Chapter 53: The Secret Realm Ends, Undercurrents Surge

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As Ye Li passed through the swamp, filled with a foul odor and teeming with poisonous insects, and finally stepped onto solid ground, the spatial fluctuations emanating from the entrance to the Cloudy Secret Realm behind her had become extremely violent and unstable. The light gate, which had previously rippled like water, now twisted and flickered, as if it would collapse and dissipate at any moment.

She didn't dare to stay, and endured the weakness brought by her unhealed injuries and the urgency of the disguise talisman's effect disappearing. She quickly moved away from the exit area, found a secluded valley, and hid in the dense bushes.

Almost the moment she hid herself——

“Buzz!”

A dull humming sound, as if originating from the depths of the void, resounded through the heavens and earth! The light gate at the entrance to the Cloud and Mist Secret Realm suddenly erupted with a blinding light. Then, like a shattered mirror, it cracked inch by inch, eventually dissipating into a sky filled with tiny points of light. Only a distorted spatial ripple remained, proving that a small world had once existed there.

The secret realm is closed.

Then, in the open space surrounding the original entrance, streaks of white light flashed one after another, and like dumplings falling from the sky, figures were forcibly repelled by the force of space. These were the survivors who had failed to leave on their own and were ultimately transported out by the rules of the secret realm.

The scene was a little chaotic for a while.

Some people stumbled to the ground, still in shock; some were injured and bloody, and immediately sat cross-legged to heal their wounds; some looked around impatiently, looking for fellow disciples or guarding against enemies; some even laughed out loud as soon as they came out, obviously having gained a lot; some looked frustrated and sighed, obviously their efforts were in vain and they even suffered heavy losses.

The elders and team leaders of each faction had been waiting outside for a long time. Upon seeing this, they all stepped forward to support their own disciples. For a while, the place was filled with noise and bustle.

Ye Li hid in the shadows, watching with a cold eye. She saw Gao Sheng, Shi Feng, and the others being teleported out. Gao Sheng's face was terribly gloomy, and his eyes were scanning the crowd like a hawk, clearly searching for her. Shi Feng's severed arm was wrapped in thick gauze, his face pale, and his eyes filled with resentment.

She also saw Qin Yixuan and the disciples of the Bishui Pavilion. Qin Yixuan still looked as cool and detached as ever, her white clothes stained with a little dust, but it did not diminish her temperament. She calmly talked with the Bishui Pavilion elders who came to greet her, her eyes occasionally sweeping across the room with a subtle scrutiny.

Su Wanyun, Liu Yiyi, Han Li, Chen Mo and other disciples of Yundan Peak also appeared one after another. They gathered together, with relief on their faces at having survived the disaster, but Su Wanyun's eyes could not hide his worry for Ye Li, and he kept looking for her in the crowd.

The Xuanyun Sect's leading elder this time was a solemn, profound-looking old man. He was a highly respected elder from the sect's Law Enforcement Hall, and his surname was Yan. He frowned slightly as he watched the returning disciples, clearly noticing the dwindling numbers and the injuries sustained by many. A fierce look flashed in his eyes when he saw Shi Feng's severed arm.

"Goldman, what's going on? Shi Feng's arm?" Elder Yan asked in a deep voice, his voice filled with unquestionable majesty.

Gao Sheng immediately stepped forward, his face filled with grief and indignation. He bowed and said, "Reporting to Elder Yan! I was just about to report! In this secret realm, Ye Li, a disciple from our sect's Yundan Peak, appears to have received a heaven-defying inheritance. She's practicing evil techniques, and her personality has drastically changed! Not only did she murder her fellow disciples, she also ambushed and severely injured Junior Brother Shi Feng, severing his arm. Furthermore, during the battle for the inheritance, she colluded with outsiders and brutally murdered us! I was incompetent and failed to capture her. Please forgive me, Elder!"

He spoke in a loud voice, and not only Elder Yan could hear it clearly, but many disciples of Xuanyun Sect and people from other sects around him also heard it clearly.

"What? Ye Li murdered his fellow disciples?"

"She also received a heaven-defying inheritance?"

"No wonder I didn't see her come out. Did she die in there out of guilt? Or did she escape?"

Suddenly, discussions erupted. Su Wanyun and the others' expressions changed drastically. Liu Yiyi tried to defend herself, but Han Li held her back, signaling her not to act rashly. Chen Mo frowned, remaining silent.

Elder Yan looked at Gao Sheng sharply, "Are you serious? Do you have any evidence? Did any other disciples witness this?"

Gao Sheng quickly pointed at the several Zhan Kuangfeng disciples beside him and the two disciples from the small family who had luckily escaped from Ye Li's hands. "Elder Yan, please be wise! Junior Brother Shi Feng's injuries are irrefutable evidence! These junior brothers have seen it with their own eyes! That Ye Li's body movements are strange and her finger techniques are sinister. They are definitely not the orthodox techniques of our Xuanyun Sect! She must have entered the devil's way!"

Naturally, those disciples echoed and exaggerated the description of how "brutal" Ye Li was.

Elder Yan's face was solemn. He looked at Su Wanyun and the others and said, "You guys have been traveling with Ye Li all this time. Do you know anything about this?"

Su Wanyun mustered his courage, stepped forward, and saluted, saying, "Your Excellency, I am Su Wanyun. Senior Sister Ye is absolutely not what Senior Brother Gao claims! Outside the inheritance cave, it was Senior Brother Gao and the others who first besieged Senior Sister Ye, attempting to seize her opportunity. Senior Sister Ye was forced to defend herself! Senior Brother Shi Feng's arm was also injured by Senior Sister Ye during the attack, but there was a reason for it! As for colluding with outsiders and practicing demonic arts, that's sheer nonsense! Elder, please investigate!"

"Junior Sister Su, don't be fooled by that witch!" Gao Sheng interrupted harshly, "What benefit did she give you that makes you defend her like this?"

"You!" Su Wanyun's face turned red with anger.

"Enough!" Elder Yan stopped the quarrel and glanced at the crowd. "This matter is full of doubts. Don't listen to one side of the story. Once we return to the sect, the Law Enforcement Hall will conduct a detailed investigation and make a fair judgment! The most urgent task is to count the number of people, treat the wounded, and return to the sect!"

He had his own calculations. Gao Sheng was a true disciple of Zhan Kuangfeng (in name only), and his background was not simple. If Ye Li truly had received a great opportunity, she must also treat it with caution. Now, with everyone watching, it was not the time to delve into the matter.

Although Gao Sheng was unwilling, he didn't dare to disobey Elder Yan and could only bow and agree, but a hint of viciousness flashed in his eyes. As long as he returned to the sect, he would have plenty of ways to prove Ye Li's guilt!

On the other side, the camp of Bishui Pavilion.

Qin Yixuan briefly reported her experience in the secret realm to the elder in charge, omitting the details related to Ye Li and only mentioning the partial inheritance she had obtained and the ordinary dangers she had encountered.

The elder stroked his beard and nodded, quite satisfied with Qin Yixuan's performance. At this time, a disciple nearby whispered, "Elder, the Xuanyun Sect seemed to be saying just now that a disciple named Ye Li had obtained the core inheritance and was harming his fellow disciples..."

Qin Yixuan frowned slightly when she heard this, but did not say anything.

The elder of the Bishui Pavilion's eyes gleamed, and he chuckled, "The internal affairs of the Xuanyun Sect have nothing to do with us. However, that Ye Li... is quite interesting. Being able to stir up trouble with his Qiling Realm cultivation and make Gao Sheng so furious, he must be no ordinary person. Yixuan, have you ever come into contact with this person?"

Qin Yixuan said lightly: "I have met him a few times, and he is indeed extraordinary." Then he said no more.

The elder seemed to be thinking about something and did not ask any more questions.

…

From her hiding place, Ye Li took in all the turmoil outside. She wasn't surprised by Gao Sheng's slander; Su Wanyun's words on her behalf warmed her heart, but she also knew that Su Wanyun's one-sided statement alone wouldn't change anything. Elder Yan's attitude was ambiguous; returning to the sect would surely bring a storm.

"I must recover my strength as soon as possible!" Ye Li felt a stronger sense of urgency in his heart.

She quietly took out a drop of Star Essence Fluid. This precious substance was originally used to break through bottlenecks or save her life in critical moments, but now the situation was pressing, and she had to quickly return to peak form to deal with the next crisis.

Without hesitation, she swallowed the drop of liquid that was like a liquid star.

boom!

Energy more powerful and pure than any previous elixir instantly dissolved in her body! This energy not only contained a vast amount of spiritual energy, but also had a miraculous effect of nourishing the soul and repairing the essence.

Ye Li immediately activated the "Emperor's Scripture of the Underworld" with all his might, directing this energy to flush out his damaged meridians and internal organs. The fragments of the Samsara Mirror also hummed joyfully, greedily absorbing the stellar power contained within the energy. The clear light it emitted became even brighter, accelerating the recovery of Ye Li's soul and body.

Her originally pale face regained its rosy color at a speed visible to the naked eye. The blood stasis in her body was dissolved by the powerful energy, and the damaged meridians were quickly repaired and widened. The nearly dried-up Dantian Qi Sea was refilled with pure and extremely cold spiritual power, and it was even more full and condensed than before!

The effect of the Star Origin Liquid is simply amazing!

In less than an hour, Ye Li's injuries had healed. Not only had her spiritual power fully recovered, but it had also significantly improved, reaching the true peak of the Awakening Spirit Realm. She was only one opportunity away from breaking through to the Condensing Veins Realm! Her spirit had also grown a bit stronger, and her understanding of the "Universe Traceless Step" and "Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger" seemed to have deepened considerably.

The effect of the disguise talisman had long since worn off, and she had returned to her original appearance, donning clean clothes. Although she was now dressed simply, her eyes were bright and sharp, and her aura was deep and profound. Compared to before she entered the secret realm, she had undergone a complete transformation!

She carefully counted the gains from this trip to the secret realm:

Core inheritance: "Universe Traceless Steps" and "Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger" - priceless treasures.

Top treasures: Star Origin Liquid (two drops remaining), Xuanhuan Order, Void Divine Crystal - any one of them will cause a bloody storm if it gets out.

Improvement in cultivation: reaching the peak of the Spiritual Awakening Realm, with an extremely solid foundation and a surge in combat power.

Combat experience: After experiencing life-and-death battles, combat awareness and adaptability are greatly improved.

Other gains: a small amount of elixirs and spirit stones looted from several casual cultivators, as well as contribution points accumulated from previously completed tasks.

It was a fruitful return! Although the process was extremely dangerous, the rewards were well worth her efforts.

However, she also paid a price: her identity was exposed and she became the target of public criticism; she had a mortal enemy with Zhan Kuangfeng; the news that she was carrying a valuable treasure may have been leaked; and she would face severe scrutiny and challenges when she returned to the sect.

"Good fortune lies within the shadow of misfortune, and misfortune lies within the shadow of good fortune." Ye Li murmured to himself, with no fear in his eyes, only calm analysis and firm fighting spirit.

At this time, in the open space outside, the various sects had begun to gather and prepare to evacuate. On the Xuanyun Sect side, Elder Yan counted the number of people (confirming that several disciples had fallen), then summoned a massive cloud boat and signaled the disciples to board.

Ye Li knew that she had to show up. Hiding all the time would only make her look guilty.

She straightened her clothes, walked out calmly from her hiding place, and headed towards the Xuanyun Sect's cloud boat.

Her appearance instantly attracted everyone's attention!

"Ye Li! She's not dead!"

"She's out!"

"She looks... like she's not hurt at all? Her aura is even stronger?"

Exclamations and discussions suddenly rang out.

When Gao Sheng, Shi Feng and others saw her, their eyes almost spitted fire, especially when they felt the increasingly unfathomable aura from Ye Li, they were even more shocked and angry.

Su Wanyun was surprised and delighted, and waved to her quickly.

Elder Yan's gaze also fell on Ye Li, as sharp as a knife, as if he wanted to see through her.

Ye Li ignored the surrounding discussions and gazes. She walked steadily to the front of Elder Yan, bowed slightly, and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner: "Disciple Ye Li, greetings to Elder Yan."

Elder Yan looked at her deeply, and felt the condensed and cold spiritual energy fluctuations in her body, and was slightly surprised. This woman is indeed not simple!

"Well, you're back. Let's get on board. We'll discuss the specific matters when we get back to the sect." Elder Yan waved his hand without asking any more questions.

"Yes." Ye Li replied, turning and walking towards Yun Zhou. As she passed by Gao Sheng, she could clearly sense his undisguised murderous intent.

She sneered in her heart, but her face remained calm as she boarded the cloud boat directly.

The huge cloud boat slowly rose into the air, carrying the harvest, scars, and surging undercurrents, and headed towards the Xuanyun Sect.

The journey to the secret realm ended, but a bigger storm was brewing within the sect. Ye Li stood at the side of the boat, looking at the mountains and rivers passing by quickly below, his eyes deep.

Xuanyun Sect, I'm back. This time, I won't hold back anymore!