After My Rebirth, I Ended Up Happily Ever After with the Saintess - Chapter 47

The colossal claw raised by the phantom of the Starlight Behemoth seemed to bear the weight of the entire starry sky, and the aura of destruction solidified the air. Before this absolute power, Ye Li and Qin Yixuan were as insignificant as ants; even breathing became difficult.

It was at this moment of extreme peril that another anomaly occurred!

The entire Silent Mausoleum—no, the entire Cloud Mist Secret Realm—trembled violently! This time, the tremor did not come from underground but originated from space itself! A grand humming sound, as if from ancient times, came from the deepest part of the Secret Realm!

Buzz—!

Following this hum, the light on the Starry Sky Great Stele, which projected the behemoth phantom, suddenly became extremely unstable. It flickered a few times and then quickly dimmed! The Starlight Behemoth phantom, which had just formed, simultaneously let out an unwilling, silent roar and dissolved into the air like a shattered reflection in water.

The terrifying pressure instantly vanished without a trace.

Both survivors felt a wave of exhaustion, their backs drenched in cold sweat. In that moment, they had truly felt the approach of death.

“The Secret Realm core… has opened?” Qin Yixuan looked in the direction of the tremor and humming, a flicker of solemnity and heat in her clear, cold eyes.

Ye Li instantly understood. This sudden celestial phenomenon could only mean that the innermost core area of the Secret Realm—the legendary place where the greatest opportunities were hidden—had formally revealed itself! It was the opening of this core area that had interfered with or even interrupted the operation of the Mausoleum’s restriction, saving their lives by chance.

Almost simultaneously, both felt their identity tokens in their bosoms warm slightly, and a vague directional message entered their minds—the guidance for the core area’s opening!

Opportunity! A colossal opportunity lay right before them!

But the danger would also increase exponentially! Those who could reach the core area were all top talents and elites from various factions; the previous cooperation might crumble under the weight of immense profit.

Ye Li and Qin Yixuan stood up at almost the same time, their gazes locking once more.

The subtle, relaxed atmosphere from before was gone, replaced by a more complex emotion—competition, vigilance, and perhaps a trace of grudging acknowledgment of each other’s strength.

Without a word, both displayed an implicit understanding, simultaneously unleashing their movement techniques, turning into two streams of light—one azure, one blue—and streaking towards the direction guided by the core area! Their speed was faster than before; both wanted to arrive ahead of the other to seize the initiative!

Along the way, they could see many disciples, similarly startled and rushing desperately towards the core area from various directions. There were human cultivators, and occasionally, one or two figures from the Demon Race or other foreign races. Everyone’s face was filled with fervor and urgency; when they occasionally met, their eyes were full of caution and hostility.

The competition entered a white-hot phase from the very beginning.

The core area was located at the very center of the Secret Realm. When Ye Li and Qin Yixuan broke through an invisible spatial barrier and arrived at their destination, the sight before them stunned even the well-traveled pair.

This place was like an independent, suspended minor world. Below were rolling clouds, and above was a brilliant starry sky. An immense palace, entirely carved from white jade, floated quietly between the sea of clouds and the starry sky, emanating an ancient, majestic, and sacred aura! The palace gates were tightly shut, carved with countless intricate patterns of the sun, moon, stars, flowers, birds, and insects, shimmering with colorful light.

There was no fog here, and the visibility was excellent.

And at this moment, dozens of figures had already gathered on the massive white jade plaza in front of the palace!

Disciples of the Profound Cloud Sect were the most numerous. Ye Li immediately spotted Gao Sheng and Shi Feng, who had a fierce aura and unfriendly eyes, in the crowd. As expected, they were accompanied by several disciples from the Heaven Malice Sect, who were coldly scrutinizing the newcomers. She also saw Su Wanyun, Han Li, Chen Mo, and other fellow disciples. They were standing with people they knew, their expressions grave.

Besides the Profound Cloud Sect, there were over ten disciples from the Azure Water Pavilion, led by a female cultivator with a gentle temperament but eyes as sharp as knives. After entering the plaza, Qin Yixuan walked directly towards that group; clearly, they were her fellow disciples.

In addition, a small number of cultivators wore different attire and possessed varying auras; they must be geniuses from more distant regions or certain hidden powers.

Everyone’s gaze was intensely focused on the suspended white jade palace. Everyone understood that the Secret Realm’s greatest secret and treasure lay within that palace!

Ye Li’s arrival attracted many eyes. She was alone, and her aura was restrained (due to her injuries and deliberate suppression), but many present had heard her name or sensed the distinctive cold temperament about her. Gao Sheng and the others cast glances filled with undisguised murderous intent.

Qin Yixuan returned to the Azure Water Pavilion team, quietly communicating with her fellow disciples, her gaze occasionally sweeping over Ye Li with scrutiny.

The atmosphere was tense and delicate. The palace gates were not open, and no one dared to act rashly and become the target of all. But the invisible competition had already begun.

Ye Li silently retreated to a relatively secluded corner, secretly recuperating her injuries while calmly observing the situation in the arena. She noticed that the white jade palace gate seemed to be shrouded in a powerful restriction, requiring a specific method or timing to open.

It was at this moment that the leading female cultivator from the Azure Water Pavilion suddenly spoke clearly, her voice echoing across the plaza: “Fellow Daoists, I presume you are all here for the opportunity in this Hall. However, this Hall’s restriction is strong and cannot be broken by one person alone. It is not wise for us to waste time here. Why don’t we temporarily join forces to break open the Hall’s restriction first? As for the opportunities inside, we can then rely on our own abilities, how about that?”

Upon hearing this, a burst of discussion immediately erupted in the plaza.

Joining forces to break the restriction was indeed the most feasible method for now. Otherwise, no one could enter.

Gao Sheng snorted coldly and was the first to respond: “We can join forces! But after breaking the restriction, how do we ensure fairness? What if someone plays a trick in secret?”

A gloomy-faced disciple from the Heaven Malice Sect also sneered: “Exactly! Who knows if someone will stab us in the back while we’re breaking the restriction?”

The Azure Water Pavilion female cultivator seemed to have been prepared. She said calmly: “It’s simple. We can collectively take a Heart Demon Vow: before the Hall gates are broken open, we shall not attack each other. Transgressors will suffer Heart Demon backlash, and their cultivation will never progress! After the restriction is broken, it will naturally be a matter of life and death, with fate deciding.”

The Heart Demon Vow held extremely strong binding power for cultivators, especially since those present were all highly talented; they dared not easily risk their Dao path.

This proposal received tacit approval from the majority. Although a bloody storm was inevitable after breaking the restriction, at least it guaranteed entry into the palace first.

Soon, dozens of people present, including Ye Li, each took a vow with their Heart Demon, agreeing not to attack each other before the Hall gates opened.

Once the vows were completed, the tense atmosphere eased slightly, but the mutual vigilance remained undiminished.

Next was the question of how to break the restriction. Everyone tried different methods to test the Hall gate restriction. Some used magic treasures to bombard it, some used talismans to explode it, and some tried to find the restriction’s weak point.

Ye Li did not rush forward; she meticulously observed the energy flow of the restriction. This restriction was seamless and astonishingly strong; forceful attacks would likely have minimal effect. She noticed that the patterns of the sun, moon, and stars carved on the Hall gate seemed to vaguely correspond to the brilliant starry sky above.

“Perhaps… the key is in the sky?” she mused inwardly.

Qin Yixuan also seemed to have noticed this; she looked up at the starry sky, her slender brows slightly furrowed, seemingly deducing something.

Other disciples skilled in formations also began to turn their attention to the connection between the starry sky and the Hall gate patterns.

The contest for the core area had not truly begun, but a silent competition of wisdom, insight, and patience had already quietly unfolded. Ye Li and Qin Yixuan, along with the other geniuses, were temporarily constrained by the rules, yet they were constantly vigilant and observing each other, waiting for the moment the restriction broke and the free-for-all began.

The white jade palace floated silently, as if waiting for those truly qualified to open it.