Heirs of Privilege, Gathered Geniuses!

"Hehe, Xuan Ye, you finally came!"

Nangong Fei spotted Ye Xuan as well and quickly waved him over.

"Miss Nangong, who is he?"

But when Ye Xuan approached, Liu Yunxi crossed her arms and sized him up from head to toe. Upon sensing that his aura was only at the initial Spirit Sea Realm, a faint scorn surfaced on her beautiful face.

"Let me introduce him. This is the newly promoted Battle King of my Battle Tower. His combat strength is quite impressive!" Nangong Fei said with a smile, pulling Ye Xuan to her side.

"A newly promoted Battle King?"

Lin Churan, standing nearby, looked at Ye Xuan and frowned slightly.

For some reason, she felt that Xuan Ye carried an inexplicably familiar air about him.

"I heard that seven days ago, someone defeated nine Battle Tower experts in a row. Even Blood Butcher was beaten. Was that him?"

"That's right!" Nangong Fei nodded.

"So he's just a Battle King." The disdain on Liu Yunxi's face remained unchanged. Then she asked, "Fine, he can come. But why did Young Miss bring along someone with no combat strength at all?"

She was naturally referring to Lin Churan, who had the weakest cultivation among them all.

Lin Churan's talent was not particularly high, and her cultivation was only at the peak of the Qi Control Realm.

"Sister Churan's nose can seek out heavenly treasures and earthly materials. Naturally, she has a great use!" Nangong Fei explained again.

Only then did Ye Xuan learn that Lin Churan possessed such a talent for treasure-hunting and discerning spiritual auras.

But Ye Xuan was also puzzled. Hadn't Nangong Fei said they were going to fight?

Why did they need to search for heavenly treasures and earthly materials?

"Hmph, it's only because Brother Chengfeng is still in seclusion. Otherwise, would Young Miss need to bring anyone else?" Liu Yunxi spoke arrogantly.

She had already been in a foul mood these past few days after losing the alchemy duel. Miss Nangong inviting her into a secret realm should have been a happy occasion, yet she had not expected it to involve more than just herself and Nangong Fei.

Lin Churan's presence made her deeply uncomfortable.

"You don't know this, but that place restricts cultivation. Only those in the Spirit Sea Realm can enter. Even if Xiao Chengfeng came, he wouldn't be able to go!"

Nangong Fei seemed tired of explaining. "We'll depart once Ling Tian arrives!"

Ling Tian too!?

Lin Churan and Ye Xuan were both slightly stunned. This group was truly bizarre enough.

Sure enough, not long afterward, Ling Tian descended before them atop a cloud boat over three meters long.

"Miss Nangong, have I arrived late?"

After landing, Ling Tian first greeted Nangong Fei. Then he spotted Lin Churan and hurriedly said with a flattering smile, "Churan, you kept refusing to see me before. I never thought we'd be going together this time."

"I'm only helping Miss Nangong. It has nothing whatsoever to do with you." The disgust on Lin Churan's face was undisguised.

Embarrassment flashed across Ling Tian's face, while humiliation, fury, and coldness surged in his eyes.

"Enough. I don't care what grudges you had before. This time, you're all the Helpers I invited!"

"Now I can tell you where we're going. It's an ancient secret realm called the Ancient Sword Manor!"

Nangong Fei suddenly said.

"An ancient secret realm?!"

Everyone's expressions changed in shock.

They truly had not known beforehand that they were heading into an ancient secret realm!

One had to know that there were not many hidden ancient secret realms on this continent. Every secret realm, no matter how large or small, represented an immense opportunity!

Even Ye Xuan was startled inwardly.

If it truly was a secret realm, he might really be able to gather enough resources to charge into the Heavenly Gang Realm!

"That's right. Let's go. We'll talk on the way!"

Nangong Fei nodded, then raised her hand and summoned a treasure ship artifact, taking everyone away from Tianyun City.

Along the way, Ye Xuan learned from Nangong Fei that the secret realm had been discovered as an opportunity during a gathering of the sons of the Four Regions' city lords.

They had prepared for a long time before finally deciding to enter it.

Since they were all rebellious young heirs, these second-generation scions had agreed not to bring family guards. They could only seek Helpers from outside their residences.

That was also why Nangong Fei had established the Battle Tower.

Thus, after less than half a day, the treasure ship artifact landed amid a deep mountain range beyond the region.

When Ye Xuan and the others disembarked, they found three treasure ship artifacts already hovering not far away. Figures stood beneath them, with five people in every group.

The most eye-catching were the five people in the center. Among them was a handsome male cultivator clad in silver-bright armor, a longsword on his back and black hair cascading like a waterfall. His aura had already reached the Half-step Heavenly Gang Realm, as though he could undergo tribulation and advance at any moment!

"Ji Che, a true disciple of the Eastern Region's foremost sect, the Lin Tian Sword Sect?!"

"Even he came?"

Lin Churan frowned as well, clearly surprised by his appearance.

"Hmph, Shangguan Hong, that son of the Eastern Region's city lord, is trash. Of course he had to find someone formidable to help him!"

Nangong Fei sneered, then introduced them to Ye Xuan one by one.

The leaders of the three groups were naturally the sons of the three city lords. Their backgrounds were illustrious. Although their Treasure Physiques were not extraordinary, their cultivations were roughly comparable to Nangong Fei's.

Aside from the Eastern Region's group, the strongest teams included the Ouyang Family of the Western Region, which had the aid of a Cloud-Leaving Monastery genius, and Chen Duo, son of the Southern Region's city lord, who had invited the Quasi Holy Son of Ba Yue Mountain.

Including the Lin Tian Sword Sect, all three were first-rate sects and the strongest sects in their respective regions.

By comparison, Nangong Fei's group had no genius from a first-rate sect. At least, that was how it appeared to everyone at present.

However, arcs of lightning flickered faintly in Ye Xuan's eyes as his gaze suddenly settled on a figure standing behind the Southern Region city lord's son.

That person was shrouded in a Black Robe, their appearance obscured. Though their aura was indeed at the late Spirit Sea Realm, they gave Ye Xuan an extremely concealed, sinister feeling.

This trip into the Ancient Sword Manor probably would not go smoothly.

"Nangong, you're the slowest every time. We've all been waiting for you!"

At that moment, Ouyang Cheng, the Western Region city lord's son, spoke with an impatient expression.

"Hmph, so eager to go in and die?"

Nangong Fei snorted coldly and gestured for everyone to follow.

"Tsk, tsk, Nangong, after preparing for over half a year, these are the few scraps you found?"

"Oh, Young Master Ling doesn't count..."

Chen Duo, the Southern Region noble, wore a mocking expression, though his face eased somewhat when he saw Ling Tian.

After all, the Ling Family was a great clan in the Central Region, and one of its geniuses had become renowned throughout the three great academies of the imperial dynasty. He still had to show them some respect.

Ling Tian was quite pleased by this, lifting his chin even higher.

"Didn't Chu Wan'er of the Violet Firmament Sect come?"

At that moment, Ji Che of the Lin Tian Sword Sect suddenly opened his half-closed eyes and asked.

"Of the Northern Region, she's the only one I care about."

Lin Churan and the others could not help but freeze at his words.

Three years ago, Chu Wan'er had suddenly risen to prominence and indeed trounced many geniuses from first-rate sects. Ji Che was one of them.

Moreover, it was said that he had fallen in love with Chu Wan'er at first sight.

Although Ye Xuan did not know this history, he could tell something from Ji Che's gaze. His expression beneath the mask abruptly turned icy cold.

He had never expected to encounter a love rival here!?

"Hehe, Chu Wan'er? She's already crippled. In the Northern Region, the strongest genius now is Brother Chengfeng!" Liu Yunxi was displeased.

"Xiao Chengfeng?"

But Ji Che merely gave a soft scoff. "He only advanced to the Heavenly Gang Realm a little earlier than I did!"

"If your Azure Mist Sect really manages to claw its way up during this sect assembly, I'll tell him what a genius of a first-rate sect truly is!"

"You!" Liu Yunxi was humiliated and enraged. The Azure Mist Sect was clearly about to become a first-rate sect, so why were they still being looked down upon!?

"Enough. Whatever abilities you have, we'll find out in the secret realm!"

"Open the secret realm's teleportation!"

Nangong Fei suppressed the quarrel. Then, together with the three city lords' sons, she took out a fragment carved from ancient stone.

The fragments merged into one, and radiant light instantly burst forth, shooting into the heavens.

The brilliance shone upon a mountain wall nearby. Under everyone's watchful gazes, a teleportation magic array slowly emerged upon the cliff face.

The secret realm had opened!

"Let's make this clear: whoever obtains the Sword Manor inheritance will be the boss of the four cities. No backing out!"

Nangong Fei put away her fragment and emphasized it again.

It seemed that, to these second-generation scions, this trip into the secret realm was nothing more than a game.

"Don't worry. A promise is a promise. But the boss will definitely be me, Shangguan Hong!"

Shangguan Hong laughed loudly, then led the Eastern Region team in as the first to charge through.

Soon afterward, the teams from the other two regions followed in succession.

For a moment, only the Northern Region team remained outside the teleportation magic array.

"Take these jade pendants. You'll be able to see my location on them. We still don't know what's inside, so be careful!"

After reminding them, Nangong Fei rushed into the array.

Ye Xuan rubbed the jade pendant in his hand, gave a soft laugh, and followed after her.

Buzz!

The teleportation took quite a while. After Nangong Fei and the others landed, they were dazed for a moment before regaining clarity.

But Lin Churan noticed that Xuan Ye was already looking around, as though he had not been affected in the slightest.

"This is the secret realm?"

Liu Yunxi looked around and discovered that they were standing in a dark canyon.

The sky was dim, cold winds howled around them, and the place exuded a grim, chilling aura.

"We need to get out first!"

Nangong Fei held the ancient stone fragment and frowned.

"Let's go this way!"

Ling Tian pointed toward one end of the canyon. "It looks faintly profound over there. There must be opportunities within this valley. Why not take them before we leave?"

But Lin Churan wrinkled her delicate brows after twitching her nose.

"Go that way, and you'll die!"

Before Lin Churan could speak, however, Ye Xuan suddenly said coldly.

"What the hell are you? Who gave you the right to speak?!"

Ling Tian was the son of Tianyun City's richest man, backed by a great clan. Hearing this, he was instantly humiliated and furious.

A mere Rogue Cultivator dared point fingers and give orders!?

"Don't be afraid, everyone. With me here, I guarantee your safety!"

Ling Tian snorted coldly, immediately drew the longsword at his waist, and erupted with the aura of the peak Spirit Sea Realm as he charged toward the depths of the canyon!

Hiss!

But before he had gone very far, a piercing sound suddenly tore through the air from the darkness ahead.

Buzz!

Ling Tian was startled at first, then abruptly raised his hand. A flash of cold sword light burst forth, Sword Qi sweeping several meters wide. Amid the sound of tearing wind, a black snake as thick as a bowl was cleaved in two, black blood splashing everywhere.

"Hehe, I thought it was something serious. It's just a little Spirit Sea Realm bug!"

"This was enough to scare you, Battle King? Ridiculous!"

Ling Tian landed with his sword lowered, yet still did not forget to turn back and mock Ye Xuan.

"He's a Rogue Cultivator. It's normal for him to be timid. He's nothing but deadweight!" Liu Yunxi added.

Although the matter of the Yuan Gang Pill had fallen through, Liu Yunxi still did not dare offend Ling Tian.

"Something's wrong with that blood!"

But at that moment, Lin Churan cried out in alarm.

"Hm!?"

Ling Tian was startled by her warning. He also felt a burning, stabbing pain in his arm. He abruptly raised his hand and discovered that the snake blood splashed onto it could ignore his protective aura and corrode flesh and blood!

He hurriedly circulated his qi to force the snake blood off his hand, but even so, the clothes and armor touched by the blood had been corroded into a mottled mess!

Hiss, hiss, hiss!

Before Ling Tian could recover, dense, grating hissing erupted from the darkness of the canyon ahead.

There was more than one snake demon!

At last, Ling Tian panicked.

Though these snake demons were not particularly strong, their blood was difficult to resist. If there were too many of them, there would be only one road ahead: death!

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and fled in the opposite direction.

At that moment, pairs of scarlet eyes were already flickering in the darkness as the serpent swarm attacked!

"You stay behind and hold them off. Miss Nangong, I'll protect you as we leave!"

Liu Yunxi grabbed Nangong Fei's hand and turned to leave as well.

"But Xuan Ye..." Nangong Fei wanted to say something, yet Liu Yunxi quickly dragged her away into the darkness.

"You leave too!"

Only then did Ye Xuan look at Lin Churan behind him.

"You..." Lin Churan frowned. She still was not certain of Ye Xuan's identity, but she felt that leaving him like this was deeply unfaithful.

"Don't worry about me. I can handle it!"

After saying that, Ye Xuan raised his hand and sent Lin Churan away on a current of air. Then he went against the flow, charging straight toward the serpent swarm!