127: Chapter 127 Leaving the Secret Realm

"The spores are planted!"

Ye Qing landed beside Lin Fan, panting.

"But its skin is too thick; the spores need time to penetrate."

Lin Fan nodded. "Buy time."

The golden crystal in his left eye lit up, and Shadow Wood Clone was activated.

Silver-black light surged from him, and three figures identical to him stepped out from the light.

The three Clones pounced on the Ink-scaled Toad simultaneously, blocking its line of sight.

The toad's tongue suddenly flicked out, wrapping around one Clone's waist; the Clone was crushed into points of light.

The other two Clones took the chance to get close, stabbing the Flood Dragon Poison Fang toward the toad's eyes; the toad closed its eyes, the lumps on its eyelids blocking the attack.

Ye Wushuang rushed up from the side, Ice Crystal Wings unfurling; an Extreme Ice Storm exploded at the toad's feet, the ice freezing its webbed feet.

The toad stomped hard, shattering the ice, but its movement was delayed for a moment.

Ye Wushuang's right leg activated Thunder Charge and Thunder Flash; a silver-purple lightning kick landed on the toad's belly, leaving a charred mark.

The toad, in pain, puffed its cheeks and spat venom.

Lin Fan used Light Travel Step to weave and dodge, his left eye predicting the trajectory of every drop of venom, but several holes were still corroded into his clothes.

The tentacles on Ye Qing's right leg swayed as she used Spatial Jump to get behind the toad, pressing her left hand onto its back; Spirit Power Drain was activated—the spores had begun to penetrate and drain its spirit power.

The toad's skin dimmed for a moment; it jerked its body, throwing Ye Qing off, but the spores remained.

Lin Fan's left eye lit up—Nightmare Entanglement!

The toad froze in place, its eyes becoming vacant.

Ye Wushuang dove from the air, a combined ice and thunder kick hitting the top of the toad's head, smashing a shallow pit.

The toad regained its senses and fired a barrage of water bullets at the three of them.

Ye Qing used Spatial Jump to dodge, while Ye Wushuang blocked several shots with a Light Shield, which became covered in cracks.

Lin Fan used Light Travel Step to weave through, but a bloody hole was grazed into his calf.

As the toad's spirit power was continuously drained by the spores, its movements became slower, and the speed of its tongue flicking was no longer what it used to be.

"It's almost finished, but it still needs one last blow."

Lin Fan gritted his teeth and looked at Ye Qing. "Thunder orb! Do you still have your thunder orb?"

Ye Qing pulled out a nine heavens thunder orb from her bosom.

She glanced at the pond and then at the toad. "Force it into the pond!"

Lin Fan understood, burst forth with Light Travel Step, and rushed at the toad from the side.

Ye Wushuang flanked from the other side, firing several ice spears from his Frozen Pole Spear, forcing the toad back until its webbed feet stepped into the pond.

The tentacles on Ye Qing's right leg swayed as she used Spatial Jump to appear directly in front of the toad; Ghost Poison Spores activated again, the spores attaching to the toad's face; it instinctively backed up until its entire body was in the pond.

The water in the pond submerged its webbed feet and its belly; it stood in the center of the pond, its golden-yellow eyes staring at the three.

Ye Qing took a deep breath, the tentacles on her right leg suddenly lengthening as she used Spatial Jump to the edge of the pond, throwing the nine heavens thunder orb into the water at the toad's feet.

"This Young Miss will send you on your way!"

The thunder orb entered the water, and silver-white lightning exploded instantly.

Water conducts electricity; the lightning spread through the water to the toad's entire body.

The toad's whole body convulsed as lightning ran rampant inside it; the lumps on its skin exploded one by one, and dark green blood gushed out.

It opened its mouth to cry out, but the lightning blocked its throat.

The toad's massive body froze in the water and then slowly fell over, splashing water everywhere as the pond turned dark green.

The three stood on the shore, panting heavily.

Lin Fan looked at the toad's corpse floating on the water and then at Ye Qing.

"This toad was quite difficult to deal with."

Ye Qing put the remaining thunder orb back in her bosom, and the Rift Jellyfish tentacles on her right leg retracted.

"It's finally dead."

Lin Fan waded into the middle of the pond and picked the extreme spirit fruit.

The fruit felt warm in his hand, its golden patterns pulsing like a heartbeat.

He put the fruit into his backpack and turned back to the shore.

"We'll leave as soon as the Mirage Realm exit opens."

The three waited for about two hours until a faint blue crack appeared at the edge of the Mirage Realm.

Lin Fan stood up and patted the dirt off his knees.

"It's open. Let's go."

The tentacles on Ye Qing's right leg lengthened, and she used Spatial Jump to take the two through the crack; the scenery shifted, and the three returned to the gray-brown wasteland of the Cangwu Secret Realm.

Lin Fan checked the direction.

"Run toward the exit. Don't stop."

The three sprinted toward the portal at the edge of the Secret Realm. They didn't encounter the little girl or the Grey-robed men again on the way.

Half an hour later, they burst out of the portal and returned to the checkpoint at the entrance of the Secret Realm.

Lin Fan didn't bother with registration and rushed straight to the soldiers standing guard at the gate.

"People from the Xutai Society are in the Secret Realm!"

The soldier's expression changed, and he gripped the short sword at his waist.

"What did you say?"

"Xutai Society, Rabbit of the Twelve Zodiacs; we almost died in there."

The other soldier had already run inside to report. A moment later, a man who looked like an officer walked out with a grim expression.

"Are you sure it's the Xutai Society?"

Lin Fan nodded. "Positive."

The officer waved his hand. "Seal the Secret Realm exit; no one is allowed in or out. Contact the Association."

Lin Fan pulled out his communicator and dialed President Ye Wenyuan's number.

"Master, something has happened."

He briefly explained what happened in the Secret Realm. President Ye Wenyuan was silent for a moment.

"Come back first. I'll bring people over immediately."

Lin Fan and the others walked out of the checkpoint, where an Association car was parked.

They got in the car and drove toward Dongyun City.

...

Association building, President Ye Wenyuan's office.

Lin Fan and the others sat on the sofa, while President Ye Wenyuan sat opposite them with a serious expression.

"Are you sure that little girl is Rabbit of the Twelve Zodiacs?"

Lin Fan nodded.

"Positive. Six points of mutation, all Rabbit-type Armor Beasts. Her strength is comparable to an Armor Sovereign."

President Ye Wenyuan turned around, his face terrifyingly grim. He walked to his desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a few numbers.

"Notify the military to seal all entrances and exits of the Cangwu Secret Realm. Mobilize all Enforcement Teams of the Association to search the Secret Realm."

He put down the phone and looked at Lin Fan.

"Go back and rest first. Don't speak of this to the outside world."

Lin Fan stood up. "Master..."

President Ye Wenyuan raised his hand to interrupt him. "I will handle it."

Lin Fan didn't say anything more, and the three walked out of the office.

Three days later, President Ye Wenyuan held a press conference.

Lin Fan sat in front of the television, watching President Ye Wenyuan on the screen.

His face looked exhausted, with heavy bags under his eyes; he clearly hadn't slept well these past few days.

"Regarding the Cangwu Secret Realm incident, after a joint investigation by the military and the Association, it has been confirmed that unidentified personnel infiltrated the Secret Realm and launched attacks on those inside."

President Ye Wenyuan's voice was calm, but Lin Fan could hear the underlying suppression.

"It has been verified that a total of thirty-four Trial-takers have gone missing in the Secret Realm. The Association will do its utmost to investigate this matter and give the families of the victims an explanation."

A reporter asked a question.

"President, may I ask who the attackers were?"

President Ye Wenyuan was silent for a moment. "It is currently under investigation, so it is not convenient to disclose."

Lin Fan turned off the television.

He knew why President Ye Wenyuan didn't say it—matters concerning the Xutai Society should not be announced to the outside world, as it would cause social panic.

But those missing contestants would probably never return.