I am submissive in Journey to the West, I strike hard at the gods

These cultivators came in various forms; some had human bodies and snake tails, some had wings on their backs, and others had ferocious faces and fierce auras, clearly powerful figures from the desolate lands.

Jiang Wang landed, concealed his aura, and transformed into an ordinary cultivator in a blue robe, blending into the crowd and silently observing his surroundings.

His gaze swept across the crowd, and he quickly sensed several familiar auras, causing him to frown slightly.

"I never expected that the Buddhist sect would send people as well."

Jiang Wang's gaze fell on a group of monks not far away. Leading them were Manjushri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva. The two were surrounded by Buddhist light and had a solemn demeanor. The surrounding cultivators all avoided them and dared not approach.

Manjushri Bodhisattva seemed to notice Jiang Wang's gaze, turned his head and looked over. His gaze lingered on Jiang Wang for a moment, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes, before he looked away, clearly not recognizing Jiang Wang's identity.

After all, Jiang Wang had concealed his aura and changed his appearance, making him look completely different from before.

"Brother Manjushri, what are you looking at?"

Samantabhadra Bodhisattva noticed Manjushri's unusual behavior and asked softly.

Manjushri shook his head and said calmly, "It's nothing. I just sensed a strange aura, but it disappeared in the blink of an eye. I guess I was overthinking it."

Puxian nodded, his gaze fixed on the Secret Realm Tower in the center of the square, and said in a deep voice, "The opening of the Secret Realm Tower this time is of great importance. Our Buddhist sect must obtain those Chaos Treasures and Law Fragments."

If we can obtain these opportunities, it will not only enhance the strength of our Buddhist sect, but also accelerate the journey to the West, allowing Tang Sanzang to obtain the true scriptures sooner.

Mentioning Tang Sanzang, Manjushri's expression darkened slightly: "Speaking of Tang Sanzang, after Sun Wukong was banished, the four of them were trapped in Xiniu Hezhou for more than ten years. Those sent to investigate were all turned back by unknown forces. This matter is quite strange."

"Unknown forces?"

Puxian frowned. "Could it be the Heavenly Court's doing? Or some reclusive powerhouse from the primordial world?"

"Hard to say."

Manjushri shook his head. "That force is extremely powerful. The restrictions they set up are so strong that even the Arhats of our Buddhist sect cannot break through them. It seems that they are intentionally targeting Journey to the West."

However, the most important thing right now is the Secret Realm Tower. We can deal with this matter later after we obtain the opportunities within.

The conversation between the two reached Jiang Wang's ears, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth. He thought to himself, "Targeting Journey to the West? You're right."

"Whether you can obtain the opportunity of the Secret Realm Tower depends on whether I agree."

Just then, a majestic voice came from the sky, resounding throughout the central square like thunder: "Fellow Daoists, the Secret Realm Tower is about to open. Please abide by the rules and do not kill each other inside the tower. Violators will be directly annihilated by the Secret Realm Tower."

Furthermore, the Secret Realm Tower has nine levels, each protected by powerful restrictions and demonic beasts. Only by passing through each level of trials can one reach the top and obtain the ultimate opportunity.

Everyone looked up and saw an old man in a purple and gold dragon robe standing in the void. His face was majestic and his aura was unfathomable. He was the ruler of the Auspicious Realm, the Heavenly Emperor.

"Greetings, Heavenly Emperor!"

The monks in the square bowed respectfully.

The Heavenly Emperor is a top expert in the Auspicious Realm, with unfathomable cultivation. No one dares to be presumptuous in front of him.

The Heavenly Emperor nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said in a deep voice, "The time has come. The Secret Realm Tower, open!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his hand and waved it, sending a dazzling golden light shooting towards the center of the square.

In the center of the square, where there had been nothing before, a towering ancient pagoda suddenly appeared.

The ancient pagoda is made entirely of blue-green rock, and its body is covered with ancient patterns, exuding a strong innate aura. Its spire pierces the sky, as if it can connect heaven and earth.

The ancient pagoda's gate was tightly closed, with two ancient characters carved on it: "Secret Realm".

As the golden light descended, the gates of the Secret Realm Tower slowly opened, and a powerful suction force emanated from within the tower, accompanied by a rich aura of spiritual energy and the power of laws.

A fervent look flashed in the eyes of the cultivators in the square, and they all rushed toward the Secret Realm Tower.

"Come on, let's go in too!"

Manjushri gave a low shout and flew towards the Secret Realm Tower together with Samantabhadra.

Other powerful figures from various factions were not to be outdone and flocked into the tower. For a time, only a few cultivators with lower cultivation levels remained in the square, not daring to step in easily.

Jiang Wang did not rush to enter, but stood still, looking at the Secret Realm Tower with a slight frown.

He could sense that the tower not only contained a rich aura of opportunity, but also a hidden danger, as if some powerful being was slumbering within it.

"This secret tower is no ordinary place."

Jiang Wang thought to himself, "It seems that reaching the top will not be an easy task."

Just then, a voice came from behind, tinged with provocation: "Kid, what are you still standing here for? Are you scared? If you don't dare to go in, then get lost and stop blocking the way."

Jiang Wang turned around and saw a burly man standing behind him. The man was shirtless, with bronze skin and bulging muscles. He held a huge axe in his hand and exuded a fierce aura. He was clearly a close-combat expert.

Behind the burly man were several cultivators, all looking at Jiang Wang with disdain.

Jiang Wang glanced at the burly man indifferently and said in a flat tone, "Whether I go in or not is none of your business."

I advise you not to mess with me, or you'll face the consequences.

"Bear the consequences yourself?"

The burly man burst into laughter, his eyes full of mockery. "With your frail appearance, you dare to say such things to me? I think you're tired of living!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the burly man raised his hand and swung the axe in his hand, which whistled through the air as it cleaved towards Jiang Wang.

The axe contained immense power, splitting the air along its path and creating a visible shockwave.

Upon seeing this, the surrounding cultivators retreated hastily, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire.

Jiang Wang's expression remained unchanged, and he easily dodged the attack of the mountain-splitting axe by slightly shifting his body to the side.

The axe struck the ground with a loud bang, splitting a deep trench several meters deep, sending rocks flying everywhere.

"Ok?"

A hint of surprise flashed in the burly man's eyes; he clearly hadn't expected Jiang Wang to dodge his attack so easily.

He snorted coldly and swung his axe at Jiang Wang again, his attack even more ferocious than before.

A hint of impatience flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes. He raised his hand and waved it, and a beam of purple-gold light shot out, instantly striking the burly man's chest.

The burly man groaned, his body flying backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood, and the axe in his hand falling to the side.

The burly man clutched his chest, staring at Jiang Wang in horror. He could feel the immense power contained within Jiang Wang, far beyond what he could contend with.

Jiang Wang ignored the burly man and glanced at the cultivators behind him.

Upon seeing this, the cultivators turned pale with fright and retreated, not daring to approach Jiang Wang even a step further.

"roll."

Jiang Wang uttered a single word, his tone icy.

The burly man quickly scrambled to his feet, picked up his axe, and led several cultivators in a hasty retreat. Seeing this, the surrounding cultivators all looked at Jiang Wang with awe, and no one dared to provoke him again.

Jiang Wang withdrew his gaze and entered the secret realm tower in a flash.

As soon as you step into the tower, a rich spiritual energy rushes towards you, dozens of times more concentrated than that outside.

The tower's interior was vast, with ancient runes carved on the surrounding walls, emitting a faint glow that illuminated the entire space.

"The first floor?"

Jiang Wang scanned his surroundings and saw dozens of tall demonic beasts standing on the ground not far away. These beasts were all black, with sharp fangs and claws, and their eyes flashed with a fierce light. They were the guardian beasts of the first level of the Secret Realm Tower - the Black Armored Wolves.

The black-armored wolves sensed Jiang Wang's presence and pounced on him, letting out low growls.

These black-armored wolves are all at the Golden Immortal level. They have thick skin and strong defense, making it extremely difficult for ordinary cultivators to deal with them.

Jiang Wang remained calm, raised his hand, and several streaks of purple-gold sword energy shot out, instantly piercing through the bodies of several black-armored wolves.

The black-armored wolf let out a miserable howl and fell to the ground. Its body quickly turned into ashes, leaving only a few black demon cores.

"Vulnerable."

Jiang Wang said calmly, and with a flicker of his figure, he weaved through the pack of black-armored wolves.

He was incredibly fast, like a ghost, and with each strike, several black-armored wolves fell.

The purple-gold sword energy crisscrossed, completely suppressing the black-armored wolves' offensive. In less than half an incense stick's time, dozens of black-armored wolves were killed by Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang bent down to pick up the demon core from the ground and casually tossed it into his storage bag.

Although the demon cores of these black-armored wolves are not particularly valuable, they can still be used to refine pills, which is better than nothing.

His gaze drifted deeper into the tower, where he saw a staircase leading to the second floor.

Just as Jiang Wang was about to head to the second floor, a voice suddenly came from the stairwell: "Fellow Daoist, your skills are truly admirable."

Jiang Wang turned his head and saw a man dressed in white standing at the top of the stairs. He had a handsome face and an elegant demeanor. He was holding a folding fan and smiling at him.

The man's aura was gentle yet unfathomable, clearly indicating that he was also a top-tier expert.

"Fellow Daoist, you flatter me."

Jiang Wang said calmly, his gaze sweeping over the man in white, "May I ask who you are, friend?"

The man in white smiled slightly, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Bai Yuchen, from the Dragon Clan of the Eastern Sea in the Primordial Era."

Fellow Daoist, you look unfamiliar. May I ask which faction you come from?

"The Dragon Clan of the East Sea?"

Jiang Wang raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

The Dragon Clan of the East Sea is one of the top forces in the prehistoric world, with formidable strength. Unexpectedly, the Dragon Clan also sent people when the Secret Realm Tower opened.

He said calmly, "I am Jiang Wang, and I come alone, without any sect or school."

"Jiang Wang?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Bai Yucheng's eyes, as if he had never heard of this name before, but he did not ask any further questions and said with a smile, "So it is Fellow Daoist Jiang."

"Judging from your skills, fellow Daoist, your cultivation must be extraordinary. How about we travel together and conquer the Secret Realm Tower together? That way, we can look out for each other."

Jiang Wang pondered for a moment, thinking to himself, "The East Sea Dragon Clan is very powerful. Traveling with Bai Yuchen might save us a lot of trouble."

Moreover, the Dragon Clan has always been at odds with the Heavenly Court and Buddhism. If I could win over the Dragon Clan, it would also be beneficial for me in hindering the Journey to the West.

Thinking of this, Jiang Wang nodded: "Alright, since Fellow Daoist Bai has extended such a kind invitation, then I will respectfully accept."

A hint of joy flashed in Bai Yuchen's eyes, and he laughed, "That's great! With Fellow Daoist Jiang's help, we will definitely be able to reach the summit smoothly."

"Let's go check out the second level. They say the guardian beast there is the Azure Water Tortoise, which has extremely strong defenses and is difficult to deal with."

The two went up the stairs and soon arrived at the second floor.

The second floor was larger than the first, and the ground was covered with puddles of emerald green water that exuded a faint chill.

In the middle of the water not far away, lay a huge black tortoise. Its shell was as big as a small mountain, and its whole body was emerald green with intricate patterns, exuding a strong aura of water.

The Azure Water Black Tortoise sensed the presence of the two, slowly opened its eyes, a fierce light flashing in them, and let out a low roar.

With a twitch of its limbs, it pounced on the two of them, its enormous claws carrying immense water power as they slammed towards Jiang Wang and Bai Yuchen.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, be careful!"

Bai Yuchen let out a low shout, waved his folding fan, and several white wind blades shot out, slashing towards the claws of the Azure Water Black Turtle.

At the same time, he transformed into a giant white dragon, coiled in mid-air, and spewed out a cold dragon breath towards the Azure Water Black Turtle.

Jiang Wang was not to be outdone. He raised his hand and waved it, and the purple-gold sword energy shot out again. At the same time, a layer of purple-gold protective shield appeared around him, blocking the cold energy emitted by the Azure Water Black Turtle.

The purple-gold sword energy and the white dragon breath merged together and attacked the Azure Water Black Turtle.

With a loud "boom," the attack struck the Azure Water Black Tortoise's carapace, emitting a dazzling light.

The Azure Water Black Tortoise grunted and retreated slightly, leaving only a shallow mark on its shell, demonstrating its astonishing defensive capabilities.

"Such strong defense!"

Bai Yuchen transformed into human form, looking at the Azure Water Black Tortoise with a solemn expression. "The Azure Water Black Tortoise's shell contains the innate laws of water, which cannot be broken by ordinary attacks."

A thoughtful look flashed in Jiang Wang's eyes as he said, "Although its defense is strong, it must have weaknesses."

I observed that its abdomen was lighter in color, which I suppose is where its weakness lies.

We divided the work: you distract it, and I'll attack its belly.

As soon as he finished speaking, he transformed into a white dragon again and charged towards the Azure Water Tortoise, spewing out dragon breath and attacking its shell with his claws to attract its attention.

As expected, the Azure Water Black Tortoise was attracted by Bai Yuchen and kept waving its claws, fighting with the white dragon.

Seeing this, Jiang Wang swayed and transformed into a streak of purple-gold light, quietly circling behind the Azure Water Black Turtle. He raised his hand and condensed a huge purple-gold fist, smashing it towards the Azure Water Black Turtle's abdomen.

"boom!"

The purple-gold fist slammed heavily into the belly of the Azure Water Black Tortoise, which let out a shrill scream and its body trembled violently.

Its abdomen was indeed its weak point, and Jiang Wang struck it successfully, causing green blood to flow from the wound.

"Now!"

Seeing this, Bai Yuchen's eyes flashed with joy, and he spewed out an even larger dragon breath, shooting it towards the wound of the Azure Water Black Tortoise. (End of this chapter)