Chapter 628: And so the Trip Begins
"He’s Crazy Number 2."
"Oi! I take offence with that!"
Evan exclaimed after Crim spoke, though he didn’t seem really annoyed.
Crim laughed lightly, the atmosphere lightening a bit. But just then, another group started approaching from the distance and once more, Artemisia grabbed Beatrix by the arm and dragged her a few steps back, wary of the new arrivals.
These newcomers wore the same sect uniform as the succubus girl, and Arthur couldn’t help but notice that one of them was a dryad—like the ones he and Evan had encountered before.
They were all ridiculously good-looking, exuding a passive charm, though none matched the succubus’s intensity.
As the newcomers rushed toward Crim, their faces lit up with concern and curiosity.
"Crim! We heard you were fighting! What happened?"
One of them asked, clearly worried and Crim scratched her head, a sheepish expression creeping onto her face.
"Well, those five over there were talking bad about your sect because it’s a Dual Cultivation sect..."
She explained, gesturing toward the unconscious group she had just defeated. Gesturing to the succubus girl, she continued.
"They also mentioned Hibiki—" she pointed to the succubus girl "—and I got pissed. So, I beat them."
The succubus— Hibiki—blinked in surprise, clearly taken aback by Crim’s sudden admission while Arthur and Evan exchanged glances, the corners of their mouths curling up in amusement as they both echoed in perfect sync.
"Dual Cultivation sect?"
They shared a knowing look, and then, simultaneously, they chuckled.
"And another one."
Arthur shook his head with a wry smile and turned back to Crim, eyeing her red and white hakama as he asked.
"You guys aren’t from the same sect, right? Or is it that you have different uniforms for the same sect."
Crim shook her head in response to Arthur’s question.
"Nope! I’m from the Blood Moon Sect, but I’m moving separately from my sect members for this. I wanted to stay with Hibiki here."
"You left your sect behind? Guess you two must be pretty close then."
Evan remarked and Hibiki responded with a smile that was both strained and polite.
"Something like that. Crim can be a little too protective sometimes, but it’s not so bad."
"Hey, someone’s gotta look out for you, with all the attention you attract."
Crim teased, nudging Hibiki gently.
At that moment, one of Hibiki’s sect members interjected.
"Hey, since we’ve made sure Crim is fine, we should get back. The elders will want to know where we’ve been."
"Yeah, we can’t keep the Elders waiting."
Another added, fidgeting nervously and Hibiki sighed but nodded.
"You guys go ahead. I’ll stay with Crim for a bit longer."
"Are you sure?"
One of her companions asked, concern etched on their face and Hibiki replied firmly, giving Crim a reassuring smile.
"Positive."
With farewells exchanged, the members of Hibiki’s sect drifted away, leaving the six of them—Arthur, Evan, Artemisia, Beatrix, Hibiki and Crim—together.
Suddenly, the skies darkened, and the sound of distant thunder rumbled across the horizon.
Everyone’s attention was drawn upward as heavy clouds gathered and a collective gasp echoed through the crowd as six figures appeared, their robes billowing as they stood suspended in the air.
"High Elders!"
A voice shouted from the crowd, recognition rippling through the gathered spectators.
Indeed, these were the High Elders of the Denerth Sect, and their powerful auras made all the cultivators on the ground hold their breath in silence.
And then, with a roar of erupting fire, a seventh figure appeared in a blaze of flame— the Sect Master of the Denerth Sect himself, towering above the others with an aura that burned hotter than the sun.
All eyes were on him, with everyone awaiting his words.
◇ ◇ ◇
As the Denerth Sect Master began his speech about the upcoming Secret Realm event, a familiar figure suddenly appeared beside Arthur, Evan, Beatrix, and Artemisia.
"Yo! Seems like you found new friends."
Jamie greeted casually, prompting Crim and Hibiki to turn their gazes sharply at the newcomer.
"?!"
"....eh?"
Their eyes widened not just in surprise but in recognition. It wasn’t Jamie’s striking appearance, though he certainly had looks that could make a succubus blush—it was something more.
They knew who he was.
Nearby, others who were Core disciples like the two girls and were informed of the names and appearances of the Intergalactic stage’s big players began to whisper and point, their shock evident.
Arthur, unfazed, fist-bumped Jamie casually then gestured to Crim.
"Yeah. Blonde vampire girl whose name is ’Crim.’"
"And we got a Dual Cultivation Sect too."
Evan added, pointing at Hibiki with a light laugh and Jamie chuckled, understanding the tropes of their introduction.
"There are a lot more around. I doubt you’d get to see them, though."
His words held a double meaning, and before Arthur could press him for more, the Denerth Sect Master’s booming voice filled the air again.
[We have a special guest here today. It is with his cooperation that we can prepare this Special Secret Realm event.
Please welcome, His Excellency, the Demon King of the Void!]
The man gestured dramatically towards Jamie and at that proclamation, the crowd erupted in whispers, eyes darting between Jamie and the Master.
"That’s my cue. Catch ya later."
Jamie said, patting Arthur and Evan on the back before teleporting away in a flash of light.
Murmurs rippled through the crowd, voices tinged with awe and disbelief.
"Seventy-two Demon Kings..."
"Supreme Demon King!"
"He’s hot..."
As the crowd buzzed, Crim and Hibiki exchanged glances. They had no idea they’d been casually chatting with people who knew a Demon King personally.
Arthur noticed their stunned faces and raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you so surprised? You’ve been speaking with Supreme god Rulers’ daughters this whole time."
Crim’s eyes widened in realization, and she slowly turned toward Beatrix, who had been quietly watching the entire exchange.
Sensing the vampire girl’s gaze, Beatrix flashed her a bright, mischievous smile, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
Crim, now even more flustered, could only stare, her mind racing to catch up with the revelations piling on top of each other.
Just then, Jamie appeared in the sky beside Sect Master Chang, and he began to elaborate on the Secret Realm.
[So, I’ve set up something a little special for you all.
This new location has purer magical power and energies than the original. We’re talking about an environment that’s been optimized for cultivation and training. With more emphasis on the training part.]
Gasps rippled through the crowd as the implications of Jamie’s words sunk in.
[But—and it’s a big but—this realm is many, many times more dangerous than what you’re used to.
Chances of survival are a lot lower in there.]
Just as he dropped that line with a serious tone, he clapped and switched back to his usual light-hearted attitude.
[The entrance isn’t on Denerth Prime. You’ll be heading to a different location using the spaceship arranged. It’s all part of the adventure!]
Others didn’t notice, but Arthur and Evan felt something off about Jamie’s words, though they couldn’t quite put their finger on it.
Sect Master Chang stepped forward right after, his presence commanding attention once more.
[As His Excellency has said, the survival of each individual in this realm lies in their own hands.
Cultivation is fraught with danger, and you must be prepared for anything that comes your way. This Secret Realm will remain open for two months, allowing you ample time to explore and grow.]
The crowd listened intently, hanging on the Sect Master’s every word.
[Within this realm, you will find numerous fortuitous opportunities for cultivation. There are special dungeons filled with challenges, and hidden artifacts that can enhance your abilities.
However, I urge you to tread carefully. Some artifacts may be cursed, and the dungeons may have guardians that will not take kindly to your intrusion.]
As excitement built among the gathered cultivators, the Sect Master raised his hand for silence.
[We will soon initiate the teleportation to the spaceship. Ensure you are ready, as this is an opportunity unlike any other.]
As the Denerth Sect Master finished his initial speech, the crowd immediately began to scatter and reorganize.
Groups quickly formed alliances, with friends from friendly sects naturally gravitating toward one another.
Rival sects distanced themselves as much as they could, eyeing each other warily, while smaller sects banded together, knowing that strength in numbers was crucial.
Within any Secret Realm, alliances were a necessity, as these Realm explorations were rife with bullying, extortion, and outright killing.
Even within some sects, members watched their peers cautiously, unsure of who might turn against them.
While certain sects seemed to be in perfect harmony, with members united, others were plagued by distrust, their divisions painfully obvious.
As for Arthur, Evan, Beatrix, Artemisia, Crim, and Hibiki, they naturally grouped together.
Crim was moving alongside the Hibiki and the other four teenagers were sticking together, so Arthur’s group decided to take the two in, making them six in total.
This choice, however, effectively separated Crim and Hibiki from their original sect groups, though they didn’t seem to mind.
Once everyone had finished arranging themselves into groups, the sect master stepped forward once again.
He raised his hand, and tokens bearing the symbol of the Denerth Sect floated through the air toward the participants, glowing faintly as they hovered before each person.
[These tokens, are your identification and your keys to the Secret Realm.
They are linked to talismans in the Denerth Sect. Bond with them to gain access to the Realm.
They will also monitor your vitals and record whether you live or die in the Secret Realm. You may form allies and parties and register their tokens with yours, allowing you to see your party member’s statuses and general directions.]
Once this process was completed by everyone, Jamie clapped his hands together, his Spatial Power immediately wrapping around the crowd.
Above them, a massive spaceship descended through the clouds, stopping just shy of the atmosphere.
Jamie then snapped his fingers, and beams of light shot down from the spaceship, encasing the gathered cultivators.
In an instant, the light beams lifted them off the ground, transporting them directly into the belly of the ship. Arthur and Evan exchanged knowing looks, chuckling quietly to themselves.
"He could’ve just teleported us normally, but he had to make it seem like an alien abduction."
Evan muttered and Arthur nodded in agreement.
"He just loves theatrics."
When the light dissipated, they found themselves standing in the vast interior of the spaceship.
The hall was massive, with ceilings that stretched high above, and walls lined with magic power crystals.
Around them, the other sect members appeared one by one, looking equally astonished by their new surroundings.
The voice of Sect Master Chang ran out, echoing across the hall.
[Besides the staff and crew aboard this vessel, you will be the only ones on board.
We will not provide you with food or supplies. You should have prepared for this journey by yourselves. Use your Spatial Artifacts, rings, or inventory skills as needed. This journey will take several days.]
The entire process was designed to test not just their power, but their self-sufficiency.
[You have all been assigned rooms. Use your tokens to locate them. You are free to do as you wish during the journey, but I remind you—there is to be no fighting on board. Save your strength for the Secret Realm.]
As he finished speaking, the ship gave a low hum. The floor beneath them trembled gently, and magic power crystals on the wall glowed as the vessel powered up.
The voice of the Sect Master cut off and the ship lifted into space.
Arthur and Evan moved to a nearby window, catching a glimpse of their ascent. Outside, they could see the world shrinking below as the spaceship rose steadily above the atmosphere.
Soon the vastness of space stretched out before them.
"Well, here we go."
Arthur said, eyes fixed on the stars ahead and Evan folded his arms, leaning against the window as the ship accelerated toward their destination.
"A few days of peace before all hell breaks loose."
"Sounds about right."
◇ ◇ ◇
As soon as the ship departed, leaving the vast landscape of Denerth Prime behind, the Sect Master, the High Elders of the Denerth Sect, and the other Elders from the various sects participating in the Secret Realm Exploration gathered in the observation room.
This chamber, designed with intricate formations and monitoring artifacts, allowed them to observe every event within the Secret Realm.
Every single person who had entered the realm could be tracked from this space.
The Elders took their seats, preparing to discuss their plans and ensure everything was progressing as intended.
[IMPORTANT AUTHOR NOTE]
