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Until the group of people left the villa, the female disciple finally spoke, "Left Shishu, why be polite to him? This disciple of the Seven Soul Sect was so impolite. You’re at the Yuanchuang stage; it wouldn’t be wrong to teach him a lesson."

A cultivator's status is determined by their cultivation. The Yuanchuang stage outranks the Yuanzong stage, yet Shi Wuming, who is at the Yuanzong stage, showed no respect at all, as if the Yuanchuang stage was nothing remarkable in his eyes.

Left Yizhai didn’t show any discomfort on his face, but he felt a little uneasy inside. He said lightly, "The fact that Li Fan personally escorted him here means this person holds a significant position in the Seven Soul Sect. While it would satisfy our immediate feelings to make a move, it could lead to unexpected complications."

Everyone knew that the Red Sun Villa was now just an empty shell, and cultivators wouldn’t come here, but Shi Wuming’s group arrived even earlier than them. They probably knew something as well.

Left Yizhai understood this, which was why he had been so polite earlier and tolerated Shi Wuming’s arrogance.

—

After Shi Wuming’s group left the Red Sun Villa, they noticed another group entering.

This group was clearly from the Ten Directions Commerce, led by the young master Wei Qianli, accompanied by a number of cultivators who were likely from the Ten Directions Commerce.

Although the Ten Directions Commerce was just a commercial organization, its influence was vast. Many second and third-rate sects wouldn’t dare to challenge it.

The people from the Ten Directions Commerce naturally noticed them but thought they were just passing by and didn’t pay much attention. They soon disappeared into the villa.

Shi Wuming said, "Two Yuanchuang stage cultivators entered the villa this time. It seems that even though the villa is an empty shell, it’s still quite attractive. But they’re being hypocritical too. If they want to investigate, they should just go in directly instead of making a big detour and coming back."

This remark surprisingly earned Pei Qiyu’s approval.

They had entered the secret realm earlier than those people but were the first to arrive at the Red Sun Villa, having already searched the place before the others came from a different route. It was hard to tell if they were genuinely trying to avoid attention or had other motives.

At that moment, Ning Yuzhou said, "Who says the villa is an empty shell?"

Shi Wuming and the others were startled and turned to Ning Yuzhou. "Not an empty shell?"

"Indeed, it isn’t," Ning Yuzhou said meaningfully, "Aren’t you here with a purpose yourself?"

Shi Wuming was quite open about it. "I did get some information, but it’s just hearsay, and I’m not sure about the situation. Right now, it looks like an empty shell." He eagerly asked, "Ning gongzi, what discovery do you have?"

"There is a discovery, but now isn’t the time to reveal it," Ning Yuzhou teased.

Shi Wuming was anxious and tried hard to dig out the secret, but Ning Yuzhou shut him down.

"There’s no use in being anxious now. Those people are in the same situation. Why not wait for the right moment?"

"What moment?"

Ning Yuzhou didn’t say more. He turned to Wen Qiao and said, "A Chu, there are plenty of spiritual plants in this secret realm. How about we go check if there are any precious spiritual herbs?"

"Okay," Wen Qiao loved finding spiritual herbs and would plant them in her space, which was always running out of room.

Seeing that they had agreed, Pei Qiyu and Su Molan showed no objection. Shi Wuming had no choice but to close his mouth and follow the group, resigned to his fate.

The Red Sun Villa was the closest to the secret realm’s entrance and had been thoroughly looted, but other parts of the secret realm were different and hadn’t been visited by cultivators. It all depended on their luck.

However, when it came to places rich with spiritual plants, Wen Qiao’s luck was always good.

When they found an eighth-level Ice Spirit Flame Grass deep in a valley, even Shi Wuming had to admire their luck.

The Ice Spirit Flame Grass was the embodiment of dual extremes of ice and fire. On the branch, twin flowers were clustered together—one exuding an icy frost, the other a dazzling flame. The two extremes were distinct yet marvelously integrated.

Just as they were about to dig it up, a blast of icy air struck.

Ning Yuzhou didn’t even look and tossed out an array disk, trapping the attacking beast. It was clearly an Ice Flame Spider, its body cast as if from ice and snow, with only its abdomen colored like flames. Its beautiful appearance was like a work of art.

Its strength matched its beautiful form.

In no time, it broke through the array and attacked them.

Pei Qiyu and Su Molan acted simultaneously—one pulled it into an illusion, and the other unleashed a spiritual sword, pinning it down and beating it.

Pei Qiyu stood guard, cheering them on until Wen Qiao completely dug up the Ice Spirit Flame Grass and placed it in a jade box. They then withdrew.

The Ice Flame Spider chased after them all the way out of the valley.

They happened to encounter another group of people. Seeing the Ice Flame Spider, those people’s eyes flickered, and they said, "Fellow cultivators, let us help you."

A few of them summoned their magical tools and rushed over. However, just as they were about to engage the Ice Flame Spider, their attacks shifted and landed on Ning Yuzhou’s group instead.

Shi Wuming cursed, "Help my ass! Just admit you want to rob us! We won’t blame you for being hypocritical and greedy!"

Pei Qiyu wore a ferocious smile. Trash dared to rob them? They could enjoy the illusion along with the Ice Flame Spider.

The illusion silently spread, and the new group’s eyes gradually became dull as their weapons turned toward the Ice Flame Spider and they began to fight it.

Leaving the Ice Flame Spider to them, Ning Yuzhou’s group left calmly, unscathed.

As they ventured deeper into the secret realm, the spiritual energy of the surrounding plants and trees became extremely dense.

When Wen Qiao found a few more rare varieties of spiritual herbs, she couldn’t help but ask Shi Wuming, "Although the number of spiritual herbs here isn’t large, the varieties are rare. Why didn’t the people who came in the previous nine times dig them up?"

With a cultivator’s eye, how could they miss these spiritual herbs? So Wen Qiao found it quite strange.

Shi Wuming was quite straightforward. "This is my first time here; how would I know?"

This remark earned him disdain from both Pei Qiyu and Su Molan.

Ning Yuzhou smiled slightly, "Actually, this is the essence of the Red Sun Villa’s secret realm. Every time it opens, the realm resets. No matter how many times cultivators enter, they will always encounter something new."