Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

Deep in the Black Soil Mountains.

A biting cold wave swept through.

If you don't prepare items to protect yourself from the cold wave in advance, the experience will be like having your bones scraped!

Led by the two elders, the group from Lingyao Valley arrived safely at the entrance to the secret realm.

Lu Zaian had taken the Profound Flame Pill in advance, and his whole body felt warm, so he didn't feel the cold poison attacking him.

"Is this the entrance to the secret realm?"

A whirlpool slowly rotated at the bottom of the lake, releasing a rolling cold wave. The white mist-like cold wave spread all around, like a fairyland!

"Hmph, Jin Tianfeng and Wei Yubai... have actually gathered another group of Qi Refining cultivators. It seems you're still not giving up."

Beside the lake, a figure appeared like a ghost—it was Chi Zhan.

He stared coldly at the crowd before him, a disdainful sneer playing on his lips.

"Hmph, don't be so arrogant, your Fire Refining Sect. The secret realm is so vast, and we've only explored less than half of it yet. Who will be the final winner is still uncertain!"

Elder Jin made a sarcastic remark.

Chi Zhan ignored him, his gaze sweeping over the crowd behind Elder Jin, a knowing look on his face, and he said disdainfully:

"Is there no one left in Spirit Medicine Valley? Why gather a bunch of rabble? What good are a lot of people? They're just good for selling their heads..."

Upon hearing this, the Qi Refining cultivators behind Elder Jin all turned red in the face. Although they were furious, they dared not utter a single word.

Faced with such blatant mockery from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, they had no courage to retaliate.

Although they joined forces with the Spirit Medicine Valley, they were all there for the treasures of the secret realm and did not want to truly provoke the Fire Refining Sect.

At the same time, Elder Xiangyun and Vice President Luo also came over.

Elder Xiangyun looked haggard, his eyes bloodshot, and he was completely devoid of the demeanor of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Her gaze toward Chi Zhan was incredibly cold and venomous, and her eyes also held a hint of resentment as she looked at the people of Lingyao Valley.

The reason for this was that the Flying Cloud Sect disciples suffered heavy losses in the secret realm, and she, as an elder, could do nothing about it.

We remain here only to receive the remaining disciples who have not yet emerged.

After all, we can't let anything happen to that last remaining seedling.

At the same time, Elder Xiangyun was also complaining about the inaccurate information about the Spirit Medicine Valley.

We agreed to work together to deal with the Fire Refining Sect, but once we entered the secret realm, the Flying Cloud Sect suffered the most losses!

Vice President Luo, however, still maintained his elegant demeanor, holding a folding fan.

The Haitian Chamber of Commerce didn't suffer too much loss; for a large and well-established company like theirs, it was acceptable. They were just there to join in the fun anyway...

Lu Zaian, standing in the crowd, concealed his aura, lowered his head, and tried to minimize his presence.

Damn it, I told you the trip to the secret realm was dangerous.

Five Foundation Establishment experts suddenly gathered at the entrance.

If they were to start a fight over a minor disagreement, it would definitely affect these minor cultivators who are only at the Qi Refining stage.

"Disciples of Spirit Medicine Valley, enter!"

Fortunately, Elder Wei, standing at the front, remained calm and waved his sleeve, ordering everyone to enter the secret realm.

At the same time, Elder Wei and Elder Jin's auras were tightly locked onto Chi Zhan to prevent any unforeseen events.

Chi Zhan did not intervene, but simply watched coldly as the disciples of Lingyao Valley and their affiliated Qi Refining cultivators acted.

It's like watching dumplings being dropped into boiling water...

Judging from the progress reported by the disciples of the Fire Refining Sect over the past ten days, they have already gained an absolute advantage in the secret realm.

Once they gain control of the palace's central hub, the entire secret realm will be under the control of the Fire Refining Sect.

.........

A powerful force pulled Lu Zaian tightly into his arms, making him feel as if he were being drawn into an abyss.

My vision was blurry.

When Lu Zaian opened his eyes again, he found himself in a dimly lit hall.

He steadied himself, secretly holding a low-grade second-tier talisman in his hand, and cautiously observed his surroundings.

The hall was exceptionally spacious, but the 30-foot-high ceiling created an incredibly oppressive feeling.

The ground is paved with stone slabs that are as clear and translucent as white jade.

All around stood rows of gray-black stone pillars, which seemed to be engraved with strange runes and emitted a faint, restrictive light.

A hint of doubt welled up in Lu Zaian's mind:

"It's really strange. There's a cold wave rolling in outside, but I can't feel the slightest bit of cold inside."

Is there some special formation or barrier here?

Lu Zaian was still in surprise when several exclamations came from around him.

"This is the inside of the secret realm?!"

"What a magnificent palace! Hahaha, treasure, here I come!"

"This seems to be just the outer perimeter of the palace? Let's hurry inside!"

Lu Zai'an looked around and saw that there were five other cultivators who had been teleported to this place with him.

One of the cultivators, dressed in a green robe and with a dignified appearance, was an inner disciple of the Spirit Medicine Valley, whose cultivation had reached the seventh level of Qi Refining.

He held a carved wooden seal, a magical artifact, and cautiously surveyed his surroundings.

Apart from that, the remaining four all came from various vassal states.

Two of the cultivators, who appeared to be old men, were at the fifth level of Qi Refining, but the low-grade magic weapons they held were rather simple, covered with pits and looking old and worn.

Another middle-aged cultivator in gray robes, whose cultivation level was also at the sixth level of Qi Refining, tightly gripped a shield-shaped magic weapon in his hand.

The last one was a plump female cultivator with a beautiful face and well-maintained appearance, who was also at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

At this moment, the four vassal cultivators all showed excitement and were about to take action.

"Wait! Don't move around."

At this moment, the disciple from Lingyao Valley, holding a wooden seal, stepped forward and spoke in a calm tone.

"My name is Zhu Youzhi. I have the highest cultivation level here, so you'll be under my command for now. The most important thing right now is to find our senior brother and reunite. Don't wander off!"

After finishing speaking, he turned to Lu Zaian and methodically began to arrange things:

“Junior Brother Lu, since your cultivation level is the lowest, you should stay in the middle. We'll wait until we need you to take action.”

"...Okay, Senior Brother Zhu."

Lu Zaian hesitated slightly, then nodded in agreement.

Although he had actually cultivated to the eighth level of Body Refinement, this fact was not known to others.

On the surface, he was just a Qi Refining Level 4 array master, and indeed someone who needed protection.

Moreover, at this moment, it would be ideal if someone could step forward to take charge of the entire team.

This can effectively prevent the team from falling into chaos and disagreements from arising.

As for the other five people... although they were somewhat unwilling.

However, considering that they ultimately belonged to a vassal state and were also subject to restrictions, they did not raise any objections in the end.

After careful adjustments, the team's formation changed:

The middle-aged monk, holding a shield, walked at the very front of the procession.

Lu Zaian is positioned in the middle.

To his left was the voluptuous female nun, and to his right was Zhu Youzhi.

At the very back, two elderly monks brought up the rear to hold the line.