Ordinary People: Starting with the Chen Clan

He had nothing better to do than to unleash his unparalleled comprehension, and he felt a pang of regret, unwilling to simply waste it.

But now that we have two external aids and a complete array diagram, the research is not slow.

However, before we start making any moves, let's send those three outside away first.

To be honest, he wasn't too dissatisfied with the three's performance this time.

Although there was nothing particularly outstanding about it, it was still a good match for five demonic apes with decent bloodlines, especially the mutated one.

Despite unleashing his full power, he was still far inferior to the demon toad that had already reached the second tier, but he had still reached the threshold of the second tier.

This is why he only unleashed his full power inside the main hall.

Unfortunately, he encountered Chen Xuanzhou's clone and was easily suppressed.

This clone was none other than Chen Hourui, who had defected from the Chen family. It was only after Chen Xuanzhou offered up a Foundation Establishment spot for Blood Refining Divine Light that he was finally able to dig him out.

His rocky physique, combined with his fire and earth spiritual roots, made him perfectly suited to cultivate his original techniques.

The spiritual power it cultivated was even more than twice as strong as the one Chen Xuanzhou had meticulously refined. This is what makes the spiritual body so unreasonable.

This was still far from the time when the Desolate Stone Body was ready to exert its power, and he was somewhat looking forward to the days after the Desolate Stone Body transformed into the Rock Spirit Body.

In less than a quarter of an hour, Chen Xuanzhou put away the jade slip in his hand and disappeared into the underground cave without moving an inch.

"Master!"

"Hmm, well done. You don't need to keep guarding anymore. Go and collect spirit herbs around here, so it won't seem out of place when you leave!"

"yes!"

The three agreed almost instantly, without even having time to think.

Seeing the figure about to be obscured by the mist, Chen Xuanzhou suddenly thought of something and immediately spoke.

"If you come across a stone palace with an underground passage that is hot and humid, and where there is a swamp underneath, do not hesitate to leave immediately."

That place harbors a black dragon, something you can't handle right now!

Hearing Chen Xuanzhou's words, the three of them raised their awareness of the danger of this secret realm to another level. They had thought that with their combined abilities, they could basically sweep through the core area.

Now it seems I've become somewhat unaware of my own limitations.

Chen Xuanzhou paid no more attention to the three people, but instead had some thoughts about the black dragon.

It wasn't that he was after the black dragon's body; a second-tier dragon wasn't worth him putting in too much effort.

What he wanted was the treasure chest in the black dragon's lair, which was the key to unlocking the tower.

After a moment's thought, still somewhat unsure about his own clone, he turned his gaze and looked around the entire hall.

Its eyes flickered a few times, and then its body vanished in a flash.

. . .

Outside the secret realm, besides the several Core Formation cultivators, there was a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators waiting.

Chen Xuanzhou remained inconspicuous among the group, quietly sitting cross-legged among the cultivators of the Hidden Moon Sect.

The only unusual thing was that his eyes had closed slightly at some point, and he seemed completely unconcerned about the discussions around him.

As the opening of the secret realm neared its end, this scene finally piqued the interest of a Foundation Establishment cultivator standing nearby.

"Brother Chen, you seem to have a lot of confidence in your family members. You are so calm and composed. It seems you will definitely be able to obtain a few Foundation Establishment Pills."

Who knows, after we go back, we might be able to add a few more Foundation Establishment cultivators soon. This time, we'll have to hold a few more Foundation Establishment banquets.

"Unlike last time, there was no sound at all, and I had to wait a long time to find out. My Hidden Moon Sect has produced another Foundation Establishment clan!"

"Thank you for your guidance, fellow Daoist. I usually spend most of my time cultivating in my cave and don't interact with fellow Daoists in the sect much, so I don't know your honorific title."

Chen Xuanzhou opened his eyes, his gaze calm and unwavering, and replied in a very indifferent manner.

"Hehehe... I forgot to introduce myself. I am Liu Chuanzhi. Greetings, Brother Chen!"

Liu Chuanzhi stood to the side, his face twitching, forcing a smile.

"Brother Liu, you're too kind. Please don't stand, sit down with me!"

Chen Xuanzhou didn't move at all; with a flick of his sleeve, he cleared a space beside him.

"By the way, I don't know how many disciples Brother Liu has entered the secret realm this time. Before I went in, I told them to join hands with their fellow disciples."

Perhaps they're currently searching for elixirs together to fight off demonic beasts...

"If that were the case, that would be wonderful. None of my disciples possess the refined and elegant bearing of Brother Chen's family."

I'm just grateful to have returned safely this time!

"Let me see what you look like. I'm somewhat interested in divination and can help me check your fortune."

"We are just two juniors, how could we trouble Brother Chen? Children and grandchildren have their own blessings, and everything is predestined."

Chen Xuanzhou's eyes lit up slightly upon hearing this: "Brother Liu, it's clear you're quite knowledgeable about fortune telling. I'll take a look at the noble scions and try to make some predictions so Brother Liu can offer some guidance."

"This... is fine!"

Seeing Chen Xuanzhou's slightly obsessed look with fortune telling, Liu Chuanzhi really couldn't find a reason to refuse.

Besides, they only look like juniors; how could they possibly cast a curse? Even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't do that.

Chen Xuanzhou took the jade slip, examined the two figures closely, and then returned the jade slip to Liu Chuanzhi.

"At first glance, the two young friends appear to be ordinary, but upon closer inspection, they both possess extraordinary abilities. This Crimson Secret Realm is very likely the land of the Crouching Dragon."

Looking at the other person's serious expression, Liu Chuanzhi couldn't tell whether it was sarcasm or flattery.

"How can they compare to Brother Chen's three clansmen? They clearly possess the potential to establish their foundations."

"Three people!" Upon hearing this, Chen Xuanzhou raised an eyebrow.

Meanwhile, inside the secret realm, the clone was holding a compass and casting several talismans, but all that could be seen was the compass needle jumping erratically.

"What a pity!"

He put the compass away, closed his eyes and sat cross-legged again, while five-colored spiritual patterns appeared around him from time to time.

The cycle of birth and death seems chaotic and disorderly, yet it also seems to subtly align with the principles of birth and death in the universe.

As the time for the secret realm to close drew closer, the clone's expression grew increasingly grim, his brows furrowing deeply like deep trenches.

The manifestation of the surrounding array runes also became increasingly slow, with intervals increasing from a few breaths to a short period of time.

"Alas, without the most crucial main soul, even if our two split souls were to burn themselves out, it would be far from enough!"

After another half incense stick's time, the clone finally gave up in despair. Its face grew increasingly gloomy, as black as clay, so dark it seemed you could squeeze oil out of it.

Several beams of light suddenly appeared beneath his feet, followed by several enormous figures appearing before him.

Without a second glance, with a wave of his hand, these figures that had just suddenly appeared vanished without a trace once more.

These five demonic apes are worth subduing, and their strength is just right.

Unlike that demonic toad, which, although also lusting after the other's body, was too weak to resist at the time and had no choice but to give in.

This time it's just right, especially that three-eyed demon ape, which has a rare mutation in its mental attributes. If it's properly trained, it might not be much worse than the demon toad.

Therefore, all five demonic apes were collected into the incense burner.