In Spirit Spring Valley, spiritual energy billowed like mist.
Ye Feng sat cross-legged on a rock at the center of Spirit Spring Valley, where the spiritual energy was at its densest.
Because he had defeated Zhao Yu earlier, he now occupied this treasured land.
Neither Zhao Yu nor the other Feiyun Sect disciples had any objections.
The disciples scattered around Spirit Spring Valley, some sitting and some standing, greedily absorbing the pure spiritual energy in the air. Even their breathing had become cautious.
The concentration of spiritual energy in Spirit Spring Valley far surpassed that of the outside world. One hour of cultivation here was worth several days of painstaking cultivation outside.
After only three hours, quite a few disciples slowly opened their eyes. Their faces were flushed, and the aura around them had grown several degrees stronger than before.
Even a slight improvement was a rare opportunity for them.
Zhao Yu rose to his feet and stretched his muscles and bones, a trace of emotion in his eyes.
He had just absorbed the spiritual energy with all his might, attempting to break through to the True Condensation Realm, yet he still fell just short of that final step.
"Breaking through to the True Condensation Realm really isn't easy. I'm still missing that one opportunity." Zhao Yu turned to look at Ye Feng, who was still cultivating. Seeing that Ye Feng's aura was steady and showed no sign of a breakthrough, he inexplicably felt relieved.
"Luckily, Ye Feng's cultivation speed is still considered normal. He hasn't become so freakish that even Spirit Spring Valley can directly help him break through. Otherwise, it really would be a crushing blow."
Just then, the spiritual energy in Spirit Spring Valley suddenly began to thin. The dense white mist gradually dispersed, while the clear spring water lost its lustrous white glow and became no different from ordinary spring water.
With so many disciples absorbing it at once, no matter how abundant the spiritual energy was, it could not withstand the consumption. Spirit Spring Valley had completely dried up and lost its cultivation value.
"Let's go. There's still some time before the Secret Realm closes. Let's look for other opportunities." Zhao Yu glanced at Ye Feng and, seeing that he still had not awakened, did not disturb him. He led the group of disciples out of the valley in a grand procession.
They all assumed that Ye Feng would follow afterward, never imagining that their departure would give him the chance to enjoy the opportunity alone.
Another half an hour passed before Ye Feng slowly opened his eyes.
As he felt the True Qi surging through his body, the corners of Ye Feng's mouth curled into a smile.
With the Bone Root Talent improved by the Bone Tempering Flower, combined with the pure spiritual energy of Spirit Spring Valley, his cultivation had soared all the way to the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm Tenth Layer. The True Qi in his Dantian was so dense that it was almost solid, and there were faint signs that he could break through to the True Condensation Realm.
"The Bone Tempering Flower's effect really is remarkable. My speed of absorbing spiritual energy is several times faster than before." Ye Feng stretched lazily but did not rush to break through to the True Condensation Realm.
"Breaking through now would be too rushed. It would be better to wait until I return, use the system to optimize my condition, and then find some pills to assist the breakthrough. That way, my chances of success will be higher."
Ye Feng rose to leave, only to discover that the valley was completely empty. Zhao Yu and the others had long since disappeared.
"They all left?" Ye Feng froze for a moment before breaking into a grin.
"Perfect. No one will disturb me, so I can cultivate for a while longer."
Ye Feng walked to the side of the dried-up Spirit Spring. With a thought, he said, "System, change the time of Spirit Spring Valley back to one day ago."
A familiar white light flashed. The dried-up Spirit Spring instantly erupted with dense white mist, and spiritual energy pure to the extreme once again filled the valley. The spring water also regained its lustrous white glow, becoming even denser than before.
Ye Feng did not hold back. He jumped straight into Spirit Spring Valley, sat down cross-legged, and circulated the Azure Origin Art once more, frantically absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy.
This was a rare chance to enjoy the opportunity alone. He absolutely could not waste it.
No one knew how much time had passed when, at the entrance to the Earth Sun Secret Realm, two figures stood facing each other.
Elder Yin Dang of the Feiyun Sect and Elder Wang of the Baiyang Sect stared at each other coldly, neither giving the other a pleasant look.
Buzz—
A flash of white light passed by, and the Baiyang Sect disciples were the first to be teleported out of the Secret Realm.
Lin Jie and Fang Xu walked at the front, their heads drooping and their faces filled with dejection.
The Baiyang Sect disciples behind them were also listless, utterly unlike their high spirits before entering the Secret Realm.
Elder Wang hurried forward and asked with a frown, "What happened? Why do you all look like this? Didn't you find any opportunities?"
The disciples lowered their heads one after another. No one spoke. They merely glanced instinctively toward Elder Yin Dang.
Elder Wang was puzzled, but he did not ask further. He could only suppress the unease in his heart.
Immediately afterward, another flash of white light passed by, and the Feiyun Sect disciples were teleported out as well.
Ye Feng was the last to emerge. He had just finished cultivating and was still sitting cross-legged. When he stood, he instinctively sensed the spiritual energy around him. Only after discovering that the spiritual energy at the entrance to the Secret Realm was far less dense than that of Spirit Spring Valley did he fully come to his senses.
Elder Yin Dang's gaze swept over the disciples. He quickly discovered that the auras around them were all stronger than before, and faint traces of pure spiritual energy still lingered around many of them. Clearly, they had reaped abundant gains in the Secret Realm.
He nodded in satisfaction and was just about to ask what had happened when several excited disciples rushed over and began reporting the events around Spirit Spring Valley all at once.
"Elder Yin Dang! You have no idea! Senior Brother Ye Feng is amazing! Senior Brother Li Yue went for the kill, but Senior Brother Ye Feng killed him instead!"
"And the people from the Baiyang Sect tried to seize Spirit Spring Valley after we found it, but Senior Brother Ye Feng and Senior Brother Zhao Yu joined forces and drove them away!"
"Most impressive of all, Senior Brother Ye Feng sparred with Senior Brother Zhao Yu and comprehended Thirty Percent Sword Intent during the battle. In the end, he even defeated Senior Brother Zhao Yu!"
The disciples grew more and more excited as they spoke, recounting every key event that had happened around Spirit Spring Valley.
Elder Yin Dang's expression gradually changed from calm to shocked, and finally he even felt a little dizzy.
He stared at Ye Feng, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Before Ye Feng entered the Secret Realm, he had only been at the Qi Gathering Realm Third Layer. How long had it been? He had actually soared to the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm Tenth Layer?
He had even comprehended Thirty Percent Sword Intent?
Ye Feng was only seventeen years old!
Such talent was practically a once-in-a-millennium occurrence!
"A Hidden Dragon! The Feiyun Sect has produced a Hidden Dragon!" Elder Yin Dang was ecstatic. The gaze he turned on Ye Feng became extraordinarily fervent, and the importance he had attached to Ye Feng before rose several levels once more.
He turned to Zhao Yu and saw Zhao Yu nod. There was not the slightest trace of unwillingness on his face; clearly, he had accepted his defeat wholeheartedly. This further confirmed what the disciples had said.
The value of Thirty Percent Sword Intent was absolutely genuine.
Elder Wang stood to the side and heard every word the disciples said clearly.
He finally understood why his disciples were so dejected.
It turned out that they had not only missed out on the resources of Spirit Spring Valley but had also been thoroughly suppressed by Ye Feng.
What shocked him even more was Ye Feng's growth speed. At seventeen, he was already at the peak of the Qi Gathering Realm Tenth Layer and had mastered Thirty Percent Sword Intent. His strength even surpassed Zhao Yu's.
And Lin Jie of the Baiyang Sect had never been a match for Zhao Yu to begin with!
Ye Feng's rise would only make the gap between the two sects grow wider and wider!
A dense killing intent erupted from Elder Wang. He stared fixedly at Ye Feng, his eyes filled with apprehension and viciousness.
But in the end, he restrained himself.
Elder Yin Dang was right beside him.
If he truly attacked, he might not gain the upper hand. He could even trigger a direct conflict between the two sects. It would be a terrible bargain.
"Hmph!"
Elder Wang snorted coldly, summoned a flying boat, and shouted sternly at the Baiyang Sect disciples.
"Let's go!"
Ye Feng keenly sensed Elder Wang's killing intent. He showed no fear whatsoever, raising his head to meet Elder Wang's gaze. His eyes were sharp, and his bearing was utterly unyielding.
Even against an Origin Embracing Realm elder, he had nothing to fear.
Watching the Baiyang Sect's flying boat vanish into the horizon, Elder Yin Dang turned to Ye Feng with a smile on his face. "Ye Feng, come with me. The sect has a heavy reward for you!"
Ye Feng's heart stirred. He knew that the gains from his trip to the Secret Realm were not limited to an increase in cultivation. He had also earned the sect's attention.
That would be of enormous help when it came to obtaining even more resources in the future.
Before you continue