You, a living person, are telling me I've served in the underworld for ten years?

It's an unparalleled secret realm, either created by ancient powerful beings or formed naturally! Look here..."

She pointed to the monotonous, gray, empty space around her, which was only a few dozen feet in diameter.

"This is nothing like a paradise! Even the smallest, dilapidated secret realm in my family's records is much larger and richer than this!"

Her reaction was exactly what Chen Yang expected.

Chen Yang didn't argue, but just smiled faintly, stretched out a finger, and gently tapped it in the air.

"That's because I don't want you to see the real thing. What you call this place is just a 'veil' I've set up. Now, take a look and see what's really going on."

As he finished speaking, his finger seemed to touch the surface of calm water, and a gentle yet majestic ripple spread outwards from his fingertip in all directions!
Wherever the ripples passed, the surrounding scenery was like a faded oil painting being washed away by clear water, or like a thick curtain being drawn back!

The gray barriers have disappeared, and the sense of cramped space has vanished.

Instead, what comes to mind is an overwhelming and incredibly real vastness and vitality!

The azure sky stretched endlessly, with wisps of white auspicious clouds drifting leisurely. A warm yet gentle sun hung high in the sky, casting its warm rays.

In the distance, the green mountains rise and fall, towering into the clouds; nearby, the clear water meanders and flows, converging into a mirror-like lake.

On the earth, spiritual herbs grew lushly and exotic flowers bloomed in vibrant colors. The rich spiritual energy almost condensed into a light mist, making people feel refreshed and invigorated with every breath, and even their magical powers seemed to become more active.

Amidst the mountains and rivers, the faint remnants of magnificent palaces and the outlines of ancient temples and gates can be seen. Although most of them are covered with vines and moss by the years, they only add to their mystery and vicissitudes.

Looking into the distance, one can even see tiny, ant-like figures moving about near some relatively intact ruins, either meditating or cautiously exploring.

This is no longer that drab storage space! This is clearly a nascent, vibrant, and outrageously energetic real world!
Liu Piaopiao froze completely.

Her mouth gaped open, her eyes widened, and her beautiful gaze was filled with utter shock, bewilderment, and disbelief.

She subconsciously took a few steps forward, her feet sinking into the soft, spiritual soil, her nose catching the fragrance of flowers and grass and the pure, spiritual aroma, and she could even hear the faint sound of flowing water and the rustling of the wind through the treetops in the distance.

All of this is so real! It's an effect that no illusion or trickery could achieve!
The sense of spatial weight, the sense of order and perfection, the sense of vitality... She was born in a blessed land and was extremely sensitive to the atmosphere of this "world"!
"This...this..."

Her voice was hoarse, and she could barely speak a complete sentence. She suddenly turned around to look at Chen Yang, her voice trembling.

What's going on?

Brother Chen, is this...an illusion? Or some kind of spatial illusion I can't comprehend?

Chen Yang walked to her side and stood beside her, looking down at this world that belonged to him, his tone calm but carrying an undeniable power.

"I told you, this is a blessed land."

And I am the 'Lord' of this realm.

"A Realm Lord?!"

Liu Piaopiao seemed to have been burned by those two words, and she took a step back, looking at Chen Yang as if she were looking at a monster.

"How is this possible?! A Realm Lord... what kind of existence is that? They control the very origin of a world, their words become law, they are the supreme rulers of blessed lands and grotto-heavens! They are usually elusive and powerful seniors with unparalleled cultivation! You... how could you possibly be a Realm Lord?!"

Her worldview was shaken like never before. Chen Yang, who had fought alongside her all the way, was actually the lord of a blessed land? This was even more absurd than telling her the sun rises in the west!
Knowing that she would find it hard to accept, Chen Yang presented even more direct evidence.

"Do you remember yesterday, at that immortal abode ruins, the group of people who were chasing me all disappeared after rushing into the main hall in the back mountain?"

Liu Piaopiao was taken aback for a moment, then nodded.

"I remember... you said they triggered spatial turbulence or a teleportation array..."

"Do not."

Chen Yang interrupted her, pointing to the vaguely moving figures below.

"They did not die, nor were they teleported elsewhere."

They're all here.

Liu Piaopiao followed his finger and looked carefully. Although she couldn't see their faces clearly from the distance, their clothes and manner of doing things clearly showed that they were the trainees!

Her heart sank, and a startling guess surfaced in her mind.

"You...you mean, you brought them...this place here? The entrance to that hall..."

"Yes."

Chen Yang readily admitted it.

"That was the access point I set up."

They are the first 'residents' I recruited for this new world.

He looked at Liu Piaopiao, who was still in shock and confusion, and explained in a softer tone.

“Piao Piao, as you know, the ultimate purpose of this trial ground is to select suitable disciples and fresh blood for various surviving or inherited blessed lands. Aren't you participating in the trial to gain the recognition of a certain blessed land and be able to enter it for cultivation?”

Liu Piaopiao nodded subconsciously; this was common sense.

"This is a newly refined and initially controlled blessed land, and everything is in its initial stage."

Chen Yang continued.

"Therefore, I don't have the high thresholds and discerning eyes of those ancient blessed lands. I need population, vitality, and cultivators to promote the evolution of this realm and generate incense offerings and vows."

As long as their strength is decent and their character isn't so wicked as to threaten world stability, I'm willing to give them a chance to come in, explore, cultivate, and develop on their own in this vast world, and even establish their own sects and multiply.

Here, they have a relatively fair starting point and unlimited possibilities. Survival of the fittest applies; how far they ultimately go depends on their own destiny.

Liu Piaopiao listened to this unheard-of method of "recruiting people for the realm lord" and felt her mind go blank. Other blessed lands and grotto-heavens were all high and mighty, setting up numerous tests and carefully selecting people, choosing one from hundreds or even thousands of miles away.

Chen Yang, on the other hand, simply "packed up and took it all away," and even called it "giving him a chance"?
"This...this is impossible..."

She murmured.

“A Realm Lord… How could I possibly just randomly encounter a Realm Lord and even team up with him…”

"nothing is impossible."

Chen Yang looked at her with sincere eyes.

"By chance and fate, you came here seeking an opportunity to enter this blessed land. Now, the opportunity is right in front of you."

Moreover, it's an even better opportunity than I initially anticipated.

He pointed to the central area of ​​this world, where the spiritual energy was most abundant and the landscape held profound mysteries.

"This place is not unmanaged. I have chosen a 'representative' who is working to create the first core sect in this world, sort out the inheritance, and establish preliminary order."

If you choose to stay, it's not just about fulfilling a bet, but about joining us and becoming a part of this fledgling venture. Your insights and abilities are crucial to us.

Liu Piaopiao was in a state of turmoil. She hadn't even digested the shock of the Realm Lord when she heard about "representative" and "core sect." She asked in a hoarse voice.

"You...you want to take me as your disciple?"

"Yes." Chen Yang nodded firmly.

"Moreover, he is not an ordinary disciple."

If you are willing and promise to keep all the secrets here, then you will occupy an important position in the future structure of this sect and even this world.

This sect is destined to be one of the top existences in my realm in the future.

This is a brand new beginning, an opportunity to participate in shaping the rules of a world.

It's far more meaningful and exciting than going to other blessed lands and slowly grinding your way up from an ordinary disciple.

"You...you're not lying to me, are you?"

Liu Piaopiao looked into Chen Yang's eyes, trying to find a trace of deception or joke, but she only saw honesty, seriousness, and a profound confidence belonging to a person in a position of power that she had never seen in Chen Yang before.

Just then, a clear and melodious voice came from the side.

"He won't lie to you, nor does he need to."

The two turned their heads and saw a woman dressed in a flowing starry dress, with a cool and aloof temperament and stunning beauty, who had quietly appeared not far away.

Her body resonated subtly with the world around her, radiating a tranquil yet powerful aura, which was none other than Li Rou, who had condensed her spiritual body.

Liu Piaopiao was shocked again. This woman gave her a very peculiar feeling. Although her cultivation level did not seem to be the highest, her soul essence and her compatibility with this world were unfathomable.

She understood immediately.

"You're his spokesperson?"

"it's me."

Li Rou nodded slightly, her gaze calm as she looked at Liu Piaopiao.

"Welcome to the 'Primordial Realm'. The Realm Lord's words are true. Our mission in this realm is to guide and maintain balance."

We will not excessively interfere with the development of all beings, but if any force attempts to dominate and undermine the stability of this realm, we will intervene to ensure that all forces, through competition and cooperation, promote the healthy and sustainable development and growth of this realm.

Her words were concise yet contained a grand management philosophy, allowing Liu Piaopiao to vaguely grasp a corner of the "Lord of the Realm's" perspective.

Li Rou continued.

"I have already chosen the location for the sect's foundation, situated at the core where the spiritual veins of this realm converge. If you join now, I can appoint you as a 'protector,' granting you the authority to mobilize some of the sect's resources and participate in decision-making."

This opportunity is fleeting. As the population grows and the sect expands, obtaining such a position again will require earning it step by step through one's own strength.

Liu Piaopiao glanced at Chen Yang, then at Li Rou, and finally at the vast, real world before her. The scales of her heart swung violently. Doubt, shock, excitement, hesitation, and a sliver of longing for the unknown future intertwined within her.

The constraints of the bet, the undeniable facts before her, and the grand vision that Chen Yang and Li Rou had described—participating in creating a new era—ultimately overwhelmed her final hesitation.

She took a deep breath, as if inhaling the spiritual energy of the world and the weight of this choice into her lungs, then slowly exhaled. Her eyes hardened, and she bowed respectfully to Chen Yang and Li Rou.

"I...I'm willing to join."

A genuine smile appeared on Chen Yang's face.

"Welcome to the team, Protector Liu."

Liu Piaopiao straightened up, her heart still pounding, and she couldn't help but ask.

"So... from now on, I'll have to stay here forever and won't be able to leave?"

She still had some concerns about the trials outside and about Jiang He and Uncle Li.

Chen Yang shook his head.

"Initially, in order to familiarize you with this world and for the sake of secrecy, it is indeed necessary for you to mainly operate in this world and assist Li Rou."

However, it is not completely isolated from the outside world. In fact...

He abruptly changed the subject, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"We also need to work together and go out and 'do more work'."

"Do more work?"

Liu Piaopiao was puzzled.

"Yes."

Chen Yang pointed to the sparse figures below.

"More than a hundred people are too few, far from enough. We need more people, at least two thousand, to allow this world to initially form a vibrant, self-sustaining small-scale cultivation civilization ecosystem."

This requires us to 'bring in' resources from the outside.

Liu Piaopiao gasped.

"You...you want to 'intercept' people that other blessed lands have their eyes on? And on such a large scale?"
Brother Chen, this is too dangerous! If the realm lords or their agents from other blessed lands discover this, they will definitely not let you go!
This is like snatching food from a tiger's mouth, and it might even be breaking the rules!

Chen Yang didn't take it seriously.

"We're not taking everyone away, just a portion of them. Besides, the Trial Grounds are inherently dangerous. Those who are not strong enough, even if they aren't killed by monsters, might die at the hands of other trial participants, or fail the final test."

I gave them a chance to settle down and start over; they should be grateful to me. It's better than dying out there or being eliminated, isn't it?

Li Rou added casually from the side.

"Moreover, even if we come in, we won't be able to rest easy."

This world has its own rules, and competition exists. Those who are too weak, unable to adapt, or whose wicked nature incurs the wrath of others will be eliminated or even 'disappear' during the initial chaos and exploration—this is part of the natural order. What we can offer is a relatively fair and resource-rich platform, not a nanny-like protection.

Liu Piaopiao was alarmed. This seemingly peaceful and blessed land of immortals also harbored a cruel law of the jungle.

She thought about it for a moment, but still insisted.

Even so, frequent "stealing" will definitely attract attention.

One or two times might be a fluke, but if it happens too often or on a large scale, it's hard to guarantee that someone with ulterior motives won't notice something amiss.

"Therefore, it needs to be more concealed and more ingenious."

Chen Yang said.

"Don't worry, I have my own methods and won't expose myself easily. The target is around two thousand people; this is the initial plan."

and."

A glint of ambition flashed in his eyes.

"If I encounter any truly exceptional geniuses or experts who are of special value to the development of my realm during this period, I will also try to 'invite' them in."

Seeing Chen Yang's unwavering expression, Liu Piaopiao knew she couldn't persuade him otherwise. (End of Chapter)