374: Chapter 374 The Vast Ocean Realm!

"Yes, Teacher, Little Senior Sister."

Qin Yan sat down, gathered his thoughts, and began narrating his experiences in Canglin Ancient Peak using concise yet impactful language.

He recounted his story selectively, emphasizing the twists and turns of the journey, the strength of the enemies, and the final, narrow escape from danger.

As for his own core secrets, he skillfully glossed over them or presented them with a different spin.

Even so, this brief narration of just over an hour still made Lu Youyou's heart surge with emotion.

At times she was tense, at others amazed, sometimes worried, and at other moments inspired.

When Qin Yan finished speaking and picked up the tea Lu Youyou had thoughtfully handed him to moisten his throat, the Alchemy Room fell into a brief silence once more.

After a long while, Xiao Huo let out a long, deep sigh.

"Remarkable, truly remarkable."

Xiao Huo sighed with heartfelt admiration, "To stand out in such an environment requires not just strength and opportunity, but also exceptional character, wisdom, and fortune. Xiao Yan, you've done it."

He paused, as if thinking of something, and asked, "You mentioned earlier that you have now reached the Third Grade Limit, with exceptionally vigorous qi and blood.

I observe that the stability of your foundation and the abundance of your qi and blood far surpass that of others at your level...

When you achieved Third Grade Perfection, the Body Tempering Technique you awakened, could it be... a body refining cultivation art?"

Qin Yan's heart tightened slightly. As expected, his teacher's eyes were sharp.

He had been prepared for this. With a 'frank' expression, he nodded:

"Teacher sees clearly. When this disciple achieved Third Grade Perfection, I did indeed awaken a rather special body refining cultivation art called the 'Indestructible Blood Codex'.

This technique is extremely effective at tempering and increasing qi and blood. The fact that I possess qi and blood far surpassing my peers is largely thanks to this art."

As he spoke, a thought stirred within him.

"Hum—!"

A vast, pure, and blazing surge of qi and blood, like raging waves and turbulent seas, suddenly erupted from his entire body!

The terrifying fluctuation of 400 units of qi and blood, even when only slightly revealed, was enough to make martial artists of the same rank feel suffocated!

"Hiss—!" Even though Xiao Huo had been mentally prepared, feeling this substantial, incredibly vigorous qi and blood that far exceeded the ordinary Third Grade Limit still made him suck in a sharp breath. A brilliant light shone in his eyes!

"Good! Good! Excellent, lad! Hahahaha!"

"With such a foundation, with such a technique, the path to the Great Grandmaster realm is already a smooth road for you!

Even... the Great Grandmaster realm is within reach!"

He was genuinely happy. For a disciple to have such fortune and potential—as his teacher, he shared in the honor!

After laughing, Xiao Huo shifted his gaze to Lu Youyou, who was still immersed in shock beside him, her small mouth slightly agape. He spoke earnestly:

"Youyou, do you see? Your little junior brother is so driven, he's already run ahead of you. As his senior sister, you'll have to redouble your efforts!

Being surpassed by a junior brother, while it could make for a good story, still... wouldn't it be a bit embarrassing?"

Hearing this, Lu Youyou finally snapped out of the shock from Qin Yan's frightening qi and blood.

Looking at her teacher's 'earnest' expression that actually held a hint of mischief, and then thinking about her little junior brother's monstrous rate of progress, a sense of helplessness welled up in her heart.

She really wanted to say to her teacher: Teacher, don't just pick on me!

With little junior brother's momentum, forget about surpassing me—I think it won't be long before he might even surpass you!

When you get surpassed by your little disciple, wouldn't that scene be... even more 'awkward'?"

Of course, she only dared to mutter these words in her heart.

On the surface, she forced a 'well-behaved and sensible' smile and nodded vigorously:

"Mhm! Teacher is right! I'll definitely work hard! I'll learn from little junior brother! I'll strive... strive not to fall too far behind!"

Seeing his little senior sister's expression, Qin Yan couldn't help but laugh as well.

Within the master-disciple circle, this relaxed and warm atmosphere made him feel particularly close and at ease.

"By the way, Teacher," Qin Yan looked at Xiao Huo, "where have you and my senior brothers and sisters been all this time? I sent messages in the group chat after I returned, but no one replied."

This was a question he had wanted to ask for a while.

"Little Junior Brother, I can answer that!"

Lu Youyou beside him immediately raised her small hand, her big eyes blinking, speaking excitedly as she rushed to reply.

Seeing this, Xiao Huo chuckled and shook his head, gesturing for her to go ahead.

"Alright then, please enlighten me, Little Senior Sister."

Qin Yan also cooperatively adopted a posture of listening attentively.

Lu Youyou cleared her throat, straightened her small frame, and declared, "During this time, Teacher and I, along with many senior brothers and sisters from the Alchemy Department, were temporarily requisitioned and sent to the Zhenhai Defense Line!"

"Zhenhai Defense Line?"

Hearing this, Qin Yan was slightly taken aback. He hadn't heard of this name.

"That's right, the Zhenhai Defense Line!"

Lu Youyou nodded. Seeing Qin Yan's puzzled expression, she explained in detail, "It's one of the core battlefields our human race has established along the eastern coast, specifically to resist otherworldly invasions!

Teacher and I, along with some teachers and students from the Alchemy Department, were assigned to the Alchemy Logistics Division of the battlefield this time.

We were mainly responsible for supplying pills to the frontline soldiers, assisting in the treatment of the wounded, and the preliminary processing of some captured medicinal materials."

Qin Yan understood. His teacher and senior sister had gone to a real frontline battlefield, no wonder communication was difficult.

"And what's more, Little Junior Brother,"

Lu Youyou changed her tone, a mysterious smile appearing on her face as she leaned in closer and lowered her voice, "Do you know exactly where this Zhenhai Defense Line is?

I'll give you a little hint—this place is very, very, very close to our Modu University of Martial Arts!"

She deliberately kept him in suspense, her lively eyes turning slyly.

Very close? And a battlefield? Near Modu University of Martial Arts?

Hearing this, Qin Yan fell into thought.

Close to them?

And a battlefield?

Modu University of Martial Arts?

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Qin Yan's mind.

He remembered the earth-shaking roar he had heard outside the Secret Realm Tower a few days ago!

He remembered that towering, cloud-piercing, mysteriously gleaming wall of cold light!

He remembered that soldier with the powerful aura and fearsome armor who had stopped him!

A bold conjecture instantly took shape.

Qin Yan looked up, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lu Youyou and tentatively asked, "Little Senior Sister, are you saying the Zhenhai Defense Line... is it possibly the area behind the Secret Realm Tower, behind that strictly sealed high wall?"

"Bingo! You got it! Little Junior Brother is so smart!"

Lu Youyou snapped her fingers, confirming Qin Yan's guess.

"That's right! Behind that high wall is the core area of the Zhenhai Battlefield that our Modu University of Martial Arts is responsible for guarding!"

"Behind the wall is a massive, heavily fortified military base, reinforced with layer upon layer of formations and fully equipped.

And directly opposite the base lies a vast expanse of sea that appears calm on the surface but is actually teeming with hidden dangers!

Deep within that sea, there exists a spatial passage, connecting our world to another otherworld called the Vast Sea Realm!"

"Vast Sea Realm?!"

Qin Yan's heart stirred.