Like Attracts Like, Encountering Heaven and Earth Qi Again!

"Let's go once we're done packing."

Shi Jian propped himself up from the ground, his bones cracking loudly, but he sounded as if nothing had happened.

"The Spiritual Qi in this place has dried up; there's no point in staying any longer. It would be impossible to restore it to its previous state in less than a hundred years."

Seeing this, Sun Yao and Yun Che nodded slightly and each gathered their spoils.

Shi Pan also busied himself helping Sun Yao collect the remains of the Wood Demon.

Shi Jian wrapped the Spirit-Nurturing Stone in animal hides, sealed them with the Spiritual Qi of the Thick Earth Essence, stuffed them into his Storage Bag one by one, and then swallowed them.

After doing all this, Shi Jian glanced at Sun Yao's back and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

This little girl is clever; we haven't spoiled her for nothing!

From beginning to end, she never asked where the Heaven and Earth Qi had gone, nor did she even glance at it twice, nor did she reveal the slightest clue.

Even when recounting the course of the battle, the wording was carefully chosen to avoid any potentially suggestive words, leaving no room for error.

It's not an act; he genuinely knows the rules.

Some things are better known to as few people as possible.

If the secret of a treasure of the Heaven and Earth Qi were to leak out, not only Yun Che, but even the old Daoist Yun Du would have to consider it.

Should we pay it or not?

If he hands it over, his path to the Golden Core stage might be cut in half.

If we don't pay, we'll fall out with the entire White Cloud Temple.

Therefore, the best solution is to eliminate the existence of the Heaven and Earth Qi.

Even though this wisp of wood belongs to the Heaven and Earth Qi and is not compatible with the Shi Jian, it does not diminish its unparalleled value.

Even if you just leave it there and nurture it, it can still create a Blessed Land, strengthen the local energy and foundation. Shi Jian is a demon!

He could integrate into the Human Race world for the sake of his plan...

But essentially, everything must serve one's own interests!

He couldn't possibly let this fortuitous opportunity slip by; even if it rotted in his hands, he couldn't reveal it, much less let it go.

In the future, it can also be used to exchange for the Dao of Lightning Heaven and Earth Qi. Having it in hand but not using it is a completely different concept from not having it at all.

From beginning to end, there was no Heaven and Earth Qi in Gloomy Cloud Valley.

He killed only one Wood Demon Core Formation was about to form its core, at great cost to it, and there was no third person present.

This explanation is absolutely perfect.

After an incense stick had burned, the three finished packing and left Gloomy Cloud Valley.

As he passed through the water curtain, Shi Jian glanced back.

A barren valley, gray tree skeletons, and a dried-up riverbed.

A hundred years from now, this place will be revitalized, but by then, it will have nothing to do with him; he only took what he was entitled to.

We left Gloomy Cloud Valley.

The three of them walked eastward along the ridge, their destination clear.

Heading straight for the core area of the secret realm!

The huge blank area on the map is the real highlight of this trip.

Yun Che walked at the very front, his pace extremely fast. Even though he couldn't fly on his sword, his speed was still incredibly fast thanks to Movement Method swordsmanship.

Sun Yao rode on Shi Pan's back. Shi Pan's strength had recovered by more than half, and his limbs were steady. He ran at a speed no slower than that of an ordinary cultivator.

Shi Jian followed behind, neither hasty nor slow.

His injuries were not fully healed yet; the broken bones in his right palm were still slowly healing, and the penetrating wound on his back had also healed somewhat, forming a layer of scab.

The right arm of the Thunder-Shrouding Mystic Armor was completely destroyed, leaving only the left arm and the chest and back armor relatively intact, its power greatly reduced...

Along the way, the group encountered many other cultivators.

Some traveled in groups, some alone, and some were already corpses; countless prodigies perished here...

As Shi Jian passed a pebble beach, he saw seven corpses lying haphazardly on the ground, their Storage Bag already emptied.

Three cultivators from the Wei Kingdom, and four Devil Cultivator from the Jin Kingdom.

Judging from the wounds, both sides must have perished in close combat.

The secret realm has only been open for less than half a month, and slaughter has already broken out everywhere.

Yun Che glanced at it, without even stopping.

Sun Yao merely frowned slightly before looking away.

Shi Jian didn't even bother to look at it; the corpse of such a minor character wasn't even worth turning over.

They traveled for another half day.

The terrain ahead suddenly rises, and a black mountain range stretches across the landscape. The mountain is entirely black, and the surface of the rocks gleams with a metallic sheen.

The concentration of Spiritual Qi in the air suddenly increased as they approached the mountain.

At that moment, Shi Jian's nose twitched.

He smelled a familiar scent—the scent of thunder...

The air also contained a very faint trace of Lightning Spirit energy, so thin that it was almost negligible, and ordinary cultivators would naturally not be able to sense it.

But for Shi Jian, this subtle fluctuation of energy was extremely clear!

Even the silver arcs of electricity on the Demon Core unconsciously accelerated by half a circle, gradually becoming more active...

"Etc."

Shi Jian spoke, Yun Che stopped and turned to look at him.

Sun Yao also reined in Shi Pan.

Shi Jian raised his head, his vertical pupils fixed on the black mountain range, his nostrils flaring several times to confirm that he hadn't misheard.

"There are remnants of thunder energy in this mountain."

Upon hearing this, Yun Che took out a map, unfolded it, and compared the landmarks for a moment, his brows twitching slightly.

"We're almost at the outer edge of the core of the secret realm; it's not marked on the map."

No label.

Either no one had been here before, or those who had been here didn't make it back alive to mark the place, foreshadowing danger!

Shi Jian remained silent for three breaths before making his decision.

"You guys go first, I'll go check it out."

Yun Che glanced at him. "Your injuries haven't healed yet."

"He won't die."

Shi Jian flicked his bear paw and said casually, "I smell something good. I can't sleep soundly if I don't go check it out."

Seeing this, Yun Che didn't try to persuade him any further; he understood how he felt.

When a sword cultivator encounters a fine sword, he can't help but observe it closely. This is essentially the same thing; both are pursuing their own path to enlightenment.

"Alright, Fellow Daoist Shi, please be very careful."

"The sensor disc is ready. We'll meet at the Three-Pronged Peak ahead in three days."

Shi Jian hummed in agreement.

Sun Yao hesitated for a moment, then finally said only four words:

"Ancestor, take care."

Shi Jian didn't turn around, landed on all fours, and crept towards the black mountain range.

Soon, the figure disappeared along the ridgeline, vanishing into the darkness without a trace. This separation lasted for half a day...

As Shi Jian traversed the mountain ridges, the concentration of thunderous energy noticeably increased!

It was neither a man-made formation nor the aura emitted by Spirit Plant.

Instead, it was natural Lightning Spirit energy that seeped out from the depths of the distant mountains and diffused into the air along the cracks in the rocks.

The deeper Shi Jian went, the faster the silver arcs of electricity on his Demon Core spun.

This feeling was similar to what he experienced in the Clear Wind Mountain Stone Forest, but it was more intense, purer, and more captivating!

After passing through a narrow ravine, Shi Jian stopped.

Ahead lay a wide, open mountain basin, in the center of which stood a completely black stone tower, appearing quite ancient...

The stone tower is about thirty feet tall, and its body is covered with ancient runes. The runes have faded, but the patterns of lightning can still be faintly seen.

At the top of the stone tower--

A fist-sized ball of purplish-gold energy was slowly rotating.

Electric arcs danced across the surface of the gas cloud, each jump causing subtle tremors in the surrounding space; the Daoist aura was profound, powerful, and domineering.

Shi Jian's breathing stopped for three full breaths, then he was overcome with ecstasy!

Thunder element: Violet Firmament Golden Lightning Qi!