Liu Ruyan's team was in no hurry to head deep into the core of the Secret Realm.
Instead, they chose to cautiously explore the relatively outer regions while constantly trying to contact and meet up with more fellow Disciples through their identity jade tokens.
Over the past few days, their team had gradually gathered three more fellow Disciples, reaching a total of nine people.
With Liu Ruyan presiding over the group and everyone working together, they had managed to harvest several decent spiritual materials.
But not all Jade Pool Immortal Palace Disciples were so fortunate.
In another part of the Secret Realm, at the edge of a swamp permeated with a faint fishy stench...
Three Jade Pool Immortal Palace Disciples were currently trapped in a crisis.
These three—two men and one woman—were named Zhang Cheng, Liu Yuan, and Sun Qiao. They were all under Elder Jin Feng and were primarily Sword Cultivators.
They had originally been moving toward a direction where more fellow Disciples were located, following the guidance of their identity jade tokens.
However, they had inadvertently startled a group of first-rank Yao Beasts in the swamp. Although they managed to repel them after a bitter fight, they had consumed a significant amount of energy.
Just as they were about to meditate and recover, four figures silently emerged from the withered woods on the other side of the swamp.
These four were all dressed in dark gray clothing. Their auras were cold, and greed filled their eyes.
They were Disciples of a first-rate power in the Southern Region, famous for their poison techniques and corpse-refining arts—the Ten Thousand Poisons Ridge!
The leader was a pale-faced, sinister-looking young man whose aura had already reached Peak Foundation Establishment.
Behind him were three others: two at the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment and one at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.
The four of them scanned Zhang Cheng's trio like they were looking at prey. When their eyes landed on the trio's Magical Artifacts, the greed in their eyes intensified.
"People from the Jade Pool Immortal Palace?"
A cold sneer curled the sinister young man's lips, and his voice was raspy:
"Good luck. We just got in and already encountered a few 'fat sheep'."
He licked his lips:
"Leave your Magical Artifacts and your Storage Pouches, and I might consider sparing your lives."
The contempt and viciousness in his words were completely undisguised.
In their eyes, three Yaochi Disciples at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment who were in poor condition were simply lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
Zhang Cheng's expression changed as he suppressed the churning blood inside him and the discomfort brought by the poisonous miasma.
Taking a step forward to shield Liu Yuan and Sun Qiao behind him, he said in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoists of the Ten Thousand Poisons Ridge, our Jade Pool Immortal Palace has no grievances with your sect."
"Searching for treasures in a Secret Realm depends on each person's Opportunity. Why must you be so aggressive?"
"No grievances?"
The sinister young man scoffed, his eyes full of mockery.
"In this Secret Realm, weakness is the original sin."
"If you want to blame someone, blame yourselves... for being too weak!"
Before he had even finished speaking, a Disciple at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment beside him had already struck first!
With a wave of his hands, two streaks of gray poisonous mist swept toward Zhang Cheng's trio like living things!
"Watch out! It's poisonous mist..."
Sun Qiao cried out in alarm.
Zhang Cheng and Liu Yuan did not dare to be careless and immediately activated their Magical Artifacts to counterattack.
However, they had already consumed a great deal of energy, and very little Spiritual Qi remained.
Moreover, the poisonous mist was extremely difficult to deal with, clinging to their protective spiritual light and making a'sizzling' corrosive sound.
"Move! Finish this quickly!"
The sinister young man barked a cold order, beckoning the others.
His body blurred as he approached like a ghost. A pitch-black bone spike appeared in his hand, stabbing directly toward Zhang Cheng's heart!
The other two Ten Thousand Poisons Ridge Disciples also lunged at Liu Yuan and Sun Qiao simultaneously, their strikes ruthless and cunning, aiming for vital spots with every move!
The battle erupted instantly!
Zhang Cheng's trio stood back-to-back, resisting with all their might.
Their swordsmanship foundation was solid and their cooperation was quite coordinated, but unfortunately, their condition was poor and their cultivation was inferior to their opponents'.
After only ten or so exchanges, they were already in a perilous situation.
Zhang Cheng took a hit head-on; his arm went numb, and his protective spiritual light quickly shattered.
Liu Yuan's shoulder was grazed by a finger wind, instantly turning dark blue and causing his movements to lag.
Sun Qiao was even grazed on the arm by a streak of poisonous mist. Her skin rapidly turned black, causing her to let out a muffled groan of pain.
"Haha! Pathetic!"
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