Unexpected Change

Within the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, everyone relaxed somewhat as they sensed the aura around them.

Honjou Kaede was the most excited. Comparing the alchemy recipes in her game system, she found many Immortal Herbs that could be used later.

"This place is really beautiful, but why does the spring in front of me make me feel a trace of danger?" Esdeath remarked as well.

Ye Han had some guesses about this. "It might be because of how the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was formed! At the very bottom of the spring lie the corpses of the Fire Dragon King and the Water Dragon King! The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well was formed with the support of those two."

After observing for a while, Ye Han decided not to drag things out any longer and directly opened the system.

"Begin collecting the Secret Realm!"

Checking for nearby Secret Realms that meet the requirements

One of the three great treasure lands, the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, meets the requirements for Secret Realm collection. Beginning collection

Collection successful. The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well has been collected. Please check it, Host

"Where are my Immortal Herbs?" Honjou Kaede looked around excitedly at the Immortal Herbs that had suddenly vanished.

Ye Han merely smiled. "Let's go! I put away the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. We just need to find a place to set it down at the academy. Senior Dugu should be back soon! Once we finish our business and return to the academy, you'll be able to see it!"

Only after hearing Ye Han's words did Honjou Kaede relax. After all, moving it to the academy would make things much more convenient.

"By the way, Xiao Feng, when you were identifying them earlier, did you find out the specific uses of these Immortal Herbs?" Ye Han had also appraised the Immortal Herbs, but the results had only told him whether they were poisonous and what they were called.

Although their effects had been listed, the descriptions were extremely vague. That was not good news. Using Immortal Herbs blindly without knowing anything about them might not be a good thing.

"I looked it up earlier. Once my alchemy reaches Level 7, special recipes will unlock. Some of them use Immortal Herbs, and their effects seem to be much better than taking the herbs directly," Honjou Kaede said confidently.

This was definitely good news. Why else had Ye Han gone to such lengths to steal Tang San's opportunity? Was it just to disgust Tang San?

Of course not. In this world, Ye Han and Tang San had no connection at all. On one hand, he wanted to limit Tang San's future performance in the Soul Master Tournament. On the other, the Immortal Herbs were so effective that it would naturally be best if they could use them themselves.

While everyone was chatting, Dugu Bo returned from Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Seeing the desolation covering the ground, he was completely dumbfounded.

If not for the poisonous mist lingering around the area, Dugu Bo would not even have been able to find the place. How could such a vast medicinal garden suddenly disappear?

"Now that Senior Dugu is back, let's return to the academy and familiarize ourselves with the route first. Then we'll head to the Star Dou Great Forest to obtain Soul Rings!" Ye Han said with a smile.

With two Titled Douluo accompanying them, Ye Han felt far more secure. Their group moved quite quickly.

They passed through the small towns built around the Star Dou Great Forest and arrived at a bleak, desolate area. As they continued forward, a magnificent building suddenly appeared before them.

To be honest, as the surroundings had grown increasingly barren, Dugu Bo had already given up any hopes of a decent academy. But the sudden sight of this building gave him the feeling that a new village had appeared just when all seemed lost.

Only after entering did he learn just how luxurious the Second Dimension Academy was. After Ye Han showed him around, Dugu Bo was utterly stunned.

To put it bluntly, this was absolutely the best place to retire. Even Heaven Dou Royal Academy, with its royal backing, seemed inferior to this place in Dugu Bo's eyes.

"I should've brought Yan Yan here to study long ago!" Dugu Bo said helplessly.

Ye Han smiled at that. "Do you think your Yan Yan would agree? She and her little boyfriend are all lovey-dovey!"

"Kid, I advise you to be kind!"

Having been struck where it hurt, Dugu Bo glared at Ye Han in displeasure, while the latter simply smiled.

After wandering around for quite a while, Ye Han introduced Dugu Bo to the people in the academy before finally arranging accommodations for him.

After everything had been settled, it was still early. Ye Han looked at Zhao Lei with ill intent and said, "Uncle Zhao, you've been idle for quite a few days during this trip to Sunset Forest. Want to spar again?"

At Ye Han's words, Esdeath and the others' eyes lit up. Zhao Lei stiffened. "Ahem! To be honest, I've walked too much lately and suffered internal injuries! It isn't suitable for me to move around too much right now!"

"Oh, come on! Stop making excuses. Come fight!" Esdeath was the first to speak.

"Interesting. You're fighting Zhao Lei? He's a Titled Douluo—can you beat him?" Dugu Bo asked, as though he had discovered a new continent.

Ye Han answered calmly, "Uncle Zhao suppresses himself to the Soul King level and only uses his first five Soul Skills, but even then, we've basically never won!"

After hearing that, Dugu Bo stroked his chin, his eyes lighting up. "How about I be your opponent? I'll suppress my strength too. What do you say?"

Before Ye Han's group could even react, Zhao Lei heard that someone was willing to take the fall. This was wonderful!

He grabbed Dugu Bo's hand and said with utmost seriousness, "I'll never forget your great kindness. From now on, I'll have your back at the academy!"

With that, Zhao Lei strode away without a care, leaving behind a bewildered Dugu Bo who still had no idea what was going on.

"Since that's the case, then we'll have to offend you, Senior Dugu!"

Dugu Bo waved a hand and stood there in an exceptionally smug pose. "Come at me with everything you have. Let me see your strength. I'm a Titled Douluo, after all!"

Dugu Bo had already asked around before coming. Ye Han and the others were only eleven years old—how strong could they be? At most, they would be in their teens. Even if he suppressed his strength to the Soul King level, it would be more than enough.

As soon as he said that, Ye Han and the others became even more excited. They did not waste words with Dugu Bo and attacked directly.

Dugu Bo, who had initially been extremely composed, watched as two Soul Rings flashed around Ye Han and the others. For a moment, he was uncertain. After sensing them again, he discovered that the seven people before him had already reached Level 30.

This discovery dealt Dugu Bo quite a blow. What level had he been at when he was their age? They were simply incomparable.

As Ye Han and the others found their rhythm, Dugu Bo grew more alarmed the longer they fought. He had initially assumed that Ye Han and the others had achieved such levels only by cultivating Soul Power all day, and that their combat experience would surely be lacking.

But the situation before him left even Dugu Bo struggling to keep up. Their combat techniques were exceptionally refined, their coordination was perfect, and their Soul Skills were extremely strange.

After all, when Zhao Lei fought them, he knew most of their Soul Skills. Dugu Bo did not, and he was soon left looking thoroughly disheveled.

Where did all these little monsters come from? Dugu Bo groaned inwardly, but since he had acted so smug, he had to see it through.

The battle continued for some time before ending when Ye Han and the others exhausted their Soul Power.

"You really are a bunch of little monsters!" Dugu Bo complained.

Ye Han smiled. "It's only because Senior Dugu doesn't know our strength very well and underestimated us. Next time, it won't be this easy!"

As the saying went, a sedan chair needed many hands to lift it. Saying something nice would not cost him anything, and words that went against his "conscience" came easily to Ye Han.

In truth, there was still some gap between Dugu Bo's strength and Zhao Lei's. The main reason was that most of Dugu Bo's power lay in poison. He could not release it freely while fighting them, so he was naturally restricted at every turn.

"You all keep practicing. I'll find a place to set down the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well!"

When he heard that Ye Han had really brought the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well over, Dugu Bo eagerly followed him.

Before long, Ye Han found an open area within the academy grounds. He intended to designate this place as the academy's Forbidden Ground.

"System, begin placement!"

Beginning inspection

The current location meets the requirements

Beginning placement

Before long, Dugu Bo discovered in amazement that the surrounding landscape was continuously changing. Soon, the familiar Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well appeared before him once more.

"This is truly miraculous!"

Placement successful. Congratulations, Host, on obtaining your first Secret Realm. The power of the Secret Realm is beginning to nourish the Host

A sudden surge of power crashed into him. Ye Han had not expected this at all, and he lost his footing, landing on the ground on his backside.

An enormous amount of Soul Power continuously washed through Ye Han's body. He could only keep absorbing the sudden influx of Soul Power.

The immense Soul Power alerted everyone in the academy. They came to the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well and saw Ye Han sitting cross-legged. Once they confirmed that he was fine, they finally left in relief.

Although Ye Han looked calm on the surface, his body was anything but peaceful.

Damn system, are you trying to kill me? Can you be any less reliable? How could you not tell me about something this important? That Treasure Map last time was the same!

The Host did not read the instruction manual

Hell! Who knew moving something would have this effect? What do I do now? My Soul Power is already at Level 30. I can store Soul Power, but this is coming in way too fast!

It is recommended that the Host guide the Soul Power throughout the body to temper it. The system will also disperse the excess Soul Power and bestow it upon summoned characters

After hearing the system's words, Ye Han felt much more relaxed in an instant. Since it had already happened and was not a bad thing, all he needed to do now was focus on absorbing the power brought by the Secret Realm.