98: We were just on an adventure, how did we become a gang?

[Ding! Detected Host's Disciple Zhao Wuyou's cultivation has broken through to the Void Refining Initial Stage! Triggering a 100,000-fold critical strike return!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: A massive influx of cultivation! Perfection-level insights into the "Archaic Dragon God Scripture"!]

[Ding! Detected Host's Disciple Ye Wushang's cultivation has broken through to the Mid-stage Soul Transformation! Triggering a 10,000-fold critical strike return!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: A massive influx of cultivation! Major Achievement-level insights into the "Ten Thousand Demon Suppressing Hell Canon"!]

A series of System notifications rang out in Chu Xuanjin's mind like the most beautiful celestial music.

Two distinct but equally pure and majestic torrents of energy surged into his limbs and bones out of thin air.

One was the domineering power of the Primordial Dragon God, containing an "Aura" that controlled heaven and earth.

The other was the intent of the Hell-Suppressing Demonic Path that devoured all things, profound and pure.

The moment these two forces entered his body, they were easily assimilated and absorbed by the supreme character for "Dao," transforming into part of his own cultivation.

Under this massive boost, his Earth Immortal Middle Stage cultivation Bottleneck was shattered like dry weeds, without even a ripple.

"Boom!"

A terrifying Aura, far exceeding what he had before, flashed for an instant from the small courtyard in Qinghe City.

Had it not been for the heaven-shading umbrella isolating the secrets of heaven, the entire Central Continent might have trembled under this pressure.

[Congratulations to the Host, your cultivation has broken through to—Earth Immortal Late Stage!]

"Phew..."

Chu Xuanjin let out a long breath of turbid air, feeling every cell in his body cheering.

"Those two wretched Disciples didn't waste my breath after all."

He stretched and stood up from his rocking chair.

"Now that my cultivation has increased, I should find something to do."

With his hands behind his back, he took a step forward, and his figure disappeared from the small courtyard.

In the next instant, he had already appeared on the main peak of the Myriad Dao Divine Mountain.

On the mountain path, Disciples in gray servant attire could be seen everywhere, meticulously sweeping up fallen leaves.

Instead of brooms, they used their own weak spiritual power to conjure small whirlwinds, swirling the dust into a nearby Dust Purification Pool.

On the Martial Arts Field, thousands of Disciples in green Outer Sect attire were uniformly practicing basic sword techniques under the commands of a Dharma Instructor.

Sword light flickered, and their shouts shook the heavens.

Further away, in front of the dao conveying jade wall, several white figures flashed; those were Inner Sect Disciples engaged in life-and-death combat with Yao Beasts conjured from the wall.

The entire Sect was like a tightly wound precision machine, full of vitality and vigor.

"Hmm, it's starting to look like a proper immortal residence."

Chu Xuanjin nodded with satisfaction.

Like a king inspecting his domain, he strolled leisurely through the mountains.

Occasionally, Disciples who spotted him would show looks of awe and fervor, kneeling to salute from a distance.

Chu Xuanjin didn't bother to pay much attention, simply waving his hand casually to signal them to carry on.

He was becoming more and more comfortable with being a hands-off boss... Meanwhile, in the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range Secret Realm.

In a damp and dark underground grotto.

"We're rich! We're rich!"

A Disciple wearing Myriad Dao Divine Sect Outer Sect attire was excitedly holding a mushroom that emitted an eerie glow, nearly drooling.

"Senior Brother Zhao! Look! It's a 'Nine Nether Yin Phosphorus Mushroom'! This is a primary ingredient for refining 'Barrier-Breaking Pills'! This single one is worth at least five thousand Contribution Points!"

Beside him stood several equally excited fellow Disciples.

The leader was none other than Zhao Tiezhu, who held considerable prestige among the Outer Sect Disciples.

Looking at the Spirit Medicine, he also broke into a smile.

"Not bad, everyone contributed. Once we're back, the Contribution Points will be split equally."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Zhao!" everyone cheered.

Their small team had good luck.

After entering the Secret Realm, guided by their tokens, they had avoided many dangers and found several places where rare Spirit Medicines grew.

"Alright, pack it up, let's continue..."

Before Zhao Tiezhu could finish his sentence, a chaotic sound of footsteps suddenly came from the entrance of the grotto.

"Hmph! I knew I smelled the fragrance of medicine. So you local curs beat us to it!"

An arrogant voice rang out.

Seven or eight Cultivators wearing purple thunder-patterned Daoist robes blocked the cave entrance.

The youth in the lead held a spear flickering with lightning; he had an arrogant look and impressively possessed a Golden Core Late Stage cultivation.

Zhao Tiezhu frowned and shielded his fellow Disciples behind him.

"Who are you, Your Excellency? We found this item first."

"Hahaha!" The purple-robed youth laughed as if he had heard the world's biggest joke.

"Found it first? In this Secret Realm, the one with the bigger fist owns the goods!"

"I am Lei Qiandong, an Inner Sect Disciple of the Profound Thunder Sect! If you know what's good for you, hand over the item and get lost! Otherwise, don't blame my lightning spear for being blind!"

The several Profound Thunder Sect Disciples behind him also broke into malicious laughter.

Zhao Tiezhu's face darkened.

"Profound Thunder Sect? Never heard of it."

"We Disciples of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect don't have the habit of giving away what we've already secured!"

"Myriad Dao Divine Sect?" Lei Qiandong sneered. "What kind of third-rate trash Sect dares to be so insolent before my Profound Thunder Sect?"

"You're looking for death!"

Wasting no more words, he shook his spear, and a thick bolt of lightning, like an electric serpent, blasted toward Zhao Tiezhu!

"Form a Formation!"

Zhao Tiezhu shouted.

Several Myriad Dao Divine Sect Disciples reacted instantly, quickly forming a Three Talents Sword Formation and working together to block the lightning.

"Boom!"

The shockwave from the explosion shook the entire grotto three times.

"Oh? You actually have some skill." A hint of surprise flashed in Lei Qiandong's eyes.

"But that's all there is to it!"

He swept his spear, releasing his Golden Core Late Stage pressure without reservation.

Zhao Tiezhu and the others were only at the Foundation Establishment stage; how could they resist?

The Formation broke instantly, and the group was knocked back repeatedly, their internal energy in turmoil.

"A bunch of trash!"

Lei Qiandong approached step by step, his eyes full of mockery.

"Now, I've changed my mind. Leave the item, and leave behind a few of your body parts as well!"

Just as he was about to strike a killing blow.

A look of determination flashed in Zhao Tiezhu's eyes, and he gritted his teeth.

"Brothers, hold on! I'm calling for backup!"

He grabbed the myriad dao token at his chest and sent his Divine Thought into it.

"Calling for backup?" Lei Qiandong laughed even louder. "In this Secret Realm where signals are blocked, who the hell are you going to call? Even if you could send a message out, by the time your Sect elders arrive, the grass on your graves will be three feet high!"

"Myriad Dao Divine Sect, at temporary anchor point coordinate XX! Some blind idiot is causing trouble! Requesting backup! Come quickly!"

Zhao Tiezhu ignored him completely, using all his strength to shout into the Sect channel.

The next second.

"Buzz, buzz, buzz—"

A bizarre scene occurred.

Under Lei Qiandong's stunned gaze, the air behind Zhao Tiezhu and the others rippled like the surface of water.

One, two, three... a full dozen spatial portals opened out of thin air!

One after another, figures in white Inner Sect attire stepped out from the portals.

Leading them was the Inner Sect Head Disciple, Lin Yi.

Behind him followed Ergou and a group of experts who had distinguished themselves in the grand competition.

Each of them radiated a powerful Aura far exceeding that of Zhao Tiezhu and his companions.

"Senior... Senior Brother Lin!" Zhao Tiezhu nearly cried with excitement when he saw who had arrived.

Lin Yi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the injured Outer Sect Junior Brothers, and his eyes instantly turned cold.

He looked toward Lei Qiandong, who had completely frozen up.

"You think you can touch people from my Myriad Dao Divine Sect?"

The terrifying pressure of a Nascent Soul Middle Stage Cultivator crashed down like a mountain!

*Thud!*

Lei Qiandong and his Junior Brothers couldn't even muster a thought of resistance; their legs gave way, and they all knelt on the ground in unison.

Lei Qiandong's mind was a complete blank.

What... what was going on?

What happened to calling for backup?

It was like they had just paratrooped in!

This isn't scientific! This isn't how cultivation works!

...The battle ended with no suspense at all.

The Profound Thunder Sect group was crushed by Lin Yi and the others, tied up like Zongzi, and tossed onto the ground.

Zhao Tiezhu and the others crowded around and gave them a thorough beating.

"That's for being so arrogant!"

"Profound Thunder Sect? More like the Profound Nether Sect!"

Lin Yi didn't stop them.

He walked over to the "Nine Nether Yin Phosphorus Mushroom" and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming the Spirit Medicine was undamaged.

Ergou approached and asked in a muffled voice, "Senior Brother Lin, what should we do with these guys?"

Zhao Tiezhu wiped his hands and suggested, "According to Senior Brother Wang's rules, first make them pay for mental distress, lost wages, and medical expenses..."

Another Disciple said, "Why don't we strip them naked and toss them into a Yao Beast den?"

Everyone chimed in with their own suggestions, the atmosphere quite lively.

Just as they were discussing enthusiastically.

Lei Qiandong, tied up on the ground, showed a flash of resentment and heartache in his eyes.

He quietly crushed an extremely precious One-way Random Teleportation Talisman hidden between his teeth.

*Swish!*

With a flash of light, Lei Qiandong and his Junior Brothers instantly vanished from the spot.

"Holy crap! Where'd they go?"

"They escaped?!"

Everyone was stunned.

Zhao Tiezhu stamped his feet in frustration.

"What a waste! I hadn't even made them sign the IOUs yet!"

Ergou scratched his head. "If they're gone, they're gone. We won anyway."

Lin Yi shook his head, his expression remaining neutral.

"Just a bunch of clowns, no need to pay them any mind."

"Tidy up and continue exploring."

"Yes!"

Meanwhile, in a hidden mountain hollow a few hundred meters outside the grotto.

Two Loose Cultivators were lying in the grass, trembling with fear, not daring to even breathe loudly.

They had seen everything that just happened from start to finish.

"Se... Senior Brother, did you see that?" a young Loose Cultivator asked, his voice shaking.

The middle-aged Cultivator beside him swallowed hard, his face pale.

"I saw it... What... what kind of Divine Ability was that? It was like they just appeared out of thin air."

"It's terrifying! When they said they were calling for backup, they really meant it! And a whole crowd showed up instantly!"

"That discipline, that Aura... those aren't just Sect Disciples. If you ask me, they look more like a highly trained... army!"

The young Loose Cultivator grew more frightened the more he thought about it.

"Senior Brother, do you think they'll find out we stole that 'Fire Cloud Grass' earlier?"

The middle-aged Cultivator flinched and suddenly covered the youth's mouth.

"Shh! Do you want to die?!"

He lowered his voice, speaking in a tone that was almost like a sleep-talker's.

"Remember, from now on in this Secret Realm, if you see anyone from the Myriad Dao Divine Sect, take a detour!"

"This isn't some Myriad Dao Divine Sect; this is clearly the 'Ten Thousand Dao Gang'!"