Temporary five-person team, Ghost Flower

The sky was gray, the ground was dark brown, and strange rocks and remnants of ancient trees were scattered everywhere.

Occasionally, heart-stopping roars of beasts echoed across the wilderness, coming from an unknown direction.

This was the first layer of the Heavenly Treasure Secret Realm, far more dangerous than external rumors suggested.

Chen Yuan noticed that four other figures stabilized themselves almost simultaneously not far from him.

Two men and two women, dressed differently and without unified Sect markings, were clearly teammates randomly matched by the Secret Realm Law.

Alertness and a hint of confusion were visible on their faces as they quickly sized each other up, instinctively pulling back a little distance.

Chen Yuan glanced over the four people without saying much.

Originally intending to explore alone, he now changed his mind.

If utilized well, this group could completely shield him from danger at critical moments.

"Everyone," a sturdy man carrying a long saber and possessing a resolute face spoke first, his voice rough. "Since we have been assigned to the same team, it is fate.

The current situation is unclear. Why don't we travel together for now and look out for each other?"

Another young man, holding a folding fan and appearing scholarly and refined, nodded slightly: "Brother is absolutely right.

I believe the immediate priority is to first investigate the situation here."

The other two women included one with a cold temperament, holding a long sword.

The other, with lively eyes and several pouches hanging from her waist, seemingly used for taming Spirit Beasts, also nodded silently in agreement.

Chen Yuan spoke flatly, "Fine."

He was concise and did not show much enthusiasm.

Thus, the five-person squad began to cautiously advance through this desolate ancient hill.

After mutual introductions, Chen Yuan also learned their names.

The sturdy man carrying the long saber was named Wu Guangchi, a Loose Cultivator with Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivation.

The scholarly man holding the folding fan was named Chen Shiyi, also a Loose Cultivator with Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivation.

The lively and playful young woman was named Hua Qianyu, Middle Stage Nascent Soul, from a Third-Rank Reversion Sect. Chen Yuan had vaguely heard of this Sect, the Beast Taming Heavenly Sect, which also seemed to be a force in the Great Thousand Domain.

What surprised Chen Yuan was the cold sword-carrying woman; she came from the Nine Heavens Sword Pavilion, a First-Rank power in the Tiangang Domain.

[Ding, a bindable female has been detected.

Name: Xu Nuo.

Gender: Female.

Appearance: 95.

Favorability: 3.

Cultivation: Perfected Nascent Soul Stage.

Sword Dao: Three Realms.

Current status is not bindable.]

When Xu Nuo revealed her identity, everyone present, except Chen Yuan, showed a degree of respect.

Chen Yuan did not reveal his identity as a Direct Disciple of the Xuantian Sect, only stating that he was a Loose Cultivator.

The minimum cultivation in the team was Middle Stage Nascent Soul. It seemed this Secret Realm randomly grouped Cultivators with similar cultivation levels.

After walking for about half an hour, the surroundings remained desolate.

Chen Yuan's Fifth-Rank Spiritual Sense continuously spread outward, carefully perceiving the surroundings.

The Divine Sense of the other four members was only Fourth-Rank, so they naturally couldn't perceive the Divine Sense fluctuations Chen Yuan released.

"Wandering aimlessly like this is not a solution."

Wu Guangchi frowned.

At this moment, Hua Qianyu looked hesitant, then patted her waist and called out: "Little Hua."

A flash of spiritual light appeared at her waist, and a flying Spirit Beast suddenly materialized before everyone.

The Spirit Beast was shaped like an eagle, covered in fur, and surrounded by a faint golden halo.

Third-Tier Treasure Hunting Spirit Beast: Golden Wing Treasure-Seeking Beast.

A hint of surprise flashed in Chen Yuan's eyes. He hadn't expected Hua Qianyu to be so naive as to directly summon her Spirit Beast in front of everyone.

He didn't believe the others lacked means of finding treasure.

"Oh dear! Why didn't you bring out your treasure-hunting beast earlier? We wasted half a day walking for nothing," the scholarly man Chen Shiyi complained slightly.

"I... I didn't mean to," Hua Qianyu was a little flustered and looked somewhat wronged.

Chen Yuan mused internally: This innocence truly doesn't seem faked.

They traveled through the desolate ancient hills for half a day.

Based on Hua Qianyu's recognition of the Spirit Beast's tracks, the squad gradually approached a dark swamp permeated with faint purple poisonous mist.

Dead trees stood tall in the swamp, puddles were everywhere, and large bubbles occasionally emerged from the mud, emitting a dizzying, putrid stench.

"This area might have Fourth-Tier Spiritual Plant you tan flower, which is excellent Materials for refining detoxification pills and tranquility pills."

Hua Qianyu's tone was excited, but her eyes held a hint of vigilance. "But be careful, powerful poisonous creatures usually frequent places like this."

Wu Guangchi stepped forward, blocking the others, and said gruffly, "I'll clear the path ahead. Stick close."

He drew the long saber from his back, releasing a slight Saber Qi to cut down a patch of spiky purple poisonous ferns ahead, clearing a barely passable path.

Chen Shiyi gently covered his mouth and nose with his folding fan, fanning elegantly, seemingly trying to disperse the foul odor, and smiled:

"Thank you, Brother Wu. The miasma here is poisonous. Everyone needs to circulate their Qi to resist it, and be careful not to inhale too much."

He glanced around the swamp, but a hint of calculation flashed deep within his eyes.

Xu Nuo remained silent, holding her ancient sword, her gaze calmly sweeping over the swamp. She seemed to have little interest in the you tan flower.

Chen Yuan fully activated his Divine Sense, following silently in the middle of the team, neither taking the lead nor falling behind, carefully perceiving the surroundings.

After penetrating the swamp for a distance, faint Spiritual Qi fluctuations and a subtle, unusual fragrance drifted from ahead.

"It's right up ahead!" Hua Qianyu exclaimed in surprise.

The group cautiously approached and found three strange flowers growing on a slightly dry mound of earth.

The flowers were translucent, dark blue, with curled petals, emitting a cool fragrance that pushed back the surrounding poisonous mist—it was indeed the you tan flower.

However, in the mud pit next to the you tan flower, a massive, warty Giant Poisonous Toad, whose skin resembled the swamp mud, was lying prone.

Its eyes were tightly shut, seemingly feigning sleep, but the aura emanating from its body had clearly reached the Perfected Nascent Soul Stage.

Its bulging cheeks faintly emitted a green light, clearly indicating potent poison.

"The Guardian Beast, Marsh Poison King Toad," Hua Qianyu whispered. "Its venom is very troublesome. The poisonous mist it sprays can corrode Spiritual Qi and Magical Artifacts."

Wu Guangchi gripped his long saber, his Battle Intent soaring: "What is there to fear! It's just a beast! I will go distract it head-on, and you guys look for a chance to pick the Spiritual Plant!"

Chen Shiyi gently stopped him with his folding fan, smiling gently: "Hold on, Brother Wu, fighting head-on is not the best plan.

This creature's poison is fierce, and the consequences would be unimaginable if we were hit. In my opinion, it would be better for the fastest Fellow Daoist to go and lure it away, even if only for a moment. After we secure the you tan flower, we can then collectively kill this creature. That would be the superior strategy."

He lightly pushed the most dangerous task onto others while planning for his own safe gain. To achieve this, he even pulled Wu Guangchi into the conversation, confident Wu Guangchi wouldn't refuse, after all, who wants to be trapped in peril?

Wu Guangchi frowned. Just then, the Marsh Poison King Toad seemed alarmed by their presence and suddenly opened a pair of ghastly green giant eyes!

"Gu Gua—!"

With a muffled croak, it opened its massive mouth, and a thick, inky green poisonous mist shot out like an arrow towards Wu Guangchi, who was in the very front! Its speed was extremely fast!

"Watch out!" Wu Guangchi roared, wildly brandishing his long saber. A thick Saber Aura formed a wall, attempting to block the poisonous mist.