Translator: CinderTL
Xu Sanyan clutched several spirit stones in each hand, simultaneously refining medicinal pills within his body. Multitasking at full speed, he rapidly replenished his Spiritual Power.
As time passed, the spirit stones in his hands crumbled into dust, scattering across the floor. A closer look revealed a thick layer of powder already accumulated, a testament to the sheer number of spirit stones consumed.
"Sigh..."
Xu Sanyan rose and touched his chest. The wound had healed significantly, though a lingering ache remained. Still, it no longer hindered his movements.
"Soaring Cloud Sword Intent..."
The power of that single strike had been truly remarkable. And that was merely the result of Fang Qingge's newly created, still-incomplete sword technique. Had it been fully perfected, Xu Sanyan might have lost his life on the spot.
"Senior Brother, it's almost dark. Should we find another place to stay?" Xiang Tan's voice echoed from outside the door.
Creak—
The massive wooden doors slowly swung open, and Xu Sanyan emerged, clad in a cyan robe. "Let's go. To the city."
Surveying the fifty-odd people gathered before him, Xu Sanyan felt a flicker of relief. At least the numbers were finally growing. More had arrived steadily during his recovery.
Over two hundred people had entered the secret realm, but by now, only a hundred and seventy-odd responses remained on the mother-child stone. Over forty people were unaccounted for, their fates unknown—whether dead or simply out of range.
"Let's go," Xu Sanyan said, ignoring the others. He strode ahead, leading the way into the city.
Qin Manyang's gaze swept lightly across the scene, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She still didn't know what Fang Qingge and the others had been fighting over earlier, but she dared not ask.
She wasn't alone in her curiosity; Elder Ren and the others nearby shared the same unspoken question.
Let them wonder, Xu Sanyan thought. He certainly wouldn't explain.
Turning his attention inward, he sent a telepathic message to the old man within the discipline ruler: "Senior, when does the secret realm close?"
"Normally, it lasts for two months. But after tens of thousands of years of changes, the exact duration may vary."
The old man wasn't entirely certain either. After the heavenly tribulation, any alterations to the secret realm were to be expected. After all, in his memories, the Cheongsam Ghost should never have been able to appear here...
She had crossed the boundaries of the secret realm!
Yet the old man withheld this information from Xu Sanyan, harboring his own suspicions.
Xu Sanyan remained completely unaware of these developments, still immersed in his own thoughts.
Two months left...
It's only been a few days. There's plenty of time.
With a mental command, his status panel materialized before his eyes. After absorbing spirit stones for this period, his Vitality had surpassed 500 points. The Subduing the Heart-Ape Method was ready to be upgraded again.
Without hesitation, he willed:
Upgrade!
Xu Sanyan's footsteps paused for a moment before returning to normal as he continued walking forward, his mind now crystal clear.
The Subduing the Heart-Ape Method had broken through to the Mid Stage.
This breakthrough sharpened his self-awareness, clarified his path of cultivation, and significantly reduced the likelihood of being ensnared by inner demons.
Xu Sanyan felt a premonition: perhaps when the Subduing the Heart-Ape Method reached Peak Stage, his own cultivation level would break through Dao Seeking Perfection, allowing him to glimpse the Soul Refining Realm.
This pace was astonishingly rapid. Most cultivators spent centuries, or even their entire lives, trying to break through the Dao Seeking Realm.
Of course, there were exceptions like Fang Qingge and Jingyi. He believed they wouldn't need a century to achieve this.
"Almost there..."
Xu Sanyan walked, absorbing spirit stones as he watched the Vitality on his panel gradually increase. He would break through soon, and when that happened...
Hmph!
He had always been magnanimous, never holding grudges. If someone wronged him, he settled the score immediately.
This was the first time since he began cultivating that he had suffered such a significant loss, nearly losing his life. He was determined to get even.
"Awoo~"
As darkness fell completely, a beastly roar echoed from the distance, signaling the arrival of corpse demons.
"Let's find a place to rest for the night," Xu Sanyan ordered, heading toward a nearby pavilion. "We'll resume our journey at dawn."
"Understood," Elder Ren replied, assigning guards to maintain watch.
Suddenly, a bloodcurdling scream pierced the night air.
"Ah, Senior Brother, help me!"
Xu Sanyan turned his head to see three or four figures fleeing from a massive corpse demon, which clutched a frantically struggling figure in its hand.
Unfortunately, the fleeing group was running straight toward them.
Fortunately, Xu Sanyan recognized one of them.
"Cui Yousheng?"
Xu Sanyan grinned, revealing his teeth. What a coincidence! This was Cui Yousheng, the cultivator from the Cui Family whose entire clan he had annihilated back in the Qi Kingdom. Cui Yousheng was also a high-ranking disciple of the Vast Origin Sect. Xu Sanyan hadn't expected to encounter him here.
"Help! Save me!"
Cui Yousheng's eyes lit up when he saw the group ahead. Salvation!
Though he couldn't gauge their cultivation levels, he understood one fundamental truth:
When a group is being chased by a tiger, you don't need to outrun the tiger; you just need to outrun your companions.
Xu Sanyan waved his hand. "Save those people."
"Yes, sir."
Elder Ren darted forward, his sword flashing. The corpse demon's massive head crashed to the ground, freeing the person it had been holding.
"Thank you, Senior... Xu Sanyan?!"
Cui Yousheng respectfully cupped his hands in greeting, but his words of gratitude froze in his throat as he recognized the man at the front: Xu Sanyan, whom he had last seen over a year ago!
"Th-this... this..."
Cui Yousheng's face twisted in shock, momentarily speechless. He had once planned to collaborate with his Master to uncover the secret behind Xu Sanyan's rapid cultivation progress. But when Xu Sanyan never came to the Vast Origin Sect, the matter had been dropped. Now, their reunion was under vastly different circumstances.
"Brother Cui, long time no see," Xu Sanyan said with a grin, his eyes gleaming as he noted that Cui Yousheng's cultivation level remained at Foundation Establishment Perfection.
"Greetings... Brother Xu," Cui Yousheng paused, unsure how to address him.
"Heh, this isn't the place for conversation. Let's move inside," Xu Sanyan said, gesturing toward a nearby pavilion.
Cui Yousheng glanced nervously at the menacing crowd surrounding them. He wanted to refuse but didn't dare, forcing a smile. "Brother Xu, please lead the way."
Though the demonic sect disciples behaved obediently under Xu Sanyan's command, they transformed into demon lords the moment they left the sect, indulging in arson, murder, plunder, and every conceivable atrocity. Cui Yousheng followed the group inside, his heart pounding with fear, his timid posture resembling that of a frightened quail.
"Brother Cui, how have you been lately?" Xu Sanyan asked casually.
Cui Yousheng hastily replied, "Well, very well, exceptionally well."
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow. If I didn't know better, I'd think this old fox was trying to be funny.
"How many people did the Vast Origin Sect bring this time?" Xu Sanyan asked with a smile.
"Including myself, there are forty-seven in total: two in the Soul Refining Realm, eight in the Dao Seeking Realm, and thirty-seven in the Foundation Establishment Realm."
"Oh, quite a sizable group," Xu Sanyan remarked, slightly surprised. For a sect of the Vast Origin Sect's size, this was indeed a considerable force.
"Yes, the Sect Leader personally led the expedition, and most of the elders came along," Cui Yousheng answered without hesitation, practically offering to reveal the color of the Sect Leader and elders' underwear.
Of course, Xu Sanyan had no interest in their underwear—except perhaps for the female elders.
"When I annihilated the entire Cui Family, what was your opinion on that, Brother Cui?" Xu Sanyan asked casually, posing a question that could seal Cui Yousheng's fate.
(End of the Chapter)
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