Heavenly Que Secret Realm, outside Zhou Shrine.
Ren Wencai hid behind a massive broken stone pillar, holding his breath and focusing his mind.
As a veteran Sword Cultivator who had weathered countless trials in the cultivation world, he knew how dangerous this secret realm was. Now that the rules had changed, Heavenly Que had become a vast hunting ground. Even the slightest abnormal fluctuation of Spiritual Power could draw countless greedy eyes.
At that very moment, he was watching Zhou Shrine, not far ahead.
The commotion from Zhou Shrine just now had certainly not been caused by ordinary Cultivators fighting. It had seemed more like the underlying laws of some corner of the world had been forcibly severed, then pieced back together, leaving ripples in their wake.
"Something major has happened."
Ren Wencai silently considered the possibilities.
Zhou Shrine had always been governed by strict rules. For something to cause such a commotion, someone must have touched upon its most central opportunity—perhaps even claimed a treasure already.
He had planned to get closer and investigate, but stopped when he circled around a stretch of ruins.
Thanks to his seasoned experience and keen Spiritual Sense, he sensed several chaotic, malicious auras lying in wait among the broken walls ahead.
Ren Wencai quietly activated a concealment technique, blending himself completely into the surrounding gloom as he edged forward. Through a gap between the rubble, he made out the group's appearance.
There were five of them, all dressed like Rogue Cultivators, each in different garb. The magical artifacts in their hands were mostly sinister, vicious things.
Their leader was a middle-aged man with a scar across his face. His aura was thick and powerful; he had already crossed the threshold into the mid-stage of the Fourth Realm. Another had reached the early stage