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

As the spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged violently, the pale blue light curtain at the entrance of the Kunlun Secret Realm suddenly burst forth with dazzling light. Ancient runes seemed to come alive, rapidly flowing and intertwining on the light curtain to form an arched doorway over ten zhang wide. Beyond the doorway, lush forests and swirling spiritual mists were faintly visible. A spiritual energy countless times denser than the outside world, yet still feeling thin, rushed towards them, causing all the cultivators present to involuntarily take a deep breath—even in this core area of ​​the secret realm, the concentration of spiritual energy was far less than the magnificent scene recorded in ancient texts.

"The secret realm is open. Fellow Daoists, please follow me inside." A clear voice came from inside the light screen. Several cultivators dressed in moon-white Daoist robes and jade belts walked out slowly. The leader was a handsome middle-aged cultivator with a profound and condensed aura, indicating that he was at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm. "This is Ren Xiaoyao, the sect leader of the Myriad Laws Sect. It is said that the Myriad Laws Sect also has three Supreme Elders at the Nascent Soul stage and one sect patriarch at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage," Elder Liu explained to the disciples. Ren Xiaoyao bowed to the assembled sect patriarchs, his tone humble yet possessing the demeanor of a host. "Our sect has prepared seats in the Myriad Laws Square within the secret realm's mountain gate. You may settle in and rest for a while. Once all sects have arrived, we will begin the assembly."

Yue Buwei and Wen Shi Zhenren exchanged a glance and nodded slightly. The patriarchs of each sect gestured for their disciples to line up and enter in order of strength—first-rate sects led the way, all forces put away their magical artifacts, and the cranes of Lao Jun Mountain shrunk to the height of a person and followed beside Zhang Zhenren, drawing frequent glances from the disciples of the sects behind; second-rate sects followed closely behind; third-rate sects became increasingly cautious, their disciples tightly clustered around their patriarchs, their eyes warily scanning their surroundings, afraid of being left out or inadvertently offending a powerful sect.

The moment Zhang Bufan stepped into the Kunlun Secret Realm, he keenly sensed something amiss. Although the spiritual energy here was denser than outside, it was still significantly weaker than that of the Xuanqing Secret Realm. "Husband, the spiritual energy here... doesn't seem much stronger than that of Qinglan Peak," Ye Qingxue whispered to Zhang Bufan, her eyes filled with doubt, also noticing the anomaly.

Yue Buwei happened to overhear their conversation. He turned to the ten disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect and said in a deep voice, "It's commendable that you've noticed this. The situation in the Pangu Cultivation World is far more severe than you imagine." He waved his hand, and a pale blue light screen enveloped the Immortal Sword Sect members, isolating them from outside prying eyes and noise. "The trend of the depletion of spiritual energy in heaven and earth has continued for nearly ten thousand years. Ancient records state that spiritual energy circulated in all mortal mountains and forests, allowing cultivators to absorb spiritual energy for cultivation anywhere. But now, only secret realms and a few spiritual vein nodes can barely maintain the concentration of spiritual energy needed for cultivators to advance."

Elder Liu added, "The scarcity of spiritual energy directly leads to an increasing shortage of cultivation resources such as spirit stones and spiritual herbs. High-grade spirit stones have long since disappeared from the mortal realm, and even mid-grade spirit stones are only used in large quantities by sects of second-rate status or above; thousand-year-old spiritual herbs are even more rare and hard to come by, and many long-standing pill formulas have become worthless due to the lack of core ingredients. This is why the once-every-ten-year secret realm gathering can attract all 386 secret realm sects—it is an important opportunity for various forces to exchange resources and maintain the survival of their sects."

Zhang Bufan was shocked. From the inherited memories of Xuanqing Daoist, he knew that in ancient times, spiritual energy was abundant, and cultivators advanced as easily as drinking water and eating. Nascent Soul cultivators were everywhere, and Tribulation Transcending stage experts were not just legends. But now, hearing what Yue Buwei and Elder Liu said, the Pangu cultivation world had fallen into such dire straits. He subconsciously looked at those third-rate sects; most of their magical artifacts were only low-grade Xuan-level, and some Qi Refining stage disciples were even using the most basic ordinary iron swords, clearly indicating that resources were extremely scarce.

"These 386 secret realm sects, though seemingly numerous, are in reality strictly hierarchical, and the rule of the strong preying on the weak has never changed." Yue Buwei's gaze swept out the window, his tone solemn. "There are only eighteen first-rate forces in the entire Pangu World, like my Immortal Sword Sect and the Taiqing Sect of Laojun Mountain, which have late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators in charge and control high-quality secret realm spiritual veins. These eighteen forces control nearly half of the cultivation resources, checking and balancing each other, maintaining the basic order of the cultivation world."

"Next to us are fifty-six second-rate sects, each with a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator in charge. Their secret realm spiritual veins are of medium quality, and they can barely be self-sufficient in resources. It's as difficult as climbing to the sky if they want to advance further." Elder Liu continued, "The remaining three hundred and twelve are all third-rate sects. They can only rely on a single early-Nascent Soul cultivator to maintain their facade. Their secret realm spiritual veins are mostly on the verge of depletion, and even maintaining the cultivation of their disciples is a problem. They can only survive in the cracks between the powerful sects."

As they spoke, the group arrived at the Myriad Laws Plaza. The plaza was extremely spacious, spanning several thousand meters in circumference, paved with cyan jade stones. Dozens of dragon-carved stone pillars stood around it, their surfaces engraved with spirit-gathering formations. Hundreds of temporary houses were built around the plaza, arranged according to the sect's power level. The houses of first-rate sects were located at the inner part of the plaza, with a large hall covering about a thousand square meters, furnished with spirit-velvet cushions and spirit-wood tea tables. The houses of second-rate sects were further back, consisting of only three pavilions covering about a hundred square meters, with neat stone tables and benches inside. The houses of third-rate sects were only two wooden houses at the edge of the plaza. These would be the bases for the various sects' gatherings over the next month.

Yue Buwei led the group to the entrance of the Immortal Sword Sect's main hall. Zhang Bufan looked around and saw various sects entering one after another, making the atmosphere in the square increasingly complex. The disciples of third-rate sects huddled at the edges, their eyes filled with inferiority and fear, while the elders had solemn expressions, constantly scanning the powerful sects around them; the disciples of second-rate sects were somewhat composed, but they were also constantly wary of their own kind, fearing provocation or disrespect; only the disciples of first-rate sects stood tall and composed, displaying the demeanor of a prestigious family.

"Do you know why a sect must have a Nascent Soul cultivator in charge?" Yue Buwei picked up the spiritual tea on the table, took a small sip, and spoke calmly but with a heavy weight in his voice. "Secret realms are not naturally occurring. They are formed by ancient Tribulation Transcending stage experts using their supreme power to fold areas containing spiritual veins into a deep space, and then seal and protect them with a great formation. The great formation needs the power of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to maintain it. Once a sect loses a Nascent Soul cultivator, it will lose the qualification to occupy the secret realm."

Elder Liu sighed and said, "Over a thousand years ago, there was a third-rate sect called 'Qingfeng Sect.' After its Nascent Soul ancestor passed away, no new Nascent Soul cultivators were born in time. After the news leaked, two second-rate sects in the vicinity joined forces overnight to break through Qingfeng Sect's secret realm formation and seize the remaining spiritual veins and resources. Qingfeng Sect disciples suffered heavy casualties. The survivors either became secular cultivation families or were kidnapped by other sects to do menial work, and their lineage was completely severed."

A hint of emotion flickered across Liu Yan'er's usually cold face as she whispered, "So, Nascent Soul cultivators are the foundation of a sect? Once that foundation collapses, the sect is left at the mercy of others?" "Exactly," Yue Buwei nodded. "However, conflicts rarely occur between Nascent Soul cultivators, let alone life-or-death battles. Firstly, Nascent Soul cultivators condense a cultivator's life's cultivation and soul. Even if their physical body is destroyed, their Nascent Soul can escape and be reborn. Once a deadly enmity is formed, being relentlessly pursued by the other party will lead to endless troubles. Secondly, battles at the Nascent Soul level consume an astonishing amount of spiritual energy. A single battle can deplete the spiritual energy within hundreds of miles, even accelerating the demise of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth."

Zhang Bufan suddenly understood. No wonder the Nascent Soul elders from various sects had maintained restraint even while probing each other at the entrance to the secret realm. He recalled the records in Xuanqing Daoist's inheritance that Nascent Soul cultivators in ancient times would readily engage in fierce battles, yet now they were so cautious—all forced by the scarcity of spiritual energy. "Sometimes, absurd situations even arise," Elder Ma Changsi added. "Some sects, in order to seize a secret realm, would have two Nascent Soul elders fight for half a day, consuming far more spiritual energy than they could gain from the realm itself—a losing proposition."

At this moment, Master Wenshi led the disciples of Laojun Mountain to the adjacent hall. Hearing their conversation, a trace of melancholy appeared on his gentle face: "Brother Yue is absolutely right. The cultivation world today is no longer an era of ruthless fighting. As long as a sect has a Nascent Soul Ancestor in charge, it can protect itself with the secret realm's great formation. Even if other forces covet it, they are unwilling to easily break ties. However, once the Nascent Soul Ancestor passes away and no new Nascent Soul is born, the sect will fall into an abyss of no return."

He paused, then continued, "When I was young, I witnessed three sects being swallowed up by surrounding forces after their Nascent Soul ancestor passed away. Later, many sects learned their lesson. Once their Nascent Soul ancestor was nearing the end of his life, they would try their best to cover up the news and secretly seek a backer. They would either join a trustworthy first-rate force, offering control of the secret realm in exchange for the continuation of their lineage; or they would voluntarily remove the secret realm's grand formation, releasing the area folded into space, ceasing to draw spiritual energy from heaven and earth, and becoming a mortal cultivation force."

"Actively removing the grand formation?" Yue Ling'er asked curiously. "Wouldn't that mean the sect's disciples would only be able to cultivate in the mortal realm, making advancement even more difficult?" Master Wenshi nodded with a smile: "Although it's a last resort, it's also a way to protect ourselves. The core function of the secret realm's grand formation is to extract spiritual energy from heaven and earth to maintain the secret realm's existence. If it's actively removed, it will no longer compete with other forces for spiritual energy, and under normal circumstances, powerful sects won't go so far as to exterminate it."

"After all, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth will only become thinner and thinner. Sooner or later, all the secret realm formations will be unable to continue operating." Master Wenshi gazed into the distance, with a hint of pity and helplessness. "Today you swallow up other sects, tomorrow your own secret realm formation will collapse. It's just a vicious cycle. Leaving other forces a glimmer of hope is leaving a way out for your own sect's future. This is also the reason why the cultivation world has maintained relative peace for thousands of years, despite the survival of the fittest."

Following Wen Shi Zhenren's gaze, Zhang Bufan saw several Nascent Soul elders from third-rate sects conversing in hushed tones at the edge of the plaza, their expressions anxious. They glanced frequently at the powerful sects on the high platform, clearly worried about their own sects' situation. Not far away, disciples from two second-rate sects accidentally collided, and the two sides immediately became tense, only to be sternly stopped by their respective elders—fighting under the noses of powerful sects was undoubtedly courting death.

"This once-a-decade gathering, besides resource exchange and disciple competitions, has another hidden purpose—selection." Yue Buwei's voice rang out again, tinged with coldness. "At each gathering, each sect secretly observes. If a Nascent Soul patriarch of any force is absent, it will be considered to have lost its protective ability. Then other forces will come to test the waters, and once it is confirmed that the other party has no Nascent Soul cultivator in charge, they will immediately take action to swallow it up."

Xie Ding's heart skipped a beat, and he said, "So, this gathering is also a silent contest?" "Exactly." Elder Liu nodded. "A hundred years ago, a third-rate sect's Nascent Soul ancestor was seriously injured and went into seclusion, unable to attend the gathering. Less than a month after the gathering ended, a second-rate sect breached their secret realm, and they completely disappeared from the cultivation world. Of the 386 sects present in the plaza today, perhaps a few will be fewer at the next gathering."

Zhang Bufan felt a heavy weight in his heart. He had originally thought the cultivation world was a carefree place where one could defy fate with strength, but now he realized that with the depletion of spiritual energy, even powerful sects and clans were merely struggling in the cracks. Alchemy relied on a vast amount of spiritual herbs, and if resources continued to be scarce, even with the inheritance of Xuanqing Daoist, he would find it difficult to achieve much.

At this moment, Ren Xiaoyao, the sect leader of the Wanfa Sect, once again stepped onto the high platform in the center of the square and announced loudly, "Thank you all for coming to the Kunlun Secret Realm! Now that all sects have arrived, the Secret Realm Gathering officially begins! First, there will be a resource exchange session. Each sect can place its supplies in its own room and freely exchange and negotiate prices. The trading period will last for three days!"

Yue Buwei looked at Elder Ma Changsi and said, "Elder Ma, I entrust you with the task of exchanging low-level resources below the Foundation Establishment stage." "Disciple understands." Ma Changsi nodded, then turned and walked out with two Qi Refining stage disciples.

"You can take turns going to see the supplies of each sect and broaden your horizons," Yue Buwei said to Zhang Bufan and the others. "But remember, do not fight with others without permission, and always prioritize safety." "Yes, Ancestor!" everyone responded in unison and got up to walk towards the houses of other sects.

Zhang Bufan, along with Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er, mingled in the crowd. What they saw along the way further confirmed the severity of the resource scarcity—disciples were arguing heatedly with others over a single mid-grade spirit stone; some sects were offering their ancestral magical artifacts in exchange for a few thousand-year-old spiritual herbs.

Zhang Bufan knew that the resource exchange was just the beginning. The upcoming auctions, disciple competitions, and even the covert battles between sects would be even more intense. In this Pangu cultivation world, where spiritual energy was depleted and resources were scarce, only the strongest and most cautious could stand firm in this life-or-death struggle and protect the people and sects they cared about. This gathering in the Kunlun Secret Realm was the first step in his rise, and also a crucial battle for the Immortal Sword Sect to maintain its position.