Dawn tore through the silence of the night, dyeing the horizon with a hint of pale light. The restricted area behind Qingxu Temple's main peak, however, was now bustling with noise and excitement, a stark contrast to its usual tranquility. In front of a valley shrouded by a massive formation and perpetually veiled in mist and clouds, nearly a hundred qualified Qi Refining disciples gathered, standing solemnly according to their respective halls or teams.
At the front of the crowd were several elders led by Temple Master Xuan Xuan, each with profound auras and solemn expressions. Elder Xuan Lin was also among them; his gaze swept calmly over the crowd, pausing briefly on Tang Xiao Qi and giving a slight nod.
Tang Xiao Qi stood behind Senior Brother Mu Qingfeng and Third Senior Sister Liu Yun, with Shi Jian and Su Xuan by his side. He took a deep breath of the cold, fresh morning air, trying to calm his slightly accelerated heartbeat. His palm still seemed to retain the gentle coolness from the Heart-clearing Stone, and the jade pendant on his chest lay peacefully against him. He touched the frying pan carefully wrapped in cloth on his back and checked the storage pouch at his waist, which contained all his preparations.
Anticipation, nervousness, and a hint of excitement for the unknown—various emotions intertwined in his heart. He glanced at his teammates beside him: Senior Brother remained steady as a mountain, Third Senior Sister's eyes were sharp and eager, Shi Jian was rubbing his hands in anticipation, and Su Xuan was observing the surroundings with agile eyes. With these reliable companions, his confidence grew significantly.
"The time has come!" Temple Master Xuan Xuan's aged yet powerful voice rang out, suppressing all the noise. He and the other elders stepped forward simultaneously, forming hand seals, as astonishing spiritual pressure erupted from their bodies.
In an instant, the dense mist and clouds before the valley, which had been flowing slowly, seemed stirred by an invisible giant hand, churning violently! At the center of the mist, dots of spiritual light lit up like stars, rapidly sketching out a massive, intricate, and mysterious pattern emanating with spatial fluctuations—that was the entrance to the Cloud Mist Secret Realm, a colossal random teleportation formation!
The formation's glow grew increasingly brilliant, illuminating the surrounding mountain walls and the disciples' faces. A powerful spatial suction force began emanating from the formation's center, causing everyone's robes to flutter noisily.
"The secret realm entrance is now open and will remain so for one month! During this period, you may sense the exit's location and return at any time using your identity jade tokens. However, remember: once the one-month period ends, the exit will be completely sealed, and those who remain behind will face dire peril!" Temple Master Xuan Xuan's voice, amplified by spiritual power, clearly reached every disciple's ears. "After entering the formation, you will be randomly teleported to different areas within the secret realm. You must find ways to reunite with your teammates on your own. Within the secret realm, life and death are in the hands of fate. Keep the sect rules in mind, support each other, and remain vigilant at all times!"
"Now, enter the formation!"
At the Temple Master's command, the already-prepared disciples—some alone, others in small groups—transformed into streams of light of various colors and, without hesitation, hurled themselves toward the radiant center of the teleportation formation. Their figures were instantly swallowed by the churning mist and intense light, vanishing from sight.
"Let's go too!" Liu Yun exclaimed in a low voice, glancing at Xiao Qi. "Stay close, and use the Messaging Talisman to contact us immediately after entering!"
Mu Qingfeng nodded and took the lead, transforming into a cyan streak that shot toward the teleportation formation. Liu Yun, Shi Jian, and Su Xuan followed closely behind.
Xiao Qi dared not delay. Circulating spiritual energy within his body, he pushed off with his feet and closely followed, charging into that dazzling halo of light.
The moment his body touched the halo, an irresistible tearing force abruptly descended! It was as if an invisible giant hand grabbed him and hurled him into a rapidly spinning vortex. The world spun; all colors and shapes around him twisted and blurred. The roaring sound of violent spatial storms filled his ears; his internal organs seemed displaced. Intense nausea and dizziness assaulted him.
He could only tightly cling to a sliver of clarity in his mind, instinctively gripping the jade pendant on his chest. The pendant transmitted a gentle, warm power that protected his heart meridian, allowing him to barely maintain consciousness amid this violent spatial teleportation.
The process seemed both extremely long and yet only an instant.
When that unbearable tearing sensation and dizziness abruptly vanished, Xiao Qi felt solid ground beneath his feet. His body lurched forward several steps due to momentum, nearly causing him to fall. He quickly steadied himself, breathing rapidly, and looked up.
What met his eyes was no longer the familiar scenery of Qingxu Temple's Back Mountain.
He stood in an unfamiliar ancient forest. The trees here were exceptionally tall and thick, their canopies blocking out the sky and sun. Only fragmented, mottled light struggled to penetrate, casting sporadic spots on the thick layer of humus on the ground. The air was saturated with an almost tangible vegetation spiritual energy, along with a primitive, damp, slightly fishy smell. The surroundings were eerily silent; only his own somewhat heavy breathing and the faint, distant rustling and chirping of unknown insects could be heard.
He quickly scanned the surroundings—no one was there. Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, Shi Jian, Su Xuan—all had vanished.
The random teleportation had indeed separated them all.
Xiao Qi steadied his mind, suppressing the discomfort of arriving in an unfamiliar environment and the slight panic from being separated from his teammates. First, he checked himself over: aside from some discomfort from the teleportation, he was fine. His storage pouch was intact, the frying pan was still on his back, and the jade pendant remained unharmed.
He immediately retrieved the special Messaging Talisman that Third Senior Sister had given him from his storage pouch. Injecting a trace of spiritual energy, the talisman glowed faintly, but the light flickered unsteadily, and its directional indication was blurred. It seemed interfered with by the secret realm's special environment, preventing immediate determination of his teammates' precise position and distance.
"It seems reuniting will require some time and luck," Xiao Qi realized inwardly. He put away the Messaging Talisman and once again cautiously observed his surroundings.
Now he was truly alone. In this unknown secret realm filled with both opportunities and dangers, he had to rely on himself—to survive, find his teammates, and then pursue his own opportunity.
The secret realm trial officially began from the moment he stepped into this place. He clenched his fist, his eyes turning sharp and focused, and carefully took his first exploratory step.