Chapter Forty-Two: Shadows Gather, the Secret Realm Unveiled

“All right, Senior Brother Luo Yan, let them witness the might of our Bright Moon Blade Sect.”
“It’s said that the elders, along with Celestial Azure Gate and the Seven Stars Pavilion, have already begun to implement the plan. Won’t eliminating Chen Mu in the secret realm cause…”
“Hush! Lower your voice. How can you speak so carelessly? What if someone overhears us in such a public place?”
“Sorry, sorry. But if we go after Chen Mu, will it jeopardize the plan?”
“Don’t worry. Even if the plan fails, at worst it will just be mutual destruction. We’re already at odds with them—killing one or two makes no difference. Besides, there’s no possibility of failure, you know that.”

Within the encampment of the Celestial Azure Gate, Chen Wuhen appeared unsettled. A man in azure robes patted his shoulder and said, “Junior Brother Wuhen, rest assured, the plan is progressing smoothly. If this succeeds, you’ll be the next head of the Chen family. Even if the sect master of Qingyun Mountain Sect intervenes, it cannot change the outcome. Tell me more about Starview Valley and this Chen Mu…”

Unbeknownst to them, the disciples of Starview Valley seemed yet unaware that they had been drawn into a web of conspiracy. Whether those participating in the Assembly of Heroes or those remaining behind at the sect…

The qualifying elimination matches had reached their final stage, and the last qualifier had emerged.

Next was the Ranking Tournament for the Heroes List. Chen Mu had no interest in this; even if he made the list, what would it matter? At best, it would be a fleeting moment of fame. So, Chen Mu opted out of the ranking matches.

After the tournament ended, all qualifiers gathered together and proceeded to the teleportation array at the edge of the Yellow Springs Secret Realm.

The imperial official from the Great Xia Dynasty spoke again, “Distinguished disciples of the various sects, in a moment, you will enter the Yellow Springs Secret Realm alongside the imperial heirs. Before that, please put on the jade pendants that have been distributed to you. This is your only lifeline for returning from the secret realm.”

With that, each person was handed a jade pendant. This piece was a translucent green, and as Chen Mu swept it with his spiritual sense, he could faintly detect mysterious array patterns flowing within.

He paid it little mind, tucking the pendant into his clothing and waiting for the next move from the royal representatives.

At that moment, a group of lavishly dressed youths arrived. Most wore arrogant expressions, making it clear they had little regard for the sect disciples who had just earned their qualifications through their own strength. These were the imperial scions of the Great Xia Dynasty.

Once everyone had assembled, eight elders in red robes took up positions at each corner of the formation. As spiritual power surged, a humming sound filled the air—and in an instant, all present vanished.

A blinding light flashed, and when Chen Mu opened his eyes again, he found himself standing on a barren rocky plain.

He pondered for a moment, surmising that he had indeed entered the secret realm.

“In any case, I should head for a place that shows signs of life.” With that thought, Chen Mu dashed off in a chosen direction.

He traveled for half an hour, encountering disciples from other sects along the way. After exchanging wary assurances of no ill intent, both sides parted ways.

Upon reaching a forest, Chen Mu spotted six or seven figures among the trees. The two parties regarded each other, and one figure within the woods sneered playfully, “Isn’t this Starview Valley’s little medicine boy, the apprentice of Master Mu Dan? Junior Brother Chen Mu, you really kept this from me. I heard you’ve been ostracized in Starview Valley? I’ll say it again—join us at the Celestial Azure Gate. That tiny place simply can’t contain you.”

The speaker was none other than Meng Rushan, with Chen Wuhen at his side. The rest were disciples of the Celestial Azure Gate who had joined forces with them.

Seeing Meng Rushan trying to recruit Chen Mu, Chen Wuhen immediately frowned. “Chen Mu cannot join the Celestial Azure Gate!”

Meng Rushan replied respectfully, “Young Master Wuhen, Chen Mu is a talent. There’s nothing wrong with recruiting him to our Gate. I know you two have grievances. As the vice sect master’s younger brother, wouldn’t it be wonderful if Chen Mu could assist you—turning hostility into alliance? Chen Mu has great potential; recruiting him is our best option. If not, we can always capture him first. Our real target is the Hermit of Wood behind him.”

Chen Wuhen’s expression shifted complexly, but he eventually nodded in agreement.

Chen Mu saw through their intentions; they cared nothing for him but were after the secret of his Vitality Pill. He declined without hesitation, “Thank you for your offer, Young Master Meng, but I would never commit the ignoble act of betraying my sect. I ask that you not mention this again.”

Meng Rushan’s smile faded, his voice cold and emotionless. “Then there’s nothing more to say. Disciples of the Celestial Azure Gate, seize Chen Mu!”

As Meng Rushan issued the order, Chen Mu turned and fled. The Celestial Azure Gate’s numbers were overwhelming, and he did not wish to be drawn into a pointless conflict.

As the chase spanned dozens of miles, a dense white mist suddenly enveloped both Chen Mu and Meng Rushan’s group.

Meng Rushan shouted, “Not good! The Yellow Springs Wraiths are coming. Prepare for battle!”

Chen Mu had heard of these creatures from Gu Xingyuan before entering the secret realm—they were unique beings, native to this place.

Shaped like phantoms, the Yellow Springs Wraiths could devour souls. If one’s soul was swallowed by them, at best the victim would become a walking corpse; at worst, a living dead, utterly immobilized.

Though the wraiths lacked physical form, within each was a tiny homunculus core. Destroying this core was the only way to dispel them.

Realizing the danger, Chen Mu immediately activated the Phantom Veil Concealment Art, blending his presence into the surroundings.

Several Yellow Springs Wraiths began to battle Meng Rushan’s group, while a few others wandered near Chen Mu, aimlessly searching. One drew close, studied his direction suspiciously, but then lost interest.

“So, the Phantom Veil Concealment Art really is incredible—even these wraiths, so sensitive to the aura of the living, cannot sense me. What a marvelous technique.”

Just as he turned to slip away, his scalp prickled.

More than ten Yellow Springs Wraiths were staring straight at him. The earlier one hadn’t missed him—it was that he’d already been ‘claimed’ by this pack.

Chen Mu drew his Blackgold Sword and hacked furiously at the oncoming wraiths, hoping to drive them back.

Their ghostly bodies dispersed instantly when struck by his yang-attribute energy, but within moments, they would reform. No matter how he slashed, they seemed unscathed—it was clear he had to find and destroy the homunculus core within each.

Because the core kept shifting inside their formless bodies, Chen Mu had to keep dispersing them for a chance to spot it.

Spotting a core, he struck swiftly and shattered it, causing the wraith to dissipate entirely.

Finding this method too inefficient, Chen Mu switched to casting yang-attribute fireballs via the Starfire Manipulation Technique, blasting apart the wraiths’ bodies to reveal their cores.

This approach proved effective. When a wraith was engulfed by multiple fireballs, its core was exposed for Chen Mu to see.

Any core laid bare was promptly annihilated with a single sword strike, and soon Chen Mu had broken free of their encirclement.

As he stepped into the space where a core had shattered, a wisp of pale blue light was inadvertently absorbed into his body. Alarmed, Chen Mu feared some adverse effect.

But as time passed, he felt no discomfort—on the contrary, he felt refreshed, as if his soul was growing more solid and powerful.

“So, slaying these wraiths is beneficial. I’ll have to absorb more of this blue energy next time.”

Escaping the mist, Chen Mu found himself in unfamiliar terrain. He realized the fog could randomly teleport those within to new locations in the secret realm.

No longer among jagged rocks, he now stood in a wetland full of shrubs, the ground pitted and waterlogged.

Trudging through, his shoes were soon soaked, making him uncomfortable. Once he reached a plain, Chen Mu gathered yang energy in his feet to evaporate the moisture from his shoes.

Seated on the grass for a short rest, he retrieved his map from his storage pouch. Judging from the wetlands and plains, he reckoned he was in the upper left quadrant.

The Pool of the Yellow Springs was located a bit right of center. If he oriented himself, he needed to head left and forward—though if he encountered more wraiths, he might be teleported elsewhere and have to start over.

He walked for half an hour without incident, but just as he was congratulating himself on his progress, a distant patch of white mist appeared ahead.

He was relieved it was still far off and planned to avoid it—when suddenly, sounds of battle echoed from the mist.

The voices were familiar: his elder brother Chen Feng, the leader Mo Liang of Qingyun Mountain Sect, and several other disciples.

Learning that his brother was inside the mist, Chen Mu charged in without hesitation. Inside, Chen Feng and the Qingyun Mountain disciples were besieged by the wraiths; already, one disciple had fallen and become a living corpse.

Chen Mu launched a barrage of yang fireballs, striking the wraiths attacking his brother and drawing some of their attention.

He shouted, “Brother, hold on! Let me deal with these, then I’ll come help you.”

Chen Feng, moved by his arrival yet also worried, called out, “Xiao Mu, the cores of these wraiths are hard to find. Get out of here—if they get close, it’ll be too late!”

Chen Mu grinned, “Don’t worry, Brother, I have a way to handle them.”

For others, dispersing the wraiths’ bodies might be difficult, but not for Chen Mu—his yang energy was their nemesis, easily breaking up their ghostly forms and exposing their cores.

Thus, Chen Mu unleashed his power, swiftly revealing and shattering the wraiths’ cores with sword strikes infused with vital energy.