The shadow hesitated. âThese Primordial Era survivors are each more troublesome than the last. If you turn into that kind of monster, no one will be able to save you.â
Gu Han was somewhat surprised. â
Hmm?
You donât want me to die? Why so kind?â
The shadow wore a serious expression. âI see it clearly now! Youâre a jinx, and jinxes often live the longest!â
Gu Han was speechless. He felt like giving the shadow another beating.
***
Outside, Gu Han slowly opened his eyes and exhaled softly. âYour problem canât be solved for now.â
Yang Ying wasnât particularly disappointed, seemingly having guessed the outcome. âItâs fine. From the moment I took that pill, I knew this would be the result. I donât regret it. In fact, over these years, Iâve lived quite an extraordinary life. Thatâs enough! By the way, if youâre looking for soul-nourishing pills, going to that secret realm might be worthwhile...â
Gu Hanâs eyes instantly lit up. âReally?â
Yang Ying hesitated for a moment. âThat place is too strange, though.â
âWhat do you mean?â
âYup. Several years ago, I was only at the Essence Gathering realm. I once traveled to the edge of the Northern Domain for a mission, and by a series of coincidences, mistakenly entered that secret realm.â Yang Ying nodded. âI saw a great hall that was full of pills. But just as I took that Marrow-Draining Pill from the outer area, I was blasted out by a restriction. When I came by, there was nothing but desolation before me. It was as if the secret realm never existed.â
Gu Han scoffed deeply. âNothing? How is that possible!â
Yang Ying nodded. âReally nothing. I wasnât willing to give up either. When my cultivation level was a bit higher, I went a few more times, but to no avail. If not for the pill Iâd grabbed, Iâd suspect it was just a dream.â
Gu Han pondered for a moment. âThat place is definitely real. You mustâve overlooked something.â
Based on Yang Yingâs description, he dared to conclude that the pills in that secret realm were definitely extraordinary. They were likely similar to the pill he had once extracted from a mystic stone, possessing miraculous effects that ordinary people found hard to comprehend. Replenishing soul power was probably just one of its functions.
Upon seeing Gu Hanâs eagerness, Yang Ying sighed. âIf we can get out, Iâll accompany you there.â
Gu Han nodded. âGreat! Weâll split whatever we get fifty-fifty!â
Yang Ying shook his head, his gaze dimming. âThereâs no need for that. I no longer need such things.â
He understood very well what kind of fate awaited him, his mother, and his younger sister.
Gu Han understood his worries. âIâll ask my senior brother and the others to help think of a solution for you. Also, I have a secret technique here, youââ
A clamor suddenly came from outside.
âHey! You let me go! Let me go quickly! I really didnât do anything!â Zhi Xuan said.
â
Hmph!
You little brat, sneaking around! Do you even know how to keep watch? Youâre not entirely stupid after all! Talk! Are those two bastards Yang Lin and the other one inside?!â Murong Yan roared.
Gu Han and Yang Ying exchanged a glance, then left the cave dwelling.
Not far away, Murong Yan held Zhi Xuan by her slender waist using her right hand, interrogating her sternly without pause. Her signature hammer rested on her left shoulder.
In contrast to Murong Yan's robust physique, Zhi Xuan appeared so petite and delicate. No matter how much Zhi Xuan thrashed around, she couldnât break free. Meanwhile, Shen Xuan and the others were vigilantly watching the surroundings.
Gu Han was even more speechless. He quickly went forward and explained the situation to Murong Yan.
Zhi Xuanâs face flushed red. âSee! I told you earlier that I meant no harm! Let me go quickly!â
Murong Yan casually tossed her aside, making Zhi Xuan nearly cry from anger. âJust as I thought! Youâre still the most cautious. You know to have someone to keep watch.â
Gu Han felt a bit ashamed, as it was just a pretext to send Zhi Xuan away. The group entered the cave. After hearing Gu Han recount the events, they couldnât help but break into a cold sweat for the two.
Shen Xuan sighed with emotion. âLuckily, you were with Brother Gu. If it were me, Iâm afraid that I wouldnât last 5 minutes.â
Right at that moment, Murong Chong and the others exchanged glances, a flash of resolve in their eyes. They stepped forward with solemn expressions.
âMiss!â
Murong Yan was somewhat puzzled. âWhatâs wrong? Is there something wrong?â
âPlease accept these!â
As they spoke, they each took out their own storage rings and presented them before her.
Murong Yan was taken aback, as she did not quite understand. âWhat are you guys doing?â
Murong Chong was filled with tragic determination. âMiss, just now, we already investigated. The red mist is getting thicker and thicker. You must maintain your barrier at all times! Moreover, the longer we spend here, the more spirit qi we consume. We believe the pills you and Brother-in-Law have are far from enough. Please accept these!â
Shen Xuan frowned slightly. â
Huh?
It seems, there is a bit more.â
Murong Yanâs eyes widened. âIf you give them to us, what will you all do?â
The men stared at each other, the tragic resolve on their faces deepening. âWe would rather die than fail to protect you and Shen Xuan!â
Zhi Xuan glanced at them, then carefully took out Yang Linâs storage ring, timidly saying, âIf itâs not enough, I-I have some here too...â
Murong Yan and Shen Xuan didnât take it. Besides being moved, they mostly felt like laughing.
Gu Hanâs gaze was profound. âBrother Yang, this is your forte. Help calculate, with the spirit herbs we just obtained, how long can they last for all of us?â
Yang Ying scoffed slightly. âBased on the increasing speed of the red mist, our spirit herbs are only enough for about three months!â
Gu Hanâs expression was blank. â
Oh...
Three months, thatâs a bit short.â
Shen Xuan nodded. âI thought they could last four months.â
Murong Yan scratched her head. âI didnât calculate.â
Murong Chong and the others were completely dumbfounded.
T-three months!
***
At this very moment, Yang Lin and Meng Xing had begun searching for Gu Hanâs trail ahead of time. They had clearly noticed that the red mist was gradually thickening.
Meng Xing turned gloomy. âSearch! This secret realm is only so big. We must find them as quickly as possible!â
Yang Linâs expression was also very unpleasant. âYouâre right! If we donât find them, weâll turn into monsters!â
âUnderstood!â
Everyone understood they had no way back. Gritting their teeth, they scattered to various parts of the secret realm, disregarding their cultivation expenditure.