The three brothers did not know that it was precisely because of Zhang Xuanbing's appearance that they had been lucky enough to survive this journey into the Secret Realm.
Two days passed in the blink of an eye.
After two days of travel, Zhang Xuanchen successfully crossed the forest and arrived within a valley.
During this time, he had slain seventeen First Stage demon beasts and one Second Stage demon beast, collecting one hundred and seventy-three spirit herbs.
Among them were one hundred and thirty-seven First-grade Mid-tier Spirit Gathering Grass.
They were the primary ingredient for refining First-grade Mid-tier Qi Gathering Pills.
Although the Zhang Family's Spirit Medicine Garden had them, who would ever complain about having too many of these things?
There was also one second-grade low-tier Azure Jade Fruit.
"The fragrance of flowers fills the air, spiritual qi shrouds the valley, and there seem to be formation patterns fluctuating within it. Could this be a Spirit Medicine Garden?"
Zhang Xuanchen closed his eyes and sensed the fluctuations of spiritual qi around him, as well as the narrow crevice ahead.
The scent of spirit herbs!
It was coming from over there!
As an alchemist, he could never be wrong when it came to sensing spirit herbs!
Just then, a voice drifted over from afar.
With several leaps, Zhang Xuanchen reached a patch of shrubs and hid within it.
Shortly afterward, a young man slowly approached, wearing a long robe embroidered with a small azure sword over the left side of his chest and carrying a longsword at his waist.
Beside him walked a woman in a short skirt embroidered with the same azure sword.
"As expected of disciples of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect. One is at Foundation Establishment Early Stage, while the other is at Qi Refining Peak. Their strength is beyond question."
The two made no effort to conceal their cultivation, allowing Zhang Xuanchen to discern it at a glance.
Among Foundation Establishment cultivators under forty, the Zhang Family currently only had Zhang Xuanbing and Zhang Hongxi.
Moreover, Zhang Hongxi had only broken through half a year ago.
She was already thirty-nine years old, barely meeting the conditions for entering the Secret Realm.
Yet now, the Nine Splendor Sword Sect disciples he had encountered by chance had already reached Foundation Establishment Early Stage.
This showed just how terrifying the foundation of a Nascent Soul faction was.
"Senior Brother Chang, once we pass through that crevice ahead, we'll reach the Spirit Medicine Garden!
"There's a Second Stage demon beast there, and it's very powerful. Senior Brother, you must be careful."
Hearing this, Chang Yanghong looked completely at ease.
As the Personal Disciple of a Golden Core elder from the Nine Splendor Sword Sect,
he was a genius who had broken through to Foundation Establishment at thirty-one. A mere Second Stage demon beast was not worth his notice.
He said casually, "Junior Sister Lian, don't worry. Leave everything to me."
At those words, little stars filled the woman's eyes, and her delicate body unconsciously leaned closer to Chang Yanghong.
"Senior Brother Chang truly deserves to be a Personal Disciple of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect! He's simply too strong, too charming!"
Li Lian's adoring expression filled Chang Yanghong with immense satisfaction.
Looking at her voluptuous figure and snowy, delicate face, a wicked thought could not help rising in his heart.
However, that evil fire was quickly suppressed. He had not let lust cloud his mind.
The spirit herbs in the Spirit Medicine Garden were what mattered most right now.
Once he took the opportunity here, wouldn't whatever he wanted be his to command?
Surely Junior Sister Lian would not refuse.
After the two entered the crevice, a streak of blood-red light suddenly appeared where Chang Yanghong had just been standing.
That person had blood-red hair, wore a blood-colored robe, and had a face as pale as paper.
After sensing the area for a moment, he followed after them toward the crevice.
Watching this from the grass, Zhang Xuanchen's lips curved slightly upward.
"Heh, even Evil Cultivators have come in?
"This is getting interesting.
"If he wants to be the oriole behind, he'll first have to ask whether I agree."
That blood-robed young man was skilled at concealment. If he had not appeared voluntarily, Zhang Xuanchen would not have detected him.
The man had restrained his aura, making it impossible for Zhang Xuanchen to investigate his cultivation level.
But since he dared to follow behind a Foundation Establishment Early Stage cultivator, his own strength could not be weak.
Better to play it safe and wait here for a while.
Just as Zhang Xuanchen was thinking of taking the cautious route, intense sounds of battle erupted from the other side of the crevice!
At this moment, Chang Yanghong stood in midair with a spear in hand, his aura surging like a rainbow as he watched the colossal creature dozens of meters long before him with wary eyes.
It was clad in heavy bone armor, shaped like a gigantic lion, while frosty currents billowed from its nostrils.
"Mid-Second Stage—Mystic Armor Ice Lion! A rare demon beast scarcely seen in the outside world!"
Seeing this type of demon beast, Chang Yanghong was both startled and delighted.
Riding such a rare breed out in public would definitely be immensely impressive!
Though it was somewhat difficult to deal with, it was still within his acceptable range!
He immediately pointed his spear at it and said coldly, "Mystic Armor Ice Lion! I know you can understand what I'm saying!
"Now, you have only one path to choose! Open your Spiritual Sense and acknowledge me as your master!
"I'll show you the vast and magnificent world beyond! What do you say?"
The Mystic Armor Ice Lion scoffed at this!
The lion race would never be slaves!
Roar—!!
A world-shaking roar rang out.
This human dared to come here to steal its spirit herbs and disturb its slumber!
Only death awaited him!
The Mystic Armor Ice Lion rose onto its hind legs, its enormous body like a small mountain. Locking onto Chang Yanghong, it violently stomped its four paws against the ground.
In an instant, centered on its giant paws, a layer of azure ice carrying bone-piercing cold spread at tremendous speed.
Wherever it passed, the grass, trees, and spirit herbs ahead all became ice sculptures.
"Junior Sister Lian, hide behind me."
Before his words had even faded, the spear in his hand spun.
With a low roar, he directly unleashed his ultimate move. "Since you are stubborn and unyielding, then go die!
"Mystic Nether Spear Art—Light Splitting Shadow Dissipation!"
The spear in his hand blazed with light, abruptly splitting into eighteen spear phantoms.
Every spear radiated incomparable might.
Three spears plunged into the ground, forming a spear-qi shield that protected the two of them within.
The remaining fifteen spears shot toward the Mystic Armor Ice Lion.
The piercing shrieks through the air demonstrated just how powerful these dozen or so spears were.
As a Second-tier Spell famed for its power, Chang Yanghong's move possessed enough force to rival that of Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
But the corresponding price was immense, consuming a full third of his spiritual qi.
Seeing the incoming spears, the Mystic Armor Ice Lion once again threw back its head and roared.
An extremely condensed blue frost current surged toward Chang Yanghong like a flood.
The speed of those sharp spear phantoms was instantly affected by the frost current, and by the time they reached the Mystic Armor Ice Lion, they no longer held the slightest killing power.
Just then, its body vanished from the spot in an instant, and its massive lion paw fiercely struck at Li Lian.
"What!"
Chang Yanghong cried out in alarm and immediately charged forward with his spear.
Li Lian could not die yet. He had not had his fun with her yet—if she died, that would be no fun at all!
Boom!
The spear and lion paw collided, and the powerful shockwave sent Li Lian flying.
However, the Mystic Armor Ice Lion's strength clearly exceeded what Chang Yanghong could endure.
Chang Yanghong's face flushed crimson.
He violently spat out a mouthful of blood.
Like a kite with its string cut, his body was directly sent flying.
He crashed heavily into the rock wall.
His body had weakened to the extreme.
Yet the Mystic Armor Ice Lion did not stop. With a flash, it once again charged toward Chang Yanghong, embedded in the stone wall.
It wanted to smash this two-legged beast into pulp!
Seeing this, Li Lian could not help crying out in grief, "Senior Brother Chang!"
Endless regret surged through her heart!
However, right at this moment.
A deafening explosion sounded in Chang Yanghong's direction.
The Mystic Armor Ice Lion's remaining half-body was blasted over a thousand meters away.
Then Chang Yanghong, covered in blood and flashing with Diamond Talisman runes, slowly walked over.
To kill this Mystic Armor Ice Lion, he had directly used two Second-tier Top-grade Spirit Talismans. His losses were no small matter.
Even as an elder's Personal Disciple, he was heartbroken beyond measure.
After all, his master did not have only one disciple.
"Senior Brother Chang!"
Seeing that Chang Yanghong was still alive, Li Lian threw herself into his arms.
The two great lamps on the grape trellis slammed fiercely into his chest.
Feeling the ultimate softness pressing against his chest,
desire blazed in Chang Yanghong's heart.
Wasn't this exactly why he had risked his life to save Li Lian?
Just as he was about to make a move, he keenly sensed a fatal danger coming from behind him.
A dark blade light suddenly appeared.
Alarm bells rang in Chang Yanghong's heart. At the critical moment,
he directly threw Li Lian in his arms behind him.
Pfft.
A head filled with astonishment flew into the sky.
Blood sprayed across the heavens!
"Oh? Your reaction was quite fast. As expected of a Personal Disciple of the Nine Splendor Sword Sect."
"It's you! Xue Mingzi!"
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