Chapter 180: The Bootlicking Immortal Lord Who Wants to Live Off a Woman.46

Shen Xiuyan spoke up to reassure her. “Don’t worry. While you were packing up, the Venerable told me that once the Secret Realm closes, he’ll naturally release them.”

“That’s good,” Su Mingyue let out a huge sigh of relief.

There was still one day left before the Secret Realm closed. Since the two of them had already collected so many treasures, they had no desire to continue exploring.

Instead, they strolled leisurely through the Secret Realm, enjoying themselves to the fullest.

Shen Xiuyan was all smiles, praising his Master for being so reliable—shutting off all those glaringly bright third wheels so he and Mingyue could enjoy some quality time alone.

As expected of his dear Master—always dependable.

Even though it was just a single day, pink bubbles of romance floated around them like they were free of charge, drifting non-stop in the air.

Even a passing dog would have to avert its eyes and gag at the sheer stench of love in the air.

As the final moments before the Secret Realm’s closure ticked away, everyone gathered back at the grassy field where they had first arrived.

People began counting heads in an orderly fashion.

“1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7… Fenghua Sect is all here.”

“1, 2, 3, 5, 6… Fengxia Sect is accounted for.”

“Tianzhi Sect is all present.”

“All here.”

“We’re all here too.”

“We’re missing five disciples from Bihe Sect.”

“Senior Brother Lin from Fengqi Sect and several junior brothers haven’t returned either.”

“Wait, our Senior Brother Chu is missing too?!”

A commotion broke out among the crowd. The missing disciples were all key figures among the younger generation of their respective sects.

Could something have happened to them?

A chill swept through everyone’s hearts.

“Did any of you run into them?”

“Nope.”

“Not me either.”

“…”

“What do we do? The Secret Realm’s about to close. If they don’t return soon, they’ll be trapped inside.”

“Can’t the Sect Leaders reopen it?”

“No way. Our Sect Leader said the Secret Realm only opens once every ten years. Of course, if you’re at the Spirit Transformation Stage, you can come and go freely—but even then, you can’t just bring others out with you.”

“Exactly, my Master said the same thing and warned me not to get greedy and to make sure I returned on time.”

“What are we supposed to do…”

“They’re not seriously going to have to wait ten years, are they?”

“Waiting ten years wouldn’t be the worst—just treat it like a long closed-door cultivation. But if they ran into danger, then they’re doomed.”

“That can’t be.” An older disciple called out, “Did anyone encounter any danger in the Secret Realm?”

“Nope.”

“Nothing on our end either.”

“Yeah, even though it’s an Ancient Secret Realm, there wasn’t any real killing intent. Aside from those who didn’t return, no one here has even a scratch.”

“Exactly, exactly. Maybe they just got held up somehow?”

“Should we wait a bit longer?”

Su Mingyue looked a little guilty and whispered to Shen Xiuyan, “You don’t think the Venerable forgot to let them out, do you? Should we try to say something?”

Shen Xiuyan reassured her, “Relax. The Venerable isn’t that scatterbrained.”

Xian Yue, who was currently using his divine sense to monitor everything, couldn’t help but twitch the corner of his mouth. What a good disciple he had—so “eloquent.”

He sighed. What a disgrace to the family.

With a light flick of his finger, a vortex-like ripple appeared in the air before the crowd.

One by one, people began tumbling out of the ripple.

They were the missing disciples.

Members from each sect rushed forward to help their senior and junior brothers to their feet.

“Senior Brother Chu, are you alright?”

Chu Suxing looked around in confusion. How did he end up outside?

But now wasn’t the time to worry about that. He quickly used his divine sense to check his storage pouch.

Empty. Completely empty.

His face turned ashen in an instant. There was no need to guess—he had failed the trial.

So who got the inheritance?

His gaze turned sharp and swept across every corner of the crowd, determined not to miss even the slightest flicker in anyone’s expression.

But to his surprise, everyone who had gone in with him looked just as devastated.

So… no one got the inheritance?

Chu Suxing’s mood lifted slightly. Well, that made sense. It was an ancient inheritance—how could it be so easy to obtain? If no one got it, then he could rest easy.

The disciple who had asked him earlier was startled by the fierce look on Chu Suxing’s face.

He’d been in Wu Nian Sect for quite some time, but he had never seen the usually gentle Senior Brother Chu with such an expression.

Chu Suxing quickly realized his slip and smoothed his expression back to its usual calm. In a soft voice, he reassured, “I’m fine.”

Then he glanced around. “Looks like everyone’s gathered. Is it almost time? Are we all accounted for?”

The disciple breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Senior Brother Chu back to normal. “Yes, it’s almost time. Now that you’re back, all of Wu Nian Sect’s disciples are present.”

“That’s good.” Chu Suxing smiled faintly, then asked casually, “Did any of our Wu Nian Sect disciples gain anything this trip?”

The disciple nodded. “A little, but not much. Mostly just a few stalks of immortal herbs. One lucky guy found a top-grade Spiritual Energy weapon.”

Chu Suxing’s eyes narrowed slightly at the mention of a top-grade Spiritual Energy weapon, a sour feeling rising in his chest.

He looked down at his empty storage pouch, regret flooding his heart.

This was an ancient inheritance—how could it be so easily obtained? If it were that simple, the Sect Leaders would’ve already taken it. Why would it be left for them?

If only he had spent his time searching elsewhere instead. At least then he wouldn’t have come out of this empty-handed.

Why hadn’t he thought of that before?

Right—Ruan Xi’er.

If she hadn’t shouted like that, scaring them into thinking the secret would be exposed, they wouldn’t have rushed into the trial so recklessly. At the very least, they would’ve taken time to think it through.

That Ruan Xi’er was clearly born to be his nemesis. Not just his—she was a curse on their entire peak. He would definitely report this to Master when they got back. Someone like her couldn’t be allowed to stay.

If she remained, their peak’s fortune would be completely drained.

With that thought, Chu Suxing scanned the area—and finally spotted Ruan Xi’er in a corner.

Ruan Xi’er kept a close eye on Chu Suxing’s every move. When she saw him searching around, she thought for a moment that her senior brother had finally come to his senses—that he regretted his actions and was worried about her safety.

But that wasn’t the case. His eyes were filled with hatred.

If that hatred could take form, she might already be dead.

Ruan Xi’er shivered in fear. It was the first time she had ever seen such a dark, sinister side of her senior brother.

A sense of dread settled over her heart—a deep, ominous premonition.

“Alright, alright, everyone’s out now. Each sect, start checking your numbers. Make sure no one’s missing.”

“We’re all accounted for.”

“All here.”

“…”