With three supreme masters, they were invincible upon descending the mountain.

"Damn it...why does it hurt so much?"

Ye Yaocheng curled up on the ground, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He gritted his teeth, the excruciating pain seeming to explode from the depths of his dantian, spreading along his meridians to his limbs and bones, like countless red-hot iron needles wandering through his blood vessels.

He finally understood how much his three masters had sacrificed for him back then.

Using the essence of the secret realm as a guide, the overflowing source was suppressed.

With the help of the three, they forcibly sealed the crack.

Without these, he would never be alive today.

"Master..." Ye Yaocheng murmured softly.

But now is not the time to think about these things.

He tried to clench his fist, but he couldn't muster any strength in his finger joints.

He tried to circulate his true energy, but it was as if there was a huge hole in his dantian, and the true energy leaked out from the crack as soon as it was gathered.

The strength he can exert now is probably barely even one-tenth of his peak performance.

"Looks like we were living too comfortably before."

Ye Yaocheng shook his head and smiled bitterly.

With a thought, the jade pendant at his waist glowed faintly, and three jade bottles appeared out of thin air, landing in front of him.

These are healing pills he refined before, grade three Rejuvenation Pills, which come in handy now.

With trembling fingers, he unscrewed the bottle cap, poured out two pills, and put them in his mouth.

The pill melted in my throat, and the warm medicinal power spread, finally relieving the pain somewhat.

Ye Yaocheng looked at the jade bottle in front of him and exhaled a long breath.

"Thank goodness I was prepared, otherwise I would have been in excruciating pain today."

"Benefactor, could you... give this humble monk two as well?"

"Who?!"

A voice suddenly rang out from behind, startling Ye Yaocheng so much that his hair stood on end and he sprang to his feet!

Twelve beast-shaped phantoms instantly coalesced behind him. Although they were so faint as to be almost transparent, they still assumed a fighting stance!

He breathed a sigh of relief when he turned around and saw that it was Huijiang.

Huijiang, covered in blood and pale-faced, was weakly leaning against the ruins, looking at him.

His eyes were full of resentment, as if to say, "Why don't you share some of the good stuff with me?"

Ye Yaocheng's lips twitched, and he handed over a bottle of Rejuvenation Pills with a black line on his face.

"Master, could you please give me a heads-up next time you speak?"

"People can scare each other to death, you know that?"

"Yes, yes, I'm sorry, benefactor."

"It's just... way too urgent, haha."

Huijiang took the jade bottle with both hands, tilted his head back, and poured the entire bottle of Rejuvenation Pills into his mouth.

He chewed it and swallowed it with a crunching sound.

Ye Yaocheng's eyelids twitched. Did you really think this was candy?

"Please rest assured, benefactor, give this humble monk some time."

"Once you recover, this humble monk will immediately help you through this difficult time."

"ha?"

Ye Yaocheng was completely confused. What did that mean?

Just as he was about to ask further questions, Huijiang had already entered a meditative state.

His breathing was steady, and a faint golden light flowed around his body.

Ye Yaocheng opened his mouth, but ultimately didn't interrupt.

He turned his head and looked at the gray sky in the distance.

Once the seal was completed, this small world returned to its original state.

There are no birdsong and fragrant flowers, no medicinal herbs everywhere.

Only withered vegetation, a dark red sky, and endless desolation.

"What exactly is going on now?"

Unbeknownst to him, beneath the surface of the ruins, undercurrents were already swirling.

Gu Yaoguang frowned, looking around at the desolate world before him, his tone full of impatience.

"Is this what they call a secret realm?"

There's nothing there.

"Even though he's losing money, the young master still had such high hopes."

Old Hu stood respectfully to the side.

"Young master, although this world is barren, everyone who enters gains something."

"How about... we look for someone else?"

A glint of greed flashed in Gu Yaoguang's eyes.

"you mean?"

"There was no surveillance footage, and no witnesses."

Old Hu lowered his voice.

"Let me borrow some of the good stuff... to take a look."

Gu Yaoguang's lips curled up; this was indeed a good idea.

Before long, they discovered a cave in a secluded corner of the ruins.

The opening was small, with smooth edges, as if it had just been created.

"Someone went in."

Gu Yaoguang narrowed his eyes and jumped in after him.

After passing through a brief, dark passage, the view suddenly opened up.

It was a vast wasteland and a depressing sky.

There was another figure.

Gu Yaoguang squinted to make out the details, and the next second, a deep-seated hatred welled up in his eyes.

"Ye Yaocheng?!"

"Well, I've been searching for so long in the secret realm without finding you. I never expected you to be hiding here."

He felt a surge of anger as he recalled the scenes from his previous hallucination.

He was trampled underfoot by Ye Yaocheng, publicly humiliated, and his dignity was shattered.

His beloved woman, Wang Shiyu, completely ignored him.

He remembered every single humiliation vividly.

"Today, I'm going to pay you back, with interest, all of it."

He raised his hand, and his true energy condensed into a sharp sword beam in his palm. The sword beam pierced through the air and went straight for Ye Yaocheng's back!

"Ye Yaocheng, prepare to die!"

"clang!"

The golden light screen exploded, and twelve beast-shaped phantoms appeared simultaneously, blocking the sword light!

Ye Yaocheng turned around, his brows furrowed.

"Gu Yaoguang? What's wrong with you?"

"I didn't do anything to you, did I?"

"Didn't provoke me?!"

Gu Yaoguang's smile was distorted.

"You think what you did to me in the illusion is just a passing memory?!"

"Today, I will repay those humiliations tenfold!"

He charged forward again!

Ye Yaocheng gritted his teeth and unleashed the Twelve Forms of Intention, as the beast-shaped phantom roared and charged forward!

Two forces collide!

Gu Yaoguang took several steps back.

Ye Yaocheng remained motionless, but his brows were furrowed.

That last strike consumed my true energy at least twice as fast as I expected.

The fundamental problems we face today are far too serious.

Even more terrifying, wisps of a dark purple aura suddenly emanated from Gu Yaoguang's body!

Those auras surged wildly toward the sealing platform and entered the body of the evil tyrant!

"not good!"

Ye Yaocheng's pupils suddenly contracted!

"Gu Yaoguang! Wake up!"

"You're being affected by negative emotions!"

"Stop talking nonsense!"

Gu Yaoguang's eyes were bloodshot.

"If you're so capable, come and defeat me! Stop with the nonsense!"

Ye Yaocheng said no more, clenched his right fist, golden light gathered, and threw a punch!

Although Ye Yaocheng's origins are now problematic, he is still someone Gu Yaoguang cannot withstand.

A cloud of blood mist exploded from Gu Yaoguang's chest, and he was sent flying backward!

"Young Master!!!"

Old Hu's expression changed drastically!

He looked at Ye Yaocheng, his eyes shifting from shock to resentment.

"How dare you treat my young master like this! You're asking for death!"

He formed his hands into claws, and the cry of an eagle pierced the air!

Each claw strike is accompanied by a piercing shriek that tears through the air!

Late stage of Martial King Realm!

"Die!"

Ye Yaocheng dodged the first claw by turning to the side, the claw's wind grazing his cheek and leaving a bloody mark.

His heart sank; it wasn't that he couldn't dodge, but that his internal energy couldn't keep up.

The punch that sent Gu Yaoguang flying just now almost drained the last bit of true energy from his body.

At this moment, his dantian was empty. The newly condensed true qi had just emerged when most of it leaked out from the crack in his origin.

What's even more agonizing is that every time he mobilizes his true energy, the crack in his origin feels like it's being repeatedly cut with a blunt knife, and cold sweat drips down his forehead.

"If this is all the strength you have, then you may die!"

Ye Yaocheng gritted his teeth, determined to finish the battle quickly, and poured all the true energy he could muster into it!

Ultimate Technique: Dragon and Tiger Dual Form!

A golden, beast-shaped phantom rushed towards Elder Hu!

Old Hu crossed his arms in an attempt to block the attack, but he was blasted back dozens of meters by the powerful force!

His hand was split open, and blood flowed down his arm.

"How is that possible?!"

His face was filled with disbelief. The opponent's aura was clearly weak, and the fluctuations of true energy were clearly not as strong as before, so how could he still have such power?!

Ye Yaocheng didn't explain, nor did he have the energy to.

He's in excruciating pain every second, and every move is pushing him to his limits; he has to be faster.

He took a deep breath, launched an attack, and threw several punches, leaving rapid afterimages.

Every punch landed on Old Hu's weak points in his defense!

Old Hu was forced to retreat in defeat.

Finally, he couldn't withstand it and was punched away, his chest caved in, and he crashed down next to Gu Yaoguang.

"Cough cough..."

He struggled to get up, but could only spit out a mouthful of blood.

Ye Yaocheng stood there, panting heavily; his face was ashen.

The twelve beast-shaped phantoms behind him were so faint that their outlines were almost indistinguishable.

"Ye Yaocheng, you think this is the end?"

Gu Yaoguang stood up, leaning against the rubble, his mouth full of blood, but he grinned savagely.

He stared intently at Ye Yaocheng: "We're not the only ones who've come here."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark figure silently emerged from the shadows behind Ye Yaocheng!

The chilling dagger pierced straight into his back!

At the critical moment, Ye Yaocheng forcefully used his remaining strength to activate his indestructible golden body!

"Ding!"

The clang of metal rang out, and the dagger only managed to leave a spark as it struck Ye Yaocheng's body.

"Tsk, still too slow."

The shadowy figure missed its target and immediately created distance, revealing itself to be Wang Rui.

He licked his lips, his eyes filled with malice.

"This indestructible golden body is really troublesome."

Grandma Jin, leaning on her cane, slowly emerged from behind the ruins, her gaze towards Ye Yaocheng filled with resentment.

She still remembered the grudge from her previous defeat and was determined to get revenge this time.

Wang Rui saw through Granny Jin's thoughts and raised his hand to stop her.

"Grandma Jin, don't worry."

He stared at Ye Yaocheng, a cold smile playing on his lips.

"We saw what Gu Yaoguang and Old Hu were like just now. This kid is quite strong, but something's not right about him."

"He seemed to be holding back something."

Grandma Jin squinted; she could also tell that something was wrong with the other person.

Ye Yaocheng's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his clenched fist was trembling slightly, and his face was as pale as paper.

That's a sign that it can't hold on any longer.

"If the four of us join forces, we might be able to take him down."

Wang Rui's voice was cold, yet confident.

"Okay, let's do it this way." Gu Yaoguang agreed.

Soon, the four men surrounded Ye Yaocheng, their killing intent solidifying as if it were a tangible force.

Gu Yaoguang stared at Ye Yaocheng, his eyes filled with a cold, smug satisfaction.

"Ye Yaocheng, you can't escape today."

Ye Yaocheng stood still, silently watching the four menacing figures around him.

In their prime, dealing with these people would be a piece of cake.

But now my dantian is empty and my true qi has leaked out.

How can we break this deadlock?