Chapter 209: Great Opportunity in the Secret Realm! Soaring Cultivation!

[Under the anticipation of various parties, you engaged in a fierce battle with the Fourth Imperial Son. At the beginning, both of you displayed the cultivation of the Seventh Layer of the Saint King Realm and utilized your respective physiques in a terrifying battle.]

[This battle left everyone from the Ji Clan and the Wang Clan in awe, as they marveled at how you, as imperial sons of the Taiyi Emperor Palace, were much stronger than the imperial sons of both clans.]

[As the battle intensified, the Fourth Imperial Son no longer held back and unexpectedly elevated his cultivation by a small realm, reaching the Eighth Layer of the Saint King Realm. He also employed even more powerful secret techniques, surprising you. You hadn't expected the Fourth Imperial Son to also reach the Eighth Layer of the Saint King Realm. This made you realize not to underestimate other imperial son-level individuals.]

[Next, you unleashed your true cultivation. When you revealed your Eighth Layer of the Saint King Realm cultivation, the Fourth Imperial Son was equally surprised. However, even though he found you formidable, he still had confidence in defeating you.]

[It was at this moment that you once again revealed a hidden trump card – your mastery of the Space Law at its peak, at sixty percent. While the Fourth Imperial Son was indeed formidable, his comprehension of the law had only reached sixty percent, and he was still a distance away from reaching the peak of the Sixth Layer. Coupled with the fact that the Space Law inherently surpassed most other laws, the Fourth Imperial Son was completely suppressed by you.]

[In the end, although the Fourth Imperial Son fought to the last, he still couldn't match you and was defeated. However, he admitted defeat graciously and held great admiration for you.]

[Upon seeing the Fourth Imperial Son's defeat, the Wang Clan was somewhat helpless, but they had to accept it. After all, it was a fair competition, and your battle was genuinely thrilling. There was no need for theatrics. When skills were inferior, there was no need for further words.]

[On the other hand, the Ji Clan was overjoyed and began celebrating. The young members of the Ji Clan started praising you, and Ji Bingyan herself looked at you with great admiration.]

[Subsequently, you entered the secret realm. Once inside this unique cultivation secret realm, you finally understood why the Ji Clan and the Wang Clan had fought so fiercely for it. The Wang Clan's imperial son had even resorted to burning his life source to secure victory.]

[This secret realm was quite extraordinary. Its laws were exceptionally clear, aiding individuals in comprehending the Dao more effectively than even the Taiyi Emperor Tower. Additionally, the secret realm offered rapid cultivation improvements, as well as the mysteries of restoring and strengthening one's life source.]

[If the Wang Clan had won, their imperial son could naturally use the secret realm to recover his burnt life source and even make it stronger. It also helped in comprehending the laws, offering multiple benefits.]

[However, this secret realm only opened once every five thousand years and would be influenced during the Age of Dusk. If it were stronger than the Taiyi Emperor Tower, it probably wouldn't be something that two quasi-emperor-level forces could occupy.]

[Of course, the Taiyi Emperor Tower not only aided in comprehending the laws but also had rumors of an upper-level area that could help cultivators increase their chances of breaking through to the Sovereign realm. This was something the secret realm couldn't compare to. This secret realm primarily benefited those at the Saint King level.]

[Next, you entered a secluded state and focused on absorbing the special life source within the secret realm to enhance your imperfect version of the Space Law, hoping to restore it to its perfect state.]

[However, you were ultimately disappointed. Your Space Law was of a high level, and the secret realm couldn't restore it. You knew that to transform your Space Law into a perfect state, you needed to find the missing source of time, a chance that was extremely rare.]

[Though disappointed, you didn't dwell on it. Instead, you entered a meditative state to focus on comprehending seventy percent of the Space Law. This would significantly boost your strength.]

[Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, nearly three months went by. You successfully comprehended seventy percent of the Space Law. Your cultivation had also made significant progress, reaching the pinnacle of the Eighth Layer of the Saint King Realm. This was the result of your dedication to enlightenment, as your cultivation could have been even higher.]

[However, compared to advancing your cultivation, comprehending the Dao within this secret realm was undoubtedly the most cost-effective choice. Abandoning the Dao to increase cultivation would be foolish.]

[Next, you decided to wrap up your gains and consolidate your progress. After all, the secret realm could only remain open for three months in total, and there wasn't much time left. Continuing to cultivate would be meaningless and potentially risky.]

[It was during this period of consolidation that you sensed a peculiar fluctuation coming from the depths of the water pool in front of you, but it quickly disappeared, leaving you surprised.]

[After some thought, you believed that your initial feeling wasn't a mistake. Therefore, you decided to venture into the water pool.]

[As you jumped into the water, you felt that it was incredibly cold. Keep in mind that your current cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Eighth Layer of the Saint King Realm, and you were an imperial son, not an ordinary cultivator at the same realm.]

[However, this water pool was so cold that it sent shivers throughout your body, almost as if your life source was about to freeze.]

[Nevertheless, you didn't give up. You forced yourself to continue descending into the depths of the pool. As you went deeper, the water became even colder. Despite your discomfort, you pressed on until you were nearing your limit and about to resurface. It was then that you finally saw a unique ice-blue

 crystal floating deep within the water pool, emitting a terrifying chill.]

[You were astonished and recognized what it was. It was an unusual ice-type treasure called the Frosty Heaven Ice, a treasure coveted by ice cultivators. If one could obtain its recognition, they could undergo a transformation and acquire the Frosty Heaven Ice Body, a powerful physique comparable to a Saintly Body.]

[You felt a surge of excitement. If you could obtain the Frosty Heaven Ice and earn its recognition, you would possess an additional formidable physique. With the combined power of two potent physiques, your combat strength would significantly increase.]

[Driven by this excitement, you endured the risk of being completely frozen and made a forceful attempt to approach and subdue the Frosty Heaven Ice.]

[However, as you got closer to the Frosty Heaven Ice, it emitted an even deeper blue light, causing the temperature in the strange water pool to drop significantly. At that moment, your body stiffened completely, and even your consciousness was frozen, putting you in a peculiar state of pseudo-death.]

[Due to your entry into this special state, the simulated scenario ends here.]

[As the text simulation came to an end, various images appeared in Wang Ping's mind.]

"This Frosty Heaven Ice is truly terrifying, capable of freezing even the soul."

Finally, his figure appeared deep within the water pool, where he saw the Frosty Heaven Ice emitting a mysterious blue light, raising his eyebrows slightly and sighing.

"However, this water pool is also not simple. It can resist freezing even under the influence of the Frosty Heaven Ice. Of course, it's also possible that the Frosty Heaven Ice is doing it intentionally. But even so, it proves that this place is extraordinary."

Wang Ping stared at the water pool, muttering to himself.

Just as Wang Ping was about to exit the immersive simulation, he suddenly felt that there was something deeper in the water pool, further down.

Even in the area where the Frosty Heaven Ice was located, it was not the deepest part of the water pool.

The water pool still appeared to be bottomless.

"This feeling is similar to what I sensed when I was on the shore, like the aura of the Origin that is detached from the secret realm. Could it be that the deepest part of this cold pool holds the greatest opportunity in the secret realm and is the reason for its formation?"

Wang Ping's eyes flashed with excitement as he pondered this thought.

At this moment, Wang Ping's consciousness flickered, and he exited the immersive simulation, returning to the real world.

"Unfortunately, this was just a free simulation. Although I gained many opportunities and improved my strength, I couldn't claim any rewards, and I couldn't gain any insights. Of course, the biggest problem is that I can't predict what dangers I might encounter when I go to the location of the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign's inheritance."

Wang Ping sighed lightly and shook his head.

"By the way, I almost forgot—I learned the Nine Stars Pavilion's secret technique. The Nine Stars Pavilion's secret technique can conceal my appearance and the cultivation method I practice. It can completely shield me from the scrutiny of the Supreme Thunder Sovereign, preventing him from discovering my true identity."

Wang Ping frowned slightly, feeling somewhat troubled.

"However, I can't conduct free simulations anymore. After all, if I leave the Taiyuan Ancient Star for a short period, the Supreme Thunder Sovereign will detect me, and then he will take action. Last time, when I dealt with that Saint-Killing Assassin, it exposed my identity, and it was quite troublesome."

Wang Ping furrowed his brow slightly, feeling a headache coming on.

"Right, I almost forgot—I can use the secret technique of the Nine Stars Pavilion. The Nine Stars Pavilion's secret technique can conceal my appearance and the cultivation method I practice. It can completely shield me from the scrutiny of the Supreme Thunder Sovereign, preventing him from discovering my true identity."

Chapter 210: Heading to the Ancient Star of the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign

Soon, Wang Ping remembered the secret technique of the Nine Stars Pavilion and couldn't help but slap his forehead.

During this free simulation, he had been too careless. He had forgotten to use the secret technique of the Nine Stars Pavilion and had continued to change his appearance and aura with other methods. Although those methods were powerful, the gap in cultivation was too significant, and they might not be effective against the Supreme Thunder Sovereign.

Furthermore, during the previous simulations, he hadn't changed his appearance and aura.

"The downside of text simulations is that despite watching the scenes, they still can't help me truly grow. That's why I tend to make some low-level mistakes in the initial simulations. Only by spending a long time in the simulations can I truly improve. Each simulation is a repetition of this process," Wang Ping reflected as he shook his head and let out a sigh.

However, if he had to choose, he would still prefer to stick to text simulations and avoid immersive simulations. After all, the longer he spent in immersive simulations, the more time would pass in the real world, and his true self would be vulnerable.

Aside from that, Wang Ping hadn't forgotten some important matters. It had been about twenty years since the disappearance of the Red Wind fellow.

And he also needed to hurry and rescue the family of that youngster with the Black Abyss Demon Body. Only by doing so could he prevent him from becoming too twisted due to hatred. Hatred had the power to corrupt even the purest of souls. Although he had the Black Abyss Demon Body, he was still at risk if he delved too deep into the path of darkness.

Thinking of this, Wang Ping activated the secret technique of the Nine Stars Pavilion, changing his face, body shape, and aura before looking up at the starry sky.

Then, with a single move, Wang Ping traveled across various regions of the Taiyuan Ancient Star, kidnapped a God Sovereign-level cultivator, and was ready to bind this God Sovereign-level expert as a sacrificial puppet using the Purple Heaven Talent.

After making these preparations, he rushed into the depths of the starry sky.

This scene was noticed by the Supreme Thunder Sovereign, but he only furrowed his brow slightly. After confirming that no Saint Kings were born on the Taiyuan Ancient Star, he lost interest and continued with his own matters.

As Wang Ping arrived in the starry sky, he found that he wasn't under attack. He breathed a sigh of relief after casually tossing the God Sovereign-level cultivator back to the Taiyuan Ancient Star. Then, he continued his spatial traversal towards the deep space.

He wanted to reach the ancient star where the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign was located in the shortest time possible.

According to the star map, it would still take about three years to reach his destination.

In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.

During these three years, many new members had joined the Transmigrators' chat group. Although some newcomers had died on missions, the number of surviving group members had exceeded a hundred.

However, for Wang Ping, the abilities of these newcomers weren't of great use, and he didn't pay them much attention. Even though many of them had improved significantly, their potential wasn't as exceptional as his own.

Among the old members, many had made substantial progress. Some had reached the God Sovereign realm. Lin Yuanyuan, with Wang Ping's assistance and her own efforts, had reached the Sixth Layer of the Saint King realm. She was no longer the same as before, having both cultivation and combat strength.

Lin Yuanyuan had used her accumulated group points to further enhance her Talent, and after the enhancement, the effects of her Talent were astonishing. Just as Wang Ping had anticipated, she could now absorb others' insights into cultivation.

In other words, Lin Yuanyuan's potential had caught up with her.

Wang Ping even believed that if he continued to help Lin Yuanyuan or if her luck improved, allowing her to cultivate sneakily, her growth rate might even surpass his own at specific times.

Lin Yuanyuan's Talent had become extremely dominant after the optimization, and it improved her cultivation speed much more effectively than Wang Ping had expected.

Of course, Lin Yuanyuan had a disadvantage that others didn't have—she couldn't assimilate physiques or abilities like Wang Ping could. It was considered a limitation of her Talent.

However, Wang Ping believed that with another optimization, Lin Yuanyuan might be able to overcome this limitation.

Unfortunately, even for Wang Ping, it was impossible to continue the optimization now. It was an intimidating prospect, requiring trillions of group points and Rule Stones. Wang Ping had accumulated only five billion group points during these three years.

In Wang Ping's estimation, it would take over a hundred years to accumulate the required trillion group points, assuming he became stronger and faced high-difficulty missions frequently. Otherwise, it would take even longer.

Apart from the group points, the most challenging aspect was the Rule Stones. They were rare and precious items that only the Celestial Paradise possessed, and they were undoubtedly valuable.

Even for Wang Ping, he didn't need to rush the optimization of his Talent right now. His current Talent was sufficient, and as long as he didn't perish prematurely, it would help him grow to the Emperor level at least.

Besides Lin Yuanyuan, other old members had also made significant progress. Chen Yao and Zhang Hu, thanks to the unique nature of their Talents, were not far behind Lin Yuanyuan. Chen Yao had reached the level of a Saint, while Zhang Hu had gained formidable strength by taming a Saint-level mount.

Advancing beyond that level was challenging for Zhang Jun, and although he could become stronger through killing, there weren't many powerful beings to kill in Wang Ping's world, especially given the post-apocalyptic environment of the Age of Dusk. Moreover, reckless killing could easily lead to trouble and put him at risk of being killed by a powerful opponent.

"It's finally time to arrive at the ancient star where the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign is located," Wang Ping said, looking at the massive ancient star not far away, his eyes shining with anticipation.

He tore through space once again and landed on this ancient star. As he arrived, the Black Abyss Demon Spear trembled, guiding him towards the secret realm set up by the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign.

Of course, he didn't need the guidance of the Black Abyss Demon Spear; he could easily find the location from his memory.

"It seems like it's time to bid you farewell," Wang Ping sighed as he looked at the Black Abyss Demon Spear.

Naturally, he was reluctant to part with the Black Abyss Demon Spear, a supreme treasure. However, in life, there were gains and losses.

Compared to the resources he would obtain next, the Black Abyss Demon Spear was not that significant. With his simulations, he would eventually acquire supreme treasures, and even quasi-Imperial treasures were not out of reach.

Of course, what Wang Ping coveted the most were the Imperial treasures from the Dao Palace. If he could wield an Imperial treasure from the Dao Palace, that would truly be remarkable.

Next, Wang Ping collected his thoughts and arrived at the secret realm where the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign's legacy was located. Using the Black Abyss Demon Spear as the key, he stepped inside.

Then, just like in his life simulation, Wang Ping encountered the regretful remnants of the Black Abyss Demon Sovereign. Although he met them a bit earlier than expected, the subsequent developments remained unchanged.

Wang Ping still gained a massive amount of resources, but he also lost the Black Abyss Demon Spear.

"Next, it's time to find that little guy, Wan Yu," Wang Ping said as he left the secret realm. He cast a spell to search for Wan Yu's location.

Soon, Wang Ping locked onto Wan Yu and tore through space to head to his destination.

Meanwhile, in a field, a five-year-old child was happily playing with mud, shaping various figurines. He appeared carefree and innocent. His parents, on the other hand, looked exhausted as they drank water.

Wang Ping observed the family of three and shook his head slightly.

Who would have thought that this impoverished peasant family would give birth to a Black Abyss Demon Body? If left unattended, this seemingly poor but happy family would likely face bullying and tragedy in the future. The adults might meet a cruel end, and the child might awaken the Black Abyss Demon Body, potentially turning down a path of ruthless darkness.

Perhaps after seeking revenge, Wan Yu might no longer possess such intense killing intent. However, Wang Ping believed that after seeking revenge, Wan Yu might be more likely to fall into a dark and merciless path. The Black Abyss Demon Body had a tendency to become increasingly murderous if left unchecked, and that's why it was called the Black Abyss Demon Body.

Ultimately, Wan Yu would either grow to become a powerful figure, reaching the Emperor or even quasi-Imperial level, or he would be prematurely suppressed by a terrifying expert.

Various thoughts flashed through Wang Ping's mind as he soared through the sky and arrived above the family of three.

The reactions of the three were quite different.

Wan Yu's parents dropped their water container when they saw Wang Ping and looked at him in astonishment, their faces filled with shock.

Wan Yu blinked his eyes, surprised and curious as he gazed at Wang Ping, pointing at him and exclaiming, "Wow, Mom, Dad, look! This big brother can fly! Could he be the immortal you've told me about?"

After Wan Yu spoke, his parents were startled and quickly knelt before Wang Ping, pressing Wan Yu's head down as well. They said, "We beg the immortal's forgiveness. Our child is still young, which is why he was impolite, pointing at you with his fingers."

Wan Yu's parents were genuinely frightened. After all, immortals were revered beings who could easily destroy an entire village for the slightest offense.

Such individuals were not to be trifled with by ordinary folks like them.

"Hehe, don't worry. The reason I've come here is because I think your child has great potential. I'd like to take him as my disciple and guide him in cultivation. Are you willing to let him become my apprentice?" Wang Ping smiled kindly and said.

Upon hearing this, Wan Yu's parents were stunned, and then they showed joyful expressions. They hurriedly said to Wang Ping, "Immortal, please do accept our child!"

In their eyes, this was a heavenly opportunity. If their child could embark on the path of cultivation and become a legendary immortal, they would no longer have to worry about their livelihood and would be free from the hardships of life. Moreover, once he became an immortal's disciple, no one would dare to bully them.

"Yu'er, quickly kowtow to your master and don't miss this opportunity," they urged Wan Yu.

"Immortal, please accept me as your disciple. I want to cultivate and become an immortal," Wan Yu knelt on the ground, looking at Wang Ping with anticipation.

"Starting today, you are my disciple, under the guidance of Heaven-Expanding Saint King," Wang Ping declared with a casual gesture, causing all three of them to stand up. He then smiled and said, "By the way, at this moment, I suddenly feel my cultivation skyrocketing."

Seventh Layer of the Saint King realm!

Eighth Layer of the Saint King realm!

Ninth Layer of the Saint King realm!

Complete mastery of the Saint King realm!

"Hiss!"

Wang Ping was astonished by the rapid change in his cultivation. It was truly terrifying.

Just taking Wan Yu as his disciple had directly boosted his cultivation by four realms, which was quite a pleasant surprise for him.

After all, the higher one's cultivation, the smaller the incremental gains became as they progressed.

Based on his simulated experiences of taking disciples, to advance from the peak of the Sixth Layer of the Saint King realm to the Grand Completion of the Saint King realm, he would need at least a hundred ordinary geniuses. This could be considered as a true example of "one person being worth a hundred."

"Next, if I can find another talent like Wan Yu, I might be able to break through to the Half-Step Great Saint realm, and becoming a Great Saint might not be impossible," Wang Ping thought to himself.

"Unfortunately, the naturally born Saint in the One Xuan Universe is not someone I can take as a disciple right now. Otherwise, I'd have to find a way to go to the One Xuan Universe. However, I don't need to rush this matter. The birth of a naturally born Saint is still more than a hundred years away. I just need to become strong enough by the time the naturally born Saint appears or find someone with the talent to compete with quasi-Emperors before then," Wang Ping pondered.

After collecting his thoughts, Wang Ping looked at Wan Yu and the others again. He then casually moved Wan Yu to his side.

"From today onward, this child will follow me. Here are some cultivation techniques, pills, and spirit stones for you. You can also use them to embark on the path of cultivation. Even if your aptitude is mediocre, it will still strengthen your body and extend your lifespan," Wang Ping said to Wan Yu's parents, taking out some items.

"But be cautious; you must not let others know about these things, or it may bring catastrophic consequences," he warned with a stern expression.

Wang Ping had left some safeguards within these items, but some disasters couldn't be prevented by mere safeguards. The best way to protect oneself was to avoid exposure.

"Don't worry, Immortal. We understand the importance of keeping these things discreet," Wan Yu's parents said eagerly.

Wang Ping nodded without saying much and swiftly left the area with Wan Yu.

He didn't plan to go directly to the Transcendent Immortal Continent. Although the distance from here to the Transcendent Immortal Continent wasn't too far, he didn't want to risk going to a place teeming with powerful individuals in the real world.

So, he decided to stay on this ancient star, continue his simulations, and train Wan Yu until he had the ability to protect himself before leaving.

Wang Ping's teaching method was to provide ample resources in the early stages, teach some foundational cultivation knowledge, and then let the disciple cultivate and grow independently.

Shortly after, Wang Ping arrived in a divine city, purchased a cultivation mansion, and settled in. After helping Wan Yu establish a solid foundation and imparting some initial cultivation knowledge, he planned to continue his simulations.

"System, I want to initiate a paid simulation," Wang Ping said in his mind.

"Ding, consumption of 80,000 top-grade divine source, starting the life simulator, talent refresh in progress," the system's voice replied.

"Ding, talent refresh successful. Congratulations to the host for obtaining the gold-tier talent 'Damage Nullification' and the red-tier talent 'Wood Profound Body.'"

"Wow, my luck seems to be on a roll. I've obtained several talents in succession: two gold-tier and one rainbow-tier talents. And this gold-tier talent, 'Damage Nullification,' if Cai Yonglong were to see it, he'd probably cry," Wang Ping said, looking at the talents he had just acquired with an odd expression.

This gold-tier talent, "Damage Nullification," was essentially the same as Cai Yonglong's later upgrade to his gold finger. Although the names were different, the effects were identical, and this talent was even more potent than Cai Yonglong's unoptimized Absolute Defense, capable of defending against attacks from Transcendent Emperors. Cai Yonglong couldn't achieve that level before optimizing his ability.

However, Cai Yonglong's gold finger had a much shorter cooldown period. There were pros and cons to each, but one thing was certain: this gold-tier talent had already reached the level of the initial gold finger.

Wang Ping couldn't help but marvel once again at how incredible his life simulator was. While most transmigrators had only one gold finger, he could potentially acquire wholesale from the gold fingers of the other group members if he was lucky.

"System, I choose the gold-tier talent 'Damage Nullification,'" Wang Ping decided and activated the talent.

Subsequently, he entered a state of immersive simulation as the familiar text appeared on the screen.

"Day one, you have chosen to continue teaching Wan Yu in cultivation."

"Three years later, you felt that the time was right, so you allowed Wan Yu to venture freely and began to consider taking more disciples. However, you soon realized that ordinary talents were no longer sufficient to advance your cultivation. You were unable to break through the bottleneck to reach the Half-Step Great Saint realm."

"This left you feeling helpless. It seemed that to overcome the greater bottleneck, you would need special talents like Ye Chen and Wan Yu."

"In the end, you thought it over and abandoned the idea of wandering through various ancient stars. Instead, you decided to head directly to the Transcendent Immortal Continent."

(End of this chapter)