Li Bufan turned away from the edge of the charred crater without a trace of reluctance and headed straight toward the secret realm's entrance.
His steps were much lighter on the return journey. The moss beneath his feet was still damp and soft, but the string that had been stretched taut in his heart for so long could finally loosen a little.
He had ventured into the deepest reaches of the Ten Thousand Insects Secret Realm. Ordinary treasure hunters almost never set foot in this area; the martial artists who came seeking treasures generally dared to explore only the few regions near the entrance.
He walked for two full days before emerging from the depths of the secret realm and returning to its relatively safe outer region.
When he left the dense forest and stepped onto a trail bearing clear signs of human activity, cultivators gradually came into view.
They were scattered about in twos and threes. Some gathered spirit herbs, others caught low-tier insect beasts, and still others sat on rocks, resting and chatting.
Their eyes held a hint of surprise when they saw Li Bufan approach from the depths. Clearly, people who returned alive from the deepest parts of the Ten Thousand Insects Secret Realm were a rare sight.
Li Bufan paid no attention to their looks. He approached a middle-aged cultivator who was organizing his Storage Bag, cupped his fists, and asked, "Brother, which way should I go to leave the secret realm?"
The middle-aged cultivator looked up and sized him up. Seeing his composed bearing and no sign that he had suffered serious injuries in the depths, he casually pointed to a path behind him. "Follow that path. After about an hour, you'll see the gateway of light at the exit."
Li Bufan thanked him and,