Having entered the Hidden Dragon Abyss alone, a day later than the other contestants, he had to make full use of his remaining time to find the best place to absorb hidden dragon qi.
Most of the teams that had entered ahead of him would choose relatively safe areas with moderate concentrations of hidden dragon qi, staying together and watching one another's backs against the dangers of the secret realm.
But Li Bufan did not need such a cautious strategy. He possessed an advantage no one else could replicate—the space within the Small Cauldron, which could thoroughly refine the hidden dragon qi entering his body. The denser the hidden dragon qi, the more efficiently he could cultivate there.
He walked across the wasteland for roughly four hours, occasionally spotting cultivators traveling together in twos and threes.
Most were disciples from various sects. Some wore grave expressions and hurried along, while others chatted as they walked, looking relatively relaxed.
When their gazes landed on Li Bufan, most simply glanced at him and looked away. In a place where everyone was busy searching for resources and resisting the erosion of hidden dragon qi, an unfamiliar face traveling alone hardly warranted much attention.
Li Bufan did not approach anyone to strike up a conversation either. He merely followed a team at a moderate distance, using his Yang God Realm divine sense to catch fragments of their conversation.
"...Have you heard? About what happened over at Hidden Dragon Valley," someone ahead said in a lowered voice.
"Hidden Dragon Valley? You mean that valley where the hidden dragon qi is so dense it can burst a person apart?" another replied, a trace of apprehension in his voice.
"Who would dare go there? I just made a circuit of the outskirts and already felt like I