397: Chapter 396 Sand Rat

Yellow sand filled the sky under a scorching sun, and the scalding grains of sand made one's skin feel tight even through their robes.

Distant dunes rolled endlessly, shimmering with a blinding golden halo under the fierce sun. Not a single trace of greenery or vegetation could be seen between heaven and earth, nor any sign of birds or beasts; only the whistling hot wind whipped up the grit, letting out a wailing 'wu-wu' sound.

"I didn't expect this Secret Realm to be a vast desert..." Dongfang Li murmured softly.

Gu Yunshen's gaze swept across the empty sandy ground. He said in a deep voice, "Looking as far as the eye can see, I don't see any sign of other forces. I wonder if they landed in this area as well, or if the territory within the Secret Realm is so vast that everyone has been scattered?"

Pavilion Master Shen nodded in agreement, his tone solemn. "In that case, we should first adapt to the rules of this world. We'll rest here for half an hour until our breathing settles and our spiritual energy flows smoothly before we begin exploring."

As soon as he finished speaking!

Swoosh!

A yellowish-brown figure suddenly lunged from behind a nearby sand dune. It was as fast as a bolt of lightning, pouncing straight toward Yu Qingyan, who was focused on regulating her breathing!

The figure's movement was so unexpected that Yu Qingyan only felt a surge of malevolent aura rushing at her. She instinctively froze for a split second, momentarily unable to react.

At that critical moment, a cold sword light suddenly cut through the yellow sand!

With a crisp 'zheng' sound, the sword light was so fast it left only a blur. The yellowish-brown figure crashed heavily to the ground.

Looking closely, it was actually a bizarre rat about half the height of a person.

Its body was covered in coarse, yellowish-brown bristles. Its crimson eyes were wide and staring, and its mouth revealed two rows of sharp fangs. A neat sword wound at its neck was currently gushing dark red blood, slowly soaking into the yellow sand beneath it.

"Don't lose focus."

"Danger is everywhere in this Secret Realm. Even when resting, you must remain on guard at all times."

After reprimanding her Disciple, Dongfang Li glanced at Xie Xingchen, who had just acted.

She hadn't expected him to be so sharp. Although the beast's sneak attack wasn't particularly remarkable, the fact that her own Disciple hadn't reacted at all showed the massive gap between the two.

Yu Qingyan finally came to her senses, her back drenched in a thin layer of cold sweat. She turned to the young man standing beside her with his sword and bowed with her hands cupped, her tone sincere.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for your assistance."

Xie Xingchen sheathed his sword in one fluid motion, a gentle smile on his face. He returned the gesture with a slight bow and spoke calmly.

"There is no need for such formality, Miss. Since we are allies entering the Secret Realm together, it is only natural that we look out for one another. There is no need for thanks."

Pavilion Master Shen sighed. "I didn't expect this wind and sand to be able to obstruct the exploration of Divine Sense."

Mu Wanqing's gaze swept over the corpse of the strange rat, her brow furrowing slightly.

"Revered Master, is this a Yao Beast?"

...A sword light flashed, and the cold glint was suddenly withdrawn!

The body of the strange rat on the ground had been split in two by a single sword strike. Dark red blood mixed with internal organs spilled out, quickly absorbed by the scalding yellow sand.

Ruan Chuan glanced at the corpse on the ground and indifferently looked away, his tone flat and emotionless. "There is no Yao Core; these beasts don't seem to belong to the Yao Race."

Han Chen casually raised his hand, and a strand of invisible spiritual energy wrapped around the rat's corpse, flipping it over with a light touch. He stared at the coarse fur and sharp claws, frowning slightly.

"If I'm not mistaken, this type of rat should be the Sand-Devouring Rat recorded in ancient texts. They are originally Yao Beasts with relatively docile temperaments."

"However, Sand-Devouring Rats usually move in packs and are naturally cautious. Why would they be so ferocious today, daring to launch a solitary sneak attack?"

Hearing this, Ruan Chuan said dismissively, "They're just a bunch of beasts with Golden Core cultivation bases. Even if they huddle together for warmth, I can carve a path through them with a single sword strike."

Han Chen immediately let out a chuckle.

"Sword Immortal Ruan's swordsmanship is naturally superb, unrivaled among his peers. In that case, why don't you just cleave through the Dao suppression of this world with one strike, so we don't have to suffer here slowly adapting our breathing?"

Ruan Chuan was long used to his friend's teasing. He crossed his arms and changed the subject without a change in expression, his gaze falling on the several Ten Thousand Formations Sect Disciples behind Han Chen.

"Your Ten Thousand Formations Sect's actions this time are quite strange. Why did only these few people come? Why are your Sect Master and those Elders nowhere to be seen?"

Han Chen patted the sand off his robes and stood up from the ground, his tone casual. "The few of them went to the Wansheng Dao Court earlier. They didn't elaborate on the specifics. I reckon they'll enter the Secret Realm together after they've finished their discussions with the people from the Wansheng Dao Court."

While the two were talking—

A Disciple from the Ten Thousand Formations Sect came running hurriedly from behind a sand dune, clutching a yellow crystal the size of a pigeon egg in his hand, shouting loudly.

"Elder Ruan! Look, what is this?"

Before he could finish, Ruan Chuan reached out, and a strand of invisible spiritual energy carried the crystal back into his palm.

His gaze narrowed; the crystal was a clear amber color throughout, shimmering with a faint sandy luster.

"Good stuff!"

After seeing the appearance of the crystal, Han Chen was slightly surprised.

Ruan Chuan turned to look at him, his brow arching slightly. "You recognize this object?"

Han Chen hooked his finger, smiling broadly. Ruan Chuan gave it a casual toss, and the crystal landed steadily in Han Chen's palm.

"This is a soul-fixing crystal!"

"This item is excellent for nourishing the Divine Soul. It can stabilize a Cultivator's Sea of Consciousness and enhance the strength of the Divine Soul. It is considered a supreme treasure, especially for Cultivators with damaged Divine Souls or those seeking to break through the shackles of the Divine Soul."

He paused and added, "What's even more rare is that the Sand Soul Crystal is the core primary material for refining top-tier Divine Soul Medicinal Pills like 'Spirit-Concentrating Pills' and 'God-Network Pellets.' It can be considered something one encounters but cannot seek out."

"How do you know so much?"

Han Chen waved his hand with a grin and explained, "It's a coincidence, actually. Some time ago, I wanted to refine a Divine Soul Medicinal Pill and specifically asked Miss Fang for her help. At that time, I searched for over a year for this soul-fixing crystal without finding a trace. In the end, I was almost ready to use other medicinal herbs as substitutes."

"Do you think I could not be familiar with it?"

Upon hearing this, Ruan Chuan stopped asking. He turned to the Disciple who had found the crystal and said in a deep voice, "Where was this soul-fixing crystal found?"

The Disciple bowed and replied, "Reporting to Elder, it was carved out from inside that strange rat's body."

"What?"

Han Chen was stunned for a moment, then leaned over to look at the corpse of the Sand-Devouring Rat on the ground, which had already stopped bleeding. His eyes were full of astonishment. "To think that such a low-tier Yao Beast could actually nurture such a good thing? How bizarre."

As his voice fell, several more figures lunged out fiercely, attacking everyone.

Just as he finished speaking—

"Susu! Susu!"

The sound of dense sand shifting suddenly came from behind the dunes. Immediately after, several yellowish-brown figures lunged out. They were even faster than the previous Sand-Devouring Rat, pouncing straight at the group!

Clearly, the previous commotion had attracted even more Sand-Devouring Rats.

Looking at the yellowish-brown figures pouncing toward them, Ruan Chuan's expression showed no solemnity; instead, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "I didn't expect the first Opportunity in this Secret Realm to come so quickly."

His fingers lightly stroked the hilt of his sword. "If a single Sand-Devouring Rat hides a rare treasure like the soul-fixing crystal, it seems this trip to the Secret Realm will be far more rewarding than we initially imagined."