The desert stretched endlessly in every direction — a sea of gold beneath a lightless sky. Vast dunes rose like mountains, their peaks shifting and sighing under the weight of the hot wind. Though no sun blazed above, the air shimred with heat. Each grain of sand glittered faintly, reflecting a dull brown light as if the desert itself burned with its own strange fla.
Through this barren wasteland walked the mbers of the Sanatan Fla Sect, their robes fluttering against the relentless gusts. The journey had long since erased all landmarks; there was nothing but horizon and mirage.
At the head of the group walked Shaurya — calm, unbothered, hands tucked into his pockets. His black sunglasses glead, reflecting the golden dunes ahead. A faint grin played on his lips as a translucent system window hovered before him, displaying the map of the Secret Realm.
The sand hissed beneath his boots. Then, suddenly, he stopped. The disciples behind him nearly bumped into each other, startled.
Shaurya tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp, the faint wind stirring his hair. He raised one hand. Instantly, his entire sect halted behind him in disciplined silence.
Lin Shu, walking beside him, sighed and spoke.
"Shaurya, why did you take us all into this desert? There is nothing. Except sand."
Elder Liya brushed the dust off her shoulders and added with mild irritation,
"Yes, Master, what will we get in this desert? My clothes are covered in sand."
Shaurya chuckled softly, the sound oddly confident against the whispering wind.
"Don’t worry... we have arrived there."
His words caused the disciples to exchange confused glances. The only thing that surrounded them was emptiness — dunes as tall as towers and wind carrying waves of hot sand.
Muo Qian tilted her head and whispered,
"Hey Su Quan, Jun Hua... is it or is there really nothing except sand?"
Su Quan nodded firmly.
"There is really nothing except sand."
Jun Hua rolled her shoulders, scanning the desert.
"But if Master is saying it, then there must be sothing."
The other two nodded, trusting her words.
Luo Chen stretched his neck and said,
"Seems like we arrived sowhere."
Beside him, Wang Tian flexed his legs and smirked.
"There must be so kind of treasure with high risk. You know what it ans."
They both exchanged mischievous grins and shouted in unison,
"It’s show ti!"
The Single Mingle Gang, however, looked exhausted, their faces streaked with sweat and sand. They glanced at the dunes helplessly, while others — Lu Fang, Sheng Lu, and Shen Hang — began preparing silently, their auras stabilizing, ready for whatever might appear.
Shaurya took a step forward. Golden spiritual energy began to swirl around his right hand, coiling like liquid fire. His grin widened. Then, without hesitation, he thrust his hand forward.
The fist collided with sothing unseen — a solid, invisible barrier that rippled like glass. A thunderous boom followed as shockwaves exploded outward. Sand erupted skyward, swirling in a violent storm.
For a fleeting mont, a faint crimson barrier shimred before them — glowing, trembling — and then, with a shattering crack, it broke apart into countless fragnts of light.
As the energy dispersed, the ground beneath their feet shifted. The endless sand began to sink away, revealing a stone platform buried beneath the desert. The sect mbers stepped back in awe.
At the far end of the stone ground stood an ancient altar, half-buried in sand and ti. Countless skeletons lay scattered across the area — bones bleached white by centuries, piled in chaotic heaps.
Wang Tian cracked his knuckles, his voice steady but low.
"Seems like these are the skeletons of the people that had co before us."
Luo Chen chuckled, eyes gleaming with excitent.
"This is interesting."
Shaurya’s gaze drifted slowly across the eerie scene, taking in every detail. His eyes finally locked onto the altar — and there, resting atop a small stone pillar, was a blue pearl glowing faintly with dense spiritual energy.
Elder Liya’s eyes widened, her breath catching.
"That is..."
Elder Wan frowned in confusion.
"What happened? Do you know that thing?"
Before she could answer, Wang Tian stepped forward, crossing his arms, his tone calm but grim.
"That is a Soul Pearl. An artifact that traps cultivators’ souls after death and refines them to increase cultivation. It also enhances soul power. Judging by its power, surely many cultivators’ souls were used to make this at this level."
Elder Wan’s eyes went wide.
"A Soul Pearl... that is really a Soul Pearl. I had heard about this. It is a highly evil thod to increase cultivation."
Lin Shu turned toward Shaurya, her voice curious yet cautious.
"So... what’s your plan? Would you use this to increase your cultivation?"
Elder Liya added quickly, her tone urgent.
"Master, you can use it... it will definitely help you in your cultivation."
Elder Wan nodded in agreent.
"Yes, Master. Even if it is evil, we are not the ones who created it."
Before anyone could speak further, Shaurya raised his hand. His face was solemn now, the humor gone. The golden glow in his eyes burned brighter.
"Enough..."
He stepped forward slowly, golden spiritual energy gathering once again around his right arm. His voice carried across the silent desert — calm, resolute, and filled with conviction.
"I don’t care even if a treasure can help reach immortal level or beyond. If it is evil, I won’t use it. Rember this — our sect is a righteous sect. We will only walk on the path of righteousness. That ans there is no space for evil."
His golden aura burst outward, sweeping across the stone ground. The wind howled violently, and even the heat seed to waver before his overwhelming spiritual energy.
He slid his right leg backward slightly, lowering his stance.
"Evil is destined to fall."
He roared,
"Dragon Fist!"
A massive golden dragon of pure spiritual energy erupted from his fist, its roar echoing through the desert like thunder. The ground split open as it surged forward, the dunes collapsing under its pressure.
The dragon slamd into the altar.
BOOM!
The explosion shook the desert. The shockwave rippled outward, forcing the sect mbers to shield themselves as a violent sandstorm surged through the air.
When the roar faded and the dust began to settle, the altar was gone — shattered to dust. The Soul Pearl had vanished. Only scorched stone and drifting sand remained.
Shaurya stretched his neck and sighed softly. He whispered under his breath, almost to himself,
"I again get nothing. This is two in a row where I have to destroy the treasure. Tch... Systu, are you really not scamming ?"
A soft chi echoed.
Ding...
[Congratulations Host. You got 1000 Dharma Points because you didn’t leave the righteous path for power.]
Shaurya blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Oh... so I got sothing. Thank you, I guess."
The system replied playfully,
[Most welco, my dear host.]
Shaurya’s face twisted slightly in irritation. He sighed, turned around, and began walking calmly, hands once again tucked in his pockets. His earlier words — our sect is righteous — still echoed in the minds of his disciples.
Lin Shu stepped forward, disbelief in her eyes.
"You destroyed that treasure like this?"
Shaurya looked back over his shoulder, a warm smile softening his sharp features.
"Yeah... it was just a normal pearl. Nothing special."
He continued walking. Lin Shu’s eyes brightened, admiration shining within them. A faint blush colored her cheeks as she thought silently, This is the man I fell in love with. She quickly turned her face away, hiding her expression behind her hand.
Elder Liya noticed and smiled gently, taking Elder Wan’s hand as they began walking as well.
The Sanatan Fla Sect slowly departed from the ruins, following their master across the shimring sands. The dust from the explosion still drifted through the air like golden mist.
Shaurya opened the system map again, the blue holographic window flickering before him. He whispered,
"Now, let’s see... where should I go next? If I again get nothing, that ans my bad luck is going on."
He sighed, sounding genuinely tired. Then he asked lazily,
"Hey Systu... for how long will this secret realm remain open?"
The system replied,
[This secret realm will remain open for seven months. You have already passed one month. You still have six months left.]
Shaurya’s eyes lit up with excitent.
"Really..."
He turned to his followers, his voice rising with enthusiasm.
"My dear sect mbers... what do you think of taking a break and resting?"
The disciples shouted together, their voices filled with joy,
"Yes, Master!"
Xiao Rui threw both hands into the air.
"Yeahhh! Finally... rest!"
Lee Bie and Zong Bu hugged each other, shouting in unison,
"We will get rest finally!"
Shaurya laughed heartily.
"Looks like they all want rest."
Lin Shu nodded with a tired smile.
"Not only them, but we elders also want rest."
Shaurya smiled lightly.
"Then let’s go take a break. We still have six months to explore this realm. Let’s not force ourselves — for now."
The entire sect cheered, their laughter breaking the heavy silence of the desert. They walked together toward the horizon, searching for a place to rest.
Above them, the wind carried away the last traces of sand from the battle — and far across the dunes, the echo of Shaurya’s golden dragon faded into stillness.
To be continued...
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