Chapter 97: The Prostrate Shell

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Could this place really be a secret realm? Shang Lu was utterly astonished. Over the past while, he had heard many speak of secret realms and had assumed they were naturally abundant with spiritual energy—places akin to sacred caves or blessed lands. Yet he never expected that the secret realm within Yunhua Mountain bore clear marks of artificial excavation and construction.

Judging by the scale of the work, it was impossible to have been completed in a short time. Even with the aid of sorcery, paper figurines, or bean soldiers, it wouldn’t be feasible. It was safe to rule out that the digging and buildings here were the work of the shaman officials.

“Could it be that what’s called a secret realm is actually a relic left behind by predecessors?” Shang Lu speculated. Seeing San Niang drifting deeper into the cave, he hurried to follow, scanning the surroundings and puzzling aloud, “Isn’t the spiritual energy supposed to be thick in a secret realm? Why can’t I feel any? Is it because my cultivation is insufficient?”

Though Shang Lu had never seen spiritual energy, he had consumed spiritual fat and knew that it should bring a feeling of ease and replenishment of strength. If there were spiritual energy here, he should absorb some as he passed through. Even if his current cultivation couldn’t process it, the Spleen Spirit statue in the Five Organs Temple could convert spiritual energy into vitality.

But here, not only did he feel no comfort or fullness, the Spleen Spirit statue showed no reaction at all. Instead, the Liver Spirit statue flickered with green light constantly, drawing out strands of killing intent from his body.

What was going on? This place lacked spiritual energy but was filled with deadly energy? Could this really be a secret realm?

Doubt filled Shang Lu’s heart. But San Niang wouldn’t deceive him, so was there something wrong with this secret realm? Had the shaman officials damaged it by raising monstrous snakes here? While curious and guessing, Shang Lu couldn’t help but wonder why San Niang had brought him here. Was there an official captive needing rescue? Or was there truly a great opportunity hidden here, requiring them to brave danger in pursuit of fortune?

He wanted to ask but reconsidered—if this truly was a secret realm, then the shaman officials and their paper figurines and bean soldiers were likely here. Previously, at the secret realm’s edge, speaking quietly might go unnoticed. But now, deep within, any noise could alert the shamans or their minions, which would be dangerous.

Thinking this, Shang Lu shut his mouth.

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In any case, San Niang had brought him here for a reason, and he would soon find out what it was. Meanwhile, Shang Lu employed the Bird Walk Technique, lightening his steps to move as quietly as a swallow, avoiding detection.

Though he asked no questions, his eyes roamed everywhere, seeking answers on his own. The more he observed the secret realm, the stranger it seemed. From the structures and layout, it appeared designed to imprison and cultivate beasts.

Within the realm, there were stone cells covered with strange runes; places resembling stables or pens; breeding and birthing enclosures; and buildings adorned with runes of unknown purpose.

Shang Lu was certain about the breeding and birthing enclosures because there were inscriptions on the stone walls. These writings differed somewhat from the script used in the Ba Kingdom but shared similarities enough that Shang Lu could barely make out some meaning through guesswork.

“So this secret realm was once a place where a cultivation sect raised and refined beasts?” Shang Lu guessed curiously. What happened to that sect? Did they relocate or perish? Why hadn’t their ruins been discovered or reacted to before, only to suddenly appear recently?

Though secret realms were forbidden zones for commoners by the court and shaman institute, many legends about them circulated among the populace. Some were true, some false, but one fact remained: the court and shaman institute conducted nationwide secret realm surveys every ten years.

The last survey had been less than three years ago, and no sign of a secret realm was found in Luoshui County then.

At that moment, Shang Lu recalled something—when Yunhua Mountain’s secret realm was mentioned, whether by the county magistrate, the record keeper, or the shaman official, they all used the word “birth.”

Could this seemingly ruinous secret realm actually have been “born” recently? It hadn’t existed in Yunhua Mountain before but had mysteriously “emerged” in recent times, attracting the mutated monstrous snakes and the shaman officials.

This was quite baffling, but in this world, the more baffling something was, the more likely it was true.

As Shang Lu’s thoughts raced, he suddenly caught sight of a presence lurking in the darkness ahead.

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He quickly focused, crouched low, gripping his ox-tail blade tightly, and slipped behind a nearby rock for cover.

San Niang, floating ahead as a guide, noticed his reaction, turned back, and beckoned him not to worry.

Shang Lu was surprised. If there were people ahead, why would San Niang tell him not to fret? Nonetheless, he followed closely, remaining highly alert and ready to fight.

Soon, Shang Lu approached the group. They showed no reaction to his arrival, as if completely unaware. Each knelt with their heads bowed, striking the ground in a posture of profound worship and reverence.

Who were these people? What were they worshipping?

With curiosity, Shang Lu looked toward the direction of their worship. Darkness stretched ahead—nothing visible. Though Shang Lu could see in the dark, his range was limited.

Yet their strange behavior convinced him that something was definitely concealed in the blackness.

Was it the shaman officials? Or the mutated monstrous snakes they raised?

As he drew nearer, Shang Lu realized not all kneeling figures were human. Many wore human clothes and mimicked human behavior but were demons! Some remained fully beast-like; others had partially transformed into humanoid forms, or bore eerie human-like appearances, unsettling and fearsome.

Shang Lu guessed these must be the monsters and ghosts who had heard of the secret realm’s birth in Yunhua Mountain and tried to seize the opportunity by force.

As for those resembling woodcutters, hunters, or peddlers, they were likely spies from other lands sent to sabotage the secret realm.

Yet these infiltrators and monsters were all here, kneeling in worship? This was clearly wrong!

Shang Lu was shocked but soon understood why.

Upon further approach, he found that these spies and monsters had long since died.

What knelt here now were mere shells—emptied of flesh and organs.