Perhaps because everyone was preparing for the opening of the Abyss Secret Realm, nothing major happened in the sect for these twenty-plus days. Seven Stars Peak had also been activating its formations all along, with no one coming out.
Qin Xiao would stop and rest for a while after each period of cultivation. This Body Refinement was different from regular cultivation; it also required tempering the physical body. Continuously absorbing wasn't the solution; one needed to get beaten up.
In the middle, Yun Man also came out once. Qin Xiao had Yun Man help him with Body Refinement. After receiving a thorough beating, he was satisfied and let Yun Man return to cultivation.
Yun Man had come out to get some fresh air because she had broken through to the peak of the Golden Core stage, preparing for her upcoming breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage. She also took the opportunity to give Qin Xiao the food she had bought and that Low Grade Spirit Weapon clothing. All the purchased items were with her; she had forgotten about this matter during her previous cultivation session.
After getting beaten up, Qin Xiao ate some food, changed into the spirit attire with a self-cleaning function, and returned to cultivation.
Just like this, more than twenty days passed peacefully.
"Junior Brother Qin, open the door."
Qin Xiao was relaxing in the courtyard when Lin Shimeng's voice came from outside the door.
"Coming."
After withdrawing the formation, Qin Xiao hurriedly opened the courtyard gate.
"What brings Senior Sister Lin to my Seven Stars Peak so early?"
Qin Xiao asked curiously.
"We need to assemble today. The Abyss Secret Realm will open tomorrow, so we have to go there early. That's why I came to notify you."
Lin Shimeng's attitude was much better this time.
"Oh right, I forgot to keep track of days while cultivating. I understand. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Sister Lin."
Only then did Qin Xiao remember that after the Sect Competition, the Eighth Elder seemed to have mentioned something like this.
"By the way, Senior Sister, I haven't participated in this Abyss Secret Realm before and don't understand it. I wonder if Senior Sister could introduce it to me."
Three years ago, Seven Stars Peak was directly excluded from the Abyss Secret Realm, so they didn't know what this Abyss Secret Realm was about.
"I came today precisely to tell you about this Abyss Secret Realm."
Lin Shimeng knew Qin Xiao didn't understand, which was why she came.
After Lin Shimeng's introduction, Qin Xiao finally understood what this Abyss Secret Realm was about.
It turned out that there were three secret realms in Qingzhou: the Abyss Secret Realm, Spirit Medicine Valley, and Sword Tomb.
The Abyss Secret Realm was a public resource that automatically opened every three years, with no external interference possible. The Abyss Secret Realm had nine layers in total, with Qi Condensation corresponding to the first layer, Foundation Establishment corresponding to the second layer, Golden Core corresponding to the third layer, and so on in sequence.
After so many years of clearing, the first two layers no longer had many good things, so the focus of various forces was on the third and fourth layers.
As a unique secret realm, the Abyss Secret Realm naturally had restrictions: only those under fifty years of age could enter. Those over fifty could not enter the secret realm and would be repelled.
This meant that the later layers had almost never been visited. After all, with the fifty-year age restriction there, reaching the Nascent Soul stage before fifty was already extremely rare, let alone the Soul Formation stage.
However, there were some super geniuses who managed to break through to the Soul Formation stage just before turning fifty, but they couldn't stay long in the fifth layer either. The secret realm was full of dangers, and one might perish there at any moment. So starting from the fifth layer, they were almost all untouched lands.
Because the secret realm's resources were limited, various forces in Qingzhou limited the number of entrants.
They restricted the total number to one thousand people, then allocated quotas according to the strength of each force.
Although the Tianyuan Sect was only a third-level sect on the entire continent, within Qingzhou, it could be considered part of the second tier.
There were no first-level sects in the entire Qingzhou, and only one second-level sect. So third-level sects could be considered major forces in Qingzhou.
In terms of quota distribution, Tianyuan City had fifty slots. As the first tier, the second-level Chunyang Sect had one hundred slots.
The Xuanyin Sect, which was also a third-level sect like the Tianyuan Sect, also had fifty slots. Although the Xuanyin Sect was very dissatisfied and protested several times, it had no effect.
Although the Xuanyin Sect was a third-level sect, it was considerably stronger than the Tianyuan Sect. It wasn't much weaker than the Chunyang Sect either, and the two were rivals. Naturally, the Xuanyin Sect was dissatisfied, but since everyone disagreed, the Xuanyin Sect didn't dare to oppose the entire Qingzhou.
As for other forces and fourth-level sects, they weren't bound by this rule.
For example, the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, although not a sect, was a first-level force. Even its Qingzhou branch belonged to a second-level force, so naturally it also had one hundred slots.
Fourth-level sects and some main city lords had twenty slots each. The Heavenly Clothes Pavilion, as a fourth-level force, also had twenty slots.
Lords of smaller cities and smaller forces had only five slots each.
Even for these five slots, those small forces fought fiercely, because as long as they could find some cultivation techniques, spirit weapons, or spirit medicines within, they could bring significant improvements to their families or forces.
Even if their own family or force didn't have talented disciples, they could attach themselves to larger forces, and quotas could also be exchanged for resources. So many relatively strong forces continuously took on subordinates.
However, no one dared to target city lords. These city lords were people assigned by the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty from Central Province, and they all belonged to the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty.
The Supreme Heavenly Dynasty was an existence that surpassed sects. They possessed abundant resources but didn't interfere with sects. Instead, they governed the entire secular world. The cultivation techniques they practiced weren't ordinary cultivation arts but Providence Arts.
So in terms of quota distribution, even lords of some small cities would have five slots. This was giving face and respect to the Supreme Heavenly Dynasty.
These city lords also feared no sects. Even if opponents were far stronger than themselves, they weren't afraid. They had their own rules. This was why cultivators generally didn't dare to fight in cities. If they broke the law, city lords could arrest people according to the rules, and sects couldn't forcibly retrieve them. However, under normal circumstances, everyone would pay attention to the ways of the world and had their limits.
"As for our sect's distribution of fifty people, your Seven Stars Peak only has two people, so only two slots were given. The other six peaks each have five people, and the Main Peak has eighteen people."
After introducing the Abyss Secret Realm, Lin Shimeng explained to Qin Xiao the distribution of sect personnel for this trip.
"Why does your Main Peak have so many people?"
Qin Xiao thought nothing of the other peaks each having five people, but the Main Peak actually had eighteen slots?
"The Main Peak doesn't just have my father's disciples. There's also the Eighth Elder, Ninth Elder, Tenth Elder, and some other disciples. On average, it's not even more than the other five peaks. What are you dissatisfied about? The two slots for your Seven Stars Peak were taken from my Main Peak."
Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit, Lin Shimeng immediately became somewhat angry. My father even gave up two slots for you, and instead of being grateful, you actually questioned.
"Senior Sister, don't be angry. I just didn't know and asked casually. How could I be dissatisfied when I'm grateful beyond words?"
Seeing Lin Shimeng about to explode again, Qin Xiao quickly said.
"That's more like it. We'll assemble at the Sect Square at noon. If we fly continuously, we can arrive tomorrow morning. The secret realm will open in the afternoon. Don't forget."
Seeing Qin Xiao's attitude was still acceptable, Lin Shimeng didn't dwell on it. After clarifying matters, she turned and left.
"We need to assemble soon. I wonder how my disciple's cultivation is going. With various forces gathering in the secret realm, there will probably be no shortage of conflicts."
After seeing off Lin Shimeng, Qin Xiao planned to check on Yun Man.
"Master, I heard your conversation. Disciple has completed cultivation and can depart at any time."
Before Qin Xiao could knock, Yun Man opened the door, speaking with a confident expression.
"Disciple, what cultivation level have you reached?"
Qin Xiao sensed that Yun Man was indeed somewhat different and quickly inquired.
Yun Man didn't waste words and directly told Qin Xiao.
"Disciple has lived up to expectations and successfully condensed a Nascent Soul. Disciple is now at the Nascent Soul Initial Stage."