From the very beginning of the creation of the Sky-Building Secret Realm, even when it was controlled by the Imperial Clan, only a hundred people were allowed to enter each time it opened.
After the demise of the Imperial Clan, families had taken over the Sky-Building Secret Realm, and they too adhered to the limit of one hundred people.
After all, the stone gate could only accommodate a hundred people; beyond that, it could not be opened again.
However, ever since the Xiu family gained the qualification to enter the Sky-Building Secret Realm, they discovered spatial anomalies within it. Once, all those in the family who were about to reach the Foundation Establishment stage were sent in.
This single act led to disaster!
Three years later, everyone who had entered the Sky-Building Secret Realm that year had not returned!
This was true for both the Xiu family and members of other families.
The incident had caused a huge uproar, with nearly a hundred forces investigating thoroughly, and the trail eventually led to the Xiu family!
If not for the Xiu family's deep foundations and the backing of the Immortal Mansion, this matter might have been swept under the rug. Otherwise, the tragedy of the Imperial Clan might have been repeated.
However, the Xiu family suffered a severe blow, experiencing a talent vacuum for several centuries, and their family status plummeted!
What a pity...
This matter was not recorded, and only a portion of the Xiu family knew about it. Now, thousands of years later, it had long been forgotten.
But when the number one hundred and two appeared on the stone gate, this incident resurfaced in the minds of some!
While smaller forces might not know, the leaders of the Immortal, Demonic, Confucian, and Buddhist paths, as well as members of various prominent families, were certainly aware!
The dozen or so individuals exchanged glances, then turned to look at one person.
Xiu Hao.
Although he was the eldest son of the Demon Cave Master, he was also from an outer branch of the Xiu family!
"Don't look at me!"
Xiu Hao said helplessly, "Our branch doesn't have spatial spirit roots. You'd be better off looking for those guys! This is clearly their doing!"
Dan Chenxiao frowned but still nodded, then looked at Mu Siyue, "Xiu Long has already reached Foundation Establishment. If the Xiu family is paving the way for him, perhaps..."
"Impossible."
The scholar in green from the Tongtian Academy retorted, "The current Xiu family patriarch is benevolent and understands the importance of human affairs. He wouldn't act for personal gain and cut off the lineage!"
"Appearances can be deceiving!"
A seductive woman stepped forward and chuckled, "This generation also has Xiu Yun entering. If he were to be harmed, then the position of the Xiu family's main lineage, which changes every thousand years, would have one less competitor.
The Xiu family patriarch might just try it."
"Enough!"
Mu Siyue's gaze swept over the woman, her disgust evident, "What's the use of speculating here?
Let's go ask. If it's truly the Xiu family's doing... let's see if they can bear the consequences."
"Let's go! To the Xiu family!"
Dan Chenxiao raised his arm in response to Mu Siyue's words, then turned to Xiu Hao, "Xiu Hao, do you dare to go?"
"What is there to fear!"
Xiu Hao immediately spat out four words, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes, "The pact of the Xiu family clearly forbids bloodshed among relatives. If they break the agreement first, then I... will naturally not be polite!"
"No need for more words, let's go and see."
Mu Siyue stepped onto her flying sword and ascended first, followed closely by Dan Chenxiao and Xiu Hao.
With these three leading the way, the rest of the group also flew towards the Xiu family.
Some knew what had happened, but a portion of them were still bewildered and could only follow behind silently.
The Xiu family was located in the Central Profound Heaven.
With everyone traveling at their full speed, it took only three days to reach the Xiu family's domain.
Mu Siyue, standing on her flying sword at the forefront of the group, cupped her hands and said, "Junior, Mu Siyue, requests an audience with the Xiu family patriarch!"
At present, the situation was unclear, so proper etiquette must be observed.
After a few breaths, a voice slowly drifted out from within the domain.
"The number one Golden Core under the Nine Heavens, what business do you have with this old man?"
Mu Siyue did not rise but continued, "Please, Patriarch Xiu, come out for a chat."
The current Xiu family patriarch was named Xiu Qitian, a contemporary of her master.
Although his realm was far from that of an Emperor, it was not far off.
If it weren't for the need to maintain the illusion that her master was still alive, she would never have taken the lead in questioning him publicly.
"Hmm?"
Xiu Qitian frowned, but the barrier above the domain still opened.
An elder in a silver-gray robe took to the sky, his hands behind his back, surveying the crowd before him, "Heh, quite a few people have arrived."
He looked at Mu Siyue at the front of the crowd and slowly said, "Little girl, this old man will give Tu Xiu some face and come out to see you.
If your matter is not urgent, do not blame this old man for disciplining you on behalf of your master."
"Senior, please calm your anger."
Mu Siyue stood unmoved, then calmly said, "It's just that an accident occurred in the Sky-Building Secret Realm this time, and two extra people entered."
"Extra people?"
Xiu Qitian frowned. He scanned the crowd again, his gaze lingering on Dan Chenxiao and Xiu Hao for a moment, and knew Mu Siyue was not lying. A surge of anger instantly rose within him!
Instantly!
A wave of pressure descended!
Everyone, including Mu Siyue, plummeted from the sky, pinned to the ground, unable to fly. They could only look up at him!
The pressure!
This was merely the pressure he exuded unintentionally! How terrifying was the Tribulation Transcension stage!
Mu Siyue, being only at the Golden Core stage, could no longer speak under such pressure.
"Senior! If the number of people in the Sky-Building Secret Realm exceeds one hundred, this action will sever the path of a generation of prodigies!"
Only Xiu Hao, struggling to speak, asked, "Please, Senior, investigate yourself to see if any Xiu family members entered the secret realm!"
Xiu Qitian frowned and pondered for a few breaths before finally choosing to nod.
Xiu Long!
That brat had the ability to break the restrictions of the Sky-Building Secret Realm! One of them was him, and the other should be that descendant whose lineage had been lost at some unknown time.
He had originally thought that the brat had disappeared just to play, but he hadn't expected him to go there!
Unexpectedly!
Unexpectedly, just because he hadn't told him about that matter, such a thing had happened!
Xiu Long had only just reached the Foundation Establishment stage. How could he possibly tell him about the ugly events of a thousand years ago?
But now that he had gone, he couldn't deny it. If anyone were to ask about Xiu Long's whereabouts, he would have no way to explain.
Rather than that, it was better to admit it now! Perhaps... he could find an opportunity to see if he could rescue the people from the secret realm!
Xiu Qitian closed his eyes and took a deep breath, the pressure completely dissipating. His gaze fell upon the group, and he began to name names: "Dan Chenxiao, Xiu Hao, Qi Chenglou, Wuxin, ... Mu Siyue."
A total of twenty-three names were called out by Xiu Qitian.
The forces behind these individuals all had at least one Tribulation Transcension stage existence, and some even had Emperors behind them!
"...Mu Siyue can be exempted."
Xiu Qitian added after a pause, then said, "Go back and find your elders. If you want to save those people, all come to the secret realm for a discussion! The accident of the previous time must not be repeated!"
Upon hearing Xiu Qitian's words, everyone could only bow and withdraw.
Mu Siyue also withdrew, but she was not going to find anyone; she couldn't find anyone.
She could only wait by the secret realm now, hoping for an opportunity to rescue Yun Ze!
Yun Ze might not be important; he was merely a pawn of her master. But the two immortal jades he carried...
Those were treasures her master had dedicated his entire life to protecting. They absolutely could not be lost!
...
...
Three days ago, Sky-Building Secret Realm.
As Yun Ze entered the secret realm, he felt a flash of white light before his eyes.
When he regained his senses, he was surrounded by darkness, and the air was filled with a nauseating stench!
"This is... the secret realm? The environment is too poor, isn't it!"
Yun Ze casually grumbled, then looked down at his surroundings.
He was currently standing on a patch of murky viscous liquid, in which floated a pile of decaying bones. Occasionally, bubbles would emerge.
These bones looked like fish bones, but their size was larger than any fish Yun Ze had ever seen. He couldn't tell what they were.
"Ugh! What kind of hellhole is this?"
Yun Ze almost vomited. He condensed a fire sword using the fire attribute spiritual energy in the air to illuminate the path, and stepped on the viscous liquid, walking in one direction.
However, after walking for only ten meters, he realized something was wrong!
This seemed to be a sealed space!
The surroundings were all pinkish barriers, and he was trapped within these barriers, with corrosive liquid beneath his feet.
The skeletons he had just seen were already more than half dissolved. If he hadn't been stepping on the Shadow-Chasing Boots, he would have been dissolved by now.
Yun Ze looked up at the sky.
Since the surroundings were blocked, he could only try to break through from above.
He activated the Pathless Movement, preparing to ascend and investigate, when a black shadow suddenly flashed before his eyes!
Something was falling!
Yun Ze aimed at the landing spot and quickly dodged!
Bang~
A mass of something unknown landed in the viscous liquid, splashing a wave of water!
Fortunately, Yun Ze had dodged in time. If he had been splashed by this thing, who knew what would have happened.
The thing that had just fallen was still writhing.
Yun Ze frowned, approached, and was instantly stunned.
It was... a turtle, half the size of a person!
But why would a turtle fall from the sky?
Gurgle gurgle~
Yun Ze looked up at the sky again.
Was that... the sound of water?
Wait!
Water! Turtle! Viscous liquid! Pinkish barriers! And those fish bones!
Could it be... that he was inside the stomach of some large aquatic animal?