Million-Pound Force

"There are three here. It's not too much for me to take two, right?"

Lu Jiuyuan was the first to speak as he looked at the three Sacred Spirit Fruits hanging there. Li Qingping naturally had no objections; after all, Lu Jiuyuan had been the one to slaughter the Blood Spirit Rats.

Having reached an agreement, Lu Jiuyuan directly plucked two Sacred Spirit Fruits and swallowed them. At once, a surging force spread from his mouth through his entire body. Without hesitation, Lu Jiuyuan began refining the Sacred Spirit Fruits with all his strength, and Li Qingping did the same.

During the time the two refined the Sacred Spirit Fruits, slaughter continued without cease throughout the secret realm. After all, tens of thousands of Qi Refining Stage cultivators had entered it.

The killing was not merely humans killing demon beasts or demon beasts killing humans. There was also humans killing humans. Before immense temptation, no one was worthy of trust.

"Hehe, little lady, hand over the Profound Sun Grass in your hands. Otherwise, don't blame us brothers for being blind-eyed."

Not long after entering the secret realm, Cheng Xue and Lin Yuran found several stalks of Profound Sun Grass, only to be blocked by several cultivators at the Qi Refining Peak.

After all, Profound Sun Grass was a Mid-grade Profound Tier heavenly treasure. It had miraculous effects for cultivators who practiced fire-attributed techniques, and even if they did not use it themselves, they could sell it for over ten thousand low-grade Spirit Stones.

Facing the five people blocking her path, Cheng Xue was not particularly afraid. Instead, she looked toward Lin Yuran at her side and said calmly.

"Junior Sister, stay here obediently."

With that, a Cold Sword appeared in Cheng Xue's hand, and she charged toward the five men.

"Hmph, looks like this little lady has quite the fire in her. Brothers, attack. Just make sure you don't damage that pretty face of hers."

The leader sneered as he gave the order. The four Qi Refining Peak lackeys behind him immediately swarmed forward and charged at Cheng Xue.

Seeing this, Lin Yuran merely shook her head, a trace of pity in her eyes. Senior Sister Cheng had only suppressed her cultivation at the Qi Refining Peak in order to enter the secret realm. Otherwise, she would have broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm long ago.

Moreover, Senior Sister Cheng's strength could not be measured by her cultivation realm. Lin Yuran had once seen Senior Sister Cheng, while at the Qi Refining Peak, hold her own against someone at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Thus, Lin Yuran was not worried that these people could hurt Senior Sister Cheng. Besides, they carried life-saving items given to them by the sect.

What left that Qi Refining Peak cultivator frozen on the spot was that, in merely one exchange, one of his subordinates had been slain by Cheng Xue.

"What! Are you all trash? Give it everything you've got!"

After hearing their master's words, the remaining three could only suppress the terror in their hearts and unleash immortal arts at Cheng Xue. Cheng Xue, meanwhile, began sprinting swiftly, using her Frost Ice Sword to directly block the immortal arts blasting toward her.

A few seconds later, Cheng Xue's figure flashed past the three of them. Before they could react, a faint line of blood appeared on their necks. As the bloodlines rapidly widened, their heads separated from their bodies amid their stunned disbelief.

Only then did the young man finally lose his composure. Terror on his face, he said, "You can't kill me! My father is a Deity Transformation Stage cultivator!"

But Cheng Xue showed not the slightest fear. The Northern Snow Sect was no minor sect, and it naturally protected its own like a mother hen guards her chicks. So long as its disciples were not the ones in the wrong first, the Northern Snow Sect would generally shield them.

"A Deity Transformation Stage cultivator? Is that supposed to be impressive? What could he do before my Northern Snow Sect?"

Cheng Xue spoke expressionlessly. Then, before the young man's stunned gaze, she directly slew him. Only at the brink of death did he finally realize that he had provoked someone he should never have provoked, a terrifying figure—but it was already too late.

After killing them all, Lin Yuran walked over to Cheng Xue's side. Shaking her head, she said.

"Senior Sister Cheng, wasn't that a little too cruel?"

With her temperament, this was the first time she had ever witnessed someone being killed. The visual shock was naturally difficult for her to accept. Cheng Xue merely shook her head and said earnestly.

"Junior Sister, you need to understand one thing. In the Cultivation World, humans are more terrifying than demon beasts. If you wish to keep growing stronger and climb ever higher, sooner or later, your hands will be stained with human blood."

Although Lin Yuran did not understand such grand truths, she knew Cheng Xue would not harm her. So, she obediently nodded.

After explaining this to her junior sister, Cheng Xue suddenly thought of Lu Jiuyuan. She could not help growing curious. What had that fellow encountered by now?

Meanwhile, inside the cave, Lu Jiuyuan and Li Qingping had both entered a state of cultivation after consuming the Sacred Spirit Fruits. As the fruits were continuously refined, the strength of their fleshly bodies steadily increased.

As the Sacred Spirit Fruits continued to be refined, waves of heat continuously rose from their bodies, while the strength of their fleshly bodies surged ever higher.

Soon, Lu Jiuyuan completely refined the Sacred Spirit Fruits.

"Just my fleshly strength alone can now unleash a million pounds of force. As expected of Sacred Spirit Fruits—they truly are powerful."

Lu Jiuyuan clenched his fist. He could feel the changes in his body.

Only after taking some time to adapt did he rise to his feet and look toward Li Qingping. She was still refining the Sacred Spirit Fruit, and from the looks of it, she had only refined half of it.

That was only natural. Her talent was merely Yellow Tier, while he was only one step away from obtaining Immortal Grade talent. Naturally, there was an enormous gap in their refining speeds.

If he could find the Glazed Treasure Liquid, then his talent should be able to break through to Immortal Grade in one fell swoop. Although Lu Jiuyuan had not shown anything when he saw Lu Yushuang that day, he was the Young Master. It was impossible for him not to care at all that his talent was inferior to someone who had suddenly joined the Lu Family.

Yet one matter left Lu Jiuyuan puzzled. There was nothing strange about this cave, so why could a heavenly treasure like the Sacred Spirit Fruit grow here? Unless...