Hollow Hill

With the two core disciples and the special disciple agreeing on what to do, no one raised any counterpoint, and they decided to find a quiet place to settle down. Although it might sound unsubstantiated, practitioners of weapon cultivation did indeed tend to have a stronger will and sharper mind compared to the practitioners of other common cultivation styles.

That was mostly because one also needed to learn how to wield a weapon, and that a weapon cultivator, if he truly only practised this one style of cultivation, would have little body reinforcement. Therefore, pure skill and diligent training were required. Considering the people chosen to enter the realm, no one here was a slacker. Each had poured much effort into their training.

As such, they should all possess a strong will and sharp minds to have progressed to such degrees. Meaning that they should be capable of staying unbothered within the secret realm for longer than most of the other sects present. Especially since none of the others were as focused on weapon cultivation as they were.

There would certainly be a few that could match them in that regard. But the point wasn’t to wait for all competition to be gone, but to thin out the herd. Once the other disciple groups lost numbers, the Myriad-Arm Sect would have an unquestionable numerical advantage, allowing them to move about unhindered.

Considering that entering the secret realm was something the sect had been doing every fifty years or so, Zhou and Kai pulled out maps and led the way to a specific location. Edrick had not only been given a map by the sect, but he had also gotten a map from his family as well. Cross-referencing both gave him a whole lot of information. Though he wondered where that map had come from on his family’s side, as they shouldn’t have access to the realm. He didn’t question it and just followed the group.

The disciples arrived at what appeared to be a big hill on the edge between a plain and a forest. After a few moments of looking around, the two core disciples discovered an entrance that had been sealed manually, as well as covered up by the passage of time as nature grew over it.

Their predecessors had not been lacking in foresight and had carved out a hideout inside the hill to be used by those who would follow in their footsteps. This allowed for them not to be simply thrown into the wilderness without any clue what to do.

The inside of the hill was rather spacious, a little bit spartan in terms of accommodations... But that was to be expected. The point was simply to give disciples a place to shield themselves from the elements and unload what they had gathered. After all, not everyone had something that allowed them to stock countless items like Edrick.

Most would have to carry everything and undoubtedly have to find a secure place to stash what they had gathered in a day before going out again to find more. To this end, areas had been made in the hill to place plants, beast carcasses, minerals, and the like.

There were also parchments and dusty books that had been left behind, containing information about the realm. This was where the elders intended for the disciples to learn the bulk of what was known about this place.

Now, whilst this may all seem great, it was not surprising. Surely, the other sects also had such places prepared for their disciples. However, the other sects probably lacked one thing that the Myriad-Arm Sect did possess...

Standing prominently upon what was probably supposed to look like an altar but really looked just like a pile of rocks, was a manual containing a simple technique. What was contained within was nothing transcendent, but of dire importance within the realm. Even the two core disciples, who definitely should have known more ahead of time than most others, were surprised.

“It appears like waiting out truly is the way” muttered Zhou under his breath as he glanced through the few pages of the manual.

What was contained within could technically be counted as a unique cultivation technique. But it was so simplistic and precise in its usage that most wouldn’t consider it as such. It was more-so a little trick--So basic and easy to learn, that even someone who could only train a single technique at once, should be able to practise it without problem.

It had no particular name, but the concept was simple. It allowed one to consolidate their will and mind to stay within the realm for longer. That was all that it did, and it was so focused that it probably only worked for this particular realm.

“Everyone, remember to do what is told within the manual every day without fail. If we do that, we should be able to gather materials for the sect in great amounts. And as you know, we can keep some of it for ourselves, so it’s also beneficial to us personally” said Kai.

The manual was passed around. Everyone went ahead and practised it immediately. The idea behind the technique was that it harmonised the user with the realm, basically allowing one to extend their time before being ejected or suffer from the mind-gnawing pressure.

Theoretically, this could allow someone to remain for a very long time. That is, as long as they don’t take too much and attract the attention of the red guardian. This was probably why, despite this technique, disciples were unable to stick around for too long.

There was no point in staying here just to stay. You would want to hunt beasts and gather materials. The technique can only allow you to maximise what you can take and make your exit once it seems like you might have painted a target on your back.

Considering the sheer number of things Edrick needed to gather when counting for both the sect, his family, and probably what he could pocket for himself. He would, without the shadow of a doubt, get to see what this guardian looked like for himself.

The special technique was practised whilst sitting on the ground and staying immobile. So, for the first day in the secret realm, all of the disciples did nothing but practise and familiarise themselves with their surroundings.

For one, Anoteros had brought with him a huge bag packed with supplies and equipment, so it wasn’t obvious that he actually had a storage item.

Soon, he would venture out.

He sneakily winked at Yin, of course, his schemes were not paused even inside the secret realm…