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Ning Ning didn't have time to say anything before He Zhizhou glanced around, then suddenly leaped into the air and flopped onto the ground. At the same time, he started wriggling nonstop, using both hands and legs like a frog.

That's right. Wriggling.

Ning Ning couldn't bear to watch and turned her gaze to Xu Ye.

To her surprise, the boy who had been so proper just a second ago suddenly hunched over with his head lowered, waving both hands beside his head. Every now and then, he turned to look at her, mouth wide open as he gasped for air, his eyes rolling so far back they nearly disappeared.

Ning Ning's sanity took a nosedive. She asked cautiously, "What are you two doing?"

"Obviously, swimming."

Xu Ye looked at her like she was an idiot. "You're comfortable sitting in the boat—watch out! A huge wave's coming from that way!"

Where had the huge wave come from? What boat?

So you're poisoned too, bro!!! So neither of you is normal! Could you two be those legendary Land Swimmers? She was terrified!

Nearby, He Zhizhou continued his frog-stroke crawl, using both hands and feet. Every so often, he turned his head and grinned at her, then lowered his voice.

"Let me tell you a secret. The chairman told me Optimus Prime and the Hulk agreed to help us start a revolution. International friends are the best! Once we swim across the Yalu River, the new China will be founded!"

The two of them carried on with their own conversations, swaying their bodies and limbs in different ways. The scene was downright bizarre.

Ning Ning would call it a cultivation-world version of zombies breaking loose—a new Train to Busan, Resident Evil Part Ten.

Just as she was at a loss for what to do, a voice she'd never heard before came from beside her, brimming with undisguised aggression. Its owner clearly meant trouble. "I see spiritual energy spilling out of your bundle, fellow Daoist. Could it be that you've found the legendary Heaven Heart—"

The man didn't finish his sentence. He simply froze in place.

He had followed the spiritual energy here, and only now did he finally see what was happening.

Two disciples from a sect had seemingly gone mad. One was crawling along the ground, wriggling forward, while the other looked just like a living corpse drained of its blood and vital essence. The latter's hands trembled above his head like flowering branches as he staggered toward him, one step at a time.

This was terrifying.

The young man shuddered and took half a step back.

He recognized the uniform of the one crawling on the ground as belonging to the Xuanxu Sword Sect. He'd heard the rumors Xu Ye of the Wanjian Sect had spread: everyone in that sect was completely abnormal, and it was best to avoid them if possible. Otherwise, he'd be responsible for the consequences.

And the other one, who looked just like a living corpse—

Good heavens! It was Xu Ye himself!

He panicked like a sheltered child who'd never seen the world.

Could the madness of the Xuanxu Sword Sect really be contagious?

Chapter 15

The one who had witnessed this scene, comparable to zombies breaking loose, was Zou Wu, a Talisman Cultivator from the Haoran Sect.

As soon as they saw his uniform, He Zhizhou and Xu Ye both jolted in alarm. They even forgot to keep panting and swimming, seeming to finally come to their senses as they focused and assumed defensive stances.

"Be careful."

He Zhizhou used Voice Transmission to whisper, "He's Zou Wu, the Haoran Sect's third senior brother. The Haoran Sect and Niguang Island are known as the two great scourges of the secret realm. The former snatches any treasure it sees, while the latter is good at scheming. Who knows how many people they've tricked out of their possessions? Xu Ye and I were robbed once by some of the Haoran Sect's other disciples in the woods. But when you get right down to it, all their plans were actually devised by this guy."

Ning Ning was stunned. "They bully people with their power and rob them of their possessions. The elders outside don't do anything?"

There were two rules in the secret realm that everyone knew.

First, no one could deliberately harm another disciple without a valid reason. They could only settle disputes through proper combat.

Second, to prevent anyone from gathering too many things, Storage Bags weren't allowed in Xiaochong Mountain. Everyone had to carry their belongings in a Brocade Pouch or a bundle.

If someone saw another person find a treasure and used their numbers to snatch it, they would surely be punished once they left.

"Of course they exploit loopholes. We found a wild Jade Spirit Fungus of the rarest grade. After finally defeating the Spirit Beast guarding it, we were just about to pick it when they snatched it first. Then they brazenly made up a story, claiming they'd been there first."

He Zhizhou's face crumpled into a bitter melon. "We couldn't do anything, even though we objected. They really had picked the Jade Spirit Fungus first. If we tried to take it back, we'd be the ones acting unreasonable."

Seeing that Ning Ning understood, he continued, "Xu Ye told me later that they often lie in wait near treasures. They wait for someone else to deal with the troublesome Spirit Beast, then suddenly show up and snatch the treasure without lifting a finger."

Ning Ning nodded.

So it didn't matter if their schemes were vicious. Maybe those spectators outside the secret realm enjoyed watching the disciples fight among themselves. As long as they didn't cross the line too badly, they wouldn't be punished.

Zou Wu looked hostile. He had even pointed out that she had Heaven Heart Grass, so he had surely come for this rare treasure.

"I'm Zou Wu of the Haoran Sect."

Zou Wu laughed heartily. "To be honest, I discovered the Heaven Heart Grass earlier. But after I went back to the camp to tell my senior brothers and sisters, I returned and found that it had vanished. Surely you understand the principle of first come, first served, miss?"

Outside the Mystic Mirror, Tian Xianzi let out a cold laugh.

Not even a fool would believe that.

Ning Ning replied unhurriedly, "Where was the Heaven Heart Grass you saw growing?"

The man was shameless, all right. He answered with a perfectly straight face, "Unfortunately, I was so overjoyed that I forgot."

He paused, putting on a helpless expression. "The Heaven Heart Grass is nurtured by the spiritual energy of the secret realm. It's extraordinarily precious. If you insist on keeping it for yourself, then I'm afraid I'll have no choice but to..."

He didn't finish. His voice abruptly cut off.

—The harmless-looking, pretty little girl nearby narrowed her eyes with a smile. In the blink of an eye, a thousand-jun torrent of Sword Qi surged from her side, shooting straight into his Consciousness Sea!

"What do you think you're doing? Ning Ning is under my protection, little junior sister!"

He Zhizhou hefted two greatswords onto his shoulders. His feet wobbled, but he still stepped in front of Ning Ning. "You little demon, cause trouble again and I'll make sure you fall into the animal realm at the Ascension Ceremony!"