After reviewing the information provided by the Tianji Tower, Jiang Li gained a comprehensive understanding of the Profound Mysterious Realm.
Initially, he had only wanted to know the location of the Profound Mysterious Realm.
The person who established the Profound Mysterious Realm was named Da Meng Jushi, a cultivator at the Unity Stage. He passed away due to exhaustion during the Tribulation eight hundred years ago. It seemed that he foresaw his inability to overcome the Tribulation, so he left behind the Profound Mysterious Realm before the Tribulation, leaving behind some things for future generations. Perhaps he wished to offer some opportunities to foundation-building youths, thus creating karma.
The Profound Mysterious Realm opened every ten years, and each time, the trials upon opening were different, sometimes testing comprehension, sometimes testing strength, and sometimes resistance to materialistic desires. Even the Tianji Tower couldn't find a pattern, but it could be confirmed that the Profound Mysterious Realm had two layers. Depending on the exemplary performance, the rewards received would differ.
For instance, five hundred years ago, the trial of the Profound Mysterious Realm was related to combat strength. Each person had a plate that could be seized from others. The person with the most plates would be ranked first.
The Profound Mysterious Realm was located in the southern border of the Great Zhou Dynasty. Each opening attracted several sects from nearby prefectures. Whether these sects had Nascent Soul cultivators was uncertain, as who would reject a secret realm left behind by someone nearly at the Tribulation Stage.
...
Jiang Li changed his appearance as he neared the Profound Mysterious Realm.
At this time, many sects had brought their core disciples here, awaiting the opening of the secret realm.
Although Jiang Li's cultivation surpassed the foundation building stage and did not meet the standard to enter the secret realm, his cultivation also surpassed that of Da Meng Jushi.
For the southern region of the Great Zhou Dynasty, the opening of the Profound Mysterious Realm was a small grand event. At that time, several prefectures in the southern region of the Great Zhou Dynasty and the well-known sects would come to participate, showcasing their outstanding disciples.
After surveying the scene, Jiang Li couldn't recall the name of any sect. The actual situation was quite similar to what the system had said. Most of the people present were at the late foundation building stage, with only a few at the middle foundation building stage. Naturally, those at the late stage would guide and instruct those at the middle stage.
Jiang Li decided not to draw attention to himself and inconspicuously blended into a group of late-stage foundation builders.
He could have directly revealed his identity: "I won't pretend. I am the Human Emperor. Give me some face and let me enter the secret realm and take first place."
Indeed, while Jiang Li did not attach much importance to faith, he still had his dignity.
As a cultivator at the Mahayana Stage, barging into a secret realm meant for those almost at the Unity Stage to compete with foundation building juniors, he would become a laughingstock among his friends.
"Hey, bro, did your sect also not send anyone?" A familiar person approached Jiang Li. "What a coincidence, my sect also didn’t send anyone.”
Most people had their elders coming along to prevent their juniors from being bullied, but there were exceptions, like the person next to Jiang Li.
He introduced himself as Qin Luan, the senior disciple of the Ding Feng Sect and a closed-door disciple. His master had been traveling around for over a decade and hadn’t returned. This disciple was quite happy to have the leisure to cultivate on his own.
"It can't be helped. In my sect, my seniority is the highest, so no one accompanied me here."
Jiang Li's words weren't entirely false. His sect was the Human Emperor's Palace, and as the lord of the Human Emperor's Palace, he naturally held the highest seniority.
However, Qin Luan found Jiang Li's statement to imply that all the elders in their sect had passed away, leaving him as the sole remaining member.
He thought that his Ding Feng Sect, with only two people, was the most pitiful sect, but to think that there could be an even more pitiful one. He suddenly felt sympathetic.
"Brother Kong, rest assured. Once we enter the Profound Mysterious Realm, I will watch out for you, given our shared plight!" Qin Luan assured Jiang Li.
Jiang Li didn’t use the alias "Zhang Li" and changed his surname again, this time to "Kong Li."
He realized that when he heard "Zhang Li," he thought of the Sect Master of the Dao Sect, which infuriated him.
"I hope there are no unscrupulous people this time." Qin Luan was quite talkative, noticed Jiang Li's silence, and seemed to be looking for a listener.
"Brother Kong, do you know? Last time, a person deliberately suppressed their cultivation until entering the secret realm and only broke through the Golden Core stage inside. This kind of person is too unscrupulous. If I encounter someone like that, I would definitely give them a kick when they try to make excuses during their breakthrough."
Jiang Li felt that Qin Luan wasn't seeking a companion, but was just looking for an audience.
The top of their heads suddenly darkened, and an incredibly large eagle landed nearby. The eagle's eyes were sharp, as if containing a sword aura.
"An eagle with a trace of Golden Eagle bloodline, which family's person has come?" Qin Luan shouted, trying his best to explain enthusiastically.
Two people walked down from the eagle's back, both carrying long swords, dressed in spotlessly clean white robes, and they paid no attention to the shouting crowd in front of them.
"They are from the Forgetful Sect. People from this sect have no emotions, they don't believe in anyone, only in the sword in their hands," Qin Luan revealed the identities of the two. "It's Qi Sha Dao Zi and his elder."
Qin Luan's brow furrowed. "He's not an easy person to deal with. I've fought with him before, and I won only eight out of ten matches."
Jiang Li was slightly surprised. "He goes by the name Seven Kills. What does he have to do with the Seven Kills Stele in the immortal realm?"
Such a person should have been heard of before, why had he never heard of him earlier?
"No, he calls himself Seven Kills just because he thinks the name is cool."
"..."
"Huh? Where did the petals come from?" Qin Luan looked up and saw two women in pink dresses floating down, the pink petals disappeared with them. The younger one was lively and adorable, while the older one's demeanor was aloof, making admirers afraid to get close.
"They are from the Falling Cherry Blossoms Sect!" someone exclaimed for Qin Luan.
"It's Song Ying and her master," Qin Luan's brow furrowed again. "She's not easy to deal with either. I've fought with her before, and I won only six out of ten matches."
As soon as Song Ying landed, she looked around and seeing Qin Luan's serious expression, she bounced up to say hello enthusiastically.
"Hey, Qin Luan, we meet again. This time I won't lose to you," she said, emphasizing with a flick of her pink little fist.
But Qin Luan didn't pay attention to her; instead, he warned Jiang Li.
"Be careful with Song Ying. She thinks she can't beat me, so she wants to disrupt my mental state with her beauty. She's very scheming!"
Jiang Li thought to himself, even I, a blind man, can see that she's interested in you. Did you not see how her master wanted to draw her sword and kill you?
"Is it possible that she really likes you?" Jiang Li couldn't help but ask.
"Absolutely not," Qin Luan said firmly. "One time I asked her if she liked me, and she said who would like a fool like you!"
Jiang Li nodded gently, it seemed that Song Ying really didn't like Qin Luan.
"Be careful with these two. They will be the biggest competitors."
This time, Jiang Li didn't nod. In his view, the biggest competitor of this trip was someone else.
He set his gaze on an inconspicuous disciple.
A late Foundation Establishment-stage body, but inside was a Nascent Soul-stage soul.
Possession.