Seeing Yan Luo arrive, a disciple from Sword Gate Mountain stepped forward, trying to call her back.
However, Yan Luo showed no intention of stopping and strode straight toward the exit of the Ziyang Secret Realm.
Meanwhile, outside the Secret Realm.
The Seven Great Sects had already set up sentries near the exit, ensuring that at least one Consolidation Realm expert was always on guard to prevent any accidents.
Over the past two days, some disciples had left the Secret Realm.
But the information they brought back was sparse, limited to reports of numerous monstrous beasts appearing.
This was the only valuable clue the Seven Great Sects had to confirm that the problem lay with the Monster Tower inside the Secret Realm.
Now, standing guard at the entrance was none other than Nie Qi, the Vice Sect Leader of Sword Gate Mountain.
Nie Qi was deeply concerned about what was happening inside the Secret Realm.
Most of all, he worried about his disciple’s safety.
Yan Luo was not only his most outstanding student—the one most likely to inherit and expand upon his swordsmanship—but also the eldest daughter of the Yan family in the Northern Region.
If she were to fall within the Ziyang Secret Realm, Sword Gate Mountain would undoubtedly face the unending wrath of the Yan family.
Fortunately, the soul jade on the child’s body showed no sign of cracking.
Though her current condition was unknown, at least it proved she was still alive.
He hoped that child would remain safe!
Just as Nie Qi thought this, he suddenly felt a ripple in space.
Knowing someone was exiting the Ziyang Secret Realm, he quickly raised his head.
At a glance, he saw the red-haired girl.
Yan Luo looked somewhat disheveled, her clothes marked by battle, and her body bearing multiple stains of blood and dust.
“Yan Luo!”
Seeing the girl, Nie Qi called out with joy.
Upon seeing Nie Qi, Yan Luo’s heart lifted, and she quickly knelt before him.
“Master!”
“That’s great. Yan Luo, what’s with these wounds on you…” Nie Qi’s concern deepened as he spoke.
“I’m fine, Master. These are just some superficial injuries. But that aside, I have important intelligence to report.”
Yan Luo said immediately.
“Important intelligence!”
Nie Qi’s eyes brightened at once, and supporting the girl’s arm, he hurried toward the nearby main hall.
“Don’t rush, tell your master everything carefully.”
“Yes, Master!”
Yan Luo then recounted the events inside the Secret Realm: the earthquake, the surge of monstrous beasts, being pursued by a Mo Xiu, and how she was saved by Chen Yuyang.
“You mean, at that critical moment, it was that youth from the Hehuan Sect who saved you!”
Hearing this, surprise flashed across Nie Qi’s face.
“You two had conflicts, didn’t you? Why would he help you?”
“Yuyang isn’t the kind to hold grudges,” Yan Luo replied immediately.
“Yuyang…” Hearing his disciple refer to him like that, Nie Qi was stunned.
Since when had their relationship become so good?
However, Nie Qi didn’t have time to ponder further and asked, “What happened next?”
“Then, I took the pill bestowed by the ancestor to recuperate and heal.”
“But before I could recover long, I was attacked by more monstrous beasts.”
Hearing this, Nie Qi, though confident in Yan Luo’s ability to survive, couldn’t help but grow anxious.
“And then?”
“Yuyang… he deliberately drew the beasts away for me. His fate now is unknown.”
“While healing, I had a breakthrough and advanced to the ninth layer of the Golden Core Realm.”
“I thought I must report the remnants of the Demon Cult immediately, so I headed straight to the exit. But on the way, I encountered that Mo Xiu again.”
“This time, I won the fight but couldn’t kill him; he escaped.”
“Afterward, I rushed here as fast as I could. Until now.”
“Mo Xiu… monstrous beasts…” Nie Qi’s pupils contracted as his fists clenched tightly. “So it really is them…”
Everything was just as everyone had guessed at the initial conference.
The remnants of the Demon Cult were causing trouble behind the scenes.
Moreover, it seemed the Demon Cult and the monstrous beasts had possibly formed some secret pact—some cooperative alliance…
“Good. Yan Luo, the intelligence you brought is very important.”
“Now, you should rest. I need to warn the other sects and discuss our next steps.”
“Yes, Master.”
Yan Luo responded respectfully.
Though she wanted to say more, she ultimately remained silent.
After hearing the news, Nie Qi swiftly struck the bell inside the main hall.
The deep bell tolls resonated throughout Ziyang Peak.
Within moments, sect leaders and elders from the major sects had gathered.
With the Demon Cult’s involvement confirmed, the following coordinated measures would soon be set in motion.
Two days later, the group of cultivators assigned to investigate inside the Secret Realm returned with new intelligence.
Monstrous beasts had begun gathering in large numbers near the Secret Realm’s exit, seemingly preparing to break out in a single, forceful push.
The major sects immediately assembled their elite disciples, rushing to the summit of Ziyang Peak at top speed.
Several Formation Masters from Qiankun Sect also began setting up defensive arrays outside the Secret Realm, preparing to repel the incoming monstrous beast onslaught.
At the same time, the major sects selected a portion of their finest fighters to enter the Secret Realm, fortifying defenses near the exit.
If possible, all hoped to keep the monstrous beasts contained within the Secret Realm.
“The Seven Great Sects really are putting everything on the line.”
Looking at the well-equipped disciples coming to defend the entrance, as well as the various defensive treasures laid out nearby, Ling Xi couldn’t help but whistle in admiration.
“That’s nothing. The Seven Great Sects’ strength goes far beyond this.”
At the remark, Yun Xiu smiled lightly.
“The real capabilities of the Seven Great Sects are still outside the Secret Realm. After all, those who enter the Secret Realm face great restrictions on age and power.”
Ling Xi nodded, her eyes shining with envy.
Great sects truly are different.
Not like the Hehuan Sect where she was from…
No, that’s not right!
How could she think such things?
Though the Hehuan Sect was poor and small, her Master treated her like her own.
Besides, if not for her Master, she would have died at the hands of those bandits long ago.
Moreover, her senior brothers and sisters treated her well.
Even in the Ziyang Secret Realm, her senior brother found her countless rare treasures.
Thinking of this, a hint of sorrow appeared again on Ling Xi’s face because she couldn’t help but think of Chen Yuyang.
Though younger than her, her senior brother always cared for her.
She had lost to him countless times, yet he never acted arrogantly, often giving her pointers.
Her current realm level was largely thanks to his guidance.
After all these days, only three or five more days remained before the Secret Realm closed—and her senior brother still hadn’t arrived here…
Could it be that her senior brother…
The thought brought a sour sting to her nose, and her eyes reddened.
“Ling Xi, you’re still here!”
At that moment, a voice with a hint of surprise came from behind Ling Xi.
“Have I missed my senior brother so much that I actually thought I heard him speak?”
“Could it be that my senior brother has already passed on and is visiting me in a dream?”
Ling Xi covered her mouth, murmuring in surprise.
Beside her, Yun Xiu turned her head in astonishment, looking behind Ling Xi.
There stood a handsome youth dressed simply in a clean, blue-gray robe.
Studying the youth, Yun Xiu’s pupils widened, a flicker of shock flashing across her stunningly beautiful face.
At this moment, hearing Ling Xi’s muttering, Chen Yuyang’s face darkened as he silently raised his hand.
Thud.
A heavy head gently bumped down.
Ling Xi snapped back to reality with a shriek, leaping aside and turning to look at Chen Yuyang—her expression like she had seen a ghost.
“Ah! Senior… Senior Brother! When did you get here?”
“When you were cursing me to death, junior sister, I came to claim your soul!”
Chen Yuyang spread his hands and lunged toward Ling Xi.
Ling Xi’s face instantly paled, and she grabbed Yun Xiu, hiding behind her.
Chen Yuyang stopped just before catching her, then took a careful look at the young woman of around eighteen or nineteen with remarkable beauty.
“May I ask who you are—”
“Luo Shen Cliff, Yun Xiu.”
Chen Yuyang nodded and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Hehuan Sect, Chen Yuyang.”
After the brief introduction, Chen Yuyang glanced suspiciously at Ling Xi hiding behind her, puzzled why his junior sister was associating with a Luo Shen Cliff disciple.
“Senior Brother, are you still alive?”
Ling Xi hesitated behind Yun Xiu before timidly asking.
Chen Yuyang gave her a small glare.
Were it not for others being present, he’d surely teach her what it means to invite trouble with her words.
“Do you want me to collect your body?”
Ling Xi shivered and then smiled awkwardly.
“W-well… Senior Brother, I’m just glad you’re safe.”
“By the way, this friend of yours—did you just come back from deep inside the Secret Realm?” Yun Xiu’s bright eyes fixed on the youth, suddenly curious.
“Something like that,” Chen Yuyang nodded.
“Have you encountered anyone or anything unusual?”
Yun Xiu pressed, clearly very interested.
Chen Yuyang glanced at her, slightly puzzled.
“I don’t know what you mean. To put it simply, monstrous beasts appeared. I, along with several disciples from the Dan Sect, were attacked.
Unfortunately, they died before my eyes, and I barely escaped with my life.”
Chen Yuyang said regretfully, subtly signaling to Ling Xi.
Ling Xi paused but quickly understood that this was likely the explanation her senior brother had come up with.
However, Yun Xiu frowned slightly, suspicion flashing in her eyes as she looked at Chen Yuyang.
“Really, nothing else?”
Chen Yuyang shook his head, irritated by the endless questions, then asked in return:
“No. By the way, what’s your relationship with Ling Xi here?”
“Nothing much.”
“How did you two meet?”
“Not really—just happened to be waiting here for someone like your junior sister and ended up chatting.”
Chen Yuyang nodded.
“Have you waited for the person you were expecting?”
Yun Xiu looked at the youth with a meaningful, wry smile.
“No. By now, he still hasn’t come out… I’m afraid things aren’t looking good for him.”