438: Chapter 438 Then we'll see what you're capable of!

He immediately looked around.

This was a peaceful valley with lush green grass.

The sky was a normal blue with white clouds floating by.

It seemed he had left the Taichu Secret Realm.

"This is... outside the Secret Realm?"

Ye Tian sensed slightly and found that the Spiritual Qi concentration here was no different from ordinary mountains in the outside world.

He tried to sense the chaos bead and the Legacy mark, and everything was normal.

It seemed the power of the ruins core indeed sent him out, but he didn't know where this place was or how far it was from the Imperial Capital.

Just as he was about to explore further, his expression suddenly shifted, and he looked toward the other side of the valley.

The space there fluctuated slightly, and several figures were "spat" out, stumbling as they fell to the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.

"Pah, pah, pah! What kind of ghost exit is this? That fall nearly killed me!" a familiar rough and loud voice rang out.

Ye Tian looked over and saw Xiahou Ba crawling up with a face full of dust, cursing.

But his spirit was high, and the Aura on his body was more solid than before, with faint signs of breaking through to the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation; clearly, he had gained a lot from the Earth Path.

Immediately after, space fluctuated in another spot, and Qin Pojun's figure emerged.

He still had that iron-blooded look, but the tip of the long spear in his hand had an extra touch of sharpness. His overall Aura was more restrained, and his cultivation had stabilized at the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation.

After landing, he quickly scanned the surroundings. His gaze met Ye Tian's; he was slightly stunned, then nodded in acknowledgment.

"Brother Ye."

"Brother Qin."

Then, space fluctuations appeared one after another.

Yun Wuji, Yu Miaoqing, and Feng Xuan tumbled out of a fluctuation almost simultaneously.

Although they looked a bit disheveled, the cultivation of all three had improved, and Yun Wuji had even reached the threshold of the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation.

Elsewhere, Han Xiao appeared, supporting the Ghost Girl, who was still unconscious but had a much better complexion.

Han Xiao still had that silent look, but Ye Tian felt that the unfathomable Aura on him had grown even stronger.

Finally, not far from the crowd, Shui Qingdie's figure landed gracefully.

Her dress was slightly messy, and her hair was damp with mist, but her eyes were clear and bright. The moment she saw Ye Tian, a surprised smile blossomed on her face, and ignoring others, she ran over quickly.

"Junior Brother Ye! You're alright! That's wonderful!"

Shui Qingdie ran close, her beautiful eyes scanning Ye Tian up and down. Seeing that although his clothes were torn and he was injured, his Aura was deep and solid, far surpassing before, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Then, remembering something, her pretty face turned slightly red, and she took half a step back.

"Senior Sister Shui, it's good that you're alright too."

Ye Tian smiled at her, feeling a warmth in his heart.

Seeing most of these familiar faces were safe and had their own gains, most of the worry in his heart was lifted.

Everyone quickly gathered together. The joy of surviving a disaster and the peace of mind from seeing their companions diluted the tension from the Secret Realm.

They looked at each other, finding that everyone's Aura had increased to varying degrees, and smiles appeared on their faces.

"Haha, Brother Ye! I knew you were tough and wouldn't die!"

Xiahou Ba slapped Ye Tian's shoulder hard, laughing loudly.

"Since Junior Brother Ye could come out of that place, he must have gained significantly."

Yun Wuji smiled, his gaze looking at Ye Tian with a hint of inquiry.

He felt a sense of depth in Ye Tian.

Qin Pojun nodded to Ye Tian: "It seems you also passed the final trial."

Han Xiao only nodded silently, carefully laying the Ghost Girl flat on the grass and taking out a Medicinal Pill for her to swallow.

"It is a blessing that everyone seems to have escaped safely and had their own encounters."

Ye Tian cupped his fists to everyone, his gaze sweeping across, and suddenly asked: "Where are Senior Brother Pei and Senior Brother Dongfang? And... Li Xuanxiao?"

At the mention of Li Xuanxiao, everyone's expressions darkened slightly.

A flash of disgust and lingering fear appeared in Shui Qingdie's eyes.

"We were scattered when we were teleported out, but it seems we are all near this valley."

Yun Wuji said: "Junior Brother Pei and Junior Brother Dongfang haven't been seen yet; perhaps they will arrive later. As for Li Xuanxiao..."

Before his voice fell, a patch of air suddenly distorted a hundred meters behind and to the side of the crowd.

Then a white-clothed figure stumbled out—it was Li Xuanxiao!

He looked even more disheveled than Ye Tian, with tears at the hem of his white robe and a pale face.

But those eyes were even colder than in the Secret Realm, and his body exuded a heart-palpitating destructive Sword Intent.

His cultivation had surprisingly also reached the Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm and was incredibly stable.

After landing, Li Xuanxiao quickly stabilized his figure, his gaze instantly locking onto Ye Tian in the crowd.

The two looked at each other from a distance, as if invisible Sword Intent was clashing in the air.

The relaxed atmosphere in the valley dropped to freezing point instantly due to Li Xuanxiao's appearance.

Qin Pojun, Xiahou Ba, and others immediately stood by Ye Tian's side, faintly forming a confrontational stance.

Although they didn't know specifically what happened in the ruins core, Li Xuanxiao's betrayal in the Flame Cave made their choice natural.

Li Xuanxiao looked at the people blocking his way to Ye Tian, a sneer curling his lips, his gaze finally fixing on Ye Tian's face.

"Good luck, you came out too."

His voice was flat but carried a bone-chilling coldness: "It seems the Path of the Abyss of Ruins couldn't keep you either."

"Thanks to you choosing the safe path, I had to wander through the dangerous spots."

Ye Tian said indifferently, taking a step forward to stand side-by-side with the others: "It seems your gains weren't small either."

"Enough to slay you." Sword Qi faintly appeared at Li Xuanxiao's fingertips.

"I'll be waiting." Ye Tian didn't back down.

Just as both sides were at daggers drawn, several sounds of breaking through the air suddenly came from above the valley!

Then, several powerful Auras approached rapidly.

"It seems everyone is here." A steady female voice sounded.

Everyone looked up to see several streaks of light flying from the horizon. Leading them were none other than Elder Qinglan and Elder Xing Tiexin of the Liuli Xuan Sect!

Behind them followed several Cultivators with extraordinary Auras. Looking at their attire, there were people from the Prince of the East's Mansion, the Xiahou Family, the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Xuanming Way, and other sides, clearly all here to receive their own Prodigies.

The two Elders landed, their gazes quickly sweeping over the Disciples in the valley. Seeing Ye Tian, Yun Wuji, and the others, though injured, had strong Auras and obviously significant gains, a look of relief appeared in their eyes.

But when they saw the unconscious Ghost Girl and the obvious confrontation between Ye Tian and Li Xuanxiao, their brows furrowed.

"This is not the place for talking. Follow us back to the Imperial Capital's relay station first."

Elder Qinglan said decisively, her gaze sternly sweeping over Li Xuanxiao and Ye Tian: "Whatever grievances you have, there will be rules after the Supreme Ranking ends. Now, everyone behave!"

The people from each side also stepped forward to join their respective Prodigies, asking about the situation.

Li Xuanxiao gave Ye Tian a deep look, then turned and walked toward the old man from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

The old man glanced at Li Xuanxiao, then at Ye Tian's side, said nothing, and with a wave of his sleeve, took Li Xuanxiao away as a streak of sword light.

Qin Pojun, Xiahou Ba, and Han Xiao were also picked up by their families or companions, each nodding to Ye Tian before leaving.

"Ye Tian, go back and heal your wounds properly."

Elder Qinglan said gently to Ye Tian, then looked at Shui Qingdie and the others: "You've all worked hard. Go back and rest."

Soon, only the group from the Liuli Xuan Sect remained in the valley.

Elder Qinglan summoned a small flying boat, and everyone boarded.

The flying boat soared into the sky, speeding toward the Imperial Capital.

On the flying boat, Ye Tian sat by the window, watching the mountains and rivers flash by below, but his heart was not at peace.

The Secret Realm had ended, but the Legacy he gained, the life-and-death grudge with Li Xuanxiao, Venerable Jiehuo's promise, the layers of external hostility...

Every single one was troublesome.

He felt the chaos bead rotating slightly in his Sea of Consciousness.

His cultivation at the Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm was restless, only a single opportunity away from a Breakthrough.