I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Sure enough, the five people were talking as if no one else was around, their eyes occasionally sweeping towards the most spiritually powerful directions deep within the secret realm. Their tone was casual, as if the rare treasures of those places were already theirs for the taking.

Just then, a venomous voice rang out: "Wen Ruohai! Qin Yuan! I didn't expect you two would actually dare to come in!"

Qin Yuan turned his head and saw three cultivators dressed in crimson robes, exuding a fierce aura, staring intently at them from the other side of the platform, their eyes filled with hatred and killing intent.

The leader was a one-eyed old man whose aura had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, while the other two were also at the late Nascent Soul stage.

"Remnants of the Crimson Flame Sect." Wen Ruohai's face darkened, and he said in a low voice, "It's Chi Liao, the city lord of Crimson Flame City near Lava City, and his two deputies. Crimson Flame City is another important stronghold of the Crimson Flame Sect in this area. They really haven't given up their evil intentions!"

Chi Liao's single eye flashed with a cold light as he sneered, "In the secret realm, there are no city rules to protect you! Wen Ruohai, if you know what's good for you, hand over the clues to the Ice Soul Crystal and then cut off your own arm!"

As for Qin Yuan… you little bastard, you killed my Crimson Flame Sect elder and seized my Lava City. Today, I will make you pay for your crimes in blood and tear your soul apart!

His voice was loud enough to immediately attract the attention of everyone on the platform. Many people looked on with anticipation, especially the five geniuses, who also cast intrigued glances.

Qin Yuan's expression remained unchanged. He merely glanced at Chi Liao with a calm and unwavering gaze, yet it sent a chill down Chi Liao's spine, and the rest of his words caught in his throat.

Wen Ruohai stepped forward and said coldly, "Chi Liao, the matter of Lava City was provoked first by your Chi Yan Sect, and you have only yourself to blame! You want the Ice Soul Crystal? Come and take it if you have the ability!"

"Ice Soul Crystal?" Qin Yuan looked at Wen Ruohai. Wen Ruohai had not mentioned his specific goal for entering the secret realm before.

Wen Ruohai explained via telepathy: "To be honest, City Lord Qin, my main goal in entering this secret realm is to find the Ice Soul Crystal that may be nurtured in a cold pool."

This item is crucial for the cultivation of the secret sword technique of my Sword and Book Sect. However, the Crimson Flame Sect, somehow knowing the location of that icy pool, has been coveting it. I was initially worried that I wouldn't be able to obtain it alone, but now that City Lord Qin is here, perhaps…”

"I'll help you," Qin Yuan said directly. Wen Ruohai was a fairly upright person, and since they were now allies, helping him get what he needed would also solidify their relationship.

Wen Ruohai was taken aback, then overjoyed, and said gratefully, "Thank you, City Lord Qin!"

Seeing this, Chi Liao was even more furious, but he seemed to be somewhat wary of Qin Yuan and did not immediately lash out. Instead, he turned his gaze to the circle of five people in the center of the platform, especially pausing on the little tyrant Xiang Tian. He forced a smile on his face, clasped his hands and said, "Xiang tyrant, I have long admired your name! I am Chi Liao from Chiyan City, and I have no enmity with the noble Tyrant Sect."

"We have some grudges with the Book Sword Sect and the Xuan Yuan Sect. If a conflict arises in the secret realm later, we hope that Xiang Bawang will do us a favor. Afterwards, our Crimson Flame Sect will surely repay you handsomely!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow, his gaze sweeping over Qin Yuan and Wen Ruohai before turning to Chi Liao. He grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth: "Easy. I've heard of the Crimson Flame Sect. As long as you don't interfere with my obtaining the Dragon Blood Fruit, your life-or-death struggle is none of my business." His words, seemingly neutral, were in fact tacit approval of Chi Liao causing trouble for Qin Yuan and Wen Ruohai.

Chi Liao was overjoyed: "Thank you, Xiang Bawang!"

Wen Ruohai's expression changed slightly. He transmitted his voice to Qin Yuan, his tone filled with worry: "Xiang Tian is at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, with extremely strong combat power and unpredictable temper. Although he hasn't directly intervened, given his attitude, Chi Liao will certainly have no scruples. City Lord Qin, I... am afraid I will be a burden to you."

"It's alright." Qin Yuan's voice was calm, without the slightest hint of emotion. "Just the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm."

Wen Ruohai was taken aback. Looking at Qin Yuan's still calm expression, he was surprised and suspicious, but for some reason, he also felt a little more at ease.

Just then, the milky white light screen above the platform suddenly fluctuated violently, the central vortex slowly expanded, and a rich wave, mixed with the fragrance of medicine, spiritual materials and an ancient and desolate aura, surged out from it.

"The entrance to the secret realm is stable!" someone shouted.

"Walk!"

In an instant, dozens of figures on the platform used their respective methods to transform into streaks of light and eagerly rushed into the expanding vortex.

"Lord Qin, we..." Wen Ruohai looked at Qin Yuan.

"Let's go." Qin Yuan moved, transforming into a streak of dark golden light, with Wen Ruohai following closely behind, and the two of them also entered the vortex.

The moment I passed through the entrance, I felt a slight sense of weightlessness, and then the scenery before my eyes changed rapidly.

Once they settled down, the two found themselves in a vibrant primeval forest.

Ancient trees reach for the sky, vines entwine, and the cries of mythical birds and beasts can be faintly heard. The spiritual energy in the air is so dense it's almost dripping with moisture. Compared to the eternally desolate, dark red battlefield of the Hundred Sects, this place is practically a fairyland.

"Such abundant vitality..." Wen Ruohai exclaimed, then determined the direction and pointed northeast, "The Xuanbing Cold Pool where the Ice Soul Crystal is located is in that direction, about three hundred miles from here."

Qin Yuan nodded: "Let's go."

The two used their movement techniques to speed through the forest. Along the way, they encountered some low-level spirit beasts and demonic beasts guarding spiritual herbs, but they easily avoided them or dealt with them casually.

In the secret realm, time is precious, and no one will waste time on ordinary things.

About an hour later, the temperature in front dropped significantly, and fine ice crystals appeared in the air.

After passing through a dense forest, a vast, icy pool surrounded by icebergs suddenly appeared before us.

The pool water was a deep blue color, emanating a chilling aura, and thick, dark ice had formed on its edges.

In the center of the icy pool, there is a small island, on which grows a crystal-clear ice tree. Hanging on the tree are three crystals the size of longan, emitting a hazy blue light, which are the Ice Soul Mystic Crystals!

However, four figures were already standing on the bank of the icy pool. Besides Chi Liao and his two deputies, there was another person—Chen Xingzi, the one among the five geniuses, who wore a star-patterned robe!

Seeing Qin Yuan and his companion arrive, Chi Liao's single eye flashed with smugness and malice: "Wen Ruohai, Qin Yuan, you're too late! Fellow Daoist Chen Xingzi has already promised to help me obtain this Ice Soul Mystic Crystal! If you know what's good for you, get out of here now! Otherwise, this place will be your burial ground!"

Chen Xingzi stood with his hands behind his back, his face cold and stern. His gaze swept indifferently over Qin Yuan and Wen Ruohai, lingering briefly on Qin Yuan for a moment, a hint of surprise flashing across his face, but he quickly regained his coldness and said, "Wen Ruohai, you can leave. He, stay." He pointed at Qin Yuan.

Clearly, Chi Liao had paid some price to persuade Chen Xingzi to take action. And Chen Xingzi's target was Qin Yuan.

Wen Ruohai's face instantly turned extremely ugly. Although Chen Xingzi was only at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, he came from the Starfall Pavilion, mastered the Starfall Secret Technique, and as a genius, his true combat strength was by no means inferior to that of the early-stage Deity Transformation stage! Add to that the three of them, Chi Liao…

"Lord Qin, you go quickly! I'll hold them off!" Wen Ruohai gritted his teeth, stepped forward, and stood in front of Qin Yuan. His green robe billowed, and he released his early Nascent Soul stage aura without reservation. However, his aura was slightly weak, indicating that his old injuries had not yet healed.

"Leave?" Chi Liao sneered. "None of you are leaving today! Fellow Daoist Chen Xingzi, please make your move!"

Chen Xingzi stopped talking nonsense and took a step forward. His star robe fluttered without wind, and illusory stars appeared behind him. A vast, cold star power that seemed to suppress the void spread out and locked onto Qin Yuan.

"I'll take your life."

As soon as he finished speaking, he pointed his fingers like a sword and pointed them in the air. A point of dazzling starlight burst forth from his fingertip, initially only the size of a grain of rice, but it rapidly expanded during its flight, transforming into a giant pillar of starlight over ten feet thick, carrying a terrifying force capable of crushing mountains and rivers, and shot towards Qin Yuan with a thunderous roar!

Wherever it passed, the space hummed under its strain, and the cold air was forcibly expelled, forming a vacuum zone!

With the combat power of a Nascent Soul level, his every move is as powerful as thunder!

Wen Ruohai's pupils constricted sharply, and he was about to activate his secret technique to defend himself at all costs.

However, a hand gently pressed on his shoulder.

"Senior Wen, step back."