Chapter 576: True Purpose

Before Ye Liuyun could react, Qing Lin was already clutching three Yunhuo Stones, leapt out again, and ran toward Xiao Mingyue.

While running, it swallowed the Yunhuo Stones outright, as if fearing Ye Liuyun would snatch them back.

"Huh? How dare you steal my stuff!"

Ye Liuyun snapped out of his shock and slapped at Qing Lin.

Seeing this, Xiao Mingyue, fearing Ye Liuyun would hurt Qing Lin, thrust out a palm to block it.

"Just a few stones; I'll compensate you! You're so stingy, no wonder it won't follow you!"

While saying that, Xiao Mingyue produced some Spirit Fruit and Spirit Stones, handed them to Ye Liuyun as compensation.

The Yunhuo Stones weren't especially valuable to begin with, so after the exchange Ye Liuyun actually profited.

He glared at Qing Lin, who was making a face at him, and had to let it go.

When he put away the Spirit Fruit and Spirit Stones, he discovered that his Storage Ring now contained a Life Vine, a Cultivation Spirit Fruit, two True Essence Fruits, and a Golden Emperor Fruit.

He was certain he hadn't placed those items there himself.

"Could it be Qing Lin? That creature can swallow something and then pull it out?"

Ye Liuyun looked at Qing Lin with puzzled confusion, while Qing Lin remained perched on Xiao Mingyue's shoulder, making a face at him. This time, a sly grin flickered in its eyes.

"That creature! Looks like I misjudged it; it didn't secretly hoard the treasure. So what does it actually want?"

Ye Liuyun chuckled softly, shook his head, and ignored it.

At this moment, only he knew that Qing Lin was acting.

Back when Ye Liuyun first found Qing Lin, Qing Lin didn't wait for him to speak; it used Divine Sense to send a Transmission Voice, prompting him to cooperate in a staged act to deceive Xiao Mingyue's trust.

So that earlier scene occurred: Qing Lin's betrayal, and Xiao Mingyue's intimidation of Ye Liuyun.

It was precisely because their performance was convincing that they fooled Xiao Mingyue, allowing them to follow her and receive her protection.

Ye Liuyun had also asked Qing Lin why it did so, but it merely told him it was protecting this Secret Realm.

Ye Liuyun didn't know its plan either, so he proceeded step by step. In any case, it posed no harm to him.

Otherwise, a single him couldn't handle so many others. Now that he's attached to Xiao Mingyue, the big tree, he's actually safe.

Moreover, he thought Qing Lin was too ancient‑spirit‑mischievous to act at a loss, so he kept trusting Qing Lin.

The Night Demon Sect members, after completing the transaction with Ye Liuyun, widened the gap again, yet kept their surveillance. Someone also re‑contacted the Star Sword Demon Emperor.

The Star Sword Demon Emperor had actually arrived earlier, but they were already inside the Snake Cave, and the Emperor, hurrying, missed them. Now the Star Sword Demon Emperor has already moved ahead of them.

Having received the Night Demon Sect's alliance message, the Star Sword Demon Emperor now has to turn back.

Xiao Mingyue, leading Ye Liuyun, was walking ahead when she suddenly stopped; the smile on her face vanished, and her expression grew solemn.

At the same time, the True Essence within her began to surge, clearly indicating she was on full alert for something.

Qing Lin also sensed something, leapt off her shoulder, and landed on Ye Liuyun's shoulder.

Ye Liuyun focused his gaze and spotted a black speck in the distance, rapidly sweeping toward them.

As the speck enlarged, Ye Liuyun realized it was a demon sword forged from gathered Demon Qi, soaring from the sky and aiming straight at Xiao Mingyue.

Behind the sword trailed a Demon Cultivator clad in a black robe, appearing no older than twenty‑seven or twenty‑eight, with a delicate face unlike the usual sinister look of other Demon Cultivators.

If not for the Demon Qi swirling around him, one wouldn't tell he was a Demon Cultivator.

At this moment, the Guardian God Seal's moonlight flared, emitting a cold lunar beam that thundered toward the demon sword.

"Has the Star Sword Demon Emperor arrived?"

Ye Liuyun felt the oppressive pressure borne by the sword, far beyond what an ordinary Demon Cultivator could emit; even his Buddha Demon Power was stirred, as if ready to burst forth.

The power within him roared, gathering wildly, ready to meet any danger.

Sensing the sword's threatening intent, the Demon Slaying Sword on his back trembled, buzzing, as if challenging Ye Liuyun to battle.

As he reached to draw the blade, Qing Lin suddenly clutched his shoulder again, warning him not to move.

"Boom!"

The Star Sword Demon Emperor's and Xiao Mingyue's True Essence collided in the distant sky, blasting a massive void.

The two then struck again, hard‑against‑hard at a single point.

"Let them fight until they're dead!" Qing Lin transmitted to Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun heard this and furrowed his brow.

He understood Qing Lin, as a member of the Secret Realm, didn't want intruders, but wishing everyone who entered to die there was excessive.

In his heart, his goodwill toward Qing Lin plummeted instantly.

Qing Lin had a Divine Soul Contract with him; when Ye Liuyun's attitude shifted, Qing Lin immediately sensed it.

It looked at Ye Liuyun and explained, "This Secret Realm can't hold out much longer! The woman you're looking for is undergoing the realm's inheritance. If they breach the Secret Realm, the inheritance will be cut off and vanish."

"Huh? That serious? They're just exploring the Secret Realm!" Ye Liuyun replied, puzzled why Qing Lin portrayed the outsiders so gravely.

"If they only came for treasure or to hunt beasts, it'd be fine. This Secret Realm is vast; the few items they take have little impact and it will recover quickly. Yet the Realm has existed for ten‑thousands of years and is now on the brink of collapse. Moreover, they're not merely treasure‑hunters. Their elders continue to assault the Realm from outside, trying to break its seal. Once that seal is broken, the Realm's inheritance will vanish."

Qing Lin spoke cautiously to Ye Liuyun. It was the first time Ye Liuyun saw such a serious expression on it.

"How long will Xue'er need to complete the inheritance?" Ye Liuyun asked anxiously.

"A few months at the shortest, up to a year at most!" Qing Lin, watching the two combatants, replied, "They're searching for the Realm's core; once they locate and strike it, the Realm's defenses will weaken, making the outsiders outside even easier to destroy the inheritance."