421: Chapter 421 Blocking the Door

Rounding a sand dune, the sight before them made both of them pause in surprise.

They saw three young Disciples wearing Medicine Hut Sect robes being fiercely besieged by a group of Yao Race members. Leading them was a young girl in a light green palace dress, with a delicate and pretty face and a petite figure.

"It's people from the Medicine Hut."

Dongfang Li did not hesitate. With a gentle wave of her slender hand, the Koi Leaping Wave Beast reappeared, its clear, crisp water cry echoing across the entire Gobi Desert.

She lightly tapped her fingertip, and the Koi's long tail whipped out, instantly condensing dozens of water pillars that resembled silver Dragons, blasting toward the group of Yao Race members.

The Yao Race members were caught off guard. Several of them were struck by the water pillars on the spot, letting out piercing screams one after another. The previously tight siege formation was instantly thrown into chaos.

In just a short moment!

This group of vile creatures was wiped out completely, without even waiting for Chen Xuan to make a move.

"Many thanks to the two Seniors for saving us!"

The girl in the palace dress quickly led the other two Medicine Hut Disciples forward, bowing respectfully to Chen Xuan and Dongfang Li, her tone filled with the gratitude of having survived a disaster.

Dongfang Li walked forward and asked gently, "What happened? Why were the three of you being hunted by the Yao Race here? Did you get separated from the Sect Elders?"

The leading girl hesitated for a moment, her gaze sweeping over the two. She seemed to recognize Dongfang Li's identity. After a brief pause, she spoke frankly:

"Replying to Fairy Dongfang, we were originally following our Martial Aunt from the Sect to explore the Secret Realm. Yesterday, Martial Aunt and the others accidentally learned that a Yao Venerable was hidden within this Secret Realm. Knowing the gravity of the situation, they instructed us to leave the Secret Realm first and report back to the Sect Master. But the result..."

Her voice trailed off, her face filled with terror: "When we reached the Secret Realm exit, we discovered it was already completely blocked by a dense mass of Yao Race members! The leader was even a Great Yao from the Mahayana Stage!"

"It was thanks to Martial Aunt Yu Chan covering our retreat with her life that we barely managed to break through and have been chased all the way here."

"What?"

Dongfang Li's expression changed drastically: "The Secret Realm exit was blocked by Great Yao? How is Yu Chan?"

Realizing she had lost her composure, Dongfang Li quickly restrained her emotions and adjusted her expression.

Chen Xuan nodded slightly and said calmly, "This explains the mystery of why no Great Yao appeared at Yellow Wind Fort earlier."

"It seems that the Desolate Night Wolf Venerable has quite an appetite. He plans to trap all the powers that entered the Secret Realm—'catch a turtle in a jar'... no, wipe us all out in one sweep."

"What vicious thinking!"

Dongfang Li gritted her teeth, "No wonder Yellow Wind Fort was so quiet; it turns out all the Yao Cultivators were transferred to seal the exit. This is troublesome now. With the exit blocked, we are effectively trapped inside the Secret Realm."

She turned to look at the man beside her: "Peak Master Chen, what should we do now?"

Chen Xuan, however, was completely unfazed by this.

Blocking the entrance? If the situation truly turned bad, he could use a teleportation talisman to safely bring Wanqing and the others back to the Sect.

Since Shu Shichan and Ye Hao and the others were still holding down the fort, he always had a fallback.

He pondered for a moment, then smiled gently, "Actually, there's no need to panic. This might not be entirely a bad thing."

"Hmm?"

Dongfang Li's eyelashes fluttered as she quietly waited for him to continue.

Chen Xuan slowly explained, "That Yao Venerable is now pouring all his strength into sealing the exit, entirely focused on 'wiping us out in one sweep.' Consequently, he has no time to worry about the interior of the Secret Realm. This way, our investigation into the guixu immortal ferry boat will face less need to constantly guard against sudden Yao Race attacks, giving us more convenience."

"As for breaking the deadlock, relying on just you and me is ultimately too little strength. There are many major Sect powers within the Secret Realm. It's better to gather the other Cultivators and discuss countermeasures together to jointly break the Yao Race blockade. That is the best course of action."

The girl in green quickly spoke up, "Senior, my Martial Aunt is still deep within the Secret Realm. Why don't we go meet up with her first?"

Dongfang Li paced thoughtfully for a moment, then looked up, "That's fine too. Let's meet up with the Medicine Hut people first."

Firstly, they could exchange intelligence with the Medicine Hut; perhaps they possessed different clues.

Secondly, Dongfang Li was genuinely worried about Fairy Yu Chan's safety. Since she couldn't disguise herself as a man now, she had to proceed in her true identity.

Thirdly, it was a good Opportunity to pool everyone's strength to discuss how to break the blockade.

Chen Xuan had no objections and nodded, "Let's do as you say. We'll go meet the Medicine Hut group first."

The girl in green immediately breathed a sigh of relief and quickly led the way, "Thank you both, Seniors! Please follow me."

Without the two of them accompanying her, she truly had no confidence in safely returning to the Sect's contingent.

After traveling for about an hour, a cluster of low, earth-yellow buildings appeared ahead. Constructed entirely from mixed sand and soil, they were scattered irregularly among the dunes—it was the village of the Sand-Devouring Rats.

The periphery of the village was protected by a Spirit Dragon barrier, isolating it from outside scrutiny.

Inside the village, a Disciple hurried over to Fang Yusheng and reported in a low voice, "Elder Fang, someone is approaching from outside."

Upon hearing this, Fang Yusheng's figure flashed, and she instantly appeared at the village entrance. Her gaze fell upon the five figures slowly approaching. Upon clearly seeing the appearances of Chen Xuan and Dongfang Li, a trace of surprise flashed in her eyes.

"Peak Master Chen, Miss Dongfang... why are you two here?"

She then looked towards Lu Lingyin beside her, "Lingyin, didn't I ask you and Senior Sister Yu Chan to return to the Sect first?"

Lu Lingyin's expression was grave, and she explained urgently, "Martial Aunt Fang, something terrible has happened. The exit of the entire Secret Realm has been sealed!"

Chen Xuan said calmly, "We should discuss this inside rather than out here."

Although he had not allied with the Medicine Hut, he felt no awkwardness, maintaining his usual composed and indifferent demeanor.

"The two of you, please this way."

Dongfang Li also sensed that the situation was not simple and quickly led the group through several earth houses to an open area in the center of the village.

As soon as they entered, they saw two familiar faces.

Han Chen of the Ten Thousand Formations Sect, and that Fellow Daoist Ruan Chuan, who was exceptionally skilled in swordsmanship.

"Peak Master Chen?"

Han Chen, who had been squatting nearby, chatting with a few Sand-Devouring Rats, immediately stood up, patted the sand off his sleeves, and cupped his hands with a smile, "I didn't expect to meet you here."

Ruan Chuan's gaze swept over Chen Xuan, he slightly cupped his hands, but said little, acknowledging the greeting.

Dongfang Li exchanged a few brief pleasantries, then recounted the predicament of the sealed Secret Realm exit and the Yao Venerable's intention to wipe them all out, detailing every point.

Everyone listened with solemn expressions, and the atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

"I really didn't expect these Yao creatures to be so malicious," Han Chen sighed. "We shouldn't fail to find any Opportunity only to capsize in a ditch and perish here."

Fang Yusheng's expression was grave: "A Yao Venerable at the Tribulation Stage is far beyond what we can contend with. To break the situation, the only way is to send the news out of the Secret Realm and ask a Celestial Venerable to intervene."

"Fortunately, this Secret Realm is suspended above the sea area of the Heavenly Tribulation Continent and was jointly controlled by the Great Love Immortal Venerable and others. Directly killing this Yao Venerable should not be difficult."

Dongfang Li frowned, "But the problem right now is how to get the message out."

"This realm is bound by rules. Ordinary message talismans and Magic Treasures cannot penetrate the barrier."

Ruan Chuan suddenly spoke up, "Does this Secret Realm only have one exit?"