78: If you don't have enough strength, you can make up for it with strategies.

“Tianren Realm!”

It was only after Yu Niang’s reminder that Qin Wangchuan suddenly recalled this crucial bottleneck.

If he were to forcefully Breakthrough here, he would certainly enter the Ninth Realm smoothly, but he would also miss the “Heavenly Gate” baptism, preventing his immortal bone from being fully utilized.

Thinking of this, he immediately began to suppress it.

However, the vast, ocean-like Dragon Clan Cultivation within him was still pouring in wildly, completely out of control, as if it wanted to burst him apart!

“I will help you.”

The long-dormant jade sword pendant on Qin Wangchuan’s neck suddenly vibrated, and the sword’s body erupted with dazzling cold light.

The next moment, a figure in plain white stepped out from the sword—Yu Niang’s slender fingers were like snow, and as her robes fluttered, the surrounding temperature plummeted, even freezing the surging Dragon Qi into fine ice crystals.

‘Where did this woman come from?!’

Qin Zhaoer’s eyes widened, and she stood frozen in place.

“Our Young Master Qin is quite popular, he even hides a beauty in his sword pendant~” Qin Zhaoer pursed her red lips slightly, her fingertips unconsciously twisting her sleeve, her tone laced with three parts sourness and seven parts annoyance.

You philandering scoundrel!

I doted on you for nothing!

Yu Niang didn't even glance at Qin Zhaoer, her fair hand lightly tapping Qin Wangchuan’s body.

A powerful force spread out from his spiritual platform, forcefully severing the surging torrent of spiritual power and temporarily sealing it within his Meridians.

But even so, the Dragon Clan girl’s power continued to pour in, seemingly endless.

“I can’t suppress it anymore.” Yu Niang’s eyes darkened, and she suddenly turned and waved her sleeve.

“Go!”

A frosty white Sword Qi broke through the air, directly blasting a large hole in the thick stone wall, and the heavenly light from outside immediately poured in.

Qin Wangchuan did not hesitate at all; his spiritual power circulated around him, and he directly swept out of the side hall through the broken opening.

“Hey!” Qin Zhaoer and the others stared blankly behind him, completely unaware of what had happened.

However, the side hall subsequently collapsed, reburying the opening.

At this moment, outside the Forbidden Palace, many people noticed the commotion.

Gu Yuan stood among the crowd, a hint of dark amusement surfacing in his eyes.

Although Lu Chen had some tricks and could outmaneuver him, he would never be Qin Wangchuan’s opponent.

This was the intuition of a fellow strong Cultivator.

So, in reality, there was only one true opponent.

“Qin Wangchuan, oh Qin Wangchuan…” He murmured softly, “You won’t get this Opportunity.”

Having thought that.

Gu Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze slowly sweeping over the hundreds of Cultivators present, his voice, imbued with spiritual power, echoing across the four fields:

“Have any of you sensed the unusual movement of Dragon Qi within the Forbidden Palace?”

Before he finished speaking, whispers had already begun to rise from the crowd.

“I did feel it; it’s likely a supreme treasure has appeared…”

“More than that! I even faintly heard a Dragon’s roar!”

Gu Yuan’s lips curled slightly, and he continued: “Someone took advantage of us resisting the beast tide outside to act like a thief, stealing the Opportunity that rightfully belongs to everyone.”

“Who is it?” A bare-chested big man slammed his hand down, the giant axe in his hand glinting coldly.

“We are fighting bloody battles here, yet someone is doing such a despicable thing!”

Anger grew on everyone’s faces, and a hint of triumph flashed in Gu Yuan’s eyes.

“Right now, that person is probably enjoying the fortune alone inside the hall.” He said faintly, his voice carrying just the right amount of indignation.

“The rules of the Secret Realm have always been that the fated obtain it, but…” Gu Yuan suddenly changed the subject, his voice abruptly turning cold, “Such petty behavior is truly detestable!”

“If someone covered in Dragon Qi breaks out of the hall later…”

“How about we all work together to kill that detestable person first, and then discuss the distribution?”

“That’s not very good…” A thin Cultivator suddenly spoke weakly, “What if it’s a family scion…”

Before he finished speaking, the burly man next to him slapped him on the back of the head: “Nonsense! Does being a family scion mean he can act like a thief?”

“Exactly!” Another female Cultivator sneered, “We’re fighting for our lives here, only to make a wedding dress for him?”

The crowd immediately erupted: “Who cares who it is!”

“If he took the Opportunity, he should at least spit out the other things!”

“Right! At least leave the Storage Pouch!”

“I agree!”

Gu Yuan watched the growing outcry, subtly stepping back half a pace.

He noticed that several cautious Cultivators had quietly withdrawn from the crowd, but more Cultivators had flames of greed burning in their eyes.

Gu Yuan coldly surveyed this group of Cultivators, whose minds were clouded by greed, and sneered inwardly: ‘A bunch of fools, but they're good enough to be cannon fodder.’

He had already planned everything: if Qin Wangchuan was exhausted, he would seize the Opportunity; if he still had strength, he would immediately retreat.

Either way, it was a profitable venture.

Ultimately, he never truly intended to take Qin Wangchuan’s life—

If anything were to truly happen to the esteemed Young Master of the Qin Family at his hands, that would be a huge problem.

But to make this favored son of heaven suffer a hidden loss, to snatch his Opportunity, and to see a look of resentment on Qin Wangchuan’s usually composed face…

Just thinking about it, Gu Yuan felt a thrill.

How satisfying would it be to have this widely known!

“No matter how peerless your talent, Qin Wangchuan…” He narrowed his eyes, a black jade chess piece silently crushed into dust between his fingers, “Today, you will fall at my hands.”

As for the Qin Family’s retaliation, that was not within his consideration.

Gu Yuan didn’t believe that a squabble between juniors would provoke the Qin Family’s high-ranking members to act.

Just as he was thinking, the Forbidden Palace’s dome exploded with a roar!

A figure entwined with Dragon patterns shot into the sky, brilliant golden light pouring down like heavenly fire, plating everything within a ten-mile radius with a dazzling golden glow.

That dazzling light formed a natural barrier, making it impossible for outsiders to see the true appearance within.

But Gu Yuan knew very well—aside from Lu Chen, only Qin Wangchuan’s group had entered the depths of the Forbidden Palace.

The person flying in the air could never be Lu Chen, who possessed mediocre strength.

Then the answer was obvious—

“Indeed…”

Gu Yuan turned his head, revealing a cold, triumphant smile.

The eyes of all the Cultivators present turned a greedy crimson under the golden light.

Someone shouted first:

“Dragon Qi soaring to the heavens! It must be a supreme treasure appearing!”

“Seize the treasure!”

“Charge!”

Like cold water poured into a hot oil pan, hundreds of Cultivators instantly erupted!

Gu Yuan quietly retreated three steps, watching with satisfaction as the crowd surged like a tide towards the golden light—

“So easy to manipulate, thank you, fools.”

Qin Wangchuan was flying towards the Secret Realm exit, coldly watching the Cultivators surging like a tide below, just about to suppress them—

“Don’t waste time.” Yu Niang’s clear, cold voice suddenly sounded in his ear, “Force your way out.”

But facing the encirclement of hundreds of Cultivators, how could he break through without using spiritual techniques?

Just as he hesitated, a faint whisper suddenly reached his ears.

The voice was dreamlike and illusory, seemingly far yet near, like an echo drifting from ancient times, and also like a ripple rising from the depths of his Bloodline.

Qin Wangchuan listened intently, and the voice gradually became clear—

“…Contract…”

“…Follow me…”

“…Chant…Dragon…”

The voice carried a certain irresistible rhythm, like a call of destiny.

Qin Wangchuan’s mind was in a trance, his lips involuntarily parted, and he followed the voice, uttering that name—

“Dragon Silks!”