Yang Hong noticed that the ten Foundation Establishment disciples showed no nervousness, as if they were merely going on a trip to the Hong Tong Secret Realm.
In contrast, the five Golden Core realm disciples were in constant meditation and breathing exercises, appearing perpetually prepared.
It seemed that the true main force entering the Hong Tong Secret Realm this time would be the Golden Core realm true disciples.
Upon realizing this, Yang Hong became immediately more vigilant.
However, when he tried to subtly question other Foundation Establishment disciples, he learned nothing.
Although those disciples acted like his brothers on the surface, they remained guarded towards him.
"Boom~"
Just as Yang Hong was growing anxious, the carriage he had previously ridden exploded with a deafening bang.
"Congratulations, Senior Brother, on advancing further on the hundred-foot pole."
As Wang Feng approached, he happened to see Song Yu, his nominal martial uncle, congratulating Mu Jingzhi.
"Heh~ I merely had a slight realization and a lucky breakthrough."
"Senior Brother is too humble. You are now at the late Nascent Soul stage and could break through to the Soul Separation stage at any moment. This is truly cause for celebration."
"Hahaha~ Then I shall accept your good wishes, Junior Brother."
Song Yu did not politely decline Mu Jingzhi's congratulations.
Isn't the path of a cultivator about continuous breakthroughs, pushing further and further?
Isn't the ultimate goal to ascend to immortality and live as long as the heavens and earth?
Therefore, there is no need for humility.
"Congratulations, Master, on your great cultivation advancement. I wish you an early ascension to immortality."
Seeing Song Yu in a joyful mood, Yang Hong also came over to offer his congratulations.
"Hahaha, your disciple's blessings are accepted, Master."
Song Yu laughed heartily, and others nearby also came to offer their felicitations.
Even cultivators from other sects approached the encampment.
"Song Yu, you smooth-faced brat, you've broken through again?"
Just as everyone was rejoicing, an untimely voice called out from outside the crowd.
"Hahaha~ Pan An, you old smooth-face, still stuck at the middle Nascent Soul stage? You're pathetic!"
Upon hearing this voice, Song Yu knew who it was without even looking up, and he retorted just as unceremoniously.
A white figure strode into view.
His face was as refined as jade, and he carried himself with the grace of a noble.
Seeing him, everyone's mind conjured these very words.
Another incredibly handsome individual.
Calling him a smooth-faced brat was not inaccurate.
Yang Hong even felt a pang of envy.
With his appearance and his master's good looks, this person was the center of attention wherever he went.
He was also the target of much jealousy.
If he were in a mortal kingdom, he would undoubtedly be a source of disaster for the nation.
Even in the cultivation world, where handsome men and beautiful women were commonplace, he would attract the covetous gazes of many female cultivators.
"Song Yu, what did you eat to grow so fast? You broke through only three years ago, and I didn't expect you to break through so quickly again."
The white figure squeezed through the crowd and stood before Song Yu, asking with a hint of sourness in his tone.
"Heh~ I'm not like you, who relies on pills. I cultivate and comprehend on my own."
Song Yu snorted disdainfully and lifted his head haughtily.
"Alas, I truly envy your talent. You are only three hundred years old and are on the verge of the Soul Separation stage, while I am three hundred and fifty and still at the middle Nascent Soul stage. I don't know if I'll be able to break through in the future."
Pan An continued, speaking with envy.
"Heh~ I suspect you're showing off. How many cultivators don't even live to be three hundred years old, and how many are still in the early Nascent Soul stage at fifteen hundred?"
"Hahaha~ You've seen through me."
As the two bantered, many of the cultivators nearby felt dejected.
What Song Yu said was the reality; countless cultivators perished on the path of cultivation.
In terms of raw talent alone, Song Yu was likely the best among the cultivators who had come to the Hong Tong Secret Realm.
Comparing oneself to others sometimes felt like a death sentence.
Yang Hong glanced at his own attributes and nodded silently.
'Heh, I have a system. I don't need cultivation talent.'
[Yang Hong: Sixth Prince of the Great Sui Dynasty.
Daily灌顶 (Guan Ding) Slots: 0/8
Lifespan: 23/450
Cultivation: 10,000,000 years of true qi (Fusion Realm, 450,000 jin of strength, 560 zhang of divine sense)
Cultivation Techniques: Intermediate Qi Cultivation Technique Level 196, Intermediate Body Tempering Technique Level 104
Martial Skills: Fierce Ox Fist Level 100, Profound Maiden Spirit Gathering Skill Level 99... and others
Spells: Minor Rain Summoning Spell (Mastered), Spring Scenery Demonic Sound (Mastered)... and others
Special Abilities: Eidetic Memory, Agricultural Proficiency.]
He was only twenty-three years old and already at the peak of the Fusion Realm. With a bit of luck, he would soon reach the Golden Core stage.
He was more talented than the talented, and more monstrous than the monstrous.
For the next three days, Song Yu was busy entertaining his well-wishers.
Now, he was the host for the opening of the Hong Tong Secret Realm, as his cultivation was the highest among all the arriving cultivators.
It had been a tradition for ten thousand years for cultivators in the middle or late Nascent Soul stage to host the opening of the Hong Tong Secret Realm. This was true even before the Five Regions were sealed.
Song Yu was an anomaly.
Time quickly passed, and it was the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, the Dragon Boat Festival.
It was also the day the Hong Tong Secret Realm would open.
Yang Hong, along with others, boarded a boat and sailed to a lake island at the center of the 360-li Hong Tong Lake.
"Master, am I really going in?"
Upon disembarking on the lake island, Yang Hong asked Song Yu again.
"Don't worry. Tian Ruojin and the others will protect you. You'll be fine."
Song Yu smiled and reassured Yang Hong again.
Little did he know, Yang Hong was already immensely looking forward to it.
The lake island, spanning a vast six to seven li, was densely packed with people.
To Yang Hong, these were all cultivation manuals and spell scrolls.
If he could seize this opportunity, not only would his Intermediate Body Tempering Technique evolve, but he would also accumulate enough for the Advanced Body Tempering Technique.
"But Master, there are so many people."
Yang Hong pretended to be frightened and said.
"Don't be afraid. All the rogue cultivators will enter the secret realm a day before you. They will satisfy the demonic beasts inside, making it very safe for you."
Song Yu gestured towards the endless sea of heads with disdain.
"A day early? Won't they just grab any good opportunities and run?"
Yang Hong asked again. He was worried about Song Yu Zhi and the others whom he had sent out to infiltrate the rogue cultivators.
"Heh~ The Hong Tong Secret Realm is open for three months. The entrance is open for three days, but the exit is only open for three hours. In the last three hours, as long as you haven't entered the designated area, you won't be teleported out. You'll just become food for the demonic beasts."
"Designated area?"
This was something Yang Hong genuinely didn't know. Song Yu was only revealing it now.
"Don't worry. Just stick with Tian Ruojin and the others. They will take you to the designated area."
Song Yu maintained his smile, but Yang Hong felt a chill run down his spine.
Wasn't he being sent into the secret realm to die?
He still hadn't been told where the designated area was, nor had he been given a map of the secret realm.
"Alright, you and Tian Ruojin prepare yourselves. I need to go and open the secret realm."
With that, Song Yu flew into the air without waiting for Yang Hong to ask further questions.
Simultaneously, on the lake island, another 99 figures ascended into the sky.
One hundred Nascent Soul cultivators formed a circle in the air and channeled a stream of true qi and spiritual energy towards the ground.
"Rumble~"
A vast plaza, covering two li in width, slowly rose from beneath the island.
"Boom~"
As the 100 Nascent Soul cultivators channeled their power, a white light appeared above the plaza.
The teleportation array for entering the secret realm had been activated.
It was now noon.
"The rogue cultivators have three hours to enter the teleportation array. After three hours, no rogue cultivators are allowed to approach the teleportation array."
Song Yu's voice, amplified by a spell, spread across the entire lake island.
All the rogue cultivators frantically rushed towards the teleportation array.
Yang Hong saw many Qi Refining realm figures among them, which differed from the rules he had initially understood.
This made him even more anxious.