"Only to the peak of the fourth layer of the Opening Spirit Realm, not even reaching the fifth layer?"
After a few minutes, Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
Sensing the strength within his body, which had increased by several degrees, he let out a long breath.
He hadn't expected that these puppet crystals, originally enough to break through to the seventh layer of the Opening Spirit Realm and reach its late stage, would now only suffice for a single layer.
The gap was far greater than anticipated.
It seemed his talent and potential had improved significantly this time.
The cultivation resources required had also become far more substantial.
Lin Xuan wore a wry smile.
Now, he would have to scramble for cultivation resources again.
He sighed inwardly.
Then, he closed his eyes and continued cultivating.
As for the commotion caused by his breakthrough earlier, he had noticed it.
At the same time, he knew that once news spread after leaving the secret realm, it would stir up a massive uproar.
Yet he felt no fear.
With his spatial talent, there was no one in the entire Red Sun Domain worth fearing.
He no longer needed to hide as he had before.
Instead, he could use this opportunity to reap a huge harvest, even an unprecedented amount of energy points.
He had no intention of holding back or restraining himself.
Time passed slowly.
Soon, over ten minutes went by.
A strange ripple spread out, filling the entire area.
"Spatial fluctuation!"
Lin Xuan opened his eyes, a glint of sharpness flashing in them.
Soon, one by one, the martial artists on the field vanished.
Before long, Lin Xuan was also affected.
A sensation of time and space shifting washed over him.
The next moment, the scene before him had completely changed.
It was wider and brighter, the sky like flawless jade, pure and spotless.
They had returned to the Cangmang Wilderness of the Cangyuan Kingdom.
All the survivors had been teleported out.
Behind them, the semi-transparent light curtain of the puppet secret realm's portal flickered and disappeared.
Leaving no trace behind.
The field buzzed with noise.
After a round of sighs and reflections, the martial artists dispersed.
"Brother Lin, if you ever come to Cangyuan City, feel free to find me. I'll show you around properly!"
Sun Yuwen cupped his hands and said with a smile.
"Brother Lin Xuan, I'm at the Cold Snow Sect. If you ever need anything, just say the word. I won't forget your life-saving grace from this secret realm journey!"
Chen Hanshuang also looked at Lin Xuan, speaking solemnly.
Her eyes sparkled with admiration.
But unfortunately, she could tell Lin Xuan had no interest in her.
Moreover, Lin Xuan's talent had already surpassed the scope of the Red Sun Domain, leaving her feeling inferior.
She could only bury those feelings.
As for the other two sects of the Cangyuan Kingdom, the Black Water Sect and the Wind Yuan Sect.
They had attacked Lin Xuan on the third floor of the puppet secret realm.
Lin Xuan had slain most of them with a single sword strike.
The survivors, terrified out of their wits, fled far away after being teleported out.
There was no way they would stay to greet him.
"Alright, see you another day."
Lin Xuan nodded in reply.
"Not long from now, in ten days, it'll be the Red Sun Domain's Eight Major Powers' Grand Competition, the Xuan Yuan Ranking spot contest.
I believe I'll witness Brother Lin's brilliance again then."
Sun Yuwen chuckled, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Then, Sun Yuwen and Chen Hanshuang each led their sect disciples away.
"Junior Brother Liu, Junior Brother Xu, let's return to the sect."
"Alright."
Lin Xuan and Liu Qianyu led the core disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect back toward the sect.
The difference was that Liu Qianyu had led the way when they came.
But on the return trip, Lin Xuan, the newest and youngest core disciple, took the lead.
On the road.
Lin Xuan looked at Liu Qianyu and asked:
"What does Sun Yuwen mean by the Red Sun Domain's Eight Major Powers' Grand Competition and the Xuan Yuan Ranking spot contest?"
He had only joined the sect for less than two months.
Although he had read some books in the Flowing Cloud Sect's Martial Arts Pavilion and had a certain understanding of the Red Sun Domain, he still knew too little.
For instance, he had never heard of the so-called Xuan Yuan Ranking.
Liu Qianyu, Xu Anlan, and the other core disciples exchanged strange looks.
Then, they smiled bitterly, a hint of frustration in their expressions.
"Brother Lin Xuan, you've risen too fast, so it's normal not to know these things.
I'll explain. Even if I don't, the sect's higher-ups will tell you in detail once we return.
After all, in this upcoming Xuan Yuan Ranking contest,
with your strength, Brother Lin, you'll be the main player and are sure to secure a spot."
Liu Qianyu's tone carried a hint of melancholy. He paused briefly before continuing:
"The so-called Eight Major Powers refer to the eight strongest forces within the two kingdoms of the Red Sun Domain.
They are: within the Cangyuan Kingdom, the Cangyuan Royal Family, our Flowing Cloud Sect, the Cold Snow Sect, the Wind Yuan Sect, and the Black Water Sect.
And the other kingdom, the Red Flame Kingdom, which is much stronger than the Cangyuan Kingdom, includes the Red Flame Royal Family, the Wind Flame Valley, and the Yang Yuan Sect.
These are the Eight Major Powers.
I'm sure you've heard of these, Brother Lin."
"Yes, I've heard of them."
Lin Xuan nodded slightly.
He had seen these in the books at the Flowing Cloud Sect's Martial Arts Pavilion.
He also knew that, among the two kingdoms of the Red Sun Domain, the true ruler was the Red Flame Kingdom.
The Red Flame Kingdom occupied the more fertile and resource-rich areas of the Red Sun Domain.
The Cangyuan Kingdom, on the other hand, was located in a more remote and barren region.
The three major powers of the Red Flame Kingdom were all much stronger than the five major powers of the Cangyuan Kingdom.
That was why the disciples of the Wind Flame Valley had looked down on the disciples of the Cangyuan Kingdom's various forces.
As for the strongest and nominal leader of the Red Sun Domain, it was the Yang Yuan Sect, not the Red Flame Royal Family.
Because the only Yuan Sea Realm expert in the Red Sun Domain was in the Yang Yuan Sect.
However, none of this concerned him.
He usually paid little attention to it.
He just hadn't expected there to be an Eight Major Powers' Grand Competition involving the Xuan Yuan Ranking.
If that was the case, he couldn't afford to miss this competition.
In no time, he could spread his fame across the entire Red Sun Domain.
Reap a massive amount of energy points.
And during the competition, he could replicate the treasures of the true top-tier figures in the Red Sun Domain to enhance himself.
It was an opportunity not to be missed.
"The Red Sun Domain Grand Competition is a contest among the core disciples of these Eight Major Powers."
Liu Qianyu continued:
"Under normal circumstances, the Eight Major Powers wouldn't hold a core disciple competition.
Because without the push from the Yang Yuan Sect or sufficient benefits, there's no incentive for the Eight Major Powers to launch such a labor-intensive contest.
The various cultivation resources within the Red Sun Domain have already been divided.
Under stable conditions among the major powers, they're temporarily sufficient.
The Yang Yuan Sect also suppresses the entire Red Sun Domain.
Even sect wars are virtually nonexistent, let alone needing a competition to redistribute resources.
And this Xuan Yuan Ranking is the trigger for the Eight Major Powers' Grand Competition..."