The bloody scent within the dilapidated hall had yet to fully dissipate. Tang Xiaoqi, with the still-frightened rabbit spirit, had just crawled out from another breach when he heard the sound of hurried footsteps and indistinct shouts not far away.
"The commotion and sword resonance earlier came from this direction!"
"So strong a bloody smell! Everyone, be careful!"
"Hurry! Go check it out!"
The voices were familiar, carrying the pure and righteous spiritual energy fluctuations unique to Qingxu Temple disciples.
Xiaoqi's heart stirred—it's Senior Brother Mu and Third Senior Sister Liu!
He immediately halted his steps, not revealing himself at once. Instead, he cautiously hid behind a large boulder and quietly extended his spiritual sense. Sure enough, he saw a group of about seven or eight Qingxu Temple disciples, led by Senior Brother Mu and Third Senior Sister Liu, swiftly approaching the hall with vigilant expressions, magical artifacts in hand. They all bore signs of battle on them, clearly having experienced quite a bit in the secret realm as well.
"Senior Brother! Third Senior Sister!" Xiaoqi confirmed it was them before stepping out from behind the rock, waving.
"Xiaoqi!"
"You kid, are you alright?!"
Senior Brother Mu and Third Senior Sister Liu were first delighted to see Xiaoqi, but upon noticing his slightly pale complexion and the bloodstains on his clothes, their expressions immediately changed. They rushed over at increased speed, while the other fellow disciples gathered around as well.
"What happened? That soaring crimson light and sword resonance earlier, and this bloody smell..." Third Senior Sister Liu, being impatient by nature, grabbed Xiaoqi by the arm, looking him up and down as she asked urgently.
Senior Brother Mu, however, swept his sharp gaze over Xiaoqi, then looked toward the exit of the dilapidated hall behind him, his brows tightly furrowed. "Xiaoqi, did you encounter something here? Just now we sensed intense energy fluctuations and demonic aura and came immediately."
Facing the concerned and grave looks of his senior brother and sister, along with the curious gazes of the fellow disciples around him, Xiaoqi quickly weighed matters in his heart. The Crimson Flame Sword and the Purification Power were matters of great importance, even touching upon the core secrets of his origins; they absolutely must not be easily exposed. But the appearance of demonic cultivators in the secret realm, and with clear targets, was something his fellow disciples must know about to prepare early.
He organized his words, deliberately avoiding the crucial points. "Senior Brother, Third Senior Sister, fellow senior brothers and sisters, I did indeed have an encounter here."
He pointed toward the dilapidated hall. "I unintentionally discovered this ancient hall and inside... luckily obtained a sword-type magical artifact legacy left by an ancient predecessor." He did not specify it was the Crimson Flame Sword, merely referring to it as a "sword-type magical artifact."
"The commotion earlier was caused by the artifact recognizing its master," he continued, his tone solemn. "However, the treasure radiance attracted three Shadow Snake Pavilion demonic cultivators. They wanted to seize the artifact, and we engaged in fierce battle here."
"Shadow Snake Pavilion demonic cultivators?!" Everyone was startled upon hearing this. The appearance of demonic cultivators in the secret realm was no trivial matter!
"Where are they?" Senior Brother Mu asked gravely, a cold light flickering in his eyes.
Xiaoqi paused, his voice calm yet carrying a trace of imperceptible chill. "I've already slain them all. Their corpses are inside the hall."
"What?!"
"You alone... killed three demonic cultivators?"
The group erupted in exclamation, their gazes toward Xiaoqi filled with shock and disbelief. Especially the few inner sect disciples whose cultivation was similar to or even slightly higher than Xiaoqi's—they were visibly astonished. They well knew how insidious demonic cultivators' methods could be; they were often harder to deal with than righteous path cultivators at the same level. Could Xiaoqi, at Qi Refining seventh layer, really have single-handedly slain three demonic cultivators (they subconsciously assumed those three demonic cultivators' cultivation wouldn't be too high)?
Third Senior Sister Liu widened her eyes even further, giving Xiaoqi a hearty slap on the shoulder (her strength still unchecked). "Good kid! Well done! Didn't embarrass your senior sister! But... are you injured?" The latter half of her words turned concerned again.
Xiaoqi winced from her slap and hurriedly said, "Just minor injuries, nothing serious. I'll be fine after some recuperation."
Senior Brother Mu looked deeply at Xiaoqi. He did not press about what exactly the artifact was, nor did he question how Xiaoqi could have single-handedly slain three demonic cultivators. He believed Xiaoqi had his own opportunities and methods; as senior brother, he only needed to confirm his junior brother was safe and sound.
"Take us to see," Senior Brother Mu said.
Xiaoqi nodded and led everyone back into the dilapidated hall.
When they saw the three corpses wearing Shadow Snake Pavilion attire inside the hall, their deaths gruesome, and especially when they sensed the residual demonic aura fluctuations at the peak of Qi Refining ninth layer from Senior Brother Li's body, everyone's expressions turned completely grave.
"Peak Qi Refining ninth layer... and two at Qi Refining eighth layer..." An inner sect disciple gasped sharply, looking at Xiaoqi as if he were a monster. To be able to slay such a lineup of demonic cultivators—this Junior Brother Tang's strength was likely far greater than they had imagined!
Senior Brother Mu crouched down, carefully examining the wounds on the corpses, especially the charred hole in Senior Brother Li's chest. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. The residual heat and a trace of pure purification aura at the wound site were definitely not something an ordinary magical artifact could possess.
He stood up and didn't ask further. Instead, he said solemnly to everyone, "It seems the Shadow Snake Pavilion's tentacles have already penetrated deep into the secret realm, and with clear targets. Their appearance near this Heritage Hall is no coincidence. Fellow junior brothers and sisters, from now on we must be even more cautious. If we encounter demonic cultivators again, be sure to send a signal immediately, gather our strength to deal with them, and do not engage alone."
"Yes, Senior Brother!" The disciples responded in unison, the atmosphere turning solemn and murderous.
Third Senior Sister Liu walked to Xiaoqi's side and said quietly, "Xiaoqi, it's good that you've obtained a legacy, but 'treasure invites trouble'—you must be extra careful yourself." She clearly also saw that Xiaoqi was holding something back, but didn't point it out.
Xiaoqi felt warmth in his heart and nodded. "I understand, Senior Sister."
Senior Brother Mu instructed two disciples to dispose of the demonic cultivators' corpses (destroying the bodies to avoid being tracked), then said to everyone, "This is no place to linger. Xiaoqi, come with us. We'll watch each other's backs."
Xiaoqi pondered briefly, then nodded in agreement. Exploring alone offered freedom, but the risks were greater, especially after exposing part of his strength and possibly drawing the attention of demonic cultivators. Joining his fellow disciples was undoubtedly the safer choice. Moreover, he needed time to digest the insights from the earlier battle and familiarize himself with the newly acquired Crimson Flame Sword.
"Alright."
The group swiftly left this troubled place, heading deeper into the secret realm. With the addition of the enigmatic Tang Xiaoqi and a white rabbit perched on his shoulder, curiously observing everyone, the atmosphere seemed to become somewhat different.
Xiaoqi followed within the group, recuperating while reminiscing about the earlier battle with the demonic cultivators. The Crimson Flame Sword's power far exceeded his imagination, especially when combined with the Purification Power—its restraining effect on demonic cultivators was remarkably significant. However, activating both the Crimson Flame Sword and the Purification Power consumed an immense amount of energy. If not for his solid foundation in the "Long Spring Art" and the supplement from the Purple Spirit Fruit, he likely wouldn't have been able to sustain it.
"Strength... I still need to improve my strength as soon as possible." He clenched his fist, feeling the spiritual energy slowly recovering within his body, his gaze growing even more resolute.
The secret realm journey was just entering its climax. And because of this encounter, his own journey had opened a new chapter.