Chapter 35: It’s fine if something happens to Li Xuanfeng, but it would be a pity if something happened to Junior Sister Wei!

"A battle at the Core Condensation Realm must have taken place here!"

"The Aura from before was truly astonishing. I wonder if a treasure was born, or if there was some other reason!"

"A pity we arrived a step too late!"

After a brief investigation, several figures found only Yuan Xiao's corpse and eventually left empty-handed.

…

Li Xuanfeng did not return to Xunshan City.

Instead, he flew dozens of miles in another direction and arrived at a city called Black Rock City to rest.

The three of them went into a private room in a restaurant, and Xu Miaozhen casually set up a small Formation to prevent others from eavesdropping.

[Ding! Xu Miaozhen has set up an Isolation Formation. You have gained one experience point. With the tenfold return, you have gained a portion of experience and barely mastered the method of setting up an Isolation Formation!]

The System notification sounded at the right time.

The Isolation Formation was the most basic type of Formation, capable of blocking sound and visual probes; it wasn't inherently difficult.

However, Li Xuanfeng had never been in contact with Formations before and knew absolutely nothing about them.

Previously, his setup of the Labyrinth Formation and the Profound Concealment Formation had relied entirely on Formation Plates.

Now, with the System's return, he had officially begun his contact with this Dao.

"Brother Li, the information I mentioned earlier is related to a Secret Realm that is about to open!"

"This Secret Realm is called the Purple Moon Secret Realm. Its origins are unknown, but rumor has it that it opened once several decades ago!"

After setting up the Formation, Xu Miaozhen didn't beat around the bush and spoke directly.

"The Purple Moon Secret Realm is an independent space, isolated from the world, and it's filled with all sorts of Heaven And Earth Treasures!"

"Among them, the most precious are certain exotic items that can improve one's Comprehension Ability!"

After Xu Miaozhen finished speaking, she looked at Li Xuanfeng.

Sure enough, she saw a look of interest on Li Xuanfeng's face.

On the path of cultivation, talent is extremely important, and talent is divided into Root Bone and Comprehension Ability.

Both of these things are Innate; it is very difficult to change them through Acquired means!

But very difficult does not mean impossible!

In this vast and boundless world, there are always all kinds of strange and wondrous things.

Treasures that can improve Root Bone and Comprehension Ability do exist!

They are just too rare and too difficult to find!

Moreover, once they appear in the world, they are bound to cause a bloody struggle!

Li Xuanfeng's Root Bone and Comprehension Ability were quite ordinary; otherwise, he wouldn't have remained at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm for three years.

However, not long ago, he had obtained the Chaos Sword Physique through the System's return, and his Root Bone had already undergone an earth-shattering change!

Whether it was Wei Qingyan's Supreme Sword Physique or Xu Miaozhen's Great Desolate Battle Physique, they were both far inferior to him!

In the future, even without the returns from the two of them, Li Xuanfeng's own cultivation would progress by leaps and bounds!

However, while a Physique could cause an earth-shattering change in Root Bone, it couldn't bring much improvement to Comprehension Ability.

If he could truly make his Comprehension Ability undergo an earth-shattering change like his Root Bone, Li Xuanfeng would naturally be more than happy to do so!

So, when Xu Miaozhen mentioned that there were treasures in the Purple Moon Secret Realm that could improve Comprehension Ability, Li Xuanfeng was already somewhat moved.

"The Purple Moon Secret Realm is located in Shangchuan County of Yun Province, and it will likely open in about half a month."

"To enter, one must hold a special Jade Slip token, and I happen to have one here!"

"A single Jade Slip token can bring two people in at the same time!"

"So, to show my gratitude, I am willing to take Brother Li with me. I wonder what Brother Li thinks?"

After Xu Miaozhen finished speaking, she quietly looked at Li Xuanfeng, waiting for his answer.

A Secret Realm often meant Opportunity.

In this world, there were many Cultivators who had entered Secret Realms, obtained treasures, and thereby changed their fates.

However, Opportunity was often accompanied by danger.

Xu Miaozhen was actually not very sure if Li Xuanfeng would agree.

In her view, for a peerless Prodigy like Li Xuanfeng, his Comprehension Ability was surely beyond doubt.

Mere treasures that could improve Comprehension Ability might pique his interest, but whether they could attract him to go was another matter.

"In that case, let's agree on a specific time and place to meet!"

Li Xuanfeng pondered for a moment before looking at Xu Miaozhen and speaking.

A flash of joy immediately crossed Xu Miaozhen's eyes.

In addition to repaying him, Xu Miaozhen's other thought in telling Li Xuanfeng about the Purple Moon Secret Realm and offering to take him along was to recruit a helper!

She had witnessed Li Xuanfeng's strength.

If they entered the Secret Realm and joined forces, they would surely be able to reap more benefits.

"Good!"

Xu Miaozhen happily agreed.

After some discussion, the two agreed on a time and place to meet.

For the time being, the three of them were in no hurry to leave, nor were they busy Cultivating.

Instead, they strolled through Black Rock City together, experiencing the local life and enjoying the local delicacies.

The relationship between the three of them grew much closer as a result.

It wasn't until the next morning that the three of them went their separate ways, still feeling as though they hadn't had enough.

Xu Miaozhen returned to Yun Province.

Li Xuanfeng and Wei Qingyan returned to Hundred Sword Mountain.

The two of them rode the Black Wind Horse and the Divine Speed Black Steed, moving forward swiftly with the wind.

Black Rock City was not far from Hundred Sword Mountain. With Li Xuanfeng's current strength, he could return to Hundred Sword Mountain very quickly, but he was in no hurry at all.

When he had left the mountain, Li Xuanfeng was only at the Peak of the ninth level of the Spirit Aperture Realm.

Upon his return, he was already at the third level of the Core Condensation Realm and possessed the Chaos Sword Physique!

Only five days had passed between the two.

The difference was as vast as the clouds and the mud!

…

As the two of them rushed back to Hundred Sword Mountain, the Outer Sect was also somewhat lively.

Over the past two days, some things had happened in both the Outer Sect and the Inner Sect.

Yesterday, someone had seen a blood-soaked Deacon return.

Shortly after, an Inner Sect Elder was enraged and ordered several Outer Sect Elders to be taken away.

Vague news spread about things like poor supervision and harming Disciples.

Most Disciples were unaware of exactly what had happened.

By this morning, a scene appeared that made all the Outer Sect Disciples incredibly excited.

Because the various Peak Masters of Hundred Sword Mountain had descended upon the Outer Sect!

In Hundred Sword Mountain, those with the lowest status were undoubtedly the Utility Disciples.

Above them were Outer Sect Disciples, ordinary Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Sect Elders, Elite Disciples, Core Disciples, Deacons, True Disciples, Inner Sect Elders, and so on.

The one with the highest status and the most power was undoubtedly the Sect Master.

And below the Sect Master but above the Inner Sect Elders were the various Peak Masters!

The Peak Masters were powerful and possessed great authority; in many major matters, they could influence the Sect Master's decisions!

They were all big shots who were rarely seen.

Many Disciples might not even see a Peak Master once from the time they entered the sect until they left the mountain.

Today, however, these Peak Masters appeared one after another in the Outer Sect.

Although they had all restrained their Qi, that invisible Aura was still suffocating, as if the very world were falling into stagnation!

The Outer Sect Disciples only had to look from afar to feel a bit short of breath!

"What on earth happened? Why did the Peak Masters suddenly come to the Outer Sect?"

"That hillside where they are—isn't that the residence of some Outer Sect Disciples?"

"Could it be that some Outer Sect Disciple has startled them?"

"What kind of Disciple could startle a Peak Master?"

The Outer Sect Disciples did not dare to approach and only stood in the distance, watching from afar.

The Utility Disciple Wang Jiu walked down the mountain path. He had just gone to the medicine garden to manually turn the soil and remove insects, bending his back and arching his body; he felt it was much more tiring than Cultivating.

With his cultivation at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, his body didn't actually feel tired from doing this little bit of work; it was mainly mental exhaustion.

Six days ago, when he was detected as not having reached the Spirit Aperture Realm and was about to be sent down the mountain, he had taken the initiative to stay at Hundred Sword Mountain as a Utility Disciple.

Thinking about it now, he still felt a bit bad.

Not only were his cultivation resources gone, but his cultivation time was also being squeezed away in large chunks. He didn't know how many years it would take before he could Breakthrough to the Spirit Aperture Realm.

"If only I were suddenly spotted by some Peak Master and taken in as a Disciple!"

"If a Peak Master won't do, an Inner Sect Elder would be great too. If that's really not possible, I'd be happy even if an Outer Sect Elder took a fancy to me!"

Looking at those few towering figures in the distance, Wang Jiu couldn't help but fall into a fantasy.

To be favored by a big shot, taken in as a Disciple or an adopted son, and granted all sorts of cultivation resources, thereby embarking on the broad road of cultivation.

This was the fantasy of many low-level Cultivators.

"Brother Wang Jiu!"

A familiar voice broke Wang Jiu's fantasy time.

Wang Jiu looked closely and saw that it was Ding Xian.

"Brother Ding Xian!"

Wang Jiu hurried forward.

A few days ago, both of them were Outer Sect Disciples; a few days later, there was a gap in their status.

"It's been a few days since we last met. I didn't expect to run into Brother Wang Jiu here."

Ding Xian showed his trademark warm but very fake smile.

"Yeah, it's quite a coincidence. Brother Ding, do you know why the Peak Masters have suddenly descended upon the Outer Sect?"

Wang Jiu asked.

"I don't know. With my status, I haven't heard any word at all!"

Ding Xian shook his head.

"But I remember that Li Xuanfeng and Junior Sister Wei live on that hillside, don't they? An Elder got into trouble yesterday, and Li Xuanfeng and Junior Sister Wei seem to have gone down the mountain for a mission. I wonder if it has anything to do with that?"

Ding Xian looked at those figures and spoke after thinking for a bit.

"An Elder got into trouble?"

Wang Jiu had a look of confusion.

After becoming a Utility Disciple, his circle had changed, and he was certainly not as well-informed as Ding Xian.

However, he did know about Li Xuanfeng and Wei Qingyan going down the mountain to perform a mission.

After all, Wei Qingyan was too beautiful, and many people paid attention to her. It was impossible to hide her going down the mountain with Li Xuanfeng from those who were interested.

"I heard that there was a problem with a mission posted by Elder Fan Jie, and Elder Fan Jie himself has a big problem!"

"And as it happens, when they were at the Affairs Hall, someone saw Li Xuanfeng and Junior Sister Wei take the mission posted by Elder Fan Jie!"

Ding Xian explained.

"Oh, this… Could it be that the Peak Masters' descent here really has something to do with them? Could something have happened to them?"

"To startle all the Peak Masters, it must be a major event!"

Wang Jiu's heart suddenly tightened, and at the same time, the fire of gossip inevitably flared up.

"It's fine if something happens to Li Xuanfeng, but it would be a pity if something happened to Junior Sister Wei!"

Ding Xian shook his head and sighed.