Aspiring to the Immortal Path

Chapter 430: Going In

A graceful figure danced under the morning sun like a rainbow butterfly.

The two palms thrust out energy palms to a certain cadence, and each impact against the hidden realm’s gate produced a burst of enchanting colors.

The Dancing Butterfly Hand!

This was one of the Wandering Palace’s most famous spell arts.

Meanwhile, the ship would occasionally shoot spell art beams at the gate. These colorful beams combined with Shen Qingdan’s graceful dance to create a most beautiful scene. Tang Jie had never expected that the Wandering Palace could turn breaking into a realm into something so beautiful.

Tang Jie, Feng Buzhi, and Chang Baimei were all watching from a distance. The likes of Yun Danqi and Shen Ningming were also witnessing this indescribably wondrous sight.

Finally, amidst the dancing of the rainbow butterflies, that gate in the sky was finally blasted open, revealing a path inward.

The two worlds that had just been severed from each other were once more connected.

“Success!” Shen Qingdan let out a joyful cheer.

She flew back to the dragonboat, and then the ship majestically flew toward the hidden realm.

They had come on the request of another to open this hidden realm, and their employer had agreed to give them the treasures within, so they would naturally go in and take them.

As they were about to go in, Chang Baimei raised his two white eyebrows. “Go!”

On his order, several dozen Beast Refining Gate disciples emerged from all directions.

These Beast Refining Gate disciples were survivors from that battle on the ocean who had returned to serve under the two True Persons. The moment they appeared, they summoned various beasts and birds and rushed toward the hidden realm.

Chang Baimei called out, “The Beast Refining Gate’s Chang Baimei pays respects to Wandering Palace’s Young Lord Shen. Young Lord Shen, please hold for a moment!”

Shen Qingdan turned and glanced at Chang Baimei, smiling. “I knew that someone was hiding nearby, but I didn’t think it was people from the Beast Refining Gate. I was hired to open a hidden realm, and the rare plants and fruits are my reward. But when it comes to ownerless hidden realms, it has always been those who are destined to get them that will obtain them. This Qingdan is lacking in talent and does not dare to take it all for herself. Thus, if the Beast Refining Gate wants it, then take as much as you want. In the end, it is all up to fate, so do not try to stop me!”

Her dragonboat flew into the hidden realm.

The Wandering Palace was no longer what it was in the past. Though it had lost its freedom, it now had a backer. The Beast Refining Gate was powerful, but the Basking Moon Sect was not afraid of them. Moreover, this was Horizon Ocean Pavilion’s territory, so there was no reason to be afraid of just their mere presence. Thus, Shen Qingdan entered the hidden realm, showing no signs of backing down.

But there was no point in saying anything now. With the Beast Garden in this state, nobody would admit that it was the Beast Garden.

Feng Buzhi was still smiling.

The black-robed Feng Buzhi said, “From her tone, it seems she doesn’t know the situation inside, and her objective only seems to be the spirit herbs in the garden, not the sealing object.”

Chang Baimei became more excited. “Yes, the Beast Garden has transformed, so our first priority is to take the sealing object. So long as the sealing object is around, the Beast Garden will remain!”

The white-robed Feng Buzhi waved a sleeve and said, “We will go to take the sealing object. Leave some people to guard the gate.”

“Understood!” Chang Baimei waved at two disciples. “Lin Xi, Bai Yu, the two of you stay here. The rest of you, follow the Seventh Master into the garden and start gathering treasures!”

Although the first priority was the sealing object, the spirit herbs in the garden were not easily grown, so it was best to get whatever they could.

“Yes!” the disciples all called out. Only the two disciples who were told to remain had bitter expressions as they inwardly cursed their misfortune. Chang Baimei was a True Person, and the things inside might not have been anything special for him, but for the disciples, not being able to get any was an immense loss.

The Beast Refining Gate disciples followed Feng Buzhi, streaking like comets into the hidden realm. As they entered, a storm stirred within the hidden realm, obscuring the vision of those outside. This was because the inner formation had activated.

Chang Baimei and the other two Beast Refining Gate disciples stood guard at the entrance. With his power as a True Person, other people had no hope of forcing their way through.

Tang Jie raised an eyebrow and chuckled. “Who do you think you can stop?”

As he spoke, a figure flew into the air: the ghost guard.

Yun Danqi and the others were all stunned when they saw the ghost guard.

The two Beast Refining Gate disciples spotted it and shouted, “Who goes there? This place is our Beast Refining Gate’s…”

Before they could finish, the ghost guard shot past them toward the hidden realm.

Chang Baimei raised an eyebrow. “Impudent!”

He thrust out a palm.

This was a Spirit Ring True Person of the Beast Refining Gate, assisted by two Beast Refining Gate disciples, so not even Tang Jie was sure that the ghost guard could win.

But the objective of this battle was to push through, not to win.

As Chang Baimei attacked, the ghost guard activated the Ghostshadow Traceless Step, instantly accelerating and dodging the palm, at the same time rushing at Chang Baimei.

Chang Baimei was alarmed by this sudden acceleration, and he instinctively applied a defensive barrier to himself. His hand shook, and then a Golden Roar, a Longarm Ape, a Wind Azure Snake, a Goldenplume Eagle, and a Whitehead Wolf appeared. Among them, the Golden Roar was even a Transformation fiend.

This rapid series of movements fully displayed Chang Baimei’s formidable ability to adapt to the battle situation.

The ghost guard did only one thing.

It charged!

Just like that, it rushed at Chang Baimei. While leaving behind countless afterimages, its real body charged at Chang Baimei, slamming into his defensive barrier in an explosion of rainbow light.

At the moment of collision, it extended a claw and hugged Chang Baimei. With the immense power of its inertia, the ghost guard hugged Chang Baimei, and Chang Baimei realized to his shock that he was flying toward the hidden realm.

As this thought appeared in his mind, Chang Baimei called out with all his might, “Protect the gate…”

Before he could finish, he entered the hidden realm with the ghost guard and disappeared.

“True Person Gui!”

On Joymount Island, Yun Danqi was flabbergasted by this scene.

Everything had happened too suddenly. The Beast hidden realm’s appearance had left all of the Joymount Island inhabitants so stunned that they were only now coming to their senses. Just what in the world was happening?

Seeing this, Tang Jie chuckled and walked over to Yun Danqi. “Young Master Yun, why don’t we also go in and take a look?”

“Us?” Yun Danqi was startled. “But the Beast Refining Gate’s people are guarding it.”

Tang Jie smirked. “This is still the territory of Horizon Ocean Pavilion. When was it the job of the Beast Refining Gate’s people to set up checkpoints? From the look of it, the sea fiend attack on the island is linked to the hidden realm. The Joymount Island area belongs to the Yun Clan, and Young Master Yun is an outer disciple of Horizon Ocean Pavilion, so no matter how you look at it, the Yun Clan has a share in this hidden realm. It’s absurd for the Beast Refining Gate to try and keep you out! Moreover, True Person Gui is in there, so what do we have to fear?”

He spoke very loudly so that the two Beast Refining Gate disciples could hear, and the two disciples grimaced.

As expected, Yun Danqi grew excited. “You’re right. Since that’s the case, let’s go in and look around.”

The hidden realm’s appearance was a chance for everyone, and how could Yun Danqi not want it? Tang Jie’s suggestion was exactly what he wanted to hear, and with an order from him, everyone flew up toward the hidden realm.

The two Beast Refining Gate disciples looked at each other. They knew that the Beast Refining Gate’s name was of no use against Horizon Ocean Pavilion, and since Chang Baimei was no longer here, the two of them didn’t have the power to stop this group. In the end, they had to let the group through.

As the group was passing by the pair, Tang Jie threw his head back and laughed, looking at them with contempt. It was as if he was saying, “They might as well not have door guards as have door guards like you.”

The two disciples were indignant and ashamed, but there was nothing they could do. All they could do was mentally swear that they would stop anyone else who tried to come through.

Not long afterward, a rainbow cloud approached.

As it got closer, it became apparent that three women were riding it. The leading woman was pulling along a small girl, Yiyi. The woman holding her hand was naturally Xu Miaoran.

The two Beast Refining Gate disciples had never seen Xu Miaoran before, so when they saw someone coming, they rejoiced and shouted, “Visitor, please halt! The Beast Refining Gate is carrying out business here. Please do not approach!”

Xu Miaoran raised an eyebrow. “Nonsense. This is the territory of my Horizon Ocean Pavilion, not your Beast Refining Gate. If Xu Miaoran wants to go in, no one dares to stop her!”

The two disciples were stunned. This person had an even bigger background than the group from before.

With no choice, the two of them moved to the side.

Xu Miaoran pulled Yiyi along and entered with her two maids.

“Big sister, those two guys are very silly,” a childish voice said from the distance.

“Ignore them; they’re just idiots,” Xu Miaoran said, her voice filled with disdain.

The two disciples were so enraged and humiliated that they wanted to die. They swore to themselves that they would definitely stop the next group, even fighting them to the death if they had to.

Some time later.

Another group finally arrived.

The two shouted in unison, “Visitors, please halt! The Beast Refining Gate is carrying out business. Please do not approach!”

The leader of the group shouted, “May I ask which brother of the Beast Refining Gate this is? This one is Godhead Palace’s Yun Wuji.”

The two disciples looked at each other. The one called Lin Xi shouted, “Why have the people of Godhead Palace come?”

Yun Wuji smiled. “I heard that Tang Jie had appeared in Endsea, and I just so happen to have a grudge to settle with him, so I came over to take a look. To my surprise, instead of Tang Jie, I found this new ocean hidden realm instead. So, senior brothers, do you plan to stop me?”

What Yun Wuji didn’t say was that the resources that Tang Jie had sold to the Seven Absolutions Sect had drawn the interest of Godhead Palace. It was just that Tang Jie had been under the protection of the Basking Moon Sect this last year, so Godhead Palace hadn’t had a chance to act.

Now that Tang Jie was abroad, Godhead Palace had the perfect opportunity to capture him. This was why Yun Wuji had come here.

But to his surprise, instead of Tang Jie, he had run into the Beast Refining Gate and this hidden realm. Yun Wuji naturally wanted to go and take a look.

The two disciples looked at each other, and then the one called Bai Yu helplessly said, “Forget it. So many people have already gone in, and since you’re on our side, you can go in too.”

Yun Wuji smiled and bowed. “My thanks.”

He entered the hidden realm with his juniors and seniors.

Once they were gone, the two Beast Refining Gate disciples shared a glance. They finally realized that they couldn’t stop anyone, and they almost started crying from how bitter they felt.

The cruel reality made the two Beast Refining Gate disciples lose any interest in guarding the gate.

Finally, another person came.

This person, wearing a black robe that completely concealed their face, walked toward the hidden realm’s gate.

The two disciples listlessly said, “Where is Senior Brother from this time? Horizon Ocean Pavilion? Godhead Palace? Or maybe the Thousand Passions Sect or Seven Absolutions Sect?”

A deep voice replied, “And if I’m from none of them?”

The two of them raised their heads in shock.

The two of them looked at the face under the black robe and said with a start, “Your…”

A moment later, the black-robed person thrust his arms at their throats.

Blood gushed from their throats, and the two disciples clutched their necks as they fell from the sky.

The black-robed man slowly drew back his hands and strode toward the entrance.

—————————————

As Tang Jie stepped through the entrance, his vision blurred, and then the scenery around him completely transformed.

He found himself in a forest, though unlike regular forests, this one was growing out of the sea.

The sea water was like soil, slightly rippling under his feet, and large trees stretched off into the distance. The part these trees revealed above the surface was enormous enough, and the part beneath the surface was even larger. The trunks and roots of these trees extended all the way to the sea floor, so these were truly enormous trees.

The sky was like an overturned bowl, and it was possible to make out the blue barrier overhead, appearing like the end of the world.

In the center of this ocean forest was an Immortal mountain. Tang Jie knew that this was the location of the Beast Garden itself.

A white fog drifted over the ocean, imbuing the entire hidden realm with a mystical air. But Tang Jie knew that this fog was an essential part of an illusion formation.

The Beast Garden had a formation that targeted humans. This was to prevent humans infiltrating the Beast Garden to do it harm, but it was ultimately incapable of stopping a determined individual.

For this reason, Tang Jie was now trapped in this formation, as were even Feng Buzhi and Chang Baimei. Reaching the Beast Garden’s core was not an easy task, as one had to break through this formation.

After looking around, Tang Jie began to make his way toward the Immortal mountain.

As he walked across the sea, the waters rippled, but he did not sink.

The waters were so clear that he could see countless fish swimming under him.

Tang Jie walked along like he was on a casual stroll.

He had only walked a few steps when the fog suddenly thickened.

Tang Jie stopped, a divine light in his eyes.

A moment later, a water arrow shot out from the sea floor, aimed right at Tang Jie’s face.

Tang Jie thrust out a palm, striking the water arrow and creating an explosion of water. He then thrust out a finger, and a Waterjet Fish down below turned over onto its belly and began to float upward.

The moment the Waterjet Fish died, Tang Jie heard several rushes of air behind him.

Without turning around, Tang Jie turned his right arm behind him and thrust out his palm three times.

There was an explosion of blood from behind Tang Jie. Tang Jie borrowed the force of the explosion to rush forward, his feet sliding across the surface of the sea as if it was made of ice.

Only then did he turn around, and he saw that countless Shuttlefish were emerging from the surface and charging at him through the air.

Unperturbed, Tang Jie thrust out his palm several more times, smashing the Shuttlefish to death.

Suddenly, Tang Jie felt pressure on his foot, as if something had grabbed it.

Looking down, he saw that a black tentacle had wrapped around his ankle.

When he looked more closely, he found that it was a black vine.

A sharp light erupted from Tang Jie’s eyes, and he suddenly took to the skies.

Countless tree vines burst out from the sea floor, trying to coil around Tang Jie’s feet like snakes.

Unable to dodge, Tang Jie produced the Heartbreak Saber and made a horizontal slash, unleashing a wave of flames at the tree vines.

The saber wave sliced through the vines, and the flames forced the vines to retreat back into the water, where they were extinguished.

Tang Jie looked around and found that the white fog was even denser here than it was on the ground. Even his Insight was unable to pierce through it.

Was this a way to force people to walk on the sea surface?

Tang Jie somewhat understood.

With its location changed, the Beast Garden was very different from what it was before.

First of all, the soil was no longer soil, but sea water.

This made the entire space into a three-dimensional structure.

When walking on the sea water, one would think that one was walking at the base level, but in reality, one was at the very center of the world.

In the sky, the white fog obscured one’s vision, so there might be birds of prey looking for their next meal. On the sea surface, there were dangers lurking among the giant trees. And beneath the surface, there were innumerable sea fiends.

This was a three-dimensional world, which made it ten times more dangerous than the previous version.

Huge numbers of sea fiends, a bizarre formation, and enemies harboring ill intentions made every step a perilous one.

In this fantastical world, Tang Jie faintly smiled.

“I like this place,” he muttered.

Oh no, Tang Jie managed to scam those poor Horizon Ocean Pavilion disciples into the hidden realm! Hopefully they don’t end up like the last batch of poor souls that joined Tang Jie on an adventure.