Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

"That, that's... the Azure-Clad Dragon King?!" Suddenly, from the crowd in the distance, a cultivator who had participated in the recent beast tide war in Guiyun Market exclaimed...

As if remembering something, she cried out in shock, "That's right! The man in green robes! The sword energy transforming into a dragon! It's him! The one who single-handedly slew a commander-level demon beast during the beast tide!"

"The Azure-Clad Dragon King?"

"It's him? That legendary, invincible Qi Refining cultivator? I thought it was an exaggeration, but now it seems he really is invincible."

"No wonder...no wonder it was so terrifying..."

Many had previously only heard of this name and assumed it was just another person seeking fame and fortune.

At this moment, the way he looked at Lin Zhao was filled with awe and deep fear.

The name of the Azure Dragon King has become widely known in the core area of ​​this secret realm, which is home to the elites of the Seventeen Markets!

Xu Chuan's mouth dropped open. Although he had known Lin Zhao was strong for a long time, witnessing this attack with his own eyes was still quite a shock.

He was still stunned, and after a long while, he murmured, "Brother Lin, your sword dragon... is really a bit frightening..."

Lin Zhao summoned the Four Elements Sword Dragons, letting them circle around him to intimidate everyone.

His expression remained calm, but inwardly he sighed with helplessness. Exposing the Sword Dragon's strength in public was not his wish.

But seeing the dismantling work that Shen Qianshan and the others were doing behind him to repair the formation, he had no regrets at all.

His gaze swept over the silent crowd, his voice carrying an undeniable authority:

"There are no rare spiritual plants or herbs here. Anyone who trespasses or disturbs us will suffer the same fate as this person."

Don't say you weren't warned!

The sound waves spread out, accompanied by the slowly hovering, destructive phantom of the Four Elements Sword Dragon in the air.

Not a single cultivator dared to take another step forward.

In the following time, Shen Qianshan led his team and finally successfully dismantled the formation completely, putting the materials into storage bags.

With the materials in hand, a sense of relief finally appeared on Shen Qianshan's tense face.

Without lingering, based on the intelligence they had gathered, they proceeded to two other locations within the secret realm marked with remnants of array formations.

The restrictions at those two locations had completely collapsed, leaving only scattered materials.

These places don't require laborious cracking; you only need to collect the data, which is much more efficient.

Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan continued to move around in the vicinity, occasionally gathering some scattered spiritual herbs, but spending most of their time cultivating.

As the sky above the secret realm began to subtly shift between light and dark, it signaled the imminent end of the month-long secret realm event.

An invisible force of repulsion began to manifest in all the cultivators.

Regardless of their gains or losses, all forces within the central area began to withdraw from the center and head towards the outer areas.

"Brother Lin Zhao, Fellow Daoist Xu Chuan, I am deeply grateful!" Shen Qianshan clasped his hands in thanks, his voice earnest.

"Thank you both for your great help. After I get out of here, I will definitely pay you a visit to express my gratitude again!"

The two teammates behind him also saluted.

"Captain Shen, you flatter me. It's just my duty," Lin Zhao returned the greeting. "I wish Captain Shen a successful repair of the formation."

"Captain Shen, don't forget to invite me to the victory celebration!" Xu Chuan said with a grin.

After a brief farewell, Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan returned to the outer area.

Meanwhile, a sense of tension began to rise in Lin Zhao's heart, which was difficult to suppress. The three major sects were the rulers of the Yunxia Mountain Range.

Despite Xu Chuan's secret technique guaranteeing that the aura had been dispelled, despite the fact that in theory, life and death within the secret realm were the sole responsibility of the inhabitants, and despite the fact that they had already become puppets.

But he ultimately killed the disciples of the three major sects with his own hands, and the three major sects have always acted domineeringly.

Strength is the foundation of all principles.

If the other party really insists on delving into the matter unreasonably and taking their anger out on us...

With his current cultivation level and background, there is no way he can contend with him.

Xu Chuan seemed to sense Lin Zhao's solemn expression and transmitted his voice:

"Brother Lin, don't worry, we're in the right. In this treasure hunt in the secret realm, life and death are all up to fate."

Besides, those people are already controlled puppets, they don't recognize their own family, we can't just send our heads over to them to kill.

Even if the three major sects wanted to cause trouble, they would have to ask Tianyun Market first if it would allow it.

Xu Chuan and Master Mingxuan were quite familiar with each other. A few second-tier spiritual herbs were not considered precious to Master Mingxuan.

His purpose was to observe Lin Zhao's character and potential, and to determine if she was worth cultivating.

The sects behind Tianfeng Market are not accessible to those without considerable ability.

Otherwise, how could Xu Chuan have been so lucky to have met Lin Zhao in the Silent Soul Stone Forest?

Outer area

Another portal to the secret realm appeared, and Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan mingled among the crowd as they passed through it.

Unlike the intense dizziness upon entering, leaving felt like passing through a cool curtain of water, with only a slight sense of weightlessness.

The next moment, everyone was back on solid ground, back in their familiar surroundings.

The cultivators returned to their respective markets, and for a time, the valley was filled with the sounds of their conversations and sighs.

Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan quickly located the second-tier spirit boat belonging to Master Mingxuan, which was hovering in mid-air.

The two flew onto the deck and found five people already waiting there.

Including them, seven out of ten survived, which is considered a moderate loss during the previous opening of the secret realm.

Master Mingxuan, still dressed in white, stood at the bow of the ship with a calm expression.

His gaze swept over the seven returning people, lingering briefly on Lin Zhao and Xu Chuan. He didn't say much, only nodding slightly.

Lin Zhao suppressed the urge to immediately hand over the spiritual herbs to complete the commission, and stood quietly to the side, but his gaze involuntarily drifted to other directions in the valley.

He saw the three major sects—

The atmosphere in the areas where the Thousand Radiance Sect, Hundred Herbs Sect, and Black Fiend Pavilion gathered was noticeably more somber than in other markets.

As the last few disheveled figures rushed out of the portal, the massive portal emitted a low hum.

It then rapidly shrank and eventually disappeared completely, leaving only an empty valley and the chaotic fluctuations of spiritual energy gradually subsiding.

The secret realm is officially closed.

Just then, a suppressed and angry aura suddenly rose from the camps of the three major sects!

The mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator leading the Thousand Glory Sect had a livid face, Elder Mu from the Hundred Herbs Sect had a furrowed brow, and the Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Hu from the Black Fiend Pavilion had a fierce glint in his eyes.

The number of their disciples who came out was significantly less than the number of people from other markets.

Soon, a surprising piece of news quietly spread among the cultivators:

Of the thirty elite disciples from the three major sects who entered the secret realm this time, only thirteen actually came out alive!

In the past, when the secret realm opened, the three major sects rarely lost more than ten people. This time, they lost nearly half of their members, which is unprecedented!

"All market personnel, please hold off on leaving!"

The mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Thousand Radiance Sect soared into the air, his cold voice carrying an undeniable authority that echoed throughout the valley.