121: Xu An took the lead, causing a rift in the Zhao family.

Wood Domain.

Qi Xuanlin stood side-by-side with the gaunt Cultivator, "Golden Cage," trailing far behind the main group, in no rush to be at the front.

"Brother Leng, stay calm."

Golden Cage licked his somewhat parched lips, his eyes flickering with the shrewdness of an old fox.

"The bird that sticks its head out gets shot."

"The Zhao Family, the three great Sects, the Jiang Family, and those top-tier Foundation Establishment immortal families must all be seeing red right now."

"Our small frames can't handle a collision with them."

Qi Xuanlin nodded silently, but his gaze involuntarily drifted toward the black-robed youth surrounded by several Zhao Family Disciples in the distance—Zhao Changjue.

Over these days, he had already gathered some information on this Zhao Family Prodigy from Golden Cage and through his own secret investigations.

The "spirit seed" Zhao Changjue possessed was a rare "primordial magnet spirit wood."

This spirit wood naturally contained Magnetic Force, which not only significantly nourished and enhanced a Cultivator's Spiritual Sense but also provided an incredible boost to escape techniques and aided in controlling Magical Artifacts, offering endless miraculous uses.

To this day, among his peers, only the Golden Core legacy Disciple from Qingsong Valley named Xu An had ever forced Zhao Changjue to use four wooden swords simultaneously against an enemy.

As for those seemingly ordinary wooden swords in his hand, Golden Cage had once asserted that a single one was comparable in value to a second-rank Magical Artifact!

Qi Xuanlin had secretly estimated that the purity and richness of the vegetation essence naturally emanating from the wooden swords alone were comparable to a first-rank High Grade spirit plant!

"A Nascent Soul clan... their heritage is actually this profound..."

Qi Xuanlin felt a surge of emotion in his heart, along with an increased sense of vigilance.

Compared to these true favored children of heaven, he and his Family were still like ants.

In front of the ground fissure, on a relatively open rocky plain, almost all the survivors of the Secret Realm had gathered.

Figures flickered and their auras were mixed, yet they were clearly divided into several camps, with a heavy sense of wariness and hostility permeating between them.

Looking around, the Zhao Family had the most Cultivators, with twenty-eight remaining, each possessing a powerful aura. They were positioned to faintly guard three figures—Zhao Changjue of the Wood Domain, Zhao Changque of the Water Domain, and... Zhao Changyan of the Fire Domain.

The situation for the three great Golden Core Sects was quite dismal.

Qingsong Valley had ten people left, their expressions solemn under Xu An's lead.

Luoxia Sect and Xuanjian Sect each had only four and six people left; their fire-attribute members were nearly wiped out!

The remaining Disciples of these two Sects looked at the Zhao Family camp, especially at Zhao Changyan, with gazes filled with uncontrollable grief, indignation, and hatred.

The Lanshui Jiang Family had twelve people remaining. Led by a steady-looking young man, they stood silently to the side, watching for changes.

Xu An's expression was originally extremely grim; all six main Sect Disciples he had brought into the Secret Realm had fallen.

But when he saw that the numbers of Luoxia Sect and Xuanjian Sect were even more pathetic than his own, his mouth couldn't help but twitch, and a strange sense of "Fortunately" actually welled up in his heart.

His gaze toward Zhao Changjue also became a bit more complex:

"This one... actually seems to remember old ties."

At this moment, many Zhao Family children's gazes drifted more or less toward Zhao Changyan, who led the Fire Domain group.

Their eyes were subtle, carrying a hint of scrutiny and... schadenfreude?

Zhao Changyan's aura was clearly a notch weaker than that of Zhao Changque and Zhao Changjue!

Not only was his Face pale, but the originally fierce and overbearing aura around him also appeared superficial and unstable.

Zhao Changque, Zhao Changjue, Zhao Changjun, and Zhao Changyue exchanged a hidden glance.

Zhao Changyan, relying on his exceptional talent and the favor of True Monarch Tianhuo, was usually arrogant and overbearing.

He usually acted haughty, considering himself the number one of this Zhao Family generation, and had frequently suppressed his brothers' resources and limelight.

Now, seeing him suffer such a great loss with his cultivation severely damaged, how could they not feel gratified?

Since he couldn't be relied upon at the critical moment, they couldn't be blamed!

Zhao Changjue let out a light laugh and stepped out from the crowd, his voice clear and reaching everyone present.

"Fellow Daoists of Southern Yue! The barriers of the five domains have opened, and the earth spirit origin has appeared!

"However, there are only about a hundred and twenty survivors of the Secret Realm. If we still determine priority based on Sects and Families, it would be somewhat unfair and might lead to disputes."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd with their varied expressions, lingering for a moment on the Faces of the Disciples from the Sects that had suffered heavy losses, and continued:

"Why don't we follow the ancient customs of the cultivation world—when an Opportunity is before us, it's every man for himself!

"Whoever first triggers the Origin and constructs a Spiritual Platform, it shall belong to them! What do you say?"

The leaders of the other three Zhao Family domains immediately nodded in agreement.

"Precisely as it should be!"

"Brother Changjue is absolutely right!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the eyes of those from Luoxia Sect, Xuanjian Sect, the Jiang Family, and many surviving small families and Loose Cultivators all lit up!

If they followed the rules the Zhao Family might have originally set in secret:

The Zhao Family takes first, the Golden Core powers second, and the rest last.

They probably wouldn't even get a sip of the leftover soup.

Now, with "every man for himself," although they were still at a disadvantage, there was finally a glimmer of hope!

"Young Master Zhao is truly righteous!"

"These words are excellent!"

Many voices of agreement immediately rang out.

The eleven remaining Zhao Family Disciples from the Fire Domain, however, all changed expression upon hearing this and looked toward Zhao Changyan.

Zhao Changyan's Face was so grim it looked like it could drip water; his right arm hadn't fully healed, and at this moment, it actually began to throb with pain again.

That strange green light had not only plundered nearly eighty percent of the earth spirit qi he had painstakingly cultivated, but even the refined sub-fire had become listless, and his cultivation had regressed!

To gather enough earth spirit qi for a Perfection transformation, he had been forced to almost completely slaughter the Fire Domain Cultivators!

But now... "Brother Changjue!"

Zhao Changyan gritted his teeth, his voice carrying suppressed rage:

"Before we entered the Secret Realm, didn't we already have a consensus?

"This Opportunity should prioritize the Family, proceeding in an orderly fashion to ensure our Zhao Family children all obtain a Medium Grade Spiritual Platform!

"How can you treat this so lightly, with these..."

Before he could finish his sentence, a sudden change occurred!

Xu An of Qingsong Valley, who had been silent and seemingly lost in thought, suddenly had a sharp light burst from his eyes!

He abruptly stepped forward, his hands forming seals as green light flared intensely around him.

Disregarding everything, he directly launched Qingsong Valley's secret attraction technique toward a relatively dense strand of earth spirit origin hanging within the ground fissure!

"Buzz—!"

A strand of earthy-yellow Origin Qi was forcibly pulled by him, turning into a streak of light that entered his crown!

Xu An's whole body shook violently, a faint yellow light circulating under his skin as his aura began to climb and transform at a rate visible to the naked eye!

"Senior Brother Xu!"

The Qingsong Valley Disciples behind him were both shocked and anxious, but they reacted extremely quickly, instantly forming a battle formation to protect him in the center.

The spiritual light of their Magical Artifacts flickered as they warily watched their surroundings, especially in the direction of the Zhao Family.

Xu An sat down cross-legged, his Face flushed, and the aura around him began to fluctuate violently; he was actually starting to break through to Foundation Establishment on the spot!

"Is he crazy?!"

"The Zhao Family hasn't even moved yet, and he dares to take the lead?!"

The scene was immediately in an uproar, with everyone talking at once.

Countless gazes turned toward the Zhao Family camp, specifically toward Zhao Changyan and Zhao Changjue.

Although Xu An was a personal Disciple of Immortal Master Songtao and held a noble status, there were two direct grandsons of True Monarch Tianhuo from the Zhao Family present!

Taking the lead so blatantly without giving any Face was nothing short of a direct provocation!