After transmigrating, I cultivated immortality by smelling the scent.

Chapter 40 Opportunities and Dangers

While engrossed in studying alchemy, Ye Xiaobai was also considering whether to travel to a more distant market to buy Foundation Establishment Pills. After all, he had already reached the tenth level of Qi Refining, and delaying too long might affect his success rate in Foundation Establishment.

One day, the bell of Lingyun Peak rang eleven times, reminding the disciples that something important was about to happen. Soon, most of the Qi Refining cultivators were notified and immediately gathered at Lingtian Square on Lingyun Peak, where the sect leader had an important announcement to make.

Upon receiving the notification, Ye Xiaobai immediately rushed to Lingtian Square.

The entire square covers an area of ​​approximately 50 square meters and can accommodate up to one million people. When Ye Xiaobai arrived, there were already thousands of people whispering and discussing among themselves in the square.

Before long, the number of people in the square reached tens of thousands. It was also the first time Ye Xiaobai had seen the White Tiger Sect Master, who was said to have reached the late Golden Core stage.

From a distance, Han Chuanming, the leader of the White Tiger Sect, appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, with a short beard and a worried expression, indicating that he had been having a lot of troubles lately.

Standing beside the sect leader were the heads of each peak and some inner sect elders. Ye Xiaobai didn't recognize most of them. The crowd unconsciously lined up according to their respective peaks. Ye Xiaobai first greeted his familiar fellow disciples from the Spirit Pill Peak, and soon a familiar woman exuding the fragrance of herbs appeared.

"Hello, Senior Sister Xiao! How have you been lately?" Ye Xiaobai quickly ran over to greet her.

"It's nothing, but thanks to Junior Brother Ye for helping me sell the pills, it saved me a lot of trouble," Xiao Lele said with a smile.

"Cooperating with Xiaoyao Restaurant is a win-win situation, so there's no need for thanks. By the way, does Senior Sister Xiao know what this gathering is all about?"

"I heard that a secret realm has appeared at the disputed border between our sect and the Vermilion Bird Sect. It contains a lot of treasures, which may be related to this."

Ye Xiaobai had also been cultivating for some time and had a certain understanding of his current cultivation level.

The Vermilion Bird Sect, White Tiger Sect, Azure Cloud Sect, and Yellow Dragon Sect are the four major cultivation sects of the Great Jin Dynasty. The Azure Cloud Sect is the strongest, with two Nascent Soul stage cultivators, while the other sects are weaker, each having only one Nascent Soul stage cultivator.

The White Tiger Sect and the Vermilion Bird Sect are roughly equal in strength. It's likely that the Vermilion Bird Sect heard that a Nascent Soul cultivator from the White Tiger Sect was recently injured, and they wanted to take advantage of the situation.

Upon hearing about the secret realm, Ye Xiaobai immediately became interested. After all, the sect was currently lacking Foundation Establishment Pills, which prevented him from establishing his foundation. Perhaps the secret realm contained materials for Foundation Establishment Pills.

Just as Ye Xiaobai was about to ask Xiao Lele for more details, he heard Sect Master Han Chuanming shout loudly, "Quiet! Quiet!"

The square, which was filled with tens of thousands of people, quickly fell silent.

Then Han Chuanming said, "You all probably know about the secret realm that recently appeared at the border between our sect and the Vermilion Bird Sect."

"Our sect elders have confirmed that the secret realm is a small space sealed by an ancient sect. The seal is not very stable, but there are many rare spiritual herbs inside. Some disciples have already gone in and found the herbs."

"The original plan was for our sect and the Vermilion Bird Sect to explore together, but someone leaked the information, and the Azure Cloud Sect and the Yellow Dragon Sect also found out about the secret realm."

"Therefore, our four major sects decided to explore together, and with the elders of the four major sects maintaining the spatial seal, the space can be guaranteed to remain stable for three months."

"Another point is that only cultivators at the Qi Refining stage are allowed to enter the space. Those with cultivation levels above the Qi Refining stage will have their cultivation level compressed to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage."

"Therefore, the purpose of gathering everyone is to encourage disciples in the Qi Refining stage to volunteer to explore the secret realm. Upon returning to the sect, they will be given corresponding rewards based on the exploration results, and the rewards include Foundation Establishment Pills."

"What? Foundation Establishment Pill!" Most of the people in the crowd were in the Qi Refining stage, and they immediately became excited upon hearing about the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Yes! In addition to Foundation Establishment Pills, disciples who enter the secret realm for exploration will also be given magic weapons and talismans to help them find treasures!" Han Chuanming continued.

"In three days, the disciples of the four major sects will officially enter the secret realm. Those who wish to explore the secret realm can sign up now. However, it is recommended that disciples below the sixth level of Qi Refining not sign up, as the secret realm is fraught with danger. Treasures are good, but life is more important!"

After learning about the secret realm, Ye Xiaobai immediately signed up. After all, he was already at the tenth level of Qi Refining, and all the places he entered were at the Qi Refining level. Wouldn't he be invincible if he went?

After registration ended, Ye Xiaobai specifically asked Xiao Lele if she had registered, and learned that Xiao Lele was also going, since she was also short of Foundation Establishment Pills.

Next, Ye Xiaobai began preparing for the exploration of the secret realm.

Prices in the market had already risen once again, and with this secret realm exploration, they've become even more excited.

Ye Xiaobai had already bought almost everything last time, so this time she suddenly didn't know what to buy.

Suddenly, Ye Xiaobai remembered when he and Niu Dazhuang went to Lianhuan Pool. When they were helpless against the second-tier demon beasts, it was thanks to the Four Directions Spirit-Binding Array that Ye Xiaobai was able to successfully obtain the spirit herbs.

Therefore, Ye Xiaobai decided to buy a formation just in case.

Soon, Ye Xiaobai found a shop that sold array formations – Qianji Pavilion.

"Boss, do you have any good formations that are both offensive and defensive?" Ye Xiaobai asked as soon as he entered. Before he even saw anyone, he smelled a strong aroma of alcohol throughout the entire Qianji Pavilion, making him think he had wandered into a wine shop.

The waiter quickly poured Ye Xiaobai a cup of the most ordinary spiritual tea and told him to wait a moment while the boss came right away.

A moment later, an elderly man, who looked to be in his seventies and reeked of alcohol, came out, with a gourd of wine hanging from his waist. Ye Xiaobai guessed that the owner must have been drinking in the back room earlier.

Upon seeing Ye Xiaobai, the old man immediately perked up and cheerfully recommended his family's magic array: "Fellow Daoist, what level of array do you want that combines offense and defense?"

Ye Xiaobai, unfamiliar with magic arrays, asked, "How are the levels of these magic arrays classified?"

"Take defensive formations for example. This first-tier formation can defend against ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, the second-tier formation can defend against attacks from Qi Refining cultivators at the Great Perfection stage, and the third-tier formation can defend against attacks from Foundation Establishment cultivators at the early stage..." the shopkeeper said slowly.

Ye Xiaobai also gained a general understanding of the formation levels. All those who entered the secret realm were cultivators in the Qi Refining stage. Ye Xiaobai originally thought that buying a second-tier formation would be enough, but to be on the safe side, he bought a third-tier formation just in case.

"Does the boss have any third-tier formations to recommend?" Ye Xiaobai asked curiously.

"Our shop happens to have a third-tier formation—the Five Elements Spirit Locking Formation, which can easily trap a Foundation Establishment cultivator!"

"How many spirit stones would that require?"

"2000 spirit stones, fellow Daoist, you know the market price lately, all formations have gone up in price," the shopkeeper quickly explained.

"Okay, I'll take it then." Ye Xiaobai didn't haggle anymore. Prices were skyrocketing, and if he didn't buy it today, the price might be even higher tomorrow.

After giving the spirit stones, Ye Xiaobai took the formation and went back.