Chapter 257: Chapter 257: Chen Yu Takes Action

A golden cocoon completely enveloped Shen Haoran’s body. With each of his breaths, a faint golden light pulsed rhythmically. His once-pale face slowly regained its color, and the many wounds covering his body, now bathed in the same golden glow, began to heal. Everything was moving in the right direction...

Time flew, and two days passed in the blink of an eye. By now, the heavily wounded Long Mo and his companions had arrived at the Secret Realm exit Sect Leader Chen Yu had told them about.

For two days, the five of them had traveled without a moment’s rest, desperate to report what had happened in the Secret Realm to the Sect’s higher-ups as quickly as possible. Along the way, they didn’t even bother to evade the Primordial Beasts they encountered, slaying them on the spot and pressing onward, without even taking the time to collect their Source Pills.

However, traveling so recklessly naturally attracted the attention of numerous Primordial Beasts, even triggering a small Beast Tide. All five of them sustained injuries. In the end, they only managed to escape danger thanks to a desperate, last-ditch effort from Long Mo and Zi Mo, finally making it to the exit.

"Brother Long, just hold on! The Sect Leader is coming!" Shui Ruolan said, supporting the faintly breathing Long Mo, her voice choked with tears. Nearby, Zi Mo had already passed out completely.

Throughout their journey, it was those two who had cleared nearly every obstacle. After all, among the five of them, Long Mo and Zi Mo were by far the strongest and could end any fight the most quickly.

When they encountered the Beast Tide, the two of them had risked their lives to hold it back, buying their companions enough time to escape. But as a result, they were now both gravely injured, their lives hanging by a thread.

WHOOSH...

Suddenly, the space before them began to distort. A pitch-black portal slowly opened, and several figures emerged from within.

It was Chen Yu and the other elders. Today was the day the Sect Secret Realm expedition was scheduled to end. They had planned to arrive early to greet the returning disciples, but they never expected their first sight would be the grievously wounded Long Mo and his companions.

Seeing the near-death Long Mo, Elder Huo’s face fell. He vanished in a flash, reappearing instantly at Long Mo’s side. Cradling him, he demanded in a low, tense voice, "What is this? What happened?"

Chen Yu’s brows furrowed deeply as well. He gazed at the five disciples, all covered in wounds, and asked gravely, "Why are you the only ones left? Where are the other disciples? And how did you sustain these injuries?"

Chen Yu knew their strength well. Even if they had run into a High Level Primordial Beast, they should have been able to escape. It was almost impossible for them to be this badly hurt. ’Could something have gone wrong inside the Secret Realm?’

"Sect Leader, please, you have to go save Brother Shen!" Shui Ruolan didn’t answer Chen Yu’s question. Instead, she dropped to her knees before him and pleaded.

"Shen Haoran?" Chen Yu’s expression grew grim. "Calm down," he said softly. A gentle stream of Spiritual Power flowed from his body into Shui Ruolan, soothing her agitated state.

"It was like this..." Taking a deep breath, Shui Ruolan recounted what had happened in the grand hall, making sure to emphasize how terrifying the black monster was.

As they listened to Shui Ruolan’s account, the brows of Chen Yu and the other elders knitted together, their faces becoming incredibly grave. ’A black monster? According to her description, its power is at least at the Spirit Emperor Level. How could a creature like that possibly appear in the Sect Secret Realm?’

"Please, Sect Leader! We don’t know if Brother Shen is alive or dead! I’m begging you to save him!" Shui Ruolan pleaded once more.

Looking at Shui Ruolan’s grief-stricken face, Chen Yu considered for a moment before saying, "Rest assured, I will go save him. You all must return to the Sect and have your wounds treated. I am going deeper into the Secret Realm to investigate."

At his words, Shui Ruolan’s face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Sect Leader!" she said, bowing her head in gratitude. ’Sect Leader Chen Yu is a Spirit Emperor Level expert. With him on the case, Shen Haoran will definitely be safe!’ At that thought, she let out a huge sigh of relief. A wave of dizziness washed over her, and she collapsed. She had been on edge for days, and combined with the exhausting journey, she was utterly spent. Now that the weight on her heart had been lifted, she could no longer hold on and fainted.

Seeing this, She Hall Master quickly rushed to support her. Chen Yu gave him a nod, and then Elder Huo and the others took the five disciples back to the Sect to be treated...

Within the Secret Realm, Chen Yu gazed out at the gray, hazy expanse, a sense of unease welling up inside him.

"Sect Leader, are you planning to go in and investigate?" Elder Zhong asked quietly from behind Chen Yu.

Chen Yu nodded. "Shui Ruolan’s group wasn’t lying. If what she said is true—that a black monster of unknown origin has infiltrated the Secret Realm, and one at the Spirit Emperor Level no less—then this is no small matter for our Sect! This Secret Realm was left to us by our ancestors. It is the very foundation of the Five Elements Sect, and we absolutely cannot allow anything to go wrong!"

"Moreover, that black monster slaughtered dozens of our Sect’s talented disciples. That is a debt that must be paid in blood. If we don’t, how can we face the spirits of those who have fallen? How can the Five Elements Sect expect its disciples to keep their faith in us?"

As Chen Yu spoke, a formidable aura erupted from him, stirring the chaotic Energy in the air and whipping up a small maelstrom.

"In that case, Sect Leader, I will accompany you!" Elder Zhong said, cupping his fist.

"That won’t be necessary. Go and inform Elder Qin and Elder Mo about this. Tell them to keep a close watch on the Secret Realm’s exit. If they notice any abnormalities, they are to notify me at once! The very survival of our Sect is at stake; we cannot afford any carelessness!" Chen Yu said gravely.

"Yes, sir!" Elder Zhong acknowledged the order, then turned, exited the Secret Realm, and hurried back toward the Sect.

After Elder Zhong departed, Chen Yu gazed out at the boundless Secret Realm, then vanished in a flash...

...

In a vast, dense forest, a black figure flickered in and out of sight, moving so fast its form was a blur. After a moment, it stopped, perching atop a towering ancient tree and sniffing the air repeatedly.

This was none other than the black monster. The wounds on its body had already healed, leaving not even a scar. Moreover, the Bone Spikes at its elbows and knees had grown back. With a casual wave, they tore the very air asunder.

’Hmph, that little bastard really knows how to hide!’ the black monster grunted. In a fit of anger, it swiped at the massive ancient tree beside it, and a sharp Bone Spike sliced the trunk clean in two.

The one the black monster was hunting was none other than Shen Haoran. But for the past few days, it had found no trace of him, and it was furious.

’I refuse to believe you can hide forever!’ the black monster snarled, licking its lips. Its form flickered as it prepared to charge forward again. However, before it had taken more than a few steps, it suddenly froze and looked up at the sky.

’Hah, more prey has arrived...’