Along with the integration of the team, everyone began the official exploration of the Withered Forest.

At first, it was calm, but as they went deeper, the number of Yin Spirits and Walking Corpses increased, slowing down the group’s pace. Along the way, even the cultivator Kong Jing, who had just entered the Human Immortal Realm, had already taken action, while only Ye Qingchen leisurely followed behind, observing from the sidelines.

This attitude made everyone dissatisfied.

"Why didn’t you take action just now? Even if you’re only at the Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer, you could at least distract that Walking Corpse and alleviate some pressure for us!"

After slaying a Walking Corpse, Yuan Chong couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted at Ye Qingchen.

The previous Walking Corpse had been a Body Refining Powerhouse in life, and after death, its body had been corrupted by Yin Evil Qi, increasing its defense by almost seventy percent. They had spent considerable effort to finally slaughter it, while Ye Qingchen just stood there watching.

"It’s not yet time for me to act!"

Ye Qingchen said calmly.

It’s just a Walking Corpse!

Although its strength and defense were higher, its movements were not as agile as when it was alive. Without confronting it head-on, one could rely on Body Techniques to deal with it. Yet there were already five Human Immortals present, and they still expected him to act?

Upon hearing this, Yuan Chong was furious. Before he could speak, Kong Jing hurriedly said, "Mr. Ye just wants to let us have some training, and although he didn’t take action, he pointed out the weaknesses of the Walking Corpse. Without his guidance, we wouldn’t have solved it so easily!"

"Do I need his guidance?" Yuan Chong was even angrier.

They prided themselves on their Human Immortal cultivation, were arrogant, and looked down on Ye Qingchen. And Kong Jing attributed most of the credit for slaying the Walking Corpse to Ye Qingchen—how could Yuan Chong tolerate that?

"So you’re saying that the Walking Corpse wasn’t even worth your intervention?" Qiuyuan sneered, "Then what would justify your action?"

"At the very least, it should be someone at the Human Immortal Second or Third Layer!" Ye Qingchen said calmly.

"What did you just say?" Yuan Chong and the others were wide-eyed in disbelief, and another disciple of the Daluo Sect couldn’t help but shout, "A being of that Realm could crush you with one hand! How dare you, a mere Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer, say such things?"

"Why wouldn’t I dare?" Ye Qingchen replied, unperturbed.

Kong Jing’s eyes showed a hint of surprise and shock.

Recalling how Ye Qingchen, even at the Celestial Venerable Seventh Layer, had managed to slay Lin Tonghai in front of Earth Spirit Mountain, now being at the Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer indeed gave him the right to make such claims. However, Qiuyuan and Yuan Chong clearly didn’t think so.

They hadn’t witnessed that scene firsthand, so they didn’t believe it at all.

With a sneer full of disdain, Yuan Chong said, "I thought you were someone special, but it turns out you’re just a bragging fool! In that case, let me see what you’ve got!"

"You’re not worth a palm of mine!" Ye Qingchen shook his head.

"What about me?" another Daluo Sect disciple stepped forward, "Would I suffice?"

"Not enough!" Ye Qingchen shook his head again.

Qiuyuan’s brows furrowed deeper, thinking this kid was being outrageously arrogant—two Human Immortals weren’t even worth a palm?

As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, Kong Jing also wore a frosty expression: "Yuan Chong, enough! If you continue, I’ll get angry!"

Though Yuan Chong was furious at her words, he refrained from further provocation, merely shot a cold glare at Ye Qingchen, and said, "Hmph, just wait until you come begging us!"

He then walked away with a frosty face.

In their view, 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

without their protection, a mere Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer like Ye Qingchen couldn’t venture deeper, yet he dared to look down upon them?

Following this incident, Yuan Chong and the others, who were originally displeased with Ye Qingchen, became even more antagonistic. They even stayed in two separate groups, keeping a distance from each other during rest.

Ye Qingchen, however, enjoyed the tranquility and focused his attention on the surroundings.

He noticed,

as they delved deeper, he also realized more and more people’s traces.

"We have penetrated forty miles into the Withered Forest, now entirely within the depths." Ye Qingchen calculated secretly, "Here, no trace of that disciple has been found, nor the cause of the abnormal Yin Evil Qi!"

"Furthermore, those entering the Withered Forest seem to include more than just our Taotian Palace and the Daluo Sect!"

"Could it be that all these people are here to investigate the cause of the Yin Evil Qi?"

Although he hadn’t found the information he sought, a place like the Withered Forest, rich in Yin Evil Qi, surely harbored some Spirit Medicines. This discovery greatly excited Yuan Chong and his group.

With the lure of Spirit Medicines, their enthusiasm grew stronger.

But Ye Qingchen merely glanced at them and lost interest. These Spirit Medicines grew relying on the Withered Forest; ordinary people couldn’t consume them and would only accelerate body corrosion by the Yin Evil Qi.

Moreover, the Creation Lotus Seed and Golden Jade Bodhi in his Hidden Dragon Mountain were far superior to these Spirit Medicines.

"This kid is really a tough nut! Despite so many Spirit Medicines, he hasn’t even tried asking us for any?" Yuan Chong saw Ye Qingchen’s indifferent attitude and sneered weirdly.

"Probably just putting on a show, no wonder Kong Jing was deceived by him." Another Daluo Sect disciple also mocked.

Qiuyuan said nothing, but also held great contempt in her heart.

She couldn’t fathom why Qiuyuan had taken a liking to such an impotent braggart! She resolved within herself to expose Ye Qingchen’s true nature at all costs.

Then.

The group continued deeper into the Withered Forest, on one hand seeking the source of the Yin Evil Qi eruption, on the other searching for possible Spirit Medicines.

Three days later.

They besieged and slew a Cyan Tiger Yin Spirit, successfully obtaining a mid-grade Celestial Tier ’Netherworld Grass.’ This ’Netherworld Grass’ was specifically for Ghost Cultivators and Yin Spirits, enhancing the divine soul.

Seven days later.

The group slayed two more Walking Corpses, acquiring several ’White Bone Fruits’ capable of tempering muscles and bones.

As they prepared to proceed further, they stumbled upon a valley where the Yin Evil Qi seemed particularly dense, apparently pouring out continuously.

Upon arriving, they realized the source of the Yin Evil Qi didn’t exist within the valley but originated from a broken Secret Realm.

Once inside the valley, Ye Qingchen discovered indeed that within the shattered space filled with floating runes, massive Yin Qi surged like a tide, making the entire valley seem like an entrance to the Nine Netherworld.

Seeing this, Qiuyuan, Yuan Chong, and others thought they finally found the cause of the Yin Evil Qi in the Withered Forest and excitedly rushed in.

"Mr. Ye, should we go as well?"

Though excited, Kong Jing remained clear-headed.

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingchen hadn’t yet spoken when from the broken Secret Realm came waves of cursing and commotion.

"Let’s go check it out!"

Ye Qingchen frowned, quickly stepping up to move ahead.