A day later, Su Zhuyi and her group arrived at the predetermined location on the outskirts of the Thunder Waste Desert.

They were the last to arrive. By this time, cultivators from other sects had already gathered. Dong Fushang Sect had completely fallen out with Gujian Sect, so someone directly provoked them: “Gujian Sect suffered heavy losses this time and should be resting and recuperating. What are you doing here, stirring up trouble? Now that Yi Lian is in charge of the Gujian Sect, if something happens to you too, the four major cultivation sects might have to become a three-way balance of power.”

Yi Lian didn’t say anything.

The Golden Sparrow on his shoulder chirped a few times, then said: “Gujian Sect may be lacking in other areas, but our disciples are not inferior. We have successors, while your Dong Fushang Sect is facing a generational gap.”

Dong Fushang Sect had originally put great effort into cultivating Dongri Chen, only to have him killed by Su Zhuyi. Now, among their younger generation disciples, there weren’t any outstanding figures. The people they brought this time were all quite old.

“You!”

“Silly bird doesn’t know better.” Yi Lian gently patted the Golden Sparrow’s head, producing a small insect from his hand that the Golden Sparrow immediately snatched and ate.

After eating the insect, the Golden Sparrow continued: “Gujian Sect’s cultivators sacrificed themselves to suppress the Longquan Sword. Has the Dong Fushang Sect finished investigating? Are there still any fish that escaped the net? With elders in the sect colluding with the Demonic Path and harming righteous fellow cultivators, a major incident occurred within a righteous sect. Instead of thoroughly investigating, you’re here stirring up trouble…”

It spread its wings to preen its feathers, then instantly hid behind Yi Lian’s neck and continued: “Even the elders guarding the sect have come out. What if you return to find your headquarters has been raided by the Demonic Path? What would you do then?”

The Longquan evil sword was quite famous in history, and no one present dared claim they could suppress that vicious sword. Therefore, everyone eventually accepted Gujian Sect’s explanation: the evil sword emerged, Qinghe, Luo Ying, and Duan Linshu died trying to suppress it, the Demonic Path took advantage to attack Gujian Sect, and at the critical moment, a Sword Venerable appeared to turn the tide, ultimately allowing Gujian Sect to escape danger.

However, whether that so-called Sword Venerable was truly a Gujian Sect powerhouse was still undetermined.

The problem was that Elder He from Yunxiao Sect insisted that the sword cultivator had used Yunxiao Sect sword techniques, making everyone very curious about the Sword Venerable’s identity.

“Yi Lian, control your bird.” Because the Golden Sparrow had hit their sore spot, the faces of several people from the Dong Fushang Sect didn’t look good. Their sect leader snorted coldly and said no more. His gaze lightly swept over Su Zhuyi before seemingly casually looking away.

Su Zhuyi now felt very confident. Facing the Dong Fushang Sect leader’s gaze, she showed no fear and instead stared back with cold eyes. Such a look was extremely disrespectful to a sect leader and had a hidden, provocative meaning.

Little Skull and Qin Jianglan were hidden beside her, and among all the cultivators present, not one could detect them. Everyone’s strength was inferior to theirs—thinking of dealing with her? Dream on.

However, there was one problem: neither Qin Jianglan nor Little Skull was a person who would actively kill others. So Su Zhuyi didn’t mind the sharp-tongued Golden Sparrow drawing more hatred, and her gaze was quite domineering, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers.

When the opportunity came, someone would try to deal with her.

If someone wanted to kill her, those two wouldn’t just stand by and watch. Even if they didn’t kill, as long as they could restrain the opponent for a brief moment, she could easily take someone’s life.

With this plan in mind, Su Zhuyi looked at Dong Fushang Sect with somewhat arrogant eyes, as if all the living beings before her were ants, easily crushed.

Just then, the Yunxiao Sect leader spoke.

“Since everyone has arrived, let’s go in first.”

The other sects all had maps, but the Gujian Sect did not.

This matter was originally confidential, known only to sect leaders, and the secret realm’s opening time had only recently been calculated. Sect Leader Duan said nothing before his death—his body and primordial spirit were absorbed by the Longquan Sword, leaving behind no storage magical treasures. Thus Gujian Sect knew nothing about this matter. Yi Lian learned of it two days ago. Dong Fushang Sect had completely fallen out with them, Yunxiao Sect wasn’t friendly to them either, Xundao Sect had good relations with Dong Fushang Sect, while Danhe Sect had decent relations with them. This secret realm expedition was told to him by the Danhe Sect leader. However, there were only five copies of the map in total, jointly drawn by the great powers of each sect years ago, and very difficult to replicate. This resulted in the Gujian Sect having no map and only being able to follow other sects’ cultivators forward.

Fortunately, they didn’t have many people—just four including Su Zhuyi—so entering together with Danhe Sect would be convenient.

“Little Master.” The Yunxiao Sect disciples stood together, over a hundred people. When Su Zhuyi came over, she didn’t look around and didn’t notice that Qin Chuan was among them.

He had reached the fifth level of the Golden Core stage?

How long had it been since he achieved such strength? But after seeing Qin Chuan, Su Zhuyi discovered that although he had broken through to the Golden Core stage, he was only at the second level, not reaching mid-Golden Core. It seemed the cultivation requirement wasn’t strict—quite a few sects had brought outstanding disciples to hunt for treasure.

Seeing Qin Chuan, Su Zhuyi nodded slightly in acknowledgment. From the corner of her eye, she glanced at Qin Jianglan beside her and discovered that although Qin Chuan was created by Heaven’s Dao to replace Qin Jianglan, their appearances were different. Qin Chuan had thick eyebrows and big eyes and could be described as handsome, while Qin Jianglan was much more noble and aloof. Qin Chuan was still a handsome and upright young man, while Qin Jianglan was an exalted immortal descended from heaven.

“Little Master, how have you been lately?” He walked to Su Zhuyi’s side. “I heard you were severely injured.”

After a slight pause, Qin Chuan said, “Please accept my condolences.”

Thinking of how she had lost her master and senior brother, Qin Chuan’s eyes were full of concern.

Qin Jianglan remained expressionless, the ribbons tying his hair gently fluttering.

Su Zhuyi felt a cold wind blow past her side. Just as she was about to speak, she noticed a fragrant breeze, and then Dan Ruyun in white robes with crane patterns quickly walked to her side and grabbed Su Zhuyi’s hand.

“Your Gujian Sect people should come with us later.” Dan Ruyun acted very familiar with Su Zhuyi. She held a map in her hand and waved it at Su Zhuyi twice. “The map is with me.”

Dan Ruyun was very favored in Danhe Sect, which could be seen from the fact that the map was in her hands. She intimately linked arms with Su Zhuyi. “I’m an alchemist with insufficient combat ability. Su Zhuyi, why don’t you come with me? I’ll provide pills and you protect me—how about it?”

Last time, Su Zhuyi had directly drawn her sword and killed Dongri Chen with one strike, which truly shocked Dan Ruyun. She originally greatly admired Qin Chuan for his young age, high cultivation, decent swordsmanship, and heaven-defying talent. Later…

Later, she was completely conquered by Su Zhuyi’s sword technique, feeling that the strike was earth-shaking with amazing momentum, making her admire it greatly. Now, if anyone asked who was the most powerful among the younger generation disciples, Dan Ruyun would directly give Su Zhuyi’s name.

She was also considered heaven’s favored child in everyone’s eyes. Previously, she would never willingly submit to others, but now she was completely convinced by Su Zhuyi. Originally, having just formed her core with unstable cultivation, her sect leader disagreed with her coming. But thinking Su Zhuyi would come, Dan Ruyun pestered until she was allowed to come. Since all sects were bringing outstanding disciples to gain experience, even if cultivation was slightly lacking, everyone turned a blind eye. After all, the cultivation restriction was for safety considerations, not a mandatory requirement on the number of people entering. Since they wanted to bring someone, they just needed to take good care of them.

Dan Ruyun was petite and delicate but had a particularly full chest. When she clung so intimately to Su Zhuyi, Su Zhuyi felt something soft and couldn’t help looking a few more times. She felt somewhat curious—when had her relationship with Dan Ruyun become so good?

In her previous life, Dan Ruyun and Su Qingxun had been like sisters.

Dan Ruyun, who was intimately linking arms with Su Zhuyi, suddenly felt a bit cold.

It was as if a cold wind blew past, making goosebumps rise on her neck. Just then, the Danhe Sect leader called her over. She had wanted to stay with Su Zhuyi, but her back was inexplicably cold. Meeting the sect leader’s summons at just the right time, she released Su Zhuyi’s hand. “This desert is very strange. The markings on the map are said to move too. You must follow us closely later and don’t run around, or you’ll be in trouble if you get lost.” After speaking, she turned to look at Qin Chuan. “Your Yunxiao Sect people are all waiting for you. What are you still doing standing here?”

This Thunder Waste Desert contained many strange and ferocious spirit beasts, and the weather here changed without warning. The more people there were, the more terrible changes would occur, and routes could change at any time. So the five sects wouldn’t enter together but would each have a map and enter separately, finally meeting at the agreed location.

The Gujian Sect’s four people would go with the Danhe Sect. Now, the other sects had already entered, leaving only the Yunxiao Sect. Qin Chuan naturally wouldn’t keep his fellow disciples waiting long. He pursed his lips slightly and said: “Take care.” After speaking, Qin Chuan turned and returned to Yunxiao Sect’s group, advancing into the desert with them.

Qin Jianglan, hidden nearby, remained expressionless. But Dan Ruyun felt that as her words were spoken, the cold wind that seemed to linger in mountain valleys disappeared, and the chill on her body was gone, replaced by a cool breeze.

In this wasteland, even the wind was scorching hot, and spiritual energy barriers couldn’t completely block it. She was covered in sweat, with hair sticking to her face in places. That cool breeze made her whole body comfortable, as if soaking in ice-cold spring water. Only then did Dan Ruyun realize the abnormality around Su Zhuyi.

The Thunder Waste Desert was extremely hot.

Even spiritual energy barriers and spiritual treasures could hardly completely isolate this extreme heat. Without spiritual energy barrier protection, people could be directly sunburned. Rolling in the sand a few times could roast someone. This was why treasure hunters this time had cultivation restrictions above the fifth level of the Golden Core stage. If strength was too low, they couldn’t withstand the heat here and would be sunburned to death after not long in the desert.

Now, except for those Nascent Soul stage powerhouses, Golden Core stage cultivators had all sweated more or less. But Su Zhuyi hadn’t.

Not only had she not sweated, there was also a faint cool aura around her. Just standing beside her, Dan Ruyun had felt the cool breeze.

Did Su Zhuyi have some immortal treasure?

The sect leader was calling her again. Dan Ruyun reluctantly walked back, then couldn’t help asking: “Do you have some cooling treasure?”

Su Zhuyi smiled calmly: “Frost Sword Intent.”

From the corner of her eye, she glanced at the ice-cold Qin Jianglan. Su Zhuyi found him particularly pleasing to the eye at this moment. She heard it would get hotter the deeper they went—staying close to Qin Jianglan would save her quite a bit of spiritual energy.

Gujian Sect practiced the Tianxuan Nine Swords, but sword intent wasn’t necessarily Frost Sword Intent. However, both Luo Ying and Qinghe from Luoxue Peak had Frost Sword Intent. Now that Su Zhuyi said she also had it, Dan Ruyun somewhat believed it and felt somewhat regretful. People who comprehended Frost Sword Intent would indeed tend to be cold themselves—both Luo Ying and Qinghe were like this. This wasn’t something any treasure could achieve.

She repeatedly instructed Su Zhuyi to keep up with the group before reluctantly returning to the sect leader’s side, handing the map back as well.

An elder from Danhe Sect was talking with Yi Lian, generally saying this desert was full of dangers and asking their four people to walk among Danhe Sect’s cultivators to avoid getting lost.

Yi Lian naturally agreed, and then Su Zhuyi entered the desert together with Danhe Sect’s cultivators.