"Look, there's a silver star grass up ahead!"
Lu Jiu shouted, and the four of them rushed forward.
In the blink of an eye, two days had passed since Ye Feng and his companions entered the secret realm.
In the past few days, Ah Jiu has kept her promise and given Ye Feng two servings of plums that were still growing on the tree.
Although it certainly tastes better than fruit that has been picked for a long time...
However, Ye Feng just couldn't get that feeling that his senior brother Jiu had described.
I didn't experience any of that feeling of earning more money as much as I dreamed of, or the immense satisfaction it brought.
However, it must be said that the excitement of searching for treasure together, finding even a single spiritual herb, and experiencing the unknown firsthand was truly a unique experience for Ye Feng.
They also encountered several attacks from spirit beasts during the trip, but they repelled them all.
In particular, Ye Feng's Azure Shield was so powerful that even a mid-Foundation Establishment level ferocious beast could not break it. With the assistance of the other three, the ferocious beasts that wanted to eat people eventually became supplies in their backpacks.
"Senior brother, the secret realm will be open for three months. If none of these people leave, will they no longer need to pay taxes at the entrance?"
Ye Feng asked with some curiosity,
In the past few days, they have encountered quite a few cultivators who have come to explore, usually in groups of three or five.
After all, there are many ferocious beasts in the secret realm, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators sometimes doze off. It's always safer to have someone help guard it and take turns resting.
Of course, some wealthy people buy their own small arrays and don't need anyone to guard them.
However, those are still extremely rare. A single array plate, especially one with defensive attributes, generally costs over 500,000 spirit stones.
It's really hard for ordinary people to afford it.
Most people, like Lu Jiu, would spend a few days exploring the secret realm, then go out to rest for a day or two before re-entering.
Although many cultivators had swept through various places, Ye Feng and his group still managed to earn about 500,000 worth of spirit herbs and beast meat over the course of a few days.
On average, each person can receive 70,000 to 80,000 spirit stones.
Even in Yunxia Market, if you factor in costs, you wouldn't have this kind of revenue, but you have to hand over half of it once you leave.
So Ye Feng was a little curious: if he stayed in the secret realm, wouldn't he not have to hand it over?
Lu Jiu glanced at Ye Feng with a strange smile on his face.
"Not going out? Are you planning to wait another thousand years to go out? You can't undergo tribulation inside the secret realm and reach the Golden Core stage. By the time it opens again, you'll be long dead!"
Ye Feng was startled upon hearing this; the Chamber of Commerce's records did mention this matter.
Demonic beasts can devour each other to advance to the pseudo-Golden Core stage, while cultivators must undergo tribulations...
However, the information didn't mention that closing the secret realm would trap people inside.
This is probably considered very basic knowledge, so it wasn't covered.
Ye Feng thought that once the time was up, the secret realm would throw everyone out...
From this perspective, exploring secret realms is still too dangerous.
What if the secret realm malfunctions and closes down in just half a month this time?
There seems to be some movement ahead!
Liu De shouted, and the others became cautious and on guard.
In fact, Ye Feng had seen it long ago; it was a group of people casting spells to bombard the formation!
Ye Feng's eyes lit up. Only with an array could there be good stuff!
He's been looking carefully for the past few days, but he just hasn't found it.
If the formation is not triggered, it is truly impossible to detect it with just the naked eye.
Lu Jiu waved his hand and said softly,
"Let's go to the other side and get out first, otherwise it won't be worth it if we get watched."
"Hehehe... You're really cautious and vigilant, but unfortunately, we still managed to spot you. We were just worried about someone robbing us at the exit of the secret realm, so we'll just have to settle for some compensation here."
The three then realized that they were surrounded by five people, and the collision of their divine senses made them completely unable to muster any thought of resistance, as the opponent's divine sense far exceeded that of the early Foundation Establishment stage.
"Hand over your storage equipment, and I'll spare your lives!"
"We are disciples of the Qingyun Sect, a subordinate sect of the Hunyuan Sect. May I ask which sect you gentlemen belong to? Would you be so kind as to make an exception for us?"
Lu Jiu, having seen many big scenes, wasn't too panicked.
The secret realm is guarded by the Hunyuan Sect, so even the Demonic Sect wouldn't dare to easily kill anyone under normal circumstances.
Once the conflict between good and evil is stirred up, demonic children and holy children will naturally enter.
"Bang!"
A sword light slammed down in front of Lu Jiu.
"Shut the fuck up! If you say another word, I'll cut off your hand!"
"Hand it over! Hand it over!...We'll hand it over!"
Lu Jiu took the magical flying sword in his hand, threw out his storage belt, and turned to look at his two companions.
Where is Ye Feng?
Ye Feng stood on a tree trunk not far away, watching the three people hand over their storage bags and be released. He then abandoned his plan to intervene.
Since they value money over their lives, there's no need for me to lift a finger. The opponent has two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and three mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
If a fight broke out, there would be no way to hide his cultivation level, so he simply ran away.
But are people still robbing the exit from the secret realm?
...It really opened up a whole new way of thinking for him!
Even the area around the formation doesn't smell as good anymore.
What's the point of robbing people one by one like this? Wouldn't it be better to just guard the door properly?
Watching the two groups of people walk away, Ye Feng packed away his belongings and cast a cleansing spell to remove his aura.
One by one, top-grade magical artifacts were wielded; one slipped on the human skin mask.
The wandering cultivator Gu Yun... needs to change his name.
Han Li, the rogue cultivator, is officially online!
———
At the exit of the secret realm, in front of a vortex ten meters in diameter,
More than twenty late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators wearing various masks gathered here, while about ten independent cultivators obediently lined up, each paying their "exit fee."
Most of them were cultivators from the Middle Sect, and they immediately made way for the approaching experts.
"Senior brother, won't the sect blame us if we go out like this?"
"Hmph, you think we can take everything we collect ourselves? The lion's share isn't..."
"Hehehe... I see. This is much faster than robbing people inside. It's just that letting so many disciples out isn't worth it."
Upon hearing his junior brother's words, the person next to him was so frightened that he quickly covered his mouth.
"If you want to die, don't drag me down with you. Several important figures are right here. How dare you say such a thing? The people outside are all Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators from top sects. Don't you want to get out?"
It turned out that the disciples of the upper sect were hiding among their group. The junior brother chuckled awkwardly and said nothing more.
Everyone is now wearing masks, and they all possess cultivation levels ranging from late-stage to peak Foundation Establishment.
Ordinary people should never be able to tell who they are by looking through their masks.
When the time comes, you can simply discard your low-grade magical artifacts, change your clothes, and go out directly.
However, the geniuses of the upper sect possess extraordinary spiritual senses and might be able to break through the masks and see their faces, in which case they would truly be doomed.
Just then, the two masked men maintaining order in the distance respectfully let one person over.
The two brothers, seeing each other radiating spiritual light, couldn't help but swallow hard.
This is definitely a genius from a top sect, and not just any ordinary one.
The two watched each other fly past, about to reach the vicinity of the exit.
"Fellow Daoist, please wait. May I ask which sect you belong to, genius? Would you be willing to befriend me?"
Ye Feng walked straight to the vortex before turning around.
"Me? A rogue cultivator!"
"A rogue cultivator? I am Luo Li of the Hunyuan Sect. I'm just making acquaintances. Why bother to dabble in my affairs?"
Luo Li removed his mask, his face filled with anger. Although he couldn't determine Ye Feng's background, Ye Feng's aura of immortality clearly distinguished him from the Demonic Sect. He surmised that Ye Feng was one of the other talented disciples who had come to join him, which was why he had asked to befriend him.
Unexpectedly, the other party seemed to take him completely indifferent.
"Hahaha... When did the Hunyuan Sect start to appreciate kindness and fawn over cold shoulders!"
At that moment, another person came out from the other side of the gate and took off their mask.
This werewolf had a fierce look in his eyes.
"Hey kid, since you're not from a top sect, you'd better come over and pay your toll obediently, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, and more than ten other people walked over, looking ready to start a fight at the slightest provocation.
"Isn't there a toll collection point outside? Why do we have to collect it again inside?"
If Ye Feng wanted to leave, he could easily walk away at any time.
The Demon Sect member was merely making empty threats, trying to intimidate Luo Li.
Hearing Ye Feng's somewhat subdued words, he couldn't help but let out a strange laugh.
"Gah gah gah... The outside is the outside, and the inside is the inside. Now that my fist is bigger, you have to obediently pay the bill!"
After saying that, a black mass beneath his feet rushed straight towards Ye Feng with lightning speed.
"Bang!"
Ye Feng's spirit boots paused, and a ball of flame began to spread in all directions, instantly dispersing the dark shadows.
"Well said!"
Ye Feng glanced around at everyone, a smile gradually spreading across his face.
"From this moment on, this place is under my control, Han Li. If you want to leave, you'll have to stay..."
"Toll fee!!"
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