Speculation from all sides
After Chen Yuan and Xu Nuo left the Legacy Hall, they traveled deep into the Heavenly Treasure Secret Realm, completely unaware of what was happening in the outside world.
Even if he had known, he would not have cared.
Meanwhile, the bounty order issued by Bai Ruoxi spread throughout the Heavenly Treasure Secret Realm at an astonishing speed.
"Bounty on the Loose Cultivator Chen Yuan! The reward is a Heaven Rank Cultivation Technique, a Magic Treasure, and even Senior Sister Bai's natal divine spear, 'Frost Silence'!"
The news spread like wildfire. Not only were Loose Cultivators and Disciples from small Sects tempted, but even some Disciples from major Sects began to pay close attention.
However, when Chen Yuan's portrait began to circulate, the Xuantian Sect Disciples within the Secret Realm were the first to be thrown into chaos.
"This... isn't this Senior Brother Chen Yuan from our Sect? The Genius who caused such a sensation when he first joined!"
"What is going on? Isn't the Chen Yuan that Bai Ruoxi is hunting a Loose Cultivator? How did he become a Disciple of our Xuantian Sect?"
"Could there be a mistake? Or is someone trying to frame him?"
"It must be a frame-up! Senior Brother Chen Yuan is only at the Nascent Soul Stage, damn it. Isn't this just bullying?"
Soon, the truth was pieced together through various channels, and the news that Chen Yuan was a Direct Disciple of the Xuantian Sect also spread.
Two versions of the story emerged. One was that Liu Ying and others from the Guanghan Immortal Palace intended to seize the Opportunity of a certain Great Cultivator, and after being killed in retaliation, that Great Cultivator framed Junior Brother Chen Yuan.
This included the Late Stage Soul Transformation Bai Xiaolan.
Initially, for the convenience of seeking reinforcements, Liu Ying had deliberately described Chen Yuan as a Loose Cultivator without any background, which led to Bai Xiaolan underestimating her enemy and falling.
Of course, there was a second version: that there was someone else behind Chen Yuan, likely another Spirit Transformation Great Cultivator from the Xuantian Sect.
Both versions naturally reached the ears of Bai Ruoxi.
Regardless of which one was true, as long as Chen Yuan was found, the whole truth would come to light.
One day later, deep in the Secret Realm, within an ancient primeval forest.
Chen Yuan and Xu Nuo were traveling between towering ancient trees.
His expression was calm, his aura restrained, but his Divine Sense constantly covered a range of several hundred zhang around him.
He had already received a voice transmission from Qin Shuhan, informing him that he was being hunted in the outside world.
Suddenly, his footsteps faltered slightly, and his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
"What's wrong?" Xu Nuo noticed immediately and asked in a low voice.
"Something is not right." Chen Yuan's gaze swept across the seemingly tranquil forest.
"There are people, quite a few people, heading in our direction."
His powerful Divine Sense perceived the auras of several scattered Cultivators in the distance.
Their patterns of movement were clearly purposeful, as if they were searching for a specific target.
Upon hearing this, Xu Nuo's expression also became serious: "I fear there has been some movement from the Guanghan Immortal Palace."
"Nine times out of ten."
Chen Yuan's tone was indifferent, showing no fear, but his eyes grew colder. "Kill the young, and the old come out; it has always been this way. I just didn't expect them to act so quickly and attract so many flies."
Although he did not know the specific details of the bounty, he knew without needing to think that the fury of a Nascent Soul Perfection Stage Prodigy was enough to stir up waves within the Secret Realm.
Just then, the sound of wind being broken came from the forest ahead, and three figures rushed over, blocking their path.
These three were dressed differently and did not look like Disciples of a major Sect; their cultivation bases were two Late Nascent Soul stage and one Early Soul Transformation Stage.
It seemed these three were Loose Cultivators.
The Early Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivator was a fierce-looking middle-aged man who had offended many Sects in his Dao Domain, killed anyone he saw, and traveled between major Secret Realms every day to achieve his current cultivation.
He held a portrait formed of spiritual power in his hand, scanning back and forth between Chen Yuan's face and the portrait, his eyes instantly bursting with greed.
"That's right! It's him! Chen Yuan!" the middle-aged man growled excitedly.
The other two Late Nascent Soul stage Loose Cultivators also turned red-eyed immediately, as if they were not looking at a person, but a moving treasure vault.
The three of them believed the first version more, thinking that Chen Yuan was just an unlucky fellow.
How could Chen Yuan, who was only at the Late Nascent Soul stage, possibly kill the Late Stage Soul Transformation Bai Xiaolan?
"Kid, if you know what's good for you, come with us obediently! Fairy Bai's bounty is not something a Nascent Soul like you can handle!"
The Early Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivator grinned grimly and summoned a ghost-head blade Magic Treasure, emanating fierce Evil Qi.
Xu Nuo's pretty face turned cold. She stepped forward and said coldly, "Who are you people? How dare you block our path!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, there's a little lady here too. This has nothing to do with you! Get lost, or we'll slaughter you along with him!" a Late Nascent Soul stage Loose Cultivator shouted arrogantly.
"Why slaughter her? This little lady looks quite tender; it won't be too late to kill her after I've had my fun." The other Late Nascent Soul stage Loose Cultivator said mockingly.
Upon hearing this, Xu Nuo's expression turned icy.
Chen Yuan raised his hand, gently stopping Xu Nuo, who was about to lash out.
He looked at the three Loose Cultivators as if he were looking at three corpses.
"A bounty? With your capabilities, you think you're worthy of claiming a bounty?"
His voice was calm, yet carried a chilling coldness that made one's heart tremble.
"You're courting death!" The Early Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivator was enraged by his attitude. He shouted, and the ghost-head blade turned into a red light, carrying the shrill sound of ghostly wails as it slashed directly at Chen Yuan's face!
The other two Late Nascent Soul stage Loose Cultivators also attacked at the same time, the light of Magic Treasures and Spells illuminating the area.
Facing the siege, Chen Yuan did not even use the yixue sword.
He simply raised his right hand, pointed his fingers like a sword, and slashed through the air.
"Sshhh—!"
An invisible, sharp Sword Qi suddenly erupted, moving at extreme speed.
The ghost-head blade, glowing with intense red light, was sliced in half the moment it made contact with the Sword Qi, as if it were made of paper!
The Sword Qi did not lose its momentum, sweeping across the neck of the Early Soul Transformation Stage Loose Cultivator.
The grimace on the Loose Cultivator's face froze, his pupils dilated sharply, filled with unbelievable fear.
The next moment, his head flew into the sky, and blood gushed out like a fountain.
At the same time, Chen Yuan flicked his left sleeve casually.
A massive, overwhelming force, like a landslide or a tsunami, surged toward the other two Late Nascent Soul stage Loose Cultivators.
"Bang! Bang!"
The two were unable to even scream; their protective spiritual light shattered like bubbles, and they were directly blasted into two mists of blood by this massive force, their bodies and souls destroyed!
From the start of the attack to the end, it took no more than a blink of an eye.
The three Loose Cultivators, blinded by greed for the bounty, were now reduced to nothing, leaving behind only a faint scent of blood and the ghost-head blade broken in two.
Although Xu Nuo had long since witnessed Chen Yuan's strength, seeing him once again casually kill one Early Soul Transformation Stage and two Late Nascent Soul stage Cultivators in seconds, she was still deeply shocked.
Such combat power was indeed not inferior to any Nascent Soul Perfection Stage Prodigy! Yet he was only at the Late Nascent Soul stage!
Chen Yuan expressionlessly retrieved the three Storage Pouchs and flicked a wisp of pill fire to burn away any traces.
"It seems this Secret Realm cannot be explored in peace." He looked deep into the forest, his gaze profound. "In that case, let them come. However many come, I will kill them all."
The killing intent in his tone seemed to lower the surrounding temperature.
Meanwhile, in another part of the Secret Realm, inside a temporarily excavated Immortal Cave.
Qin Shuhan, Ye Baixi, Lin Xue, and Shen Nianchu all had heavy expressions.