Chapter 51: Back on the First Layer, Leaving the Group

Only when they saw the endless plain did they believe they had escaped the second layer.

Each layer had its own special Barrier. Second-layer Demon Beasts could not enter the first, so once they were out, they were more or less safe.

The first layer was not deserted. Many disciples were waiting there. Seeing people come out alive, they turned to look curiously.

The guards from the three sects had finally had to open the entrance when the time came, though they insisted on going in first. Soon afterward, the strongest of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association disciples came back out, vomiting blood.

He claimed there were powerful Demon Beasts at the second-layer exit, and that only he had managed to escape before collapsing unconscious.

The others did not believe him. They thought the Immortal Dao Merchant Association was putting on an act. They had been to the secret realm before and knew how strong the beasts on the second layer usually were.

Other disciples refused to believe it and entered the second layer. None came back. More kept trying, with the same result. Eventually, nobody dared go in. They waited there, hoping someone would come out and tell them what had happened.

They had waited until now, when Qin Xiao and his companions appeared.

“Junior Brother Qin, what happened to you? What’s going on down there?”

Lin Shimeng was the strongest of the disciples still on the first layer, so she had taken the lead. Seeing the sorry state Qin Xiao and his companions were in, she hurried over to ask.

“Uh, how do I explain it? We can’t go into the second layer. There are lots of Nascent Soul stage Demon Beasts, and even Soul Formation ones. It’s as dangerous as the fifth layer.”

Qin Xiao did not know how to explain everything. All he could tell them was that they could not go into the second layer.

“How could this be? In previous years, the second layer only held Foundation Establishment stage Demon Beasts. Why would so many Nascent Soul stage Demon Beasts appear this year, let alone Soul Formation stage ones?”

Lin Shimeng had not expected this to be true. If so, the disciples who had gone down earlier were likely all dead.

“As for the exact reason, you should ask Brother Ling. It seems to involve some sect from several hundred years ago, called the Beast-Control Sect or something similar.”

Qin Xiao was only half-clear on the details and naturally did not know much, but Ling Wushuang and the others certainly knew more.

“Kid, you aren’t deliberately trying to scare us, are you? If there really were Soul Formation stage Demon Beasts, how could someone like you come out alive?”

Yao Kaidong had disliked Qin Xiao for a long time. Hearing him make such bold claims, he stepped forward.

“Exactly. Even a mortal like you came out alive. Did you make up those Nascent Soul and Soul Formation stage beasts?” You are reading on novelping.com, the official source.

Li Cheng knew Yao Kaidong wanted to put Qin Xiao down and quickly chimed in.

“Shut up, both of you. If you don’t believe him, go down there yourselves. Slandering Brother Qin—are you asking for a beating?”

Although Cang Xing had lost an arm, his life had been saved by Qin Xiao. Seeing someone provoke Qin Xiao, he immediately stepped up to make his stance clear.

“That’s right. Slander him again, and I, Su Lin, won’t mind teaching you a lesson on your Tianyuan Sect’s behalf.”

Su Lin also stepped forward. His condition was far better than Cang Xing’s; at least he still had both hands.

“What? That is Cang Xing of the Pure Yang Sect and Su Lin of the Mysterious Yin Sect?”

“And isn’t that Young Master Ling Wushuang of the Immortal Dao Merchant Association?”

“It truly is. They were covered in blood and filth earlier with disheveled hair, so I did not recognize them for a moment.”

“If even they say so, it must be true. Even Cang Xing, a mid Nascent Soul cultivator, has lost an arm. That shows how dangerous it is.”

Only after Cang Xing and Su Lin spoke did the crowd recognize the three filthy, disheveled men.

It was hardly the crowd’s fault. The three had been tormented by Demon Beasts. They were covered in wounds, large and small, and their hair was a mess. While fleeing for their lives, they had not even had time to cast a Cleaning Spell.

Hearing the disciples talk about them, the three quickly used Cleaning Spells and tidied themselves up. They looked like themselves again.

“Something has gone wrong in the secret realm. We can’t get through the second layer, so there’s no point in this expedition anymore. Let’s stay on the first layer and leave safely when our time is up.”

Ling Wushuang finally spoke. As the strongest cultivator present, he naturally had to make some arrangements.

“Since Young Master Ling has said so, I shall follow these arrangements.”

Yao Kaidong had never expected Qin Xiao to make connections with these three. He had to rein himself in. Proud as he was of his talent and cultivation, he was still far behind them.

“Since things have settled down, my disciple and I will look around this layer. You carry on.”

Qin Xiao did not want to stay with the crowd. He was used to being alone. If he stayed, disciples were sure to come asking question after question. He might as well leave the explanations to Ling Wushuang and the others.

“Brother Qin, this layer was emptied out long ago. There’s really nothing to see. You’d be better off resting here.”

Seeing Qin Xiao prepare to leave, Ling Wushuang spoke up, as he still had many questions he wished to ask. The source of this chapter is novelрing.com.

“No, this is the first time here for both of us. If we can’t go into the second layer, we might as well see the first. I’ll leave things here to you, Brother Ling.”

Without giving Ling Wushuang a chance to reply, Qin Xiao leaped onto Yun Man’s flying sword and departed.

Yun Man had remained silent throughout. With Ling Wushuang present, she had kept her veil on and avoided speaking to prevent her identity from being exposed, and Qin Xiao’s decision suited her perfectly.

Qin Xiao did not really want to explore. He just did not want to stay with all those people. They flew for a long time.

“Master, we’ve flown straight ahead all this time. Aren’t you worried someone will follow us?”

Yun Man asked curiously. Normally, they should have changed direction several times to avoid being followed.

“I’m much stronger now, and you’ve reached the Nascent Soul stage. I haven’t changed direction because I’m waiting for someone to follow us. If nobody comes, fine. If they do, they won’t be going back.”

If anyone in the secret realm still had designs on him, Qin Xiao did not mind killing a few people.

“So Master is doing this intentionally.”

Yun Man understood. Her master was fishing for pursuers. Whoever took the bait would be unlucky.

“Enough of that. Do you still have Spirit Liquid? We have plenty of time ahead, so we must not waste it. Those others cannot cultivate here, but we can.”

Qin Xiao put the question aside and asked about her Spirit Liquid. Not cultivating during this long wait would be a waste.

“This disciple still has some left. If it runs short, I can ask Master for more.”

Yun Man was not greedy. She still had some in reserve.

“There’s nothing to do for now, so cultivate. I’ll train too. I’ll need your help tempering my body afterward.”

Since she still had Spirit Liquid, Qin Xiao said no more and began cultivating.

Not long after Qin Xiao left, Yao Kaidong also slipped away from the crowd, taking Li Cheng with him.

More disciples had gone down one after another, but over seven hundred still remained. Among that many people, nobody noticed one or two slipping away.