
The demon side stirred. The Lei family's young master, Lei Hen, stepped forward, his eyes hard as he met the human's gaze.
The tension cracked like thunder—until a human elder stepped forward, her voice calm and elegant:
"Yantao, step back. We're not here for useless talk."
She was an elder of the Hushan Sect, one of the five great cultivation sects in the Mortal Realm.The human young master who had spoken was Fen Yantao—sharing the same surname as Fen Hao, a small shock that caught Fen Hao's attention.
"The world… really is vast," Fen Hao thought.
The Demon Lord also stepped forward, his voice cool and powerful:
"Calm down, everyone. The secret realm will open soon."
Awaiting the Opening
The human side had four elders, one of them the woman who had spoken first. Two elders were older, and one was younger.Ten human geniuses stood behind them, their leader Fen Yantao—a young man whose power had already reached the late Golden Core Realm.
The demon side had ten geniuses too, including Fen Hao and Ziyan. The other eight were heirs and heiresses of the eight great families of the demon realm.
The Demon Lord's voice echoed through the air:
"Now… let us wait for the secret realm's opening.Remember: only those under the Nascent Soul level and under twenty years old have the right to enter.And be wary of that Fen Yantao… his strength is already at the late Golden Core Realm."
Fen Hao's eyes narrowed. But before he could speak, the sky split open in a beam of light—chaotic, ancient.
The dragon's voice murmured in his mind, low and amused:
"Hmm… this place reeks of something bad. It's laced with Chaos Qi…Let's see, little monster, what you will bring back from this trip."
End of Arc 2: Chapter 8