Starting My Cultivation With Time Management-Chapter 943 - 83: Fortune and Destiny

To be honest, when Wei Dongliu came up with the strategy of gathering a massive number of Nascent Soul elders from other sects to jointly attack the Orthodox Sect’s defenses, Qiu Changtian was deeply impressed and in awe.

After all, historically, conflicts were always between the Orthodox Sect and the Demonic Path, with neither side considering these scattered smaller sects as significant players.

Moreover, the Orthodox Sect generally held the upper hand, and though many small sects dare not openly challenge them, this didn’t mean resentment hadn’t been building within them.

Such resentment accumulates over time, needing only a spark or the right opportunity to erupt like a torrent—when these many Nascent Soul cultivators gather together, even the Three Pure Ones of the Orthodox Sect dare not face them head-on, thereby providing an ideal chance to fish in troubled waters.

Of course, for Wei Dongliu, gathering so many cultivators to assault the Orthodox Sect was not simply to burden Qiu Changtian.

Given that Wei Dongliu was his future self, such actions undoubtedly carried a deeper purpose—yet, at this current juncture, Qiu Changtian had no way of discerning it.

No matter that he couldn’t yet comprehend it; as long as he completed the first exploration of the Seven Treasures Mystic Abode Secret Realm, he would naturally gain a glimpse into the full picture.

Considering Wei Dongliu’s arrangements, the influx of numerous cultivators into the Seven Treasures Mystic Abode Secret Realm was practically inevitable. Thus, Qiu Changtian decided to reveal Wei Dongliu’s underlying intention, knowing this would prompt the Orthodox Sect to dispatch a large task force, unwittingly fulfilling Wei Dongliu’s plans.

What ensued matched his predictions: since the trials within the secret realm would undoubtedly escalate in difficulty, the Orthodox Sect’s Three Pure Ones were left with no choice but to send more elite forces in hopes of improving the odds for ultimate survival.

The Kunlun Taiqing Sect leadership, spearheaded by Ziwei Master, promptly began organizing the preparations.

Changgeng and Qiong Ying, as the previous masters of the Golden Palace, naturally were included in the team heading to the secret realm.

Besides them, nearly two-thirds of the Nascent Soul elders were required to participate in this exploration.

Of those who would not attend, some had valid reasons to remain at Kunlun, while others were stationed to guard the sect’s base, preventing any vulnerabilities in its defenses from being exploited.

As for the negotiations with the Demonic Path, Qiu Changtian was not involved in this matter and thus remained ignorant of their outcome.

The following day, the Golden Flowing Light arrived outside the Extreme North Pillar, where the innermost ring of runic streams continued its slow rotations.

The Orthodox Sect cultivators formed a barricading circle around the Extreme North Pillar, continually setting up Formations or casting spells, aiming to delay and hinder the opposing cultivators on the periphery—even slowing down a portion would ease the difficulty of the trials to come.

The Demonic Path cultivators and outsider cultivators, meanwhile, mingled further outside, advancing cautiously in formation. Relying on the fact that the Three Pure Ones wouldn’t recklessly attack them, they kept testing and pushing against the Orthodox defenses.

The Shushan forces were the first to lose patience and broke into small-scale skirmishes with the opposition. The Penglai cultivators immediately issued orders to retreat slowly, avoiding direct confrontations with the outsider cultivators.

The Kunlun cultivators hesitated momentarily, but Qiu Changtian promptly issued his command:

"Follow Penglai!"

Kunlun and Penglai’s coordinated withdrawal instantly exposed the Shushan cultivators at the front, drawing countless outsider cultivators’ ire toward them.

Chaos erupted within Shushan’s ranks, and Sect Leader Su Jian quickly ordered:

"We retreat too!"

As the Shushan Sword Immortals gradually pulled back, they relinquished a vast expanse of territory.

The Demonic Path and outsider cultivators immediately surged forward, spearheading the effort to breach the Formations and spells left behind by the Orthodox Sect.

With these opposing movements, the battlefield’s dynamics rapidly became apparent.

The Orthodox Sect’s Three Pure Ones failed to act in concert, maintaining only basic order, without the ability to obstruct the opposing forces under non-lethal conditions. Thus, they resorted to scattering Formations wherever possible.

The Demonic Path forces were far from fearless, given their reliance on outsider cultivators as cannon fodder. They couldn’t organize large-scale offenses, so they advanced chaotically alongside the outsiders, using brute force to dismantle the Orthodox Sect’s defenses.

Finally, the Golden Flowing Light shrank and spun inwards until it touched the outer wall of the Extreme North Pillar, where it mysteriously froze.

The runic streams resembling tadpole scripts kept spinning, yet the Golden Flowing Light seemed to adhere to the pillar’s surface, burning like an eternal flame.

"Now’s the time!"

At the orders of the Three Pure Sect Leaders, a dazzling multitude of cultivators surged toward the boundary of the Heavenly Dome and the Extreme North Pillar. In an instant, myriad lights streaked upward like a meteor shower, roiling endlessly.

The Demonic Path and outsider cultivators also activated their secret techniques, charging toward the location of the Golden Flowing Light.

A group of Orthodox Nascent Soul cultivators stayed behind to hold off the enemy’s advance, attempting to prevent the opposition from entering the secret realm. Yet they were like boulders against the tide, soon overwhelmed by the sheer mass of bodies.

Qiu Changtian and Xu Yinglian, already positioned in Kunlun’s vanguard, stood closest to the Extreme North Pillar. When the Golden Flowing Light shifted into stationary flames, they were the first to charge forward.

Looking back, Qiu Changtian saw only a dark sea of humanity behind them—it was his first time witnessing so many Nascent Soul cultivators, numbering no less than five thousand.

"Stop gawking!" Xu Yinglian noticed he had time to turn around and look, hurriedly grabbing him. "Let’s go!"

As her words fell, the two plunged into the golden flames headfirst.

The flames burned fiercely, but inside, it was utterly devoid of any heat.

The pair felt their surroundings spin and warp with a familiar sensation of spatial folding. Moments later, they appeared above a vast and boundless ocean.

Qiu Changtian: ?

He quickly scanned the area, noting dark storm clouds overhead, torrential rain pouring down, and an entire world enshrouded by water curtains, rendering visibility beyond several hundred feet nearly impossible.

The two stood on a small boat, which bobbed amidst the raging waves below.

This was no ordinary boat—it was a boat-shaped magical treasure that managed to remain afloat amid the extremely harsh weather without capsizing.

"You’ve arrived." A figure suddenly materialized aboard the boat, revealing an elderly man with a severe expression. "This is the Seven Treasures Mystic Abode Secret Realm."

"Greetings, senior," Qiu Changtian and Xu Yinglian hurriedly bowed.

"Cut the pleasantries." The old man seemed disinclined to waste words, speaking indifferently. "The Seven Treasures Mystic Abode Secret Realm’s trials differ from those of the previous two secret realms."

Seeing that neither showed confusion at the mention of "previous two secret realms," he confirmed they hadn’t arrived by mistake but had followed clues to reach this point. He continued impassively:

"The White Jade Capital tested combat prowess, the Golden Palace probed intelligence and courage. To pass these two trials requires both wit and bravery."

"Yet, the Heavenly Dao is fickle. Even if you possess wit and courage, it is useless if fate is against you. This Seven Treasures Mystic Abode Secret Realm tests your fated fortune and luck."

"This realm simulates a world amidst a world-ending calamity, fraught with terrifying danger—even immortals would struggle to survive here."

"Your task is to survive for as long as possible. If you die, you fail. Only the twelve cultivators who endure the longest will inherit the title of Seven Treasures Mystic Abode Master and gain access to the Great Bright Hall!"