98: Chapter 98 The Return of the Secret Realm

Li Changsheng led the three of them out of the stone palace, and outside, the light remained gray and hazy.

He did not know how long he had stayed in the Secret Realm, but judging by the level of fatigue in his body and the consumption of dry rations, it had been at least seven or eight days.

The emerald green bead was tucked close to his body; at this moment, it was radiating a slight warmth, and a subtle force of vitality was seeping from the bead, penetrating his skin and nourishing his Meridians.

He took a deep breath, feeling the surging Qi within his body.

Qi Refining Level 7.

And not just the early stage of Level 7, but the Middle Stage.

The force of vitality contained within that bead was too vast; he had only passively absorbed a small portion, yet he had already broken through the Bottleneck and steadily advanced to the Middle Stage.

If he could fully refine it...

He dared not think about it.

"Brother Changsheng,"

Shi Tiezhu leaned over, his face full of excitement.

"We've made a fortune this time! Look!"

He took a pile of things out of his bosom.

A few Rock Lingzhi, two bottles of Medicinal Pill, and that black iron rod.

The rod was pitch black as ink, with spirit light faintly flowing over it; at a glance, one could tell it was no ordinary item.

"This rod is at least a Medium Grade Magical Artifact!"

He grinned and said, "It's stronger than the best weapon I've seen at Houtu Peak!"

Li Changqing also brought out her harvest.

Besides that thin sword, there were also two Jade Slips.

One was the sword technique Thirteen Swords of the Clear Wind, and the other was the Cultivation Technique Qingyuan Formula.

There were also a few bottles of Medicinal Pill, among which the one for increasing cultivation was the most precious to her.

"With this Medicinal Pill to increase cultivation, my cultivation will also improve quite a bit."

Li Xiaocao also took out her things as if presenting a treasure.

Besides that small short sword, she also had a few Spiritual Plants she had found in the corner of the stone room.

They weren't particularly precious, but they were in excellent condition and would surely fetch a lot of contribution points when taken back to the Hundred Herb Garden.

"Brother Changsheng, look!"

She held up a small flower that was pale purple all over.

"This is a violet, a Grade 2 Spirit Medicine, it can be used to refine Heart-Calming Pills!"

Li Changsheng took it, examined it, and nodded.

"Good stuff. Give it to Manager Qin when we get back; he will definitely be happy."

He also took stock of his own harvest.

Besides the mysterious emerald green bead, there were three Jade Slips.

The complete version of the Qingyuan Formula, the Thirteen Swords of the Clear Wind sword technique, and Introduction to Alchemy.

A few bottles of Medicinal Pill, one bottle each of Heart-Clearing Pills and peiyuan pill.

And that newly acquired green steel sword; the blade was light and sharp, far better than his previous one.

The most precious thing, of course, was the bead.

He took out the bead again and examined it closely in his palm.

The bead was emerald green, crystal clear, with strands of light flowing inside as if it were alive.

He could clearly perceive the unimaginably vast force of vitality contained within the bead.

That power was gentle and pure.

It was extremely compatible with the Evergreen Plant Truth Scripture he cultivated, as if it had been prepared specifically for him.

He carefully put the bead away, stood up, and looked into the distance.

The stone palace still stood quietly, the palace doors wide open, and faint sounds of fighting and screaming came from within.

Those who were still fighting for Opportunity did not know the news that the Secret Realm was about to close.

But he knew.

Because from just a moment ago, he had sensed a faint force of repulsion surging from all directions.

That was the instinct of the Secret Realm; time was up, and it was time to see the guests out.

"Let's find a safe place."

"The Secret Realm is about to close."

The four of them left the small island and returned to that depression by the lake, waiting quietly.

After waiting for about an hour, that force of repulsion suddenly intensified!

The world spun!

Li Changsheng only felt a blur before his eyes, and his entire body was violently dragged into the air by a huge force!

In his ears was the whistling wind, and before his eyes was endless darkness.

When his feet touched solid ground again, he had already returned to the edge of the forest outside the Qinglan Sword Sect.

All around, figures were constantly appearing out of thin air and falling to the ground.

They were all survivors, one by one covered in dirt and wounds, but their faces were full of the relief of having survived a disaster.

Li Changqing, Shi Tiezhu, and Li Xiaocao also appeared beside him. The three of them looked at each other and laughed.

"We're back!" Shi Tiezhu grinned.

"I thought I was going to die in there!"

Li Xiaocao tugged on Li Changsheng's sleeve, her small face full of excitement.

"Brother Changsheng, we really are back!"

Li Changsheng nodded and looked around.

On the edge of the forest, more and more people were gathering.

There were Disciples from the Qinglan Sword Sect, Disciples from the Jinyang Sect, Disciples from the Qingxin Pavilion, and Loose Cultivators.

Many people, as soon as they landed, identified their direction and immediately sped away.

There were also some who were looking for their companions and checking their harvest.

In the crowd, Li Changsheng saw Lin Jingyun.

He was covered in wounds, but there was a smile on his face; clearly, his harvest was good.

He nodded at Li Changsheng, which counted as a greeting.

The leading youth from the Blood Fiend Sect, upon landing and seeing Li Changsheng, had a flash of resentment in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by wariness.

Immediately, a random transmission talisman transported him away.

Some grudges would still be settled after leaving the Secret Realm.

There were many others who did not return; they were left in the Secret Realm forever.

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment and withdrew his gaze.

"Let's go, let's head back."

When they returned to the Hundred Herb Garden, Manager Qin was waiting at the entrance.

He saw Li Changsheng and the other three, a flash of relief in his eyes, but he quickly put on a stern face.

"Back? Come in and talk."

The four of them followed him into the Hundred Herb Garden and came to that familiar wooden house.

Manager Qin sat behind the wooden table, sizing up the four of them.

His gaze lingered on Li Changsheng for a long time, and his brows furrowed slightly.

"Qi Refining Level 7?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

Manager Qin was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed.

"You kid, you really are a monster," he said.

"A mixed Spiritual Root, less than two years, from Qi Refining Level 1 to Level 7. Who would believe it if I told them?"

Li Changsheng did not explain.

He just took out some Spirit Medicine that wasn't too old from his bosom, the quantity only about 30% of what he had obtained, and placed them on the table.

"Manager, these are what we found in the Secret Realm. We want to hand them over to the Sect in exchange for some contribution points."

Manager Qin looked at those Spirit Medicine, his eyes gradually widening.

"golden-veined grass? A one-year one? purple sun ginseng? One hundred and fifty years old? And blood cloud ganoderma, jade marrow ganoderma..."

He raised his head and looked at Li Changsheng.

"Did you empty the Secret Realm?"

Li Changsheng smiled and thought to himself.

"I haven't even taken the three-hundred-year-old golden-veined grass, and the spirit stone marrow and others haven't been taken yet."

However, he said: "Just good luck."

Manager Qin took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, and began to count and value them one by one.

Finally, he announced a number.

"These Spirit Medicine, if exchanged for contribution points, total... thirty-two thousand points."

Thirty-two thousand points.

Li Changsheng calculated silently in his heart.

An Outer Sect Disciple could only get a few dozen contribution points for completing a normal mission.

Thirty-two thousand points was enough for him to exchange for several Cultivation Techniques at the Scripture Pavilion and several bottles of Medicinal Pill at the Medicinal Pill Hall.

"Then I will trouble you, Manager Qin," he said.

Manager Qin nodded and began to register.

After dealing with the Spirit Medicine matter, Li Changsheng took out the Jade Slip that recorded the Qingyuan Formula.

"Manager, I would like to hand this Jade Slip over to the Sect."

Manager Qin took it, probed it with his Divine Sense, and his expression changed slightly a moment later.

"This is... an advanced version of the Qingyuan Formula? The complete Legacy from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

"Obtained from the Secret Realm. I thought, handing it over to the Sect would allow more Disciples to benefit."

Manager Qin looked at him, his gaze complex.

"Do you know how many contribution points this is worth?"

Li Changsheng shook his head.

"Priceless," Manager Qin said slowly.

"The Sect has the Qingyuan Formula, but only the part for the Qi Refining Stage.

Other Cultivation Techniques for the Foundation Establishment Stage also require Disciples to make great contributions to obtain, at least ten thousand contribution points.

Your Jade Slip is of the same lineage as the Qi Refining Stage, and it could benefit at least a hundred Disciples.

So, in a sense, it is 'priceless'."

He was silent for a moment, then asked.

"Are you sure you want to hand it over?"

Li Changsheng nodded.