Chapter Fifteen: The Secret Realm of Huaqing Pool (Second Update)

"Huaqing Pool?" Chen Fan was taken aback, then shook his head. He truly had never heard that name in his life.

Ye Wuji said casually, "After all, you're still young, so it's only natural that you're unfamiliar with the ways of the martial world. At the southwestern border of Guming Prefecture, where it meets Renchang Prefecture, there is a dimensional space within which a celestial spirit pool has been nurtured. That place is what we call the Huaqing Pool Secret Realm!"

The Huaqing Pool is a secret realm?!

Chen Fan's entire body jolted at the words. When he had joined the martial academy, he'd heard that the academy held entry qualifications to certain special secret realms. In the days since, Chen Fan had attended classes every day at the academy and gained a much better understanding of common knowledge.

Secret realms were places of anomalous space. How exactly these dimensional spaces came to exist—whether they were created by certain great figures or naturally formed spatial nodes—no one knew. Perhaps Chen Fan was simply too low in level to have encountered such knowledge. Many powerful martial artists, however, could rely on their own strength to control, or even reshape, certain special spaces, thus turning them into secret realms.

Secret realms could be special relics left behind by powerful dynasties, medicine gardens created by ancient sages, or even trials set up by inscrutable powerhouses to select disciples! The history of this continent was far too ancient to verify, and the era of martial arts had lasted even longer, leaving behind even more secret realms.

The number of secret realms controlled by a single Qingming Martial Academy wasn't particularly large, but across the entire Daqian Empire there were many more—though most of them had extremely high entry requirements. Even as a disciple of the Bright Moon Tower, Chen Fan's strength was too weak for him to enter any secret realm. Generally, entering a secret realm also required special conditions that ordinary people simply couldn't meet. One might need a token of proof, or one could only enter at a specific time and place. The ancient merchant ruin Chen Fan had visited before could actually be classified as a secret realm—just a special one that hadn't been publicly acknowledged...

Ye Wuji explained, "The Huaqing Pool Secret Realm lies dormant most of the time, slowly absorbing the world's vital energy. Every three years, for a single day, a 'gate' opens between it and the mortal world. The spirit pool's spiritual energy is self-contained, enhanced by the power of heaven and earth, and extremely abundant... Within it exists a wondrous substance we call the 'Spirit of All Creation,' which can help a person enter a state of enlightenment!"

Chen Fan was startled. "What is the state of enlightenment?"

Seeing Chen Fan's curious expression, Ye Wuji smiled faintly. "So-called enlightenment is actually a special state—similar to sudden insight, yet different. In simple terms, entering that state allows you to merge with heaven and earth more quickly, accelerating your improvement in martial techniques. It can even help you comprehend artistic conception, and if you've already grasped an artistic conception, it deepens your understanding and takes it even further."

"Unfortunately, this wondrous substance, the Spirit of All Creation, cannot be brought out of the secret realm. It can only be used within the Huaqing Pool, and each person may absorb at most one... Furthermore, this secret realm not only limits the number of entrants but also restricts strength—Grandmasters who have merged with the power of heaven and earth cannot enter. However, throughout history, every disciple who entered the Huaqing Pool has quickly risen to become a Grandmaster."

Chen Fan's eyes went wide. He was deeply envious.

"How does this concern your disciple?" He was also curious why Ye Wuji was telling him all this.

Ye Wuji continued, "This secret realm has many restrictions. It opens once every three years and can only accommodate ten people..."

"Moreover, this place lies at the junction of two prefectures. Renchang Martial Academy of Renchang Prefecture claims it as theirs, and our Qingming Martial Academy, though farther away, refuses to yield."

"The two academies argued for years, and in the end, they set down a rule: before each opening of the Huaqing Pool, three matches are held, with disciples of different age groups battling each other. Each victory earns three entry slots. For disciples under eighteen, a victory earns four slots! The next battle time is this year—only four months away!"

Chen Fan paused, then realization dawned. "Dean Ye, you mean for me to participate in the battle for disciples under eighteen?"

He had always refrained from adding the honorific title.

Ye Wuji smiled and nodded. "The boy is teachable. Originally, our academy had designated a disciple under eighteen—a Martial Path fourth-level disciple nearing eighteen, ranked around five hundred in the Vientiane Shadow Realm... But after you joined, naturally he has to step aside!"

In the academy, extraordinary talents were everywhere, so one couldn't compare Chen Fan's situation to the common standards of Feiling County. A fourth-level Martial Path disciple under eighteen, ranked around five hundred, was actually already quite impressive. But Chen Fan wasn't surprised. After all, this was a gathering place for geniuses; if everyone were ordinary, that would be the real anomaly. Take Yan Lincu with his special constitution—he would break into Martial Path fourth level within a year, and he was only sixteen. Compared to fifteen-year-old Chen Fan, who had jumped straight to four hundredth place, that indeed wasn't much.

Chen Fan narrowed his eyes, but he couldn't very well ask what reward he'd get if he won. Ye Wuji, however, smiled and said, "Of course, this is also a tremendous opportunity for you. If you win, you'll earn the right to enter the Huaqing Pool once. Not only will it help you complete the true essence tempering of the fourth level, but more importantly, it concerns your martial path realm. You've reached the subtle level in your martial techniques, so you should know how crucial realm comprehension is for future cultivation... A single opportunity for enlightenment will greatly benefit your future path to Grandmaster."

This Ye Wuji really knew how to draw things out—he'd only now revealed the key point. A flash of delight passed through Chen Fan's eyes, and he straightened his expression, immediately saying, "Your disciple will fight with all his might for the academy's honor!"

Ye Wuji stroked his goatee and laughed heartily, then added, "Remember how I told you not to rush swallowing the Lantian Jade Refining Pill? This trip to the Huaqing Pool is an opportunity. In the state of enlightenment, you'll be able to absorb the pill's medicinal power to its fullest extent. With your blood energy, there's a real chance you could break through directly to Martial Path fifth level!"

"A fifth-level Martial Path at sixteen—few across the martial academies of the world could achieve that!"

"Helping me break through to the fifth level?" Chen Fan's expression turned strange.

After joining the Bright Moon Tower, he not only gained access to more resources, but crucially, he could soak every day in a higher-tier room of the Myriad Illusions Hall. By his estimates, he could break through to Martial Path fifth level in another two months... And the Huaqing Pool battle wouldn't happen until four months later...

Ye Wuji didn't notice the odd look on Chen Fan's face and continued, "Remember, the competition takes place in four months. When the time comes, don't go wandering off. Also, by taking this slot, you'll be displacing that fourth-level genius's opportunity, so you're bound to incur some resentment. Remember, don't act rashly out of anger. If anyone dares to cause you trouble, come straight to me!"

Chen Fan quickly clasped his fists. "Your disciple understands!"

He still had his newcomer protection period, so even if someone challenged him, he could directly refuse. Moreover, he had full confidence in his own strength. That person was only at Martial Path fourth level and ranked lower than Chen Fan—at best, a disciple of the Stars Tower. Chen Fan didn't consider him a threat at all.

...

Within a few days, news that a newly admitted disciple had been exceptionally promoted to the Bright Moon Tower spread throughout the academy, and Chen Fan's name traveled with it. The entire Bright Moon Tower had fewer than three hundred disciples, the weakest of whom were at Martial Path fifth level, nearly half at sixth, and the highest ranked at over thirty in the Vientiane Gourd Realm—far above Chen Fan's four hundredth place!

"The academy truly isn't what it used to be..." Many were disappointed. Many were astonished. Yet whenever they mentioned Chen Fan's age and strength, they had to admit that he was too outstanding and deserved to enter the Bright Moon Tower ahead of schedule.

Of course, the other Stars Tower disciples from Chen Fan's cohort, upon hearing the news, were stirred with mixed emotions and redoubled their efforts. Yan Lincu in particular was no less gifted. Though his Blood-Filled Body didn't aid in realm comprehension, it gave him a tremendous advantage in the first six levels of cultivation, with no bottlenecks whatsoever. He was confident he could break through to the fourth level within a year and the sixth within five. With his constitution, his combat power among peers would also be monstrously high.

"Newcomers only have a one-year protection period. After a year, Chen Fan, I hope you can hold your place in the Bright Moon Tower!" Sensing the gap between them, Yan Lincu began cultivating with even more manic intensity.