Swoosh!

At this moment, all eyes in the arena converged. The speaker was none other than the man clad in a golden robe with a cultivation level of Human Immortal Third Layer.

Almost as soon as he spoke, the previously rising tempestuous aura of the short-haired young man was instantly suppressed, as if bridled by a more formidable force!

"Senior Brother Wang Luocheng... Give me another chance, I can definitely defeat him!" The short-haired young man named Xu Hao was full of unwillingness. However, the man in the golden robe just gave him a deep look, causing him to shut his mouth completely.

Then.

Wang Luocheng’s gaze shifted to Ye Qingchen.

The powerful pressure of the Human Immortal Third Layer swept through in an instant. Seeing this, Xu Hao’s eyes revealed a hint of schadenfreude; Wang Luocheng’s strength was terrifyingly many times greater than his own. If he made a move, Ye Qingchen would only be left kneeling and begging for mercy.

"What, you want to make a move too?" Ye Qingchen said coldly.

However, surprisingly, Wang Luocheng suddenly smiled, shaking his head and said, "We are all fellow disciples, why make things so tense? Even if struggle brings understanding, I apologize on behalf of Ning Hill and Xu Hao."

Speaking thus.

Wang Luocheng already bowed.

"Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother!"

Seeing this, Xu Hao and others quickly helped Wang Luocheng up, especially Xu Hao, who glared at Ye Qingchen with intense envy.

Ye Qingchen took a deep look at Wang Luocheng, and after pondering something, his brow suddenly relaxed:

"Good!"

Due to Wang Luocheng’s concession, this conflict was squashed.

After everyone calmed down, Wang Luocheng instructed people to repair the entire ancient residence. Those servant disciples who rushed over upon hearing the news were shocked by the sight of the ruined estate but dared not speak much.

Once everything was arranged properly, everyone began to discuss the task details.

Of course.

The person in charge of the task was still Wang Luocheng. Due to the complexity and intricacy of the task, coupled with the unique situation in the Withered Forest, preparations needed to be made for items to resist the obstruction of Yin Evil Qi, detoxification, and restoration pills, requiring some time to prepare.

Immediately, after agreeing to depart the next morning, everyone dispersed.

"Mr. Ye, aren’t you going to buy pills?"

Seeing Ye Qingchen still sitting there, not intending to get up, Shen Yu couldn’t help but ask.

"Aren’t you afraid of me?" Ye Qingchen gave a glance at Shen Yu, who blinked her large eyes, then looked at the nearby pink-dressed woman who didn’t dare look up and asked with a half-smile.

"Why should I be afraid?"

Shen Yu thought about it seriously for a moment before saying:

"The rumors outside say you murder at a whim, but I can tell you never trouble others without cause. Like just now, if Ning Hill goes outside to ask, he’ll know you came for the task, but instead he obstinately tried to strike!"

Ye Qingchen laughed loudly.

This Shen Yu, about eighteen or nineteen years old, though cultivated to Human Immortal, seemed inexperienced, with an extremely innocent character. Ye Qingchen nodded and said, "Just because of your words, if we encounter danger in the Withered Forest, I’ll definitely keep you safe and sound."

"Really?"

Shen Yu was overjoyed at hearing this.

But the nearby pink-dressed woman hurriedly pulled Shen Yu aside, smiling awkwardly, "Mr. Ye, we are just going to the Withered Forest for a simple search task, there won’t be any life-threatening danger!"

"We still need to prepare some pills, so we won’t disturb Mr. Ye further!"

Upon finishing, without further ado, she dragged Shen Yu away as if fleeing.

Gazing at the empty main hall, Ye Qingchen recalled the words of the pink-dressed woman, slowly squinting his eyes, his gaze long and distant, as if speaking to himself, "This task, truly won’t meet life-threatening dangers?"

...

Meanwhile.

On the other side, Wang Luocheng, Xu Hao, and others also left the residence.

Although Xu Hao appeared at ease outwardly, he was extremely resentful inside. He, a Human Immortal Second Layer, had failed to suppress someone at Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer. If word got out, wouldn’t it be a joke?

"Senior Brother Wang, why did you stop me just now? I only needed one more move to disable him!" Xu Hao was indignant, "Earlier, I only used seventy percent of my strength!"

"Do you truly think you have that ability? If I hadn’t stopped you, the one lying down might have been you!" Under the puzzled gazes of the others, Wang Luocheng explained leisurely, "That kid did not use his full strength either!"

Xu Hao’s face changed suddenly, exclaiming, "Impossible..."

But seeing Wang Luocheng’s expression as if he wasn’t joking, Xu Hao had to reluctantly accept the fact. Still, another doubt arose in his mind, "Senior Brother Wang, with your strength, you could crush him with one hand. Why did you not make a move, and even bow to him?"

As he spoke, he sneakily watched Wang Luocheng.

If Wang Luocheng were willing to act, the one lying in the residence would be Ye Qingchen. But he hadn’t expected Wang Luocheng to choose retreat. Not only Xu Hao, but others were also perplexed.

"I have reasons that disallow me to act!"

Wang Luocheng squinted and didn’t answer directly; instead, he swept his gaze over everyone and said, "Do any of you know why Ye Qingchen, a Celestial Venerable Ninth Layer, is participating in this Withered Forest task?"

"Why?" The crowd was stunned.

Wang Luocheng said blandly, "It’s Marquis Guangjun himself who requested!"

When they heard this, everyone was shocked. Was there some underlying reason within this task? However, seeing Wang Luocheng not elaborating, they could only press down their doubts.

Only Wang Luocheng remained unaffected, coldly sneering internally:

"Ye Qingchen, having offended Marquis Guangjun, yet you wish to live? Even with Su Moran backing you, there’s no escape! This Withered Forest is what Marquis Guangjun chose as your burial site!"

Upon thinking this.

Wang Luocheng’s eyes flashed coldly.

...

A night passed quietly.

The next day, at dawn.

The group reassembled and headed straight for the Withered Forest. The Withered Forest was located south of Taotian Palace, occupying only a hundred miles, but with vast spaces within and an extremely complex terrain.

On this journey, Ye Qingchen traveled alone, except for occasional chats with the sensible young man, more people avoided Ye Qingchen as if he were a serpent.

As for Wang Luocheng’s group, they maintained a stance of not interfering with Ye Qingchen, allowing him to enjoy some peace.

"Mr. Ye, if you cross this mountain, the other side is the Withered Forest!"

Li Chu, also known as the sensible man, seemed to perceive that Ye Qingchen was not as frightening as the rumors, gradually speaking more. As the team passed before a mountain, resting and reorganizing, he cautiously approached.

"Really?"

Ye Qingchen heard this, raised his brows, and gazed into the distance.

Indeed.

He saw the distant sky covered with dark clouds, evoking an eerie chill even under the blazing sun. In the forest, clusters of shining rings like fluttering firefly talismans could be seen, a spectacular view revealed after the secret realm shattered!

"Roar!"

While Ye Qingchen was observing the Withered Forest, a massive aura suddenly emerged from the forest.

He quickly looked towards the source, his pupils contracting.

"What is that?"