am-books Chapter36-The Opening of the Secret Realm
Chapter36-The Opening of the Secret Realm
Chapter36-The Opening of the Secret Realm
In the sky, a gathering of powerhouses was engaged in conversation. Alexander from the Northwest Citadel, clad in golden armor, sat majestically atop a golden lion with wings. Observing the continuous influx of arrivals, he couldn't help but click his tongue, "Baron, that fat fellow, really has some nerve, actually daring to open up this secret realm."
Next to him, Eldritch, who was floating in mid-air, stroked his snowy white beard and chuckled, "The folks from House Goldworth have always been exceedingly clever. Otherwise, they wouldn't have managed to expand the Goldworth Group to such a scale with just a few members. Baron, being the second-in-command of the Goldworth conglomerate, is naturally no simple character."
The other strong figures nodded in agreement, finding truth in the words.
Only the spokespersons from a few conglomerates looked displeased. Baron had initially intended to monopolize this advanced secret realm and its secrets, but his plans were accidentally discovered by these conglomerates. They joined forces to pressure him, exchanging benefits for slots to enter the secret realm, planning to covertly divide the treasures within, leaving Baron with nothing.
However, Baron was no pushover. Upon realizing his slim chances of obtaining treasures from the secret realm, he released the information to the public. He claimed that the secret realm might contain dark god's power or legacy, and that he lacked the resources to explore it. He decided to open the realm for a limited time, allowing a few representatives from each major force to join, suggesting that any benefits found could be shared.
Upon hearing this news, even Alexander, who was almost back at the Northwest Citadel, turned around mid-journey and flew back, indicating the allure of Baron's announcement.
Now, almost every force capable of reaching Stellarburg had arrived. Baron, who had initially lost his advantage, regained it by being well-prepared. On the other hand, the forces that had initially pressured him, having spent money on useless slots, suffered significant losses. It was evident that this plump individual was not only cunning but also vengeful.
Suddenly, a sense of alertness arose among the powerhouses, and one turned his head towards the direction of Stellarburg. He faintly saw an unstoppable white light slicing through the sky, rapidly approaching their location.
On the ground, Theodore also looked towards Stellarburg, his gaze profound as he stated, "The people from Hidden Stars have arrived."
Sitting in the carriage, Seraphina followed his gaze but saw nothing.
At the forefront of the secret realm entrance, Baron, his opulent brocade robe bulging, looked up at the sky and squinted, saying, "As expected, Hidden Stars' shadow is everywhere. Judging by this formidable aura, it must be that notorious Great Swordmaster, Victor."
Upon hearing this name, a look of astonishment appeared on Maximilian's face next to Baron. He expressed his concern, "How did they stir up this killing god? I hope this won't cause any trouble."
The name of Victor was not something an ordinary awakener would know, but to them, it was thunderously familiar. A swordsman who had awakened just a common class and a C-level talent, yet had managed to fight his way up to the transcendent-tier with nothing but a long sword—such a feat was rare even in the entire Federation. And they were all too aware of Victor's formidable record.
Alex, following behind Maximilian, also felt uneasy. Although he didn't know who Victor was, the fact that someone so esteemed by Baron, who seemed as immovable as a mountain to him, must be an extraordinary figure.
Baron waved his hand reassuringly, "Don't worry. Victor is probably here to keep order. Hidden Stars has its rules. As long as there's no trouble, they won't interfere rashly. He's most likely here to supervise, ensuring nothing goes awry with the secret realm."
Alex, not recognizing John, simply followed behind his father Maximilian and Baron, behaving as obediently as a well-mannered child. However, when John's gaze met Seraphina's icy blue eyes, he saw the surprise in them and felt his heart skip a beat.
Damn, you recognized me too?! John immediately ducked, hiding behind the towering figure of Gold Flash, pretending not to have seen Seraphina.
Seraphina was equally astonished. She couldn't fathom how John had managed to infiltrate Hidden Stars' ranks in just two days. The selection criteria for Hidden Stars were notoriously stringent, ranking among the most rigorous in the entire Federation. Yet, recalling John's talents, she came to terms with it.
Theodore noticed Seraphina's reaction and, looking at John with his masked face, asked curiously, "Do you know him?"
Seraphina shook her head, naturally not revealing John's identity. She was about to say something when suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from the location of the secret realm!
"BOOM!!!"
The blood-red magic array shattered in an instant, and a colossal blood-red pillar of light, covering the entire secret realm's magic array, shot up into the sky, staining it with a crimson hue!
Amid the bloody light, it seemed as though countless cries of despair could be heard, and within the pillar, a vast, towering blood-red mountain appeared, its peak lost in the clouds.
Around this blood-red summit, twelve blood-red suns hung high, orbiting it and illuminating the vast expanse of the secret realm below. Despite the blood-red suns, the secret realm itself remained untouched, with blue skies, white clouds, and lush green grass—an odd sight indeed!
Everyone was shaken by this spectacle. The secret realm had opened!
Almost simultaneously, everyone outside the secret realm sprang into action!
"BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!!!"
In an instant, powerful figures leaped into the air, turning into streaks of colorful light rushing towards the secret realm. Those unable to fly sped across the ground, leaving behind colorful trails of light.
Almost everyone charged directly towards the entrance of the secret realm, and in just the blink of an eye, the crowd outside had halved.
All of them were experts!
John and the others looked to Victor, who nodded. Without any further hesitation, they exerted force under their feet, and their figures vanished in a flash, with the sound of breaking through the air, they entered the secret realm!