Chapter 124: Unexpected Gains

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The secret realm would stay open for a month.

For Lan Chang'an, time flew by quickly. But for the Immortals of the various factions, it felt like years.

With just an occasional glance, Lan Chang'an noticed that the faces of the Core Formation Immortals from several sects were becoming increasingly grave.

Especially the white-browed elder "Yuxiao Immortal" from the Flame Departing Palace, who had the demeanor of an immortal.

Huanglong Immortal's face didn't look any better, the wrinkles on his forehead becoming more pronounced.

"Not good... Xia Fan!"

Half a month later, Yuxiao Immortal's expression changed dramatically, and he couldn't help but exclaim in disbelief.

His body surged with core power as his daoist robe billowed.

The terrifying pressure of a Core Formation Realm cultivator stirred the wind and clouds in the sky, causing the Foundation Establishment cultivators several li away to feel a chill down their spines.

"Xia Fan? The Foundation Establishment cultivator from Flame Departing Palace, with high-grade spiritual roots and the grandson of the law enforcement elder."

The Immortals from nearby factions exchanged glances. The law enforcement elder of Flame Departing Palace held a high position of authority and was at the peak of the late Core Formation Realm. In the cultivation world of Liang Kingdom, he was one of the strongest Immortals below the Nascent Soul Realm.

Judging by Yuxiao Immortal's reaction, Xia Fan's soul token must have shattered.

"Xia Fan was at the late stage of Foundation Establishment and, as the grandson of the law enforcement elder of Flame Departing Palace, he likely had protective treasures. In the secret realm, probably no one could kill him easily."

"Decades ago, there was a rumor that the female disciple from the Xuan Yin Pavilion wasn't actually defiled and murdered by Liang Shaotian, but rather framed by Xia Fan."

"These were nothing more than baseless rumors, devoid of evidence, so Flame Departing Palace executed the evil cultivator who spread such slander."

Now that Flame Departing Palace had struck bad luck, the Core Formation Immortals from the other four major sects were happy to watch the spectacle, offering a few superficial words of comfort to Yuxiao Immortal.

...

"I'm afraid that the death rate of the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm this time is higher than before."

Lan Chang'an, sitting cross-legged in the distance, didn't know what had happened but could make a rough guess in his mind.

Of course, the death rate would only be slightly higher, it wouldn't reach such an exaggerated level as to amount to near total annihilation. If that were the case, the Core Formation Immortals from the major sects would have jointly ended this secret realm expedition early.

The dangers of the secret realm were uncertain, and thus, the major sects were willing to sell some of the slots. Besides recouping the cost of opening the secret realm and appeasing the dissatisfaction of other factions, they also wanted to transfer some of the risks.

According to previous statistics, the survival rate of sect Foundation Establishment cultivators was much higher than those from other factions and wandering cultivators. Non-sect Foundation Establishment cultivators often served as cannon fodder for traps or became harvests for others.

"Chen Fuhai is a variable. However, the direct power boost provided by The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu is limited, not enough to allow him to slaughter everyone in the secret realm without restraint." Lan Chang'an pondered.

A top-notch late Foundation Establishment cultivator from the sects still had some self-preservation ability when facing ordinary Fake-Dan cultivators.

...

A month passed by.

"Open!"

The Core Formation Immortals of the five major forces once again activated the secret realm tokens, infusing them with their True-Dan level mana.

Above the hundred-zhang-high green-black stone wall, a giant dark vortex opened, creating a mysterious passage several zhang wide and tall.

As soon as the passage opened...

Swish! Swish! Swish!

One figure after another flew out.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators emerging from the secret realm were either severely injured, mentally exhausted, or their auras were in disarray.

Thud!

A few pale-faced cultivators collapsed unconscious as soon as they exited the secret realm.

"How did Xia Fan die? Does anyone know?"

Yuxiao Immortal's eyes were like the blazing sun, his spiritual sense locked onto the entrance of the passage as he questioned two Flame Departing Palace cultivators who had just come out.

"Reporting to the elder! Senior Brother Xia was fighting a quasi-third-rank exotic beast for a Core Formation opportunity, he was ambushed and injured, and later killed by the evil cultivator 'Li Hai.'"

"Li Hai? Liang Shaotian's first disciple, a genius with earth-grade spiritual roots, managed to sneak into the secret realm?"

The Core Formation Immortals present were astonished.

As expected, two hours later, hardly anyone could be seen emerging from the entrance of the secret realm.

Lan Chang'an noticed that only two of the five Foundation Establishment cultivators that Huanglong Immortal had brought with him had come out.

Of the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Beast Taming Zhou Family, only Zhou Qingxuan came out.

She showed no obvious injuries, but her body was weak, and her face was bloodless, suggesting she had used some secret technique that greatly depleted her vitality.

Lan Chang'an guessed that this young woman's survival likely owed to some lifesaving measure provided by the Zhou Family rather than pure luck alone.

For the Beast Taming Zhou Family cultivators, without risking it all, Core Formation would be unattainable; even achieving Fake-Dan was difficult.

"Qingxuan, did you injure your foundation?" asked the Zhou Family's old ancestor with concern.

"I'm fine, I just depleted some vital energy," Zhou Qingxuan replied. "However, after entering the secret realm, the pair of male and female Blood Demon Butterflies, which had been advanced using a secret technique, both died in the battle."

"No matter, those butterflies were at the peak of first-rank cultivation, and after the secret technique elevated them to second rank, they had little longevity left." The Zhou Family's old ancestor smiled, then handed her a medicinal pill.

Zhou Qingxuan swallowed the pill, closed her eyes for rest, and glanced toward the distant gray-robed young man.

...

"Eh? It's been two hours already, and Chen Fuhai still hasn't come out?" Lan Chang'an observed for some time, surprised.

Among the dozen or so remaining cultivators of Qingzhu Sect, there was no sign of that familiar middle-aged man with his paunch.

After another while, Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan flew over.

They had already handed over sixty percent of their harvest to Jin Yun Valley, and Zhao Siyao's injuries had also stabilized.

"Fellow Daoists, what is the situation within the secret realm?" Lan Chang'an asked directly.

The trio erected a soundproofing barrier before beginning their discussion.

Two unforeseen developments had occurred during this Green Underworld Mysterious Realm.

"Chen Fuhai disguised himself as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, assassinating several other Foundation Establishment cultivators from various sects within the secret realm—including even members of his own sect. Later, he accidentally gave away his identity, and was surrounded by the crowd of cultivators and hunted to death."

The first development was Chen Fuhai. The manner of his death seemed suspicious to Lan Chang'an.

In order to obtain the medicinal ingredients necessary for Core Formation, it was suspected that he sneaked up on Xia Fan of the Flame Departing Palace.

The second development involved Liang Shaotian's disciple, Li Hai.

During his early days within the secret realm, this individual targeted only loose Foundation Establishment cultivators. Later, he turned on Xia Fan and exposed his identity by deploying techniques such as Black Dipper Demon Flame.

Lan Chang'an guessed that when Li Hai infiltrated the secret realm, his primary objective was to take advantage of any opportunity that presented itself, killing a few Foundation Establishment cultivators along the way to relieve his anger.

Later, when he discovered the injured culprit who framed his master, it presented a rare chance.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, I must admit, your talismans and puppets were invaluable this time in the secret realm; without them, I may not have survived," Zhao Siyao said with lingering trepidation.

She transmitted the message that one of the two puppets she purchased from Lan Chang'an had been destroyed, leaving behind only the severely damaged turtle puppet.

"Among the resources collected from the jade slip, Siyao has gathered two." Zhao Siyao handed over a brocade box.

Lan Chang'an didn't open it but scanned its contents with spiritual sense, and his heart stirred.

"Third-rank black iron crystal, commonly used material for crafting magical treasures and puppets, highly versatile."

"Black inkstone, a rare treasure, can be utilized to craft high-quality inkstone and enhance spirit ink quality."

These two items were relatively light and valued at only three thousand to four thousand spirit stones.

After some discussion, Zhao Siyao insisted on selling them for half price. Lan Chang'an paid half with spirit stones and the other half was offset with second-rank talismans. In addition, Zhao Siyao gave Lan Chang'an a jade slip containing information about some of the owners of the resources.

Next was Zhang Tieshan's turn. During the transaction with Zhao Siyao, he had faced the other direction and obviously didn't use his spiritual sense to probe.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, take a look at this item."

Zhang Tieshan smiled as he took out a piece of purple-patterned spirit wood, about one zhang long, its surface shimmering with splendid light.

"Third-rank spirit wood: Purple Radiant Spirit Wood."

Lan Chang'an was overjoyed; this wood possessed strong spiritual properties, reaching mid-grade of third-rank materials.

With this single piece of third-rank spirit wood, Lan Chang'an's investment in the secret realm had already met his expectations.

"This wood came from the Foundation Establishment cultivator I defeated during my counterattack. The situation was rather perilous. Originally, I obtained two pieces, but the bigger one of them was bought away by Uncle-Master Teng."

(End of chapter)