Chapter 22: Now This Will Be Entertaining

At the same time, in another pocket of space and time, Elder Xu of Tianbao Pavilion, Elder Chen of Yunlan Sect, and Elder Hong of Wei Kingdom were locked in a fierce three-way battle over a single Mystic-grade low-tier blade technique manual!

Any Mystic-grade Cultivation Technique or martial skill was worth a fortune — let alone a relatively rare Mystic-grade blade technique!

In yet another space, Jiang Lianyue and Wei Hongyan were locked in a relentless quarrel over a single stalk of Jade Bone Celestial Orchid.

In the space where Nan Rou and Nan Qiao were, Nan Qiao had just gotten her hands on a rare Yellow-grade mid-tier dark-element Cultivation Technique — only for it to be snatched away. She was both furious and distressed.

She possessed the Yin Spirit Physique, which gave her an exceptionally high affinity for yin-aligned forces. Cultivation Techniques of the ice or dark element offered her innate advantages that others simply couldn't match.

Such techniques were generally extremely rare and almost never appeared on the open market. Even when one did surface, the price was astronomical — far beyond her reach under normal circumstances.

To have a treasure snatched from her very hands by someone she couldn't even beat — Nan Qiao was so furious she was on the verge of tears.

Scenes of fierce fighting and scrambling like this were playing out in nearly every pocket world simultaneously.

* * *

Meanwhile, inside the Hall of Inheritance, just as Qin Guan was sparring with Li Zang, a gray-robed elder suddenly appeared within the hall.

This person was none other than Yunlan Sect Elder Chen Guanxiang. Earlier, while competing with Elder Xu and Elder Hong of Wei Kingdom over a technique manual, he had accidentally stumbled through the doorway that tested one's state of mind.

Before that, the three of them had joined forces to defeat the wooden puppet and obtain the key — but once the stone door was open, not a single one of them was willing to go first.

The wooden puppet had already been monstrously powerful; who knew what dangers lurked beyond that door? Having lived this long, all three were seasoned veterans who knew better than to be the first one through. So the three of them had reached a standstill.

It was precisely during that standstill that a Mystic-grade low-tier blade technique manual suddenly dropped from above, instantly shattering the stalemate and sending all three into a brawl.

Now, standing inside the hall, Chen Guanxiang's breathing was slightly ragged. He had turned misfortune into fortune — he'd stumbled right into the Hall of Inheritance!

But just as the excitement was washing over him, two blurred afterimages suddenly flashed past him.

"Ah!"

Chen Guanxiang's eyes went wide with shock. A deep gash had appeared on his left cheek, and another on his right arm.

He hurriedly retreated to a corner of the hall, scanning his surroundings with extreme wariness.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

At that moment, a deafening series of explosions erupted in the air not far away. Two red silhouettes split apart and converged in rapid succession, moving at a speed that was nearly impossible to track with the naked eye. Wherever they passed, the ground shattered inch by inch, carved into deep, jagged trenches by the razor-sharp Gang Qi blasts.

Witnessing this, Chen Guanxiang felt his scalp go numb. His heart clenched violently, his body trembling involuntarily — filled with awe and reverence for such terrifying power.

"Ha ha ha, now that was exhilarating!"

Just as Chen Guanxiang stood rooted in shock, two figures suddenly came into view.

"Sparring with Senior has been immensely enlightening. Had Senior not been holding back, I doubt I could have lasted three exchanges."

Qin Guan clasped his fists respectfully toward Li Zang. A tenth-realm Martial Artist — suppressing his cultivation level and fighting as nothing more than a wisp of a remnant soul — and even then, Qin Guan had barely held his own.

Of course, he had not drawn upon the power of his Chaos Power during the fight.

"No need for false modesty. I had originally intended to offer you some guidance, but it seems there is no need. Your combat techniques are both offensive and defensive, forming a complete and self-sufficient style — not the least bit inferior to my own!" Li Zang looked at Qin Guan, his eyes filled with genuine admiration.

The moment Li Zang finished speaking, his body began to grow hazy and indistinct.

"Ha ha — is it time already?" Li Zang smiled.

"Young friend, I wish you success in realizing your dreams!"

"Go in peace, Senior!" Qin Guan gave Li Zang a deep, respectful bow.

"Should you ever encounter my descendants, I hope you will lend them a hand!"

"You have my word, Senior." Qin Guan nodded.

In moments, Li Zang's figure faded away entirely.

Having overheard the exchange between the two, Chen Guanxiang was filled with regret. It seemed the Inheritance of this Secret Realm had already been claimed by Qin Guan, one step ahead of everyone else.

Regret. Pure, bitter regret.

Had he known that stepping through that door would lead straight to the hall, no one would have hesitated for even a moment.

But regret was useless now. The Inheritance had gone to Qin Guan. This man's strength was terrifying — even if someone harbored designs on it, they wouldn't dare make a move.

He had underestimated him back outside the Secret Realm — underestimated the power of a fourth-gate Martial Artist. Today had truly been an eye-opener. Who could have imagined that a fourth-gate Martial Artist could possess such frightening combat power?

"Congratulations, Young Hero Qin, on obtaining the Inheritance of this Secret Realm!"

Chen Guanxiang stepped forward and offered his congratulations.

"Ah, I did obtain the Inheritance — it's just that I didn't get anything particularly good." Qin Guan sighed, sounding somewhat disappointed.

Chen Guanxiang's mouth twitched. Nothing good? He had tossed away a Mystic-grade technique like it was trash, and he still claimed he got nothing good? Who was he trying to fool?

"Young Hero Qin need not worry — I have absolutely no designs on you," Chen Guanxiang said with a wry quip, then added:

"When Young Hero Qin killed Cangyuan earlier, he didn't even blink. That tells me you not only have the strength, but also the backing to go with it. So I know better than to make an enemy of you."

Thinking it over carefully, Chen Guanxiang was now certain that behind Qin Guan stood either a powerful faction or an extraordinarily formidable figure.

A fourth-gate Martial Artist was not something a small, obscure sect could ever cultivate. And Qin Guan's standing was clearly no small matter — otherwise, whoever stood behind him would never have invested so heavily in his development.

Whatever you do, don't offend this man. That was the single thought dominating Chen Guanxiang's mind at this moment.

Spirit Sword Academy had apparently kicked a steel plate this time. Yunlan Sect and Spirit Sword Academy had always been at odds — and just thinking about Spirit Sword Academy preparing to take revenge on Qin Guan, Chen Guanxiang couldn't help but feel a surge of gleeful anticipation. Now this will be entertaining!

* * *

At that moment, the space around them began to shudder violently. A short while later, everyone from the Secret Realm was suddenly expelled and found themselves back in Ten Thousand Demon Valley.

The Secret Realm had vanished, and all its occupants had been transported out.

"Fuck! Give me back my technique manual!"

"Give me back my Pills!"

The moment the several hundred people materialized in Ten Thousand Demon Valley, they immediately descended into a chaotic brawl. During the Secret Realm, a massive number of treasures had appeared and been frantically fought over by every family and faction. Now that everyone had been expelled to the same location, the fighting only intensified.

"Nan Rou!"

Scanning the brawling crowd anxiously, Qin Guan searched for Nan Rou's figure.

"Husband!"

Not far away, Nan Rou spotted Qin Guan and hurried over with Nan Qiao in tow.

"Where are you hurt?" Noticing bloodstains on Nan Rou, Qin Guan rushed forward to check on her.

Watching Qin Guan fuss over Nan Rou with such evident concern, Nan Qiao — who had also been injured — felt a pang of envy and bitterness stir in her heart.

"I'm fine, Husband. Qiao'er had gotten hold of a Yellow-grade mid-tier dark-element Cultivation Technique earlier, but it was snatched away. Could you—"

"Master! Master, are you all right?!"

Nan Rou was about to say more when a wail suddenly rang out nearby. Yang Hongmei was clutching Nan Yunqi helplessly, his body covered in wounds.

"Father!"

Nan Rou and Nan Qiao turned to see their father's injuries and went pale with fright, rushing over immediately.

At the same time, over a dozen Nan Family clansmen noticed their patriarch and gathered around him as well, each bearing wounds of varying severity.

"Qiao'er, quickly — check on your father!" Yang Hongmei cried out urgently.

"Let me take a look." Qin Guan stepped forward and crouched down to examine Nan Yunqi's injuries.

"The wounds aren't fatal, but he's lost too much blood," Qin Guan said after taking his pulse.

"Yel— Yellow-grade… high-tier Cultivation Technique… hurry…" Upon hearing Qin Guan's voice, Nan Yunqi suddenly forced his eyes open. He stared fixedly at Qin Guan and, with great effort, forced out those words.

Hearing Nan Yunqi's words, everyone immediately understood — a Yellow-grade high-tier Cultivation Technique must have been snatched from him!

"Father-in-law, it's just a Yellow-grade high-tier Cultivation Technique. There's no need to push yourself this hard over it — if it's gone, it's gone." Qin Guan said it as though it were nothing.

"Pfft!"

Hearing Qin Guan's words, Nan Yunqi's eyes bulged. In his agitation, he coughed up a mouthful of blood and began gasping heavily.

"My lord!"

Yang Hongmei was so frightened she kept rubbing Nan Yunqi's chest, trying to help him catch his breath.

"Husband, Father is already upset — stop provoking him!" Nan Rou stamped her foot in exasperation beside them. She had noticed that Qin Guan had a habit of teasing her father.