159: Survival in the dense jungle, the trail of the card master!

Although the teleportation distance was extremely short, less than half a meter, and the fluctuation was obvious, it was indeed a spatial ability!

"Holy crap, another spatial type? Although the distance is pitifully short..."

Lu Yuan was shocked. Was his luck really this good?

He reacted extremely quickly, twisting his waist to avoid the hyena's Bite, while simultaneously unleashing his right fist like lightning!

"Bang!"

His fist solidly struck the head of the Rock-Armored Hyena.

The seemingly hard rock armor plates were as fragile as paper in front of Lu Yuan's current third-tier strength.

"Crack!"

The sound of bones cracking was clearly audible.

The Rock-Armored Hyena didn't even have time to let out a cry before its head slumped, falling heavily to the ground, twitching a few times before going still.

"Ow, woo, woo!"

The remaining Rock-Armored Hyenas, seeing their companion killed, did not retreat. Instead, they charged forward even more ferociously.

They also used that clumsy teleportation, attempting to encircle Lu Yuan from different angles.

"Good!"

Lu Yuan advanced instead of retreating, his fists swinging like a tiger entering a flock of sheep.

"Bang!"

"Bang bang!"

One little darling per punch.

Each punch was accompanied by the fall of a Rock-Armored Hyena.

These second-tier demonic beasts were utterly defenseless against him.

A moment later, all seven or eight Rock-Armored Hyenas lay dead.

Lu Yuan shook his hand, completely unharmed.

"Sure enough, the chance of these low-tier demonic beasts dropping a card is too low."

He checked, but found no trace of a card.

"However, this Secret Realm is quite interesting."

Lu Yuan stroked his chin.

"Even second-tier Rock-Armored Hyenas can teleport, even if it's just a superficial ability."

He continued on his way, a hint of anticipation added to his heart.

What if there were more?

The journey ahead was not peaceful.

He first encountered a Jade Phosphorus Poison Python lurking in the swamp.

The python was as thick as a bucket and could spray highly corrosive venom.

"Whoosh—!"

A foul wind blew, and a stream of venom shot towards Lu Yuan.

"That was close!"

Relying on his enhanced perception after Nirvana, Lu Yuan anticipated the python's attack trajectory in advance, his figure flickered, avoiding the venom.

The venom landed on a tree trunk behind Lu Yuan, emitting a "sizzle" of corrosion and puffs of white smoke.

"Third-tier, early stage."

"Trash!"

The python missed its strike, its massive body suddenly lunged out of the swamp, opening its bloody maw, biting at Lu Yuan.

Another teleportation pounce!

Lu Yuan remained calm, a slight release of Source Power from his feet, his body rising several meters, avoiding the python's pounce.

At the same time, he formed a claw with his right hand, condensing Frost Flame Power, and fiercely clawed at the python's vital spot!

"Hiss!"

The python cried out in pain, twisting its body wildly, trying to coil around Lu Yuan.

Lu Yuan naturally wouldn't give it a chance, relying on his agile movements to contend with the python.

After several rounds, he seized an opening and punched the python's head, killing it on the spot.

Still no card dropped.

Bad luck!

Lu Yuan felt a bit helpless.

After easily dealing with the Jade Phosphorus Poison Python, he encountered a Shadow Leopard skilled in stealth and ambush.

The leopard was completely black, able to perfectly blend into the shadows, moving silently.

Coupled with its bizarre flash-step, if Lu Yuan hadn't been so alert, he might have truly fallen into its trap.

"A malicious wind from behind!"

Just as the Shadow Leopard burst from the shadows behind Lu Yuan, its sharp claws reaching for his back, Lu Yuan suddenly turned, delivering a hand-blade imbued with Frost Flame Power, precisely striking the leopard's neck.

"Crack!"

The Shadow Leopard whimpered and collapsed to the ground.

Third-tier, mid-stage.

"Tsk, this leopard was quite good at hiding."

Lu Yuan kicked the leopard's corpse.

After successively encountering several waves of demonic beast attacks, Lu Yuan discovered a commonality.

These demonic beasts, more or less, all displayed some abilities related to space.

The Rock-Armored Hyena's short-range teleportation.

The Jade Phosphorus Poison Python's flash.

The Shadow Leopard's spatial distortion steps.

"This Secret Realm... I've really found a treasure!"

Lu Yuan stopped, leaning against a large tree, breathing slightly.

The continuous combat hadn't consumed much of his energy, but his mind had been constantly tense.

"Almost all the demonic beasts I've encountered have some trace of spatial abilities."

He frowned, falling into deep thought.

"Could it be... the Nine Heavens Secret Realm?"

A thought suddenly sprang into his mind.

He remembered that when the admissions teachers from Canglan University, Mobei Nine Heavens Academy, and Southeast Ocean Academy came to the Yao Family to recruit him, Director Lei Xiao of Mobei Nine Heavens Academy had mentioned their academy's core secret place—the Nine Heavens Secret Realm.

It was said that the Nine Heavens Secret Realm was abundant in spatial-type cards and materials.

Lu Yuan had even specifically searched online for some scattered information about the Nine Heavens Secret Realm at the time.

According to legends, the sky of the Nine Heavens Secret Realm was different from ordinary secret realms, and it seemed to have peculiar celestial bodies.

However, these were all unreleased secret realms, and the information online couldn't be fully trusted.

"That's unlikely, right?"

"Forget it, I won't think about it."

Lu Yuan shook his head, casting aside these distracting thoughts.

"No matter where this is, I need to survive first, and then find a way to leave."

After a short rest, Lu Yuan continued forward.

He traveled several more miles.

In a clearing in the forest, Lu Yuan suddenly stopped.

He smelled the stench of demonic beasts and the freshness of plants in the air, as well as a faint scent that didn't belong here!

The smell of nicotine!

"Hmm?"

He lowered his head, pushing aside the dense ferns.

Several clear footprints were imprinted on the damp soil.

Not animal paws, but boot prints!

And a cigarette butt!

Lu Yuan was overjoyed. He squatted down, carefully examining the footprints.

The footprints weren't too large, and their depth varied, indicating at least two or three people.

The traces were still very fresh, likely left not long ago.

"Card Masters!" Lu Yuan's heart stirred. "There are other Card Masters here!"

He then carefully searched the surroundings.

Soon, he found flat cutting marks on a severed tree stump.

"It was done by a sharp weapon."

"Great!"

He couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice.

"Finally, a chance to go back!"

In this unfamiliar Secret Realm, discovering traces of his own kind was undoubtedly a fortunate thing.

At least for him, it was.

"Following these traces, I might be able to find them and ask about the situation."

Lu Yuan mused.

"Perhaps I can also inquire about information regarding this Secret Realm, and even find a way to leave here."

However, he also remained vigilant.

"I don't know if they are friends or foes."

"It would be troublesome if I encountered a treacherous person like Bedrock."

Lu Yuan's eyes grew cold.

He carefully identified the direction in which the footprints extended.

"This way."

Without further hesitation, Lu Yuan followed the footprints, quickly giving chase.

(He didn't summon Light Falcon because the trees here were too numerous and dense. Looking down, it was all interconnected leaves, making it impossible to see anything useful.)

The footprints extended deep into the forest.

Along the way, Lu Yuan discovered more traces of battle.

There were severed vines, shattered rocks, and several puddles of demonic beast blood that hadn't completely dried.

They were getting fresher!

Based on the traces at the scene, Lu Yuan judged that the Card Masters who left the footprints should be quite strong.

Probably between third and fourth-tier...