Chapter 1256: Chapter 1256: Exploring the Secret Realm
Tossing the Mountain Splitter Seal into the Wine Curse Lotus for further nurturing, Lin Chen couldn’t help but feel a pang of pain, thinking that he would have to find more resources to repair this Mountain Splitter Seal again.
Back when Lin Chen obtained that Heavy Mountain Seal, it was only recently fully refined and offered to nurture this Mountain Splitter Seal.
Originally, with some more nurturing using Heavenly and Earthly Treasures, this Mountain Splitter Seal might become a seventh rank magic treasure.
However, being so damaged, it needs to be repaired and nurtured again, which will consume a lot of Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
"Let’s leave this place first."
Lin Chen flew next to Yu Weilian and Yang Minghui, and said calmly.
This place is exposed now, no longer hidden, and Liu Yong could return at any time.
Moreover, Lin Chen and the others have not yet completed their examination tasks; they need to find the Ice Clear Flower and also find Su Yun, Su Xiao, and others.
"Okay."
Yang Minghui and Yu Weilian both nodded, following Lin Chen.
Then Lin Chen, after detecting a direction with his Divine Soul, took off with the two of them.
However, after not traveling far, Lin Chen suddenly noticed something.
It was that Zhang Hongying was following them all along.
"Why are you following us?"
Lin Chen stopped and looked back at Zhang Hongying, asking with a slight frown.
To be aware, Zhang Hongying had previously attacked Lin Chen, intending to take his life. Lin Chen had just joined forces with her to drive Liu Yong away, so he hadn’t dealt with her yet.
But he hadn’t expected this woman to dare follow him.
"I, I..."
Zhang Hongying looked at Lin Chen, stammering, unable to explain, then her gaze fell on Yang Minghui.
In fact, Zhang Hongying herself didn’t know why she was following Lin Chen and the others.
The aftereffects of burning Essence Blood were still present, and having just experienced a great battle, Zhang Hongying appeared somewhat haggard, yet this haggardness had a certain sickly beauty.
Yang Minghui’s gaze fell on Zhang Hongying, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.
"Lin Chen, why not let her follow us, leave the past aside for now, having one more person adds strength. In this Secret Realm, encountering people like Liu Yong or Magical Beasts would give us more assurance."
Upon hearing Yang Minghui’s words, Lin Chen’s brows furrowed slightly, wanting to scold if this woman had a problem with her brain.
Zhang Hongying had almost taken his life before. How could Lin Chen keep such a ticking time bomb by his side?
However, Yang Minghui’s latter words seemed to hold some truth.
In this Secret Realm, Lin Chen wasn’t sure what dangers they might face. Including Zhang Hongying in the team did indeed count as gaining another fighter.
"You can follow us, but let me make some things clear to you first."
"Since you wish to join my team, you must follow all my decisions and arrangements. Also, put away those schemes of your Zhang Family. If I find out you intend to harm me, I’ll deal with you immediately."
"The grudges between your Zhang Family and me, you’d better set them aside for now. Finish this Secret Realm examination, and once we’re out, if you wish to seek vengeance or settle debts, suit yourself."
Lin Chen looked at Zhang Hongying and said calmly.
Hearing this, Zhang Hongying originally didn’t want to agree. After all, working with someone like Lin Chen was indeed repugnant to her, and having to listen to him was humiliating. As the young lady of the Zhang Family, when had she ever endured such grievance?
However, when her gaze fell on Yang Minghui, she nodded in agreement.
"In that case, let’s go together."
Lin Chen cast a cool glance at Zhang Hongying and said.
Lin Chen understood in his heart that Zhang Hongying agreed so readily because she wanted to stay near Yang Minghui.
This woman must truly like Yang Minghui. If she knew Yang Minghui was actually a woman, he wondered how she’d feel inside.
The four then began exploring the Secret Realm.
Fortunately, in this Secret Realm, there was no fog that blocked Divine Sense, allowing Lin Chen and others to sense where there were powerful Magical Beasts and avoid them in advance. They could also sense where the Ice Clear Flower was located.
"There are so many Heavenly and Earthly Treasures here."
During the exploration, Lin Chen suddenly discovered a place piled with treasures, his eyes lighting up as he spoke.
Speaking of which, Lin Chen was about to take those treasures.
"Hold on!"
However, just as Lin Chen was about to collect the treasures, Zhang Hongying’s voice came to stop him.
Hearing this, Lin Chen couldn’t help but frown. What did this woman want? Was she trying to stop him from collecting treasures?
Lin Chen looked at Zhang Hongying, clearly inquiring about the reason for her interruption.
"I advise you not to target these Heavenly and Earthly Treasures. Even if you manage to take them, Elder Zhao and others will inspect all of us upon exit. If discovered, not only will your chance to participate in the examination be revoked, but you’ll also be punished."
Zhang Hongying looked at Lin Chen and said calmly, feeling exasperated at his greed.
Zhang Hongying actually didn’t want to tell Lin Chen these things; she would rather see him punished by Yunlong Heavenly Palace.
But since she was with Lin Chen and the others, and in front of Yang Minghui, she had to mention it, lest Lin Chen blamed her later for not warning him.
Moreover, this also allowed her to gain favor with Yang Minghui.
Having listened to Zhang Hongying’s words, Lin Chen secretly sighed, withdrawing his hand and giving up on the Heavenly and Earthly Treasures.
If it weren’t for the others accompanying him, Lin Chen would surely have collected these treasures.
After all, the space of the Primordial Myriad Transformation Cauldron was beyond the detection capabilities of Yunlong Heavenly Palace’s people.
Lin Chen then continued the exploration with the others, constantly collecting Ice Clear Flowers.
After two or three days of searching, Lin Chen discovered that none of the treasures here, whether mineral resources or spiritual herbs and medicines, were above the seventh rank. There were no treasures beyond the seventh rank.
With this thought, Lin Chen looked at Zhang Hongying and voiced his inner queries.
After all, Zhang Hongying was from Yunlong City and might know the reason behind this.
"The Secret Realm before us has always been used to assess new disciples. Although dangerous, it’s not excessively so; otherwise, it would become a purgatory for the disciples under examination."
"Therefore, the people of Yunlong Heavenly Palace periodically concentrate their power to maintain creatures around the seventh rank here, which naturally prevents treasures beyond the seventh rank from appearing."