114: Chapter 114 The Cangwu Secret Realm: The Zhou Family Father and Son Plot Again
The Zhou Family.
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu sat in his study, a map spread out on the desk in front of him, identical to the one in President Ye Wenyuan's office.
Zhou Yuan stood opposite him, his expression sinister.
"Dad, the third round of the Secret Realm allows plundering."
Zhou Yuan's voice was very low.
"It's not easy to act on the arena, but in the Secret Realm..."
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu did not look up.
"In the Secret Realm, it's normal for someone to die."
The corners of Zhou Yuan's mouth curled up. "Don't worry, I won't leave any traces."
Only then did Vice President Zhou Liangzhu look up, staring at his son.
"Don't underestimate the enemy. That kid Lin Fan is not easy to deal with. Ye Qing and Ye Wushuang's strength shouldn't be underestimated either..."
Zhou Yuan gritted his teeth.
"Then what should we do? Just let him go like this?"
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu's gaze turned cold.
"Useless."
He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Zhou Yuan.
"As a person in a high position, you must know the art of controlling subordinates. If you have to do everything yourself, wouldn't that be beneath your status?"
Zhou Yuan lowered his head, not daring to speak.
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu turned around and looked at him.
"There's more than just your team entering the Secret Realm this time. Have you looked into the backgrounds of the other eight groups?"
Zhou Yuan was stunned for a moment.
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu glared at him, frustrated that he didn't live up to expectations.
"Most of the contestants this time come from ordinary families. If you give them some benefits and promise them a future, they will naturally be willing to work for you."
Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up.
"Dad, you mean..."
"Use power, use benefits. Those who understand the times are heroes; I believe they will make the right choice."
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu walked back to the desk, took a list out of a drawer, and pushed it in front of Zhou Yuan.
"This is the list of the ten teams that Advanced this time. Except for your team and Lin Fan's team, I've thoroughly investigated the remaining eight groups. What their families do, what they lack, and what they fear is all on there."
Zhou Yuan took the list and scanned it quickly. The corners of his mouth slowly curled up.
"Dad, I understand."
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu patted his shoulder.
"Remember, if you can get someone else to do something for you, don't do it yourself. That is the method of a superior."
Zhou Yuan tucked the list into his coat.
"Dad, don't worry. This time, Lin Fan won't be able to escape even if he had wings."
Vice President Zhou Liangzhu didn't say anything more and turned to look out the window.
...
Three days later, early morning.
On the square, the ten teams had finished gathering and were divided into three groups under the guidance of the staff.
"The Cangwu Secret Realm has a total of three entrances."
"The ten teams are randomly assigned. Teams entering from each entrance will enter different areas of the Secret Realm's outer perimeter. After three days, everyone will return through their respective entrances."
The staff member began to read the list.
First Entrance: Zhao Tianyu Team, Liu Ming Team, Lin Fan Team.
Second Entrance: Zhou Yuan Team, Sun Hao Team, Chen Yu Team.
Third Entrance: Su Ning Team, Fan Qi Team, Liu Chang Team, Lu Zhanwen Team.
Lin Fan glanced at the list, then looked at Zhou Yuan not far away.
Zhou Yuan was also looking at him, with a half-smile on his face.
Lin Fan looked away—what an idiot.
After a two-hour drive, Lin Fan's three teams finally arrived at the Secret Realm entrance.
The three members of the Lin Fan Team glanced at each other and were the first to enter the Secret Realm.
The moment the light swallowed his figure, Lin Fan felt a slight dizziness. When he could see clearly again, they were already standing on an unfamiliar land.
The sky of the Cangwu Secret Realm was grayish-white. Looking up, there were no clouds or sun, only a kind of light like frosted glass spilling down from overhead.
The air was filled with the scent of damp vegetation, mixed with a faint smell of decay.
Beneath their feet was soft black soil that sank slightly when stepped on, giving a damp and disgusting feeling.
The surroundings were filled with giant ferns, the tallest of which were three or four meters high, shimmering with a dark green luster under the grayish-white light.
Lin Fan crouched down and brushed away the fallen leaves on the ground with his fingers.
There were some tiny white mycelia in the soil that withered rapidly the moment they came into contact with the air.
He stood up and clapped his hands.
"This place is quite interesting."
The Rift Jellyfish on Ye Qing's right leg had already undergone Armorization, its deep blue tentacles floating gently in the air.
She scanned the surroundings.
"The Crystals are placed in the outer area; we need to determine our direction first."
Ye Wushuang unfolded the map and pointed to the markings on it.
"We should be in the southeast corner of the Secret Realm now. The Crystals are distributed in a ring around the perimeter. If we head north from the southeast corner, we should encounter them along the way."
The three then ignored the other teams and left directly.
However, just as they had walked less than a hundred meters, a rustling sound came from the fern thicket behind them.
Lin Fan looked back and saw three figures emerging from behind the fern leaves.
The one walking at the front was a Tall Thin Man wearing a gray jacket and a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose.
Behind him followed two men of vastly different builds, both appearing to be in their early twenties.
Ye Qing recognized them.
"Liu Ming? Why are you following us?"
Liu Ming smiled and pushed up his glasses.
"Let's go together. An Advanced Secret Realm is still quite dangerous. Shall we join forces?"
Lin Fan glanced at him but didn't speak.
Ye Wushuang had already turned and continued walking forward.
Lin Fan followed, without looking back.
"No need, we're used to traveling on our own."
Liu Ming wasn't annoyed either; he smiled and led his teammates in another direction.
Ye Qing looked back at their retreating figures, her brow slightly furrowed.
"The way he looked at us wasn't quite right."
Lin Fan narrowed his eyes and sneered.
"Doesn't matter if it's right or not, let's just go our way."
The three continued heading north.
Behind them, Liu Ming watched the retreating backs of Lin Fan's group, pulled out a Secret Realm Communicator, and quickly typed a line of text to send out.
"Lin Fan and the others are heading toward the north side of the Secret Realm."
On the other end of the communicator, Zhou Yuan glanced at the message, the corners of his mouth curling up, then he turned to look at his teammates behind him.
"Let's go, time to get to work."
...
After Lin Fan and the others had walked north for about half an hour, the fern thickets gradually thinned out, replaced by a patch of low shrubs.
Little Rabbit suddenly poked its head out, its ears standing straight up. Its hexagram eyes stared at a clump of bushes ahead, and it let out a tiny cry.
Lin Fan stopped.
"There's something there."
The tentacles on Ye Qing's right leg swayed gently, and the Light Shield on Ye Wushuang's left arm had also condensed into form.
Little Rabbit jumped down from Lin Fan's shoulder, hopped into the bushes, and ran back with a yellow Crystal in its mouth. It placed it at Lin Fan's feet and looked up at him.
Lin Fan picked up the Crystal; it was palm-sized and golden yellow throughout.
"Yellow, 5 points."
He put the Crystal away, crouched down, and stroked Little Rabbit's head.
"Good job."
Little Rabbit nuzzled his finger and then hopped forward again.
Ye Qing deactivated her Armorization.
"That rabbit of yours is quite useful as a Treasure-hunting Rat."
Lin Fan followed.
"Of course, look who raised it."
The three followed Little Rabbit through the shrubs.
Little Rabbit's nose was extremely sharp, able to sniff out the energy fluctuations emitted by the Crystals from dozens of meters away.
It led the three to find three green Crystals and one yellow Crystal.
During this period, the three didn't even encounter a single Armor Beast.