It had to be said—with Xu Zhanfeng around, even the demonic beasts didn’t dare approach Ye Qinghan anymore.
Because Ye Qinghan had entered early and moved quickly, she hadn’t seen any other cultivators along the way. If any had appeared, they were already corpses. She hadn’t seen a single living soul until now.
But this time, on the way back toward the treasure hall hidden behind the entrance, the journey was different.
Corpses of cultivators lay everywhere—though it was exactly what Ye Qinghan had expected.
Beasts who call themselves human had raised their swords and summoned their magical tools for the sake of heavenly treasures and rare herbs.
Ye Qinghan, naturally, was no exception. Demonic beasts feared Xu Zhanfeng’s strength, but humans did not. Humans were bold creatures—where beasts dared not tread, there were always people who dared.
But clearly, none of them made it past Xu Zhanfeng.
Ye Qinghan casually accepted the heavenly materials and storage rings Xu Zhanfeng offered her. She didn’t mind having more—these things were always welcome.
And if it happened to be gold or something she could sell for money, even better—her master would be thrilled!
Compared to materials she could only use herself, she preferred anything that would make her master happy.
Though in truth, she’d never seen her master show interest in anything other than money… and disciples.
Even then, until recently, her master hadn’t been all that interested in disciples either…
In this maze-like secret realm, having Xu Zhanfeng lead the way saved her countless detours.
Very soon, Ye Qinghan returned to the same forest she’d started in—only now exiting from a different tunnel.
With Xu Zhanfeng guiding her, they reached the seal in front of the treasure hall. Ye Qinghan smiled—so Xu Zhanfeng hadn’t lied.
Ye Qinghan wasn’t skilled in formations or barriers, but with Xu Zhanfeng beside her, she didn’t even need to stop. He moved ahead and instantly disabled the barrier before she even got close…
“These two fierce beasts…”
Xu Zhanfeng spoke honestly. Though the beasts weren’t particularly high in cultivation, they were still ferocious—ordinary cultivators wouldn’t stand a chance!
“You have Nascent Soul Realm cultivation and still can’t handle two measly beasts?”
Ye Qinghan wasn’t shocked—she was more doubtful. Most dangers came at the moment just before victory.
Ye Qinghan never forgot her master’s teachings—everything must be handled carefully.
It wasn’t that she feared death—she just didn’t want to embarrass her master. If her master saw her in a sorry state, he might be too heartbroken to sleep at night!
“You might not know, Great Aunt, but although the creator of this realm achieved immortality, he had no disciples and no children. He wanted to find a successor.”
“So he deliberately left these two fierce beasts to guard the door and test the qualifications of challengers.”
“These beasts were carefully selected. Whoever enters will face beasts matching their own cultivation level.”
“But as everyone knows, even at the same cultivation stage, how can a human compare to a beast?”
Xu Zhanfeng wanted to live. He didn’t dare lie—this Great Aunt was ruthless. Every move she made was a killing blow. He couldn’t afford to provoke her.
He didn’t know if she could kill the beasts, but if she had even a breath left, she’d have no trouble finishing him off.
Ye Qinghan snorted. Wasn’t this her specialty?
Her master, even without cultivation, had slain tribulation lightning!
A Foundation Establishment disciple defeating a Nascent Soul beast one-on-one? That was normal!
She might be at Foundation Establishment Realm, but Ye Qinghan really didn’t think anyone else in that realm could outdo her!
Two at once?
What, looking down on the Frost Edge Hall?
If the spell cultivators next door saw this, they’d think Frost Edge Hall had gone soft!
I’ll fight ten at once if I have to!
“These are the fierce beasts? What’s so ‘fierce’ about them?”
Ye Qinghan stood at the entrance, looking at the two beasts curled up in front of the treasure hall gate. They looked like mountain mutts—nothing impressive…
Xu Zhanfeng was stunned. Huh?
“Great Aunt must be joking. Though they seem motionless now, once you step into the treasure hall’s territory…”
“What happens?”
Ye Qinghan looked utterly disdainful. Xu Zhanfeng was once nearly an ascended immortal, yet he feared death this much?
Xu Zhanfeng sensed the judgment in her eyes. Did she think he was underperforming?
Could he be blamed?
If he still had his former Great Ascension strength, two Nascent Soul beasts would be no problem. But now, he was only Nascent Soul Realm!
Even facing one beast of equal cultivation would take all he had—how could he face two?
“They’re just mindless animals. Stay here,” Ye Qinghan said flatly.
Just as she finished speaking, a silhouette dashed past and flew straight in.
Huh?
Someone was rushing to do the work?
“Miss Chenmeng, you seem so hesitant. Are you afraid?”
Dongfang Jue stood at the sealed gate of the treasure hall, sneering at Ye Qinghan and the others.
“Sister Qinghan, that woman—!”
Shiyao clenched her tiny fists in fury, like someone had just stolen her steamed buns.
“It’s fine. This is the secret realm. If she wants to steal Master’s treasure, she’ll have to live long enough to carry it out.”
Xu Zhanfeng, overhearing this, mumbled under his breath with his half-burned lips, “Master’s… treasure?”
This Great Aunt was already this terrifying—what kind of terrifying monster was her master?
Just looking at her expression, it was clear she held deep reverence and fear for her master. Even inside the secret realm, she still called it her master’s treasure—never claiming it as her own.
That said everything. Her master must be beyond comprehension.
“Sister, do you mean we just wait here?”
Ye Qinghan chuckled, then summoned the Heaven-Crushing Tablet from her jade pendant and lightly tossed it into the sky.
In an instant, half the secret realm was enveloped in the Heaven-Crushing Tablet’s range. Xu Zhanfeng, once nearly at Great Ascension Realm, noticed it immediately…
Damn!
Another top-tier Immortal-grade magical treasure!
Once inside the Heaven-Crushing Tablet’s range, there were only two ways to escape: either kill Ye Qinghan, or use an equivalent space-type magical treasure to cancel or destroy the tablet above.
“Sister Qinghan, what is that?”
“I stole it from Master. I don’t even know what it’s called. But with this, even if Dongfang Jue takes Master’s treasure, she won’t escape the barrier it creates!”
“Then won’t your master beat you again when he finds out?”
“That’s the thing. Master used this to beat me, so I stole it.”
Xu Zhanfeng had already noticed along the way that this Second Great Aunt wasn’t very bright… But since the Great Aunt said she was her sworn sister, he didn’t dare say anything.
Even if Second Great Aunt wasn’t too bright, she was still the Second Great Aunt!
What if she was hiding her strength like the Great Aunt?
The cost of saying something wrong—Xu Zhanfeng couldn’t afford it!
“This ruler also looks extraordinary. Since it belongs to your master, could it be a Heaven-grade treasure?”
Xu Zhanfeng was dumbfounded. Second Great Aunt really had sharp eyes—such good judgment!
“Definitely not. If it were Heaven-grade, Master would’ve locked it in his treasure vault. There’s no way I could’ve touched it.”
Xu Zhanfeng looked even more confused. Was the Great Aunt treating him like an idiot? Or were the two of them just playing word games with him?