Gao Wu: Oh no! Young Master Zhen is a cultivator!

Lin Hongbo looked at him and asked earnestly, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Help me acquire crystal cores of rank 5 and above in bulk." Lin Ran said solemnly, "I can put 80 billion yuan into the acquisition, the more the better."

Lin Hongbo was slightly taken aback, then replied, "That's not difficult."

"The group already has a dedicated crystal core procurement department that works with various crystal hunting teams and secret realm chambers of commerce year-round. I can arrange for someone to coordinate this tomorrow."

He paused briefly at this point: "But what are you going to do with all these high-level crystal cores you've stockpiled?"

"It's used to set up high-level defensive barriers. The secret realm is full of dangers, so it's better to be prepared." Lin Ran made up a story on the spot.

If he directly said that he could absorb crystal cores, he would most likely have to go through the trouble of explaining to Lin Hongbo, so it was better to just give a perfunctory answer.

In order to ensure safety in the secret realm, it seems reasonable to set up some high-level barriers.

Lin Hongbo nodded and solemnly agreed: "The defensive barrier set up by the fifth-order crystal cores is enough to withstand the full-force attack of a transcendent realm martial artist. It is indeed advisable to prepare more."

"I will oversee this matter with all my might, and stockpile as many high-level crystal cores as possible for your use in the secret realm. As for your own money, keep it for future use."

Before she could finish speaking, soft footsteps came from upstairs, and Song Yishu slowly walked down the stairs.

Her gaze fell on the two of them, and she said softly, "Xiao Ran's back. What were you two talking about?"

"Let's talk about some work-related matters," Lin Ran said seriously.

Song Yishu smiled, "He's the chairman of the group, and you're an investigator from the Special Affairs Bureau. Your professions are completely different; what common ground could you possibly have?"

"The principles governing everything are interconnected," Lin Ran said earnestly.

Song Yishu then asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

"I've already eaten," Lin Ran replied casually.

Song Yishu pressed on, "What did you eat?"

Lin Ran was speechless for a moment.

Song Yishu saw through it immediately and said with a smile, "I knew it, you didn't eat dinner at all. There's some food left for you in the kitchen, I'll go get it for you."

"No need to trouble yourself, I'm not hungry." Lin Ran waved his hand.

Song Yishu spoke gently, but her attitude left no room for refusal: "Regular meals are essential for health; you must eat."

Left with no other choice, Lin Ran had to comply with the arrangement.

After the meal, Lin Ran returned to his room and secluded himself for intensive cultivation.

Overnight, several sixth-order crystal cores were drained, and his cultivation level steadily improved.

The next morning, as dawn broke.

Lin Ran had just finished washing up and sat down to prepare breakfast when his phone screen suddenly lit up.

It was a message from Liu Hanyan, and the words were clear.

"Wang Qingfeng inquired about my relationship with you, and I frankly admitted that we had several transactions in the past. He obtained your contact information from me, and most likely wants to use it to trace your origins and investigate your true identity."

Lin Ran's eyes flickered slightly, his fingertip hovering above the screen, but he did not reply immediately.

While encrypted communication codes are secure, they are not entirely unbreakable.

If he replies to this message, he will fall into the other party's trap.

Liu Hanyan's route has been completely exposed and is no longer of any use, so there's no need to waste any more time on it.

Logically speaking, with Gu Guichen and Shen Jinghan present, even if Wang Qingfeng was filled with murderous intent, he couldn't possibly do anything to Liu Hanyan.

As someone in a high position, he should act with some discretion.

As long as it's confirmed that Chen Changsheng and Liu Hanyan don't have a very close relationship, they probably won't do anything meaningless.

Moreover, Lin Ran's act of saving them yesterday can be considered as doing his utmost to help.

Even if Wang Qingfeng really takes his anger out on Liu Hanyan, or even suppresses the Liu family, Lin Ran has no obligation to take action again.

Moreover, he had just suffered a loss in this matter, so he naturally couldn't repeat the same mistake.

After breakfast, Lin Ran finalized today's itinerary.

He had previously chosen the S-163 Gold-type Secret Realm in Sichuan, but he had not been able to go there yet.

This secret realm is abundant in gold-type social monsters, and their numbers are enormous, making it the perfect place to hunt and stockpile.

Within the secret realm, the Gold-Eating Beasts roam in packs. They are small in size but fierce in appearance, with most having a fifth-order cultivation level. The elites of the tribe can reach the sixth order, and the tribe leaders even possess seventh-order combat power.

Most of the secret realm was the territory of the Gold-Eating Beast, and all other demonic beasts retreated, not daring to set foot there.

The food supplies previously reserved for Xuan Jiao have been exhausted and urgently need to be replenished, so Lin Ran specifically chose the metal-type secret realm.

Although it is located in Shu and the journey is long, with his current speed of flying on his sword, he can reach the entrance of the secret realm in two hours.

As for the secret realms around Xinhai, the monsters are either of mixed levels or few in number, making them far less suitable for hunting than the S-163 secret realm.

After breakfast, Lin Ran told Song Yishu that she didn't need to wait for him to have dinner, and then turned around and left.

Before Song Yishu could respond, Lin Ran had already disappeared from sight, leaving her only able to shake her head helplessly.

Outside the villa, Lin Ran soared into the air, riding the wind on his sword, heading straight for Shu.

The wind howled in my ears, the clouds rushed past, and the mountains and rivers stretched out beneath my feet.

Two hours later, Lin Ran landed steadily near the entrance to the S-163 Secret Realm.

Several guards were patrolling the area, but there weren't many people venturing into this high-level secret realm, which saved the guards a lot of trouble.

Lin Ran, familiar with the place, activated his invisibility technique, concealed his aura, and stepped directly into the light curtain of the secret realm.

In an instant, a rich metallic spiritual energy rushed towards him, and a sharp, piercing aura swept over him.

The entire secret land is grayish-brown, with rocks and minerals scattered everywhere, and the vegetation is imbued with a heavy metallic aura.

The wind rustled through the woods, producing a distinctive, ringing sound of metal scraping against metal.

Lin Ran withdrew some of his protective spiritual power, and his figure flew low into the heart of the secret realm.

Moments later, countless dark shadows darted about in the valley below.

Countless strange beasts, the size of badgers, darted among the rocks, their bodies covered in fine golden scales, their claws and teeth sharp and gleaming—these were the Gold-Eating Beasts.

This strange beast feeds on metallic minerals, lives in groups, moves swiftly, and is fierce in nature.

Lin Ran glanced at them and saw dozens of fifth-tier Gold-Eating Beasts and four or five sixth-tier Gold-Eating Beasts, but he didn't see any seventh-tier leaders.

He descended directly, releasing his spiritual power in an instant.

hum!

The powerful aura shook the valley, disturbing the entire Gold-Eating Beast clan.

Dozens of fifth-tier gold-devouring beasts instantly raised their heads, their golden vertical pupils locking onto the unfamiliar intruders. They pushed off the ground with their limbs and pounced forward with lightning speed.

They were incredibly fast, skimming the ground as they charged forward, their scales scraping against the earth with a screeching sound.

Lin Ran flicked his wrist, and the Jinghong Sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath, its blade flashing with a sharp, swirling light.

He neither dodged nor avoided, but steadily stepped forward, unleashing his sword's power.

Swish!

A curved sword light swept out horizontally, its sharp sword energy tearing through the airflow.

The first few gold-devouring beasts were instantly struck by the sword energy. Their golden scales shattered, their bodies flew to the ground, and they lost all life.

The remaining Gold-Eating Beasts showed no fear, charging forward one after another, layer upon layer, to encircle them.

Lin Ran's steps were unsteady, his movements elusive, as he weaved and shifted amidst the beast tide.

With each rise and fall of the sword, swift and precise, each strike could slay a gold-devouring beast.

A few elite sixth-tier gold-devouring beasts, stronger and faster, leaped up, their claws glowing with golden light as they clawed at Lin Ran's face.

clang!

Claws clashed with the sword, sparks flying, and the clang of metal echoed through the valley.

The elite gold-devouring beasts' attacks were completely blocked, and the huge recoil caused them to freeze in mid-air for a moment.

In that split second, Lin Ran changed his sword technique again, unleashing a fierce vertical slash that pierced through the beast's skull.

In a short time, the valley was littered with corpses, and tiny golden scales were scattered all over the ground. The stench of blood mixed with the golden spiritual energy permeated the air.

Lin Ran raised his hand and waved his hand, his spiritual power sweeping across the ground, collecting all the crystal cores and the bodies of the strange beasts.

These strange beasts are not large in size and have firmer flesh, which should be more suitable for the Xuanjiao.