At the same time, a white shadow fled through the forest at lightning speed, the surrounding scenery streaking past in a blur.
"That was terrifying… that two-legged beast almost scared me to death!"
Recalling what it had just witnessed, the White-haired Rat felt lingering fear seep deep into its Soul. The Clan Chief of the Six Clans—an existence standing at the very top of the Secret Realm's food chain—had been effortlessly slain by that monster.
If it did not escape now, its end would certainly be far worse.
What puzzled it was that its earlier injuries had already healed. The pain was gone, its body light and agile once more. Was it because of that fruit it had eaten earlier?
No. There was no time to think about that now.
The most urgent matter was avoiding that two-legged beast.
The White-haired Rat darted through the forest, changing directions repeatedly, hiding among rocks and ancient trees. Its eyes flicked around constantly while its nose twitched, carefully sensing the surrounding Qi.
Suddenly, its expression changed.
Something was wrong.
A familiar aura was rapidly closing in.
"Oh no… that two-legged beast is coming after me!"
Its fur stood on end as panic flooded its mind. It pushed its body to the limit, sweeping through the forest like a hurricane.
Swish!
Tearing ripples appeared in the air as space itself distorted.
Ye Junlin activated the Great Void Technique, crossing space directly and shortening the distance in an instant.
"System, is that mouse up ahead?"
[Ding! That's right. Keep moving like this and you'll catch up to it very soon.]
Ye Junlin found this White-haired Rat, which had quietly slipped away earlier, rather interesting. A mischievous thought crossed his mind, and he decided to catch it and play a proper experiment on it.
"It's over… Why can he still catch up? How does this two-legged beast know where I'm hiding?"
The White-haired Rat was completely frantic.
It had merely passed by and eaten a fruit, yet this single act had dragged it into a deadly chase.
"l just want to live peacefully. Why does everyone want to harm me?"
The sense of injustice nearly made it collapse.
Boom!
A terrifying fluctuation descended from above.
An invisible pressure crashed down instantly, pinning it in place. The White-haired Rat felt as if a massive mountain had been pressed onto its body. Its limbs trembled violently, its chest tightened, and breathing became extremely difficult.
"Squeak!!!"
It struggled desperately and was suddenly lifted into the air.
Only then did it realize that its tail had been grabbed.
A large hand condensed entirely from Qi held it effortlessly, as though lifting a weed.
Swish.
Ye Junlin landed in front of it and calmly examined it with interest.
Under the gaze of the silver-haired youth, the White-haired Rat felt a chill run down its spine. In its mind, there was no doubt left—this two-legged beast was going to eat it.
In sheer panic, it immediately begged for mercy.
"My meat is very sour! Very, very unpalatable! Please let me go!"
"Sour?" Ye Junlin raised an eyebrow.
"It's true!" the White-haired Rat cried out desperately. "My meat has a terrible texture. If you eat it, you'll keep farting—really stinky farts!"
It spoke rapidly, convinced that this was its only chance to survive.
Ye Junlin stroked his chin and revealed a sinister smile.
"Hehehe… hearing you say that just makes me want to try it even more."
He stepped closer, his expression calm yet terrifying.
"Squeak!!!"
The White-haired Rat's eyes widened. Its pupils gradually lost focus, its head tilted to the side, and white foam bubbled out from its mouth as it fainted on the spot.
"…It fainted just from that?"
Ye Junlin stared at it in silence. He reached out and lightly poked its face with a finger. There was no reaction.
His expression turned strange.
According to the System, this White-haired Rat possessed the Da Luo Immortal Body, the strongest among all Immortal Bodies.
Yet it was so timid that it fainted from pure fear alone.
"…Forget it."
"I'll just raise it as a pet mouse."
Ye Junlin casually held the unconscious rat by its tail and tossed it beside a large rock.
Half an hour later.
The White-haired Rat's nose twitched, and it slowly regained consciousness, its body swaying slightly.
"So fragrant…"
The aroma in the air instantly cleared its muddled mind.
"I'm… not dead yet?"
It cautiously poked its head out and looked around.
The next moment, it froze completely.
Not far away, a young man sat by a fire. He wore a black robe embroidered with golden patterns, and his silver-white hair cascaded down his back, each strand gleaming with a cold, snowy luster.
At this moment, he was calmly roasting meat over the flames. The surface of the meat was golden and crisp, oil dripping as waves of rich fragrance spread through the air. Beside him sat a large pot, within which something fragrant was boiling, steam rising continuously.
"Could it be…"
The White-haired Rat lowered its head in alarm and hurriedly checked its own body with both little hands. Only after confirming that it was still intact did it finally let out a long breath of relief.
Seeing that Ye Junlin was fully focused on the roasting meat, the White-haired Rat's survival instincts immediately kicked in.
It tiptoed quietly, preparing to sneak away.
"Come here obediently. Don't make me catch you again."
A calm voice drifted over.
The voice was not loud, but to the White-haired Rat, it struck like a thunderclap.
"S-Senior…"
With great reluctance, the White-haired Rat slowly approached Ye Junlin.
Its gaze soon drifted uncontrollably toward the roasting meat. Saliva trickled from the corner of its mouth, and its stomach let out a loud growl.
Ye Junlin glanced at it sideways, his expression one of mild disdain.
"Look at how unambitious you are. Here, this is for you."
He casually tossed over a piece of roasted meat.
The White-haired Rat caught it with both hands and immediately stuffed it into its mouth without a second thought.
Crispy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside, with a numbing fragrance that exploded on its tongue.
The White-haired Rat's eyes sparkled as if filled with tiny stars. Happiness overwhelmed it completely, its tail lifting so high it almost pointed straight into the sky.
"What kind of meat is this? I've never eaten anything like it before!"
Ye Junlin replied indifferently, "Mouse meat."
The White-haired Rat stiffened instantly.
"..."
Seeing its horrified expression, Ye Junlin burst out laughing. He flicked its forehead lightly.
"Idiot. It's rabbit meat."
"Oh… rabbit meat…"
The White-haired Rat licked its lips thoughtfully.
"The bunny is really pitiful, but also really delicious."
It hesitated for a moment before cautiously asking, "Senior… you really won't eat me, right?"
Even now, it still did not fully trust Ye Junlin's intentions.
Ye Junlin chuckled.
"Why would I eat you? If I truly wanted to harm you, you'd already be boiling in that pot."
He pointed casually at the large pot nearby, where tender meat bubbled gently beneath the steaming surface.
Upon seeing this, the White-haired Rat swallowed hard, and the last bit of tension in its heart finally dissipated.
"Senior, I believe you!"
"C-Can you give me another bite of meat?"
Hearing this, Ye Junlin smiled faintly.
"Yes. On one condition. You become my Disciple. Are you willing?"
The White-haired Rat froze on the spot.
Becoming a Disciple?
That was even more shocking than being eaten.
"Senior… will being your Disciple be very dangerous?" it asked hesitantly.
It only wanted to stay in the forest and live freely.
Ye Junlin cleared his throat and spoke in a serious tone.
"As my Disciple, you will eat good food whenever you want. If danger arises, Master will naturally stand up for you. Such a good deal—are you sure you don't want it?"
The White-haired Rat was deeply moved.
"Yes! Yes! Yes! I want to be Senior's Disciple!"
It raised both small hands excitedly.
"Then why are you still standing there? Hurry and pay respects to Master."
Ye Junlin's expression turned solemn.
"Disciple greets Master!"
The White-haired Rat bowed down properly, mimicking a human's movements.
"Mm. Rise."
Ye Junlin nodded with satisfaction.
At this moment, a System notification sounded in his mind.
[Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully recruiting a Disciple.]
[Reward: Supreme Divine Ability — Five Extremes Reincarnation Great Destruction Technique.]
[Five Extremes Reincarnation Great Destruction Technique: Nothing is indestructible, and nothing is unbreakable. Once activated, it is capable of unleashing devastating large-scale destruction.]
"Another killing move. Good. Very good."
Ye Junlin nodded calmly. One could never have too many techniques.
The System's prompt continued.
[Ding! Detecting the Disciple's Aptitude. This System will bestow a copy of the Grand Dao Sutra.]
[Ding! All rewards have been distributed. Please ensure harmonious relations between Master and Disciple. Do not abuse small animals.]
Ye Junlin frowned slightly.
"System, you're really meddling too much. With my noble character, how could I possibly do such a thing?"
System: "..."
"Master, are you talking to me?"
The White-haired Rat looked up, confused.
Ye Junlin glanced at it and said thoughtfully, "Since you are now my Disciple, you need a proper name. From today onward, you shall be called Bai Xiaoxi."
"Thank you, Master!"
Bai Xiaoxi said happily, deliberately acting cute.
Ye Junlin touched his nose.
"Ahem. Now, I will impart a cultivation technique to you. You must cherish it, cultivate diligently, and strive to become Master's… good Disciple."
He extended a finger and gently pointed forward.
A ball of light instantly entered Bai Xiaoxi's Sea of Consciousness.
Boom!
Bai Xiaoxi's eyes widened as her entire body trembled violently.
The Grand Dao Sutra was vast and profound, encompassing countless truths of cultivation. Enlightenment surged through her mind, washing away her former confusion.
Only then did she realize that she had obtained an enormous opportunity.
"Thank you, Master, for bestowing the technique!"
Bai Xiaoxi prostrated herself deeply, this time with genuine reverence.
"The meat is ready. Hurry and eat."
Ye Junlin smiled faintly and scooped a bowl of meat soup for her.
"Mm-hm!"
Bai Xiaoxi accepted it eagerly, sniffed it with her nose, and began drinking without hesitation.
"So delicious!"
Warmth spread through her entire body, and a satisfied smile appeared on her face.
She had always lived alone in the forest, surrounded by danger, and had rarely experienced such a peaceful and pleasant moment.
"Master is so good to me. Becoming Master's Disciple is truly my fortune. I will definitely repay Master well in the future."
Bai Xiaoxi silently made this vow in her heart.
Without warning, the entire Luo Tian Secret Realm began to tremble violently.
The unreal azure sky above fractured visibly, spreading cracks like a shattered crystal dome.
"What's happening?!"
Ye Junlin stood up abruptly, his expression finally changing.
[Ding! The lifespan of the Grand Dao Immortal Tree has reached its end, and it can no longer sustain the operation of the Secret Realm. The Secret Realm is collapsing. Please evacuate immediately, Host.]
"Master, I feel so sad."
Bai Xiaoxi was startled as well, yet instead of panic, a deep sorrow welled up in her heart. Tears streamed down from her red eyes for reasons she could not explain.
Ye Junlin frowned slightly, sensing that her reaction was unusual.
However, there was no time to dwell on it.
"Let's go."
Ye Junlin grabbed Bai Xiaoxi and activated the Great Void Technique, tearing through space as he rushed toward the exit.
Along the way, the scenery changed violently. Mountains collapsed one after another, towering ancient trees toppled in rows, the earth split apart, and the sky cracked like a shattered mirror.
This ancient Secret Realm, which had endured for countless years, had finally reached the end of its destiny.
"Roar—!"
Ferocious howls echoed from all directions.
There was no doubt that the indigenous inhabitants of the Secret Realm were suffering the greatest impact.
"Retreat! Retreat immediately!"
Countless cultivators fled toward the exit with panic written all over their faces, packed together in a dense, chaotic mass.
"Sect Master, I never expected something like this to happen," the Sword Hidden Peak Lord said grimly.
Xu Younian replied in a low voice, "Our priority is to escort the Xuantian Sect disciples out as quickly as possible and minimize casualties."
"What about Senior Brother Ye?" the Heavenly Fragrance Peak Lord asked anxiously.
Before her words had even finished, space rippled.
Ye Junlin appeared using the Great Void Technique and said in a stern voice, "The situation is critical. Everyone, leave immediately."
"Senior Brother Ye!"
Everyone's spirits lifted instantly.
"Oh? What a big mouse…" the Sword Hidden Peak Lord said in surprise.
He noticed the White-haired Rat in Ye Junlin's grasp. Its eyes were red, and it looked utterly despondent.
"This is my newly accepted Disciple," Ye Junlin said calmly.
"Disciple?!"
The surrounding elders were stunned.
Since when did Senior Brother Ye's taste become so… unconventional?
His previous Disciple had been beautiful, talented, and extraordinary. This White-haired Rat, on the other hand, looked ordinary and somewhat foolish. What virtue or ability did it possess to be accepted as a Disciple?
"Enough. Let's move," Xu Younian said firmly, suppressing his doubts.
At the same time, a large number of cultivators from Wasteland Province evacuated rapidly, along with the indigenous inhabitants of the Secret Realm. Under the guidance of their elders, they rushed toward the exit, relying purely on instinct.
Rumble—
The sky collapsed and the earth shattered, as if the end of the world had arrived.
After finally escaping the Secret Realm, the cultivators who survived were still shaken.
"Damn it. What rotten luck," Hong Qianye said coldly.
He floated in midair, arms crossed, dressed in his striking red robe, his mood clearly foul.
Fortunately, he had obtained several rare Heaven and Earth Treasures, enough to support a future breakthrough into the Body Integration Realm. At least the trip had not been a complete loss.
Among the other survivors, Ouyang Feng was in high spirits.
He had gained a significant opportunity inside the Secret Realm and felt reinvigorated.
"Thanks to heaven's favor, this Old Ancestor is destined to soar," Ouyang Feng said emotionally, stroking his beard.
At that moment, he noticed the fiery red figure nearby and recalled her decisive and domineering presence earlier. His heart stirred.
Suppressing his excitement, Ouyang Feng took out a comb made of thousand-year spiritual wood and carefully tidied his hair. Then he stepped forward, cupped his hands respectfully, and said, "Senior, I am Ouyang, Old Ancestor of the Banshan Sect—"
"Scram."
Hong Qianye's voice was cold and sharp.
He was already being restrained. If this were the Central Region, anyone with ulterior motives would have been killed on the spot.
Ouyang Feng stiffened and could only retreat awkwardly.
Whoosh—whoosh—whoosh!
A group of figures suddenly appeared outside the Secret Realm.
"Heavenly Sovereign Ye has come out!"
"Heavenly Sovereign Ye!"
Excited shouts erupted.
Hong Qianye immediately flashed forward and bowed. "Master."
Ye Junlin nodded, then casually tossed Bai Xiaoxi toward him.
"This is my new Disciple. From now on, the two of you must support each other."
"What?!"
Hong Qianye stared at the White-haired Rat in front of him, instinctive repulsion flashing in his eyes. However, under the circumstances, he could only grit his teeth.
"Yes, Master."
"Where are we?" Bai Xiaoxi asked softly, her eyes wide as she looked around the unfamiliar surroundings.
She felt both curious and uneasy.
Then she turned back toward the collapsing Secret Realm, her expression filled with sorrow.
"My home… is gone."
Boom!
At that moment, numerous strange creatures surged out of the Secret Realm. Their powerful auras swept outward like a storm, causing the faces of the Wasteland Province cultivators to change drastically.
"According to ancient records, this must be the world outside the Secret Realm," a horned creature said in a muffled voice.
"The Spiritual Qi here is far too thin," a snake-race creature sneered.
"Since we have entered a new environment, we must adapt," another powerful creature said calmly.
"I suggest we occupy this land first and then divide the territory."
"Are these the two-legged beasts called humans? Their cultivation is laughably weak."
"Then we shall enslave them."
The indigenous inhabitants of the Luo Tian Secret Realm, now free in the outside world, revealed the ferocity buried deep within their bloodlines. Their gazes toward the Human Race were filled with naked greed.
"This is bad. They're going to attack us," Ouyang Feng said, his heart pounding.
In the Kunlun Realm, myriad races coexisted. The beings that survived and multiplied within the Luo Tian Secret Realm all possessed traces of ancient bloodlines.
Combined with an environment suited for cultivation, they had produced a terrifying group of alien experts.
Ouyang Feng could clearly sense over a thousand Soul Formation realm auras and more than sixty at the Body Integration Realm. Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators were countless.
If these creatures united, they would rival the top cultivation forces of the Eastern Region.
"Don't panic. We have Heavenly Sovereign Ye!"
Someone shouted loudly.
Countless gazes immediately turned toward the silver-haired youth.
After all, only Ye Junlin had reached the Body Integration Realm, and his invincible performance earlier had been witnessed by everyone.
"Can he handle this?"
Hong Qianye glanced sideways at Ye Junlin and saw him standing with his hands clasped behind his back, expression calm and unperturbed.
"Seems like there's no issue," Hong Qianye thought.
Outwardly, Ye Junlin looked steady and composed.
Internally, his thoughts were in complete chaos.
"Damn it. Damn it. Damn it."
"What the hell is going on?"
"I have less than ten percent of my Qi left. Why do these idiots have to cause trouble right now?"
He had not expected such a massive crisis to be waiting outside.
[Ding! A new mission has been triggered. The Host must have all one hundred thousand indigenous inhabitants of the Luo Tian Secret Realm join the Xuantian Sect. Upon completion, the Host will receive the designated reward.]
Ye Junlin froze, anger surging so hard he nearly spat blood.
System, do you honestly think this is realistic?
"Who is this so-called Heavenly Sovereign Ye?" a powerful silver-winged creature roared.
"Him!"
Countless voices answered in unison, all pointing at Ye Junlin.
Ye Junlin: "…"