At noon the next day, Jian Dan finished getting ready and leisurely made her way toward the Lecture Hall under the midday sun. Before she even stepped inside, she saw a crowd already gathered in front of the High Mountain Hall. Most were Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples, and with just a sweep of her divine sense, she even spotted a few Jīndān Zhēnrén among them.
Jian Dan found the turnout surprising. She didn't think she had that much influence.
"Shan Zhēnrén has arrived."
Lü Se had been waiting at the entrance for some time. As soon as he saw Shan Zhēnrén approaching at an unhurried pace, he called out to the others and came up to greet her.
"Shan Zhēnrén, quite a crowd today. I checked earlier—almost everyone who earned a place in the secret realm through the tournament is here. Even a few Jīndān Zhēnrén from other outer peaks came too!"
Those near the door stretched their necks, eager to catch a glimpse of the female Golden Core cultivator that people claimed could teach them how to reduce risk and secure fortune within the secret realm.
Jian Dan offered Lü Se a small smile and casually handed him a few low-grade spirit stones as a reward, then stepped into the hall.
The Lecture Hall was a large space, two zhang tall and two zhang wide. At the front sat a short platform, behind which was a meditation cushion. Dozens upon dozens of disciples were already seated in neat rows on their own cushions, waiting for the lecture to begin.
The moment Jian Dan entered, silence fell over the hall. Smiling faintly, she held a round fan in one hand and made her way down the aisle cleared for her. She stepped up onto the platform and turned to face the crowd.
"I am Shan Yunzu, your speaker today. Thank you all for coming."
She gave a few graceful waves of her fan, then suddenly flipped it closed and said:
"Everyone, try circulating your spiritual power."
Around two hundred cultivators blinked in confusion. Some Qi Refining disciples instinctively followed her instruction, only to find their spiritual power stuck, unable to move through their meridians. The Foundation Establishment cultivators quickly noticed the same. Only the Jīndān Zhēnrén present were unaffected.
The hall grew tense with quiet panic until, little by little, everyone realized their energy was flowing again.
"What you just experienced," Jian Dan said calmly, "was the effect of one of the so-called low-tier tricks of the cultivation world—Spirit-Sealing Powder."
Murmurs and whispers spread through the crowd. Many disciples exchanged looks. Shan Zhēnrén clearly didn't follow the usual script. She had opened with a sharp demonstration.
"Did anyone notice when I administered the drug?"
The hall buzzed again. Jian Dan didn't rush them, letting the crowd sort through their thoughts.
"It must have been when Zhēnrén entered the hall," said a shy male disciple wearing inner sect white robes and a jade token in the shape of a sword. "But the exact moment… I'm not sure."
Jian Dan nodded, then asked gently:
"Did anyone notice anything else?"
This time, a round-faced outer sect girl in the front row blurted out:
"I know, I know!"
"Then please, go ahead."
Jian Dan smiled at her kindly.
"I come to the Lecture Hall often. Usually, the Zhēnrén enter through a private door and go straight to the stage. But today, you entered through the same front door as us, passing right by. That must have been when you did it!"
Her eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at Jian Dan, waiting for confirmation.
"Correct. This shimei's observation was quite accurate."
With a flick of her wrist, Jian Dan brought out her golden butterfly fan again, gently waving it twice.
The round-faced girl reacted instantly, activating a defensive barrier. Several others followed suit, casting protective spells one after another. Those who weren't quick enough once again felt their spiritual power freeze in place.
"Good. Quick response and sharp eyes. This is your reward."
She tossed the girl a mid-grade defensive talisman. The disciple accepted it with both hands, full of joy, and gave Jian Dan a grateful bow.
"This is the first lesson of today's lecture—always stay alert. Don't fall victim to traps in plain sight. The dangers in a secret realm far outweigh this little trick."
"Zhēnrén, how do you even have Spirit-Sealing Powder?"
A blunt male disciple asked without thinking. His companion glared at him, and he quickly realized he had overstepped.
But Jian Dan didn't seem upset. She answered in the same calm tone.
"Someone was taken with my beauty and wanted to use me as a cauldron to boost his cultivation, so he slipped me some Spirit-Sealing Powder."
The audience leaned forward, ears perked. Even Tao Chengfeng, standing quietly in the back, twitched at the corner of his mouth.
"What happened after that?" someone asked.
"He died, of course. Soul and body both destroyed. Got off easy, honestly."
The hall went silent.
Jian Dan continued as if nothing had happened.
"And that brings us to the second point—only the living can pursue the path to immortality."
"Secret realms are called that because of their hidden opportunities. But where there is opportunity, there is also risk. You cannot avoid all danger. That's unrealistic. The only way to claim your fortune is to stay alive."
"You should all know, our sect is not the only one entering the Chilong Secret Realm. Other factions, other sects, and even rogue cultivators will be there. Inside, they are your competitors. Sometimes, they may even become your allies."
"Zhēnrén, if they're our rivals, how could they be allies too?"
"Because of shared interest. When you cannot seize an opportunity on your own, you may need help."
Jian Dan gently waved her fan again.
"This is the third point—know when to give and take. Sometimes, sacrificing a little may gain you more than what you gave up."
"Then we could also ask our fellow sect members for help, right?"
"Of course. But that doesn't change the fact that you're all still competitors. Just like this time, you earned your place in the secret realm through the tournament."
The crowd nodded. They had all fought hard for their spot.
"And finally, my last point—know your limits. Don't act recklessly."
As the words left her lips, a ripple of blue light glowed from her eyes. In an instant, many of the disciples in the room found themselves frozen in place, unable to move.
The Lecture Hall fell into eerie stillness.