137: Three major hidden dangers

[Just as you were panicking, a team of people emerged from the mist.]

[From their uniforms and the jade pendant at their waists, you immediately recognized them as Liu Clan guards.]

[There were five of them in total; the guard captain was an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator, and the other four were all Foundation Establishment Stage.]

[Their sudden appearance startled you.]

[Upon seeing you, they were also clearly stunned.]

[Both sides sized each other up, momentarily staring blankly.]

[You didn't hesitate, preparing to strike first—]

[But the guard captain suddenly spoke: "By order of the Third Elder, this Secret Realm is now entry-only; no exit is permitted."]

[Upon hearing this, you immediately cupped your hands, feigning surprise: "Ah? May I ask why?"]

[The guard captain shook his head solemnly: "This is not something we can question. The Elder suddenly gave the order, sending us here to guard the Secret Realm exit."]

[You quickly smiled: "Since that's the case, I'll stay a few more days then."]

[With that, you turned and made to leave.]

[After just two steps, without looking back, you suddenly raised your hand—]

[The immortal slaying sword instantly transformed into a streak of light, shooting out rapidly.]

[The four Foundation Establishment Cultivators didn't have time to react before their heads were severed by the sword light, rolling to the ground.]

[The Golden Core captain hastily condensed a shield to block, but was sent flying by a single strike from the immortal slaying sword, rolling several times on the ground.]

[Before he could get up, you swiftly used "Subtle Steps of Ling Bo," your figure flickering as you retrieved the immortal slaying sword and fiercely thrust it towards his Qi Sea Dantian—]

["Ah—!"]

[The immortal slaying sword pierced his Dantian, and his Golden Core true essence gushed out like a bursting dam, his cultivation completely crippled.]

["You dog thief, you..." His eyes were filled with terror.]

[You swiped your sword, leaving a shallow sword mark on his neck.]

[He clutched his bleeding neck, his eyes wide as he stared at you, his gaze filled with despair.]

[You acted quickly, before he could breathe his last, you took the identity jade pendant from his waist and turned to step into the mist.]

[However, after entering the mist, the same situation occurred again—you were pushed out by that immense force.]

[You hadn't expected that even the captain's identity jade pendant wouldn't allow you to leave.]

[Immediately after, the identity jade pendant in your hand shattered, and the captain also completely breathed his last.]

[You didn't have time to think further; your true essence materialized, quickly sweeping up the five corpses as you flew down, returning to the Tianhuang Continent with all your might.]

[A moment later, you landed in a dense jungle, the surroundings eerily silent.]

[You destroyed the five corpses, but out of caution, you didn't take their qiankun bags—]

[Ever since learning about Heaven-Defying Magic Treasures like the Heavenly Divination Disc, Tracing Light Mirror, and time dial, you became especially wary of the various methods in the cultivation world.]

[What if these items had some undetectable tracking Restriction planted on them, which would only bring trouble?]

[Moreover, your purpose this time was not to seize treasures, but to improve your strength; these external items were not important, and you couldn't even take them.]

[Afterward, you flew out of the forest, quickly pondering this sudden turn of events along the way.]

["It seems related to Liu Ruyan's death. I didn't expect the Liu Clan's higher-ups to react so quickly?" You secretly analyzed the reason in your heart.]

[Your guess was correct. After Liu Ruyan's "soul lamp" extinguished, the caretaker immediately informed the Third Elder of the Tianhong Suspended Pavilion.]

[Since Liu Ruyan was a direct lineage Prodigy with a special status, the Third Elder immediately activated the "qingming mirror's" sealing grand formation and dispatched two teams to guard the Secret Realm's entrances and exits respectively.]

[If the Third Elder had personally come to the exit just now, he would have caught you red-handed.]

[Unfortunately, he didn't dare—]

[Liu Ruyan, as a Liu Clan Prodigy, died in the Tianhuang Secret Realm with a Nascent Soul cultivation. The Third Elder himself was also a Nascent Soul Realm Cultivator; how could he dare to come alone?]

[One must know that among Nascent Soul Cultivators, it is difficult to kill an opponent. The person who could kill Liu Ruyan must be extremely dangerous.]

[So, after making these arrangements, he immediately went to report to the Liu Clan Chief, Liu Qingcang—this way, the responsibility wouldn't fall on him.]

[You basically guessed all these situations.]

[You felt a bit tricky—you couldn't leave after killing Liu Ruyan, but not killing her would expose you. How should this problem be solved?]

[But there's no time to think much now. No matter what, a way out must be found, otherwise, no matter how big the Tianhuang Secret Realm is, it won't withstand the Liu Clan's full search.]

[You pondered a way to escape while traveling.]

["Right, the Liu Clan shouldn't know who the killer is yet, otherwise I would have already died mysteriously like last time."]

[So you quickly reviewed potential hidden dangers.]

[The first hidden danger was the attendant at Wangyue Tower—he knew you had interacted with Liu Ruyan, and given his character, he might very well embellish the story and point you out.]

[The second hidden danger was when the immortal slaying sword helped Huang Yi kill Princess Yiyue—although it could be hidden from ordinary people, it definitely couldn't be hidden from the Liu Clan Immortal Family.]

[The third hidden danger was Liu Jinfeng!]

[She had seen you and even given you the black gold twin fish jade pendant. And you actually gave the jade pendant to someone else? This action easily raises suspicion about you.]

[Thinking of this, your head ached even more—you were genuinely afraid of Liu Jinfeng, that Female God of Slaughter.]

["It's over, even she's involved. Is this truly a death trap?!"]

[You felt a wave of powerlessness.]

["Sigh," you sighed heavily, "Summarizing it like this, how are there so many loopholes everywhere?"]

[You wished you could slap yourself: "I acted too carelessly, leaving so many hidden dangers."]

[At that time, you only wanted to leave the Tianhuang Secret Realm and didn't pay attention to these details.]

[After much thought, you decided to return to the Yan Imperial Capital. You must resolve these three hidden dangers before the Liu Clan sends people to investigate.]

[Fortunately, the two people who knew your true strength—Liu Ruyan and Eunuch Xiang—were already dead.]

[When you first met Liu Jinfeng, she only saw that you were at Perfected Innate Realm. This might be your only chance to escape.]

[In other words, you must retrieve the black gold twin fish jade pendant to first dispel Liu Jinfeng's suspicions.]

[So you decided to start with the third hidden danger.]

[You quickly returned to the Imperial Capital and headed straight for the Martial Arts Academy.]

[After entering the Martial Arts Academy, you spread your Divine Sense and quickly found Kuang Tianyou.]

[The sky was gradually brightening, but Kuang Tianyou was still sound asleep in his courtyard.]

[You repeatedly searched for traces of the "black gold twin fish jade pendant" with your Divine Sense, but found nothing after three searches.]

[Alarmed, you pushed open the door, walked to the bed, and slapped Kuang Tianyou across the face—]

["Slap!"]

[Kuang Tianyou sat up abruptly, looking at you, a stranger, with blurry, sleepy eyes.]

["Who are you? Did you just hit me?" he asked, clutching his stinging face.]

["Where is the black gold twin fish jade pendant?" you asked directly.]

[Kuang Tianyou mumbled in confusion: "What black gold or white gold? I don't know!"]

["You have two choices: one is death, the other is to hand over the jade pendant." As you spoke, you raised your hand, and boundless true essence pressed down on his head.]

[He felt as if a thousand catties were pressing down on him, as if he would be crushed into a pulp in the next second.]

[It was then that he fully woke up, trembling as he begged for mercy: "Don't... don't kill me! I gave that jade pendant to Fang Chen..."]

["Ah—!"]

[As soon as he finished speaking, your true essence pressed down, crushing him into a puddle of flesh.]

[You then conjured a ball of alchemic fire to destroy the body and erase all traces, then turned and hurried towards the Zhenguo Estate.]