As Lin Xiao Tian stepped out of the shop alongside the others, his body leaned heavily on Yan Feng and Tianhe, his steps dragging as if each movement cost him something real. The scene from inside replayed relentlessly in his mind, the way that damned dwarf had peeled away his spirit stones layer by layer until nothing worthwhile remained.

He slowly raised his storage rings and stared into them, his gaze hollow for a brief moment as the emptiness settled in.

Not even enough left to properly mobilize the ship... that old bastard did not just rob me, he dug straight into my bones.

For a fleeting instant, his composure nearly shattered completely, but he forcefully steadied himself and exhaled slowly, suppressing the urge to collapse on the spot.

Fine... as long as that information proves true, the returns will eclipse this loss, I will recover everything in a single sweep.

His expression gradually returned to its usual calm as his thoughts shifted back toward the upcoming secret realm, the earlier frustration buried beneath calculation. Turning toward Chu Yue, he spoke evenly, his tone steady as if nothing had happened moments ago. "Fairy Chu, I will wait at the entrance of the secret realm tomorrow, so prepare whatever you deem necessary until then."

Chu Yue nodded at first, but her expression soon turned slightly strange as she looked at him more carefully, as if noticing something he had overlooked entirely. "Sect Master... do you not know, entry is restricted to geniuses below twenty years of age," she said, her tone carrying quiet disbelief.

Lin Xiao Tian froze in place as his entire expression stiffened as he slowly turned his head toward her, his mind blanking for a brief moment while everything he had planned collapsed silently. Below twenty years of age...?

As Chu Yue and her disciples gradually disappeared into the crowd, their figures dissolving into the sea of people, Lin Xiao Tian remained standing there as if struck by lightning. The moment they were gone, his gaze snapped sideways and locked directly onto Han Leu, who was subtly attempting to merge into the group as if he had nothing to do with anything.

Feeling that gaze, Han Leu froze mid-step before turning back with a stiff and overly forced smile that only made the situation worse. Seeing that, Lin Xiao Tian let out a cold snort, his expression darkening as his patience thinned visibly. "You still have the nerve to smile, for a moment we thought you sold us out, and in the end that dwarf stripped us clean down to the bone," he said, his voice rising as irritation spilled forward.

Han Leu reacted instantly, raising a thin Qi barrier in front of his face with practiced precision as if this situation had occurred far too many times before. Watching this, Lin Xiao Tian sneered faintly before speaking in a flat tone. "Forget about your Earth-grade sword," he said casually.

That single sentence nearly shattered Han Leu’s composure as his face drained of color, his expression shifting immediately into one of exaggerated grievance. "Sect Master, what I purchased from that old man at such a cost... it was entirely for the sect," he said quickly, his tone desperate to justify himself.

Lin Xiao Tian paused, his brows narrowing slightly as he looked at him with renewed scrutiny, clearly not dismissing the claim outright. "And how exactly does that benefit the sect," he asked, his tone calm but carrying underlying pressure.

Seeing the opening, Han Leu stepped forward immediately, his demeanor shifting as his tone grew serious and composed. "Sect Master, are you aware of the Body Integration Realm," he asked, his gaze steady.

Lin Xiao Tian frowned faintly, clearly unfamiliar with the term, his expression carrying a trace of doubt. Han Leu did not hesitate, continuing without pause as his confidence began to build. "Most cultivators in the lower regions completely skip over it, yet it exists between Palace Formation and Dao Comprehension," he explained, his voice firm.

"It is one of the few realms that directly strengthens the physical body to the level required to support higher breakthroughs without collapse," he added, his tone gaining weight as he spoke.

He paused briefly before continuing, his voice lowering slightly as he emphasized the importance. "If one truly intends to surpass Mahayana and step toward immortality, this realm cannot be ignored or bypassed without consequence."

Lin Xiao Tian’s gaze sharpened subtly, interest flickering beneath his composed exterior as he processed the implications. Han Leu continued, now fully confident as he leaned slightly forward. "The problem is that this realm cannot be entered through ordinary cultivation methods, it requires a specific class of body-refining treasures that are exceedingly rare, and without sufficient talent, they are entirely useless."

He paused once more before delivering the key point, his tone deliberate. "The spirit stones I spent were used to acquire the seeds of such a treasure, and I have already planted them within the sect grounds."

He added casually, though the implication was anything but casual. "You may have already seen them... mixed among the spirit trees." 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

As Lin Xiao Tian’s expression began to shift, Han Leu quickly added more, his tone turning almost pitiful as if presenting a sacrifice. "I even pawned several of my own treasures for it," he said, his face carrying exaggerated grievance.

Lin Xiao Tian remained silent for a moment as his thoughts settled, his gaze resting on Han Leu with renewed consideration. Seems he is not entirely useless... at least he knows where to invest when it matters.

Letting out a quiet breath, Lin Xiao Tian shifted his attention toward the items they had acquired, his eyes scanning each one carefully as the earlier pain in his chest eased slightly. It is not as though this trip was a complete loss... there are still several worthwhile gains here.

His gaze moved across the items slowly, inspecting them with growing focus as their value became clearer under closer examination. Though the price had been brutal, what lay before him was far from ordinary, each item carrying its own purpose and hidden potential.

There were fifty Nether Queen Scales, each one dark and faintly shimmering as if something alive was sealed within, their surfaces radiating that unsettling duality of poison and cure intertwined.

Beside those lay a set of instant activation arrays, compact yet refined formations sealed within small plates, each one ready to deploy without delay whether for escape, suppression, or defense. Even without testing them, their quality was evident.

His gaze lingered briefly before shifting inward once more. And even if everything goes wrong... I still have that.

The thought of the mass teleportation token surfaced quietly, bringing with it a faint sense of reassurance that settled deep within his mind. But almost immediately, another problem rose to replace it, his expression turning slightly bitter as the issue resurfaced.

The age restriction... there has to be a way around it, it cannot be this absolute.

Turning toward Han Leu, he spoke directly, his tone carrying a clear expectation. "Han Leu, is there any method to force entry into the secret realm," he asked.

Han Leu immediately understood the intent behind the question, his expression shifting slightly as he considered his response. "There are methods, Sect Master," he began.

The moment those words were spoken, a faint spark of hope appeared in Lin Xiao Tian’s eyes, though it was extinguished almost immediately.

"But none that would be applicable in your current situation," Han Leu added bluntly, without softening the impact.

Lin Xiao Tian’s expression froze as Han Leu continued, his tone steady and grounded. "Forcefully breaching a secret realm is already extraordinarily difficult, requiring strength far beyond the realm itself, either from a singular overwhelming existence or multiple top-tier experts acting together."

He shook his head slightly before continuing, his voice growing heavier with each word. "Even if such a breach were achieved, maintaining the realm’s stability afterward is nearly impossible without causing catastrophic collapse."

"The realm in question is a legacy realm, not a simple trial ground, and any interference with its structure would trigger a reaction that could destroy the inheritance entirely," he added calmly.

Lin Xiao Tian’s brows furrowed as Han Leu delivered the final point without hesitation. "Even a Mahayana expert may fail to achieve such a feat, and even if they succeed, the value of such a legacy would be negligible to them anyway."

Hearing this, Lin Xiao Tian’s shoulders sank slightly as the last traces of hope faded away, his thoughts quieting as the reality settled in. So there truly is no straightforward method...

For the first time in a while, he felt a rare sense of frustration creeping in, dull and persistent beneath his otherwise steady mind.

Just as he was about to abandon the idea entirely, Lin Xiao Tian clenched his jaw and made one final attempt, his thoughts turning inward as he opened the system interface. If there is even a single possibility, this thing should know it.

The interface flickered briefly before a soft chime echoed through his mind. Ding. Host already possesses the capability to enter.

Lin Xiao Tian froze, his brows knitting together in confusion as he responded instantly. What are you talking about, explain it properly.

The system replied without delay, its tone as indifferent as ever. The system advises the host to properly understand the functions of its equipment, the robe you are currently wearing grants you the ability to perfectly mimic another’s aura and identity while completely concealing your true cultivation and information.

For a moment, Lin Xiao Tian stood there in silence as the meaning slowly settled into place, his mind blanking before clarity struck. His lips gradually curled upward, a foolish grin spreading across his face as his eyes lit with realization.

So that is how it is... He let out a quiet chuckle as the final piece clicked into place. Looks like I will be joining the party after all.