Chapter 189. Guang Chengzi's Dao Ground, Secret Realm Wraiths, and an Ambush!

Lately, the three Outer Cosmos Rankers, prodigies of the great outer space clans, had revealed themselves in succession.

Though none had made a direct move against humanity, their thunderous strikes had already shaken many other outer space races into submission.

As such, nearly everyone now clearly understood just how terrifying these three truly were.

Within their respective clans, they bore the title of "Ranker"—a symbol of their supreme potential and innate might.

Gradually, it became obvious to all that these three were the true paragons among the outer space forces. Compared to earlier arrivals like the Nether Bull Clan or other lesser races, these figures possessed unfathomably deeper foundations. They were not enemies one could afford to overlook.

"The three Rankers... each one is overwhelmingly powerful."

"Earth's Awakening has only just begun, yet these beings from deep space have thrived for eons. How could we ever compare?"

"Right now, we're hanging by a thread of fragile equilibrium... but if that thread snaps... if battle truly erupts... what will happen to us?"

Whispers spread among Earthlings, their voices low, their faces etched with anxiety.

They all understood one thing with absolute clarity. In terms of sheer power and heritage, Earth's side lagged woefully behind.

And what's more terrifying was that those who had descended thus far might not even be the strongest among them.

Many knew that out in deep space—within this very solar system—there existed entities who had already stepped into the sixth, or even seventh stage of evolution.

Putting aside these three Rankers standing before them, even those behind them were in the Golden Body Real, if not already in the Venerable King Realm.

Such was the might and accumulation of the alien clans. Who among Earth's Awakened could withstand such pressure?

Everyone was also well aware that the preserved delicate balance was all thanks to one person—King Lu, who singlehandedly slew dozens of invading nether bulls and quelled the chaos with an iron fist.

It was only then that the unrest was temporarily stabilized and order was restored.

And another contributing factor was that the true titans of outer space were unable to descend for the time being.

All of these were the reasons Earthlings had survived thus far.

But could this balance last? No one dared to answer. Most felt that the road ahead was shrouded in mist and could feel the weight of the unknown.

"Everyone's arrived? Good." Lei Xuan's gaze swept calmly across the two figures standing beside him—the Rankers from the Primeval Daemon Race and Three-Headed Ghost Race.

These two, ranked eighth and sixth within their respective clans, were both Awakened of the Venerable King Realm. However, the rank alone did not define them. In terms of combat prowess, divine arts, and other aspects, they stood firmly at the apex of their generation.

To be granted the title of Ranker meant more than status. It meant that before reaching the Venerable King Realm, each had already fought and prevailed against opponents with realms beyond their own.

This was also why they held such confidence in hunting down Lu Yuan. Every one of them carried trump cards under their sleeves, powerful enough to turn the tide.

"That human, Lu Yuan, has yet to appear. Do we wait?" The Primeval Daemon Ranker finally spoke. As the mist around him dispersed slightly, it revealed dark, vein-like markings coursing across his body, and they looked terrifying.

"Guang Chengzi's Dao ground atop Kongtong Mountains is about to open," said the Three-Headed Ghost Ranker. "The legacy within is of utmost importance." He felt that Lu Yuan could be slain on any other day. But once they missed their chance at the legacy, no one knew when the next opportunity would arrive.

Lei Xuan nodded. "Agreed. He's bound to enter the Dao ground as well. There will be no shortage of opportunities."

The instructions from their elders had been clear—they were to kill Lu Yuan. Naturally, they had their personal motives, too.

If even a fragment of Guang Chengzi's legacy could be claimed—even one that was incomplete—it would be a legacy of unimaginable weight.

Thus, the three Rankers reached an unspoken consensus.

They would not act here. They would wait for a chance within the Dao ground, or the moment Lu Yuan emerged, before they made a move against the latter.

And so, none of them spoke further. Instead, all three turned their eyes toward the towering silhouette of Kongtong Mountains.

Guang Chengzi's Dao ground was said to be the personal cultivation ground of the immortal who had once mentored the Yellow Emperor himself.

Though countless eons had passed, whatever remained inside, even a sliver, would be considered a supreme fortune.

At this moment, all three Rankers had their full attention on this singular goal.

Just like that, time trickled by, second by second.

Rumble! Boom!

Hours later, a deafening roar erupted across the skies as Kongtong Mountains trembled violently.

The multicolored clouds above flared even brighter than before, piercing through the heavens like divine spears of light, casting brilliance across the world.

Within that radiant glow, the immense spatial rift suspended above the mountain began to sharpen in outline and pulsated with an ancient, timeworn aura.

Wooooooooong!

An unusual resonance stirred through the void, and a ripple of primordial force spread across the land. Everyone present could feel a heavy pressure washing over them and wrapping around their bodies like a tidal wave from the heavens.

Then, as the last of the light faded, they finally saw it.

Hovering above the mountain's summit was an entirely separate realm, an independent dimension, just like the scene back at Mount Li's Mausoleum.

"It's open!" The Three-Headed Ghost Ranker's eyes glimmered with an excited glint.

The other two pairs of eyes on his two other heads mirrored the same excitement. The opening of the Dao ground could mean only one thing—the legacy was available for grab.

Lei Xuan and the Primeval Daemon Ranker's hearts pulsed with exhilaration; they swiftly issued commands to their followers.

Then, without hesitation, the three Rankers soared toward the spatial rift atop Kongtong Mountains, toward the Dao ground of Guang Chengzi.

Folded dimensions, Mythical Secret Realms—these were the true allure of Earth.

Beneath, the rest of the outer space races stirred. Upon seeing the three Rankers enter, they quickly followed and soared into the sky.

Some human Awakened, after a brief hesitation, also began the climb.

None of the Earth humans present reached the Golden Body Realm and had no power of flight. They could only ascend the sacred mountain the old-fashioned way, one grueling step at a time.

In an instant, the majority of those gathered began their journey toward the Dao ground. Everyone knew about the legacy that lay within.

Yet a handful chose to stay behind. They knew their limits. Better to live another day than die chasing the unreachable.

After all, staying alive was the foundation of all things.

Not long after the three Rankers and a wave of outer space beings vanished into the secret realm, a military aircraft tore through the clouds.

Circling low overhead, the hatch opened. One by one, human figures leapt down from the skies.

Boom!

The ground shuddered violently.

Led by Lu Yuan, the group descended upon Kongtong Mountains; they arrived at the very moment Guang Chengzi's Dao ground fully opened.

"It's King Lu! King Lu is here!"

Gasps rippled through the crowd as they caught sight of Lu Yuan. A few quickly stepped forward in welcome, their eyes brimming with awe.

At present, Lu Yuan's renown within Huaxia had reached unparalleled heights. His fame came not only from his strength but for everything he had done for the country. From safeguarding Shen City and Chang'an to subjugating the Three Immortal Islands into allegiance, every deed was a legendary feat more than enough to earn the reverence of countless people.

Lu Yuan, as ever, offered a polite nod in return. He was not one to posture or elevate himself above others. Power, to him, was never an excuse for arrogance.

And those approaching him now showered him with evident enthusiasm and sincerity. There was no need for distance.

Of course, the crowd also understood that Lu Yuan was here for the Dao ground atop Kongtong Mountains. No one sought to delay him.

After exchanging brief greetings, the Awakened quickly shared what had just occurred earlier—the arrival of the three Rankers from outer space.

Some offered cautionary reminders. After all, those beings were from space, and in essence, outsiders.

Official personnel allocated nearby also offered similar information.

"King Lu, what should we do next?" Ice Fairy and Zhu Qingyu approached with solemn expressions.

The three Rankers were each a terrifying force in their own right. They could not be compared to any of the previous adversaries Lu Yuan had faced.

Lu Yuan, however, merely waved his hand.

"It's fine. As long as they don't provoke us first, we'll let them be."

He didn't dwell on it. Though, he already had an inkling that those three were likely here for him. But so what?

He had come here for them too.

If they were really dumb enough to make a move...

Then he wouldn't hesitate to turn this mountain into a battlefield of blood once more.

"Let's head up as well," Chunyang said.

As a disciple of Daoism, the Dao ground of the legendary Guang Chengzi held a completely different meaning to Chunyang. Simply stepping foot into the training ground of the immortal Daoist sage was a once-in-a-lifetime honor. Whether he obtained anything or not no longer mattered.

The others shared his anticipation, their eyes turning toward the folded realm atop Kongtong Mountains.

Of course, the folded space was also being officially termed as a Mythical Secret Realm.

"Let's go," Lu Yuan said with a slight nod. Truth be told, he was curious as well since this was his first time stepping into such a place.

Without another word, the group ascended the peak of Kongtong Mountains and prepared themselves to enter the secret realm.

On the way up, Lu Yuan gave a few quiet instructions.

In a sealed, complete folded space like the one atop Kongtong Mountains, coupled with it being untouched for countless eras, the Heaven-Earth Spiritual Energy within would tend to accumulate till an extreme density.

When such environments were left undisturbed for too long, energy may gradually take shape to form sentient-less entities. Some weak, others terrifying. And these entities were also called Secret Realm Wraiths.

Once slain, these beings would disintegrate into dense, refined energy clusters. These essences could be immediately absorbed, and they were no less effective than rare spiritual fruits or herbs.

Their task was simple. They would slay as many of these Secret Realm Wraiths as possible before the legacy revealed itself.

While training, they could refine these essences, absorb them to aid their evolution path.

This was all the knowledge Lu Yuan had inherited from his past life, though Jiang Ningxian had also offered some clarifying details along the way.

Zhu Qingyu and the others nodded at once; they understood with absolute clarity what they had to do upon entering the secret realm.

As for the legacy of Guang Chengzi, it was all up to fate. If fate allowed, they would accept it. If not, there was no need to force what was never theirs to begin with.

Before long, they reached the summit.

What stood before them was a fully independent folded space. A vast tide of primordial, solemn energy surged forth from within. However, from the outside, nothing within could be clearly seen.

Led by Lu Yuan, they stepped in.

The moment they crossed the entrance, every single person felt as though they had entered another world entirely.

The Kongtong Mountains had vanished behind them without a trace. A barren, desolate realm stretched out in front of them.

The sky was dim and veiled in ash. The ground beneath them was a blanket of red sand swirling in a ceaseless storm.

This did not resemble an immortal's Dao ground. If anything, it looked like a battlefield.

In the far distance, a colossal structure stood alone, barely discernible through the haze. And just ten over meters ahead, white energy in humanoid shapes wandered aimlessly through the red sands.

Those drifting figures were Secret Realm Wraiths, born of pure Heaven-Earth Spiritual Energy. They were not living creatures but rather, concentrations of primal energy, shaped by time and seclusion. Though void of intellect, they still possessed a rudimentary instinct for self-preservation. Once slain, their essence could be absorbed directly into the body without the slightest backlash.

"From here on out, you'll each act independently for the next three days. No matter what you do, we regroup at the entrance when time is up," Lu Yuan's voice rang out. "If you encounter danger you can't handle, retreat. Don't be reckless."

His tone carried no coddling, only resolve. After all, this was a trial. And trials meant facing the unknown alone.

They could not rely on him for everything. He would not be their eternal shield.

One day, when the Heavenly Court rose again, it would need more than just one lone pillar.

"Understood, King Lu!"

Zhu Qingyu and the others responded with firm voices, their hearts alight with anticipation.

This was precisely why they came. They understood the path ahead and knew what they ought to do.

With no further words, the group scattered into the secret realm.

Though it was a trial, survival came first.

They moved in formation, not clinging to one another, but staying close enough to offer support if needed. Growth often came quickest when facing adversity side by side.

The only real threat would be the Outer Cosmos outsiders.

Still, after Lu Yuan's prior display of power, most of those beings had grown cautious. As long as they weren't provoked, it should remain peaceful.

Soon, only Lu Yuan remained standing at the realm's entrance.

He gazed at the desolate scene ahead, and finally settled his eyes on the massive, distant palace looming in the horizon.

However, he made no movement.

Instead, he stood still. His gaze swept the terrain, his expression calm and cold.

At the corner of his eye, something caught his attention.

Then, softly, he spoke, "There's no need to keep spying or hiding. I know you're there. You have two options. Leave. Or I'll strike now!"