Chapter 580

Chapter 580: Entering the Mountains

The magical flying ship descended gracefully into a secluded valley.

The cabin door slid open automatically, and the cultivators of the West Sea Sect, including Wang Chen, filed out in an orderly manner.

Nestled deep within the mountains, the valley was encircled by jagged peaks, all blanketed in dense, ancient forests, with no trace of human presence.

A breeze swept through the valley, carrying with it the distant roars of unknown beasts.

Wang Chen instinctively extended his divine sense, scanning the surroundings for any immediate threats.

Yet, he remained vigilant.

Mount Taiwu spanned tens of thousands of miles, brimming with spiritual energy and abundant resources, yet it was unclaimed by any immortal sect.

This land was the domain of magical beasts!

Legends spoke of powerful beast kings lurking in the deepest reaches of the mountains, beings even Nascent Soul true immortals would not dare to underestimate.

Fortunately, the Biluotian secret realm was set to emerge on the outskirts of Mount Taiwu, where encounters with great beasts were rare. Otherwise, this group of Qi Training and Purple Palace cultivators would never dare to venture here!

Still, anyone who thought they could act recklessly in this place would be sorely mistaken.

For centuries, the great beasts and beast kings of Mount Taiwu had maintained an unspoken agreement with the grand sects.

Low and mid-tier cultivators were permitted to hunt, gather, and explore the non-core areas of the mountains, as long as they did not overstep their bounds or engage in actions akin to "draining the pond to catch fish." Such behavior would not provoke severe consequences.

In contrast, Golden Core and Yuan Ying level cultivators were forbidden from entering Mount Taiwu without good reason.

Breaking this tacit understanding would lead to dire repercussions!

"Three days ago, someone spotted colorful rays of light emanating from that peak…"

A Purple Palace cultivator with a commanding presence pointed toward a distant mountain. "The light even manifested as dragon and tiger divine beasts, perfectly matching the signs of the Biluotian secret realm’s emergence."

He continued, "Our task now is to search the surrounding area and locate the entrance to the secret realm!"

"We must act swiftly; the emergence of the Biluotian secret realm is imminent. Only by working together can we secure our share of the treasures."

"I have already said all that needs to be said…"

This cultivator was Sun Wenxuan, an eighth-level Purple Palace cultivator and one of the leaders of this treasure-hunting expedition.

His sharp gaze swept over the group as he spoke: "Remember, we will undoubtedly face many rivals this time. Do not let the reputation of the West Sea Sect falter!"

Those who met Sun Wenxuan’s eyes felt a chill run down their spines.

His message was clear: when the time came to act, they must do so decisively, without hesitation.

"Move out!"

At Sun Wenxuan’s command, the cultivators quickly divided into several teams and set off in different directions.

In many ways, Mount Taiwu was a forbidden land for cultivators.

Flying through the deep mountains was perilous; a single misstep could provoke a great beast, leading to a swift and gruesome end.

Moreover, the entrance to the Biluotian secret realm could not be discovered from the air.

Thus, the cultivators focused their search around the valley, combing the area meticulously. If any discoveries were made, they would immediately send out flame symbols to alert the others.

Wang Chen and Yin Sùlán formed a team and set off together.

The two-person team was undoubtedly the smallest. Yin Sùlán had joined the sect long before Wang Chen, so she should have had many friends within the sect, yet this time she only brought Wang Chen, a fellow disciple.

Moreover, the two had never known each other before; even though they were both under Changhe Zhenren, they had no prior connection.

There must have been a reason for this, but Wang Chen had no intention of delving into it.

He had agreed to his senior sister’s invitation mainly because he wanted to explore the Biluotian secret realm. Perhaps he could unravel part of the mystery of the Ancient Stone Tablet!

With Yin Sùlán leading the way and Wang Chen following closely behind, the two began their detailed search in sync, despite this being their first collaboration.

Earlier, on the flying ship, Sun Wenxuan had given each person a special coin and two flame symbols.

The purpose of the flame symbols was self-evident; as for the coin, it was said to come from the Biluotian secret realm. Carrying it would allow them to sense the portal to the secret realm from a distance.

This would help confirm the location of the Biluotian secret realm’s emergence!

Actually, Wang Chen didn’t need this item at all. In fact, when the flying ship entered the area of Mount Taiwu, the Ancient Stone Tablet resting in his Sea of Consciousness began to tremble, revealing numerous profound true seal characters.

There was no doubt that this treasured item sensed the presence of the Biluotian secret realm.

After searching a few miles, Wang Chen suddenly accelerated and passed Yin Sùlán, pointing to the right and saying, "Senior sister, let’s go this way!"

Yin Sùlán frowned at first, then her expression turned to surprise. "Did you find something?"

Wang Chen calmly nodded. "A little."

It wasn’t that he had discovered anything; rather, the Ancient Stone Tablet had just given him a hint.

This treasure had never felt as lively as it did now!

"Alright."

Yin Sùlán did not question him and decisively accepted Wang Chen’s suggestion, changing their search direction.

The two continued to venture deeper.

Ahead, the mountains were steep and the forest dense, leaving no ready-made paths, making their search more challenging.

At that moment, a few birds suddenly took flight from the nearby woods.

"Be careful, junior brother!"

Yin Sùlán’s voice rang in Wang Chen’s ear, accompanied by the clear sound of a sword ringing.

The sword cultivator drew her sword!

In the next moment, several gray shadows sprang from the forest, confronting the two from several hundred steps away.

It was a group of gray-robed cultivators!

There were five of them—three at the Purple Palace level with two at the Qi Training level, all exuding a formidable aura and wielding weapons or magical tools.

They were clearly battle cultivators experienced in combat!

However, upon seeing Wang Chen and Yin Sùlán, the unexpectedly confronted cultivators all showed serious expressions.

Yin Sùlán, sword in hand, appeared as cold as frost, staring fiercely at the opposing group as the atmosphere grew tense.

Yet, the battle did not erupt. After a brief standoff, one of the gray-robed cultivators cupped his hands toward Yin Sùlán and Wang Chen, then led his group back into the forest.

In the blink of an eye, they vanished.

They clearly regarded the two with caution and, after weighing their options, chose to retreat.

This was quite normal; undoubtedly, this group was also searching for the Biluotian secret realm.

With the portal to the secret realm not yet found, engaging in conflict would only benefit other competitors!

Yin Sùlán sheathed her long sword and disdainfully scoffed, "Let’s go."

"Over there."

Wang Chen pointed in a new direction.

Strangely, in his perception—more accurately, according to the hint from the Ancient Stone Tablet—the location of the Biluotian secret realm was not fixed.

Instead, it was constantly shifting!

The special coin he carried showed no response; however, besides the Ancient Stone Tablet, even the Heavenly Net for Exorcising Evil wrapped around his arm exhibited unusual sensations.

Wang Chen felt as if he were a wandering traveler about to return to his homeland!