Elder Qu subconsciously looked at Old Ancestor Wu Qian, his voice trembling slightly. "Old Ancestor..."
Old Ancestor Wu Qian’s brow was tightly furrowed, and a hint of hesitation flashed through the depths of his eyes. Based on his judgment, the owner of the skull must have cultivated at least to the late Mahayana stage, perhaps even to a more terrifying level, otherwise, they wouldn't exude such immense pressure even after death. However, this skull was clearly sealed here. What was its connection to the Western Water Domain's secret realm?
Old Ancestor Wu Qian had initially thought that the Green Lotus Sect Master had made a fuss over nothing, and that he only needed to make a trip to resolve it. He hadn't expected to encounter such an anomaly. "You all wait here. I will go meet it first."
Old Ancestor Wu Qian ultimately decided to enter the crack to examine the skull up close. The Green Lotus Sect Master’s eyelids twitched violently, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose. "Master, why don't I accompany you?"
Old Ancestor Wu Qian waved his hand. "You wait outside with Zui Yue and the others." As his voice faded, Old Ancestor Wu Qian’s figure seemed to slowly dissipate into the air.
The Green Lotus Sect Master watched the crack slowly close, his ominous premonition growing more intense.
"Sect Master Zhenren." Elder Qu glanced at the Green Lotus Sect Master’s grim expression and called out to him. Seeing that he was not responding, he shook his head and said no more. A heavy atmosphere slowly permeated the air.
...
"It's a Hong Yan Fruit!" On a towering tree with dense branches, a graceful figure slowly sat down, leaning against the trunk. In her hand, she tightly gripped a fruit that seemed to bleed red.
Lin Lang thrust her Silver Moon Scimitar into the tree trunk and devoured the Hong Yan Fruit in a few bites. Within moments, a gentle and nourishing spiritual energy began to spread throughout her body. The wounds she had sustained a few days prior healed at a visible rate, leaving not a single scar.
"As expected of the legendary Yin nourishing sacred product," Lin Lang said, looking at the even smoother and more tender skin on her arm, a satisfied smile gracing her lips. After consuming the Hong Yan Fruit, she didn't rush to leave. She glanced up at the sky. The sky was clear, and a gentle breeze blew. If they weren't in the secret realm, Lin Lang would have been in an even better mood.
"The Soul Dissolving Bell hasn't appeared, and the secret realm's exit has already closed. When will I be able to escape this place?" Lin Lang murmured to herself, tilting her head back. "What's worse is that because the secret realm closed prematurely, those three cultivators have reunited with their sect members. I am alone and weak. If I encounter those people again, I won't be able to retreat safely. I need to find a way to avoid them."
Lin Lang knew that the poison she administered could not kill those three, but it would certainly torment them severely, which was her punishment for them. However, she hadn't expected the secret realm to close early, causing her to encounter those people again and be at a disadvantage. The situation had instantly reversed, forcing her to find ways to protect herself.
However, Lin Lang was not overly worried. That team had varying levels of strength, and to protect everyone, they wouldn't dare to act rashly. As long as she didn't run into them head-on, she would be fine. Their previous chance encounter had confirmed her guess.
After thinking this through, she began to ponder how to leave this secret realm. She was already quite satisfied with her gains this time and didn't want any further complications. As someone who had always navigated dangerous territories, survival was her utmost priority.
Rustle—
"Who's there?" Startled by the sudden sound behind her, Lin Lang immediately drew the Silver Moon Scimitar stuck in the tree trunk and turned to look. She then saw a tall, burly man who looked familiar. She thought for a moment, and her pupils suddenly constricted. She remembered that this man was with the people she had poisoned before. It was they who had first discovered the Star Brilliance Flower. Is he here for revenge?
Thinking this, Lin Lang quickly spread her divine sense and then let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, he was alone. They were of similar strength, and Lin Lang believed she still had a chance to escape. However, for some reason, Lin Lang felt that this person gave her a peculiar feeling. Although they had only met once, she could tell that this person was very different from when they last met. As for how they were different... Lin Lang frowned and looked the man up and down again. A flash of lightning suddenly struck her mind. She remembered. It was his aura.
During their first meeting, although this man was surrounded, he remained unfazed. He decisively gave up the Star Brilliance Flower and, with great decisiveness, threw it away to draw their attention. From this, it was not difficult to deduce that this was a meticulous, resolute person with the demeanor of a great general. However, in this encounter, this person seemed to have lost that previous steadiness. A hint of malevolence emanated from his expression, as if he were a different person.
Lin Lang tightened her grip on the Silver Moon Scimitar, its cold touch spreading from her palm throughout her body. She waited, seeing that the man remained silent and didn't step forward. She took a step back. This was her attempt to probe him. She wanted to know his intentions. Her probing was successful. The man in front of her suddenly said, "Seventh Meal."
Upon hearing this, a sense of crisis surged through Lin Lang. Without hesitation, she threw out an offensive artifact from her storage bag and retreated. Danger! Only these two words occupied her mind, constantly assaulting her nerves. Even her eyes involuntarily revealed a hint of fear.
"Trying to leave?" After the man's indifferent voice fell, a crisp bell sound echoed in Lin Lang's consciousness. Lin Lang’s steps to escape faltered, and her eyes instantly became vacant and lifeless. She walked step by step, like a stiff puppet, in a direction contrary to her original intention.
Jin Biao stood with his hands behind his back, his chin slightly raised, looking down at Lin Lang. Cold, dim light flickered in his eyes. The distance between them was constantly closing. A hundred paces, fifty paces, thirty paces...
Jin Biao slowly raised his arm, intending to place it on Lin Lang's head to absorb her divine soul. Lin Lang, who had been lowering her head, suddenly lifted it. The Silver Moon Scimitar in her hand, imbued with immense spiritual power, slashed towards Jin Biao. At the same time, warm blood continuously dripped from the corner of her mouth. "Die!"
A look of surprise flashed across Jin Biao's face, followed by a slight shake of his head. It was rare for this female cultivator to be able to resist his attack, but that was all.
Clang! The harsh sound of metal striking metal was almost enough to shatter eardrums. Lin Lang, struck by the impact, spat out a large mouthful of blood, her face turning ashen. Her pupils trembled uncontrollably, and she murmured, "Impossible..." Her gaze fell on the Silver Moon Scimitar clutched in Jin Biao's hand. How could someone directly block her Silver Moon Scimitar with their bare body?
She looked at Jin Biao, wanting to say something, but he shattered her skull with a palm strike. Bright red blood splattered onto Jin Biao's face, making him look like a demon crawling from hell. Jin Biao indifferently licked the blood from the corner of his mouth, his gaze drifting into the distance, his expression obscure and unreadable.