Chapter 5: The Wild Battle Secret Realm (Part 1)

The middle-aged man smiled and said, “You’re welcome. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll tell you anything I know.” He was an ordinary person and seemed unaware that Guo Shier and the others were professionals.
Guo Shier said, “Please come and sit with us. Let me treat you to a drink of Xilong Liquid.”
The middle-aged man took his cup and sat down next to Guo Shier, smiling. “There’s no need for you to treat me. I’m just here out of boredom. Hehe, it’s good to have someone to talk to.”
Guo Shier asked, “Uncle, what city is this?”
The middle-aged man almost spat out his Xilong Liquid, coughed twice, and said, “You… cough cough, you don’t… know anything, do you?”
Guo Shier nodded seriously and said, “I don’t know anything. I don’t even know the name of this continent.”
The middle-aged man glanced at Guo Shier and Eagle Demon, stroked his chin, and pondered, “Strange. Judging by your clothes, you seem wealthy. How is it that you know nothing?”
A waiter brought over a wooden tray, placed four copper cups on it, and asked, “Is there anything else you need?”
Guo Shier asked, “What else is here?”
The waiter replied, “There are some snacks and treats. Would you like some?”
Eagle Demon said, “Bring whatever there is! Stop asking.” As a high-ranking Symbolic Martial Saint, he spoke with authority, and the waiter, intimidated by his presence, immediately retreated.
Guo Shier smiled at the middle-aged man and said, “This city is really lively.”
The middle-aged man had already realized the extraordinariness of these people and said, “This continent is called Wind and Cloud Continent, and this city is Pioneer City—the entrance to the Wild Battle Secret Realm.”
“The Wild Battle Secret Realm?”
Another secret realm. Guo Shier was a bit puzzled, thinking this realm might have some special use.
The middle-aged man smiled and said, “Yes. This city was built because of the Wild Battle Secret Realm. But our Wind and Cloud Continent is quite small, even smaller than many secret realms. It’s because of this exclusive secret realm that Wind and Cloud Continent became famous, and Pioneer City thrives as a result.”
Guo Shier wasn’t quite sure and asked, “What is the Wild Battle Secret Realm for?”
The middle-aged man was just an ordinary person, not a professional. But in this city, ordinary people could access many things that only professionals could reach, and they could also learn a lot from books. Although what they learned was mostly superficial, it was still more than what Guo Shier knew.

“The Wild Battle Secret Realm is a peculiar secret realm. Well, in the words of professionals, it’s a special secret realm.”
Guo Shier felt he had to reconsider this man—he even knew about special secret realms. He nodded and asked, “Hmm, what makes this realm special?”
The middle-aged man had already guessed that Guo Shier and the others were professionals, but he didn’t know what level they were at. In Pioneer City, ordinary people weren’t lowly; they just needed to show proper respect to professionals. In Pioneer City, killing an ordinary person without reason would result in punishment even for professionals—of course, provided that ordinary people didn’t act rudely toward professionals.
He said, “In the Wild Battle Secret Realm, if you enter for a year and manage to come out alive, you might make a fortune.”
Guo Shier was puzzled. “What? Make a fortune? Do professionals care about money?”
This question left the middle-aged man speechless. After a while, he replied, “Of course professionals care about money! If you succeed after entering once, it’s not just a little money.”
Guo Shier felt disappointed. He currently despised money; what he needed was to improve his strength, and everything else didn’t matter to him.
Eagle Demon and the others also showed a hint of amusement, clearly unconvinced as well.
The middle-aged man said, “Sigh, I’m such a klutz; I don’t know how to put it…”
A waiter brought over a large wooden tray, placing seven or eight snacks on it—pastries, fresh fruits, and two dishes of preserved fruits. Eagle Demon waved him away and said, “Just explain in detail. Anyway, you’re free. Waiter, bring this person another cup of Xilong Liquid.”
The middle-aged man smiled and said, “Thank you.” He pondered for a moment, seemingly deciding how to express himself. After taking a few sips of Xilong Liquid and eating a few pieces of preserved fruit, he said, “The Wild Battle Secret Realm… it’s… it’s… damn it, look at my stupid mouth…” He tapped his own mouth angrily.
The others couldn’t help but laugh and said, “Take your time; there’s no rush.” After thinking for a while, Guo Shier asked, “I’ll ask questions, and you answer—okay?”
The middle-aged man nodded repeatedly. He felt it was extremely difficult to explain the Wild Battle Secret Realm clearly—there were so many details he didn’t know where to start. If Guo Shier asked the questions, it would be easier for him to answer.
Guo Shier asked, “In the Wild Battle Secret Realm… the professionals who enter there must fight. Who are their enemies?”

The middle-aged man was stunned. He had only heard that the Wild Beast Secret Realm was extremely dangerous, but he didn’t know what was inside—after all, he was just an ordinary person, not a professional. After thinking for a while, he said, “Well… I can’t be sure. There seem to be many mutated beast symbols, and many people as well…”

Zhou Xiaoling couldn’t help but laugh and say, “Uncle, you just heard about it?”

The middle-aged man replied confidently, “Yes. I wouldn’t dare go in, so of course I heard it from others.”

Guo Shier said, “Alright, then who can enter the Wild Battle Secret Realm?”

The middle-aged man replied, “Anyone can. Even I can go in. It’s just that I’m too timid and afraid I won’t be able to get out.”

This left everyone in shock. If anyone could enter, it meant it was an open secret realm. Guo Shier wondered what it meant to turn a exclusive secret realm into an open one.

Guo Shier asked, “Since it’s so dangerous, why do professionals still go in?”

The middle-aged man said, “I heard there are… many altars in there. Yes, altars! Some are damaged, some are intact—many, many of them. I heard you can get some rewards from those altars. And also… I heard there are some extremely rare materials. Last time, a professional got one of those materials and made a fortune by selling it after coming out!”

“The Wild Battle Secret Realm… I heard that in ancient times, it was a famous battleground where many top professionals died, so many treasures were left behind…”

Guo Shier couldn’t help but ask, “So many treasures? That’s impossible. With so many professionals entering, they should have been collected long ago. Why would they wait for others to find them?”

The middle-aged man hurriedly said, “I heard… it’s very terrifying there, with all kinds of dangers. I don’t know exactly what they are.”

Guo Shier was already intrigued, not for anything else but those altars. Although he, Ying Moluo Zhan, and the third person all had inheritances, Zhou Xiaoling didn’t. And he knew that fallen top professionals either left nothing behind or, if they left altars, there was a possibility of inheritance.

He continued, “Since entry isn’t restricted for low-level professionals or even ordinary people, there must be restrictions on high-level professionals… Is there any indication about who is restricted from entering?”

The middle-aged man was stunned and said, “Well… I really don’t know!”

Guo Shier couldn’t help but smile, realizing he had asked too many probing questions. It was already quite remarkable for an ordinary person to know so much, even though his words were full of uncertainty—just hearsay and rumors. Yet, to know such things, this guy must be the kind of person who’s bored and likes to inquire about various matters.

Smiling, Guo Shier took out a gold talisman coin and tossed it on the low table, asking, “Do you use this kind of talisman coin here too?”

The middle-aged man snatched it up, examined it briefly, and said, “It’s a gold talisman coin, but it’s a bit different from the ones we use here. It should work though.”

Guo Shier nodded and said, “I’ll give this gold talisman coin to you.”

The middle-aged man was overjoyed. He had merely come looking for someone to chat with, never expecting to end up getting a gold talisman coin as a result. This was beyond his expectations, as a gold talisman coin was quite valuable in Pioneer City. He was sensible enough to say immediately, “If there’s nothing else you want to ask, I’ll take my leave.”

Guo Shier nodded. He thought this middle-aged man was a good conversation partner—skilled in social interactions and knowing when to back off. After watching the man leave, he asked, “What do you all think?”

Eagle Demon frowned and said, “We don’t need to take risks!” He had a strange feeling, so he spoke cautiously.

Luo Zhan scratched his head and said, “Shier, you decide.”

Guo Shier turned to Zhou Xiaoling and said, “Dingding, what do you think? Should we go in?”

Zhou Xiaoling pondered for a moment before saying, “Shier, you decide.”

Eagle Demon thought for a while and then said, “Shier, you decide. Honestly, I don’t really care.”

Guo Shier nodded and said, “We’ve all received some inheritance, but Dingding hasn’t. If we can help her obtain an ancient inheritance in the Wild Battle Secret Realm, this adventure will be worth it. Besides… according to that uncle, there are many altars inside. Though we don’t know why they haven’t been claimed yet, this is a good opportunity.”

Zhou Xiaoling was stunned. She hadn’t realized Guo Shier was thinking of her, and she felt deeply moved.

Eagle Demon said, “If it’s to help Dingding get an inheritance, I think we can go in. Hehe, anyway, we still have time.”

Luo Zhan said, “Yeah, even if it takes a few more months, it’s not a big deal. Maybe we might even find a sacred treasure, hehe.” He now understood how precious such treasures were.

Guo Shier nodded and said, “Exactly. Let’s go look for the entrance to the secret realm later. Maybe we can find some relevant information to understand what’s inside.”

The middle-aged man’s words successfully inspired Guo Shier. Guo Shier had a deep affection for altars; the first time he saw that half-ruined ancient altar, he reaped great benefits from it, and every time he saw an altar afterward, his strength increased. Thus, the allure of altars was immense to him.
Guo Shier threw a gold talisman coin on the low table and said, “Kid, settle the bill.”
The kid rushed over eagerly. Upon seeing the gold talisman coin on the table, he was stunned and said, “A gold talisman coin…”