A god-level alchemist, starting by manually crafting forbidden pills.

The sect square was bustling with people.

Elders and deacons from all the peaks gathered here, awaiting the return of their disciples from the secret realm.

Fairy Yunxi, dressed in a moon-white Taoist robe, stood dignified at the front, her beautiful eyes calmly gazing at the entrance to the secret realm.

Beside her, Liu Linglong, the peak master of Medicine Peak, covered her mouth and chuckled softly, her eyes revealing a hint of languid charm.

Elder Gao Yi of the Deacon Hall looked solemn and glanced toward the secret realm from time to time.

Qifeng Peak Master Qian Butong crossed his arms, looking impatient.

"Why aren't they out yet? What are these little brats dawdling about?"

Elder Qingxiao of the Dan Hall snorted coldly!

"Junior Brother Qian, what's the rush? The secret realm trial is inherently dangerous, so it's normal to take a few more days."

As he spoke, he glanced at Fairy Yunxi, his words carrying a hidden meaning.

"It's a bit of a waste of the quota for the sect leader to let Luo Fan in this time."

"What can someone at the first level of Qi Refining accomplish?"

Qian Butong immediately glared.

"You bald guy Qingxiao, what do you mean by that? Everyone has seen Luo Fan's previous performance!"

"Your disciples were in the Sword Intent Corridor, but they all collapsed after only a few steps."

It was Luo Fan who made it to the end!

"Doesn't this mean that your elite subordinates are inferior to the piece of trash you're talking about?"

"you!"

Master Qingxiao's face flushed red as he pointed at Qian Butong, "Vulgar! Utterly vulgar!"

Liu Linglong covered her mouth and chuckled, "Senior Brother Qian, please don't rub salt into his wounds."

Her beautiful eyes darted around, looking at the heaving chest of the Azure Sky Immortal, and she said with a smile.

"Look how angry Senior Brother Qingxiao is, he's as voluptuous as a woman."

"You, you all!"

Master Qingxiao was furious. "Hmph! I won't stoop to your level!"

He turned to Fairy Yunxi, cupped his hands and said, "Sect Leader, I am not targeting Luo Fan."

However, the spots in the secret realm are precious and should be given to disciples with more potential.

"Although Luo Fan has had some extraordinary encounters, his foundation is shallow and he is unlikely to achieve great things."

He'll be lucky to even survive this secret realm; making it into the top ten is absolutely out of the question!

"My disciple Qin Shou, however, possesses exceptional talent and will surely enter the top ten, bringing glory to my Pill Hall!"

Fairy Yunxi remained calm. "Elder Qingxiao need not say more. I will make my own decision regarding Luo Fan's matter."

Just then, Leng Yue, the elder of the Enforcement Hall who had been silent all along, spoke up.

She was dressed in black, with an exquisitely beautiful face, yet she was as cold as ice.

"Stop arguing, or you'll have to go to my Discipline Hall to cool off."

Upon hearing this, both Master Qingxiao and Qian Butong fell silent.

Anyone who's been to the Discipline Hall knows what that place is like.

"They're here."

Gao Yi suddenly spoke, his eyes fixed on the entrance to the secret realm.

At the entrance, light shimmered, and figures emerged from it.

The first to emerge was Xie Nantian, his clothes torn, his body wounded, and his expression grave.

Next came Chu Wuyai, Shen Fufeng, Zhao Jingzhou, and Yan Wujiu, all in a sorry state.

Then came Xiong Chumo and Lu Qingdai. Although they were also injured, their breathing was still steady.

Bai Jie followed Luo Fan and quietly broke free from his grasp; the two of them were the least injured.

The last one to emerge was Ji Kun, supported by several disciples. His eyes were closed, and he was unconscious.

Fairy Yunxi frowned slightly.

Leng Yue stepped forward, "How did you all get into this mess?!"

Her gaze swept across the crowd with lightning speed.

"The sect leader has decreed that during the secret realm trials, no one is allowed to kill each other!"

"Xie Nantian, as the senior disciple of the sect, how have you set an example?!"

Xie Nantian stepped forward and bowed.

"Uncle-Master Lengyue, I am guilty for failing to take good care of my junior brothers and sisters."

"But this embarrassing situation is not without reason."

He raised his head and looked at Fairy Yunxi, "Sect Leader, we were ambushed by demonic cultivators in the secret realm."

"A demonic cultivator?!"

Everyone's expression changed.

Fairy Yunxi's gaze narrowed slightly. "No rush, please tell me in detail."

Then, Xie Nantian recounted what had happened in the secret realm.

From being ambushed by the formation to the appearance of the demonic cultivator, everyone was terrified.

Even Leng Yue's expression changed when she heard the words "Deacon of the Soul Killing Hall".

"Junior Brother Luo."

Xie Nantian looked at Luo Fan.

Luo Fan nodded, took out the black token, and presented it with both hands.

Fairy Yunxi took the token; it was icy cold to the touch and exuded a chilling demonic aura.

The front of the token features a ferocious ghost head.

On the back are two ancient seal characters.

—Slaying Souls.

"It really was them."

Fairy Yunxi looked solemn.

Leng Yue said in a deep voice, "The Soul Killing Hall... how could they know the location of the secret realm?"

Xie Nantian looked troubled and glanced at Bai Jie.

"Junior Sister Bai, why don't you say it?"

Bai Jie stepped forward, bowed to Gao Yi, and then looked at Fairy Yunxi.

"Reporting to the sect leader, it's because of my senior brother."

"Ji Kun?"

Gao Yi's face instantly darkened.

This wretched creature, could it be that he's so audacious as to collude with demonic cultivators?

impossible!

Although Ji Kun was proud, he would never do such a thing.

Bai Jie continued.

"Senior Brother Ji was controlled by a demonic cultivator who laid a trap within the secret realm. We almost didn't make it back."

"evil creature!"

Gao Yi was furious and glared at the unconscious Ji Kun.

But then he thought again that Ji Kun had suffered a thousand blows of the Spirit-Severing Whip, which greatly damaged his cultivation and made him mentally unstable.

It's understandable that the demonic cultivators took advantage of their vulnerability.

He suppressed his anger and cupped his hands in greeting to Fairy Yunxi.

"Sect Leader, the Demonic Sect is so arrogant."

How dare they repeatedly infiltrate my Peach Blossom Temple and persecute my disciples!

"This matter must not be left unresolved!"

Fairy Yunxi shook her head. "Elder Gao, please be patient. What is meant to come will come."

The righteous path and the demonic path are destined for war, but the time is not yet ripe.

She looked at Gao Yi and said, "Take Ji Kun to get treatment first, and examine him carefully to avoid leaving any hidden dangers."

"Yes."

Gao Yi bowed and left with Ji Kun.

Master Qingxiao finally came to his senses and hurriedly looked at the disciples of the Pill Hall.

"Where's Qin Shou? Where's your senior brother?"

A disciple from the Pill Hall stepped forward shakily and knelt down with a thud. "Master, our eldest brother... he died in battle."

"What?!"

Master Qingxiao was struck as if by a heavy blow, and staggered back a few steps.

He died in battle? How could that be!

That was a disciple he had painstakingly trained, and he died in battle just like that?

"What are you all good for! You couldn't even protect our senior brother!"

He gave the disciple a severe scolding, and the disciple lowered his head, not daring to say a word.

After a long while, it took Qingxiao Shangsheng to catch his breath.

He gritted his teeth and asked, "Does my Pill Hall have anyone who has made it into the top ten?"

The disciple lowered his head even further, "No..."

"Useless! A bunch of useless trash!"

Qingxiao Shangren was so angry that he trembled all over.

He then asked, "Who are the top ten?"

The disciple whispered:

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xie, Senior Brother Chu, Senior Brother Shen, Senior Brother Zhao, Senior Brother Yan..."

"Junior Sister Bai, Senior Sister Xiong, Senior Sister Lu..."

"And... Luo Fan, Junior Brother Luo."

"Luo Fan?!"

Master Qingxiao suddenly looked up, pointing to the side, "Him? In the top ten?!"

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!"

"How can someone at the first level of Qi Refining be in the top ten?!"

Xie Nantian stepped forward and bowed to Fairy Yunxi.

"Sect Leader, Junior Brother Luo deserves much credit for our safe retreat this time."

"He not only obtained the inheritance of the three layers of the sword stele."

Even more so, in the critical moment, he single-handedly slew the demonic cultivator, saving our lives.

"Three layers of inheritance?!"

Master Qingxiao's pupils suddenly contracted.

Fairy Yunxi also showed surprise. "Luo Fan, come forward."

Luo Fan stepped forward and bowed in greeting.

"Disciple is here."

Fairy Yunxi's gaze swept over him, and her fingers rested on his wrist.

After a moment, he nodded slightly.

"Indeed, solid foundation, profound aura, it seems what you said was true."

Master Qingxiao, however, did not believe it and pointed at Luo Fan, questioning, "If you have such strength, why did you hide it? What are your intentions!"

"Furthermore, since you were in the secret realm, why did you stand by and watch my disciple Qin Shou die!"

Before Luo Fan could speak, Xiong Chumo couldn't hold back any longer, "Senior Uncle Qingxiao, one should have a conscience!"

"Junior Brother Luo saved him once. His own strength is lacking; what does it have to do with anyone else!"

Qingxiao waved his hand dismissively and snorted coldly, "Then why can't I save them a second time!"

"The situation was critical at the time. It was already difficult for Junior Brother Luo to protect himself. He really had no way to take care of others."

At this moment, Lu Qingdai was already displeased, but she did not show it on her face.

"Senior Uncle Qingxiao, you are an elder in the sect, and we should respect you."

Bai Jie had no expression and her voice was devoid of emotion, yet she gave off a very cold feeling.

"But your disciple Qin Shou repeatedly provoked Junior Brother Luo in the secret realm, and even tried to seize the spiritual weapon."

"Junior Brother Luo saved him out of respect for you, repaying evil with kindness."

"Your questioning is rather unbecoming of an elder."

"You, you all!"

Master Qingxiao was rendered speechless by the rebuttal, his face turning pale and then red.

Luo Fan ignored him and turned to walk in front of Liu Linglong.

"Uncle-Master Liu."

He took out a jade box and presented it with both hands, saying, "This trip to the secret realm was made possible thanks to Senior Sister Lu's protection along the way."

These medicinal herb seeds are offered to my uncle as a token of my gratitude.

Liu Linglong's beautiful eyes sparkled as she took the jade box, opened it, and a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.

Inside were several extremely precious medicinal herb seeds, rarely seen on the market.

"Xiao Fan is so thoughtful."

She looked at Luo Fan with a smile, her eyes filled with a hint of coquettishness.

"However... seeds alone are not enough. Once they grow, we'll have to let our martial uncle have a taste!"

"..."

No?

Which one does she want to try?