As soon as the Supreme Mount Sect's disciples entered the secret realm, they were teleported in random directions. The realm, filled with dense forests and treacherous terrain, seemed like it had a life of its own. The atmosphere was thick with tension, as the disciples knew that danger lurked around every corner.
Roy spent the better part of an hour searching for his fellow disciples. The landscape was vast and unfamiliar, with towering trees that blocked out much of the sunlight. After what felt like an eternity, he finally spotted Liora, her figure outlined against the greenery.
"Liora!" Roy called out, relief evident in his voice as he hurried toward her.
Liora turned, her face brightening at the sight of Roy. "Thank goodness you're okay," she replied. "I was worried we'd all be scattered too far apart to regroup."
'At least we've found each other,' Roy thought, his mind already racing ahead to the challenges that still lay ahead. "We should find Yun and Aric next. The sooner we regroup, the stronger we'll be."
They set off together, moving cautiously through the underbrush. The secret realm was eerie, with strange noises echoing through the trees and shadows shifting in the periphery of their vision. After traveling for a while, they encountered their first real obstacle: a wolf-type beast, its eyes glowing menacingly in the dim light.
"It's a beast," Liora whispered, recognizing the rank immediately. 'Beasts are the weakest of the monsters here, but that doesn't mean it's going to be easy.'
"Stay focused," Roy advised, drawing his weapon. "We can take it down, but we need to be smart about it."
The wolf charged at them, its speed surprising. Liora moved quickly, her blade flashing as she blocked its initial strike. Roy darted to the side, aiming for its flank. The battle was intense, the beast's strength and agility forcing them to work in perfect harmony. After a series of quick, coordinated attacks, they finally managed to overpower it.
Roy delivered the final blow, and the beast collapsed, its body going limp. Panting, Roy wiped the sweat from his brow. "That was tougher than I expected."
Liora nodded, catching her breath. "If that was just a beast, I can't imagine what the higher ranks are like."
Suddenly, they heard footsteps approaching. A group of cultivators appeared from the shadows, their expressions predatory.
"Looks like we stumbled upon some fresh meat," one of them sneered, eyeing the points the two had just earned. "Hand over your jades, and we might let you walk away."
Roy and Liora exchanged a glance. 'We're not giving up without a fight,' Roy thought, steeling himself for the confrontation.
The group began to advance, but before they could close the distance, a sword shot through the air, embedding itself in the ground between the two parties. The attackers froze, startled by the sudden intrusion.
A voice rang out, calm yet commanding. "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
Yun and Aric stepped forward, their presence radiating confidence. The attackers hesitated, clearly unsure of how to proceed now that the odds had shifted.
"You're outnumbered," Yun said, her tone almost mocking. "But if you want to continue, we're happy to oblige."
Aric added, "Or you could hand over your jades and walk away with your lives."
The tables had turned. With Yun and Aric by their side, Roy and Liora felt their confidence surge. The attackers, realizing they were now at a disadvantage, tried to retreat, but Yun was faster. She darted forward, disarming the closest opponent in a flash. Aric followed suit, his movements precise and deadly.
Within moments, the enemy party was overwhelmed. They watched in horror as their jades were snatched away, the points they had accumulated now forfeit to the Supreme Mount Sect.
"And just to make sure you don't cause any more trouble..." Liora said, shattering the enemy jades one by one. The defeated cultivators were forcefully ejected from the secret realm, their names disappearing from the stone pillar outside.
Roy looked at the others, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, that was satisfying."
Yun smiled back, though her eyes remained serious. "We need to stay sharp. This was just the beginning."
'Aric nodded in agreement, his gaze already scanning the horizon. "Let's find the others beasts and make sure we're ready for whatever comes next."
As they regrouped and prepared to continue their journey, a sense of foreboding hung in the air. They had survived this battle, but the real challenges were still ahead. What other dangers lay hidden in the secret realm? Only time would tell.