Buzz!!
The six Elders of the sects all stood in the plaza with expressions of tension.
After all, every venture into the secret realm resulted in numerous disciples injured or killed.
An old man from the Seven Strings Sect chuckled softly, "Why do you all look so worried?"
"The fluctuations from this secret realm don't seem too intense; it's unlikely there will be any danger."
"I think… you're all a bit too nervous."
A one-eyed man in a white robe from the Myriad Immortal Sword Faction sneered, "Heh, who doesn't know that what's dangerous when you enter the secret realm isn't the secret realm?"
"However… the six sects have already agreed that within the secret realm, one is responsible for one's own life or death."
"Just don't throw a tantrum when things go south, or we'll all have a good laugh."
After saying this, his gaze couldn't help but drift towards Shen Lan.
Shen Lan retorted with a cold face, "Xu Zhe, are you implying something about the Great Xia Sword Sect?"
"I wonder where you get the courage to be sarcastic with me!"
"Would you dare to speak like this if Li Nanting were here today?"
"If Li Nanting didn't gouge out your other eye, I'd say you're incredibly lucky."
Xu Zhe's face twitched, and he pointed at Shen Lan but said nothing more.
The old man from Zhenyue Mountain scolded with a frown, "Enough! Stop arguing!"
"The exit of the Yunmeng Immortal Palace has been open for so long; why has no disciple emerged?"
At the elder's words, everyone's brows furrowed, and their faces showed different expressions.
This time, it had indeed taken much longer than usual. A whole incense stick's worth of time had passed, yet no one had come out?
A heavy atmosphere gradually enveloped the plaza.
Suddenly!
Shen Lan suddenly exclaimed, "Someone's coming out!"
Buzz!!
Three figures emerged from the shimmering rift in space, looking somewhat disheveled.
Seeing Shen Qi, who was being carried, the elder from Zhenyue Mountain's face changed drastically!
After checking his severe injuries, he took the three disciples and flew away into the sky!
The others exchanged looks, sensing that something was amiss.
"The disciples of Zhenyue Mountain are so strong, yet only three have returned?"
"And…"
Xu Zhe's following words were left unsaid, but everyone understood what he meant.
They weren't blind; they could clearly see the numerous sword wounds on Shen Qi's body!
This meant that the two missing from Zhenyue Mountain were likely killed!
For a moment, everyone chose to remain silent in unison.
After almost half an incense stick's time, Li Guanqi and others came out, supporting each other.
Shen Lan quickly approached them, her face suddenly changing.
"Why only the four of you? Where's Ke Qin?"
Zhong Lin's face showed pain as he replied solemnly, "Dead…"
As to why she died, Zhong Lin did not say here.
This was what Li Guanqi had told them.
At this moment, everyone looked weak and exhausted; it was a relief just to be alive, let alone advance in their cultivation.
Li Guanqi quietly gripped Shen Lan's arm, his fingers digging into her flesh.
Shen Lan didn't even glance at Li Guanqi, instead turning to glare at the other sect Elders before scolding.
"Hmph! Let's go!"
With that, she pulled out a flying sword and quickly led everyone towards the cloud boat.
After Shen Lan left, Xu Zhe and the old man from the Seven Strings Sect gloated.
"Ha ha, the female disciple Shen Lan brought must have been her newly accepted apprentice this year, right?"
"Tsk, good riddance! Ha ha ha, truly satisfying!"
The rest had their own thoughts. As for why the female cultivator from the Great Xia Sword Sect died, they all had their suspicions.
It was likely the doing of their own sect's disciples.
The man from the Myriad Immortal Sword Faction said with a composed smile, "It seems the biggest gains this time are for our sects' disciples."
"It's just unclear which family will suffer the loss of a disciple."
A woman from the Purple Dawn Pavilion scoffed, "It certainly won't be a disciple from our pavilion."
"Given the few from the Great Xia Sword Sect, they must have hidden away in the secret realm to avoid disaster."
However, they waited a long time, and no disciples from any sect came out.
Xu Zhe comforted with a laugh, "Ha… haha, no worries, the troublesome ones have left, so of course they're scavenging for benefits inside."
"This kind of thing happens all the time, no need to panic."
Everyone nodded with smiles, as experience told them that it was usually the victors gathering spoils at such times.
Yet, as the Great Xia Sword Sect members who had just flown up urged, Li Guanqi whispered, "Elder Shen, we can go faster! Let's leave immediately!"
Shen Lan was still immersed in Ke Qin's death, but upon hearing Li Guanqi's words, she asked sternly, "Tell me, what exactly happened in the secret realm?"
Ye Feng was also extremely anxious and could only say, "Elder Shen, let's discuss what happened inside when we get back!"
"Let's hurry!"
Seeing Shen Lan was about to ask more, Li Guanqi had no choice but to say, "I killed all the people from the other four sects!"
Shen Lan staggered upon hearing this, nearly losing control of her flying sword, her voice trembling, "All? You killed them all?"
Seeing Li Guanqi nod, Shen Lan immediately put away her flying sword and cast out a blue elemental force with a wave of her hand!
Before their eyes, a scene that shook their souls unfolded.
The sky tore open like fabric, revealing a pitch-black crack several meters long!
Without another word, Shen Lan erected an icy blue barrier and led everyone into the rift!
Li Guanqi felt a surge of realization as he looked at the middle-aged woman beside him.
"Elder Shen is actually an Elemental Infant realm cultivator!!"
In an instant!
When they reappeared, they were already aboard Zhenyue Mountain's cloud boat.
While controlling the cloud boat to leave Zhenyue Mountain, Shen Lan took out a jade slip and said solemnly, "Sect Master, come to meet me on the way!"
"Li Guanqi killed all the disciples from the four sects in the secret realm; I fear they will join forces to stop me!!"
The cloud boat sped through the sky, plunging into the clouds.
Before Shen Lan could catch her breath, her expression paused slightly as she took out an earthy yellow jade slip.
"Zhenyue Mountain owes the Great Xia Sword Sect a favor!"
"Shen Qi is the Sect Master's son!"
At this time, Li Guanqi also explained the whole situation to Shen Lan in the simplest terms.
After hearing everything, Shen Lan did not blame Li Guanqi; instead, she looked at him with relief.
"With such a temperament… there's no doubt you'll achieve great things!"
Shen Lan said, "Don't worry, as long as we don't admit it, that's the end of it."
"Besides… even if we do admit it, what of it! Those four families are still too green to contend with the Great Xia Sword Sect!"
"Well done! If you were soft-hearted, what would be the point of entering the Cultivation World!"
"It's just Ke Qin… such a pity, I shouldn't have let her come… sigh."
As they reached the midpoint of their journey, the Great Xia Sword Sect had dispatched no less than five Elders on cloud boats to meet them!
When Li Guanqi stood up and saw those five cloud boats, his heart was filled with immense relief.
Proofreader & Editor: Lotas