The scar-faced burly man's desperate cries for help still echoed through the forest when the remaining four rogue cultivators, like startled birds, pushed their life-saving escape skills—honed through years of robbery and murder—to the absolute limit. Ignoring the sting of backlash from their spiritual power, disregarding the danger of leaving their companions behind, and even willing to withstand the sharp bite of Liu Yun's sword wind and the heavy remnants of Shi Jian's attacks, they fought for that single chance to survive. Their disheveled figures plunged into the bizarre, colorful, and shadowy depths of the strange forest, vanishing in the blink of an eye, leaving behind only a few strips of cloth cut by sword energy and a few drops of spilled blood.
Liu Yun flicked her wrist. The blood-stained sword blade let out a clear hum before returning to its sheath. She looked in the direction the rogue cultivators had fled, her heroic brows furrowed. Still carrying a hint of unspent ferocity, she snorted, "Hmph! They sure run fast! A bunch of cowards who only bully the weak—they've dirtied my sword!" That said, she understood that the Eldest Senior Brother's decision not to pursue was correct. In this secret realm fraught with danger, any rash move could spell disaster.
Shi Jian exhaled a heavy breath, rumbling like thunder. He flexed his slightly numb arm—the one that had just blocked a spiked cudgel—then grinned broadly, showing two rows of white teeth, and walked over to Mu Qingfeng. "Haha, what a blast! Eldest Senior Brother, those guys looked fierce, but when it came down to it, they were all cowards! I haven't had my fill yet!" He looked around at the signs of battle and the scattered debris on the ground, still itching for more.
Xiao Qi slowly calmed the spiritual power that had been stirred up during the fight. He shook off the dust and a faint trace of black-green venom from his unremarkable yet highly effective frying pan, then stowed it securely behind his back. This was his first life-and-death battle against human cultivators with ill intentions—the tension remained, but what he felt more was a grounded confidence forged through blood and fire. Subconsciously, he began circulating the *Basic Purification Technique*. A stream of cool, pure spiritual power flowed through his body, not only dissolving the faint chill and venom that had seeped into him but also rapidly calming the battle-roused heat in his blood, leaving his spirit platform clear and serene. The auxiliary effects of this technique in real combat far exceeded his expectations.
Mu Qingfeng's gaze was calm as water as he slowly swept his eyes over the group. He saw Liu Yun's energy steady, only her fighting spirit still high; Shi Jian, thick-skinned and unharmed; and even Xiao Qi, the lowest in cultivation, only slightly flushed and breathing a little faster—no injuries at all. A flicker of relief passed through his eyes. He spoke steadily, his voice not loud but clear to everyone: "Though the scoundrels have scattered, what they said was not false. Judging by our bags, our gains have been substantial—enough to draw attention. Within this secret realm, the danger in people's hearts is greater than that of demon beasts. From now on, we must act with even more caution. Do not flaunt your wealth, lest we invite more trouble and attract more greedy eyes."
Hearing this, everyone's expressions grew serious, and they nodded solemnly. That group of rogue cultivators, though not the most powerful, had given them a vivid lesson in greed and cruelty. In this secret realm where opportunity and danger coexisted, they had not only to contend with the natural environment and demon beasts but also to constantly guard against hidden arrows from their fellow humans.
Liu Yun walked over to Xiao Qi, her beautiful eyes examining him—especially lingering for a moment on the frying pan, which now looked completely ordinary. With curiosity and probing, she raised an eyebrow and said, "Well done, Junior Brother Xiao Qi. Truly, 'after three days apart, look at someone with new eyes'! Those moves of yours just now—slippery footwork, and the angle of your… pan strikes was quite tricky! Besides," she paused with a hint of amusement, "that guy with the venomous dagger—why did his poison seem to lose its edge the moment it touched your pan, as if it had met its nemesis?"
Xiao Qi's heart tightened. He knew the effects of his purification technique couldn't escape the sharp eyes of Third Senior Sister, but he forced himself to stay calm and answered vaguely, "You flatter me, Senior Sister. Perhaps… perhaps his skill was lacking, and the toxin itself was unstable. Or maybe the pan's material is special and happened to counter it." He patted the pan on his back, trying to credit the "magical" pan.
Liu Yun looked him up and down suspiciously, clearly not buying the "happened to" explanation. But she was straightforward by nature, and seeing that Xiao Qi didn't want to elaborate, she didn't press further. She simply gave his shoulder a firm pat and laughed, "Whatever the reason, you did great! You didn't disgrace our sect!"
Just then, Shi Jian also came over. His large, fan-like hand came down with a gust of wind, landing with a loud *smack* on Xiao Qi's other shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance. He laughed heartily, "That's right! Well done, Junior Brother Xiao Qi! From now on, when we brothers fight side by side, it'll be even more satisfying! That pan of yours looks awesome!"
Xiao Qi winced, half his body going numb. But hearing his senior brother and sister's sincere praise and feeling their unreserved acceptance, the unease in his heart from hiding his secret was instantly replaced by a great warmth. The feeling of being embraced and trusted by the team was far more exhilarating than any material gain.
Mu Qingfeng did not join their banter. He walked to where the scar-faced man had first stood, bent down, and picked up a few items left behind by the rogue cultivators. A ghost-head broadsword with a chipped blade, a flying fork with dim spiritual light and traces of corrosion, and two low-quality storage bags. Inside the bags, aside from some scattered, low-value ores and a few low-grade spirit stones, there was nothing else. Clearly, these rogue cultivators were desperate and impoverished, which was why they took such risks.
"A few spoils of war. Not worth much, but a warning nonetheless." Mu Qingfeng put the items away, his tone calm. "It's not safe to stay here. The spiritual energy is chaotic and may attract unnecessary trouble. We'll rest briefly, then set out again. Our top priority remains finding our Junior Sister Su Xuan and exploring the core area of the secret realm. There are more opportunities there, but we must be extremely careful."
Everyone acknowledged in unison and found relatively clean and safe spots to sit. They took Qi Recovery Pills, sat cross-legged, and focused on circulating their techniques to restore the spiritual power and energy expended in the fight.
Xiao Qi closed his eyes and concentrated. The *Basic Qi Introduction Art* and the *Basic Purification Technique* alternated within his body, not only quickly absorbing the dense spiritual energy around him but also continuously purifying the newly absorbed spiritual power, making it more compatible with his own. In his mind, he replayed the scenes from the battle—how he had used his footwork to avoid the poison, how he had precisely judged the angle to strike the dagger's side with his frying pan, and how the purification technique had silently neutralized the toxin. These precious real-combat experiences, seared into his consciousness like brands, would become an important foundation for his future cultivation.
About half an incense stick's time later, the four opened their eyes one after another. A subtle light gleamed within their gazes, their breaths long and steady—they had fully recovered to their peak state.
"Let's go," Mu Qingfeng said succinctly, rising first.
The team set off again. Having just gone through the baptism of fighting side by side and repelling the enemy together, the tacit understanding and trust among the four had reached a new height. Without many words, their energies, steps, and even a single exchange of glances formed an effective synergy. They were like a sword that had been forged and quenched—its edge hidden but unstoppable. Cautious yet determined, they advanced step by step deeper into the secret realm, toward its mysterious core.
The dappled, shifting light filtered through the strange plants' branches and leaves, falling upon them as if draping them in a mysterious battle robe. The road ahead was unknown, fraught with danger, but at this moment, Tang Xiaoqi's heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of peace and strength. He knew that whether ahead lay opportunity or trap, he would stand shoulder to shoulder with these trustworthy companions, cutting through all thorns together.