The howling wind echoed in their ears.

The moment they exited the secret realm, Caishen felt momentarily dazed.

The time spent inside the secret realm felt unusually long, as if an entire lifetime had passed.

When she opened her eyes, she saw a group of ill-intentioned people.

"Fellow Daoist, did you obtain any treasures in the secret realm?"

Li Xuanxiao swept his gaze over them.

The leading cultivator stroked his beard and said,

"Fellow Daoist, since we've waited here for so long, why not show us what you've found?"

"Exactly."

Caishen knew exactly what they meant and suppressed her anger as she replied,

"Are you trying to rob us openly?"

"Open robbery? Call it whatever you like," someone laughed.

"Look at his head!!"

Suddenly, someone exclaimed in shock.

Everyone followed the direction of the pointing finger.

Above Li Xuanxiao's head, a floating ice lotus had appeared at some point.

The ice lotus was small, only the size of a fist.

Originally just an illusion, it rapidly bloomed and solidified before their eyes.

"That's the mark of obtaining a supreme treasure from the secret realm!!"

The leading cultivator's eyes lit up.

Looking at Li Xuanxiao again, his aura was unstable, and spiritual energy was leaking—something impossible to hide.

"Fellow Daoist, I wonder what supreme treasure you obtained. Could you show us?"

"You're not worthy," Li Xuanxiao replied curtly.

"Hmph, since that's the case, don't blame us for being ruthless. My Brocade Whip isn't just for show..."

Before the other cultivators could even process the weight of his words,

the leading cultivator froze as a figure suddenly appeared right before him.

With a single motion, both the man and his weapon were sent crashing heavily to the ground.

The other cultivators were stunned.

Li Xuanxiao knew he had to intimidate them with strength now, or the trouble would only escalate.

Besides, Mozi wasn't dead yet—he could strike at any moment.

"Scram if you don't want to die!"

Li Xuanxiao said coldly.

The dozen or so cultivators gathered here often hunted others under this leader's command.

As the leader, his strength was naturally the greatest.

Under normal circumstances, they would have fled immediately.

But as they watched the blooming lotus above Li Xuanxiao's head grow even more radiant—

"Tsk—"

What kind of supreme treasure had he brought out from the secret realm?

Yet, if he could possess such an item, his strength must be...

Not just them—many onlookers felt greed stirring in their hearts.

Without waiting for a reaction, Li Xuanxiao flashed away.

But halfway through his escape, a flying sword suddenly blocked his path.

"Clang!!"

Li Xuanxiao collided with the sword, his momentum halting.

The flying sword was knocked back.

"I'd like to test your strength myself!"

A voice echoed from all directions—clearly, the attacker wasn't foolish enough to reveal himself.

Instead, he used a voice transmission technique.

Li Xuanxiao frowned slightly. "Show yourself!"

Using a counter-technique, he pinpointed the enemy's location.

A hundred zhang away, the ground suddenly erupted with a deafening explosion.

A figure was violently blasted into the air, tumbling helplessly.

He clearly hadn't expected such a fierce counterattack and completely lost his balance.

As a silver streak shot up from the ground—

"Pfft!"

The light pierced through his protective artifact effortlessly, impaling his chest.

Blood sprayed instantly, staining the air crimson.

In just two moves, Li Xuanxiao had displayed overwhelming power, shocking everyone present.

Both opponents had been utterly crushed without any chance to fight back.

Caishen followed behind Li Xuanxiao, gazing at his back with an unprecedented sense of security.

Yet even so, others still dared to test him.

Suddenly, a massive hand burst forth from the ice and snow like a breaking glacier.

The colossal Dharma Form hand slowly raised a single finger.

A dazzling light gathered at its tip, then descended toward Li Xuanxiao with crushing force.

Currently unable to summon his own Dharma Form, Li Xuanxiao could only meet it with a palm strike.

"Boom—!!"

The violent impact sent him flying back dozens of feet, disrupting the energy he had barely stabilized.

His depleted Purple Palace Dantian seemed incapable of mustering even a wisp of spiritual energy.

"He's exhausted! He's just barely holding on!"

The Dharma Form user laughed triumphantly.

Yet even as he laughed, his Dharma Form began rapidly withering.

Toxic emerald liquid spread across its body like wildfire.

"Ahhh—!!"

A piercing scream followed.

"Everyone, attack together! We can definitely—"

Before the speaker could finish, a flying sword pierced his throat.

Li Xuanxiao's eyes were ice-cold.

"Those who stand in my way shall die!"

The surrounding cultivators felt their scalps tingle.

Exhausted? Barely holding on?

He didn't seem weakened at all!

Li Xuanxiao no longer avoided those blocking his path.

He charged straight ahead.

One cultivator panicked and tried to intercept him—only to be defeated in moments.

Li Xuanxiao pressed forward without detours.

Those who stand in my way shall die!!

Seeing his murderous intent, the crowd that had blocked his path quickly scattered.

Li Xuanxiao and Caishen advanced unimpeded.

With such overwhelming momentum—as if he would slaughter gods and buddhas alike—

no one dared obstruct him further.

"............."

"Don't you dare leave!"

Li Xuanxiao summoned his sword.

The two clashed briefly.

Li Xuanxiao sensed his opponent's formidable strength—this was no Nascent Soul cultivator.

Suppressing the blood rising in his throat, he endured the internal shock.

"Release my daughter!"

"Father, stop!"

Caishen's voice rang out from behind.

The white-haired, burly elder halted upon hearing her.

His guards rushed forward upon seeing Caishen.

"Father, I'm fine. He saved me."

Caishen quickly summarized what had happened.

The towering man first glared at her fiercely.

"You’ll answer for this later!"

Then he turned to Li Xuanxiao. "Since it's a misunderstanding, my apologies."

"No harm done."

The elder narrowed his eyes slightly at the ice lotus above Li Xuanxiao's head.

Noticing his gaze, Li Xuanxiao grew wary.

The white-haired elder said, "No need for caution, young friend. Truthfully, I care not what you took from the secret realm—only that my daughter is safe." Check latest chapters at novęlfire.net

"Good. Then I’ll take my leave."

Li Xuanxiao clasped his hands and prepared to depart.

Seeing this, Caishen's expression changed abruptly.

"Wait! Where... where are you going?

That ice lotus won’t fade for three months—everyone will know you carry a supreme treasure!

Besides, didn’t you say you needed to save your friend?

Perhaps I can help. The Snowveil Commerce’s influence exceeds what you imagine!"