When Su Feng opened his eyes, the landscape had changed completely.
Gone was the gloom of the forest in that monster-infested mountain range; in its place stretched a vibrant world dominated by colossal trees and flowers of impossible colors. A dense natural energy permeated every corner, so pure that any cultivator could reach the Foundation Establishment stage almost by inertia, without the need for rigorous training.
However, far from being delighted, Su Feng's gaze darkened, tinged with growing concern.
"Luo Tian, Lin Xian... where are they?" he murmured, scanning the horizon.
Receiving no answer, he extended his spiritual consciousness to track the surroundings. The silence was absolute; he detected no trace of his companions.
"It seems the transfer separated us," he concluded with a sigh.
He stood up cautiously, brushing off the dust, and began to venture into that unknown paradise, his senses alert to whatever might be hiding behind such beauty. Secret Realms were usually lands of inheritance—vestiges designed by their creators so that those deemed worthy could perpetuate their legacy. However, Su Feng could not shake a persistent doubt.
"Isn't this place too extraordinary?" he wondered aloud.
Although it was his first time in one, he had meticulously studied historical records. Furthermore, his elder brother had instructed him on the workings of these pocket dimensions should he ever cross their threshold. But compared to everything he knew, this place was of a superior category.
"It's likely this wasn't the work of an average powerhouse," he speculated as he moved forward. "Could it have been created by an Ancient Emperor?"
The Ancient Era was a period shrouded in mists of mystery. The cultivators who survived from that time could be counted on the fingers of one hand. It was said that in that era, natural energy was so dense that the emergence of celestial treasures and the path to ascension were much more fluid processes than they are today.
Of course, that abundance came at a price: it was an era of extreme dangers where survival was a luxury. For a cultivator, that was their daily bread, but for an unprotected mortal, life back then would have been a hell worse than falling into the clutches of contemporary demonic sects.
"That doesn't matter now," he whispered, regaining his focus. "First, I must find my sister and that mortal."
In a blink, Su Feng's figure blurred, turning into a trail of light that streaked across the landscape at great speed. He ignored the medicinal plants and spiritual fruits he found along the way; as a direct disciple of a first-rate Sect Master, such treasures were mere trinkets he saw daily. They had no value compared to the lost time and finding his sister.
"Aside from these natural treasures, there doesn't seem to be anything else..." he muttered, while his figure cut through the air at a constant speed.
He had been exploring relentlessly, but the view was monotonous: lush vegetation extending as far as his spiritual sense could reach. The place seemed endless.
"A world so vast and limitless is impossible to create. Only a cultivator in the Immortal Ascension Realm could even consider manifesting something as complex as this," he reflected with restrained awe.
Su Feng knew the scale of power well. The path of cultivation was a steep and cruel ladder, difficult to start and almost impossible to finish. In the current era, most cultivators remained stuck for life in the Golden Core. Those who managed to reach the Nascent Soul realm were so scarce they automatically became supreme figures, pillars capable of sustaining entire sects on their own. To speak of Immortal Ascension was almost a fantasy; the last records of someone reaching such divinity were lost in the mists of the Ancient Era.
To the inhabitants of this time, the Nascent Soul was the absolute limit, the ceiling of the world. Anyone at that level was a sovereign leader, incapable of being defeated by conventional means.
"If this place was created by someone beyond those limits..." The implication left a bitter taste in his mouth. "Finding my sister in a space designed by a god will be harder than I imagined."
Meanwhile, Gu Tian—who under his disguise as the mortal Luo Tian looked vulnerable and weak—walked with an erratic step. His face was flushed with a feverish glow, and his breathing was heavy.
"You didn't mention that the density of natural energy in this place would be so extreme," he hissed through gritted teeth, addressing Empress Luo Yan, whose soul inhabited his mind. "If it weren't for the remnants of my Golden Core base, as a mortal, I would have exploded the instant I set foot here."
"If you had died, it would have been nothing more than the fulfillment of natural law," the Empress replied with icy indifference. "Although it would be a nuisance to find a new successor, it wouldn't be the first time I've been forced to do so."
As a sovereign of the Ancient Era, Luo Yan had seen countless geniuses of Gu Tian's caliber parade before her. To her, talent was a common currency; if this vessel failed, she would simply seek another.
"That boy, Su Feng, seems to possess a special destiny," the Empress reflected silently. "It is debatable whether his fortune exceeds Gu Tian's, but it would be enough to carry out my plan."
Gu Tian, ignoring the hidden thoughts of his mentor, scanned the lush vegetation with growing distrust.
"Is this place devoid of beasts?" he asked, stopping in his tracks.
"Of course not. What use would an inheritance trial be if anyone could walk through it without risk? It would make no sense to design such a complex space just to give treasures away," the voice in his mind replied, as if explaining something obvious.
Gu Tian's face darkened.
"Considering the richness of the ambient energy, the base level of those beasts must be the Golden Core. They might even be stronger than the Mountain King we faced outside."
The situation was critical. In his original state, that would have been nothing more than a minor setback; but now, with his cultivation sealed and pretending to be a simple mortal, he could only pray that his luck wouldn't run out ahead of time.