Third-tier Top-grade Array Master Elder Xu, Slays Purple Cloud Sect Disciple!

Seeing Yan Ruyu's smiling face, Zhang Xuanchen sighed inwardly and took that huge chunk of Earth Core Fire Crystal from his Storage Bag.

The instant it was removed, the temperature inside the Cave Mansion soared to a terrifying level.

Yet it did not affect Yan Ruyu in the slightest.

"It's actually such a huge piece! This is nearly three cubic meters, isn't it? Looks like that old fellow Zhao Tianhai underreported it. Not very honest, huh!"

Yan Ruyu looked at the Earth Core Fire Crystal on the ground, a trace of surprise appearing in her eyes.

Zhang Xuanchen did not feel the slightest resentment at the sight.

Earth Core Fire Crystal in exchange for his life—it was well worth it!

As long as he could obtain the opportunities within the Sky Dragon Secret Realm, this small loss was nothing.

Even so, saying he did not feel heartache would have been a lie.

Just as he thought he was about to part with the Earth Core Fire Crystal, Yan Ruyu pushed it back in front of him.

She held only a fist-sized piece of Earth Core Fire Crystal in her hand.

Zhang Xuanchen was somewhat dumbfounded.

He subconsciously asked, "Sister Ruyu, you... only want this much?"

"Of course. Such a large piece is enough to make several necklaces. I can't use the rest anyway, so what would I want it for?"

She had far too many good things in her possession, and quite a few were more precious than Earth Core Fire Crystal.

She even had two Spiritual Artifacts.

First through Third Stage weapons were considered Magical Artifacts, corresponding respectively to Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Golden Core.

Weapons above the Third Stage were called Spiritual Artifacts.

They corresponded to Nascent Soul and Spirit Transformation.

Some powerful Spiritual Artifacts even possessed Artifact Spirits, each with a different temperament and immense power.

Accordingly, subduing them and making them acknowledge an owner was exceedingly difficult.

"Look at that heartbroken expression of yours. Would your sister here really snatch a treasure you obtained after narrowly escaping death?"

As she spoke, she turned her head aside and feigned sorrow. "Could it be that, in your heart, your sister is some vicious woman?

Sigh~"

Zhang Xuanchen immediately panicked upon seeing this, realizing that he had misunderstood Yan Ruyu.

He hurriedly said, "How could that be? Sister Ruyu is the finest woman in my heart, simply the very embodiment of beauty and kindness. The words 'vicious' have absolutely nothing to do with you.

Besides, you protected my life. Giving up the Earth Core Fire Crystal is no loss at all. That's why I asked. It definitely wasn't as you said.

Sister Ruyu, please don't misunderstand me."

"Haha."

Watching Zhang Xuanchen's flustered, frantic appearance, Yan Ruyu covered her mouth and laughed softly.

"Alright, alright, I was only teasing you. Look how badly I scared you.

Put away the Earth Core Fire Crystal. We're going to Worry-Free Island."

"You're going to the Sky Dragon Secret Realm too?"

Hearing Zhang Xuanchen's question, Yan Ruyu sighed. "I would like to, but sadly, Master won't allow it. If I go, I'll be put in confinement for fifty years. That would be far too much of a loss.

Sigh, this feeling of having one's Dao Path arranged by someone else is truly suffocating."

Zhang Xuanchen was rendered speechless by those words.

Suffocating?

All the powers across the South Sea Immortal Continent treated you with utmost deference, and you said you were suffocating.

I'd love to have my path arranged like that.

But no force would do it for me.

Still, his starting point was already what many people could never attain in an entire lifetime, so he was quite content.

As for comparing himself to Yan Ruyu, wouldn't that just be asking for trouble after eating his fill?

He put away the Earth Core Fire Crystal and followed her out of the Cave Mansion.

The moment the stone door opened, he saw an Elder in black robes standing outside.

Yan Ruyu smiled and pointed at the black-robed Elder. "Xuan Chen, if you need to hire a Formation Master, you can look for Elder Xu.

He is a Third Order Peak Formation Master. Using Earth Core Fire Crystal to turn your Xuanxiao Mountain into a holy land for alchemy and cultivation would be no problem at all.

As for payment, just give him a fist-sized piece of Earth Core Fire Crystal.

You won't need to provide materials or spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xuanchen nodded, then respectfully bowed to Elder Xu.

"Greetings, Senior Xu. Once we return to the Penglai Islands, I'll have to trouble you to act."

He had long seen that Elder Xu was no ordinary man. He simply had not expected him to be this extraordinary.

A trace of surprise also flashed through Elder Xu's deep eyes.

He had not expected Zhang Xuanchen to be the one who had seized the Earth Core Fire Crystal.

It seemed this boy truly possessed some measure of fortune.

No wonder the young lady valued him so highly.

Offering him assistance now would definitely bring countless benefits in the future.

Giving charcoal in snowy weather was far better than adding flowers to brocade.

The heir of the Heavenly Secrets Lineage would not misjudge someone!

At that thought.

A rare smile appeared on Elder Xu's wrinkled face.

"No matter. When the time comes, this Old Man will make the trip. Earth Core Fire Crystal is a rare and precious treasure; we are merely taking what we each need."

Although Zhang Xuanchen still looked like the Wandering Swordsman, Elder Xu was a Golden Core Peak expert. Such clumsy camouflage naturally could not escape his discerning eyes.

After arriving at the counter, Yan Ruyu made the arrangements. Elder Xu then directly led the two of them to the teleportation array.

The moment they arrived, several cultivators wearing Purple Cloud Sect Disciple robes stopped the three of them.

The Qi Refining Peak disciple at the lead said in a deep voice, "You three! Stop! Hand over the Storage Bags or Storage Rings on you for inspection!"

After saying that, his lecherous gaze brazenly swept back and forth over Yan Ruyu's body!

Elder Xu's figure flashed, and he sent the man flying with a slap. Several bloodied teeth burst from his mouth and flew through the air.

"This is Master Yan of Horizon Restaurant—"

"Impudent!"

Before Elder Xu could finish, Purple Cloud Sect Disciples surrounded them from all sides.

A young man wearing a jade crown stepped forward and shouted, "Laozi doesn't care who you are! Anyone who refuses inspection will be killed without mercy!

Anyone who strikes a Purple Cloud Sect Disciple will also be killed without mercy!

Of course, if this bitch is willing to sleep with Laozi for a day, Laozi can show mercy and spare your lives!"

The moment those words left his mouth, Zhang Xuanchen's entire body tensed as he instinctively looked at the young man.

Was this young man really this bold?

Did he truly not know how the word 'death' was written?

"Brother Yu, Brother Yu, don't act rashly! They are from Horizon Restaurant. The higher-ups have already ordered us not to casually provoke people from Horizon Restaurant! Otherwise, bear the consequences yourselves! It will have nothing to do with the sect!"

However, the instant Brother Yu saw Yan Ruyu, lust had rushed to his head, and he had long forgotten everything else.

"Get out of my way! Just because they say they're from Horizon Restaurant means they are? What proof do they have?

I think they're merely customers who just came out of the restaurant.

Search them! Hurry—"

Elder Xu's figure flashed, and his right hand landed atop Brother Yu's head.

Then he suddenly exerted force.

Crack!

The head instantly split into four pieces, blood mixed with brain matter splattering across the faces of the nearby Purple Cloud Sect Disciples.

They were scared witless, frozen in place and not daring to move.

At that moment, several men clad in Black Dragon armor approached.

The instant they saw Yan Ruyu's face and the headless corpse lying on the ground, they immediately guessed roughly what had happened.

"Black Dragon Guard greets Master Yan!"

Yan Ruyu ignored him and led Zhang Xuanchen into the teleportation array.

Elder Xu looked at the Purple Cloud Sect Disciples and said coldly:

"This Old Man will be going to Worry-Free Island. If you want revenge, come find me anytime!

Activate the array!"