As the space twisted around them, it grew suffocating for a brief moment, as if the very air had been stripped away, before everyone crashed onto the ground with a sudden thud. A sharp breath escaped many as the air rushed back into their lungs, the pressure lifting just as abruptly as it had come.

Lin Xiao Tian straightened up and patted his robes, his gaze sweeping across the surroundings as he assessed the situation. Everyone had been dropped into the same location, a small clearing surrounded by a vast forest, where towering trees stretched over a hundred feet high, their dense canopies blocking most of the light.

As people regained their footing, they quickly began to disperse in different directions, unwilling to stay exposed for too long. Lin Xiao Tian, however, remained still, his voice calm as he signaled. "Gather and wait."

At the same time, his attention remained fixed on the group from the middle region, and just as he had expected, they did not move immediately. Instead, they formed a loose circle around the young man, isolating him from the others.

The young man’s aura suddenly surged, rising sharply before breaking through into the Nascent Soul realm, the fluctuation spreading outward in waves. A few hidden gazes flickered at the scene, clearly taking note of the timing.

Lin Xiao Tian chuckled softly. Smart... breaking through here avoids the tribulation from fully refining the Nascent Soul.

The young man stabilized himself within a few breaths before standing up, his expression unchanged as if nothing significant had happened. Without wasting time, he moved, vanishing into the forest along with his group.

Most of the observing gazes withdrew immediately, choosing different directions without hesitation while few others followed behind.

Lin Xiao Tian watched for a moment before signaling his disciples. "Move." And Without delay, they turned and headed in another direction.

As they moved swiftly through the forest, weaving between towering trees and dense undergrowth, Lin Xiao Tian focused inward and accessed the map within his mind.

There is still time before the legacy opens, until then we will thoroughly scour this place and take everything worth taking.

Just as the thought settled, a thick green blur shot down from above like a bolt, a massive snake erupting from the branches with its body as thick as a barrel.

Lin Xiao Tian reacted instantly, twisting his body mid-step before driving a punch straight into its skull, the impact crushing through as it burst open and dropped lifeless in a single moment.

He clicked his tongue lightly, shaking off the blood and brain matter from his hand with a hint of disdain. "Foolish beast," he muttered, not even sparing it another glance.

By the time he looked again, the corpse had already been efficiently dismantled, its valuable parts cleanly extracted without delay.

His gaze shifted toward his disciples, each of them equipped with specialized tools, their movements practiced and precise as they collected cores, venom sacs, and rare materials.

A faint smirk appeared on his face as he turned forward again. At this rate... the riches of this realm will not escape me.

As they moved deeper through the forest, the disciples did not slow down, continuously hunting beasts and extracting resources with practiced efficiency. Lin Xiao Tian observed this calmly and gave a slight nod. Good... this is proper training, not just fighting, but knowing what to take and what to leave.

As time passed, the light within the secret realm gradually dimmed, the surroundings turning quieter as a faint dusk settled over the forest. Realizing it was time to rest, they began searching for a place to stay for the night, their movements turning more cautious.

Just then, Xiaoshan suddenly pointed toward a small hill in the distance where a cave entrance could be seen halfway up its side. Seeing it, everyone’s eyes lit up instantly, the location itself making it ideal, difficult to reach by ordinary means and naturally protected.

They flew toward it quickly, and after confirming there was no immediate beast activity nearby, they let out a small sigh of relief before stepping inside. The moment they entered, a strong scent hit them, thick and unfamiliar, carrying an addictive sweetness.

Lin Xiao Tian paused slightly, taking in a breath as his eyes sharpened. Spiritual energy... and not a weak one either, there is definitely something valuable inside.

As they moved further in, the cave did not grow darker, instead it slowly lit up, revealing vines upon vines of glowing flowers lining the walls. Their soft light illuminated the path ahead, creating an almost surreal atmosphere.

Then suddenly Faint chirps and uneven squeaks echoed from deeper within the cave, low and persistent, carrying a strange rhythm that hinted at living creatures.

As they took a turn deeper into the cave, a small nest appeared. It was formed from those very vines, layered carefully, and at its center lay several strange fruits, their surface faintly shimmering with concentrated energy.

But what made the scene far more dangerous was what lay within, several juvenile spiritual beasts rested inside the nest, their small forms stirring as they sensed movement, letting out soft chirps as if expecting their mother to return at any moment.

Just then, a heart-wrenching shriek tore through the passage they had entered, sharp and furious, echoing violently across the cave as the air itself seemed to tighten. Cold sweat ran down Lin Xiao Tian’s neck as realization struck instantly. We have provoked the mother.

Another shriek followed, louder and closer than before, its sound carrying a terrifying momentum as something rapidly approached through the passage, the vibrations growing stronger with every passing second.

Then suddenly another shriek rang out from above, sharper and more violent, as the cave ceiling trembled and began collapsing in chunks. Lin Xiao Tian and the others reacted instantly, scattering as rocks crashed down around them, the impact sending dust and debris flying in every direction.

Before they could steady themselves, a massive, sharp talon tore through the ceiling, ripping open the rock as it forced its way inside, its presence alone carrying a terrifying pressure that filled the entire cave.