Chapter 342 - 232: Tense Standoff, Secret Realm Harvest

Chapter 342: Chapter 232: Tense Standoff, Secret Realm Harvest

"It’s opening."

Lin Changheng watched with keen anticipation.

Once the gateway opened again and the passage stabilized, a series of SWOOSHING sounds cut through the air.

Silhouettes shot out from the passage one after another, bursting out over the river’s surface.

Lin Changheng activated the full power of his Tier Two Late Stage Body Refining vision. From a hundred zhang away, everything was as clear as the lines on his palm.

He quickly noticed that most of the Cultivators emerging from the Secret Realm were either pale and looked utterly drained, or were stained with blood and bore obvious wounds. Many had expressions of terror, as if they had been scared out of their wits.

Clearly, the Secret Realm was fraught with risk and hidden dangers. These Cultivators had been fighting for their lives.

And these were just the survivors... The dead were buried forever within the Secret Realm, their bodies gone without a trace, never to be seen again.

Seeing this, Lin Changheng’s resolve to never enter a Secret Realm unless absolutely necessary hardened.

Before long, no more figures appeared from the Secret Realm. Lin Changheng did a rough count—fewer than half of those who entered had come out!

’Could the casualty rate really be this high?’

Evidently, the other Cultivators waiting outside had also noticed this. They clicked their tongues in shock, a chill running through their hearts. This could truly be called a death realm.

Even the great reclamation of the Endless Wilderness organized by the Sects didn’t have a death rate half as high.

The danger was plain to see.

In truth, the inherent dangers of the Secret Realm were one thing; the risks posed by other people were another.

...

"Chen Dongming! You treacherous, despicable villain!"

At that moment, a Cultivator from the Purple Extreme Sect who had lost a hand suddenly roared at someone in the distance, his eyes burning with rage.

The target of his rage was a Cultivator in moon-white robes who had been among the last to fly out of the Secret Realm.

He was tall and slender, with handsome features that gave off a sinisterly effeminate aura.

But the aura of his Cultivation was quite powerful—he was impressively at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment realm.

He was from the Extreme South Palace!

His robes fluttering, Chen Dongming glanced at the handless Cultivator and grinned. "Fellow Daoist, what can I do for you?"

The handless Purple Extreme Sect Cultivator trembled with rage, his remaining hand clenched so tightly that his nails dug into his flesh. His voice was hoarse with extreme anger:

"What can you do?! You took advantage of the moment I and the Guardian Demon Beast were both severely injured to launch a sneak attack! You stole my Spirit Grass and severed my hand! And you have the nerve to ask what you can do?!"

His roar immediately drew the attention of the surrounding Cultivators who had yet to disperse. Their gazes swept back and forth between the Purple Extreme Sect Cultivator and the Extreme South Palace disciple, Chen Dongming, and the atmosphere instantly grew tense.

The other Purple Extreme Sect disciples quickly gathered around, glaring at Chen Dongming. With their fellow disciple humiliated, they naturally shared a common enemy.

However, in the face of this accusation and the countless stares, the smile on Chen Dongming’s face only grew wider, even taking on a mocking quality.

He leisurely adjusted the cuffs of his moon-white robes as if brushing off some dust, his tone flippant.

"Oh? So it was about that. In that case, I do have something to say." He lifted his gaze, but his charming eyes held no trace of a smile, only icy ridicule. "In a Secret Realm, treasure hunting is a matter of individual skill. When was there ever a rule against reaping the spoils while others fight? As for your hand..."

He scoffed, his gaze sweeping over the man’s severed wrist, his tone filled with undisguised contempt. "Clearly, your own skills were lacking, and you couldn’t withstand the Demon Beast’s counterattack. How can you blame me for that? If we’re really going to assign blame, we can only say that you, Fellow Daoist... had bad luck and insufficient strength. That’s all."

His words were utterly arrogant and domineering. He not only brazenly admitted to the theft but also pushed all the blame onto the other party, heaping on as much humiliation as possible.

"You! Shameless!" The handless Cultivator was so enraged he spat out a mouthful of blood and nearly fainted.

"Chen Dongming! Is this how the Extreme South Palace teaches its disciples? To act so despicably!" a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Purple Extreme Sect stepped forward and shouted sharply.

Hearing this, Chen Dongming’s smile vanished, and his eyes suddenly sharpened. A chilling aura emanated from his effeminate demeanor. "Despicable? Senior Brother, you exaggerate. In the Secret Realm, the weak are prey for the strong—that is the law of the world. Does this mean that it is the Righteous Dao when your Purple Extreme Sect obtains a Treasure, but despicable when my Extreme South Palace does? What kind of logic is that?"

He paused, his voice rising with a provocative edge. "If any of you Fellow Daoists are not convinced, feel free to challenge me. I, Chen, will be ready at any time. But... Magic has no eyes. If another one or two of you get hurt, don’t come crying to me and calling me treacherous."

As soon as he spoke, the tension became explosive. The disciples from both sides were on edge, their Magical Power fluctuating subtly. It looked like a fight could break out at the slightest provocation.

In the distance, Ling Feng Master was still fanning himself with his folding fan, a smile on his face, as if he hadn’t seen the conflict at all.

Master Xuan Ji, however, frowned slightly but did not intervene. Her cold gaze merely swept over Chen Dongming, carrying a hint of imperceptible chill.

Suddenly, Chen Dongming laughed again. "What a coincidence. While in the Secret Realm, I happened to see several of you Purple Extreme Sect Cultivators in your robes ganging up to kill a few family Cultivators. What’s this, you’re allowed to murder, but we’re not allowed to steal?"

This statement caused an immediate uproar among the family Cultivators watching from the side.

Their gazes toward the Purple Extreme Sect Cultivators flickered with wariness.

This kind of thing could happen in secret, but it couldn’t be spoken of openly. Now that Chen Dongming had exposed it, the damage to the Purple Extreme Sect’s prestige would be immense, causing widespread distrust.

Ling Feng Master watched with great interest, making no move to stop it, seemingly condoning the situation intentionally.

Suddenly, his expression shifted slightly. The voice of a Female Cultivator reached his ears, and he immediately smiled and transmitted back, "Junior Sister Luo is right."

Then, he gave a light cough, snapping everyone out of their stupor. All eyes turned to him as he leisurely delivered his judgment. "Dongming let his anger get the best of him, speaking rashly and fabricating facts. There was no need for that. Apologize to our Fellow Daoists from the Purple Extreme Sect."

Chen Dongming was stunned. He hadn’t expected this turn of events at all. He looked at Ling Feng Master, wanting to argue, but all he saw was the curve of the Master’s smiling lips, which held a faint, cold edge. It struck him like a bolt of lightning, and a cold sweat broke out on his back.

He immediately turned and apologized respectfully, stating that he had fabricated the story and begged for their forgiveness.

On the other side, the handless Cultivator also seemed to have received some kind of order. With trembling lips, he said, "I also exaggerated just now. I apologize to Brother Chen."

"That’s better. It was just a misunderstanding. I hope none of you will spread false rumors."

Ling Feng Master then swept his gaze over the other Cultivators present, calmly setting the tone.

"Yes..."

Everywhere his gaze landed, people respectfully cupped their fists and agreed.

The scene that had been on the verge of violence was thus bizarrely resolved.

Lin Changheng, watching this from the crowd, hadn’t expected it either. But he knew that the outcome of this matter would unfold exactly according to the will and desired direction of the Core Formation Cultivators.

...

The crowd dispersed, but most didn’t leave right away, instead staying put to regulate their breathing and recover.

Lin Changheng found the two members of the Liu Family resting to the side.

An old man and a young woman—neither had perished inside.

However, the elderly Foundation Establishment Cultivator was clearly seriously injured.

Liu Yuhuan was in much better shape, though her aura was somewhat unstable and she seemed a bit distraught.

"Alchemist Lin..."

Seeing Lin Changheng approach, the elderly Cultivator forced himself to look alert and gave a faint chuckle.

"Elder Liu, are you alright?" Lin Changheng asked with concern.

"Thankfully, I had the high-quality Healing Elixir you sold me, Alchemist Lin," the old Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Liu Family remarked, his voice heavy with emotion. "Otherwise, I would have been in grave danger this time."

"Was the Secret Realm truly that dangerous this time?" Lin Changheng couldn’t help but ask.

The old Foundation Establishment Cultivator looked like he wanted to say something but stopped himself, ultimately just shaking his head.

Lin Changheng understood his meaning and didn’t press further. He glanced at Liu Yuhuan and said, "If you two need more Elixirs, I can provide some."

"Then we thank you."

The old Foundation Establishment Cultivator readily agreed. After completing the transaction, he clutched the Elixir Bottle in his hand and then gave Liu Yuhuan a meaningful look.

"Alchemist Lin, we actually managed to find two of the items on your list inside the Secret Realm..."

Liu Yuhuan began to get to the point, making Lin Changheng’s heart leap with joy.