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Chapter 64: Secret Realm and Invitation
TL: Etude
The Demon Sea Base had numerous schools, primarily divided into two levels: one for ordinary people and martial warriors, and the other exclusively for cultivators. Moreover, schools for cultivators also varied in quality, with the higher-tier ones even offering guidance from grandmasters. However, once you reached the age of 25 or advanced to the level of a Great Martial Warrior, you had to graduate. After all, beyond that level, your path depended on yourself; the guidance from such schools was no longer as impactful.
Originally, Ye Tian thought that the cultivator schools only taught basic physical training methods and some theories. It was only after he explored these institutions further that he realized how narrow his understanding had been. There were a multitude of subjects one could learn: various sword techniques, fist arts, palm arts, and even esoteric skills like basic formation arrays and the art of forging elemental weapons. However, there was a precondition—you needed the corresponding talent. For example, only those with a talent in swordsmanship could enroll in swordsmanship courses; without it, you couldn't even borrow books on the subject.
These schools emphasized personalized instruction. Anyone with special talents was highly welcomed. Even if one lacked any unique talents, they could still learn basic things like elementary swordsmanship or knife techniques, which were freely accessible and required no special aptitude.
"If only I wasn't so unique and didn't have to hide my talents, I'd also like to enroll in a cultivator's school," Ye Tian lamented.
Registering for a cultivator school was not complicated. With his ID card, cultivation level, and medium talent, Ye Yu easily gained admission. Although it wasn't the best cultivator school in the Demon Sea Base, it was conveniently close to their villa.
After spending a few days completing all the formalities, Ye Yu successfully enrolled.
Ye Tian had initially planned to inquire about the prodigies of the Demon Sea Base so he could find and copy their talents. However, the arrival of one individual disrupted his plans.
"Yue Ling!" Ye Tian was surprised to see her standing outside his villa when he returned home. After a moment's thought, it all made sense. Yue Zhong knew he was coming to the Demon Sea Base, and since Yue Ling and Yue Zhong were from the same family, perhaps Yue Zhong had informed her.
"Ye Tian, long time no see," Yue Ling greeted with a smile.
"Let's go inside and talk," Ye Tian suggested.
"Sure." Yue Ling followed Ye Tian into the villa and they sat down in the living room.
"Did Yue Zhong tell you that I was coming?" Ye Tian asked directly.
"Indeed, Yue Zhong informed me. At first, I thought he might be lying, but seeing you now, I know he was telling the truth. You've reached the Great Martial Warrior level in such a short time. According to Yue Zhong, you even killed a grandmaster. Is that true?" Yue Ling looked intently at Ye Tian, awaiting his reply.
"It was just an ordinary grandmaster," Ye Tian quickly said, effectively admitting it.
"Even an ordinary grandmaster is still a grandmaster. For a Great Martial Warrior to kill one, you'd need a special talent that enhances your attack. I'd like to invite you to join our Martial Chamber again. Would you?" Yue Ling inquired.
"As I've said before, I'm not interested in joining any faction for now," Ye Tian shook his head.
Yue Ling wasn't surprised or disappointed by Ye Tian's answer; she had merely asked in passing. Then, she revealed the real purpose of her visit.
"Ye Tian, have you ever heard of secret realms?" Yue Ling queried.
"Secret realms?"
Ye Tian shook his head.
Ye Tian shook his head again.
He genuinely had no idea what a "secret realm" was; it seemed like something from a novel. In this era, he had never heard of it.
Yue Ling, aware that Ye Tian hailed from a small base and was naturally ignorant about such realms, explained, "A secret realm is a kind of sub-space detached from Earth. It has mountains, rivers, trees, and even ferocious beasts. Each secret realm is unique—some abound with treasures, while others are barren. The appearance of these realms is connected to the disaster that occurred a hundred years ago. The entrances are spatial rifts that open only under specific conditions."
"So that's what it is!" Ye Tian understood.
Yue Ling continued, "Not far from the large Demon Sea base, there is a mountain range that contains a secret realm. However, only warriors below the level of Grandmaster can enter. Those at the Grandmaster level or higher would be crushed to nothingness by the realm's power if they tried to force their way in."
"What are you telling me this for?" Ye Tian asked.
In reality, he was already forming some guesses in his mind.
"I want to invite you to enter the secret realm with me," Yue Ling declared. "The realm is dangerous, and warriors won't necessarily cooperate once inside. Even members of the same family might kill each other over treasures, especially since news from the realm can't get out. However, I trust your character, and that's why I want to invite you. Anything you gain in there will belong to you."
"How many warriors will enter the secret realm?" Ye Tian questioned further.
"Many," Yue Ling solemnly replied. "This particular realm opens only once every ten years and can accommodate 1,000 people. But the Demon Sea base alone has far more than 1,000 Great Martial Warriors, so only major powers have quotas. Due to my status, I have one such quota."
"As many as 1,000 Great Martial Warriors?"
Ye Tian inhaled sharply.
Such a number was unimaginable at his Linhai Base. He then understood Yue Ling's concerns. Although she was talented, she paled in comparison to the truly gifted, which was why she wanted to invite him—someone with the power to defeat an ordinary Grandmaster—into the secret realm.
"What's your current level?" Ye Tian queried.
He could sense that Yue Ling was at the Great Martial Warrior level, but he couldn't determine which stage she was at.
"Late stage of Great Martial Warrior," Yue Ling honestly revealed.
"That was fast!"
Ye Tian looked surprised.
Yue Ling was merely a high-level cultivator; how could she have progressed so quickly, even with the support of her family?
"Could it be..."
Ye Tian considered a possibility.
He had assessed Yue Ling's talents once before and didn't think to check this time. Now, he was having doubts.
Human: Yue Ling
Cultivation Talent: Top-tier
Swordsmanship Talent: Medium
Speed Talent: Low
The talent that had been high-level was now top-tier. With such talent and the support of her family, it made perfect sense that Yue Ling had reached the late stage of Great Martial Warrior so quickly.
"So, it's true. Yue Ling's cultivation talent has risen to top-tier. If I'm not mistaken, the treasure she took from the Lake of Death must have been something that could elevate talent," Ye Tian concluded.
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