Mount Huju, beneath the broken gorge lies a tranquil temple.
Before the temple, a Black Tiger in a kasaya sat cross-legged, emitting an eerie aura.
Above the cliff, a group of valiant youths had already gathered, each with a profound aura, forming their own small camps.
"Why aren't they allowing us into the Secret Realm yet? I hurried over from Northeast Province, only to have you make me wait here?"
The one speaking was a youth with a head full of red hair. His brawny qilin arm peeked out from his short sleeve, exuding an unruly aura.
It was none other than Zhu Qing, the strongest Third Grade of the Northeast Martial University, and surrounding him were six other young people, all students of the same university.
"Hahaha, brother Zhu is indeed as hot-tempered as the rumors say."
"Little Pan, if you don't talk, no one will think you're mute." Zhu Qing looked toward a man dressed in green to his side, a Third Grade prodigy from the Demon Province Martial University—Pan Ren, handsome, even somewhat delicately beautiful.
Upon hearing this, Pan Ren didn't get angry, knowing Zhu Qing was fierce and not much of a talker, one who would start a fight at the slightest disagreement, and so he didn't bother with him.
Instead, he looked forward and said:
"Brother Song, brother Yuan, haven't all of us arrived? If not entering the Secret Realm, what are we still waiting for?"
Song Bida of the Qing Province Martial Arts University and Yuan Guangyi of the Ning Province Martial Arts University, both established Third Grades with formidable strength. What's more, both were no older than twenty-two, hailed as the strongest successors of their respective universities, and had now led elite teams here.
Both of them shook their heads.
"I have no idea, we arrived later as well," said Song Bida, shaking his head.
Yuan Guangyi turned his head and said, "Brother Cao, your team from the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University was the first to arrive here, have you received any message?"
Suddenly, everyone turned their gaze in the direction of the Martial Arts Team from the capital, where a regal, lavishly dressed youth stood out conspicuously.
Especially his aura, which sent out waves of oppression that made people around him take notice.
Cao Ritian of Great Xia, a top-tier prodigy and cousin to the well-regarded Cao Potian, was from the Imperial Capital Martial Arts University!
Cao Ritian snorted coldly and said:
"As soon as I arrived, a First Grade in charge told me we must wait for all the Martial Universities' teams to assemble before we can enter the Secret Realm together."
"Moreover..."
"Moreover what?" everyone pressed to know.
Annoyance crossed Cao Ritian's face. "That person in charge told me we must wait for Xia Luo from Sichuan Province Martial University to arrive before we can set off. Moreover, once inside the Secret Realm, we must follow Xia Luo's command, and anyone who disobeys will be dealt with by military law after exiting the Secret Realm."
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned disagreeable.
"What the hell?" Zhu Qing glared: "Who's this nobody, and why should I obey his orders?"
"Exactly, who does he think he is, having the right to command us?"
"Must be a joke, exploring the Secret Realm is dangerous enough without having some outsider in command rather than having the team improvise freely?"
None of those present were anything less than exceptional talents, brimming with confidence in their own abilities and not willing to bow to their peers. Most were vocal in their discontent, and even those who didn't speak showed displeasure, certainly harboring resentment against this directive.
"Does brother Cao have any idea who this Xia Luo is? I've never heard of him before," Pan Ren from Demon Province Martial University asked, his effeminate face displaying puzzlement.
Cao Ritian snorted: "Don't ask me, I don't know either. From Sichuan Province Martial University, I only recognize Qin Qi and Wu Tiansong. Who knows what kind of stray dog or cat Xia Luo is."
"Well..." Pan Ren was at a loss for words.
Looking around, Song Bida from Qing Province Martial Arts University said:
"Seems like, now we're just waiting for the folks from Sichuan Province Martial University, right?"
"Yeah, acting so high and mighty. They're the closest to the Secret Realm, but they're the last to arrive?"
"Too much, damn too much, they're really not taking us seriously."
Seeing everyone's discontent and squabbling, Yuan Guangyi from Ning Province Martial Arts University frowned slightly, sensing trouble.
Without even entering the Secret Realm, narrow-mindedness had already emerged, and conflicts would surely break out once inside.
Yet, for the time being, no one had taken it upon themselves to enter the Secret Realm first.
First, the dangers of the Secret Realm were unknown, and who knew what the situation inside was like; experience from other realms was often not applicable here.
Second, Great Xia's military law was as firm as a mountain; while unsanctioned activities in secret were unknown, openly no one dared to disobey orders, so everyone grumbled as they waited.
At this moment, Pan Ren asked:
"Old Cao, did that person in charge tell you anything else?"
"Old Cao?" Cao Ritian glanced at him sideways: "Heh, are we that close? Don't try to buddy up."
"That First Grade from Substantial River Province saw me and immediately left to investigate the Jiang City disaster."
Upon hearing this, Pan Ren furrowed his brows but said nothing more.
Prodigies are often oddities, their temperaments vastly different from ordinary people.
And here, it was as though a gathering of lunatics had convened, where each madman was powerful and none would acquiesce to another, all at the peak of their youthful vigor.
However, mention of the Jiang City disaster brought an additional edge of anger to everyone's expressions.
"Damn it, that incompetent Sichuan Province Martial University couldn't even defend a city," cursed Zhu Qing, grinding his teeth: "I'd better not find out who crushed that city; I'll grind his bones to dust and take revenge for those dead losers."
Even the usually amiable Pan Ren narrowed his eyes.
"It's been many years since someone dared to provoke Our Great Xia so brazenly. The murderous thief has wild ambition and must be exterminated by everyone."
Cao Ritian scoffed.
"The criminal's analysis suggests that the perpetrator was motivated by profit; without it, no one would dare commit such an atrocity against the world."