Since the secret realm held so many rare treasures, they were naturally unwilling to give up. After their wounds healed, they gathered all the Nascent Soul stage elders of their two sects and planned to enter again. They even spent a huge amount of resources to build a passage in each of their two sects. But somehow, the news leaked out and was learned by the Supreme Mystery Teachings and the Pure Land Sect, who then came to their doors, naturally wanting a piece of the pie. If the Malevolent Spirit Sect and the Ten-Pace Courtyard didn't agree, they would probably have to fight these two sects outside the secret realm before they could even enter. Besides, at that time, the Malevolent Spirit Sect and the Ten-Pace Courtyard only had a total of three late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. The remaining few were all at the early and mid-stages of Nascent Soul. They were actually not confident about their strength to go in. There were seven fourth-tier demonic beasts in that secret realm. Although the Malevolent Spirit Sect's strange poison could slightly restrain them, it was still hard to say if they could win. If they added the few Nascent Soul old monsters from the Supreme Mystery Teachings and the Pure Land Sect, they would have a better chance.
After considering many factors, they decided to agree to the four sects joining forces to enter. But after a great battle inside, the result was not satisfactory. The combat power of demonic beasts was usually much stronger than that of cultivators of the same rank. Although the human side had more Nascent Soul cultivators, once the opponent revealed their true form, it was an even match.
In the end, under such circumstances, both sides took a step back. The demonic beasts in the secret realm also looked down on the spiritual energy of the Desolate Moon Continent. The spiritual energy here was much worse than in the secret realm, which was why many ancient herbs could grow in the secret realm. And the demonic beasts in the secret realm, after the mysterious disappearance of the ancient cultivators tens of millions of years ago, had lost control and gradually formed several powerful races. Each race wanted to conquer the other. After tens of millions of years of fighting, no one could do anything to the other, and in the end, they could only call a truce. But they also needed to train. Once they went after other races, it would inevitably cause a great war. So they could only secretly hunt each other. The high-level demonic beasts also turned a blind eye. As long as there was no great war between demonic beasts of the third tier and above, they usually wouldn't interfere.
However, in this way, the natural ferocity of the demonic beasts could not be released. It was estimated that sooner or later there would be great chaos. Now that humans had come in, they could open up a certain area for humans to enter and fight with the demonic beasts of the secret realm. Whoever had the ability could get the dharma treasures and medicinal pills inside. In fact, this was also the demonic beasts using humans. Most demonic beasts relied on their innate talents to fight. Only third-tier and above demonic beasts would use spirit tools and dharma treasures. But demonic beasts were not born with the way of alchemy, artifact refining, and formations. So the cave residences left by the ancient cultivators in the secret realm were all protected by formations. They could hardly open them. They could only occasionally break some restrictions with their innate talents or brute force to get medicinal pills and dharma treasures. As for the rare and precious medicinal herbs, except for some that could be directly consumed, most of the medicinal herbs just grew freely. The demonic beasts would not refine pills or medicines at all.
After this discussion, both sides got the results they wanted. But the demonic beasts of the secret realm no longer agreed to open more passages, as this would increase the defense of their secret realm. At most, they would only allow one passage to enter. How could the human Nascent Soul cultivators agree to that? After repeated negotiations, they finally reluctantly agreed to keep the existing two passages. This made the Supreme Mystery Teachings and the Pure Land Sect very depressed. No one would be happy to see the initiative of the passage in the hands of other sects, but they were also helpless. These two sects later wanted to send people to guard the passages in the Malevolent Spirit Sect and the Ten-Pace Courtyard, but how could the Malevolent Spirit Sect and the Ten-Pace Courtyard agree? To let other sects' cultivators station in their own sect, the secrets of their own sect would be leaked sooner or later. How could they do such a thing? So they only agreed to let these two sects send people over to check every five years. This made the Supreme Mystery Teachings and the Pure Land Sect finally have to reluctantly agree.
In the beginning, the secret realm was entered by Golden Core stage cultivators dispatched by the four sects once a year. But after nearly a thousand years, both sides found something wrong. Firstly, the Golden Core cultivators were the main intermediate combat power of both sides. After a thousand years of fighting, although what was left were all battle-hardened and powerful Golden Core cultivators and extremely ferocious third-tier demonic beasts, it was obvious that the overall strength of the sects and the demonic beast races in the secret realm were both on a downward trend. Both sides had suffered too great a loss. On the other hand, after a thousand years of continuous training, fighting and picking herbs year after year, many of the rare and precious herbs here had already become extinct. This was also something that the human cultivators did not want to see.
Then the two sides sat down again for another negotiation. In the end, they agreed to open it only once every fifteen years, and it would be mainly for the Foundation Establishment stage. The power of a Golden Core stage cultivator was too great, and they would often accidentally destroy many of the spirit herbs and medicines in the secret realm, as well as mountain peaks and cave residences. The fifteen-year period was also to open up areas in rotation, which also allowed the rare and precious medicinal herbs in the secret realm to grow in rotation.
And the human cultivators who entered the secret realm all had the chance to get great opportunities. The rare treasures and ancient medicinal pills here all belonged to them. But the medicinal herbs had to be handed over to the sect. They could also sell the dharma treasures and medicinal pills they didn't need to the sect at a high price. Private selling was absolutely not allowed. Once discovered, the punishment from the sect would be extremely severe. At the same time, the most important thing was to use the rich spiritual energy in the secret realm to break through and upgrade. But along with it came extreme danger. Apart from having to be on guard against demonic beasts, they also had to be on guard against the attacks of the other three sects, and even the sudden killing blows of their companions.
So Lin Daqiao was somewhat reluctant. He also wanted to get his own opportunity inside.
The other disciples' eyes couldn't help but glow with desire when they heard Wei Zhongran mention the top forty-nine. Especially Wei Chituo. He was already at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and had a chance to break through to the False Core, or even the Golden Core realm.
Seeing the disciples agree, Wei Zhongran nodded and then looked at Li Wuyi. "Wuyi, your master will be in seclusion this month and may not be able to come out for several years. So the affairs of this peak will be led by you. This is another reason why you can't go. Here is a 'Dustless Pill' for you. Perhaps it can help you make a breakthrough." After speaking, he flicked a finger, and a small blue and white porcelain bottle flew towards Li Wuyi.
When Li Wuyi heard his master's first words, he still had a relaxed expression. He was very familiar with handling the affairs of Little Bamboo Peak. But when he heard the words "Dustless Pill," he couldn't help but freeze. Then he saw a blue and white jade porcelain bottle quietly floating in front of him. After a long while, he was overjoyed and grabbed the jade bottle in his hand.
Although he hadn't shown any expression when he heard that he would not be participating in this realm-seeking and harvesting, he still felt a little disappointed in his heart. The first two times he participated, his realm had been raised from the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment to the mid-stage, and then from the early stage of the mid-stage to the peak of the mid-stage. Although he didn't break through from the late stage of Foundation Establishment to the False Core or Golden Core in the third time, he still had some gains. If he participated this time, he thought there might be a slight possibility. But he felt that the chance was very small. But even if there was only a sliver, he still longed for it.
It was just that he had always been very obedient to his master. He would do whatever his master arranged without a second word. So he cast that sliver of longing aside. Unexpectedly, his master had actually given him a Dustless Pill.
The Dustless Pill, when advancing a major realm below the Golden Core stage, had a powerful auxiliary effect. It could protect the heart meridian when breaking through a realm, preventing the erosion of inner demons, and making the state of mind dustless. This was an extremely hard-to-find medicinal pill for breaking through a realm below the Golden Core stage. Often, a single pill was priceless and unavailable for purchase. It was unknown how Wei Zhongran had obtained it, yet he had directly given it to Li Wuyi. This increased Li Wuyi's chances of condensing a Golden Core by another twenty percent. Don't underestimate this twenty percent; it was already a heavenly opportunity.
After getting the medicinal pill, Li Wuyi's face flushed. It wasn't that he hadn't thought about this medicinal pill, but it was very difficult to find such a medicinal pill for auction outside, giving him a chance to pick it up. Although a great sect like the Malevolent Spirit Sect still refined some every year, he couldn't afford to buy them.
Li Wuyi put away the medicinal pill and returned to normal after a moment. He just stood up again, knelt down solemnly, and kowtowed six times respectfully. A smile also appeared on Wei Zhongran's chubby face. He did not stop Li Wuyi's actions. Although he could get this medicinal pill, there were many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in the Malevolent Spirit Sect. To get this medicinal pill, not only did one need a large amount of spirit stones, but also a great deal of face.
The other few Foundation Establishment disciples looked at Li Wuyi with envy, but they also knew that this was what their Eldest Senior Brother deserved. In these few years, this gentle Eldest Senior Brother had worked hard without complaint. When others were cultivating, he still had to spend a lot of time dealing with sect affairs. If it weren't for his outstanding aptitude, he would probably still be hovering in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
After Li Wuyi stood up, Wei Zhongran looked at Wei Chituo again. "Work hard," and then stood up and walked out the door.
Wei Chituo was also stunned, but a firm look gradually appeared on his face. He knew that this master was telling him to work hard on his own to obtain the great Dao, but he estimated that if he really couldn't do it, he would also take action.
Li Yan looked at Wei Zhongran's chubby, not-so-tall back, and a trace of warmth suddenly appeared in his heart. He felt that this master might really be good. He had heard that for the disciples of other peaks, as a master, at most, they would impart knowledge and teach the Dao. If they were to give their disciples such precious medicinal pills, there was only a slight possibility if you were his direct relative or a particularly liked disciple. But the master in front of him had actually spent so many resources on his disciple.
Li Yan suddenly remembered what Lin Daqiao had told him before. This chubby master might be at the peak of the mid-stage of Golden Core cultivation, but many disciples in the sect said he was at the early stage of Golden Core cultivation, because they had never seen him take action. He always had a smiling face, and the realm he showed was also at the early stage of Golden Core cultivation, which was a bit mysterious.
Seeing that his master had gone far, Li Wuyi said slowly, "This is Little Bamboo Peak..." Then his eyes became a little dazed. After composing himself, he said, "Alright, today's business is over. I hope all you junior brothers and sisters will have some gains next year. You may all leave."
The rest of the people all bowed to Li Wuyi and then walked out, either alone or in groups.
Li Yan walked out of the main hall with Lin Daqiao. Lin Daqiao put his arm around Li Yan, looking very affectionate. He was naturally jumpy. To be in seclusion for a few months or even longer was a chore for him. Fortunately, his spirit root was good. He could catch up with what others might take several months to cultivate by spending some time cultivating. Li Yan was envious of this.
After the two of them walked out of the main hall, Li Yan interrupted his Seventh Senior Brother's incessant chatter. "Seventh Senior Brother, your junior brother wants to ask you how to get the missions of this peak. You have mentioned it before, but I have never been there."
Hearing this, Lin Daqiao released his arm from around Li Yan and looked him up and down, which made Li Yan feel inexplicable.
"Little Junior Brother, you're finally short on spirit stones. I heard from Fourth Senior Sister that the resources you receive every month can be compared to the Foundation Establishment stage. It seems it's true. It's been several years, and you haven't even taken a single mission from this peak."
Hearing this, Li Yan rubbed his nose in embarrassment. He now certainly knew how hard it was to earn spirit stones. It was a good thing that when his chubby master had given him spirit stones at the beginning, he had accepted them so righteously, as if it were a matter of course. He received so much more every month. If this were on another mountain peak, someone would probably have made a fuss long ago.
With a dry laugh, Li Yan said, "Hehe, Seventh Senior Brother, isn't it because my aptitude is poor that the sect is a little biased? I've barely made it this far, so my spirit stones are no longer enough. But with my current magical power, I can't leave the sect to do missions at all, so I can only do some missions within my ability on this peak first to earn some spirit stones. Seventh Senior Brother still hasn't said how to get the missions?"
"Little Junior Brother, I can't believe that after so many years in the sect, you still don't know how to go to the mission hall. It just so happens that I have nothing to do now. I'll take you there." Lin Daqiao looked at Li Yan with a curious expression.
Li Yan said thanks. Lin Daqiao then released a boat-shaped spirit tool, and the two of them stepped on the spirit tool and flew away.