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

Zhang Bufan, accompanied by Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er, followed the flow of people through the sect residences in the Myriad Laws Square, and before they knew it, they had been strolling around for nearly two hours. From the withered spiritual herbs displayed outside the simple wooden houses of third-rate sects, to the mid-grade spirit stones, Xuan-rank magic artifacts, and century-old spiritual herbs displayed in front of the pavilions of second-rate sects, and then to the thousand-year-old spiritual roots and Earth-rank magic artifacts exhibited in the main halls of a few first-rate sects, every item he saw along the way gave Zhang Bufan a more intuitive understanding of the current state of resources in the Pangu cultivation world.

Although he possessed a vast amount of Xuanqing Daoist's legacy in his mind, covering many fields such as cultivation techniques, elixirs, magical artifacts, and spiritual materials, the inherited information only unlocked content up to the Foundation Establishment stage, and was mostly in the form of written records and diagrams, ultimately differing from the actual objects. Take, for example, this century-old Placenta Grass before him. The legacy recorded its abundant spiritual energy and luminous leaf veins, but the leaf his fingertips touched now had dull, dusty spiritual energy patterns, with a spiritual energy content less than 30% of what was recorded in ancient texts, even diminishing its efficacy in refining low-grade elixirs.

"So the spiritual materials and magical artifacts have declined to such a state these days," Zhang Bufan murmured, withdrawing his fingers that had been brushing against the spiritual herbs. Ye Qingxue nodded in agreement, her tone tinged with melancholy: "Elder Liu said that the depletion of spiritual energy not only affects cultivators' advancement, but also the growth of spiritual herbs and the formation of ores. Many ordinary spiritual materials that were readily available in ancient times have now become scarce items that various sects are vying for." Yue Ling'er, on the other hand, was attracted by the spirit jade hairpins displayed by the sect next door, her almond-shaped eyes sparkling with childlike wonder.

The three walked and stopped intermittently, witnessing numerous minor skirmishes arising from resource disputes along the way. Two Qi Refining stage disciples from third-rate sects were locked in a tense standoff over a common-quality century-old spiritual herb, their auras erratic with excitement. They were eventually silenced by stern rebukes from their respective sect elders and dispersed dejectedly. These scenes deepened Zhang Bufan's understanding of the brutal reality of the cultivation world, where the strong prey on the weak, and further solidified his resolve to seize this gathering opportunity to collect rare resources and ancient pill formulas.

Unbeknownst to them, the sun had risen high in the sky. The spiritual mist that had shrouded the Kunlun Secret Realm gradually dissipated with the intense sunlight, leaving the world clear and bright, even the distant mountain outlines becoming several times clearer. Zhang Bufan was standing in front of the outpost of a second-rate sect, examining a fragment of spirit jade on display. The jade was engraved with blurry spirit-gathering patterns, seemingly a fragment of an ancient magical artifact. Suddenly, he shuddered, a strange tremor rising from the depths of his heart. He subconsciously looked up into the distance, his previously calm face instantly filled with astonishment, his mouth slightly agape, even his eyes freezing.

Ye Qingxue noticed his unusual behavior and followed his gaze. Her gentle expression froze, and the plain silk handkerchief in her hand slipped silently to the ground. Yue Ling'er also stopped examining the hairpin, turned her head to look, and then let out a suppressed gasp. If she hadn't covered her mouth with her small hand in time, the sound would have echoed throughout the surrounding area. Not only the three of them, but also the low-ranking disciples of the other sects in the square looked up at this moment, their expressions exactly the same as Zhang Bufan and the other two—shock, horror, disbelief. Many of them even subconsciously rubbed their eyes, thinking they had fallen into an illusion.

A strange silence instantly fell over the entire Wanfa Square, broken only by the soft rustling of the dragon-carved stone pillars in the breeze and the occasional low cry of a crane flying by in the distance. The high-level cultivators at the Core Formation and Nascent Soul stages remained composed, some sitting and chatting over tea, others meditating with their eyes closed, as if the scene before them was nothing new. Only a fleeting hint of melancholy in their eyes betrayed that they were not entirely indifferent. This stark contrast in reaction only highlighted the shock of the scene before them, intensifying the horror in the hearts of the lower-level disciples.

Zhang Bufan steadied himself, channeling his spiritual energy to focus his gaze, his heart still pounding wildly. In the center of the secret realm, hundreds of kilometers away from the Myriad Laws Plaza, a majestic, incomparably towering peak pierced the clouds like a pillar supporting the heavens. Its steep, jagged form was covered in a faint golden spiritual light, which emanated a powerful and weighty ancient aura. Even from a hundred kilometers away, the awe-inspiring pressure was clearly felt. The exact height of this peak was impossible to estimate; its summit was hidden in thick clouds, as if it were about to pierce the heavens and reach the legendary Nine Heavens.

Even more astonishing is the sight of palaces built layer upon layer atop the giant peak, arranged in a staggered, orderly fashion, stretching from the foot of the mountain to the edge of the clouds, a total of thirty-three layers, indistinguishable from the legendary Thirty-Three Heavens. The palaces are all crafted from gilded jade, their eaves and corners carved with ancient mythical beast patterns. A subtle spiritual light lingers among the carved beams and painted rafters, and the glazed tiles, under the midday sun, reflect a dazzling, radiant glow. In the corridors between the palaces, cranes and mythical birds dance and flutter, while wisps of purple mist rise, as if the legendary heavenly palace has descended to earth, sacred and solemn. Dozens of secondary peaks surrounding the giant peak are also dotted with pavilions and towers, with waterfalls and springs cascading down from the mountains, crashing against the rocks and splashing up bursts of spiritual mist, creating an ethereal atmosphere that fully reveals the profound heritage of Kunlun Secret Realm as the first secret realm of Pangu.

Only now did Zhang Bufan truly understand why the Kunlun Secret Realm surpassed all other secret realms. While the Huashan Secret Realm was serene and elegant with stable spiritual veins, it paled in comparison to the grandeur and magnificence of this place; the Laojun Mountain Secret Realm was renowned for its alchemy, yet its scenery couldn't even match a tenth of Kunlun's. This was no mere secluded retreat for cultivators; it was clearly the Daoist temple of ancient immortals, a celestial realm unattainable by mortals in their lifetime, every scene bearing the imposing hand of ancient masters.

"What a pity, we can only move around within a few dozen miles of the Wanfa Square." Zhang Bufan sighed inwardly, his eyes filled with longing. Previously, the Wanfa Sect's Sect Master Ren Xiaoyao had specifically mentioned that this gathering would only be open to the Wanfa Square and its surrounding area; cultivators from other sects were strictly prohibited from entering the core area of ​​the secret realm and the main peak area. Violators would be considered to be challenging the authority of the Wanfa Sect and would be executed without exception. If it weren't for such strict restrictions, he would definitely have taken Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er to the foot of that towering peak to admire the heavenly palaces up close.

The silence in the square lasted for several minutes before the lower-level disciples gradually came to their senses. The long-suppressed exclamations and discussions erupted instantly, rising and falling in waves, even more lively than during the resource exchange earlier. "My god! Is that the main peak of Kunlun? Thirty-three palaces, it's so magnificent!" "Are those palaces remnants of the ancient Heavenly Court? They look so sacred!" "If only we could go up and see them, even just standing at the foot of the mountain and feeling the celestial energy would be wonderful!" The discussions were filled with longing and awe. Many disciples even took out low-level communication jade talismans, eager to share this breathtaking sight with their fellow disciples who couldn't attend.

Zhang Bufan and his companions lingered for a long time, until the sun began to set slightly in the west, casting an even richer golden halo over Tongtian Peak, before reluctantly turning back and heading towards the main hall of the Immortal Sword Sect's headquarters. Inside the hall, Yue Buwei was sitting opposite Wen Shi Zhenren, with spiritual tea and exquisite spiritual fruits laid out on the stone table before them, the two chatting idly; Elder Liu and Elder Zhou Heming stood by their sides, occasionally interjecting a few words; Elder Ma Changsi held a jade book, methodically reporting to Yue Buwei on the preliminary situation of the resource exchange.

Seeing the three return, Yue Buwei raised his hand, signaling Ma Changsi to pause his report. A gentle smile appeared on his face as he asked, "Having wandered around for so long, have you gained anything?" Zhang Bufan stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and replied with barely concealed awe, "Master, I have witnessed many cultivation resources from the Pangu World, and have gained a deeper understanding of the current scarcity of resources in the cultivation world. However, just now, when the spiritual mist dissipated, I was deeply shocked by the sight of Kunlun's main peak. I wonder what the origin of that main peak is, that it possesses such a magnificent aura?"

Ye Qingxue and Yue Ling'er nodded in agreement, their eyes filled with curiosity and longing, clearly also wondering about the origins of the thirty-three palaces. Master Wenshi put down his teacup, smiled gently, and looked at Yue Buwei, saying, "The origins of Kunlun's main peak are best explained by Brother Yue. The Immortal Sword Sect has a history spanning tens of thousands of years, and its ancient records are even more detailed than those of my Lao Jun Mountain."

Yue Buwei nodded, put down his teacup, and his expression gradually became solemn. He looked out the window towards the towering peak, his eyes filled with awe and melancholy, and slowly began to speak: "Mount Kunlun is the ancestor of all mountains in the Pangu World, a place where the spiritual veins of heaven and earth converge. Its main peak is 33,000 zhang high, and since ancient times it has been the training ground for the most powerful cultivators or forces. There are scattered records of Mount Kunlun in many ancient books. The Pangu World is said to have existed for hundreds of millions of years. No one can say for sure how many legends Mount Kunlun holds."

He paused, his tone growing increasingly somber: "Legend has it that the Kunlun Secret Realm was established tens of thousands of years ago when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth began to weaken significantly. It was jointly created by several super-powerful cultivators at the Tribulation Transcending stage. They used their supreme magical power to fold and seal off the main peak of Kunlun Mountain and the surrounding area of ​​several thousand miles, incorporating it into a deep space to form the secret realm we see today. This was done to isolate the area from the depletion of spiritual energy and maintain a superior cultivation environment. Subsequently, they established the Myriad Laws Sect, which has guarded this secret realm for generations."

"Before the establishment of the Kunlun Secret Realm, there were many cryptic records in ancient texts saying that Kunlun Mountain was once the location of the ancient Heavenly Court. The thirty-three palaces on the main peak were the thirty-three heavens of the Heavenly Palace, the place where the ancient immortals lived and discussed matters." Yue Buwei's voice carried a hint of antiquity. "However, as time passed, the legendary Heavenly Court was long lost in the river of history, and the ancient Heavenly Palace was destroyed for unknown reasons. The thirty-three palaces that the Wanfa Sect has rebuilt on the main peak are modeled after the ancient Heavenly Palace. This is both a commemoration of the ancient times and a demonstration of the Wanfa Sect's orthodox status."

"It's a pity that the Pangu World is no longer as prosperous as it once was." Master Wenshi continued, a deep sense of melancholy on his face. "Not to mention the Tribulation Transcending stage experts, even the last Nascent Soul stage expert, my former ancestor of Laojun Mountain, 'Taishang Laojun,' sensed the impending depletion of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth more than three thousand years ago. He resolutely stepped into the starry sky to find a new place for cultivation, and there has been no news of him since. The highest cultivation level in the Pangu World today is that of Ren Bubai, the Nascent Soul peak ancestor of the Wanfa Sect. He is only one step away from the Nascent Soul stage, but due to the scarcity of spiritual energy, he has been stuck at the bottleneck for hundreds of years without making any progress."

Zhang Bufan was deeply shocked. The ancient Heavenly Court, the Tribulation Transcending stage powerhouse, and the Supreme Lord Laozi stepping into the starry sky... This information far exceeded his knowledge, and made him even more curious about the inheritance of Xuanqing Daoist. As a cultivator from the Immortal Realm, had Xuanqing Daoist also come to the Pangu World? Had he had any connection with the ancient Heavenly Court or the Kunlun Main Peak?

Yue Ling'er couldn't help but ask, "Master, does the Wanfa Sect have many ancient treasures hidden away? Like spiritual herbs that can help people advance quickly, or powerful magical artifacts?" Yue Buwei chuckled and shook his head, "The Wanfa Sect has guarded the Kunlun Secret Realm for tens of thousands of years, so it must have a lot of resources hidden away, but these are their foundation, and they would never easily show them to others. At this gathering, the Wanfa Sect may auction off some resources, but its core secrets and supreme treasures will never be revealed."

Ye Qingxue said with deep concern, "If the spiritual energy continues to deplete, and even Ancestor Ren cannot break through to the Nascent Soul stage, then what will become of the Pangu Immortal Cultivation World…?" Her words were tinged with worry. Elder Liu sighed, "This is why all the sects value this gathering so much. Everyone is vying for the last bit of resources, hoping to extend their sects for a few more generations, or hoping for a miracle to occur and find a way to reverse the depletion of spiritual energy."

At this moment, Elder Ma Changsi stepped forward and respectfully handed the jade book to Yue Buwei: "Ancestor, this disciple has finished taking stock of the resources exchanged initially. We obtained a batch of hundred-year-old spiritual herbs and three low-grade Xuan-rank flying swords. However, thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and Core Formation Pills are extremely scarce. Only the Qingyun Sect and the Wanfa Sect are willing to sell them, but they are demanding high prices. Each item requires high-grade spirit stones to exchange for. This disciple dares not make decisions on his own and has come to consult the Ancestor."

Yue Buwei frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "High-grade spirit stones are the strategic reserves of sects and should not be used lightly except in life-or-death situations. Although thousand-year-old spiritual herbs and Core Formation pills are important, there is no need to rush them. Let's wait for the auction in three days. At that time, each sect will bring out its most treasured resources, and there may be more suitable options. If the price is reasonable, we can then bid accordingly."

"Yes, disciple understands." Ma Changsi nodded in agreement and stepped aside.

As night fell, the spiritual mist of the Kunlun Secret Realm once again spread, enveloping the thirty-three palaces of Tongtian Peak, leaving only faint golden spiritual light and purple aura, adding to its mystery. Inside the main hall of the Immortal Sword Sect, everyone was at their respective posts: some were meditating and cultivating, some were inventorying and organizing resources, and some were discussing follow-up plans in hushed tones. Zhang Bufan stood alone by the window, gazing resolutely in the direction of Tongtian Peak. He knew that this journey to Kunlun was not only a competition for resources and a trial of opportunity, but also involved the past and future of the Pangu World, and he would seek his own path amidst this turmoil.