Chapter Seventy-Five: Speculations on the Secret Realm

Yang Cheng said, “To put it simply, it’s somewhat similar to the ‘Art of Star Absorption.’”

Bai Muyun was puzzled. “What is the Art of Star Absorption?”

“It’s, well, an evil technique. But it’s not quite the same as your situation, Bai. The Art of Star Absorption absorbs the spiritual energy of others for one’s own use, whereas this demonic art still works after more than ten years. It can’t possibly be a straightforward absorption for oneself,” Yang Cheng explained.

Everyone was astonished. To absorb another’s spiritual energy for oneself—such a technique was truly sinister.

Bai Muyun was equally surprised. “I consider myself fairly experienced in the martial world, yet I’ve never even heard of such a technique. I’m surprised that Master Yang, so young, possesses such vast knowledge of cultivation. Forgive my ignorance, but may I ask what level you have attained?”

Yang Cheng responded awkwardly, “It’s just legend, merely legend,” and lowered his head to drink.

Liu Changqing glanced at him disdainfully. “Bai, there’s no need to ask about Brother Yang’s cultivation,” he said. “In this courtyard, his is the lowest.”

“Cough, cough—” Yang Cheng was choked by a mouthful of wine, thinking to himself: You just asked them not to inquire, and now you’ve gone and spilled the answer yourself. Truly, not giving me any face.

“But to say he is knowledgeable is not an exaggeration. The things he tinkers with, I’d wager even you, Bai, have never seen,” Liu Changqing continued, ignoring Yang Cheng. He then asked, “Bai, what are the demons like? I’ve heard that a thousand years ago, they appeared once, each with formidable cultivation, causing a bloody storm in the cultivation world. Later, our human race joined forces to eradicate them, and they vanished without a trace. I always thought it was just legend—how could they appear in the secret realm?” He seemed genuinely interested in the demons.

“They are no different from you or me,” Bai Muyun recalled, “except that the spiritual energy we cultivate appears purple or white, ethereal like immortal mist, while theirs is pitch black, like an aura of slaughter.”

“As for why they’re in the secret realm, I do not know. The Bai family has records of the demons, and some of our ancestors fought them, but so much time has passed, their oil is spent, their lights extinguished—they are gone. No one knows where the demons came from, or where they hide.”

Lu Baichuan said, “Perhaps they are remnants of the defeated demons, hiding in some secret realm. Yet the timing and location of secret realm openings are always unpredictable. If the demons truly grow strong within, sooner or later, when the secret realm opens, they’ll emerge to wreak havoc upon the world.”

Bai Muyun replied, “Many sects and noble families entered that day, yet only I returned. In my opinion, the demons were strong, but showed no intention of breaking out. Instead, they seemed solely intent on holding us back from venturing deeper. This puzzles me to no end.”

Yang Cheng, feeling a little itchy with curiosity, smiled awkwardly. “You three have all entered secret realms. Could you describe what they’re like?”

As soon as he spoke, six young men and women nearby gathered around, standing behind the four, eager to listen. Perhaps one day, they too would venture into a secret realm in search of opportunity.

Liu, Lu, and Bai, each having explored one or two secret realms, had gained their own rewards. They hadn’t intended to boast, but seeing the eager faces of the youths, they began to share their experiences.

After listening for a while, everyone had a rough understanding.

It turned out that so-called secret realms did not exist in fixed locations, nor did they open at regular times. But before each appearance, there were always unusual phenomena: spiritual energy surging, purple clouds swirling, wild beasts fleeing, dead silence—all sorts of signs. The surface of a secret realm had no physical form, only faint ripples in the air, like waves in water. Experienced cultivators could judge the remaining time by the strength of the ripples. Once inside, it felt like entering a new world, entirely different.

Each secret realm was unique, with different landscapes and varying sizes. Some could be explored in a day or two, others so vast one could wander for a month without seeing everything. Within, some were like hell—dangerous beyond measure; others resembled immortal paradises, utterly safe.

Those who entered described strange treasures, rare beasts, heavenly herbs, and spiritual objects, mostly unlike anything found in the cultivation world. Some people obtained legendary weapons inside; some found unique techniques; others acquired miraculous elixirs capable of reviving the dead. But more often, people perished there, leaving not even bones behind.

Countless sects and hermits treated secret realms as prime places to seek opportunity and train disciples.

Bai Muyun said, “Every family has records of various secret realms—there are thousands, each different. Some are the same, but appeared at different times and places. Since ancient times, nobody has understood how secret realms form or where they’ll appear.”

Yang Cheng listened, then pondered for a moment. “I have a theory, based on your descriptions and Bai’s account of the demon secret realm. I think perhaps these secret realms are merely passages.”

“A passage?” Liu Changqing asked, puzzled.

“Yes, perhaps they are passages to parallel worlds.”

“Parallel worlds?”

“What do you mean?” asked several, all looking to Yang Cheng.

Yang Cheng set down his chopsticks, placing them parallel on the table. “This may just be a hypothesis: suppose there are many worlds overlapping with ours. Like these two chopsticks—two worlds. One represents ours, the other another world.”

“They lie here parallel, like us and another world, each uninvolved with the other. Their length is like each world’s span from nothingness to now; during this time, the two chopsticks never intersect.”

“Suppose time passes, and the chopsticks extend ever longer, yet never touch. We will never know the other world exists. For example, while we sit here drinking and chatting, in another world this courtyard might be a battlefield, or perhaps a bustling market. Yet they cannot see us, nor we them. We do not interfere, but each exists.”

Upon hearing this, everyone imagined invisible things moving nearby. Even those highly cultivated felt a chill.

Yang Cheng took Liu Changqing’s chopsticks and placed them on either side. “There may not be just one alongside us, but countless unrelated worlds—that is parallel worlds.”

Everyone fell into deep thought.

Liu Changqing said in wonder, “Brother Yang, such an idea is truly imaginative, but what does it have to do with secret realms?”

Yang Cheng continued, “If two worlds overlap, there should be a barrier between them. If one has the power to break the barrier, the two can connect. Or perhaps some spots are weak, and for unknown reasons, nature breaks through. Imagine two adjacent bowls; if a hole appears between them, wine from one flows into the other.”

“In our world, the strongest are at the Golden Core stage. Beyond Golden Core, nobody knows—because upon reaching it, one ascends to become an immortal, entering the so-called Immortal Realm. It’s as if one’s power exceeds the barrier this world can withstand, and so cannot remain. Like wine flowing from one bowl to another. They enter a world with a stronger barrier. Thus, the ancestors who ascended could break through this world’s barrier, but not the stronger one of the next, so they can only go, never return. Therefore, none in the cultivation world knows what the Immortal Realm truly is. Perhaps it’s simply a higher-level parallel world.”

“And secret realms are like passages naturally formed where barriers between worlds are weak. From your descriptions, I noticed: different secret realms have different rare beasts and treasures, and their interiors are entirely distinct. Most likely, these are unique to their respective worlds—some filled with giant wild beasts, some with unheard-of races, some perhaps utterly devoid of life.”