Within the Jia Region, the Guardian Courtyard remained heavily guarded.
Compared to several weeks ago, the number of cultivators patrolling nearby had increased significantly. Foundation Establishment cultivators occasionally passed through the area while Xuan Gang martial artists could be seen entering and leaving with urgent expressions.
The secret realm had yet to open.
Yet the pressure it created was already spreading throughout the southern region.
Lin Sheng arrived at the courtyard entrance.
The guards immediately recognized him.
Neither side exchanged unnecessary words as he was quickly led inward.
Before long, he entered a familiar courtyard.
Guardian Zhao sat beneath a spirit willow tree while several jade slips and reports lay scattered across a stone table before him.
The moment he saw Lin Sheng, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.
Not because of his arrival.
But because of the changes in his aura.
Although Lin Sheng remained at the Early Stage Xuan Gang Realm, the pressure emanating from his body had become noticeably deeper.
Like a lake whose surface appeared calm while an immense current flowed beneath.
Guardian Zhao examined him briefly.
Then nodded.
"You've improved."
Lin Sheng smiled.
"A little."
Guardian Zhao laughed.
"A little? At this rate you'll make everyone else in the Training Center look useless."
Lin Sheng merely sat down.
Moments later a maid arrived carrying a jade tray.
Two cups of tea were placed before them.
The fragrance alone caused Lin Sheng's spirit to stir slightly.
He picked up the cup and took a sip.
Warm spiritual energy immediately spread throughout his body.
Unlike ordinary spirit tea, this spiritual energy remained unusually gentle after entering his meridians.
The circulation speed of his Gang Qi increased slightly.
Even his absorption rate improved.
Within his mind the Chip immediately produced data.
---
[Spiritual Energy Absorption Efficiency Increased]
[Current Increase: 3.2%]
---
Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow.
Guardian Zhao noticed immediately.
"Good tea?"
Lin Sheng nodded.
"Better than I expected."
Guardian Zhao lifted his own cup.
"Rank-2 Nourishing Herbs.""Several alchemists refined them into tea leaves.""Not useful during combat but quite effective during cultivation."
Lin Sheng took another sip.
The tea truly wasn't bad.
Although the increase wasn't large, prolonged usage would undoubtedly benefit cultivation.
Before he could speak, Guardian Zhao suddenly smiled.
"You came because of the secret realm."
Lin Sheng nodded.
The recent situation had become impossible to ignore.
Whether within Cloud Mist Market or throughout the southern region, nearly every discussion revolved around the secret realm.
The Lin Family's response naturally attracted even more attention.
"What are the family's plans?" Lin Sheng asked."And how will they affect people like us?"
Guardian Zhao wasn't surprised by the question.
In truth, many people had already asked similar things.
He set his cup down.
"The family intends to send several peak Foundation Establishment geniuses."
Lin Sheng wasn't surprised.
Those people represented the true core of the younger generation.
Any opportunity involving Purple Palace prospects naturally revolved around them.
Guardian Zhao continued.
"Several Foundation Establishment cultivators below the peak will also enter.""Partly for experience.""Partly for opportunities."
"And Xuan Gang martial artists?"
"A few."
Lin Sheng narrowed his eyes slightly.
"A few?"
Guardian Zhao nodded.
"A very small number."
Silence followed briefly.
Then Lin Sheng asked the question directly.
"Fodder?"
Guardian Zhao nearly laughed out loud.
He stared at Lin Sheng for several breaths before shaking his head.
"You really aren't afraid of saying things.""If the elders heard that, they would probably beat you."
Lin Sheng shrugged.
The Lin Family sponsored the Training Centers.
Provided resources.
Provided cultivation methods.
Provided opportunities.
In return, trainees frequently participated in dangerous missions.
Whether against demonic cultivators, rogue cultivators, beast tides or various external threats.
Such arrangements weren't unusual.
Guardian Zhao eventually stopped laughing.
"Possible.""But not this time."
Stretching out his hand, he produced a jade slip.
"Take a look."
Lin Sheng accepted it.
The moment he placed it against his forehead, information surged into his mind.
Then—
A strange fluctuation emerged from within the jade slip.
A faint mark instantly entered his arm.
The Chip reacted immediately.
---
[Foreign Mark Detected]
[Unknown Energy Structure]
[Activate Removal Procedure?]
---
Lin Sheng almost agreed instinctively.
Fortunately he paused.
Guardian Zhao clearly noticed.
"Relax.""It's harmless."
The mark quickly settled beneath his skin.
After several scans, the Chip finally concluded that it posed no threat.
Lin Sheng looked toward Guardian Zhao.
"What is it?"
Guardian Zhao leaned back comfortably.
"Master's gift."
Lin Sheng paused.
Old Liang?
Guardian Zhao nodded.
"Congratulations."
"You've already secured your place."
Lin Sheng frowned slightly.
"My place?"
Guardian Zhao pointed toward his arm.
"That's your ticket."
For several breaths, Lin Sheng simply stared at him.
Then understanding dawned.
"The secret realm."
"Exactly."
Guardian Zhao's smile widened.
"The entrance ticket."
Lin Sheng immediately understood why the Lin Family appeared strangely calm despite the secret realm news spreading everywhere.
They had already prepared.
Far earlier than anyone else.
Guardian Zhao continued.
"The family modified the entrance formation.""Anyone entering requires a ticket.""No ticket.""No entry."
Lin Sheng silently processed the information.
A clever move.
Rather than blocking everyone.
Rather than fighting every force interested in the secret realm.
The Lin Family simply controlled access.
Guardian Zhao nodded approvingly.
"Much smarter than trying to stop everyone."
"How many tickets?"
"Enough."
A strange smile appeared on Guardian Zhao's face.
"But not too many."
Lin Sheng understood immediately.
Scarcity.
The rarer something became, the more valuable it became.
Guardian Zhao continued.
"The family has already added tickets to the contribution exchange list."
Lin Sheng suddenly had a bad feeling.
"How much?"
Guardian Zhao raised five fingers.
"Fifty thousand."
Lin Sheng nearly spilled his tea.
Fifty thousand contribution points.
That wasn't expensive.
That was absurd.
Guardian Zhao laughed loudly.
"Exactly the reaction everyone has."
Lin Sheng shook his head.
Even many Foundation Establishment cultivators would struggle to accumulate such a number.
As if reading his thoughts, Guardian Zhao said:
"Don't think it's cruel.""Those who lack ability rarely earn enough contribution points anyway.""Those who possess ability eventually can."
"The family is selecting people."
"Exactly."
The atmosphere became quiet once more.
Lin Sheng looked at the mark beneath his arm.
Fifty thousand contribution points.
And Old Liang had simply given him one.
Such generosity wasn't small.
Guardian Zhao took another sip of tea.
"Outside forces have it worse."
Lin Sheng glanced toward him.
Guardian Zhao chuckled.
"The tickets sold externally cost much more than contribution points."
Now that surprised him.
"How much?"
"Resources, Connections, favors, Inheritance fragments and spirit stones."
Guardian Zhao smiled.
"The family started profiting before the secret realm even opened."
Lin Sheng couldn't help but admire the strategy.
The secret realm belonged to the Lin Family's territory.
Naturally they would exploit every advantage available.
After all—
Cultivation resources didn't appear from nowhere.
Suddenly Guardian Zhao's expression became more serious.
"The real problem isn't the secret realm."
Lin Sheng remained silent.
"The people."
Guardian Zhao pointed toward the south.
"Cultivators are arriving every day.""More than before.""Stronger than before."
"Foundation Establishment cultivators from outside the province."
Lin Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
That creates competition even to our own. That already surpassed most people present within the southern region.
Guardian Zhao continued.
"And that's only the beginning."
Several moments passed.
Then Lin Sheng asked:
"What should I do next?"
Guardian Zhao smiled.
Now they had finally reached the main point.
"Prepare and be ready."
Hearing this Lin Sheng understood and continued questioning him about the natural environment within the secret realm.
Time passed quietly with lin sheng looking at the piles of pearls before him. Thankfully he had been stockpiling enough trump cards even after the Jade Haven competition.
Now these can be put to proper use.
The secret realm possesses it's own ecosystem with countless parts of it folding in on itself. There are 3 parts within the secret realm which are the outer region, inner region and the core region.
With the core region possessing a more complete space resembling the Ancient Era which includes the density of spiritual energy and even the spiritual herbs. This naturally riles up alchemists especially since countless ancient era pill formulas require rare to extinct materials that can be found there.