Chapter 193: The Azure Heaven Secret Realm
And so what followed was witnessed by every disciple and elder within the Primordial Sect.
Lu Xunxian, riding a Qilin, was escorted by their own Sect Master with the utmost deference — bordering on outright fawning — toward the rear grounds of the sect.
Before long, Xu Long led Lu Xunxian's group to a Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land.
"Senior Lu, if you don't mind, this Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land is yours from now on — your exclusive property."
This Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land had been specially constructed by Xu Long to receive distinguished guests.
But now, in his eagerness to please Lu Xunxian, he was willing to gift it to him outright.
Lu Xunxian, naturally, accepted it without batting an eye.
The Chaos Heavenly Emperor Scripture he had given Xu Long alone was worth far more than a mere Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land could repay.
Upon seeing the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, Fu Qitian began directing Zhao Xiaoyi and the others to tidy things up.
As for Xu Long, he turned to Lu Xunxian with a fawning expression.
"Senior Lu, shall I go inform His Highness the Holy Son that you've arrived?"
But before Lu Xunxian could respond, a figure came rushing over from the distance, his face alight with unbridled joy.
"Father, what are you doing here?"
It was Lu Xiaoyao.
Having cultivated within the Primordial Sect for some time, Lu Xiaoyao's realm had advanced at breakneck speed.
He had leapt all the way from the Early Immortal Stage to the Late Immortal Stage in one stretch.
Though this advancement might not seem significant on the surface, one had to consider that only three and a half years had passed.
A powerhouse at the Immortal Stage had a Lifespan of two hundred thousand years. Ordinary Seclusion sessions lasted hundreds or even thousands of years, with no guarantee of a breakthrough.
Lu Xiaoyao hadn't even been cultivating the entire time, yet in just three and a half years, he had broken through two Minor Realms in a single stretch.
If word of this got out, it would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the entire Immortal Realm.
"I wanted to see how you all were doing in the sect, so I came."
Lu Xunxian smiled, feeling deeply satisfied with Lu Xiaoyao's rate of growth.
Meanwhile, the growth of Wangcai and the Flood Dragon beside him had slowed considerably.
Wangcai had only barely broken through to the Mid Saint Emperor Realm, while the Flood Dragon was still only at the Peak of the Saint Monarch Realm.
Sensing their auras, Lu Xunxian couldn't help but frown.
"You two, what's going on? Why are your realms so low?"
"Ahem, Father, you can't blame them for that. They haven't had much time to cultivate since they've been keeping me company all along, so their realms aren't very high."
Before Wangcai or the Flood Dragon could speak, Lu Xiaoyao cut in first, a touch of guilt in his voice.
Hearing his son's explanation, Lu Xunxian couldn't very well punish them further. He could only sigh.
"Son, even if you have them keep you company, at least let them cultivate to the Immortal King Realm first."
"I know, Father. I'll give them more time to cultivate from now on."
Lu Xiaoyao's tone was full of earnest conviction. Seeing this, Lu Xunxian let the matter drop.
Then, as if remembering something, a spark lit up in Lu Xiaoyao's eyes as he hurriedly asked.
"Father, how long do you plan to stay at the Primordial Sect?"
"About twenty years. After twenty years, I need to go check on your sister's sect."
Lu Xunxian gave it a moment's thought before answering, but then recalled something else and fixed Lu Xiaoyao with a serious look.
"You don't need to be by my side for these twenty years. Focus on your cultivation and break through to Immortal Emperor as soon as possible."
"I understand, Father." Lu Xiaoyao nodded firmly.
Lu Xunxian wasn't worried about his son's talent — breaking through to Immortal Emperor was simply a matter of time.
What truly concerned him was whether his son could break through to the Dao Practitioner Realm.
As time went on, Lu Xunxian would inevitably have to make a trip to the Dao Realm, and before that, he needed to see that both his son and daughter possessed sufficient power to protect themselves in the Immortal Realm.
Additionally, during this time, Feng Qingyu on the Tiansheng Continent hadn't stagnated either. Her own realm had broken through to the Late Saint King Realm, which in turn brought Lu Xunxian along to the Late Dao Practitioner Realm.
However, since powers exceeding the Immortal Emperor level couldn't be exerted in the Immortal Realm, his realm was suppressed to the Peak of the Immortal Emperor Realm.
"Ahem, Senior, it's our Primordial Sect's honor to have you grace us with your presence. We should host a grand banquet in your honor — what do you say?"
At that moment, Xu Long chimed in at an inopportune time, his face plastered with a fawning smile.
Lu Xunxian gave it genuine consideration for a moment, then shook his head in refusal.
"That won't be necessary. I prefer peace and quiet. Don't let too many people come disturb me."
"Of course, Senior."
Xu Long was visibly disappointed, but quickly assented.
After a round of further pleasantries, Lu Xunxian shooed Xu Long away.
As for Lu Xunxian and his companions, they settled into the Primordial Sect.
Upon learning that Lu Xunxian had taken up residence in the sect, Ye Wushuang rushed over to pay his respects.
Seeing that Ye Wushuang was still only at the Early Immortal Stage, Lu Xunxian couldn't help but frown.
"Old Ye, you're not doing so well, are you."
"You jest, Senior Lu. How could my talent possibly compare to the Holy Son's?"
Ye Wushuang shook his head with a bitter smile.
It hadn't been that long, and he wasn't a freak of nature on Lu Xiaoyao's level, for whom breaking through was as simple as eating and drinking.
With his talent, if he could break through to the True Immortal Realm within ten thousand years, he would already count himself lucky.
Seeing this, Lu Xunxian pondered for a moment, then spoke.
"A secret realm is going to open in a month. When the time comes, go in together with Xiaoyao."
As Lu Xunxian's words fell, Ye Wushuang froze, and then his breathing grew rapid.
He recalled what had happened with the Ancient Immortal Secret Realm.
Ye Wushuang swallowed hard, then asked with some trepidation.
"Senior Lu, may I ask which secret realm it is?"
"It's not exactly some high-level secret realm. Just a place called the Azure Heaven Secret Realm, is all."
Lu Xunxian's tone was casual.
But the words he spoke shattered Ye Wushuang's composure entirely.
"Senior Lu, you can't be serious?"
"Oh? Have I ever joked with you?" Lu Xunxian asked with an amused expression.
Ye Wushuang fell silent.
The Azure Heaven Secret Realm — hailed as one of the Immortal Realm's Fifty Great Secret Realms, overflowing with countless resources and open only to those at the Immortal Stage.
Within the Azure Heaven Secret Realm lay innumerable inheritances from powerful cultivators, including those at the Immortal Monarch and Immortal Venerable levels. There were even quite a few Immortal Emperor inheritances.
However, the Azure Heaven Secret Realm's entry slots had long since been monopolized by the Immortal Realm's major forces. Only hegemon-level powers could gain entry.
Under the Primordial Sect's name alone, he would never get in for the rest of his life. But under Lu Xunxian's name, getting in shouldn't be much of a problem.
With that thought, Ye Wushuang dropped to his knees before Lu Xunxian without a second word.
"Senior Lu, if you don't mind, how about I just call you Father right now?"