Fang Hao played the role of the "fisherman" at Meteor Star Lake, happily snatching a huge bargain. Holding that star core in his hand, it felt heavy, and he couldn’t describe how comfortable he felt. He didn’t dare stay in place for long; who knew if those people from Xuan Shui Pavilion and that crazed water python would follow the scent and chase him? He quickly packed up his loot, greased his feet, and slipped away. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

He took out that tattered map and studied it again. This trip to Meteor Star Lake was a profit; where to next? The "Ten Thousand Swords Valley" marked on the map sounded full of Killing Intent, likely a place of Opportunity related to the Dao of the sword. He specialized in sword arts, so going there to try his luck was just right.

"That’s the one! Ten Thousand Swords Valley!" Fang Hao set his direction and plunged into the vast mountain forests toward the general location of Ten Thousand Swords Valley marked on the map.

This Secret Realm was truly boundlessly huge, with mountains following mountains and forests bordering forests. In many places, there were simply no roads, and he had to rely entirely on his two legs to force his way through. Fang Hao didn’t dare fly too high, fearing he’d become a sitting duck; he could only fly low, skimming the treetops, or simply use Divine Spirit Steps on the ground to travel, which slowed his speed considerably.

Along the way, he kept his spirits at twelve-tenths alertness, his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes and Divine Sense constantly scanning the surroundings for fear of stepping on some deadly Restriction or bumping into something powerful. Strangely, after walking for several days, let alone a human figure, he hadn’t even seen a ghost. He did encounter a few Demon Beasts, all of which were third-tier; he killed them in passing and collected their Materials. But as for the other Cultivators he expected, he hadn’t met a single one.

"Strange, where did everyone go?" Fang Hao muttered to himself. Scattering a hundred people into this Secret Realm was like throwing a handful of sesame seeds into the ocean; it was normal not to run into anyone. But wasn’t this a bit too quiet? Were they all gathered together to snatch some big Opportunity? Or... was this Secret Realm actually extremely dangerous, and many people had already died silently?

He recalled the scene he saw before entering the Secret Realm; Disciples from the imperial family and great Sects made up the majority, while Loose Cultivators and people from small sects were pitifully few. Those fifty imperial slots were likely filled with children of princes and nobles who certainly entered with clear goals, perhaps even being teleported directly to the entrance of some treasury. Disciples of great Sects were probably the same, having clues left by Seniors. Someone like him, with no background and no intelligence, could only crash around like a headless fly.

"Damn it, it really is true that having people in court makes it easier to be an official, and having a path in a Sect makes it easier to find treasure!" Fang Hao cursed, feeling a bit unbalanced. But on second thought, his luck wasn’t bad; at least he’d reaped benefits at Meteor Star Lake. He’d look slowly; maybe the next Opportunity was waiting just ahead.

After walking for another two days, a strange valley appeared ahead. This valley was bare, with not a blade of grass growing; strange black stones were everywhere, and the air was filled with a scorching breath and a hint of sulfur. Deep in the valley, red light flickered faintly.

"Is there treasure?" Fang Hao’s spirits rose, and he used his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes to look as far as he could. He saw a small sunken area at the very back of the valley, where hot lava was actually churning in the center! Beside the lava pool grew a small tree about half a person’s height, entirely fiery red, with leaves like dancing flames. The tree bore three fruits the size of longans, so red they were turning purple, emitting an enticing fragrance and pure fire-attribute Qi!

"It’s ’crimson flame vermillion fruit’! Judging by the color, it’s at least five hundred years old!" Fang Hao’s eyes lit up! This was good stuff, a fourth-tier spirit fruit and a primary ingredient for refining various fire-attribute Spirit Pills. Consuming it raw could also greatly increase fire-attribute cultivation and had miraculous effects on tempering the Physical Body!

He was just about to step forward when his heart suddenly tightened; his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes captured a powerful life force in the lava pool! Looking closely, good heavens! Crouched at the bottom of the pool was a big fellow! The thing resembled a lizard but was more than ten times larger, covered in dark red scales the same color as the surrounding lava; one wouldn’t find it without looking carefully. It had its eyes closed, seemingly dozing, but the Demonic Qi it emitted had reached the Peak of fourth-tier Low Grade! It was only a hair’s breadth away from Medium Grade!

"A fourth-tier Peak Lava Fire Lizard! This is a bit tricky..." Fang Hao frowned. This beast had thick skin and flesh, extremely high fire resistance, and its combat power would be boosted in a lava environment; it wasn’t easy to deal with. If he fought it head-on, even if he could win, it would take some effort and he might even get injured, which wasn’t worth it.

But he couldn’t bear to give up these three Vermillion Fruits. A five-hundred-year-old fourth-tier spirit fruit was something one could only encounter by chance!

He squatted behind a large rock, carefully observing the terrain and environment. The Lava Fire Lizard was lying in the center of the pool, about a dozen yards away from the Vermillion Fruit tree. The terrain around the pool was open with no cover. Rushing over to pick the fruit would definitely be discovered. A sneak attack? This beast’s perception wasn’t weak, so the success rate wouldn’t be high.

"I have to find a way to lure it away..." Fang Hao rubbed his chin and pondered. Lure the tiger away from the mountain? What should he use? Fire lizards like high temperatures and fire-attribute treasures...

Got it! Fang Hao had a sudden inspiration and rummaged through his storage ring for several "Scarlet Flame Crystals" he had collected before, which contained pure fire spirit energy, and also took out several explosive flame talismans. He planned to use the Scarlet Flame Crystals as bait and the explosive flame talismans to create a commotion, luring the fire lizard to the other end of the valley, while he took the chance to pick the fruits!

No sooner said than done! He quietly circled to the other side of the valley, far enough from the lava pool, and cautiously buried a few Scarlet Flame Crystals in a shallow pit, covering them with a layer of soil, leaving only a trace of pure fire spirit energy fluctuations. Then, he set up a simple trap triggered by an explosive flame talisman even further away.

With everything prepared, he returned to his hiding place, took a deep breath, picked up a stone, and using all his strength, threw it toward the side of the shallow pit where the Scarlet Flame Crystals were buried!

Clack!

The sound of the stone hitting the ground was exceptionally clear in the silent valley!

The Lava Fire Lizard in the lava pool twitched its ears and suddenly opened its lantern-sized eyes, looking warily toward the direction of the sound. It sniffed its nose, seemingly sensing that weak but pure fire-attribute spirit energy fluctuation (the Scarlet Flame Crystals) in the distance.

The fire lizard hesitated, looked at the nearby Vermillion Fruit tree, and then looked into the distance. The allure of those Scarlet Flame Crystals seemed significant... It slowly crawled out of the lava, its massive body emitting high heat, as it crawled toward the direction where the Scarlet Flame Crystals were buried.

Fang Hao was delighted; it was working! He held his breath, waiting for the fire lizard to go further away.

The fire lizard crawled very slowly and cautiously, looking back at the Vermillion Fruit tree from time to time.

Seeing that it was about to reach the place where the Scarlet Flame Crystals were buried, Fang Hao was just preparing to trigger the explosive flame talisman to create a huge commotion and completely draw its attention...

Suddenly!

An unexpected change occurred!

When the Lava Fire Lizard was still three or four yards away from the Scarlet Flame Crystals, it suddenly stopped, sniffed hard with its nose, and then... it actually turned its head and used its cold, vertical pupils to stare straight at the large rock where Fang Hao was hiding!

"I’ve been discovered?!" Fang Hao’s heart skipped a beat! How was that possible? He had pushed his Ethereal Art to the limit, and his aura was very well concealed!

In the next second, the Lava Fire Lizard let out an angry roar, its limbs suddenly kicking the ground, and its massive body, like a cannonball, didn’t charge toward the Scarlet Flame Crystals but instead crashed directly toward the large rock where Fang Hao was hiding! Its speed was startling!

"Damn! This beast’s nose is that sensitive?!" Fang Hao was greatly alarmed; with no time to think, he instantly activated Divine Spirit Steps and rolled out from behind the rock!

Boom!

Just as he dodged, that several-thousand-pound rock was smashed to pieces by the fire lizard’s head!

"Roar!" Seeing its strike miss, the fire lizard became even more enraged, opening its large mouth and spraying a stream of hot lava like a fire dragon toward Fang Hao!

"Five Elements Spirit Shield!" Fang Hao hurriedly summoned his light shield to block!

Sizzle—!

The lava poured onto the spirit shield, making a violent corrosive sound, and the shield’s light rapidly dimmed! The high heat roasted him until his hair was nearly curling!

"Snatching it won’t work anymore! I can only kill it!" Fang Hao’s eyes turned sharp. Knowing the plan had failed, he could only meet it head-on! The yitian sword was unsheathed, and a flash of sword light met the pouncing fire lizard!

A struggle between man and beast suddenly erupted in this desolate valley!