"The Ghost Realm, beneath your sect's ground?"
Li Xuan froze upon hearing Feng Ming's account.
It turned out that two hundred years ago, people from the Ghost Realm had suddenly appeared. Their strength was immense. The five from the Tibetan region at the time were also awakened by the experts of the Ghost Sect, but even the combined might of the five was no match for that individual.
However, that person did not kill the five. Instead, an agreement was reached.
An alliance!
The Ghost Sect was forbidden from revealing the existence of their Ghost Realm to the outside. In return, disciples of the Ghost Sect could cultivate in the Ghost Realm. Of course, this privilege was limited.
The Ghost Sect naturally agreed to the terms. After all, why fight an enemy whose strength surpassed theirs, especially with such benefits offered? Thus, Feng Ming was dispatched by the five from the Tibetan region to liaunt with the people of the Ghost Realm. At that time, Feng Ming also led the higher-ups of the Ghost Sect into the Ghost Realm. It was then that Feng Ming encountered Meng Nai He and his daughter, Shen Tu.
Years later, Feng Ming wasn't entirely sure if the woman in black was Shen Tu. But after a closer look, Feng Ming was certain.
"That's right, the entrance to the Ghost Realm is beneath our sect's ground. However, there is a powerful restriction there. This restriction only opens once every thirty years, for a month each time. It is also within this realm that our Ghost Sect disciples undergo their trials," Feng Ming nodded.
"What is the situation like in the Ghost Realm?" Li Xuan asked after some thought.
Feng Ming shook his head. "Although our Ghost Sect can enter the Ghost Realm, we are confined to certain areas. Apart from Ghost Mountain, we cannot venture elsewhere. When I led the first batch of disciples in, I vaguely saw a bridge. Beyond the bridge, there was a city. I don't know anything else."
Li Xuan fell silent. The Ghost Realm was clearly very powerful. Even the combined strength of the five from the Tibetan region couldn't defeat that person. His own strength entering there would be like offering himself as food.
"Seniors, please tell me the location of that restriction," Li Xuan slowly raised his head and said gravely under the gaze of the five from the Tibetan region.
The five from the Tibetan region remained silent. If they revealed the location of the restriction, and if the person behind Li Xuan could not overcome the Ghost Realm, their Ghost Sect would be in a precarious situation. But if they refused, they also wouldn't be able to deal with the power behind Li Xuan.
"I understand your concerns. Perhaps it would be best to have that senior appear and reassure everyone," Li Xuan said, understanding their worries. With a thought, he spoke.
"This... young friend, if it were just the few of us, we wouldn't care about this old life. But our master left this sect here, and we dare not gamble with the lives of our disciples. If the senior behind you could appear, then no matter the outcome, we could still protect the Ghost Sect and our disciples."
The five from the Tibetan region exchanged glances, and then Cang Di sighed and nodded.
Li Xuan nodded slightly. In the next instant, Yi Qin's figure appeared before the five from the Tibetan region.
The pupils of the five from the Tibetan region constricted sharply. How did this woman appear? Such a method was truly terrifying. Although the person from the Ghost Realm had also appeared out of nowhere back then, it wasn't in front of the five from the Tibetan region. Yi Qin's appearance was completely silent, creating a different kind of visual impact.
"I told you, you brat, why are you so troublesome? If you want to find the entrance to the Ghost Realm, why not just split this mountain open?" Yi Qin rolled her eyes at Li Xuan, annoyed. If Li Xuan hadn't pleaded with her, Yi Qin really wouldn't have wanted to appear in front of outsiders so casually.
The five from the Tibetan region broke out in a sweat. At this moment, they finally understood why Li Xuan had been so aggressive. It turned out he had inherited it from this woman.
"Senior, wouldn't that alert them? If they use my sister as a threat, it would be troublesome," Li Xuan said with a wry smile.
Yi Qin nodded slightly. "That's a possibility. You, this fellow, for your sister, you'd probably even give up your own life."
After speaking, Yi Qin looked at the five from the Tibetan region, her meaning clear.
"Senior, young friend, please follow us," Cang Di said hastily. In that instant, Cang Di had felt a strong sense of impending death. Regarding Yi Qin's power, Cang Di had already made a decision.
Led by the five from the Tibetan region, Li Xuan and the other two quickly arrived beneath the Ghost Sect. A spiritual light restriction, about ten feet wide, appeared before the three of them.
"This restriction is quite cleverly placed. If it were not deactivated, even the five of them would be instantly killed," Yi Qin commented after a glance. The five from the Tibetan region could only offer wry smiles, but their confidence in Yi Qin's strength grew even further.
They had examined this restriction before. Just as Yi Qin had said, they all felt a sense of death emanating from it.
From Yi Qin's casual tone, the five from the Tibetan region instantly understood that Yi Qin did not take this restriction seriously.
"Senior, is there a way to remove this restriction without alerting those inside?" Li Xuan asked.
Yi Qin nodded slightly. "Simple."
Yi Qin flicked a finger, and a stream of spiritual light attached itself to the restriction. Then, the restriction trembled slightly and began to dissipate slowly. In less than ten breaths, the restriction had completely vanished.
"Done," Yi Qin said.
Li Xuan, Jian Chi, and the five from the Tibetan region all swallowed hard. It was that simple?
"Elder Cang, do you wish to accompany us?" With the restriction broken, Li Xuan looked at Cang Di and asked.
Cang Di shook his head with a wry smile. "We will not be going in. Please forgive us, young friend."
Li Xuan nodded, naturally understanding that the five from the Tibetan region were considering the well-being of their disciples. He didn't press the matter and strode directly towards the entrance. Yi Qin and Jian Chi followed closely behind, and the three of them soon disappeared from sight.
"I really do want to see that person's methods," Feng Ming sighed.
Cang Di shook his head helplessly. "Unless that person can annihilate everyone in the Ghost Realm, our Ghost Sect cannot be involved. Otherwise, our Ghost Sect might not be able to withstand the wrath of the Ghost Realm. For the future of the Ghost Sect, this is all we can do."
Feng Ming and the other four nodded. Then, the five of them turned and left.
"This should be Ghost Mountain," Li Xuan found himself slightly unaccustomed to the chilling aura within the Ghost Realm. However, Li Xuan also noticed that the spiritual energy in the Ghost Realm was actually twice as dense as in the outside world. No wonder the disciples of the Ghost Sect improved so quickly.
"This Ghost Realm should be a realm unto itself, but it's not entirely separate from your Cangmang Continent. Hmm, 'a realm within a realm' would be a more fitting description. Little fellow, what are your plans now?" Yi Qin asked.
Li Xuan pondered for a moment, then looked at Yi Qin. "Senior, can you sense Xiao Er's presence?"
Yi Qin closed her eyes and sensed for a moment, then shook her head slightly. "This place is quite interesting. Deep within, there is a barrier that my spiritual sense cannot penetrate. We'll proceed as we go. If your sister is still alive, I guarantee that you siblings will leave here safely."
Li Xuan felt a slight relief in his heart, accompanied by a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
Soon, the footsteps of the three came to a halt.
Not far in front of them stood a bridge.
On the stone tablet on the bridge were two characters.
'Nai He'.