18: The task given to Yin Zhengyang by the Grand Elder

Peak Master Di Lan had long anticipated the Grand Elder's arrival and hurriedly feigned a bitter smile, shaking his head. "That person's Divine Soul had a Restriction placed on it. As soon as I began, I triggered the Restriction, and his body exploded instantly."

The Grand Elder did not doubt Peak Master Di Lan's words; assassins with Restrictions on their Divine Souls were relatively common, so he simply nodded.

"Earth Lan Peak Master, what do you think was the purpose of the person who attacked Lin Chuan this time?" the Grand Elder inquired.

Peak Master Di Lan's eyes flickered as he shook his head. "To be honest, I can't think of any reason why a Golden Core Cultivator would target a Qi Refining Disciple."

The Grand Elder pondered for a moment, his suspicions becoming even more firm. "Could it be that someone discovered Lin Chuan's identity as a Legacy successor of a hidden Sect and sent an assassin?"

"Grand Elder, if you ask me, we should have that junior hand over Tianquan Peak. A tall tree catches the wind; how can a junior like him manage the Tianquan Peak Secret Realm?" Earth Lan Peak Master took the opportunity to speak.

"You have a point!" The Grand Elder agreed with Peak Master Di Lan and continued, "Leaving him alone on Tianquan Peak is indeed a bit dangerous."

"That's great, it's good that you understand. I'll volunteer myself; why don't you let me go to Tianquan Peak..." Seeing the Grand Elder's stance soften, Peak Master Di Lan immediately spoke up, expressing his desire for Tianquan Peak.

The Grand Elder glanced at Peak Master Di Lan in surprise and nodded with relief. "The Disciples all rumor that you are the most difficult to get along with among the five peaks. I didn't expect you to be so warm-hearted."

"Since you have this intention, I naturally cannot let you down. Starting tomorrow, you shall move to Tianquan Peak and be responsible for Lin Chuan's safety!" The Grand Elder said, smiling as he patted Earth Lan Peak Master on the shoulder.

"Ah?" Peak Master Di Lan was dumbfounded. He never expected the Grand Elder to give such an absurd order.

"No, Grand Elder, what I meant was..."

Before Peak Master Di Lan could finish, the Grand Elder interrupted, "You don't need to worry. With your strength, you can certainly protect Lin Chuan. As for the Secret Realm here at Dilan Peak, just leave it to your Disciples to manage for now."

"I'm not worried, it's just..."

"Haha, no need to decline. Among the four peaks, you are indeed the best candidate. It's settled!" the Grand Elder said, concluding the matter.

Peak Master Di Lan couldn't say much more and could only grit his teeth and say, "Yes!"

The Grand Elder nodded with satisfaction. "Since you've accepted this task, you must protect him diligently. If anything happens to him, I will hold you solely responsible!" After saying this, he left with a loud laugh.

Earth Lan Peak Master looked gloomily in the direction the Grand Elder had left. He really hadn't expected that he, the culprit who sent someone to kill Lin Chuan, would by some twist of fate become that kid's bodyguard!

"Since I can move into Tianquan Peak openly, it will be convenient to act. With that kid's cultivation level, as long as I'm careful, he won't be able to notice anything!"

Thinking of this, Earth Lan Peak Master felt that this wasn't bad either. He could even use the boy as cover for what he intended to do.

"Hmph, it's been twenty years. The Southern Border has caused my Demon Race heavy losses. Once I find the ancient Formation on Tianquan Peak, it will be the day my Demon Race counterattacks!"

Earth Lan Peak Master muttered to himself in his residence, his face full of anticipation, as if he could already see the terror of all the Cultivators in the Southern Border on the day his plan was completed.

At this moment, in the Divine Sword Sect's temporary rest room, Elder Yang saw Jian Wuxie, who was healing his wounds, and Xiao Hongyuan, who was acting as a Protector nearby.

After hearing the two of them explain the whole story, Elder Yang said with relief, "You've done well. This time you've performed a great service for our Divine Sword Sect!"

Ignoring the curious looks from Jian Wuxie and Xiao Hongyuan, he continued to ask, "Are you saying that you learned the Martial Skills within that Secret Realm?"

Jian Wuxie nodded excitedly and hurriedly said, "Elder Yang, you have no idea. I used a Ghost Slash right then and there, and that Golden Core Cultivator was sent flying by my sword, heavily injured!"

This news was truly shocking. Elder Yang couldn't believe it for a moment. After all, as a Nascent Soul Seventh Layer, he was quite knowledgeable, yet he had never heard of a Secret Realm that could teach people so many Martial Skills.

At most, they could temper one's state of mind or enhance insights. Only in the Legacy Secret Realms of certain great Sects might there be training methods for a specific Martial Skill, and even then, it was limited to just one.

Seeing Elder Yang's look of disbelief, Xiao Hongyuan spoke up, "Elder Yang, didn't you also enter the Secret Realm to experience it? You must have learned a skill as well, so why not try it?"

Elder Yang thought this made sense, so he immediately stood up, walked into the courtyard, drew his spirit sword, and slashed just as he had in the Secret Realm.

Seeing that nothing happened, he said with a face full of confusion, "Did I do it wrong?"

"Elder Yang, calm your mind and carefully recall the movements of performing the Ghost Slash in the Secret Realm. At the same time, circulate your spiritual power and try again!" Xiao Hongyuan suggested from the side.

Elder Yang nodded and stood still, recalling his actions in the Secret Realm. Then, holding the hilt with both hands, he infused a bit of spiritual power from his body into the longsword, stepped forward, twisted his waist, and slashed out with his sword!

A massive white Sword Qi was instantly released, directly severing the large tree in the courtyard.

Elder Yang looked at the power of his strike in surprise and murmured to himself, "This power... it must be at the High Grade of the Xuan Rank."

Xiao Hongyuan smiled and said, "With your cultivation level, the power is much greater than ours. Furthermore, the more spiritual power you infuse into the spirit sword, the greater the power will be!"

"Junior Brother accidentally infused his entire body's spiritual power, which is why he shattered that Golden Core Cultivator's Protective Spirit Armor with a single strike."

Elder Yang said with a grave expression, "The origin of this Martial Skill is definitely extraordinary. To be able to let people learn it unconsciously within a Secret Realm... I can't imagine how much of a stir it would cause if the news got out!"

Hearing Elder Yang say this, Xiao Hongyuan also realized and said worriedly, "But that Secret Realm is right there and it's free. How could people not find out about it?"

Elder Yang furrowed his brows and said, "No, I must discuss this matter with that old fellow. If it's not handled properly, not just the Spirit Realm Sect, but our entire Southern Border might suffer!"

After saying that, he ignored the two of them and walked away quickly.

Jian Wuxie looked at the departing Elder Yang and said helplessly, "Senior Sister, shall we continue to the Secret Realm?"

"Go where? How is your recovery going?" Xiao Hongyuan scolded.

"Hehe, I've been fine for a long time. Look!" Jian Wuxie hopped in place and punched his own chest twice, laughing.

Seeing that Jian Wuxie didn't seem to be faking it, and since she also really wanted to go, Xiao Hongyuan simply agreed, "Alright then, let's go now."