Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 81: Chapter 81: Secret Realm Key

The System’s knowledge came from Song Jiulai.

When it first arrived, it didn’t have enough energy to scan many things.

Fortunately, it was a clever system.

System: "Hello, player. This feature has not been enabled in the current version, so I am temporarily unable to tell you what this is."

Mu Qiu was skeptical. "Is that so?"

’This game actually has different versions?’

The System said with certainty, "Yes."

At the same time, it relayed the matter to Song Jiulai.

When Song Jiulai heard this, her world came crashing down. "She’s already had a fortuitous encounter?"

’This definitely sounds like a fortuitous encounter.’

Unlike what it had told Mu Qiu, the System wasn’t completely clueless. "The item in her hand seems to be a mark for a Secret Realm."

"A Secret Realm?" This was certainly a gap in Song Jiulai’s knowledge. "How do you know?"

She had only ever read about Secret Realms in books.

The Secret Realms of the Yunzhou Continent held countless treasures.

And there were many kinds of Secret Realms.

Some Secret Realms had existed on the Yunzhou Continent since ancient times and would open at specific times. Cultivators who had figured out the pattern would even deliberately send disciples inside to gain experience before they opened. Of course, there were also those that opened randomly, with no discernible pattern, which were purely a matter of luck.

Others were legacies left behind by fallen Great Power Cultivators.

Some cultivators could create their own personal Cave Heaven Blessed Lands to carry with them, which held their millennia-old collections.

If such a place was left behind after their demise, it might open by chance, pulling in any nearby cultivators and granting them a fortuitous encounter.

There was also another type of Secret Realm, one specifically created by Great Power Cultivators to provide training opportunities for their sect’s junior members.

These Secret Realms would contain some treasures, but they weren’t as resource-rich as the first two types.

Moreover, whenever a Secret Realm opened on the Yunzhou Continent, it was inevitably accompanied by fierce competition and bloodshed.

But Secret Realms didn’t just hide treasures. To protect their belongings, some cultivators would place all sorts of deadly formations on them.

Most would also restrict the cultivation level of the cultivators allowed to enter.

For example, Song Jiulai had read in a book that a Secret Realm had opened in Liu Xian City last year that only permitted those at the Golden Core Stage to enter. Cultivators of any other level would face certain death if they went in.

As for the mark of the Secret Realm... Song Jiulai blinked. "Are you saying the thing in Mu Qiu’s hand is a Secret Realm Key?"

Entering a Secret Realm wasn’t easy. Aside from receiving help from a Major Sect, some were simply chosen by the Secret Realm itself.

But the System had said it *seemed* to be one.

The System said, "I can’t be completely certain. I didn’t have enough energy back then and scanned very few locations. The data I received isn’t precise enough. It’s just one possibility."

Song Jiulai pondered for a moment. ’The probability of it being a key is high. This batch of players is pretty lucky, all things considered. It’s not surprising they’d stumble upon something after arriving. I just didn’t expect the first one to be Mu Qiu. Are you saying that besides this mark, she also obtained a Xuan-grade Magical Treasure?’

Magical Treasures were a different matter entirely.

Normally, only a sect like the Artifact Refining Sect would produce Magical Treasures in abundance.

Flying Magical Treasures, for example.

Magical Treasures were graded as Mortal Items, Xuan Grade, Earth Grade, Heavenly Grade, Saint-grade, and finally, Immortal Grade.

Rumor had it that legendary Chaos Level magical treasures also existed, any one of which was powerful enough to turn the Yunzhou Continent upside down.

But that was just a legend.

The higher the grade, the more difficult the magical treasure was to create. For example, the main body of the Xue Cang Sect’s Star-Picking Tower was a Saint-grade Magical Treasure, and even its replica was Heavenly Grade.

Immortal Grade items were rarely seen nowadays, to say nothing of Chaos Level.

System: "Yes. A sword named Feixue, gifted to her by a female cultivator named Xue Ru."

Hearing this, Song Jiulai grew a little envious. "I don’t even have a Magical Treasure of my own yet."

A Magical Treasure was basically a way for a cultivator to gain extra combat power.

It was far more potent than conjuring a big Fireball by hand.

But when she thought about how Mu Qiu had personally watched a cultivator die right in front of her, Song Jiulai’s expression turned complicated. "I hope they really do just see this as a game."

Otherwise, finding out this is a world with real people would be quite cruel.

System: "They’ll find out sooner or later. Besides, you’re the one in the most danger, not them."

Song Jiulai let out a long sigh, but her optimistic mindset quickly returned. "Forget it, let’s not talk about that. If what Mu Qiu has is a Secret Realm Key, doesn’t that mean she could be pulled into a Secret Realm at any moment?"

The System suddenly spoke up. "She’s different. Even with the key, she’s within my control. I’ll be able to detect when the Secret Realm appears. We might even be able to exploit a bug."

Song Jiulai never expected a system to say something as absurd as "exploit a bug." "Exploit what kind of bug?"

"When a Secret Realm appears, the surrounding space becomes chaotic, and the Yunzhou Continent’s own Energy Order temporarily collapses. My energy level is higher than the continent’s. By taking advantage of this, I should be able to forcibly send a few more players inside."

Secret Realms were good opportunities. Even if some players were sacrificed, it would be a net gain.

As long as there were fearless, daring players, she could send them in to try and hit the jackpot.

Forget the players; even Song Jiulai herself was tempted. "Can I go in when the time comes?"

System: "That depends on what level this Secret Realm is restricted to. For example, Mu Qiu is still in the Qi Refinement Realm right now. If the Secret Realm appears when she’s in the Late Stage of that realm, you might have already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage and wouldn’t be able to enter. Many Secret Realms on the Yunzhou Continent restrict a cultivator’s Level. Otherwise, if the Spiritual Energy intensity of the entrants varies, the inherently unstable Secret Realm would quickly be crushed by the disparate energy signatures."

A wave of realization washed over Song Jiulai.

She rubbed her chin and said suddenly, "Didn’t you say you didn’t know anything before? You seem to know quite a lot now, don’t you?"

None of the books Song Jiulai had read recently mentioned that differing cultivator levels could cause a Secret Realm to collapse.

System: "My permissions are unlocked based on the Sect’s growth. The fact that I can tell you this means you’ve met the conditions. After all, this is just information for you to know; it’s not like I can just hand you the rewards for free."

"..." ’That’s true.’

But information is a vital resource in itself!

Song Jiulai decided she would stop secretly cursing the ’damned System’ in her head.

The damned System spoke up quietly, "Actually, I can automatically detect keywords every time you curse me."

’But what can you do at this point?’

’Just have to put up with it.’

"..."

Song Jiulai coughed, pretending she hadn’t heard. "When the Secret Realm opens, do the others need to be near Mu Qiu?"

System: "No. I can analyze the Secret Realm’s energy source internally, which is equivalent to me holding the key. You just need to be responsible for sending in eligible players. Don’t let the opportunity go to waste—pick the strong ones."

’Of course!’

Song Jiulai mused, ’Then I have a new idea for the next version update. We’ll announce the opening of a Secret Realm!’

System: "You’re quite the opportunist."

As Song Jiulai was talking with the System, Su Huanli suddenly entered the room.

"Ajiu, aren’t you supposed to go get the Longevity Sect’s Sect Token today?"