As the morning rays burst through the broken roof of the cave, light spilled across the ground in uneven streaks, cutting through the lingering darkness as everyone slowly rose from their rest. Yan Feng, who had taken the final watch and was seated above, dropped down lightly, landing beside the others as they gathered without delay.

Lin Xiao Tian stood at the front, his gaze distant as he sifted through the information within his mind, weighing their next move carefully. Just as his thoughts began to settle, his eyes suddenly lit up, a particular piece of information surfacing clearly.

Void-blood Star Fruit

A rare heavenly treasure born exclusively within the Xū Xuè Mìjìng (Void blood Legacy Realm), appearing only once every few decades in regions where void energy and blood essence converge unnaturally. Its surface resembles a dark crimson star, with faint void-like patterns pulsing across it as if space itself is breathing within.

The fruit is highly coveted due to its unique and dangerous effect, granting the consumer a chance to awaken attribute-based spiritual Qi at an extremely early stage. While most cultivators only begin to properly perceive and utilize attribute Qi at the Nascent Soul or even Divine Transformation realm, this fruit allows one to forcefully step into that domain as early as the Foundation Establishment stage.

The awakened attributes vary depending on compatibility and luck, ranging from common elemental paths to rare and unstable ones such as Poison Qi, Space Qi, Blood Qi, or even Void Qi. Successfully awakening such attributes at an early stage provides an overwhelming advantage in both combat and comprehension, allowing the user to grasp deeper Dao insights and expand into multiple Qi systems later.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes gleamed as his thoughts surged. Damn... this is one hell of a heavenly fking treasure, I am getting this no matter what, even if I have to sacrifice a foot of Xiaoshan’s height.

He subconsciously glanced toward Xiaoshan, his gaze drifting to the halberd in his hand, which somehow started looking a bit undersized in comparison. Well... he can definitely spare a little, right, It’s for the sect after all.

But then he paused, going over the information again, his expression settling slightly. Only three appear each time the secret realm opens, and every single one is fought over by everyone... and this time with these people here, it is going to be even more brutal.

Another thought surfaced as he recalled something clearly.

Fairy Chu... when she uses her ice, there are no runes, no martial techniques, it just flows out naturally. A grin slowly formed on his face. So she has already gotten her hands on one... no wonder.

Just as he was thinking this, a streak of figures suddenly cut across the sky above them, their robes fluttering as they flew in a straight line without even bothering to conceal their direction. The way they moved, fast and direct, made it obvious they were heading toward the fruit tree.

Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes sharpened slightly as he raised his hand and signaled the others. "Move," he said calmly, and without delay the group ascended through the broken opening of the cave and took to the air, following the same path while maintaining a controlled distance.

As they gradually closed in, the figures ahead became clearer, their formation loose but disciplined, their speed steady without unnecessary movements. Lin Xiao Tian slowed slightly, his gaze settling on them as a faint sense of familiarity crept in, his expression turning darker by a fraction.

Before he could decide whether to bypass them, one of the cultivators ahead suddenly stiffened, clearly sensing their presence, and turned his head sharply. His eyes locked onto Lin Xiao Tian’s group, and the next moment he shouted without restraint. "Elder Brother Gu, they are those scum from the tavern."

The air seemed to tighten for a moment.

The entire group ahead came to a stop almost instantly, their bodies halting mid-flight before slowly turning around together. Their robes shifted slightly with the motion, and the emblem of the Iron Blood War Sect became visible without concealment.

Lin Xiao Tian’s jaw tightened slightly as he looked at the one who had shouted. This dog... of all times, he had to bark now.

The formation in front parted slightly as the man at the center stepped forward, his posture straight, his expression calm as if nothing had happened. He cupped his hands and gave a proper bow, his tone polite, almost too clean.

"I apologize for my junior brother’s words, fellow Daoist," he said, his voice steady without fluctuation. "Our sect master has already questioned them and found them at fault."

There was no hesitation in his delivery, no visible trace of hostility, yet something felt off. He lifted his gaze slightly and continued. "It seems you are also heading toward the Void blood Star Fruit, in that case, traveling together would be mutually beneficial."

For a brief moment, neither side spoke.

Lin Xiao Tian stood there quietly, his gaze resting on the man, not on his face, but on the details that others would ignore. The slight tightening of his fingers, the faint pulse of Qi at his sleeve, and the subtle shift when the talisman was activated, all of it was hidden well, but not well enough.

Acting quite well... but the killing intent leaks no matter how much you try to suppress it.

Still, his expression did not change and a faint smile appeared on his face as he returned the bow naturally, his tone equally polite. "Since it is so, we will trouble you then," he said without hesitation.

Behind him, a few disciples exchanged looks, confusion clear in their eyes, but none of them spoke. Lin Xiao Tian did not turn back, he simply gave a slight sideways glance, just enough for them to catch.

Watch and learn.

As the distance closed, both groups aligned naturally, their formations adjusting without words as they began moving together once more. The wind cut past them as they flew forward, but the space between them remained tense, quiet, and ready to break at any moment.

Lin Xiao Tian kept his gaze forward, the faint curve on his lips not fading.

Such good goats... running on their own feet, why would I waste that so early.

As they flew forward, a few beasts lunged out from the forest canopy and from below, testing the group’s presence, but each one was dealt with swiftly before even completing a proper attack. The rest of the creatures avoided them altogether, retreating the moment they sensed such a dense gathering of cultivators moving together.

Soon, the destination revealed itself fully as the massive ancient tree came into view, its trunk towering like a pillar of the heavens while faint crimson veins pulsed across its bark. Around it, several groups had already gathered, each maintaining distance while watching the others carefully, their eyes occasionally lifting toward the branches where the fruits were still ripening.

Most of the groups belonged to the five major sects, their formations disciplined and stable, yet one absence stood out clearly. The royal family’s group was nowhere to be seen, and the atmosphere carried a subtle unease, not loud or chaotic, but quiet in a way that made people more alert than usual.

As Lin Xiao Tian’s group descended, the scattered factions of the Iron Blood Sect also converged, merging into a single formation with surprising coordination, their behavior outwardly calm and even approachable. Seeing this, Lin Xiao Tian let out a faint chuckle, though his gaze lingered on them longer than necessary.

Low murmurs drifted through the air, fragments of conversation passing from one group to another, and as he listened, his expression slowly tightened. The royal family’s people had been found dead, their bodies drained dry, their forms shriveled as if something had sucked the very essence out of them.

What made it worse was the lingering trace of demonic Qi.

Lin Xiao Tian’s thoughts shifted immediately as images surfaced in his mind, the strange being from the cave and the name that followed it. Yan Family Ancestor... could it be that thing moving around in this realm.

He stepped slightly closer to a nearby cultivator and spoke in a lowered voice, hinting at the possibility, but the man only laughed and shook his head. "Do not joke, fellow Daoist, this realm only allows those below twenty-five years of age, even the envoys failed to force entry, so how could that old demon appear here."

The man’s tone grew more serious as he continued, his gaze shifting toward the tree. "Whatever happened to the royal family, it was something else, but one thing is certain, this realm is not as simple as before, so prepare yourself properly if you want to walk out alive."

As the whispers continued to spread through the gathered groups, a pair of eyes quietly moved across the crowd, observing every faction without drawing the slightest attention. Among them stood a young, handsome man, his expression calm, yet his gaze lingered just a moment longer than it should on each person present.

What a feast... I never expected such a place to exist here, this is far better than clashing with those envoys and that city lord outside, he thought, his lips curling ever so slightly. An uninterrupted harvest... and a treasure waiting to be claimed.

As the thought settled, something beneath his robes shifted faintly, unseen by others, as subtle movements pulsed along his sleeves like something alive waiting beneath the surface.