"Anyway, I couldn't explain it clearly even if I tried, and you might not understand, so stop asking, OK?" Lao Qi held out a hand, deftly joining his thumb and forefinger into a circle while keeping the other three fingers straight. His smile grew even brighter. "Come on, brother, let me show you my grand mansion. Tonight, we'll drink wine and eat meat. Follow me."
Qian Fan watched Lao Qi's strange gesture and his almost exaggeratedly radiant smile, clouds of suspicion gathering in his heart. But here in this unfamiliar place, he seemed to have no better choice. He frowned slightly, a trace of hesitation flashing through his eyes, before finally putting away the Heavenly Demon Star-Breaking Sword. "All right, let's take a look," he said quietly.
As though he had just acquired some precious treasure, Lao Qi turned excitedly and led Qian Fan along the lakeshore. Along the way, he was a chatterbox that could not be shut, introducing the Secret Realm in an endless stream of words. "Look, brother," Lao Qi said, waving an arm toward a plant beside the path. "Every flower, every blade of grass, every drop of water here contains a unique power. If you put them to good use, increasing your strength will be child's play. You can gain benefits you'd never expect."
Qian Fan listened silently, but his eyes never rested. He surveyed his surroundings warily, trying to find more clues about the Ancient Ruins City. His gaze roamed across the lake, the flowers, and the trees, missing not a single detail. His brows were slightly furrowed and his lips tightly closed, as though he were thinking hard about something.
Before long, an enormous building appeared before them. Its architectural style was so unusual that it left one speechless, blending all sorts of