At this time, it was already past noon, and the golden sun shone directly down, casting a golden-red hue over the valley swept by flames.

Beyond the valley was a lake no smaller than Jade Dragon Lake.

The lake mirrored the golden-red of the mountains, and ripples continuously rolled over its surface, with many Spirit Fish skimming across.

The entire valley had now been occupied by Cultivators from the Taiyi Sect.

An Array rose at the entrance of the valley as the Ye Family's Spiritual Ship descended, and they followed the entrance inside.

Upon entering the valley, the Spiritual Energy from the Tier Three Spiritual Vein could be felt gradually emerging from the Spirit Lake.

The dense sensation that hit them caused many Clan Cultivators to gaze with fervent eyes yet with a hint of regret.

This valley's Spiritual Vein had reached at least the strength of a Tier Three High-Grade Spiritual Vein, and the treasures within were undoubtedly the most abundant.

However, the Sect Cultivators had already taken over here early in the morning, and even the Four Great Golden Core Clans hadn't managed to claim anything from it.

"Is Grandfather okay?" At the valley entrance, all the cultivators began to gather, including the Ye Family members mining Fire Patterned Sinking Iron who were slowly arriving.

Ye Jingcheng couldn't help but ask Ye Xingliu.

At this moment, Ye Haicheng was meditating nearby, seemingly quite injured.

"Uncle said it's fine, just needs some meditation," Ye Xingliu transmitted.

He immediately added:

"Inside the Secret Realm, there's no need to hold back!"

This time, Ye Xingliu was truly angry.

The other side had dared to slander and even inflicted injuries forcefully.

At that time, he was also puzzled as to why Kong Guangyun had charged forward.

Now it seemed it was just to set the stage for Master Gu Xiang to make a move.

"Understood." Ye Jingcheng nodded, relieved to hear that Ye Haicheng was alright, especially since he had taken the Golden Rhinoceros calf.

If he hadn't taken it, Ye Haicheng wouldn't have had any trouble.

He also had little liking for the Kong Family. After collaborating with the Jin Family, he realized during his first visit to Taichang Market, it was the Xu Family and Kong Family's scheming that prevented the Ye Family from buying Spirit Medicine.

Therefore, if the situation allowed in the Secret Realm, he wouldn't mind taking action.

In the Secret Realm, since Golden Core Cultivators could not enter, events could not be tracked back, and even after exiting the Secret Realm, one wouldn't be inquired by a Spirit Inquiry Talisman—these were the rules.

Of course, checking Storage Bags was an essential step.

"It's about to emerge!" At this moment, Ye Xingliu spoke.

A large lake before them suddenly began to resemble a sun setting within it.

Several Golden Core True Masters stood around the Spirit Lake, casting Spirit Techniques continuously.

The next moment, the lake surface rolled back, revealing a hollow vortex.

The vortex's position was precisely where the setting sun had appeared earlier.

Ye Jingcheng wasn't knowledgeable about Arrays, but upon seeing this, he realized it must be the entrance to the Small Secret Realm.

Secret Realms and Spirit Veins generally rested atop mountain peaks or valley bottoms, within lakes or abysses.

Such environments sparked differences in Spiritual Energy, eventually giving rise to Secret Realms.

Of course, Ye Jingcheng didn't know many details.

...

Within the Kong Family Cultivators, Kong Chenmu and Kong Chenyun also gazed at the entrance of the Secret Realm.

They had received information that this Secret Realm belonged to the Eight Desolates Sect's Desolate Guard.

Inside, there would be Golden Core Elixirs, perhaps even Gold Condensing Pill materials, which were vital to the Kong Family.

After all, though the Kong Family was prominent, being among the few Golden Core Clans in the Yan Kingdom,

the Kong Family Ancestor had formed a Fake Pill with a Demon Pill, and could not break through the Early Stage of Golden Core for life.

If a new Golden Core emerged in the Kong Family, they could rise above the Four Clans.

"How's the marking going? This was an instruction from the Ancestor," Kong Chenmu asked Kong Chenyun.

"It's foolproof, using the Sword Qi that Guangyun was struck by to track Ye Xingliu— even a Spirit Beast couldn't discover it," Kong Chenyun nodded.

"The Wan Family has been dealt with too."

"That should do it. The Ye Family might have obtained some legacy from the Beast Desolate Wasteland, which is crucial, but be wary of the Sect." Kong Chenmu nodded, though concern lingered in his eyes.

Though they were tracking the Ye Family, the key issue was that this disturbance seemed to have been permitted by the Taiyi Sect, as if probing the Ye Family's secrets.

Inside the Secret Realm, he wasn't worried about anything from the Ye Family; his concern was if the Sect had arranged for Cultivators to follow the Ye Family.

In case of a conflict, it might be uncertain who would finally benefit.

...

In the Sect, aboard the Treasure Ship, the red-faced elder and Tianfu the Daoist still sat in the room, Master San Yuan also present.

"Seems the Ye Family cannot be probed further, maybe there really are no secrets," the red-faced elder sighed.

They had probed three times continuously, and the Ye Family behaved like an ordinary Purple Mansion Clan each time.

He had no choice but to exclude the Ye Family from their scope.

After all, if the Ye Family truly had something hidden, Ye Haicheng would not have acted with no reaction in the face of life and death.

If the Ye Family had any collusion, fewer Spirit Beasts and clansmen would have died.

"Now we should focus on the Wan Family, and also the Zhong Family and Zhao Family..." the red-faced elder continued.

"Indeed, but we shouldn't use such methods next time," Master Tianfu remarked.

At these words, the red-faced elder hesitated momentarily but then agreed with a nod.

Such blatant probing wouldn't help Taiyi Sect's reputation. Presently, the situation within the Yan Kingdom wasn't favorable for Taiyi Sect.

Especially since Taiyi Sect's Nascent Soul True Monarch hadn't shown up in nearly a century.

This had many cultivators restless, with the Qinghe Sect already penetrating Taiyi Sect's territory, not to mention other countries' Cultivation Realms.

This was why they were so eager.

...

The lake's vortex grew larger, eventually revealing a void tunnel at the center.

It was immensely deep, utterly obscuring what lay inside.

Even Divine Sense would instantly vanish inside as if devoured by space, providing no feedback.

Master Xuan Dao was seen holding a few Demon Insects, casting them into the vortex.

After a few breaths, Master Xuan Dao produced a Compass.

Spiritual Light appeared in the Compass, ready to form a Spirit Curtain, as if a projection was about to emerge.

Yet shortly thereafter, the projection vanished completely.

Master Xuan Dao's face showed some disappointment, but it quickly faded.

Most Secret Realms couldn't project Spiritual Breath.

He was merely trying; having attempted, he solemnly spoke once more:

"Now that the Secret Realm has stabilized, it will open for a month. During this month, regardless of your exploration, the Sect will take a forty percent share, while retaining absolute priority to purchase Core Spirit Medicine; after a month, everyone shall proceed to the weakened point of the Secret Realm to await transmission, for a duration of one day, with no delays."

With Master Xuan Dao's announcement, Taiyi Sect began to distribute Jade Talismans.

The Ye Family, entering three members, received three Jade Talismans.

These Jade Talismans were palm-sized, with a landscape painting on the front and only the character 'Tai' on the back.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.