Gold Essence Technique!

"Director, the passage to Secret Realm No. 7 has been interfered with..."

"Understood." The middle-aged man's face remained as calm as an ancient well, his hands stroking an object resembling a Rubik's cube.

Ripples spread continuously from the cube, vanishing into the surrounding void.

"Maintain the status quo. Do not alert the enemy."

"Yes..."

Chu Yuan was speechless at the sight of Xiang Ning gnashing his teeth, but he had no time to waste on further nonsense with him.

He simply acted as if the man didn't exist and began flipping through the Gold Essence Technique in his hands.

The quality of this cultivation manual was indeed high; while leafing through it, he actually sensed a faint spiritual will emanating from the pages.

Although it wasn't strong and possessed no other specific effects, it seemed capable of guiding a practitioner to achieve entry-level mastery more easily.

Fortunately, after Chu Yuan began his path of immortal cultivation, his soul had undergone repeated strengthening. Even though the content of the Gold Essence Technique was extensive, he managed to memorize it all after reading through it once.

He closed his eyes, mobilized the spiritual energy within his body, and attempted to circulate it according to the pathways described in the Gold Essence Technique.

In truth, the Stone Platform was not an ideal place for cultivation, especially with Li Ji and Qi Ying still present.

However, the outside world might be even more dangerous!

Regardless, Chu Yuan was not entering a deep state of closed-door meditation; he only sought to reach the entry level of the Gold Essence Technique.

As for all subsequent problems, the system would naturally intervene...

Seeing that Chu Yuan really ignored him as he had threatened, Xiang Ning narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yet, he did not leave. He sat to the side, propping himself up on the ground with his hands behind him, watching the Stone Platform in silence.

He had known from the very beginning that Chu Yuan was extraordinary!

What he had said earlier was half-truth and half-lie; this trial was indeed because of the Martial God Record... but since it had been brought out as a trial reward, who it would ultimately fall into the hands of... was hard to say!

Since the matter had been brought into the open, everything naturally had to follow the rules.

The big shot who pushed for this trial was himself a maintainer of the rules; otherwise, even if he had simply given the Martial God Record to his own descendants, who could have uttered a single word of dissent?

Therefore, Xiang Ning had also come for this technique created by the former director of the Martial Suppression Bureau.

Before entering the secret realm, he had already utilized his family's influence to collect information on talented youths from every Prefecture.

His primary targets were the major martial arts families!

But there was no mention of Chu Yuan among them...

Of course, this wasn't because someone had obscured Chu Yuan's information, but rather because Xiang Ning had never paid attention to a small city like Chenyang City in the first place.

The first time he encountered Chu Yuan, he discovered that Chu Yuan's speed was incredibly fast—even faster than his own!

Just a moment ago, he had easily dismissed Qi Ying as well...

If it were only these things, it might just suggest that Chu Yuan possessed extremely high martial talent.

But then he produced Blood Pills and Spirit Nourishing Pills, medicines that even Xiang Ning had never seen before... that left no doubt: Chu Yuan also had a mysterious background!

Thus, he vaguely speculated, perhaps... Chu Yuan was that "vinegar" meant to stir things up?

"Xiang Ning, come over here." In the distance, Mao Rui beckoned.

Xiang Ning shook his head and did not get up.

So, Mao Rui ran over.

"What are you doing here? Is this guy... cultivating?" Mao Rui looked at Xiang Ning, then at Chu Yuan, and was immediately filled with a sense of awe.

"Yeah."

"Alright then... Xiang Ning, there's a meeting over there with Internal Breath Realm trial-takers from all the major Prefectures. Want to go join the fun?"

"I find it quite lively enough just watching them from here," Xiang Ning said lazily. "Fatty, don't go hanging out with them."

"No, there are a few chicks with great figures over there, and I've got nothing better to do..." Mao Rui said, clearly unwilling. "You're really not going?"

"Not going."

"Then what are you doing here? Don't tell me you're guarding this guy?"

Xiang Ning couldn't help but laugh. "Guard him, my ass. He just finished reading the Gold Essence Technique; he can't enter a deep state of cultivation.

If you don't believe me, give him a punch and see if he jumps up to hack you to death."

"...Gold Essence Technique? Isn't that the same technique you prepared? What is this guy's background?"

"It's not the same as the one I prepared... that damn thing is mine!"

"Ah, this..." Mao Rui froze for a moment, a complex expression appearing on his face. "You gave the Gold Essence Technique your family prepared for you to him to cultivate?

I was wondering why you didn't seem interested in girls; so that's how it is...

Xiang Ning, you're sick!

If your grandfather finds out, won't he break your legs?"

Xiang Ning took a deep breath, his voice turning magnetic: "Fatty, you've finally realized... now do you know why, out of so many people in school, I have the best relationship with you?

Someone like you... in my eyes, you count as a loli."

"No, no, no, I never accepted your Gold Essence Technique." Mao Rui waved his hands repeatedly: "You'd better stick with this guy instead... speaking of which, what does he count as in your eyes? A mature woman?"

Xiang Ning laughed and cursed: "Go to hell, he traded things with me for it, it wasn't a handout.

He can hear you, you know; be careful or he'll deal with you later."

"Let him hear..." Mao Rui was unfazed, then sighed: "It's a pity; those guys were originally planning to group up and move out;

Even if they couldn't get many points, just going out for a stroll would be better than this!

Staying here is boring enough..."

"You still dare to go out? You really aren't afraid of death..." Xiang Ning felt a bit of admiration.

"Who told you to mention earlier that there were high-level martial artists backing us up in the Secret Realm? They figured if they were careful, there shouldn't be any problems..."

"Fatty, stop spouting nonsense. This stuff isn't some big secret; do you really think I'm the only one who knows?

Even if I hadn't said anything, those who were going to go out and throw their lives away would have done it anyway."

"That's true." Mao Rui nodded, fell silent for a moment, and then suddenly spoke again: "Cui Qi still hasn't returned..."

Xiang Ning was stunned for a moment; Cui Qi was the third member of their school's trio.

Divine Martial High School was a high school directly affiliated with Divine Capital Martial Arts University. As a student selected from the best of the best, Cui Qi was naturally no slouch, having already reached the peak of the Impermeable Realm!

But by now, most people had already returned to the Stone Platform;

Those who hadn't returned were either fools who couldn't read the situation, or they had already...

"Perhaps he found a place to hide."

Time passed, and soon it was night.

There were no moons, stars, or even a sun in Secret Realm No. 7.

Yet, there was still a distinction between day and night;

The way to tell was that when the light was stronger, it was daytime;

When the light was dim... it was nighttime.

As for where the light source came from... the trial-takers really didn't know, and the information provided by the military didn't mention it either.

Some people had already stepped off the Stone Platform to search the vicinity for food and water;

Chu Yuan was still sitting with his eyes closed in cultivation, his figure having not moved at all.

A small figure carrying several backpacks approached, stopped not far from Chu Yuan, and paced back and forth hesitantly.

Xiang Ning recognized her; she was the girl who had been exchanging glances with Chu Yuan earlier.

He asked in a gruff, hostile tone: "What do you want?"

"I... I have something to discuss with Chu Yuan..."