Chapter 560: Enjoying the Silent Daoist's Treatment in Advance

"When I first arrived in the Demon Realm, I was unfamiliar with everything. That Suan Ni saw me as an easy target and tried to take liberties with me. In a fit of rage, I killed him. He was a prodigy of the Suan Ni clan, and I killed him right in front of all the other prodigies, which was a huge humiliation for them. Naturally, the Suan Ni clan wouldn't stand for it, so I had to flee for a very long time."

"What happened then?"

"Later, I asked First Senior Sister to help me fight back. Now, the Suan Ni clan is much more compliant, at least overtly." Third Senior Sister smiled, noting that many people were currently pursuing her, possibly including assassins secretly dispatched by the Suan Ni clan.

Lu Yang heard that Third Senior Sister had entered the Demon Realm at the Soul Transformation stage, easily killing a demon prodigy of the same cultivation level and evading the Suan Ni clan's pursuit. This was truly remarkable.

The three entered the secret realm, which was engulfed in a sky full of yellow sand. Tornadoes, carrying colossal boulders, ripped through the air; anyone swept into them would face certain death.

The wind was so powerful that Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou were nearly swept away.

Moreover, visibility in the sandstorm was extremely low, and it was difficult to extend one's divine sense.

"These are Wind-Calming Pearls; you two take them." Third Senior Sister gave each of them a green jade bead. Holding the beads, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou felt their bodies lighten, as if the surrounding wind had vanished, allowing them to move freely.

"It's not that there's no wind around you," Immortal Fairy casually explained. "The Wind-Calming Pearls release wind in the opposite direction, clashing with and canceling out the surrounding gusts."

"Suan Ni's innate abilities involve wind and mist. These two Wind-Calming Pearls were likely refined from Suan Ni skulls."

"What valuable treasures."

"You two follow me closely, or you'll easily get lost," Third Senior Sister reminded them loudly.

"Third Senior Sister, can you see the path ahead?"

"I don't see; I feel it," she replied. "After I arrived in the Demon Realm, I covered my eyes to train my other four senses, no longer relying on my sight or divine sense."

As cultivation levels increased, a cultivator's five senses and divine sense naturally sharpened. However, to advance further, one could not rely solely on the improvements brought by cultivation growth; deliberate training was also required.

"Senior Sister, did you decide to train your four senses after seeing the mist in the Central Continent and the Demon Realm?" Meng Jingzhou asked, recalling the mist they encountered before entering the Demon Realm.

"Yes, the mist served as a reminder for me."

"Then Senior Sister, do you know why the Demon Realm stands on the Central Continent, and what the situation is like in the far north of the East Sea Buddhist Kingdom?"

"I knew you'd have that question," she replied. "Time is tight now; I'll explain it to you in detail after we get out."

"Time is tight?"

"Yes, if those old geezers find out I've shown up here, they'll definitely send people to kill me. We'd best leave the secret realm before they arrive."

"Senior Sister, have you revealed your identity as a disciple of the Dao Seeking Sect?" Meng Jingzhou asked, ever mindful of his own safety as a cultivator holding the dual identity of a Dao Seeking Sect disciple and the Young Master of the Meng family, and always remembering Grand Uncle Ba's instructions.

"Not at all," she chuckled. "I'm being pursued for what I've accomplished."

As Third Senior Sister spoke, she casually waved her guqin, batting away the incoming boulders with effortless ease.

"We've arrived."

The three arrived before a stone chamber. An unknown array surrounded it, shielding it from the sandstorm and tornadoes, making it as quiet and isolated as another world.

Before the stone chamber crouched two stone statues of Suan Ni. Sensing the presence of strangers, they immediately adopted a defensive posture, ready to attack.

Without even a glance, Third Senior Sister shattered both Suan Ni statues with two swift slaps. From the rubble, she picked up two half-finished keys, joined them to form a complete one, and used it to open the stone chamber.

Lu Yang's eyes narrowed. These two Suan Ni statues were far from simple; at full power, they could unleash combat strength comparable to an early Soul Transformation stage cultivator in a short burst. If only he and Meng Jingzhou had come to the secret realm, these two statues alone would have given them considerable trouble.

"Indeed, this is a place only we Nascent Soul stage cultivators can enter."

The stone chamber door rumbled open, revealing a small pile of spirit stones and several dual cultivation manuals.

The Suan Ni clan, a branch of the Dragon race, had inherited the dragons' inherent characteristic of promiscuity and were addicted to dual cultivation. This was precisely why the Suan Ni had initially provoked Third Senior Sister.

In addition, there was an dazzling array of various heavenly and earthly treasures.

Meng Jingzhou picked up a bronze-colored fruit. Though bronze in hue, it felt like cold, smooth jade in his hand, and he could sense the vibrant vitality within it.

"Is this Wood-White Gold Jade?"

Wood-White Gold Jade was an ancient heavenly treasure with extremely strict cultivation requirements. Only sentient spiritual plants that absorbed Wujin energy through their roots could bear such fruit. It was highly beneficial for cultivators with Metal spiritual roots, enhancing their vitality and their control over metals.

As far as Meng Jingzhou knew, only the Five Elements Sect currently possessed this fruit, which was produced by spiritual plants growing in metal veins and had a very low yield.

"Could it be that this Suan Ni killed a Five Elements Sect disciple and stole it... committed murder and robbery?"

"I don't think so," Lu Yang said from beside him.

"Why?"

Lu Yang picked up a piece of paper nearby and shook it. "This is a purchase receipt issued by the Five Elements Sect," he explained. "It even states you can return it if there's a quality issue."

Meng Jingzhou was speechless.

"How is your Five Elements Sect more organized than our Meng family in its dealings?"

Lu Yang picked up another piece of paper. "This is an IOU from the Suan Ni," he said. "He borrowed a lot of money from the merchant guild to buy the Wood-White Gold Jade. It's likely a bad debt now."

This Suan Ni didn't possess Qin Haoran's unique ability to transfer karmic debt to whoever picked up his IOUs.

This Suan Ni was just one of many prodigies in the clan. Competition within the Suan Ni clan was fierce, and some resources had to be earned, seized, or borrowed by the individuals themselves!

"Well, in that case, this fruit is for you," Meng Jingzhou said, tossing the fruit to Lu Yang. "It can enhance your sword qi."

"Alright, quickly use your identity jade tokens to collect everything," Third Senior Sister urged. "You can sort through them later, after we get out." With her extensive experience being pursued, she estimated their time was running out, and any further delay would be too late.

Hearing her words, Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou activated their identity jade tokens, sweeping away the Suan Ni's entire inheritance.

"Let's go."

Third Senior Sister took out a beast hide, motioned for them to sit on it, and then steered it directly into the sandstorm, charging out of the secret realm.

The moment they burst out of the secret realm, they were met with a barrage of fierce attacks. The beast hide swayed precariously, almost sending them tumbling.

"Demonic Sound Heavenly Maiden, let's see where you can run today!"

"Die!"

"You've committed countless wicked deeds; today, you will surely be brought to justice!"

Several Integration stage cultivators blocked the secret realm's exit. Their accumulated, charged attacks all slammed onto the beast hide, making Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou jump in fright.

They were only at the Golden Core stage; how were they already receiving the same treatment as Daoist Buyu?

The attacks continued, leaving the beast hide riddled with holes, and the three figures upon it gradually faded.

"No, this is an illusion created by a mirage pearl!"

"And you thought you could catch me?"

The illusion shattered. Third Senior Sister sneered, transforming into a streak of light and seizing the opportunity to break through the encirclement.

In this critical moment, she recalled Daoist Buyu's very first lesson.

"Xiao Gan, as my third disciple, the first thing you must learn is how to escape."

Daoist Buyu's teachings had repeatedly helped her escape death, playing a crucial role in her survival.