My Wife Turns Out to be an Empress of the Dynasty

Chapter 97 The Opening of the Secret Realm; The Mysterious Death Puppets!

In the Shuzhou, situated at the convergence of the Great Jing and the Chiyang Dynasty, lies a place revered by scholars across the realm.

This is because of the Liangyi Academy, which, despite its name, occupies a vast expanse, encompassing half of the Heaven Mountain. The entrance to the Heaven Mountain Secret Realm lies precisely at the center of the academy.

When Gu Lan and his companions arrived at the academy halfway up the mountain, numerous cultivators had already gathered.

Representatives from various major forces were present, all with bone ages not exceeding thirty.

Gu Lan glanced around, noting that even the highest cultivation among them reached only the King Realm, similar to his younger brother.

Only a few sporadic individuals possessed strength at the Nature Realm level, and, like Lin Tan'er, did not exceed three in number.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

At this moment, these individuals stood tall and proud, exuding an air of arrogance. Achieving such cultivation at their age undoubtedly placed them as the top apprentices of their respective forces, qualified to represent their factions in entering the Heaven Mountain Secret Realm.

Gu Lan sensed a few gazes sweeping in their direction.

Turning his head, he observed several men in identical attire not far away, evidently apprentices of the same sect.

Their eyes lingered on Lin Tan'er for a moment due to her appearance before shifting their attention to the individuals beside Gu Lan.

"They are observing the young cultivators from the Great Jing," Gu Lan narrowed his eyes. Soon, he realized that they were memorizing the faces of the Great Jing cultivators about to enter the secret realm.

In the secret realm, there are no restrictions on life and death. Their intentions are quite evident. If you remember them, then I will keep an eye on you... Gu Lan subtly extended his spiritual sense to plant a trace on the apprentices of that sect.

Regardless of their faction, the hidden killing intent in their eyes spoke volumes.

It wasn't prudent to act here, but once inside, they could be dealt with as straightforwardly as brushing aside wild beasts.

Returning his gaze, at this moment, five elders emerged from the academy's main hall—three at the peak of the Emperor Realm and two already stepping into the Immortal Realm.

Apparently, they were the key figures of the academy. Among the waiting cultivators, some recognized them, and as they appeared, excitement painted the faces of many.

"They are the five vice-deans. The opening of the secret realm is imminent!"

"Haha, only when the five vice-deans collaborate can they open the spatial passage and transport us to the realm full of opportunities!"

"But don't forget about the Lord Dean. Rumor has it that the Dean has been in seclusion for years, and his strength has already surpassed the extraordinary!"

"Impressive! With the Literary Sage at the Liangyi Academy, who on the continent can challenge its status?"

...

The apprentices of the sect rushed into the vortex one after another, including the men on whom Gu Lan had placed his spiritual awareness.

"Young master, we are going in," Lin Tan'er said, gripping her sword tightly and bidding farewell in a hushed tone.

"Go ahead, stay safe, and come back soon to take you back home," Gu Lan waved his hand, smiling.

Lin Tan'er nodded and, along with the young Daoist, stepped into the secret realm. Gu Lan waved his sleeve, leaving two strands of spiritual awareness on them. His younger brother, being at the King Realm, should handle ordinary situations well. With the additional spiritual awareness, there was an extra layer of assurance.

With these tasks completed, Gu Lan nodded, ready to enter and face the challenges within the realm.

Arriving at a secluded corner, Gu Lan wiped his face, transforming his appearance into another form. Glancing at his reflection in a puddle, he might not be as handsome as the revered readers, but he was presentable and average.

Following the crowd, Gu Lan entered the gateway to the secret realm. However, just as he was about to step in, he suddenly felt a peculiar chill emanating from someone beside him.

At Gu Lan's level, anything that felt strange usually wasn't simple. Gu Lan immediately glanced sideways and saw a wandering cultivator with lifeless eyes and a pallid complexion. Noticing Gu Lan's gaze, he turned to face him.

The eerie appearance resembled someone who had been tormented by severe pressure for months. Was this a Death Puppet?

Gu Lan's pupils slightly contracted. The cold aura around the figure was the death qi he emitted, a phenomenon unique to the corpses manipulated by puppet refinement, something found only in the original work.

"Death Puppets are tools crafted by puppet cultivators. It's not surprising for them to enter the secret realm with their masters. But why does this corpse puppet seem to lack a master?" Gu Lan furrowed his brow.

At that moment, the corpse puppet actually tugged at the corners of its mouth, revealing a smile more grotesque than a cry, and then stepped into the gateway to the secret realm.

"No time to dwell on it. I hope to find it once inside," Gu Lan shook his head, suppressing the doubts in his heart, and entered the realm.

...

Three hours later, as the vortex of the secret realm dissipated, the Liangyi Academy closed its doors. Some cultivators who missed the opportunity to enter the realm could only lament outside the gate.

In the central hall, the five vice-deans sat in a circle. Contrary to what outsiders might expect, after successfully opening the secret realm, they did not show relief and a sense of accomplishment. Instead, each wore a solemn expression.

It seemed that the opening of the secret realm this time had left them somewhat uneasy.

After a moment, the youngest-looking elder, with a stern expression and an impatient temperament, was the first to speak:

"Brothers, our master ascended only last year, and this year, the secret realm opened automatically... Could it be that the demonic creature sealed by our master inside is causing this?"