A large crowd had gathered in the forest near the town of Linan. They were drawn to a sunlit clearing within that forest where a strange glowing purple crack floated in the air. At this time, it had grown to the size of a child, although it had originally started as the size of a plum. This phenomenon was the focus of most of the people filling the area today.

The crack was exceedingly odd. It would pulse with power, its purple glow lighting the faces of those in close proximity and sending small surges of qi through those who cultivated. Then, it would amorphously change its shape as though it were stretching or spreading at various points. It sparked and pulsed. It throbbed and warped. Soon, it would open completely as the entrance of the secret realm.

Two cairns of stones had been erected on either side of the crack to denote where the entry would be located once the realm opened fully. In front of the left cairn stood Elder Han, his golden robes glittering in the morning sun, his bearing upright and focused on the youths waiting to enter. In front of the right cairn stood Elder Tai, his deep green robes casting a wan look on his already pinched features as he arrogantly glanced at the juniors who stood silent and nervous before him.

The mayor was not in attendance.

Two rows of young Thunder Palace disciples in the light blue of their sect lined the path leading to the realm entrance. Their job was to ensure the safe entry and exit of all realm travelers.

A temporary protection dome had been erected around the group to be certain nothing interfered from outside. The Thunder Palace took the job of protecting the travelers seriously, and it showed. The crowd around them were subdued and respectful. Not a hint of nefarious behavior in sight.

Standing proudly within the group of twenty hopeful travelers were Wu Chen, Ren Qiguang, and Su Chunwen. Their faces shone with excitement as they waited impatiently to listen to the Elders who stood before the shining fissure.

Elder Han raised his hand to get everyone's attention, and the clearing grew silent, 'Realm travelers, congratulations! You are about to enter a secret realm filled with untold treasures and cultivation opportunities. However, there are things you should know before you enter.'

'One, when you enter, you will each be transported to a random area of the realm. No one knows where you might end up. So, if you were counting on others being able to assist you, it will be your own luck if you are able to find them inside or not. Expect to be alone.'

'Two, the realm is only open for a week. This is a very short time for a realm, but as this is merely a tear in the dimension, it is not truly surprising. Once the week is over, you will automatically be transferred outside of the realm. Should an accident befall you, and you perish within the realm, your body will not be transported out. So, try not to die, hmm?' Here, the Elder winked at the nervous group and gave them a small smile.

Elder Tai cleared his throat and stared down his nose at the travelers who now turned to him, 'Three, there are four main areas that we have identified. The Heavenly Gardens, The Shimmering Sea, The Fenghuang Pagoda, and The Bloodmist Caverns.'

'The Heavenly Gardens are where various herbs and exotic flora can be found. It is a relatively peaceful area without a guardian to worry about. Should you find yourself there, you should consider yourself lucky. There is also a cultivation pond there where we encourage you to soak. The waters are a high cultivation resource that will boost your level significantly in a short period of time.'

'The Shimmering Sea is a little more dangerous. It is guarded by various spirit creatures of the seagoing variety. However, several previous travelers have returned successfully with rare plants and even weapons of profound abilities from its depths. Weigh the risks with your abilities. If the creatures there are too difficult, head west. The Gardens can be found to the west of the sea after two days travel.'

'The Fenghuang Pagoda is located on a high mountainside. It is a dangerous trek along a narrow path that climbs through the clouds. It is still a very mysterious place, even with years of travelers being privy to its secrets. No two travelers experience the same thing. Some have returned with powerful techniques or weapons, and others have returned with their minds lost. If you do not wish to risk entering the pagoda, there are koi ponds surrounding it that are also beneficial to cultivators. Soak in those instead.'

'The Bloodmist Caverns are as dangerous as they sound. Powerful cultivation resources, techniques, and weapons can be found. However, most are guarded by fierce spirit beasts or deadly flora. Only a few travelers have returned from within those mazelike caverns, so we don't know much else. You may have heard of the Three Beast Cauldron and the Spear of Songs. They were both found within these caves.'

Whispers broke out at the mention of the two nearly mythological items Elder Tai had mentioned. Both were extremely powerful, and the hope of finding an opportunity such as these lit many faces amongst the group awaiting entry.

Elder Han cleared his throat to regain their attention, 'These places are the most often visited, but that doesn't mean we know every place within the realm. There may be more places that have yet to be discovered. Some may be peaceful, like the Gardens, others may be extremely dangerous, like the Caverns. Just be aware of your surroundings, use your heads and your talents, and come back safe...whether you found an opportunity or not. That is the most important thing.'

A thunderous crackling noise suddenly rent the air, and the fissure enlarged to the size of a human body while it widened about a hand's width. The excitement in the air was palpable.

'Prepare yourselves, young ones. The realm is opening!'

Wu Chen leaned toward his friends and whispered, 'From what I've heard, we have a good chance of appearing in the realm together if we hold on to each other. Let's try clasping arms as we go through and see if that helps.'

'That's a good idea, Wu Chen.' Su Chunwen said with a smile, and Ren Qiguang nodded as well.

A soft feminine voice was heard behind them, 'Although I was not trying to listen to your conversation, I overheard you just now, Wu Chen Gongzi. Would it be all right if I join you? None of my sect members won their battles, and I am nervous about traveling alone.'

At the sound of her dulcet voice, Su Chunwen's face turned three shades of colors and finally settled on red. Wu Chen was fascinated by this, and Ren Qiguang choked in an attempt to stifle his laughter.

Wu Chen grinned at Ren Qiguang's subtle nod and turned to the lady known for her red silk weapon, Sun Ruyun, 'It would be an honor for us to escort a lady of such bearing within the realm.' He agreed with a polite bow.

This was a fortuitous opportunity. He couldn't wait to ask her all the questions he had about her weapon, not to mention all the fun that would be had at Su Chunwen's expense. It was blatantly obvious that he had strong feelings for the lady in the soft yellow sect robes.

'This one thanks the three gentlemen for the favor.' She smiled gently, her lashes fluttering over her sparkling phoenix eyes as she politely bowed in return. Those eyes swiftly darted toward Su Chunwen for a moment, and a slight reddening of her ears was noted by Wu Chen.

Su Chunwen swallowed hard at her glance and appeared frozen. Wu Chen covered his mouth and turned aside using a cough to cover his laughter. This trip was turning out to be far more entertaining than he'd anticipated.

Ren Qiguang cleared his throat, 'When we enter, I will hold Wu Chen's arm, Chunwen-shidi will stand directly behind me and hold my arm, and the Lady Sun Ruyun will hold Chunwen-shidi and Wu Chen's arm. The crack is only wide enough for two people to go through at once, so this is the best way to maintain contact.'

'Bear in mind, this is not an absolute. It may not work at all, and we might still end up separated.' Reminded Wu Chen.

A thunderous 'boom!' echoed through the clearing, and the crack finally enlarged to the height and width of two men. Within its odd, tattered edges, a purple mist writhed and twisted as though it were alive. The pulsing of power stopped, and a strong, steady aura engulfed all those within the area.

Elder Tai yelled out to the excited group of travelers, 'Enter in groups of two in a steady manner. Do not hesitate at the gate and waste other's time. If you are afraid, simply do not enter.' He announced as he and Elder Han herded the group toward the entry.

Ren Qiguang grabbed Wu Chen's lower arm, and Su Chunwen grabbed Ren Qiguang's upper arm from behind. To his credit, Su Chunwen did not stumble when Lady Sun Ruyun gently grabbed his hand instead of his arm. He did blush, but he was able to give her a small smile of reassurance that earned him a bright smile in return. Lady Sun Ruyun then reached out and grabbed Wu Chen's upper arm as they approached the entrance in a group.

With their heads held high, Ren Qiguang and Wu Chen entered the swirling mist together, followed closely by Su Chunwen and Lady Sun Ruyun.

In the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, all twenty travelers had disappeared into the mist.

Elder Han stared into the entry and wished them all luck. They were going to need it.