As team captain, Lii Yeyu scouted ahead using her Tongyou Divine Techniques. Guan Wanjing guarded the rear, and Li Hanshan took the second position. He used his extraordinary vision to watch for any fluctuations in Spiritual Qi and potential enemies up ahead.

Shao Qiming clutched a concussion grenade modified with Spiritual Power, waiting only for an order from the other three to toss it where needed. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

For most of his life, Shao Qiming had been chronically ill. But after Su Zhou cleansed the Curse from his body, and after he had eaten a Wisdom Fruit and begun his Cultivation, his constitution was now far beyond that of an ordinary person, even though his appearance remained deceptively frail.

However, this strength was still somewhat of an Innate deficiency when compared to other genius Cultivators. Fortunately, combat required more than just raw power. Shao Qiming’s reflexes and control over his strength were exceptionally sharp, so his job was to throw the concussion grenade the instant he sensed danger. This would block an enemy’s assault and create an opening for his teammates to counterattack.

So far, however, they hadn’t encountered any enemies dangerous enough to warrant such a measure.

"How far are we from the area where Professor Su sent the signal?"

The question came from Lii Yeyu. Her tone was frigid and devoid of emotion, her speech concise—she never spoke a word more than necessary. Shao Qiming, who had been mentally recreating the map of the Kunlun Secret Realm, answered immediately. "Not far. It’s at Flat-top Mountain, just ahead. It’s about thirty-three kilometers in a straight line. At our current pace, we can get there in under an hour."

Of course, that was the optimistic scenario. Even if there were no dangers in the Kunlun Secret Realm, the terrain was plenty strange and rugged. The courtyards, Traveling Palaces, and various ruined halls they had just passed were all places they had to navigate around. After all, no one knew if any dangerous, residual Spiritual Arrays lingered in those areas. It was better to be safe than sorry.

"This Secret Realm’s ecosystem is damn strange!"

That complaint came from Guan Wanjing. Positioned at the rear, he was responsible for guarding the team’s back. Right now, though, he was grumbling about the small pack of critters tailing them relentlessly. "Are they really going to keep following us until we accept their offerings?"

Trailing behind the team was a large, bouncing throng of adorable little creatures—rabbits, birds, chubby little bears, fawns, and all sorts of cute-looking cats, dogs, oxen, and sheep.

The little creatures weren’t afraid of humans, nor did they attack. On the contrary, they were carrying large quantities of fruit that practically radiated Spiritual Qi. Some held the fruit, some carried it on their backs, and some even balanced it on their heads. They chased the squad relentlessly, seemingly determined to make them accept the offerings.

"They’re most likely the descendants of the Spirit Beasts that the Ancient Immortal Gods created to serve them."

Shao Qiming knew some of the truth regarding the Ancient Immortal Gods. Anyone who entered the Kunlun Secret Realm was told at least part of it. What’s more, Su Zhou had mentioned a few things when they went out for meals and walks, so Shao Qiming’s speculation was well-founded. "The Immortal Gods departed thousands of years ago, but these attendants were left behind. They’ve lost their power to change form and their inherited knowledge. However, the will to serve humans has become ingrained in their bloodline. So when they see us, their instincts surge, and they rush forward frantically, wanting to offer us Spiritual Objects."

"So that’s how it is? Tsk. Speaking of which, this palace is enormous, isn’t it?"

Although he sounded boisterous, Guan Wanjing clearly wasn’t as carefree as he acted. Observing their surroundings, he let out another "tsk." "If I wasn’t sure we weren’t just walking in circles, I’d suspect we were trapped in some kind of spatial Array."

"It is strange."

Even the usually taciturn Lii Yeyu nodded in agreement. "Especially this crater. It’s just too big."

A short while ago, upon entering the Kunlun Secret Realm, the four of them had been teleported to the edge of an immense crater.

The size of the crater was impossible to estimate with the naked eye. Even Li Hanshan, with his Chongming Bird eyes, could only shake his head, unable to see to the other side. This meant its diameter had to be at least five kilometers.

His eyes were indeed powerful; from a high vantage point, he could see things over ten kilometers away. But on flat ground, with various obstructions, Li Hanshan was doing well to see four or five kilometers. On Earth, that was enough to see to the Horizon itself—more than sufficient. Here, however, his sight had met an unexpected limit.

In any case, after a moment of awe, the team moved away from the crater and came to a palace that seemed to have been built to encircle it. They didn’t enter the palace, instead walking along its outer edge as they headed to rendezvous with Su Zhou and the others. But now, even after traveling at least twelve kilometers, they could still see the immense crater in the distance, and it didn’t look any smaller.

Its diameter exceeded ten kilometers!

What could possibly have created a crater this large? And what could have formed such a vast geological feature in a place like the Kunlun Secret Realm, the domain of Immortal Gods?