69: Chapter 69

"Smart aleck!"

Chen Xuan flicked his finger, landing a flick on that smooth and fair forehead.

Mu Wanqing let out an "Ouch," covering her reddened forehead with both hands, her face full of resentment.

From wandering this cultivation world alone at the beginning to now having Disciples who truly worried about him, Chen Xuan felt that having a Sect for company was quite nice.

For this Founding Senior Disciple, Chen Xuan was always a bit more indulgent.

If it hadn't been for Mu Wanqing giving Chen Xuan his first bit of trust, he still wouldn't have activated the System. Perhaps he would still be hiding somewhere right now, cautiously acting like a charlatan to swindle Disciples.

Even if he had met a favored son of heaven like Li Pingan.

Without the System activated, what ability would Chen Xuan have had to help him activate his Physique? And upon meeting Ye Hao being pursued, Chen Xuan wouldn't have had the power to save him either.

Therefore, one must still know how to be grateful.

Chen Xuan looked at the pouting girl before him and said softly, "Let's go, let's check the next passage."

Mu Wanqing hummed in response, hesitated for a moment, and then asked tentatively, "Revered Master, what exactly happened just now?"

"What kind of treasure was that wooden box? Was that Yao Beast in the lava suppressed and killed by Revered Master?"

A triple barrage of questions was thrown at Chen Xuan's face.

Chen Xuan was about to speak when his body suddenly stiffened. The majestic spiritual energy within him began to dissipate, and he returned to the miserable first level of the Nascent Soul Realm.

The time limit for the Spirit Transformation Experience Card had expired!

Sigh, half an hour passed so quickly. I wonder when I'll actually be able to break through to the Deity Transformation Realm.

Having tasted the sweetness of the Deity Transformation Realm, Chen Xuan only felt that he was too poor right now.

The path of cultivation is long and arduous!

The two returned the way they came to that small room, only to be stunned to find that the five entrances originally distributed one by one on the stone wall had actually become three.

The remaining two seemed to have been quietly erased by the Secret Realm.

Chen Xuan walked up to the place where the entrance had disappeared and lightly touched the cold stone wall with his fingertips. He could feel a trace of residual spiritual energy rapidly dissipating.

"This is... a Spatial Fluctuation."

Having just experienced the Peak of Soul Transformation, Chen Xuan immediately discerned the profundity of this spiritual energy.

Mu Wanqing looked around blankly, "Revered Master, why have two more entrances disappeared?"

"Is it an illusion? When did it happen?!"

Chen Xuan waved his hand, "Let's go. There are no more opportunities left in this hall."

"Ah? Oh! Okay..."

As the two flew out on the wind, Chen Xuan was slightly startled; his Divine Sense perceived Elder Qi Yue, Li Pingan, and the others.

He hadn't expected them to be in this Ancient Palace as well, which saved him the trouble of searching for them.

Just as the two were leaving, various Hegemon-level Forces flooded into the hall. Upon glimpsing those three entrances, they all swarmed in like they had spotted a fair-skinned young lady.

"Qi Yue pays respects to the Sect Master!"

"Greetings, Lord Sect Master."

"Greetings, Revered Master x2."

Chen Xuan hummed in acknowledgment and said, "Let's go try our luck elsewhere. There are no more opportunities in this Ancient Palace."

Qi Yue nodded slightly, not finding this strange.

If there truly were still opportunities that even her own Sect Master couldn't take, then in this world, there surely wouldn't be anyone else with the ability.

The group flew away from the hall on the wind.

Chen Xuan briefly inquired about the experiences of Pingan and Ye Hao.

Mu Wanqing also gave a rough account of her experiences. With a wave of her right hand, a tiny, exquisite golden pagoda hovered in her palm.

Li Pingan blinked, "Is this the mirror heart trial tower Senior Sister spoke of?"

Ye Hao was eager to try. Just hearing the Eldest Disciple's description earlier had made him somewhat excited. A Magic Treasure that could help one break through their own strength was truly a good thing.

Li Pingan took out a handful of Spirit Essence Dates and handed them to Mu Wanqing, smiling, "Senior Sister, this is an Opportunity I found in the Spirit Void Secret Realm."

After speaking, Li Pingan took out another handful and respectfully offered them to Chen Xuan... Inside the Ancient Palace!

Zhao Wuji led the crowd as they burst into the Cultivation Technique Room. Dust floated in the air as Zhao Wuji's gaze swept over the Jade Slips and Cultivation Techniques arranged on the bookshelves, a sharp light suddenly bursting from his cloudy eyes.

"Haha! Heaven is helping me!"

He strode forward, his fingertips brushing over scrolls of Jade Slips and Cultivation Techniques, his grin stretching from ear to ear. "So many techniques! This trip was not in vain, not in vain at all!"

"Men, take them all! Leave not a single one behind."

The tall Wang Qingping also had a smile on his face as he casually picked up a Jade Slip and began to flip through it. "Golden Glow Art," a Mortal Rank Medium Grade Cultivation Technique.

Hmm, Mortal Rank?

He frowned slightly and picked up another one. "Vast Sea Art," a Mortal Rank High Grade Cultivation Technique.

Mortal Rank again??

Wang Qingping's brow gradually furrowed into deep lines.

After flipping through several in a row, they were all the same. "Sect Master, something's not right!"

"These techniques are all Mortal Rank; there isn't a single one of Earth Rank."

"What?" Zhao Wuji's body stiffened slightly upon hearing this. He immediately reached out and grabbed at the air, and dozens of Jade Slips flew toward him.

The previous wild joy was extinguished as if by ice water, and rage rushed straight to the top of his head. He kicked over a wooden shelf, and bamboo slips scattered all over the floor.

"Dammit! How can they all be Mortal Rank techniques? This wretched Secret Realm dares to toy with this old man!"

Wang Qingping reminded him, "Sect Master, there are two more entrances. Should we go take a look?"

Zhao Wuji snapped his head around, a spark of light suddenly igniting in his rage-filled eyes.

"Right... there are two more entrances!" His voice carried a trace of imperceptible urgency. "Go, let's go now. We can't let other Sects beat us to it."

"Sect Master, what about these Mortal Rank techniques?"

Zhao Wuji ordered, "Take them all. Selling them for Spirit Stones will also be a significant income."

The losses from entering the Ancient Palace this time were truly too severe; even a mosquito's leg is still meat.

Inside another Secret Realm!

"Sect Master, besides several thousand bottles of fourth-grade elixirs, the rest are Third Grade and Second Grade."

Zhao Lieyang listened to the Disciple's report, frowning in silence.

It shouldn't be. This Ancient Palace is guarded by two Formations; the opportunities shouldn't be this poor. Could it be that the treasures are in the other two passages?

Inside the Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect!

Lin Yifan gazed at the octagonal platform ahead and the lizard remains floating on the lava, a grave expression appearing on his face.

Bai Tang frowned and said, "Sect Master, exactly what kind of Yao Beast is this? Even with a full-strength sword strike, I couldn't break through this beast's hide."

Lin Yifan shook his head and didn't speak. You ask me, but who should I ask?

Fortunately, this Yao Beast had already been slain. Otherwise, once they entered this Octagonal Lake, it would likely have been a disaster.

At this thought, Lin Yifan felt a wave of lingering fear.

From the Tribulation of Thought Illusion Formation on the square to the strange Formations within the hall, this Ancient Palace was truly fraught with danger.

This was simply not an Ancient Palace that Golden Core Cultivators like them could covet. If not for the sudden disappearance of that Formation, they wouldn't even have been qualified to come here.

Lin Yifan let out a soft breath. "Let's go. This Ancient Palace is far beyond our imagination. It's best to leave quickly."

Bai Tang nodded, agreeing with this statement.

He knew exactly how much he was worth.

When the people of the Bamboo Mountain Sword Sect returned to the hall, they found the atmosphere inside somewhat oppressive. The Leaving Fire Pavilion, Azure Nether Sword Sect, and Crimson Firmament Sect—the three Hegemon-level Forces—were all gathered here.

There were signs that a fight might break out at the slightest disagreement.