"All of you, quiet down and listen carefully."
Right at that moment, an ordinary-looking elder suddenly appeared before the gate of the Yangming Secret Realm, his hands clasped behind his back, his gaze indifferent, as he spoke slowly.
The elder's voice did not seem particularly loud, but it transmitted into everyone's soul sea, rumbling like thunder. Countless young people's soul bodies were shaken, swaying unsteadily, terrified to the point where they nearly collapsed.
In an instant, the vast majority of the crowd quieted down.
"This is a True God, and most likely a mid-level True God," someone could not help but whisper.
"True Gods truly are formidable!" Ye Yunfei thought to himself as he watched the speaking elder.
This was the first time Ye Yunfei had encountered a True God in person, and a mid-level one at that.
"Everyone, the rules for entering the Yangming Secret Realm have been announced. Anyone who wants to enter must follow the rules. Whoever dares to violate them will be executed without mercy!" The elder's expression softened slightly upon seeing the entire scene fall quiet instantly, and he declared in a clear, loud voice.
Each word he spoke seemed like an invisible giant hammer, pounding fiercely against space, causing the world to tremble violently with each impact.
As he continued speaking, the world followed with intense shaking and trembling, making the vast majority of people feel dizzy and nauseous, their faces filled with terror.
Everyone understood that this elder from the Guardian Faction was establishing dominance.
"But this Yangming Secret Realm does not belong to your Guardian Faction; it belongs to all of the Void.
Every time the Yangming Secret Realm has opened throughout history, everyone has been able to enter freely. Why must we now follow the rules set by your Guardian Faction?"
After hearing the elder's words, though no one dared to curse aloud, many within the crowd still muttered softly in dissent, expressing dissatisfaction.
Suddenly, the elder's face darkened. He reached out and clawed at the air. Immediately, five young people were lifted into the air by a terrifying suction force and fell before the elder.
"Anyone who dares to disobey the rules set by our Guardian Faction will be put to death!" The elder's words were ice-cold.
Bang! Bang! Bang...
The bodies of the five young people exploded simultaneously, turning into clouds of blood mist, their forms and souls disintegrating, vanishing into nothingness.
"Take action. Kill everyone who came with them." The elder said coldly.
Immediately, dozens of Perfected Void Gods rushed out from the Guardian Faction's ranks and charged into the crowd, killing as they went.
In moments, everyone who had come with those five young people was killed, including their master's sects, families, friends, and partners.
Witnessing this scene, most people wore terrified expressions.
"Is there anyone else dissatisfied? You may step forward now." The elder's icy gaze slowly swept across the crowd as he spoke.
Meeting the elder's murderous gaze, most people hurriedly lowered their heads. No one dared to step forward to express dissatisfaction, because everyone knew that in this Sixth Void, the Guardian Faction was one of the most powerful super factions. No one dared to provoke them.
"Since no one has stepped forward, this means everyone agrees.
Good. From now on, we will proceed according to the rules set by our Guardian Faction. If anyone dares to violate them, do not blame our Guardian Faction for being ruthless.
Not only will the violator be punished, but the factions, clans, family members, friends, and acquaintances of the violator will also bear responsibility and face collective punishment." Seeing the fearful expressions on everyone's faces, the elder revealed a faint smile of satisfaction, then slowly spoke.
After finishing, his figure slowly vanished, hidden within the nearby space.
Looking at the spot where the elder disappeared, countless people felt intense rage in their hearts but dared not show it.
Because provoking the Guardian Faction could bring disaster not only to oneself but also to one's affiliated factions, clans, and the relatives and friends around them. The price was too great.
Naturally, in secret, countless people transmitted messages to each other, cursing the Guardian Faction together.
"It seems the Guardian Faction in this Void conducts itself similarly to the Guardian Faction in our Eighth Void," Ye Yunfei observed internally, thinking to himself.
"This is good. The actions of the Watchers are sure to have sown seeds of discontent among many factions. Even if they don't express it openly yet, they must harbor thoughts of resistance in secret. This will be advantageous for me when I unite the various factions of this Void to deal with the Guardian Faction." Ye Yunfei's cold eyes watched the Guardian Faction troops surrounding the Yangming Secret Realm gate as he silently calculated.
"Two hundred thousand Divine Crystals… that's an exorbitant amount!"
Our Qi Family has over ten young people who want to enter. Wouldn't that require over two million Divine Crystals? That would drain our entire Qi Family's coffers!"
"Our Qingyang Sect originally intended to send dozens of young disciples into the Yangming Secret Realm to explore. But now it seems our Qingyang Sect simply cannot gather enough Divine Crystals to send in dozens of disciples. We'll have to select only a part to enter."
……
Many from various factions lamented helplessly.
Originally, these factions had prepared to send a group of younger generations into the Yangming Secret Realm for experience and exploration. But now, with each person requiring two hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals to enter, they simply couldn't afford it.
"Two hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals… Even if we sold all the assets of our Li Family, we might not be able to gather that amount. Does this mean the members of our Li Family have no chance to enter the Yangming Secret Realm this time?"
"Our Baisha Gang is merely a small sect. Two hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals is equivalent to most of our Baisha Gang's income for an entire year. Furthermore, the Yangming Secret Realm is about to open soon, time is tight, and there is no chance to return to headquarters to gather funds.
It seems our Baisha Gang is fated to miss out on this expedition into the Yangming Secret Realm.
We had hoped our younger generation from the Baisha Gang would gain something inside the Yangming Secret Realm, which could elevate our gang's overall strength. Now it seems that hope is lost."
Many small factions simply couldn't gather two hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals on short notice and could only sigh repeatedly, hanging their heads in dejection.
"Young Master Ye, the money I carried has long been spent and is almost all gone. I can't possibly come up with two hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals. However, I haven't finished using the Divine Pills you gave me. Those should be worth several hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals, right?" Qin Xiaoyu transmitted her voice to Ye Yunfei.
"I have them here. I'll pay for you," Ye Yunfei replied.
With this, Ye Yunfei would have to pay four hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals, or other treasures of equivalent value.
Though Ye Yunfei possessed considerable wealth, four hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals was not a small sum. He felt a bit of a sting, knowing he would require massive cultivation resources for his future training.
To say nothing else, the resources needed for the cultivation of the nine divine beasts within his Nine Palaces Totem Wheel alone would be an astronomical figure.
"Look, the gate to the Yangming Secret Realm is starting to tremble!"
Suddenly, exclamations rose from within the crowd. Immediately, all eyes turned to the bronze gate.
Indeed, the bronze gate showed movement, trembling slightly as a mysterious aura began to diffuse from within.
At this moment, everyone understood the gate to the Yangming Secret Realm was about to open.
Approximately half an hour later.
Rumble…
The bronze gate suddenly emitted a series of loud, thunderous noises. Then, amidst the deafening roar, the bronze gate slowly began to open.
"The Yangming Secret Realm is officially opening!" someone could not help but cry out.
"First, the younger generations from the major factions will enter," the elder from the Guardian Faction who had spoken earlier reappeared before the crowd and announced clearly.
Immediately, batch after batch of young people from the major factions of this Void rose into the air, rushing towards the entrance to the Yangming Secret Realm.
According to the rules set by the Guardian Faction, these younger generations from the major factions could enter freely and did not need to pay.
"These major factions actually show no opposition to the rules set by the Guardian Faction? Could it be that all the major factions in this Void dare not provoke the Guardian Faction?" Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm could not help but say.
"On the contrary, I think these major factions are more than happy that the Guardian Faction has set such rules, because the fewer people who enter, the fewer competitors there will be.
To put it bluntly, these major factions are all self-serving. Why would they oppose the rules set by the Guardian Faction?" Hu Miao interjected.
"Correct. What Hu Miao says makes sense. These major factions only think of their own interests. They believe the rules set by the Guardian Faction benefit them, so of course they wouldn't oppose," Hun Lao stated.
"What a bunch of selfish ghosts! No wonder the Guardian Faction can develop and prosper in this Void," Golden-Horned Dragon Silkworm said angrily.
"Qin Xiaoyu, have you arrived?
If you have already come, show yourself immediately and follow the Qin Family's younger generation inside." At that moment, a middle-aged man rose into the air and called out loudly.
"That's Ninth Uncle. He's in cahoots with that Qin Xiaoqian. We absolutely cannot let him discover me," Qin Xiaoyu was startled upon seeing the middle-aged man and hurriedly hid behind Ye Yunfei.
"Don't worry, he won't recognize you," Ye Yunfei said.
The middle-aged man called out over a dozen times, but Qin Xiaoyu did not respond at all.
"Could it be she hasn't come?" the middle-aged man murmured softly.
"Alright. Our Qin Family's younger generation may begin entering now," the middle-aged man, believing Qin Xiaoyu hadn't arrived, announced loudly.
"I saw with my own eyes Qin Xiaoyu frolicking with a pretty boy. She has completely shamed our Qin Family! How would she dare show her face now?" From within the Qin Family ranks, a woman spoke with malicious intent.
This woman was precisely the Qin Xiaoqian that Ye Yunfei had encountered before.
A large group of the Qin Family's younger generation rushed forward, vying with each other to charge into the bronze gate.
After a short while, all the young people from the major factions had entered.
"Good. From now on, anyone else who wishes to enter must pay two hundred thousand Elementary Divine Crystals per person," the elder from the Guardian Faction declared loudly.
"Those without money, get lost! Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite." The elder's gaze was cold as a blade, sharp and piercing, as it swept over the crowd before he added this statement.
The crowd remained silent for a moment. After a brief pause, some people began to step forward to pay the Divine Crystals, subsequently obtaining a slot to enter the Yangming Secret Realm.
Then, more and more people began to line up, stepping forward to pay.
Everyone understood: this was the situation, and there was nothing else to say. The Guardian Faction was too overbearing. Those who wanted to enter could only pay.