"This is... the Pure Yang Holy Body!"
Yan Xi's beautiful eyes widened in shock.
"That's right."
"You... you... How can it be?"
Her voice trembled slightly as she struggled to find the right words.
She remembered clearly.
Mo Yu had never possessed any special physique before.
Mo Yu pretended to ponder for a moment.
"I don't know either. When I woke up, I already had it. Maybe it came from... Dual Cultivation?"
Yan Xi froze.
It took her a long moment to regain her composure.
Finally, she let out a soft sigh.
"A true Child of heaven..."
She had wandered throughout the Upper Realm for countless years and had never heard of anyone obtaining a physique through Dual Cultivation.
Physiques were either innate or forged through unimaginable amounts of resources and effort.
It was most likely that his physique was dormant and has now awakened due to losing his Pure Yang essence.
And Mo Yu had somehow acquired the Pure Yang Holy Physique through Dual Cultivation.
It was simply unbelievable.
Soon, delight appeared on her face.
"The Pure Yang Holy Physique contains the Pure Yang True Fire. Quickly, use it to upgrade the Great Burning Heaven Art!"
Mo Yu nodded.
The Great Burning Heaven Art had been given to him by Yan Xi.
It was similar to the Burning Art, capable of absorbing flames to strengthen itself.
It was a cultivation technique without a fixed rank.
In this world, cultivation techniques were divided into Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Ranks, with each rank further categorized into High, Medium, and Low Grades.
Sitting down cross-legged, Mo Yu focused his mind and regulated his breathing.
As he circulated the Great Burning Heaven Art, he began using the Pure Yang True Fire to temper and evolve it.
Inside his body, the blazing Pure Yang True Fire roared like a dragon awakening from its slumber, surging wildly through his meridians.
Boom!
A muffled explosion echoed from within him.
The spiritual energy in his body surged violently.
Tiny cracks began spreading across the surface of his Golden Core as though a new life was preparing to break free from its shell.
His cultivation soared.
Fourth Layer of the Golden Core Realm...
Fifth Layer...
Sixth Layer...
Seventh Layer...
Eighth Layer!
In a single breakthrough, he advanced four minor realms consecutively.
At the same time, the Great Burning Heaven Art successfully evolved, reaching the Earth Rank Medium Grade level.
As for the Nether Ghost Fire, it was still unsuitable for upgrading the technique.
Without sufficient soul strength to control it, attempting to absorb it would be far too dangerous.
"Not bad."
Yan Xi nodded in satisfaction, admiration flickering within her eyes.
Mo Yu rose to his feet and stepped forward.
"Those fools outside should be getting impatient by now."
---
Wolf Head Mountain Range.
Cold mountain winds howled through the wilderness.
Before the gloomy mine cave, Zhang San stood with his arms crossed, the fat on his body trembling with every movement.
"Big Brother, that kid's been inside for so long. Don't tell me he died in there?"
Li Si gently waved his feather fan, concealing half of his sinister face.
"Even someone at the Foundation Establishment Realm couldn't survive? This Secret Realm..."
His eyes narrowed as he gazed into the depths of the cave.
The swirling mist within concealed faint fluctuations that made his heart uneasy.
"Go. Gather all the mine slaves and bring them here. Have them enter one by one and scout the path."
Zhang San and Li Si were Elders of the Wolf Head Gang.
The gang ruled over a hundred-mile radius, and their Gang Leader was a Core Formation expert.
Their reputation was notorious, and few dared provoke them.
The mine originally belonged to the Wolf Head Gang.
However, a Secret Realm entrance had unexpectedly appeared within it.
Naturally, they coveted the opportunities hidden inside.
Yet, fearing the dangers lurking within the Secret Realm, they had captured a passing cultivator to serve as cannon fodder.
That cultivator was Mo Yu.
And who was Mo Yu?
A Child of Destiny.
If he wanted he could easily Escape or even kill them all if he wanted but...
Upon hearing about such a fortunate opportunity, how could he possibly refuse?
He agreed immediately.
Only after entering did he realize something amusing.
Wasn't this the Yin-Yang Sect Secret Realm marked on the treasure map he had casually purchased from a street vendor?
Following the map, he easily arrived at the Sect Master's Hall.
Another coincidence.
Wasn't this very hall mentioned in the ancient diary he had obtained during an auction?
According to the diary, a hidden treasure and the medicinal pill he needed to heal his golden Core were present here.
Comparing the hall with the diary's descriptions, he quickly discovered the hidden mechanism and entered the secret chamber.
Unfortunately, Ling Qingyue had arrived before him and taken the treasure.
Still, reality had proven one thing.
Stealing from a Child of Destiny was never easy.
Even if someone succeeded, they always had to leave something behind.
---
"Big Brother, the mine slaves have arrived."
Zhang San cupped his fists respectfully.
A large crowd was driven forward by members of the Wolf Head Gang.
They wore tattered clothes, their bodies thin and emaciated.
Their eyes were lifeless.
Like walking corpses.
These were the mine slaves.
Private property of the Wolf Head Gang.
The cheapest and most disposable of consumables.
Li Si waved his feather fan and sneered.
"All of you. Get in there."
The slaves trembled.
Yet none dared resist.
Years of oppression had crushed their spirits long ago.
Among the crowd stood a young girl barely in her early teens.
Her clothes were ragged, and tangled hair covered most of her face.
Mud stained her skin, making her original appearance impossible to discern.
Her name was Chu Yuli.
She had been abducted and brought here two and a half years ago.
Over those years, she had witnessed more darkness and cruelty than most people could imagine.
Fear no longer ruled her heart.
Instead, she buried it deep within.
Her teeth sank into her lower lip.
Her fingernails dug into her palms.
The pain kept her alert.
Kept her conscious.
Most importantly—
She didn't want to die.
---
Mo Yu sped through the Secret Realm.
Soon, his divine sense reached the entrance.
His expression darkened instantly.
Dozens of corpses lay scattered around the cave entrance.
The sight was horrifying.
The stench of blood filled the air.
Every single one of them was a Life killed.
"Damn it."
Mo Yu cursed under his breath.
His flying sword accelerated.
Those idiots were actually using People as fodder to scout the Secret Realm.
They had absolutely no understanding of the cultivation world.
This Secret Realm could accommodate cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Realm at the very least.
If ordinary Cultivators entered, death was almost guaranteed.
And it wasn't just one or two.
There were dozens.
They were treating human lives as worthless grass.
---
Outside the Secret Realm.
"Next!"
Zhang San's booming voice echoed through the valley.
Chu Yuli slowly raised her head.
Her eyes met his cruel gaze.
It was her turn.
The smell of blood hung heavily in the air.
Her body trembled as she stepped toward the cave entrance.
Zhang San grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
"Little girl, don't be afraid. Go inside and take a look. Who knows? You might stumble upon a treasure."
Before he could finish speaking, Chu Yuli's eyes turned cold.
Suddenly, she raised her hand.
A sharp stone fragment shot forward like an arrow, aiming directly for Zhang San's throat.
Zhang San's pupils contracted.
The cruel smile on his face froze.
He had never imagined that a seemingly powerless mine slave would dare attack him.
At that moment—
Whoosh!
A fierce gust of wind swept across the area.
Bang!
Chu Yuli felt as though she had been struck by lightning.
Her body was blasted backward.
"Pfft!"
Blood sprayed from her mouth, staining the earth red.
Zhang San had a Ruthless look on his face.
His hair swayed gently as chilling spiritual energy lingered around his body.
"Such courage."
He looked down at her indifferently.
"But a Third Layer Qi Refining cultivator is far too weak."
Viens covered Zhang San's forehead.
"You filthy bitch! You dared sneak attack me?! I'll tear you apart!"
Chu Yuli struggled to her feet.
Blood stained the corner of her lips.
Her face was deathly pale.
She knew she was finished.
All her efforts.
All her struggles.
In the face of absolute power, they meant nothing.
Zhang San grabbed her hair violently.
"You little slut! I'll send you to hell right now!"
Dragging her toward the Secret Realm entrance, he prepared to throw her inside.
A cold wind blew from the cave, lifting the hair covering her forehead.
Even at the brink of death, Chu Yuli continued struggling desperately.
But it was useless.
The difference in strength was simply too great.
Just then—
A streak of cold light shot out from the cave.
Pfft!
A bloody flower bloomed between Zhang San's brows.
His eyes widened in disbelief before his body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
"Who?!"
Li Si's feather fan slipped from his hand.
His face instantly turned pale.
A figure slowly emerged from the Secret Realm.
It was Mo Yu.
"It's you?!"
Li Si's eyes widened in disbelief.
When they had captured Mo Yu, he had only been at the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Yet Zhang San, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, had been killed with a single strike.
How was that possible?
Amid the chaos, Chu Yuli quietly retreated into the crowd.
Her gaze remained fixed on Mo Yu.
So strong...
Could he be a core formation expert?
Suppressing the fear in his heart, Li Si forced himself to remain calm.
"May I ask who Your Excellency truly is? Do you not know that I am a member of—"
He intended to invoke the name of the Wolf Head Gang to intimidate Mo Yu.
Unfortunately, he never had the chance to finish.
An invisible force tore through the air.
Pfft!