At the entrance of the Red Dust Wonderland, Nascent Soul elders from the Zhang family gathered together.
Stone tables and benches were placed in the open space, and a few people sat around a table. On the table, a small red clay stove held boiling tea.
The fragrance of the tea, carried by the steam, diffused into the air, clearing the mind upon smelling it.
The tea was rare and precious, the water for brewing it was melted snow from a thousand-zhang mountain, and even the teapot was made of an extraordinary material.
Although this group of Zhang family Nascent Soul elders were vigilant about this secret realm, their wariness gradually eased.
Many people came and went from this secret realm daily. Although few Zhang family disciples were willing to come out, some did, relaying details about the inside.
This secret realm focused on tempering the mind, causing little harm to the body. They had pondered why such a secret realm existed.
But as more people emerged, they understood that it was likely set up by a powerful being as a test for disciples.
It was just unknown why its spiritual energy had leaked, leading to its discovery, and even more so, why this secret realm was connected to their family's deceased Grand Elder.
The younger clan members believed the secret realm was broken through by the Grand Elder's sacrifice, but these elders had heard whispers. Although they didn't know the cause of the Grand Elder's death, it was definitely not due to this secret realm.
Whoever spread this false news must have designs on the Zhang family. However, after guarding here for so long, they had seen no schemes; instead, they witnessed the rapid progress of the Zhang family disciples.
Some rogue cultivators had also gained significant benefits from it. Some of these elders had been stuck at the Nascent Soul stage for many years, unable to find a breakthrough.
Perhaps this secret realm was an opportunity, a chance for them to break through. It was a pity that the Patriarch had ordered them to guard outside the realm, protecting the clan disciples who entered.
"Cousin Haitang, do you think this secret realm is truly that miraculous?" asked an elder sitting to the left, a cultivator in the middle stage of Nascent Soul, who had been stuck at this stage for twenty years.
"What, do you wish to go in and try too, cousin?" the elder to his right inquired.
"I'm just curious. Many have emerged from inside and improved their cultivation. Cousin, you must know I've been stuck at this realm for many years."
The situation this elder described was also their own, only their cultivation was slightly higher than his.
"If you wish to try, it's not impossible. We will guard here, Cousin Haitang and I," the elder called Cousin Haitang said.
"Yes, if you wish to try, it's not impossible. If it's useful, Cousin Haitang and I will also go in and try." He was actually quite curious about the inside, but he didn't want to neglect his duties.
Now that someone was going to scout ahead, if there was no trouble, he could also try it, perhaps it would help him break through.
"Then Cousin Haitang..."
"Go ahead!" Cousin Haitang, seeing his hesitation, encouraged him.
"Alright, then I'll go scout ahead for the two cousins!" With that, he put down his teacup, stood up, and prepared to walk towards the entrance of the secret realm.
"You don't need to go, sir!" a clear, feminine voice sounded from beside them.
The three of them couldn't help but startle. When had this woman appeared? Why had none of them noticed her? Only after she had almost reached them did they sense her presence after she spoke.
This woman's cultivation was likely far superior to theirs. They didn't know if she was an enemy or a friend, but the sudden appearance of such a person beside them was a terrifying thing.
"May I know who you are, sir?" Elder Hai stood up and asked the woman opposite him.
The woman opposite was clad in a blue magical robe, the fabric shimmering under the golden sunlight. Her long hair was styled with a golden, ornate hairpin.
She was exceptionally beautiful and seemed to possess no cultivation, at least not in the eyes of the three of them.
Yet, none of the three dared to underestimate the woman. How could an ordinary woman appear beside them so silently, without alerting them?
They dared not be careless, and the three of them looked at Lin Yan warily, afraid she might do something.
"I am the master of this secret realm, or rather, the owner of this artifact." Although Lin Yan did not reveal her name, she had already told them her identity.
"Master of the secret realm?"
"Artifact?"
Greedy light flashed in the eyes of the three elders, but then they quickly concealed it.
The woman before them did not seem easy to deal with. If they were to claim this secret realm for themselves, they would have to win over this woman.