Entering the Secret Alliance, Feeling Poor Once Again!

Lu Changsheng left Realm Core City and once again drove his underwater manor forward. Eight months later, he arrived at the headquarters of the Secret Alliance: the City of Secrets! He had encountered no trouble along the way. Looking upon the City of Secrets in the distance, a look of wonder appeared on Lu Changsheng's face. When he had swept his divine consciousness forward moments earlier, there had been nothing ahead. Yet with his naked eyes, Lu Changsheng could clearly see a colossal city looming before him. Evidently, the City of Secrets was extraordinary. It could only be perceived with the naked eye; any other form of perception failed to register it at all. Lu Changsheng shifted his height and appearance, and even altered his aura. He transformed into an Ancestor Realm cultivator possessing a powerful physical body. However, this aura was only at the top-tier Ancestor Realm level, not reaching the supreme Ancestor Realm. The Secret Alliance placed no restrictions on ordinary Ancestor Realm cultivators joining, so there was naturally no need for Lu Changsheng to draw unnecessary attention to himself. Everyone entering the Secret Alliance concealed their identity, keeping an exceptionally low profile. Lu Changsheng flew toward the City of Secrets. Strangely enough, the city had only a single gateway at its entrance. What was more, there were guards stationed there. Lu Changsheng sensed lightly and discovered that the gatekeeper was actually a top-tier Ancestor Realm expert as well. As he passed through the gate, Lu Changsheng merely released a wisp of Ancestor Realm aura, which served as sufficient acknowledgment. Immediately afterward, the gatekeeper handed him a mask. It was called the Thousand Illusion Mask. Once donned, it could retract all traces of one's aura, preventing anyone from seeing through it. One's appearance could also undergo myriad transformations at will, and even altering one's life signature presented no issue whatsoever. It truly was a wondrous object. However, the Thousand Illusion Mask had to be returned to the City of Secrets upon departure. Lu Changsheng put on the mask and continually shifted his appearance. While his physical body was already capable of transformation, possessing the Thousand Illusion Mask undoubtedly made it far more convenient. Lu Changsheng smoothly entered the City of Secrets. The moment he stepped inside, he was stunned by the bustling scene before him. In his imagination, the Secret Alliance—where everyone concealed their identities—should have been a cesspool of treachery and vice, filled with paranoid, sinister schemers. Yet the reality within the City of Secrets was entirely different. It was remarkably prosperous—more so than any place Lu Changsheng had ever seen. Moreover, the trade here was completely brazen and uninhibited. No one ever inquired into the origin of an item; they simply cared about completing the transaction. Furthermore, beyond selling treasures, there were also mercenary commissions. They were blunt and direct: hiring experts to assassinate a particular powerhouse, or enlisting masters to annihilate a certain faction. Among the commissions, quite a few were targeted at supreme Ancestor Realm experts. "This really... opens my eyes," Lu Changsheng murmured under his breath. So bold, so prosperous, and so utterly unconstrained. Yet upon closer thought, it was only natural. Precisely because everyone in the City of Secrets concealed their identity, and no one knew who anyone else was, what scruples could there be in making trades? None at all. The prosperity of this City of Secrets could likely not be matched even if the Ascending Immortal Alliance, the Supreme Sanctuary, and the Heaven Realm Association combined their strength. This was the advantage of the City of Secrets. However, the hard currency for transactions in the City of Secrets remained Great Dao fragments. Lu Changsheng even spotted immortal spirit items, but their asking prices soared over a hundred Great Dao fragments each. This was practically daylight robbery—no, even robbery wouldn't yield that much. Yet rarity made things precious. Perhaps there really were those desperate enough to need an immortal spirit item at any cost. Back in Realm Core City, the Ancestor Realm cultivator Lu Changsheng had seen had only offered ten Great Dao fragments to purchase an immortal spirit item, yet no one had been willing to trade. In any case, as long as one desired it, there was virtually nothing that could not be procured in the City of Secrets. At this moment, Lu Changsheng truly felt a burning desire. Yet he was simply too poor. He did not possess a single Great Dao fragment. Even though he was the exalted master of the City in the Sky, in the City of Secrets he still felt utterly impoverished. How long had it been since Lu Changsheng last experienced the word "poor"? He had never expected that after reaching the supreme Ancestor Realm, he would taste that feeling all over again. *No, I must find a way to earn Great Dao fragments.* *And once I earn them, I can't just refine them recklessly. I have to save them up.* *Otherwise, if I come across treasures I desperately need, I won't be able to secure them without Great Dao fragments...* A sharp light flickered in Lu Changsheng's eyes. He currently cultivated three paths of the Immortal Dao. Which one had the highest progress? Naturally, it was the Physical Immortal Dao. His Physical Immortal Dao had already reached a terrifying 83%. He only needed to advance it by another 18% to achieve perfection. When that time came, he could even attempt to break through to the Immortal Realm. Yet that 83% progress seemed entirely stalled. Refining more bloodlines and formidable lifeforms yielded no benefit at all. Lu Changsheng had come to realize that only by refining flesh and blood of the genuine Immortal Realm level could he advance his progress further. However, aside from the corpse of the Kui Cow, where could he find the physical form of an Immortal Realm being? Previously, Lu Changsheng had felt there was no chance. But now that he had encountered the City of Secrets, he saw hope. As long as he had Great Dao fragments—enough of them—he might very well find Immortal Realm flesh and blood within the Secret Alliance. Yet how was he to earn Great Dao fragments? That was the dilemma. Back then, Ancestor Qingtian had likely relied on the City in the Sky to amass Great Dao fragments bit by bit. That method could indeed earn a certain amount, but it would take a vast span of time and slow accumulation. Even Ancestor Qingtian had not accumulated very many Great Dao fragments in the end. Lu Changsheng did not need just a trickle; he needed a massive quantity. Relying on slow accumulation was certainly out of the question. He had to find another way. And so, Lu Changsheng wandered continuously through the City of Secrets. Roughly three days later, his eyes lit up. He spotted a commission. A black-robed Ancestor Realm cultivator was searching for a formation grandmaster—specifically, one adept at breaking formations. The compensation was remarkably generous. Just accepting the task would grant ten Great Dao fragments. Furthermore, upon completing the task, one would receive additional bountiful rewards. As for what those rewards were and how much, that would require detailed discussion with the employer. *A commission offering ten Great Dao fragments certainly won't be simple.* *Besides, the employer needs a formation grandmaster, and I am no formation grandmaster.* *However, while I may not be a grandmaster, if it's merely a matter of breaking formations, not even a formation grandmaster can compare to me...* Lu Changsheng was thoroughly confident. He was not a formation grandmaster, but he walked the path of the Mortal Immortal Dao. He possessed the analysis capability of the Mortal Immortal Dao, able to parse all things, rules, and phenomena. What was a mere formation in comparison? Thus, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer and walked straight over. "Fellow Daoist, are you looking for a formation grandmaster?" Lu Changsheng inquired. "Indeed. Are you a formation grandmaster?" the black-robed figure asked, looking Lu Changsheng up and down. Of course, both of them were disguised by Thousand Illusion Masks; scrutinizing yielded nothing. Lu Changsheng neither confirmed nor denied it, asking directly, "What formation do you need broken?" The black-robed figure replied calmly, "Regardless of what formation I need broken, if Fellow Daoist truly wishes to take on this task, you must first prove that you are indeed a formation grandmaster." "How shall I prove it?" "Simple enough. I have a formation array. If Fellow Daoist can break it, that will suffice." "Break the formation? Fair enough. Is there a time limit?" "Roughly one month." Lu Changsheng nodded and accepted the condition. This counted as the black-robed figure's test. Only by passing this test and earning the black-robed figure's recognition would the other party agree to let Lu Changsheng accept the task. "Very well. Please follow me, Fellow Daoist." With that, Lu Changsheng followed behind the black-robed figure toward a cave dwelling within the City of Secrets. In the City of Secrets, no one needed to worry about safety. Anyone who dared to fight within the city would meet certain death without exception! Even supreme Ancestor Realm experts were no different. Soon, Lu Changsheng entered the black-robed figure's cave dwelling. Inside, the black-robed figure introduced himself, "Fellow Daoist, my surname is Lin." "Fellow Daoist Lin, my surname is Lu." The two merely provided a surname. Whether it was their true surname was impossible to tell. In any case, no one used their real name in the City of Secrets; identities were concealed at all times. "Fellow Daoist Lu, there is a formation within my cave dwelling. However, this array is capable of trapping a supreme Ancestor Realm cultivator, and breaking it will not be so easy. With a limit of one month, will Fellow Daoist have any problem?" The black-robed figure bluntly laid out the nature of the formation in the dwelling. Lu Changsheng's eyes narrowed slightly. A formation capable of easily trapping a supreme Ancestor Realm expert? Such an array was certainly formidable, exceptionally powerful even. And someone who could casually produce such a grand array had to possess immense strength himself—most likely a supreme Ancestor Realm cultivator! Still, Lu Changsheng did not care whether the other party was a supreme Ancestor Realm expert or not. For now, he simply needed to pass the test. "No problem," Lu Changsheng agreed with a nod. "Good. Then I shall activate the formation." The black-robed figure promptly engaged the grand array. *Boom!* The grand array descended. How could an array capable of trapping a supreme Ancestor Realm expert be ordinary? Moments before, Lu Changsheng and the black-robed figure had been sitting cross-legged facing one another, but the instant the array descended, Lu Changsheng lost all perception of the man. It was as though the black-robed figure had vanished entirely. Lu Changsheng knew the man had not disappeared; rather, his own senses had been sealed or distorted by the grand array. Lu Changsheng stood up. He currently found himself in the midst of a dense forest. There was not the slightest trace of the cave dwelling left. *An illusion formation?* *It doesn't seem like one. But can a grand array truly swap the heavens and earth?* Lu Changsheng reached out his hand and struck downward at the forest below with a palm. *Rumble!* The forest was razed to the ground by his single strike. Yet that was all. In the blink of an eye, the forest restored itself as before. However, the grand array was merely running its course; it launched no attacks against Lu Changsheng. After all, this was purely a test of his ability to break formations. Lu Changsheng knew very well that relying solely on his own attainments in formations, it would be impossible to break it. He could only rely on analysis. *I only have one month...* Aware of the time constraint, Lu Changsheng hesitated no longer. He sat cross-legged and directly unleashed the analytical techniques of the Mortal Immortal Dao, focusing fully on analyzing this formation. Days slipped by. As Lu Changsheng continued his analysis, the mysteries of this grand array were gradually grasped by him. Analyzing an entire world, an immortal spirit item, or an immortal treasure was relatively difficult. But analyzing a formation capable of trapping a supreme Ancestor Realm expert posed no great challenge to Lu Changsheng. His Mortal Immortal Dao progress had already reached 60%. With his current analytical power, thoroughly parsing this array was remarkably straightforward. There was no need for a month. In just three days, Lu Changsheng succeeded in his analysis. *Whoosh.* Lu Changsheng opened his eyes. At this moment, in his sight, the formation held no more secrets. "Break!" Lu Changsheng gave a low cry. Instantly, the formation rippled like water, sending concentric circles of waves spreading outward in all directions. As the ripples expanded, the surrounding scenery shifted rapidly. Lu Changsheng raised his head, his gaze once again falling upon the black-robed figure. From beginning to end, the man had never left. "Fellow Daoist Lin, what do you think?" Lu Changsheng asked slowly. "Three days! Fellow Daoist Lu actually broke the formation in merely three days!" "This goes far beyond a formation grandmaster; this is truly miraculous. In the Dao of formations, I have never seen a cultivator more formidable than you, Fellow Daoist Lu!" A gleam flashed in the black-robed figure's eyes, his tone laced with astonishment. Breaking the formation in three days had greatly exceeded his expectations. Lu Changsheng smiled and said, "Then do I count as having passed Fellow Daoist Lin's test?" "You pass, of course you pass!" the black-robed figure affirmed without hesitation. If this did not count as passing, what would? "Fellow Daoist Lin, what exactly does this task entail? I need to understand a bit so I have an idea of what to expect," Lu Changsheng asked directly, dispensing with formalities. Though he possessed immense confidence and solid backing, he did not want to take risks blindly. Especially for a task with such generous compensation—the richer the reward, the clearer one needed to understand the risks. Otherwise, the consequences could be dire. "Naturally. Since Fellow Daoist Lu has accepted the task, I will naturally explain the details." "This task is actually related to an archaic cave dwelling..." The black-robed figure then provided a detailed overview of the situation. It turned out that he had discovered a cave dwelling. According to his investigations, it likely dated back to the Archaic Era, far too long ago to fathom. It was very likely the cave dwelling of an Immortal Realm mighty figure from that era. One had to know that during the Archaic Era, the Heaven Realm and the Boundary Sea were not yet completely severed. Not only could one travel to the Heaven Realm via the Road to Ascending Heaven, but occasionally Immortal Realm mighty figures would descend from the Heaven Realm through it, or immortal spirit items would flow into the Boundary Sea. The Boundary Sea back then was unimaginably flourishing and prosperous. While Immortal Realm mighty figures might not have walked every corner, they were indeed relatively common, unlike today, where whether any Immortal Realm mighty figures remained in the Boundary Sea was an utter mystery. Therefore, an Archaic Era cave dwelling belonging to an Immortal Realm mighty figure was entirely plausible. After all, more than a few archaic cave dwellings of Immortal Realm mighty figures had been uncovered across the Boundary Sea over time. If luck favored an explorer, immortal spirit items could often be found within, perhaps even immortal treasures. In short, the cave dwelling of an Immortal Realm mighty figure offered countless benefits. Strictly speaking, Lu Changsheng's underwater manor was also the cave dwelling of an Immortal Realm mighty figure, just not from the Archaic Era. The benefits he had derived from obtaining it had been enormous. Although the black-robed figure had found the cave dwelling, he could not enter. It was protected by a grand array—a formation left behind by an Immortal Realm mighty figure. Trapping a supreme Ancestor Realm cultivator was child's play for it; with the slightest carelessness, a supreme Ancestor Realm expert could easily perish within its array. The black-robed figure had studied it for a time and quickly given up. Relying on himself alone, he would never break into the cave dwelling even in ten thousand or a hundred thousand years. That was why he had thought to find a formation grandmaster to break the dwelling's array together. "Fellow Daoist Lu, what do you think?" "If you agree to break the formation, I will grant you ten Great Dao fragments." "Once the formation is broken and we enter the dwelling, we can also swear an oath beforehand not to slaughter each other. Whatever treasures we obtain shall be split equally!" The black-robed figure laid out his terms. These terms made it seem as though Lu Changsheng was at a disadvantage. After all, he would be the one breaking the array and shouldering the danger, yet the spoils would merely be split equally. Yet upon second thought, without the black-robed figure providing the location, Lu Changsheng would never have found that archaic cave dwelling in the first place. An even split was actually quite fair. Of course, the prerequisite was that Lu Changsheng could break the cave dwelling's grand array. "Very well. I agree," Lu Changsheng said after only brief consideration. With such a cave dwelling potentially holding immortal spirit items or even immortal treasures, such an opportunity was something one could only encounter by luck. Lu Changsheng naturally would not refuse. "Fellow Daoist Lu is straightforward. Let us swear an oath upon our Dao Hearts first." Thus, the two swore upon their Dao Hearts. Such an oath carried great binding power. Once violated, one's Dao Heart would be flawed, making further advancement in cultivation exceptionally difficult. Of course, there were no absolutes; some people were willing to take desperate risks for immense profit and would rather break their vows. But very few ever did, especially among Ancestor Realm cultivators. If an Ancestor broke their oath, reaching the Immortal Realm would become virtually impossible. "Fellow Daoist Lin, when do we set out?" Lu Changsheng asked. With an archaic cave dwelling belonging to an Immortal Realm mighty figure awaiting them, he was already growing somewhat impatient. "In three days." Lu Changsheng nodded. Time flew by, and three days quickly passed. Lu Changsheng and the black-robed figure departed the City of Secrets, venturing deep into the Boundary Sea. Neither of them hid their assets; each piloted an immortal treasure. That was right—the black-robed figure possessed an immortal treasure as well. While immortal treasures were precious, it was not unusual for a supreme Ancestor Realm expert to have one. During their time together, both had largely deduced each other's status: both were supreme Ancestors! Lu Changsheng had no intention of hiding it either. Sometimes, displaying one's true strength served to prevent trouble. With both standing as supreme Ancestors, their status and standing were equal. When conflicts of interest arose later, both would act with caution rather than harbor crooked designs. The two flew for roughly an entire year before finally arriving at the location of the archaic cave dwelling. "Halt. The archaic cave dwelling is right here," the black-robed figure stopped and said. "The cave dwelling is here?" Lu Changsheng frowned slightly. He glanced at the surroundings. The void of the Boundary Sea was utterly empty; where was any archaic cave dwelling? Lu Changsheng instantly heightened his vigilance. Could this black-robed figure have deceived him, aiming to ambush and kill him? Such a possibility could not be ruled out entirely. Yet the likelihood was exceedingly small. Ambushing and slaying a supreme Ancestor Realm expert was far too difficult; no one would be foolish enough to go to such lengths for that. As if discerning Lu Changsheng's doubts, the black-robed figure smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Lu, the archaic cave dwelling is indeed right here, but certain conditions are required to see it." Saying so, the black-robed figure took out a medallion from his robes. Intricate and mystical patterns were carved across its surface. As he channeled power into it, the medallion hummed and began to vibrate. At the same time, concentric ripples emanated from the medallion. Once the ripples washed past, something faintly emerged within the previously empty void of the Boundary Sea. Lu Changsheng's eyes widened. What was he seeing? Within the empty void of the Boundary Sea, a cave dwelling truly began to take form. It seemed to appear out of thin air where nothing had existed before. Yet now, this cave dwelling stood magnificent, colossal, and profoundly mystical, even emitting wisps of immortal spirit qi. This was genuine immortal spirit qi! Aside from immortal treasures, immortal spirit items, or the corpse of an Immortal Realm mighty figure, what else could emit immortal spirit qi? Thus, even if this cave dwelling did not date back to the Archaic Era, it was undoubtedly connected to an Immortal Realm mighty figure. Otherwise, immortal spirit qi could not possibly exist here. "This medallion..." Lu Changsheng mused thoughtfully. The black-robed figure smiled and said, "This medallion is actually a Visitor Token. Only one possessing this token is permitted to come before this cave dwelling to pay respects to its master." "Yet that is all—it only grants the right to visit. Only if the master consents will the cave dwelling open, allowing one to enter." "Now, there is no longer anyone inside. Even with the Visitor Token, we cannot enter; we can only arrive outside and cause the dwelling to manifest." Lu Changsheng felt a trace of amazement. Merely a Visitor Token? It might seem useless, but in truth it held immense value. At the very least, it allowed the dwelling to reveal itself. Without it, the cave dwelling would never manifest. Lu Changsheng had already probed with his senses moments before and could not detect the cave dwelling at all. In other words, without the Visitor Token, he too would have been powerless to make it appear. "This cave dwelling is truly extraordinary. Is it also because of its grand array?" Lu Changsheng faintly guessed the reason behind its wondrous nature. A formation! It had to be the work of the grand array. "Indeed, it should be the array," the black-robed figure said. "The array enveloping this dwelling is exceptionally unique. Now that the dwelling has manifested, we still cannot enter. Fellow Daoist Lu, whether we can break the formation from here on depends entirely on you." The black-robed figure looked toward Lu Changsheng, his eyes brimming with anticipation. "I understand," Lu Changsheng nodded. Breaking the grand array of this cave dwelling would obviously be far from simple. However, that was precisely the job he had come to perform. Moreover, this was an Immortal Realm array! To Lu Changsheng, this was also an enormous harvest. Once he parsed this formation, not only could he lay it out himself, but the progress of his Mortal Immortal Dao would surely surge. Such a stroke of fortune was hard to come by; how could he possibly give it up? "Fellow Daoist Lin, please wait a moment. I will begin breaking the array, but it may take a considerable amount of time. Several months or even several years are possible," Lu Changsheng stated truthfully. His analytical ability was indeed formidable, but this was ultimately an Immortal Realm formation. He had to proceed with extreme caution. Parsing it would certainly not be easy, and spending time was inevitable. "Fellow Daoist Lu, can you truly break it?" The black-robed figure was overjoyed instead. "I can." "Roughly what are your chances?" "Seventy to eighty percent," Lu Changsheng offered a conservative figure. In truth, as far as Lu Changsheng was concerned, so long as he was given enough time, breaking the grand array was a certainty. It wasn't seventy or eighty percent, but a full hundred percent! Yet he certainly could not say that to the black-robed figure. "That is wonderful!" "Fellow Daoist Lu, break the array with ease of mind. I shall stand guard here and allow no one to disturb you," the black-robed figure declared resolutely in a firm voice. He was overjoyed beyond measure. A seventy to eighty percent chance? Did that not mean the array was practically as good as broken? Although he had hoped to recruit a formation grandmaster, even whether a formation grandmaster could break an Immortal Realm array remained highly uncertain. He had truly never expected Lu Changsheng to possess such immense confidence. Lu Changsheng finally began his analysis. He focused his full attention, committing all his efforts to parsing the Immortal Realm formation. This was the first Immortal Realm formation Lu Changsheng had ever encountered, and it truly proved extraordinary. He ran into difficulties right from the start. Yet it did not matter; he now had ample time to analyze it. Besides, he had even parsed the corpse of the Kui Cow—what did analyzing an Immortal Realm formation amount to in comparison? Time trickled away. One month, two months, three months, four months, five months... In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed. Yet Lu Changsheng showed not the slightest movement. At first, the black-robed figure had been exceptionally patient. But as half a year went by without the cave dwelling's array undergoing a single change, he began to feel restless. Still, remembering his promise, he did not disturb Lu Changsheng. Yet anxiety had already crept into his mind, making him doubt whether Lu Changsheng could truly break the formation. Another half year slipped past. A full year had gone by. Lu Changsheng's progress in parsing the formation had actually crossed the halfway mark, but fully analyzing it would still require substantial time. One year, two years, three years... Lu Changsheng had not anticipated that analyzing an Immortal Realm formation would actually require three full years. During this time, the black-robed figure had inquired occasionally, but Lu Changsheng merely told him to wait patiently. By now, the black-robed figure had settled his mind completely. Lu Changsheng was already able to reach deep into the formation without suffering any counterattacks. This demonstrated that Lu Changsheng was indeed breaking the array, and with tangible results. *Rumble!* Suddenly, the cave dwelling's grand array trembled violently, unleashing a thunderous roar. The black-robed figure was instantly jolted awake and hurriedly looked toward Lu Changsheng. *Whoosh.* Lu Changsheng, who had been sitting cross-legged in the void with closed eyes, abruptly opened them. His gaze was exceedingly sharp, yet a smile played at the corners of his lips. "It is done!" Lu Changsheng looked toward the black-robed figure and said with a smile. After three long years, he had finally succeeded. He had completely analyzed this Immortal Realm formation of the archaic cave dwelling. Now, breaking the array was as easy as turning his hand. In fact, it went beyond merely breaking it—the entire formation was now within Lu Changsheng's absolute control. "Fellow Daoist Lu, you successfully broke the formation?" the black-robed figure asked, his voice trembling with excitement. "Yes, it is broken." Lu Changsheng took a deep breath, turned toward the archaic cave dwelling, and uttered slowly, "Open!" *Rumble, rumble, rumble!* As Lu Changsheng's word fell, the grand gates of the cave dwelling actually began to creak open slowly. Yet the Immortal Realm formation showed not the slightest violent reaction. This sent a massive shock through the black-robed figure's heart. How was this merely breaking an array? This was turning the tables entirely, taking absolute mastery over an Immortal Realm formation! And so, the two waited in silence, their hearts brimming with anticipation. They too wished to see what lay within the cave dwelling. As the gates parted, a dense wave of immortal spirit qi surged forth toward them. The two snapped their eyes wide, as if unable to believe the sight before them. "That is..." Even Lu Changsheng could not help a violent tremor in his heart, his expression changing drastically in an instant.