Chapter 313: Eight Sects Gather

Seeing Lin Chao's grimacing expression, Pang Wannian felt a secret thrill.

Earlier, Lin Chao had set aside his pride and apologized profusely; for the sake of the bigger picture, Pang Wannian had reluctantly forgiven him.

But the matter of the severed arm remained a knot in his heart.

And when he heard Ye Yuan mention the Soul Jade, Pang Wannian naturally felt even more displeased.

However, seeing Lin Chao's expression, Ye Yuan's 'extortion' had been quite severe, and Pang Wannian felt as if he had regained the upper hand, refreshed and invigorated.

'Since this matter is settled, Senior Brother Lin, do you wish to leave on your own or...' said Ye Yuan.

Lin Chao was taken aback, then shook his head and said, 'Our group of four, with me as the strongest, is too vulnerable in this secret realm. We'd be devoured if we acted alone. I hope Junior Brother Ye will allow us four to travel together!'

As if afraid Ye Yuan would object, Lin Chao quickly added, 'Junior Brother Ye, rest assured. Obtaining the Soul Jade on this trip is already a great gain. From now on, we will not take any of the heavenly treasures; we only ask to leave safely.'

Ye Yuan nodded and said, 'You may travel with us, but you must contribute equally when trouble arises. If I find you holding back or deliberately hindering us, I will ask you to leave immediately.'

Lin Chao quickly replied, 'Naturally!'

Ye Yuan's words directly cut off any chance for the four from Purple Sun Sect to fish in troubled waters.

Lin Chao knew that trying to play tricks in front of this man was utterly impossible.

And so, the group continued deeper into the secret realm.

...

A few days later, the group emerged from a misty forest.

'Thank goodness for Ye Yuan, or we'd never have gotten out of this damned place even if we walked until we died!'

'This misty forest is boundless, with no end in sight. It turned out to be a massive trapping formation. The one who set it must be terrifyingly powerful!'

'Yes, this secret realm is very strange. Many places show signs of human intervention, yet they seem natural, making it hard to discern the truth.'

This misty forest was a huge trapping formation, identical to the one Ye Yuan had set up earlier against the Supreme Purity Sect.

An ordinary person trapped in this forest might never escape in a lifetime.

Moreover, the forest was fraught with danger, a place of extreme peril. That the group had emerged unscathed was entirely due to Ye Yuan.

At this moment, Lin Chao's gaze toward Ye Yuan shifted once again.

This young man was too mysterious, even more bizarre than the secret realm itself.

Even the quasi-fourth-rank formation master from Heavenly Qian Sect could not have led everyone out of this misty forest without a scratch, but Ye Yuan had done it.

Their group of twelve had spent a day and a night in the forest without a single injury!

Lin Chao did not believe it was luck; no one had such good fortune.

To achieve this, Ye Yuan must have a profound understanding of formations!

But Ye Yuan was only fifteen or sixteen; how could he have such deep mastery of formations?

Lin Chao's doubts grew ever stronger!

'Hmm? Look, there are people ahead! And there's a palace!' Tianyu suddenly said.

Looking ahead, they saw a crowd gathered in small groups before a massive palace, discussing something, but no one entered.

'They seem to be from Heavenly Qian Sect!'

'No, it looks like people from the other sects are there too! But... their Ocean Transformation experts seem to be missing, probably...'

The group from Nethercloud Sect exchanged glances, especially Mo Yuntian, who was deeply shaken.

He suddenly remembered what Ye Yuan had said before entering the secret realm, and it had come true!

A quick scan revealed that aside from the three Ocean Transformation experts from Heavenly Qian Sect, only Yu Feng from Supreme Purity Sect remained among the other sects' Ocean Transformation experts!

And Yu Feng was only at the first level of Ocean Transformation; in comparison, Nethercloud Sect had truly become the second strongest sect in the secret realm!

And this result was entirely brought about by Ye Yuan!

Without Ye Yuan, even if Nethercloud Sect knew that power beyond the Crystal Condensation stage was forbidden in the secret realm, they would not have made it this far.

At worst, they might have been completely annihilated!

On the other side, Wu Zhao had also noticed the Nethercloud Sect group. Seeing their lineup, he was slightly surprised.

Heavenly Qian Sect had brought over twenty people in, and despite thorough preparations, they had lost five or six.

They had also brought a quasi-fourth-rank formation master, yet even so, they had lost several people while crossing the misty forest earlier.

Of course, there were also many from other sects whom their formation master had guided through.

But Nethercloud Sect's team had not lost a single member!

For some reason, a strong surge of jealousy rose from the depths of his heart.

Nethercloud Sect advanced and converged with the other sects.

'Elder Mei has impressive skills, bringing all your disciples here without a single loss!' The sourness in Wu Zhao's words was obvious to all.

But everyone understood, for the disciples of other sects felt no less sour than Wu Zhao.

Mei Zhen said calmly, 'Just luck. From Elder Wu's tone, would you only be satisfied if our Nethercloud Sect had been wiped out?'

Wu Zhao coughed dryly and smiled, 'Not at all, not at all. I just find it surprising that while other sects have suffered losses, your Nethercloud Sect remains intact. Does your sect know something about this secret realm?'

Wu Zhao's words were somewhat divisive, but it was a common tactic he had used when they first entered the secret realm.

Mei Zhen replied, 'Elder Wu overthink things. If we knew something, my disciple here wouldn't have lost an arm.'

Following Mei Zhen's gaze, everyone saw Pang Wannian's missing arm and felt a secret shock.

It seemed Nethercloud Sect had faced no less danger than the others; could it really be just luck?

At this moment, Yu Feng could not help but jump out: 'Elder Wu, you must seek justice for our Supreme Purity Sect! That brat Ye Yuan plotted to kill Senior Brother Wang; our enmity is irreconcilable!'

Wu Zhao's mind turned, and he said solemnly, 'Elder Mei, since we are all in this secret realm, we should help each other. How could you stoop to such despicable acts? As the leader of the Southern Domain, our Heavenly Qian Sect must intervene! Here's the deal: cripple Ye Yuan's dantian, and this matter ends. Otherwise...'

Wu Zhao left the rest unsaid, but everyone understood his meaning.

If Nethercloud Sect did not cripple Ye Yuan, they would be making an enemy of Heavenly Qian Sect!

Heavenly Qian Sect had three Ocean Transformation elders; even if they could not use their full Ocean Transformation power, they were not something Nethercloud Sect could match now.