He fell off a cliff but unexpectedly gained a cultivation inheritance.

As the winter snow melts and the spring sun shines warmly, the Huashan Secret Realm sheds its winter chill. Spiritual herbs sprout across the mountains, streams murmur softly, and the air is filled with the refreshing scent of vegetation and spiritual energy. On the viewing platform of Qinglan Peak, three figures sit cross-legged, their spiritual energy flowing around them, blending with the soft light of the spring morning sun, creating a tranquil and peaceful scene of cultivation.

Zhang Bufan sat upright in the center, his eyes slightly closed. Pale blue spiritual energy, like ribbons, surrounded his body and was slowly drawn into it, circulating through his meridians according to the profound trajectory of the "Mysterious Purity Dao Inquiry Technique." Since breaking through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, he had been meditating for a full month. His spiritual power had become increasingly abundant and refined, his dantian was already full of spiritual liquid, and some of the spiritual energy in his meridians had also transformed into spiritual liquid. Each circulation of this energy drew in even more concentrated spiritual energy from the surrounding area, both increasing the amount of spiritual liquid in his meridians and nourishing and strengthening them further. On the left, Ye Qingxue wore a white dress. The spiritual energy driven by her dual spiritual roots was half pure white and half emerald green, the two colors intertwined and swirling, circulating with a gentle, silent flow. She had already firmly established herself in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, only one barrier away from the late stage. On the right, Yue Ling'er wore a green dress. The emerald green spiritual energy of her wood spiritual root was becoming increasingly pure, and the aura of a perfect Foundation Establishment stage was faintly visible. She had clearly reached the threshold of the Core Formation stage. With her Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude, as long as the resources were sufficient, breaking through to the Core Formation stage was a certainty. She could break through at any time, waiting for the right opportunity.

As the sun climbed to the mountain peak, golden rays bathed the three in a warm glow. Zhang Bufan was the first to finish his practice, his spiritual energy receding from his fingertips, the pale blue aura around him slowly dissipating. He opened his eyes, two sharp beams flashing past in an instant, feeling the abundant spiritual power within him, a faint smile appearing on his lips. This month of immersion had not only made his late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation more stable, but also deepened his understanding of the *Xuanqing Daodao Jue* through repeated practice, increasing the efficiency of his spiritual power circulation by nearly 20%.

"Husband, your aura has become much more composed." Ye Qingxue also finished her cultivation, stood up, and straightened her slightly disheveled clothes, her tone gentle. Yue Ling'er skipped to her feet, reached out and took Zhang Bufan's arm, her eyes full of admiration: "Senior brother is so amazing! I feel that your aura is even more profound than those elders at the peak of Foundation Establishment in the sect!"

Zhang Bufan smiled and ruffled Yue Ling'er's hair. Just as he was about to speak, three deep and resonant bell tolls suddenly came from the direction of the main peak. "Dong—dong—dong—", the bell tolls pierced through the clouds and resounded throughout the entire Huashan Secret Realm, carrying an unquestionable majesty, and echoed for a long time in the sky above Qinglan Peak.

The smiles on the three faces vanished instantly, replaced by solemn expressions. Zhang Bufan had been a member of the Immortal Sword Sect for a year and a half, and he had never heard such a bell before, whether in daily cultivation, sect affairs, or even during the opening of the Spirit Spring and the preparations for the wedding banquet. Ye Qingxue frowned slightly and said softly, "This bell doesn't sound like an ordinary summons signal; it sounds much more solemn." Yue Ling'er also put away her charming expression and said in a deep voice, "This is a message summoning all core disciples; it's usually for an announcement of a major, non-urgent matter."

"Let's not delay, let's go check out the main peak first." Zhang Bufan made a decisive move, grabbing the two of them's hands. He instantly activated his spiritual power, and a pale blue aura enveloped the three of them, transforming them into a streak of blue light as they sped towards the main peak. Qinglan Peak was located in the core area of ​​the Huashan Secret Realm, extremely close to the main peak. With Foundation Establishment cultivators flying at full speed, the three of them arrived at the summit of the main peak in just over ten seconds.

As they approached the main peak, streaks of light of various colors rushed in from all parts of the secret realm, converging like meteors towards the plaza in front of the sect's main hall. Crimson light was generated by fire-elemental cultivators channeling their spiritual energy; shimmering white light corresponded to metal-elemental cultivators; deep blue light came from water-elemental cultivators; and there were also brownish-yellow light from earth-elemental cultivators and emerald green light from wood-elemental cultivators. The various colors intertwined and weaved, tracing magnificent paths in the air—a truly spectacular sight. Many disciples had already arrived at the plaza, all dressed in the robes of core disciples or elders, their expressions filled with confusion and solemnity. Clearly, they too had been summoned by the bell and were completely unaware of the sudden turn of events.

Without further hesitation, the three manipulated their escape light to slowly descend onto the plaza, joining the crowd as they headed towards the sect's main hall. The moment they entered, they saw a large crowd already gathered. On the main seat atop the hall sat the patriarch Yue Buwei, clad in a purple Daoist robe, his face serene, radiating an unfathomable aura that commanded respect. Sect Master Yue Shouren and five Supreme Elders sat on either side of the main seat, among them Elder Zhou Heming, a newly promoted Core Formation stage cultivator. He wore the white robes of a Supreme Elder, his expression displaying the clarity and majesty of someone who had broken through, a stark contrast to his previous composure during the Foundation Establishment stage. Dozens of core disciples and sect elders stood in the corridors on either side of the hall, their faces solemn, their voices hushed, creating a tense and solemn atmosphere.

Zhang Bufan, along with Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er, found a spot in a corner on the right side of the main hall. Yue Ling'er quietly tugged at the sleeve of a familiar core disciple beside her and whispered, "Senior Brother Li, do you know what's going on with this bell? Why were we suddenly summoned?" Senior Brother Li shook his head, his tone filled with doubt, "I don't know either. It seems there's something extremely important to announce."

As soon as their conversation ended, several more sounds of light landing echoed from the entrance of the main hall. The last few core disciples hurriedly arrived, bowed, and quickly took their places. Zhang Bufan glanced around the hall and found that all the core disciples and elders had arrived. Including the three of them, there were a total of 242 core disciples and 17 elders in the hall. Adding the patriarch, sect leader, and five supreme elders in the main seat, the entire hall contained almost all of the Immortal Sword Sect's core combat power.

Once everyone had arrived, the hall fell completely silent. Yue Shouren slowly stood up, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall. He cleared his throat and announced in a loud voice, "I have gathered all the core disciples and elders today to announce a major event." His voice was not loud, but it carried the majesty of a sect leader and, amplified by spiritual energy, clearly reached everyone's ears.

Everyone in the hall perked up, their gazes all turning to Yue Shouren, their doubts growing stronger. Yue Shouren continued, "The once-a-decade gathering of secret sects in the secret realm will be held in seven days at the Wanfa Sect in the Kunlun Secret Realm. This gathering is a grand event for all the hidden secret sects in the entire Pangu World. At that time, all the secret sect forces in the world will gather in Kunlun to fulfill this ten-year agreement of the cultivation world."

"A gathering of secret realm sects?" Many disciples murmured, their eyes filled with curiosity. Zhang Bufan also felt a sense of doubt. He had not learned of this from Xuanqing Daoist's inheritance; it was clearly a grand gathering unique to the hidden sects of the Pangu Realm. Ye Qingxue quietly leaned close to his ear and whispered, "I once heard my father mention that this gathering of secret realm sects is a grand exchange event between the hidden sects of the Pangu Realm, held every ten years, and hosted by several top-tier secret realm sects in rotation. This time, it's the Wanfa Sect's turn to host it."

Yue Shouren seemed to have anticipated everyone's doubts and continued in detail: "This gathering is extremely rich in content. It serves as a platform for various sects to exchange cultivation experiences and hone their cultivation techniques, as well as an excellent opportunity to exchange cultivation resources. During the gathering, there will be auctions of rare pills, rare and precious materials, and magical artifacts and manuals. Each sect can bring out its surplus resources to exchange for urgently needed items. More importantly, the gathering also features sect competitions for cultivators at various levels, with Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages competing separately. This is an opportunity to showcase strength and demonstrate the sect's foundation. The organizer, Wanfa Sect, has also prepared generous prizes for the winners of the competition, including Core Formation pills, high-grade Xuan-level magical artifacts, and even thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. It can be described as a once-in-a-decade opportunity in the cultivation world."

As soon as the words were spoken, a slight commotion arose within the hall, and the core disciples' eyes flashed with fervent light. For cultivators, cultivation resources and techniques are the foundation of their existence, and the generous prizes of the sect competition are incredibly tempting, especially the Core Formation Pills, which are undoubtedly the greatest aid for a Foundation Establishment peak cultivator to break through to the next level. Zhang Bufan's heart also stirred. He was now in the late Foundation Establishment stage, and although he had the resources of the Xuanqing Secret Realm to support him, breaking through to the Core Formation stage still required opportunity and sufficient resources. The prizes prepared by the Wanfa Sect might provide an extra layer of security for his Core Formation journey.

Yue Shouren raised his hand and pressed down, instantly calming the commotion in the hall. He continued, "The purpose of this gathering is twofold: first, to confirm the participants, and second, to have each disciple report their most urgently needed cultivation resources to the sect. During the gathering, the sect will make unified purchases and exchanges to fully guarantee everyone's cultivation needs."

When the topic of accompanying personnel came up, everyone in the hall focused their attention even more intently. Yue Shouren slowly said, "The selection of accompanying personnel will follow the old rules of previous years. The Grand Elders at the Core Formation stage do not need to participate in the selection and will take turns attending the meeting as is customary. This year, Elder Zhou and Elder Liu, who have just entered the Core Formation stage, will go together to assist the Ancestor in handling the meeting matters." As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Heming and an elder dressed in a dark blue robe stood up and bowed to Yue Buwei and Yue Shouren, saying, "Disciples obey." Elder Liu was at the late Core Formation stage and was one of the top combat forces in the sect besides Yue Buwei. His presence alongside Zhou Heming would not only ensure the safety of the participants but also showcase the strength of the Immortal Sword Sect during the sect's exchange.

"As for the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples," Yue Shouren changed the subject, his gaze sweeping over the core disciples in the hall, "the sect will hold an internal competition. The five strongest fighters from both the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages will be selected to accompany the Ancestor to the Kunlun Secret Realm. In this competition, all disciples of the sect, regardless of their status—whether core disciples, inner disciples, or even outer disciples—are welcome to participate. The competition will be judged solely on strength, with absolutely no favoritism."

This news instantly brought the atmosphere in the hall to a fever pitch. The core disciples were all eager and ready, their eyes gleaming with anticipation. Representing the sect at the secret realm gathering was not only an honor, but also an excellent opportunity to acquire resources and broaden their horizons. Yue Ling'er clenched her fists tightly, her eyes filled with determination. For her, this was both a stage to showcase her strength and a great opportunity to obtain resources for achieving Core Formation. Ye Qingxue also nodded slightly, secretly resolving to do her utmost in the selection process and strive for a spot to accompany the sect.

Zhang Bufan had already made his decision. His cultivation had reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, he was proficient in alchemy, and he possessed the secret techniques passed down by Xuanqing Daoist. In terms of combat power, he was definitely among the top Foundation Establishment disciples. More importantly, he needed to go to the Kunlun Secret Realm. On one hand, he wanted to obtain the resources needed for Core Formation; on the other hand, he also wanted to take this opportunity to understand the strength of other hidden sects in the Pangu Realm, explore more secrets related to the cultivation world, and prepare for breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage and stepping into the starry sky in the future.

Yue Shouren nodded in satisfaction at the crowd's reactions and continued, "The sect's internal selection will be held in the main hall square in three days. Five Supreme Elders will serve as referees to ensure fairness and impartiality. After returning, each elder must inform all disciples so that those who are interested can prepare. At the same time, each disciple must submit a list of their urgently needed cultivation resources to their respective master or elder within three days. The sect will then compile a list for centralized procurement and exchange during the gathering."

"Furthermore," Yue Buwei suddenly spoke, his aged yet authoritative voice echoing throughout the hall, instantly overshadowing all other presences, "this gathering is teeming with hidden talents. Each sect will send its top disciples to participate, so we must not be careless. During the competition, stop when you've made your point and do not take lives. However, if anyone dares to dishonor the reputation of my Immortal Sword Sect, there is no need to hold back. You may fight without hesitation, and the sect will stand up for you."

"Yes!" The crowd inside the hall responded in unison, their voices deafening, their eyes filled with determination. With the patriarch's words, everyone felt even more confident, filled with anticipation for the upcoming selection and more certainty about the sect competition at the secret realm gathering.

"Alright, the announcement is complete. Everyone, go back and prepare," Yue Shouren waved his hand and announced loudly. The crowd bowed respectfully and then orderly withdrew from the hall. As they left, the sun was still shining brightly, and the disciples in the plaza were already buzzing with excitement, discussing the upcoming selection and secret realm gathering.

Zhang Bufan, leading Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er, walked along the mountain path towards Qinglan Peak. Yue Ling'er spoke first, her voice filled with excitement: "Senior Brother, Sister Qingxue, we must prepare well and try to secure a spot to accompany you! I've heard that the Kunlun Secret Realm has many unique spiritual herbs and the Wanfa Sect's exclusive cultivation techniques. We definitely want to see them this time!"

Ye Qingxue nodded with a smile: "Indeed, we must go all out. This gathering not only involves the exchange of resources, but also the sharing of cultivation experiences among various sects, which will greatly benefit our cultivation. Moreover, if there are Core Formation Pills among the prizes of the Foundation Establishment Competition, it will be of great help to Ling'er in breaking through her cultivation realm."

Zhang Bufan put his arm around their shoulders, a determined look in his eyes: "Don't worry, we will definitely get the spots."