Chapter 448: Early Selection

Ye Liuyun, after thinking of it, immediately did it, directly letting his other Soul enter the Soul Domain to join the battle, fighting while cultivating Buddha Demon Golden Body.

Having the experience of the previous Soul cultivating Buddha Demon Golden Body, this Soul's cultivation progressed very quickly.

Ten days later, when he faced a Tian Gang Sixth Layer strongman, his two Souls: one had cultivated Buddha Demon Golden Body to the Eighth Layer, the other to the Third Layer.

Ye Liuyun sent the Soul that had reached the Eighth Layer to rest, leaving the Soul that had just reached the Third Layer to continue combat training.

In fact, by this point he was already very satisfied with the results of this virtual battlefield. He just didn't know how to exit, so he simply kept fighting while cultivating.

When this Soul's Buddha Demon Golden Body reached the Fifth Tier, Ye Liuyun was already battling a Tian Gang Seventh Layer opponent. He brought the other Soul over to help fight, until his Soul Domain was completely breached.

Ye Liuyun finally experienced the feeling of "dying in battle." Even after stepping down from the stone platform, he remained immersed in that deathly terror.

After he recovered his senses, he found everyone looking at him with strange eyes.

"What's wrong?" he asked, puzzled. It was then he realized that no one remained on the stone platform. He must have been the last to descend.

"You reached Tian Gang Seventh Layer?" the Artifact Spirit inhaled deeply, probing.

"Yes! But I couldn't push through. The opponent's numbers were just too many!" Ye Liuyun explained awkwardly.

"Did you break through your realm inside?" the Artifact Spirit asked again.

"Yes! I broke through to Tian Gang Second Layer!" Ye Liuyun didn't hide it.

Upon hearing this, the Artifact Spirit shouted, "You, at Tian Gang Second Layer, fought tens of thousands of Tian Gang Seventh Layer opponents. So you think you're still too weak?"

Ye Liuyun thought that was true. With just his Physical Body and True Essence, he could almost contend with Tian Gang Sixth Layer. He was no longer weak.

"Hmm, you have a point," Ye Liuyun nodded.

The Artifact Spirit looked at him speechlessly, then said, "Alright. Input your Divine Sense into this Horn, and I'll recognize you as master."

Ye Liuyun didn't move; instead he asked the Artifact Spirit, "Can this Horn be transferred to someone who needs it more?"

"You don't want it?" the Artifact Spirit retorted.

"My own strength is no longer weak; taking this Horn, I wouldn't use it often, it would just waste you. Better give it to someone who needs it!" Ye Liuyun explained.

Ye Liuyun explained.

The Artifact Spirit looked at Ye Liuyun doubtfully. "Are you being foolish in cultivation? Giving a treasure to others!" But he said nothing. If Ye Liuyun took it and didn't use it, he wasn't keen either.

With no other choice, he asked others. Unexpectedly, even after asking several people, none wanted it.

Lei Ming said her treasures were already plenty, she didn't need it. Bai Hu liked to fight by strength, also didn't need it. Piao Yun knew these people were all around Ye Liuyun, so she couldn't snatch it, thus she also declined.

In the end, this War Wolf Horn had to be given to Wu Qingcheng. Because if Wu Qingcheng refused again, no one could take the Horn. So Wu Qingcheng had no choice but to reluctantly accept it.

The Artifact Spirit almost burst into tears!

"Are these people looking down on me? Am I really that bad!" He now even began to doubt his life!

"What other treasures are in this Secret Realm?" Ye Liuyun asked the Artifact Spirit.

"There's also a War Halberd and a pair of Wings." the Artifact Spirit replied.

"Wings?" Ye Liuyun was a bit puzzled; what use could a pair of wings have?

"They can defend, increase speed, even traverse the void." the Artifact Spirit explained.

Ye Liuyun thought it over; he himself didn't really need them. So he asked others if anyone wanted to see them. Everyone was not very interested.

"Then let's go back! There's nothing good here!" Ye Liuyun suggested.

Everyone was also fed up, ready to return and cultivate, so they all agreed.

The Artifact Spirit, feeling depressed, slipped back into the Horn. "These guys have too high standards, I'm not playing with them!" The Artifact Spirit felt hurt.

Thus, Ye Liuyun stored everyone into the Storage Ring, sending them back to the Dragon Palace to cultivate, while he took Piao Yun back to the Qingcheng Branch.

At the Qingcheng Branch, the crowd gathered in the Grand Hall, heads bowed in silence. An Elder from the Main Sect was scolding them.

"So many people, and no one knows where the Branch Master went? What now? The Main Sect needs the Branch Master urgently, yet you don't even know where anyone went!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice came from outside.

"Elder Gong, does the Main Sect need me?"

When Ye Liuyun's voice sounded, the branch disciples in the hall breathed a sigh of relief. The Branch Master finally returned, otherwise they'd have been scolded to death by Elder Gong!

"You finally came back!" Elder Gong's attitude made a complete 180‑degree turn. Though he was an Elder, he still didn't have the authority of someone like Ye Liuyun, the Branch Master. Moreover, Ye Liuyun was now a celebrated figure of the Iron Eagle Sect, so Gong dared not offend him.

Ye Liuyun, with Piao Yun, swooped down to the hall entrance and greeted Elder Gong.

"The Vice Sect Leader sent you back to the Main Sect, saying it's to prepare for the early selection of the Cangyun Grand Competition." Elder Gong explained to Ye Liuyun.

"Isn't it still three months away? The selection was advanced?" Ye Liuyun was a bit puzzled.

"I don't know. I was just ordered to summon you back. I came yesterday but didn't see you. Let's go quickly?" Elder Gong urged.

"Alright, I'll brief you." Ye Liuyun didn't dare delay. He told Ma Tiantong and Chen Yue about the situation in the Secret Realm.

"If you two are interested, organize people to explore. There's a War Halberd and a pair of Wings inside. Go early; the danger in that Secret Realm isn't great."

At this moment, they finally realized Ye Liuyun was going to explore the Secret Realm.

"Our Branch Master really is daring and skillful, even venturing into new Secret Realms." Some thought to themselves.

Ma Tiantong and Chen Yue felt grateful. "The Branch Master didn't take everything, leaving us treasure. This low‑risk Secret Realm, letting them go is like picking it for free."

After briefing them, Ye Liuyun didn't linger, and went straight with Elder Gong back to the Iron Eagle Sect Headquarters.

Elder Gong had sent the message early; when Ye Liuyun's party arrived at the Headquarters, Jing Wudi was already waiting.

"Vice Sect Leader, the selection was advanced?" Ye Liuyun asked Jing Wudi upon seeing him.

"Hehe, seeing your recent performance, I'll give you a little favor, follow me."

He said nothing more, and led Ye Liuyun toward the rear mountain of the Headquarters.