"The Alliance Leader speaks with reason," Chen Manlian nodded.
"So, I've called everyone here today, first to admonish you all to guard your families and sects well. Especially those watching over the formations, ensure they are replaced with your trusted confidantes. Never entrust them to the untrustworthy, lest traitors arise. The preceding examples of the three families are stark reminders. I suggest that you and my Thunder Emperor Hall exchange information daily to ensure safety and prevent communication from being cut off by the demon race.
"Very well, in these special times, we shall proceed as you suggest." Qu Tianlei nodded, clearly still unnerved by the silent annihilation of the three families.
"Alliance Leader, there is another matter, is there not?" The speaker was another Tribulation Transcending expert from the Fang family, Fang Gu Ling. This individual typically kept a low profile and had not participated in any major battles. Wan Lei had never met him before and was not familiar with him. However, judging by his upright demeanor, his character should be commendable. Wan Lei had heard from Old Fang that this person was a sword cultivator. In his youth, he had apprenticed at the Kai Tian Sword Sect, and after breaking through to the Mahayana stage, he left the sect to return to the Fang family. Furthermore, he was a man of few words; after sitting for so long, this was his first utterance.
Wan Lei glanced at Fang Gu Ling, then continued, "Indeed, there is another matter. In a couple of days, after the Ghost Immortal Secret Realm opens, Xiaoyu and I will enter the realm."
"How can that be? With the war having begun, your presence as Alliance Leader is needed to hold the fort. How can you go to a secret realm at such a critical juncture?" Fa Hui immediately rebuked.
Fang Huifeng spoke more tactfully, "I know you two enjoy venturing into secret realms to seek fortune, but it is far too dangerous. Every time you enter a secret realm, you face more peril than others, emerging only by a thread of fate. Moreover, if you go, you are likely to be hunted by the demon race; they will not miss such an opportunity. The last time you went to the Liu family alone, you nearly died and were in a coma for three days after returning heavily injured. If anything were to happen to you, what would become of the alliance? What about the Thunder Emperor Hall? And the grand cause of resisting the demons?"
"Rest assured, this time, we will disguise ourselves. The Liu family will not discover us. We will bring the Lucky Brothers along. With their blessings of fortune, there will be no danger. Besides, despite the perils we face, have we not always emerged alive? Our cultivation has also advanced significantly. We are now at the peak of the middle Mahayana stage. We might even reach Tribulation Transcending upon our return. Hahaha..." Wan Lei chuckled, trying to dismiss the matter, but it was evident no one was buying it.
Qu Tianlei snorted coldly, "Hmph, if you were still just a disciple of the Yin Yang Sect back then, you could go wherever you pleased; I wouldn't interfere. To put it bluntly, at that time, you were alone, with nothing to lose. If you died, you died; if you didn't, you could strive for an opportunity. I would have supported such a move. But now, you bear a heavy responsibility. The eyes of everyone in the Thunder Wind Realm are upon you. If you go adventuring again, how many people will worry? If something were to happen to you, it wouldn't just be you who perishes, but countless soldiers of the Thunder Emperor Alliance, the hope of the entire Thunder Wind Realm resisting the foreign enemy. Regardless, for a mere, inconsequential fortune, and an uncertain one at that, to risk your life in a secret realm, I absolutely disagree."
"Yes, I also disagree."
"You two should reconsider."
Seeing everyone's attitude, Wan Lei was taken aback. He hadn't expected their stance to be so resolute. However, he couldn't be too forceful either, as they were genuinely concerned for his well-being.
"Alright everyone, let's not discuss it further. I am aware of my own safety, but we have a reason why we must go. We have no choice but to go."
"What reason could there be? This secret realm has opened fifty times in the past fifty thousand years. Although each time is different, the rewards are nothing more than some cultivation techniques, divine abilities, and magical treasures. Even if these are items from the immortal realm, they are merely things that a few immortals, deeming them unusable or suitable for mortal realm cultivators, left behind. We are not lacking these items at present. Why then risk adventure in the secret realm? The risk is completely disproportionate to the reward!" Looking at the aggressively questioning Fa Hui, Wan Lei could only offer a helpless wry smile, "Senior Fang, actually, the reason we are always treated differently and targeted in the secret realms is because the things we obtain are far superior to others."
"Oh? What things?"
"This... is not convenient to disclose. In short, they are good things. Look at the Fire Immortal Secret Realm last time; didn't I bring back three Tribulation Transcending experts?" Hearing this, the three women, Fire Phoenix, Yuan Jun, and Qing Wu, rolled their eyes. You are the good thing, and your entire family is the good thing.
"In the secret realms, for every complete secret realm we venture through, we receive an item. Currently, we are only short of one more to collect them all. Once this item is assembled, our strength will skyrocket, and it also has uses that we are unaware of, which will greatly aid in the grand cause of resisting the demons. We truly must go. We have already endured five secret realms, and only the last one remains. We cannot give up halfway; wouldn't all our previous efforts be in vain?"
Wan Lei's words left everyone exchanging glances. Some wanted to ask what kind of treasure was so powerful, but seeing that no one else was inquiring, they reluctantly let it go. After all, who doesn't have their secrets? Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu, who went from unknown ant-like cultivators to giants of the Thunder Wind Realm in just ten years, must have more secrets. If they could reveal them, Wan Lei would have done so directly. The fact that he hadn't implied he wasn't ready to share them yet. Everyone present had lived for thousands of years and was seasoned; they understood this logic.
"Then, since the Alliance Leader is determined to go, we shall not obstruct you further. However, you must at least bring a few Tribulation Transcending experts with you for protection," said Fang Gu Ling.
"Senior Gu Ling, with all due respect, our Thunder Emperor Alliance only has these few Tribulation Transcending experts, and they are all here. Bringing too few would have no effect, and bringing too many would risk the demon race taking advantage of our weakened state to attack us. We are already at a disadvantage; let us not disperse our strength. I, Wan Lei, may not have many other skills, but my ability to escape is first-rate. Fewer people also makes it easier for me to break through."
Seeing Wan Lei's resolute attitude, the others ceased to speak and could only nod in agreement. The meeting concluded successfully, having determined the important strategies for defending against the demon race alliance and approving Wan Lei's decision to venture into the secret realm. Everyone returned to their respective homes.