While Hao Ren was engaged in a battle of wits and courage with the "Seven Rainbow Sword Immortals" and others, the "Dongxuan Secret Realm" was also teeming with activity.
Only a few days remained in the "Dongxuan Secret Realm."
As the end drew nearer, the conflict intensified.
"Junior Brother Wu, I heard you obtained a Dragon Ganoderma, congratulations!"
"Heh heh, thank you, Senior Brother Liu!"
"Junior Brother Wu, I have an impudent request."
"Oh, Senior Brother Liu, please, speak freely!"
"Junior Brother Wu, the Dragon Ganoderma belongs to me now. Die!"
With that, Senior Brother Liu launched a "shameless sneak attack" on Junior Brother Wu.
Junior Brother Wu seemed prepared, not only evading the sneak attack but also launching a counterattack.
"Old Liu, you scoundrel! I knew you had ill intentions! You want to snatch my Dragon Ganoderma? Die!"
Clang clang clang!
Crash bang!
...
Junior Brother Wu and Senior Brother Liu erupted into a life-and-death battle.
Both unleashed vicious attacks, each blow aiming for a fatal blow.
Similar scenes like this were unfolding all over the "Dongxuan Secret Realm."
With only a few days left, there wasn't enough time to explore treasure sites, seek opportunities, or gather heavenly materials and earthly treasures.
Thus, everyone began to set their sights on others.
With just a few days remaining and no time to explore treasure sites, a round of "killing and plundering" was quite feasible.
Well, some might ask, is "killing and plundering" appropriate for cultivators of the righteous path?
Not appropriate, of course not!
Therefore, cultivators of the righteous path never "kill and plunder."
They call the act of killing other cultivators and "plundering treasures" from them, "Heavenly materials and earthly treasures are obtained by those with fate."
If you are killed and your "heavenly materials and earthly treasures" are robbed, you deserve it!
Because you had no fate with the "heavenly materials and earthly treasures" on you, they brought about your "deathly calamity"...
This "divine logic" is simply invincible, wouldn't you agree!
...
In the final few days, the entire "Dongxuan Secret Realm" was engulfed in waves of bloody storms, with countless cultivators perishing.
Two groups stood out.
The "Eastern Desolation Mountain Range cultivators," led by Yun Zhenting and Qingfeng Zhenren.
The "outsider Golden Core cultivators," led by Fang Tian, Li Saifeng, and Xianhe Zhenren.
These two groups were, in fact, part of the same faction.
The "United Committee"!
Uh, in layman's terms, the "Dihua Cult."
These cultivators harbored a fervent adoration for Hao Ren.
Their primary objective upon entering the "Dongxuan Secret Realm" was not to search for "heavenly materials and earthly treasures," but to thwart the "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land's" conspiracy.
Currently, the members of the "United Committee" were meticulously searching for the "Fifth Combat Squad."
This "Dragon Soul Death Squad" held the last "Bronze Ancient Lamp."
By destroying this "Bronze Ancient Lamp," the "sacrificial ritual" would be completely thwarted, not only saving the lives of all cultivators within the "Dongxuan Secret Realm" but also preventing the "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land's" conspiracy.
Unfortunately, the "Fifth Combat Squad" seemed to have vanished into thin air. Despite searching for nearly two months, the members of the "United Committee" had not found any trace of them.
Where on earth could these fellows be hiding?
...
Dongxuan Secret Realm.
A hidden corner in the southeastern part.
This area was filled with swamps, infested with demonic beasts, and shrouded in poisonous miasma, a "Land of Extreme Danger"!
Apart from some unfortunate souls who got lost and stumbled in, almost no one ventured here.
However, today, a team of powerful and well-trained cultivators appeared.
These cultivators exuded powerful dragon aura, their physical bodies were exceptionally strong, and they regarded the poisonous miasma as nothing, traversing the "Dark Swamp" unhindered.
Occasionally, a few overzealous demonic beasts would charge forth, only to be quickly annihilated by the cultivators, leaving no trace of their existence.
If Yun Zhenting and Qingfeng Zhenren were here, they would be overjoyed.
Wasn't this very team of cultivators the "Fifth Combat Squad" they had been searching for?
No wonder they couldn't find them.
Who would have imagined that the "Fifth Combat Squad" would appear in the perilous, barren, and worthless "Land of Extreme Danger"?
Bang!
"Dragon Soul Thirteen" sent a "Flood Dragon Crocodile Beast" flying with a single punch.
The immense power unleashed caused the "Flood Dragon Crocodile Beast" to explode into a mist of blood before it could even let out a cry.
"Dragon Soul Thirteen" didn't even bother to glance back. As the副队长 of the "Fifth Combat Squad," he was currently contemplating a more important matter.
According to the planned schedule, today was the last day.
Tonight, they had to place the "Bronze Ancient Lamp" in the designated location and initiate the "sacrificial ritual."
A total of seven "Bronze Ancient Lamps" had already been destroyed, six of them. They were the last hope, and failure was not an option.
Up to this point, they hadn't encountered any major trouble; everything had been going smoothly.
Uh...
There was just one minor problem.
Due to geological changes over hundreds of thousands of years, the map left by "Heavenly Dragon Dharma King" had some discrepancies with the current terrain.
For instance, this Dark Swamp was a beautiful hillside hundreds of thousands of years ago.
The original designated location for placing the "Bronze Ancient Lamp" was at the top of the hill.
Now...
The entire "Fifth Combat Squad" had been wandering around this area for over two months without confirming the final location.
Now, "Dragon Soul Thirteen" was extremely worried whether they could find the correct location before tonight.
The captain of the "Fifth Combat Squad," "Dragon Soul Five," smiled confidently, pointed to a corner of the "Dark Swamp," and said.
"Don't worry, I've already confirmed that's the designated spot. We'll get there with plenty of time to spare!"
Everyone rejoiced and immediately rushed towards the location indicated by "Dragon Soul Five."
Half an hour later.
The entire "Fifth Combat Squad" was dumbfounded.
Before them lay a... beautiful and picturesque forest!
The entire forest was filled with a pinkish aura, enveloped in a shimmering halo.
Beautiful.
Dreamlike.
A place to yearn for.
...
This warm-toned style was completely out of place with the "Dark Swamp"!
The corner of "Dragon Soul Thirteen's" mouth twitched. With a face full of suspicion, he looked at "Dragon Soul Five."
"Captain, are you sure this is the place?"
"Dragon Soul Five" smiled confidently, absolutely certain.
"Yes, it must be here! Let's go, let's enter!"
With that, "Dragon Soul Five" prepared to lead the team into the "Dreamy Pink Forest."
"Wait!"
"Dragon Soul Thirteen" leaped out, stopping them.
"I have a feeling something is not right..."
"Dragon Soul Thirteen" had a strong sense of foreboding.
But he couldn't quite pinpoint what felt wrong.
As "Dragon Soul Thirteen's" gaze fell upon the "pink dreamlike trees," a realization flashed through his mind.
"These trees are not right, very not right. They seem to possess a primordial aura..."