A life of leisure is worse than a life of flowers and splendour

Du Shuangshuang had just returned to the sect camp, barely settled in when she received a message: The secret realm would open tomorrow morning! All the participating disciples obediently returned to their tents to sleep. No one knew what was going on outside, but the entire Dao Sect camp, enveloped by the sect's formation, instantly fell silent.

Du Shuangshuang shared the delicacies she brought back with everyone and told them to learn more and strive to make them themselves. She also wrote down the recipes on jade slips and gave them to everyone.

After arranging all this, Du Shuangshuang and Du Ershu went back to the tent to sleep. Everyone took the initiative to keep quiet and create a good sleeping environment for the two. After all, they were going out to fight tomorrow, so how could they not get a good night's sleep? Everyone felt bad, and if possible, they all hoped that the two would choose not to go. It doesn't matter if they are mediocre, as long as they are safe. However, the innate furnace physique is like a giant sword hanging over the heads of several people, which may fall at any time. Once it falls, it will be irreversible and no one can bear it. So no one can stop the two from going out to fight. Everyone understands that they have to seize the time to become strong and have to fight hard.

A sad atmosphere permeated the tent. Everyone's eyes began to redden. Second Aunt shed silent tears. The old man, despite his age, also secretly wiped away tears. Jinxiu found a corner and cried breathlessly. Now I can cry silently and vent my anxiety and discomfort. I must smile when I see you off tomorrow.

The two entered the tent and found calming incense already lit. The delicate fragrance filled the air, bringing a sense of relaxation and peace of mind. This must have been specially prepared by the sect. The sect's arrangements were truly thoughtful, fearing that the disciples would suffer from nervousness and fear, thus affecting their state of mind for entering the secret realm the next day. After all, this was a rare opportunity, and who wouldn't want to be at their best when facing the challenge?

Du Shuangshuang took a deep breath, feeling the tranquility brought by the calming incense, then settled into her bed and slid under the covers. She mentally told herself to rest well and recharge. Once inside the secret realm, peaceful sleep would be impossible. Even meditation required constant vigilance, as a moment of carelessness could lead to danger. In that mysterious and perilous world, nothing was certain, and only constant vigilance was necessary to survive. Therefore, sleep tonight was crucial; it would be everyone's last peaceful moment before entering the secret realm.

Du Shuangshuang lay in bed, closed her eyes, and tried to relax. A long battle awaited her, an opportunity and a challenge, but she wasn't afraid. She had to find more treasures to strengthen herself and her family as quickly as possible. Perhaps the calming incense was so effective, and with this confidence, Du Shuangshuang quickly fell asleep, looking forward to tomorrow...

After a good night's sleep, the camp was filled with the aroma of breakfast early in the morning. Du Shuangshuang ate until she was full, said goodbye to her family happily, and followed the assembled team out of the camp with her second uncle. In addition to the spiritual food distributed by the sect, the family also brought enough spiritual food for the two of them. Du Shuangshuang found a Qiankun Jade Box for her second uncle to put in, affixed a prohibition talisman, and it could be kept for several years without any problem. It just needed to be heated up before taking it out to eat. Of course, if it was too troublesome, they could take the fasting pills. The fasting pills distributed by the sect were enough. But it was hard to say. One year was enough. What if they couldn't get out after a year? They couldn't starve to death in there. Monster meat was edible, but it was not as delicious as the food they brought with them. Even the mortal food they had prepared before, they kept some.

All disciples who wanted to enter the secret realm were brought to the entrance. They were divided into groups called sects, with people from the same sect standing together. It was easy to distinguish people from different sects, as each sect had its own distinctive uniforms.

For example, the Yunlang Pavilion’s sect uniforms have waves embroidered on the hem, and auspicious clouds and the sect’s logo are embroidered on the belt and cuffs.

Dao Zong's cuffs and belt are also embroidered with auspicious clouds, but the pattern is slightly different from that of Yunlang Pavilion. There are also sect symbols on the belt and cuffs, and mountains are embroidered on the hem.

The sect uniforms of Qianji Pavilion are even more exquisite, with sect logos embroidered on the cuffs and belts. Moreover, their belts are all black, unlike other sects that generally choose belts of the same color.

There was nothing special about the Kunlun Sect. Like the Yunlang Pavilion and the Dao Sect, they all had sect logos embroidered on their cuffs and belts, but without the auspicious cloud decorations. They focused on simplicity. Another feature was that almost all the members of their sect either carried or embraced a sword.

As for Buddhist and demonic practitioners, their characteristics are even more prominent.

The Hehuan Sect stood out even more, a flash of color. The Tyrant Sect's physiques were quite unique. Their bodies were all massive and strong, and even when they weren't standing together, they were easily distinguishable.

The independent cultivators dressed more casually, and some even didn't have a proper robe. The small and medium-sized factions also had their own characteristics.

Du Shuangshuang wore the sect's uniformly issued gray outer disciple uniform. Underneath, she wore the top-grade magical robe she'd purchased from the Duobao Pavilion. It looked dazzling, but hidden underneath, it was completely invisible. Du Shuangshuang bought it to save her life, not for its appearance, but primarily for its incredible defensive power. It could withstand a full-strength attack from a late-stage Foundation Establishment spell, reducing physical damage by more than half. Even a sword cultivator wouldn't be able to penetrate an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, but a Jindan sword cultivator would only be able to block it, reducing the damage slightly. Inside, she also wore the Heavenly Silkworm robe. At this moment, she couldn't afford to worry about too much; the more protection, the better.

He was wearing the top-grade magic boots he had bought himself, which could increase his speed by 60%. Combined with his ethereal and traceless skills, his speed should be close to that of the initial stage of foundation building.

Apart from the Demon Sect and the Buddhist Sect, the Taoist Sect has the smallest number of members.

Demonic and Buddhist cultivators are the most difficult to find suitable disciples, and the Dao Sect is reluctant to let low-ranking disciples go in as cannon fodder. Du Shuangshuang admires this approach. Of course, danger also presents opportunity, and the sect supports disciples who want to give it a try.

Du Shuangshuang, with nothing else to do, surveyed the cultivators from various sects. Everyone was filled with fighting spirit, and the atmosphere was unusually solemn. There seemed to be an unusual atmosphere, as if they were engaging in a fierce battle with the demonic sect with their eyes. If looks could kill, the two sides would have already engaged in hundreds of rounds. What was this? Were they going in ready to kill each other? Du Shuangshuang was a little nervous. Most of the demonic sect cultivators had reached the Great Perfection of Qi Refining, with only a few in the late stages. If they met, it would be a lie to say she wasn't nervous. The two factions were treating each other like mortal enemies; a fight to the death was a sure thing.

Only the people of the Hehuan Sect looked as if they had nothing to do with it and were happy to watch the excitement on both sides.

"Niece, the atmosphere here is not right. It's filled with a bleak and murderous aura, just like a battlefield. These people don't look like they are going treasure hunting, but rather a battlefield between mortal enemies." Uncle Du said seriously. As expected of an uncle who had been to the battlefield, his summary was very insightful.

"Well, what should we do? After we get in, let's find a place to hide. Don't think about huddling together for warmth or looking for powerful partners. I'm afraid they have their own things to do. When we get in, the first thing we might do might not be a treasure hunt, but a life-and-death battle."

"We can't just lie low, how can we find treasure then? We have to hide from them. It's best not to get close to them."

"Okay, I'll listen to Second Uncle."

The two men were quietly discussing their next move when suddenly, a violent tremor erupted from the entrance to the secret realm, shaking the ground and surrounding stone walls. Then, rays of spiritual light shone forth, forming a dazzling circle of light. This circle of light was extremely small, only about one meter in diameter, seemingly unable to accommodate anyone. Du Shuangshuang was filled with confusion, unsure of what this circle of light meant.

Just then, she heard someone shout from the front, "Attention everyone! This is the passage into the secret realm, but it requires a combined spell to open." Upon hearing this, Du Shuangshuang suddenly realized that this circle of light wasn't a direct passage, but rather an entrance that required someone to work hard to open.

"All disciples, please step forward in turn." The leaders of each sect led everyone to line up in turn. At the front was the Buddhist Sect, followed by the Yunlang Pavilion, Qianji Pavilion, Taoist Sect, Kunlun Sect, Hehuan Sect, Bati Sect, individual cultivators and small forces from all sides, the Buddhist Sect, and finally the Demon Sect.

The first to enter was Yunlang Pavilion, and the disciples of Yunlang Pavilion stood at the designated location.

"open!"

Ten Nascent Souls attacked simultaneously, completely opening the aperture at the secret realm's entrance. Even from such a distance, Du Shuangshuang could feel the suction. The Yunlang Pavilion disciples rose without a trace, quickly drawn into the secret realm by the suction from the entrance, and vanished without a trace.

This wasn't a door I walked through on my own, but rather a passive suck. Why did it look so awkward? Du Shuangshuang had originally thought the entrance to the secret realm was a door-like place, and that she had walked through it. Seeing everything that seemed beyond her imagination, what was going on? She felt inexplicably nervous and uneasy.