Lin Ruxue's expression remained largely unchanged after Yun Lang's summary, and she even took a sip of wine nonchalantly.
"Is that all you have to say?"
Lin Ruxue's relaxed tone immediately put Yun Lang at ease.
It seemed he had overestimated the influence of the Wang family and the gladiatorial arena. Judging by Lin Ruxue's attitude, these two forces were nothing to contend with.
Yun Lang thought this, oblivious to the fact that the Wang family and the underground gladiatorial arena were already prominent forces in Xuyang City.
Lin Ruxue's indifference was simply due to her own immense power.
"That's it," Yun Lang replied.
Lin Ruxue nodded upon hearing this and continued, "Alright, that little girl can stay at Xueji Peak for now. You can arrange a place for her to stay on the peak at your discretion."
"Thank you, Master." Yun Lang bowed.
In fact, it wasn't that simple for even inner disciples of Taichu Sect to stay at Xueji Peak, let alone regular disciples.
Yun Lang was only able to stay because he was Lin Ruxue's direct disciple.
Lin Ruxue's agreement to let Zhao Wan'er stay lifted a great weight from Yun Lang's heart.
He had always found his master inscrutable. If she had refused to let Zhao Wan'er stay, Yun Lang wouldn't have known what to do.
"You were away for a few days, and something happened that you don't know about. I'll tell you," Lin Ruxue continued, her gaze still lazily unfocused.
Yun Lang pricked up his ears.
"In about half a month, at most a month, the inner sect will organize a grand competition. All inner disciples can participate, and you will participate for me," Lin Ruxue said assertively.
Yun Lang nodded hurriedly, still somewhat puzzled. "Why is there a sudden grand competition?"
Taichu Sect traditionally encouraged inner disciples to spar and compete, but the timing was unusual. Half a month from now was much earlier than the competition dates he had heard about before.
Moreover, judging by Lin Ruxue's tone, this grand competition would be quite extensive, and perhaps even the top ten inner disciples would participate.
"This grand competition is naturally different from ordinary ones. The outcome of the competition is related to a secret realm, and only by winning will you have a chance to enter it," Lin Ruxue took another sip of wine.
Her words were exceedingly brief. Seeing Yun Lang's confused gaze, Lin Ruxue hesitated, then reluctantly explained the entire backstory to him.
It turned out that a while ago, Taichu Sect and several other sects had jointly discovered a secret realm. It was said that the owner of this secret realm was incredibly powerful, his strength even reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
"Nascent Soul stage!" Even Yun Lang was surprised by this realm.
Such a realm even surpassed Lin Ruxue's Nascent Soul stage. No wonder Lin Ruxue had been out of sight for a while; she might have been called to contend for the secret realm.
In short, due to the immense power of the secret realm's owner, several sects were involved. Clearly, everyone knew that the secret realm must contain many treasures, so no one was willing to give it up easily.
At the same time, the sects also discovered that the owner of the secret realm had set up a powerful restriction within it, allowing only cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage to enter.
Given this situation, the sect leaders of the various sects conferred and decided to compromise. Each sect would send some disciples who met the required realm, and then they would jointly choose a date for the disciples to enter the secret realm.
This was the whole story. Yun Lang listened with great emotion, a huge question mark forming in his mind.
Why would the owner of the secret realm, possessing such immense power, impose a restriction that only allowed cultivators no higher than the Foundation Establishment stage to enter?
As if sensing Yun Lang's thoughts, Lin Ruxue opened her mouth lazily. "This matter is naturally not as simple as you think. This restriction has not only requirements for strength but also for age."
"Neither exceeding the age limit nor lacking sufficient strength will grant entry into the secret realm. I didn't tell you these details earlier because your conditions just happen to meet the requirements to enter the secret realm," Lin Ruxue said.
Only then did Yun Lang understand. Although Lin Ruxue had mentioned a grand competition, his opponents would not be all inner disciples, but the elite among them!
Although the number of opponents had decreased, the competition seemed to have become even more difficult!
The secret realm's owner restricting age and realm was undoubtedly to select truly talented cultivators.
"Imposing such a restriction within the secret realm is highly likely to find his successor," Lin Ruxue added coldly.
Yun Lang suddenly realized, and indeed, if that were the case, everything would make sense!
If the purpose was to find an inheritor, then with the secret realm owner's formidable strength, he would naturally want to find a prodigy to inherit his power.
"Alright, that's the situation," Lin Ruxue brought Yun Lang back to reality. "In any case, you need to prepare well these few days. You must obtain the qualification to enter the secret realm, no matter what."
Despite her words, Lin Ruxue's tone lacked any sense of urgency.
In her opinion, simply within the inner sect, it was not difficult for Yun Lang to secure a spot in the secret realm.
However, arrogance and complacency were the greatest taboos for cultivators. Lin Ruxue's confidence in Yun Lang could never be directly expressed.
"Yes! Master!" Yun Lang nodded resolutely.
This secret realm was of great importance. Even if Lin Ruxue hadn't said anything, Yun Lang would have taken it seriously.
"During these few days, focus on improving your strength. As for a place for training, I've already thought of one for you. Go to the Monster Beast Mountain Range and bring me back two monster beast hearts with a strength no less than the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage!"
Lin Ruxue said this simply and bluntly.
Two monster beast hearts from the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage!
Yun Lang almost spat blood upon hearing this.
Had he misheard what his master said?
Did his "venerable" master not realize that his current strength was only at the second level of the Foundation Establishment stage, yet she was asking him to retrieve monster beast hearts from the seventh level, a full five levels higher than his own realm?
A tempest raged within Yun Lang's heart. He wanted to say something, but Lin Ruxue grew impatient and waved him away, telling him to leave quickly.
Yun Lang was filled with mixed emotions, and with a sigh of helplessness, he could only comply.
Thinking carefully, the subsequent journey to the secret realm would undoubtedly be filled with elites. The strongest young generation from the major sects would gather there, and perhaps some had already reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Lin Ruxue's arrangement could, to some extent, be considered reasonable.