"What is your purpose for taking us into the second secret realm? Is it definitely safer inside? Here, it seems no one is attacking us. Even if those mysterious forces have high cultivation, we have no major connection with you, Ye Hierarch. Why would they target us?" Wu Ding said with some annoyance.

Previously, Wu Ding was Ye Fan’s senior sister. In the Pan Gu secret realm, even if her status was not high, she was an elder of the seven sects, and her words carried some weight. However, after Ye Fan rose to power, the seven sects became historical relics. Ye Fan’s power gradually overshadowed everything, leaving Tianxuan Sect as a mere shell. She and Ping Han, two consecutive generations of elders from Tianxuan Sect, became Ye Fan’s cauldron bearers.

Ye Fan said, "Where I take you is based on your actual situation. Even if you harbor resentment in your heart, I will not entertain it. Since you said you have little connection with me, why should I care about you then?"

After speaking, Ye Fan directly enveloped everyone with Spiritual Energy, and the surrounding environment changed. Ye Fan first led them into the Sea of Death and, in the next step, transitioned to the second secret realm. Sang Yuan’s disciples had already built several bamboo houses for Wu Ding and others. This place was far from where other women lived, so Ye Fan was not worried about them disturbing each other.

"Here it is!" Ye Fan looked up at the bamboo house, seemingly having no intention of going inside.

Ping Han and Han Qing’er behaved obediently and gently, directly entering the bamboo house, with Wu Ding following behind. After the three entered, Ye Fan seemed to have the intent to leave. Han Qing’er suddenly ran out from the room, hugged Ye Fan’s arm from behind, and said, "Master, it’s been a long time since we last met. Why don’t you stay?"

Ye Fan turned to assess Han Qing’er. In his eyes, she was a very calculating and ambitious woman. Ye Fan never felt that taking Han Qing’er was the right choice.

Ye Fan said, "I have many things to do and naturally have no time to stay with you. How about this, I will return once I’ve finished my tasks!"

As he spoke, Ye Fan gently stroked Han Qing’er’s cheek. Han Qing’er appeared somewhat bashful, but she was merely putting on a bashful front for Ye Fan. In her heart, she might be plotting something.

No matter what she’s plotting, she knows well that with her cultivation, she could never surpass Ye Fan in her lifetime, so she must depend on him. Hence, whatever her thoughts, she dares not betray him, even goes to great lengths to please him. Her feelings towards Ye Fan are better than Han Qing’er or even Xi He.

Ye Fan was not in the mood to stay and engage with Han Qing’er. He was about to leave but still couldn’t understand Wu Ding’s earlier anger.

Logically, Wu Ding’s anger should have subdued by now, but she seemed constantly concerned about the future fate of Tianxuan Sect. Ye Fan wanted to approach Wu Ding to discuss this but eventually did not, feeling it’s difficult to communicate equally with her on this matter— even if he were calm about it, Wu Ding would not accept his perspective.

...

...

Ye Fan needed to search for clues about Li Zhaojun, so he wouldn’t linger in the second secret realm.

Even though he truly needed more cultivation methods after ascension, he couldn’t afford to focus on cultivation now. He must find Li Zhaojun and Min Shang, who hold greater significance to him than Shen Yan.

Shen Yan seemed to be his friend, his confidante, while Li Zhaojun and Min Shang were his women. He absolutely couldn’t let anything happen to them.

"Master, the investigation confirms there’s no trace of the matron in the Sea of Death! Though this place appears vast, it’s incomprehensible for cultivators to hide any secrets here!" Xi He appeared before Ye Fan and remarked.

Ye Fan said, "Does this mean Zhao Jun and Min Shang are unlikely to be hidden in the Pan Gu secret realm?"

"The matron should have left the Pan Gu secret realm on her own accord!" Xi He affirmed, "As for the reason, this servant could not investigate it, but if the Master wishes to continue, this servant can help investigate into space!"

"The universe is vast, do you think it can be easily searched?"

Ye Fan was a bit angry, still pondering over Xi He’s statement about Li Zhaojun leaving the Pan Gu secret realm independently. From the beginning, he formed a similar judgment, believing Li Zhaojun was not kidnapped, rather she had personal reasons to leave the secret realm.

But what exactly happened, he is yet to learn.

"Ye Hierarch, you seem to have exhausted immense energy searching for this matron. Why not consider temporarily ceasing the search until clues emerge on their own?" Dao Zhen remarked next to him, "In this world, cultivating partners aren’t limited to one or two. Even ordinary humans know not to fret over lacking a partner. Why do you weigh the spouse affair so heavily?"

Xi He glanced at Dao Zhen and replied, "Since you don’t comprehend human emotions, it’s better to not speak such words!"

Ye Fan also looked at Dao Zhen and said, "Whom I choose to find is my own decision. Your cultivation isn’t as great as mine. For the people in the celestial realm, you must heed my command. Now, I order you back there to investigate Zhao Jun’s clues; I don’t wish to see you for now!"

"With Ye Hierarch saying that, I have nothing to say. I’ll leave then!" Dao Zhen said, ready to depart, feeling slightly troubled, "The Pan Gu secret realm is not freely accessible for celestial people; could Ye Hierarch send me out?"

With a wave of Ye Fan’s hand, Dao Zhen disappeared from his view, as Ye Fan did not need to personally escort Dao Zhen outside, effortlessly remaining within the Pan Gu secret realm.

"Master, without clues now, and even the matron’s information might be severed, where are you supposed to search?" Xi He asked.

"For now, I can only head to Sky City. If Zhao Jun left from there, the city should contain some clue. If nothing is found there, my search would be in vain. Let’s go!" 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ye Fan led Xi He towards Sky City.

Upon arrival in Sky City, everything remained as calm as before. It was a place where humans and cultivators lived together, where the people didn’t worry about heavenly tribulations and merely focused on their cultivation or daily life.

Ye Fan searched around Sang Yuan’s council hall but found no traces or cues left by Li Zhaojun.

"Must we part ways with Zhao Jun, never to meet again?" Ye Fan worryingly thought to himself.