Chapter 52: The Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm

Hearing this, everyone perked up. They had been looking forward to this trip to the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm for a long time.

Before long, the group arrived outside the mountain gate. Suspended in mid-air was a flying boat, surrounded by rolling mists and clouds, resembling a fairyland.

"All of you, come up!" Lin Yuru stepped onto the flying boat first and said indifferently.

The others quickly followed, and Qin Changsheng also leaped up onto the vessel.

The interior of the flying boat was exceptionally spacious and luxuriously decorated, clearly no ordinary item.

"This expedition to the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm is a once-in-a-decade grand event for our academy. I hope all of you will gain something from it," Lin Yuru stood at the bow, with her hands behind her back, speaking calmly.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Lin!" The group responded in unison, their faces filled with excitement.

They all knew that the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm contained not only countless heavenly treasures but also ancient inheritances. Acquiring even one would be enough to benefit them immensely.

The flying boat tore through the air at incredible speed.

Standing by the railing, Qin Changsheng looked down at the mountains and rivers flashing past beneath him, a surge of heroic ambition rising in his heart.

Ever since his transmigration, he had kept a low profile to develop his strength. Now, having finally acquired some capability, he could finally go out and make a name for himself.

Moreover, he noticed that among those who had entered the academy together with him, Zhou Peng was also present.

However, after a year, Zhou Peng seemed to have forgotten his existence entirely, offering no greeting—perhaps assuming that Qin Changsheng had faded into obscurity after a year and was unworthy of notice.

Qin Changsheng did not care in the least.

Half a day later, the flying boat descended outside a massive valley.

In the valley, mists and clouds swirled, creating the illusion of an immortal realm. Powerful figures from various major forces were guarding the entrance, along with several high-ranking elders of the academy. Coincidentally, the leader was Liu He, the Dean of the Sword Academy, whom Qin Changsheng had met once before.

At this moment, the sword immortal sat cross-legged, exuding a truly ethereal demeanor.

There were also many people from other factions. The ones Qin Changsheng barely recognized were from the Mountain-Backing Sect and the Profound Heaven Sect, though most faces only looked vaguely familiar, and he could no longer remember their names. Besides, it had already been one hundred and fifty years since he left the Mountain-Backing Sect.

In one hundred and fifty years, many of that old cohort had perished, while those still alive had all reached the Golden Core or Nascent Soul realms.

To his slight regret, Wang Yuyan was nowhere to be seen.

Nor did he spot Nangong Ruoxi among the academy members.

"We have arrived. This is the entrance to the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm. The secret realm will remain open intermittently for nearly half a year. By then, entrances will appear in many places across the continent, and even members of the demon race will come. Many top prodigies will also seize the opportunity to enter. Therefore, you must be extremely cautious once inside and avoid stirring up trouble, lest you invite a fatal disaster," Lin Yuru pointed forward and instructed.

At these words, everyone perked up again and looked ahead.

Not far away stood a gigantic stone tablet inscribed with four archaic characters—Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm!

"Such dense spiritual Qi!"

Qin Changsheng took a deep breath, feeling instantly refreshed, as if even his soul had been elevated.

This Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm truly lived up to its reputation!

"Everyone, let's go in!" Lin Yuru took the lead, walking toward the stone tablet.

She extended her palm and pressed it against the stone surface.

The next moment, a beam of light erupted from the tablet, enveloping her figure.

Immediately after, she vanished from sight.

"Let's move!" Guo Tao called out, walking in first.

The rest of the group followed closely without hesitation.

Qin Changsheng walked at the very end, maintaining deep internal vigilance.

Although the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm was filled with countless fortuitous encounters, dangers lurked everywhere. Furthermore, aside from their own group, disciples from other sects would also be entering.

Hum!

The moment Qin Changsheng's palm touched the stone tablet, his vision blurred. As he slowly turned his head, he was startled to see a young man who looked remarkably like Long Chen.

Qin Changsheng paused for a moment, wondering if his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Or perhaps, after he made his move back then, Long Chen's soul had been preserved and kept alive through some secret technique? After all, the world of cultivation possessed countless methods, and resurrecting a Holy Son was not entirely impossible.

If it truly was Long Chen, he might once again have to face the karma of the Mountain-Backing Sect.

Lost in thought, he suddenly found himself transported to an unfamiliar world.

As far as the eye could see, the surroundings were filled with lush trees, exotic flowers, and rare grasses. The air was saturated with rich spiritual Qi and a faint floral fragrance.

"Is this the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm?" Qin Changsheng muttered inwardly, beginning to survey his surroundings.

He noticed that the gravity here seemed slightly heavier than in the outside world, and the spiritual Qi was considerably denser.

"Brother Qin, come quickly! We've found a herb garden!"

Just then, Guo Tao's shouting echoed from not far away.

Following the voice, Qin Changsheng saw Guo Tao and the others surrounding a herb garden, excitement written all over their faces.

He walked over quickly and saw that the garden was filled with all sorts of rare medicinal herbs. The lowest grade among them was fifth-grade, and there was no shortage of eighth-grade and sacred-grade spiritual herbs.

Spiritual herbs were divided into nine grades, with sacred herbs above the ninth grade, and immortal herbs above sacred herbs.

"So many spiritual herbs!"

Qin Changsheng's eyes lit up as well. If these herbs were sold, they would be worth at least several million spirit stones.

Having slumbered for many years, he was as chronically broke as ever. Before his last slumber, all his spoils of war had been fed to the foxes, so he was still eager to earn some spirit stones.

"Haha, we've struck it rich this time!" Guo Tao laughed heartily, charging into the herb garden first to begin harvesting the herbs.

The others did not hesitate and immediately joined in.

Though these medicinal herbs were precious, they were hardly anything monumental to them. Moreover, far greater fortunes awaited them elsewhere in the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm.

Before long, the group had completely harvested the herb garden.

Every face beamed with excitement and joy.

"Everyone, there are countless opportunities in this Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm, but the dangers are equally severe. We should find a safe place to rest and recuperate first," Zhao Tiehu proposed.

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Excited as they were, they had not forgotten that this was the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm, where danger could strike at any moment.

Soon, the group located a secluded cave and began to rest.

Qin Changsheng sat cross-legged and began to cultivate.

The spiritual Qi in the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm was many times denser than that of the outside world, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

He decided to use this opportunity to absorb the vital essence. Ever since breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm, he possessed an Yin-Yang realm within his body, and he could now absorb these spiritual energies and convert them into Yin-Yang origin power to enhance the strength and scale of his realm.

Meanwhile, at the same time Qin Changsheng and the others entered the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm, undercurrents were surging in the outside world as well.

Major sects across the Eastern Land had dispatched their elite disciples into the realm to seek fortunes.

Because grievances and feuds already existed among these sects, encountering one another inside the secret realm inevitably led to fierce conflicts. Consequently, every opening of the Eastern Wasteland Secret Realm triggered a storm of blood and slaughter.

In the Great Zhou Empire, Nangong Ruoxi, who had spent a long time traveling and comprehending the laws, received a message on her communication talisman.

"Someone has accepted the task for the Yin-Yang origin power. Have you returned, Qin Changsheng?" Nangong Ruoxi murmured in wonder.

What Qin Changsheng did not know was that she had posted this task herself, with the primary objective of fishing.

Fishing for a certain heartless scoundrel who had vanished for a hundred and fifty years.

She figured that if that scoundrel ever returned, he would undoubtedly come to study at the academy. After all, as far as she knew, while that fellow was terrifyingly powerful, the extent of his knowledge was limited to the techniques found in her study back then.

If he returned, he would surely come to secretly learn more.

She had not expected that someone would actually take the task.

However, when she checked the name of the person who accepted it, her face darkened.

"Bookish Fool? What nonsense is this? He accepted it a month ago and still hasn't submitted the task?"
"Just another reputation-seeking, arrogant braggart?"