Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 420 420 Entering the Secret Realm

When the martial artists in Northern Barrier City learned that the representative from Zhongzhou Academy had arrived and that only two days remained to sign up, the city was thrown into a frenzy. Some who had not initially intended to participate were goaded by their friends into signing up. By the time registration closed, the number of participants had reached a staggering twenty-five thousand!

Xia Chengkai promptly informed Ye Qingchen of the competition's details, emphasizing that in previous years, Zhongzhou Academy had always prized aptitude and comprehension above all else. Even luck was a significant factor, while the requirements for raw strength were not as high.

Academy recruitment is just like a sect taking in disciples, Ye Qingchen mused. The higher one's aptitude, the greater their future achievements. Conversely, even if someone is currently powerful, a lack of innate talent means their path forward will be limited. And luck, at times, is simply another form of strength.

Realizing all this, Ye Qingchen felt even more confident about the upcoming contest.

"Master Ye, I know I shouldn't be saying this, but you must be wary of Feng Yuan once you enter the Secret Realm," Xia Chengkai said, finally speaking up after a long hesitation. Given his relationship with Feng Xiao, he should not have been the one to cast doubt on his old friend's son.

Ye Qingchen frowned. For Xia Chengkai to say such a thing, he must have received some information. "What makes you say that, Vice City Lord?" he asked, his curiosity piqued.

Xia Chengkai sighed and explained, "I've heard about the grudge between you and Feng Yuan. Feng Xiao is an upright man and certainly wouldn't try to hinder you. However, he has always doted on his son. To ensure Feng Yuan gets into Central Celestial Academy, he has surely given him many resources. Feng Yuan is vengeful by nature. With his strength enhanced by these resources, he will undoubtedly seek an opportunity for revenge once you are inside the Secret Realm. Moreover, I've heard that many martial artists in this competition have already agreed to follow his commands."

After speaking, Xia Chengkai sighed again and rose to take his leave. The Secret Realm was set to open the next day, and as the Vice City Lord, he still had many duties to attend to.

Left alone in the room, Ye Qingchen became pensive. Xia Chengkai's analysis makes a lot of sense, but I'm not afraid of Feng Yuan.

"I'll deal with whatever you throw at me," Ye Qingchen said coldly. "Feng Yuan, you had best not provoke me." For Qin Yue's sake, Ye Qingchen would show no mercy to anyone who stood in his way.

***

Twenty li west of Northern Barrier City, a vast majority of the city's population had gathered. After the Beisai Secret Realm had been modified, its entrance was established here. The open terrain was perfectly suited for spectating the grand event.

Feng Xiao and Xia Chengkai respectfully escorted Liu Changrun onto a pre-built high platform. To their shared annoyance, Liu Changrun had yet to reveal what kind of trials awaited inside the Secret Realm.

The martial artists registered for the competition, having had their identities verified one by one, were now lined up at the entrance, waiting.

Liu Changrun's gaze swept across the participants. Seeing the immense crowd of twenty-five thousand people, he couldn't help but feel a surge of heroic pride. "Everyone, the Secret Realm will open in one hour," he announced. "Once inside, you will find a series of checkpoints. You must pass through them as quickly as possible. The first two martial artists to successfully clear them all will earn a place in Central Celestial Academy.

"Of course, you need not worry about casualties. If the formation detects that you are about to receive a fatal injury, it will immediately teleport you out. However, anyone who is teleported out will lose their eligibility to compete.

"Finally, I wish you all the best of luck!"

After Liu Changrun finished speaking, a buzz of discussion erupted among the competitors below. What he said was as good as saying nothing at all. The nature of the assessment and its methods remained a mystery, even with the trial about to begin.

Fear stems from the unknown, and this pervading sense of uncertainty made the martial artists anxious. Some were already having second thoughts before the competition had even started.

The real selection has already begun, Ye Qingchen understood. How could anyone whose resolve crumbles this easily possibly catch the eye of Central Celestial Academy? I believe these people won't last long inside the Secret Realm before they're teleported out, losing their chance to compete.

Ye Qingchen gently closed his eyes, sitting as still as an old monk in meditation, as if the crowd and the commotion around him were of no concern. What he didn't know was that from the moment he had appeared, a pair of eyes had been quietly watching him. It was Feng Yuan.

Feng Yuan did not rush forward to taunt him. The Feng Yuan of the past might have engaged in such a meaningless gesture, but with his increased strength, he had also matured.

Since fatalities are forbidden in the Secret Realm, the best way to make Ye Qingchen suffer is to make him lose his qualification to enter Central Celestial Academy. This plan can only be put into motion after we enter the Secret Realm.

Time flew, and the hour passed quickly. At that moment, Liu Changrun teleported from the high platform, appearing instantly before the entrance. This feat alone drew a roar of applause from the entire crowd—teleportation was a technique only possessed by powerhouses of the Martial Emperor Realm.

Liu Changrun extended his somewhat withered palms. A surge of pure spiritual energy burst forth, converging at the formation's entrance. An energy vortex, large enough for one person to pass through, materialized. Under Liu Changrun's continuous infusion of power, the vortex expanded until it became a massive whirlpool, ten meters high and wide enough for a hundred people to pass through side-by-side.

After completing this task, beads of sweat had formed on Liu Changrun's forehead. This massive expenditure of energy was draining, even for a powerhouse of the Martial Emperor Realm.

Liu Changrun teleported back onto the high platform and then gave the order for the Beisai Secret Realm to officially open.

Thanks to Xia Chengkai's arrangements, Ye Qingchen was positioned near the front and was among the first hundred to enter the Secret Realm. After passing through the vortex, Ye Qingchen felt himself enveloped by a strange energy.

This must be the legendary Spatial Power, an essential component of nearly every Teleportation Array. He only realized this thanks to his recent, dedicated study of formations. Despite having used Teleportation Arrays many times before, he had never sensed Spatial Power until now.

Ye Qingchen felt his body being tugged, and the bright light before him vanished. When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a world of hazy gray, with nothing else in sight. Ye Qingchen scanned his surroundings, even using his Dual Pupil Martial Soul to aid his inspection, but he still found nothing of note.