246: Explore the surroundings

The leader was tall and thin, with a gaunt face and deep-set eyes.

His eyes, however, gleamed with a venomous light like a poisonous snake, and his aura had reached the Nascent Soul Perfection realm!

He was Liang Kun, one of the Hall Masters of the Dharma Transmission Hall of Moyang Sect!

He was also Xiao Chen's mother's trusted confidant.

To the left behind Liang Kun was a burly, bald man with a full, scarred face.

He carried a huge blood-colored saber, as large as a door panel, on his back. His aura was violent, having reached the Peak of Late Nascent Soul Stage!

His nickname was "Blood Butcher," known for his bloodthirsty nature.

To the right was a man whose figure flickered, seemingly shrouded in a faint black mist.

His specific face was unclear, only a pair of cold, emotionless eyes were visible. His aura was sinister and bizarre, also at the Late Nascent Soul Stage!

His name was "Ghost Shadow," skilled in assassination and tracking.

The last person stood slightly behind Liang Kun, his aura as steady as a mountain.

His face was square, his eyes as sharp as an eagle's, and his cultivation was at the Peak of Mid Nascent Soul Stage.

His name was "Iron Mountain," and he was the strongest in defense among the four, most skilled in Formations and Restrictions.

"Subordinate Liang Kun (Blood Butcher/Ghost Shadow/Iron Mountain), by order of the Hall Master, we are here to await Young Master's command!"

Upon seeing Xiao Chen, the four bowed in unison, their voices deep and powerful, carrying an aura of iron-blooded Killing Intent.

Looking at these four powerful Deacon Elders, brimming with Evil Qi, Xiao Chen's heart settled.

A surge of heroic spirit and Killing Intent spontaneously arose within him.

He revealed a satisfied smile, stepped forward, and made a gesture to help them up, saying:

"Four Elders, there's no need for such courtesy! Thank you for coming to assist, Xiao Chen is deeply grateful!"

His gaze swept over the four, finally resting on Liang Kun, his tone carrying a hint of urgency and ruthlessness:

"Elder Liang, our target Yao Delong, and those around him, have their positions been locked down yet?"

Liang Kun's gaunt face showed a sinister smile, his voice hoarse:

"Young Master, rest assured. Ghost Shadow is best at tracking. Through a Secret Art, the general direction can be determined.

They... should be to our southwest, quite a distance away.

However, as long as they are still within the Secret Realm, they cannot escape our grasp!"

"Good!"

Xiao Chen's eyes flashed with cold light, his fists clenched.

"Rest for a moment, then advance at full speed towards the southwest!"

Pay attention to any clues along the way! If the target is found, kill them without mercy!"

"Yes!" Liang Kun and the other three responded in unison, their Killing Intent palpable.

Luo Tianying stood not far away, her purple eyes watching the murderous Xiao Chen and his group with interest.

She then seemingly inadvertently glanced towards the southwest.

Her red lips curled into a subtle, meaningful arc.

Deep within the valley, the silence was broken by the energy fluctuations caused by the Profound Dao Pill.

Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi sat cross-legged within the isolation Formation, their bodies enveloped in spiritual light.

Their auras, like boiling water, surged upwards.

The vast Medicinal Power of the Profound Dao Pill, containing profound dao rhyme, was overwhelmingly impacting the Middle Golden Core Stage barrier.

Each impact made their auras more condensed and powerful, steadily advancing towards the Late Golden Core Stage.

Yue Shan stood guard at the entrance of the stone cave like an immovable rock. His Nascent Soul Perfection Divine Sense, like an invisible net,

Tightly covered a radius of several tens of miles around. No disturbance could escape his perception.

The dark golden giant axe in his hand hummed slightly, emitting a chillingly sharp Qi.

Ready to tear apart any threat that dared to approach.

Yao Delong, Lin Qingxue, and Han Yun were discussing their respective discoveries nearby.

"I found a ruin about 150 li to the west," Yao Delong said first, his voice low and solemn.

"It was a square surrounded by giant ancient trees.

The ground was paved with broken giant stone slabs, engraved with ancient, blurry patterns.

In the center of the square stood several broken, moss-covered giant stone pillars.

The tops of the stone pillars seemed to have once held statues, but now only the broken bases remained.

The entire ruin exuded an extremely ancient and desolate aura.

He paused, his eyes sharpening:

"But the most troublesome thing is that a group of Yao Beasts has gathered there!

Six fifth-tier 'Ironclad Earth Dragons,' thick-skinned and immensely strong;

Four sixth-tier 'Azure Phosphor Demonic Pythons,' extremely fast and highly venomous;

And one... eighth-tier 'Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape!'

That Demonic Ape's aura is violent, and its body is enormous. It's probably the overlord of that area.

They seem to be attracted by something deep within the ruins, entrenched there.

It's as if they are guarding something, or waiting for something."

"An eighth-tier Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape?!"

Even Lin Qingxue's cool face showed a hint of solemnity.

An adult eighth-tier Yao Beast is equivalent to a human Cultivator at Nascent Soul Perfection.

However, their Physical Body is powerful, and their innate Divine Abilities are often superior, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

Not to mention the many fifth and sixth-tier Yao Beasts surrounding it.

"I was extremely careful during my investigation, suppressing my Divine Sense to the minimum, and did not alarm them."

Yao Delong added, "Attempting to force our way through with just the three of us carries extreme risk."

"I found a cold pond about a hundred li to the due north," Lin Qingxue continued. With a gentle wave of her jade hand,

An ice-blue spiritual energy sketched a simple scene in the air:

A bottomless, deep blue cold pond, its water biting cold.

Cold Qi permeated the air, and in the center of the pond was a small island.

"On the island grew three 'Nine-Leaf Ice Heart Lotuses'.

Judging by their form and the cold Qi they exuded, they are at least thousand-year-old Spirit Medicine!

This lotus contains pure Ice Soul Power, which is greatly beneficial to Cultivators who Cultivate ice and water-element Cultivation Techniques.

It can significantly enhance control over vital energy, and is also the core main ingredient for refining various seventh-tier ice attribute Medicinal Pills!"

She frowned slightly: "However, a powerful Yao Beast aura is dormant within the cold pond.

I didn't dare approach the island to investigate, fearing I might disturb the guardian.

That aura was sinister and powerful, at least a sixth-tier Peak, possibly even a seventh-tier water-element Yao Beast."

"Nine-Leaf Ice Heart Lotus... thousand-year-old..."

A glimmer of light flashed in Han Yun's emerald eyes, clearly aware of the item's preciousness.

"I found a mountain cave about eighty li to the east," Han Yun's clear, cold voice rang out. "The entrance to the cave isn't large, but it's extremely deep, winding downwards.

The temperature inside the cave is extremely high; the further one goes, the more intense the fiery energy fluctuations become.

It even stirred the vital energy within my body.

I went in for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, feeling that the source of the fire attribute energy was even deeper.

And the fluctuations were extremely pure and violent, seeming... not to be ordinary fire.

I worried that if I went too deep, something might happen on your side, so I turned back first."

Fire attribute energy! Pure and violent!

Yao Delong's heart skipped a beat! heart-burning stone milk? li fire phoenix tree core?

Or some other fire-element supreme treasure? Han Yun's discovery undoubtedly pointed to one of his most important goals for this trip!

"Good! Excellent!"

Yao Delong's eyes gleamed, suppressing the excitement in his heart.

"An ancient ruin, a thousand-year-old ice lotus, and a cave suspected of holding a fire-element supreme treasure!

This valley truly is a treasure trove!"

He quickly calmed down and analyzed:

"There are many Yao Beasts at the ruins, especially that eighth-tier Demonic Ape, which is the biggest threat.

The guardian of the cold pond is unknown, but the Ice Heart Lotus is extremely valuable.

The situation in the fire-element cave is unknown, but fire-element treasures are crucial to me.

The most urgent task is to wait for Huohuo and Shishi to complete their Breakthrough before deciding which place to go to first."

"Indeed."

Lin Qingxue and Han Yun both agreed.

Although Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi's Breakthrough to Late Golden Core Stage would provide limited improvement to their Peak combat power,

The overall resilience and coordination of the team would be stronger, providing an extra layer of security against unexpected situations.

"It's already dark, and the Secret Realm is even more dangerous at night."

Yao Delong looked up at the leaden, increasingly dim sky.

"We will rest here for the night and strengthen our vigilance.

Brother Yue Shan, I'll leave the outer perimeter guard to you."

"Young Master Yao, rest assured!"

Xiao Shan rumbled in response, his figure flickering as he appeared on a nearby boulder with an open view, like the most loyal sentry.

Yao Delong, Lin Qingxue, and Han Yun also found their respective spots to sit cross-legged.

While recuperating and recovering, they vigilantly watched the surroundings, simultaneously acting as Protectors for Xiao Huohuo and Lin Shishi.

The valley once again fell into a tense silence.

Only the occasional strange shriek of an unknown creature from afar reminded everyone of their location.