Over recent days, three top prodigies from major extraterrestrial clans had made their appearances one after another.
Though they had not targeted humans, their shows of force had intimidated the other beings.
Consequently, almost everyone understood just how formidable these three were.
Within their respective clans, they were referred to as "sequences"—a term synonymous with supreme strength and peerless talent.
Everyone thus realized that these were the true powerhouses. In background, foundation, and every other aspect, they far surpassed earlier arrivals like the Nether Bull Clan and were a presence that could not be overlooked.
"The three sequence prodigies—each one is terrifyingly powerful."
"Our Earth has only just begun to revive. Compared to the major extraterrestrial clans in deep space, we fall short by far too much."
"For now, a delicate balance is still holding. But if a full-scale clash breaks out, where will people like us go?"
The humans gathered there murmured quietly among themselves. Their voices and expressions were solemn, their hearts weighed down with anxiety.
They all understood all too well that, compared to this world, the extraterrestrial beings were simply too powerful.
Worse yet, those who had descended so far might only be minor players.
Everyone was acutely aware that beyond Earth, right inside the solar system, there were entities who had evolved to the sixth or even seventh stage.
Setting aside the three sequences before them for a moment, just looking at the followers standing behind them revealed that nearly every one was in the Golden Body Realm or even the Sovereign King Realm.
Such was the strength and foundation of the extraterrestrial beings. Who among the present humans could withstand them?
Everyone knew that the only reason this balance had endured was that King Lu had single-handedly slaughtered dozens of extraterrestrial beings not long ago, deterring a great many of them.
Only because of that had the chaotic situation stabilized.
Coupled with the fact that even stronger entities could not yet descend, things had settled into this uneasy truce.
Yet could it really last? Nobody knew, and the road ahead felt shrouded in uncertainty.
"Has everyone arrived? Good," Lei Xuan said at that moment, glancing toward the Origin Demon Clan sequence and the Three-Headed Ghost Clan sequence beside him.
These two were ranked eighth and sixth within their respective clans. Both were in the Sovereign King Realm, yet their prowess could not be judged by normal standards. In battle—whether in martial techniques, divine arts, or other aspects—they were practically peerless.
Anyone who earned the title of sequence had accomplished the feat of fighting across cultivation boundaries at least prior to reaching the fifth evolutionary stage.
This was precisely why they had the confidence to hunt Lu Yuan down; each possessed his own formidable trump cards.
"That human, Lu Yuan, hasn't appeared yet. Do we wait?" the Origin Demon Clan sequence asked. The mist cloaking him parted slightly, revealing ominous black patterns etched across his body.
"Mount Kongtong, the sanctuary of Guangchengzi, is about to open. The legacy inside takes priority," the Three-Headed Ghost Clan sequence opined. In his view, Lu Yuan could be killed at any time, but if they missed this opportunity, who knew when the next one would arise?
"Indeed." Lei Xuan nodded in agreement and added, "He is bound to enter the sanctuary anyway. There will be plenty of chances."
While higher-ups had handed down orders to eliminate Lu Yuan, they naturally had their own ambitions as well.
If they could obtain Guangchengzi's legacy—even an incomplete fragment—the significance would be immense.
Thus, the three sequences unanimously decided to wait until they were inside the sanctuary, or even after they emerged, before making their move.
They fell silent, lifting their eyes toward Mount Kongtong.
The Daoist sanctuary of the immortal Guangchengzi—a figure revered as half-master to Xuanyuan the Yellow Emperor.
Even after countless ages, whatever he had left behind, obtaining just a single item would be a tremendous stroke of fortune.
Right now, that was the singular focus of the three prodigies.
Time ticked away.
Rumble!
A few hours later, a massive roar erupted as Mount Kongtong trembled.
The rosy clouds filling the sky grew even more resplendent than before, piercing through the cloud banks to illuminate heaven and earth.
Amidst the glowing clouds, that immense space became increasingly distinct, exuding a primordial, ancient aura.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
High in the void, a distinctive wave of energy began to pulse.
Everyone present felt an immense pressure sweep across their bodies.
Finally, when the blinding radiance began to recede, they saw a pocket of independent space manifest above Mount Kongtong, just as one had appeared over the Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum.
"It's open!"
Seeing this, the eyes of the Three-Headed Ghost Clan sequence lit up.
The two heads flanking him were equally thrilled, knowing that the sanctuary's opening meant the legacy was now accessible.
Lei Xuan and the Origin Demon Clan sequence were similarly stirred. After giving brief instructions to their clansmen behind them, the three prodigies leaped without hesitation toward Guangchengzi's sanctuary atop Mount Kongtong.
Folded space, a mythological secret realm—this was Earth's greatest allure.
Below, upon seeing the three sequences enter, the extraterrestrial beings followed in droves.
After a moment's hesitation, some humans began their ascent as well.
Virtually none of the humans present had reached the Golden Body Realm and thus lacked the ability to fly through the air; they could only resort to climbing by foot.
Before long, the vast majority of the crowd was heading toward the sanctuary, well aware of the legacies hidden within.
A few chose to stay behind, realizing that they could never compete and preferring to preserve their lives.
After all, surviving was what mattered most.
Not long after the three sequences and a host of extraterrestrial beings had entered the sanctuary, a military aircraft appeared overhead. As the cabin doors slid open, figures leaped straight down.
Boom!
The earth shook.
Led by Lu Yuan, the group arrived at Mount Kongtong just as Guangchengzi's sanctuary finished opening.
"It's King Lu! King Lu and his people are here!"
Spotting them, several onlookers gasped in surprise and hurried forward to greet them.
Lu Yuan's prestige in Huaxia was exceptionally high—not just because of his raw strength, but because of all he had done: defending Shencheng and Chang'an, and bringing the Three Immortal Islands to their knees. It was more than enough to earn the reverence of the masses.
In response, Lu Yuan nodded politely to each of them.
He was by no means arrogant, nor would his strength lead him to look down on ordinary people.
Besides, the crowd surging around them was warm and earnest; there was no reason to brush them off.
Naturally, the onlookers knew Lu Yuan was heading into the sanctuary atop Mount Kongtong and took care not to waste his time.
After offering their greetings, they recounted the recent arrival of the three top extraterrestrial prodigies.
Several people went out of their way to warn him to be careful, pointing out that those newcomers were alien invaders.
The official personnel stationed in the area provided similar intelligence.
"King Lu, what should we do next?" Ice Fairy and Zhu Qingyu stepped forward to ask.
None of the three sequence prodigies was an ordinary figure; they were true powerhouses, completely different from those they had faced before.
"No matter. So long as they don't actively provoke us, let them be."
Lu Yuan waved his hand dismissively.
He had an inkling that the three clans were very likely targeting him, but what of it?
Was he not targeting them just as well?
If they truly lacked eyes, Lu Yuan had no qualms about embarking on another slaughter.
"Then let us head up as well," Chunyang, the young Celestial Master, spoke up.
Mount Kongtong was the legendary sanctuary of the immortal Guangchengzi. To a Daoist disciple like him, its meaning was incomparable. He had no need for rare legacies; just exploring its depths would be more than enough.
The others were also eager, casting their gazes toward the folded space atop Mount Kongtong.
Of course, it could also be called a mythological secret realm.
"Let's go."
Lu Yuan nodded. In truth, he was curious as well, as this was his first time visiting.
Without further ado, the group climbed toward the summit of Mount Kongtong, preparing to enter the sanctuary.
Along the way, Lu Yuan shared a few details.
In a complete folded space like this, untouched by humans for vast stretches of time, the power of heaven and earth was extraordinarily dense.
Once it reached a certain threshold, it condensed into spirits devoid of true intellect, varying in strength.
These were known as secret realm spirits.
Upon being slain, they collapsed into clusters of exceptionally pure energy that could be absorbed directly, offering benefits on par with spiritual fruits and mystical herbs.
Their task was to hunt down as many as possible before seeking out the legacies and fortunes.
This would temper them through combat while providing energy to aid their evolution.
Lu Yuan had acquired this knowledge in his previous life, though Jiang Ningxian had also explained parts of it.
Zhu Qingyu and the others nodded, understanding how to proceed once inside.
As for the true legacies and fortunes, if fate favored them, they would claim them; if not, they would let them be.
Before long, the group reached the mountain summit.
Before them lay an independent pocket of folded space.
A primitive, boundless aura continuously poured from within.
From the outside, little could be discerned, so under Lu Yuan's lead, they all stepped through.
Passing through that boundary felt like crossing into an entirely different world.
Mount Kongtong vanished completely behind them, leaving them standing under a desolate sky.
The heavens were gloomy, and the earth stretched out in a sea of blood-red dunes, with red sands rolling in the wind.
It looked less like an immortal's sanctuary and more like a battlefield.
Far off in the distance, a colossal edifice loomed indistinctly, towering between heaven and earth.
Meanwhile, a dozen meters away, humanoid figures of white energy drifted about aimlessly.
Those were the secret realm spirits formed from the power of heaven and earth. Rather than true living creatures, they were pure condensations of energy, though they retained a rudimentary instinct for self-preservation. Slaying them allowed one to absorb their energy with zero adverse side effects.
"From here, you will act independently for three days," Lu Yuan said upon surveying the scene. "Whatever you do, assemble back at the entrance after three days."
"If you run into danger, leave the secret realm immediately. Do not try to be brave."
Since this excursion was primarily meant for their training, they naturally had to face things on their own.
They could not remain under his protection forever; that would defeat the purpose.
Besides, in the future, the Heavenly Court could hardly rely on him alone, could it?
"Understood, King Lu!"
Zhu Qingyu and the others nodded, excitement flickering in their hearts.
This was their primary goal, and they knew what had to be done.
Without another word, the group ventured deeper into the secret realm together.
Though this was a trial, their lives came first. Staying together meant they could watch over one another and grow in tandem.
In truth, they had little to worry about aside from the extraterrestrial beings.
Yet after the recent deterrent display, so long as they did not provoke anyone first, trouble was unlikely to seek them out.
Soon, only Lu Yuan remained at the entrance.
He gazed calmly across the desolate landscape before turning his eyes toward the distant, colossal palace.
Yet he did not move immediately. Standing in place, he scanned his surroundings. Having seemingly caught wind of something, he said softly, "There's no need for surveillance and ambushes. I'll give you two choices: leave now, or I make my move!"
Chapter 147