In the end, Qin San and Han Ying'er left together.
Lin Xuan also returned to begin preparing to investigate Qin San.
Today's setback was worth it, Lin Xuan thought.
Having lost to Qin San, he now had a legitimate reason to investigate him thoroughly.
If discovered, he could use this as an excuse.
Otherwise, why would he investigate Qin San for no reason?
That would be like openly admitting he had ulterior motives.
...
Back at his residence, Su Luo decided to cook himself a good meal to reward himself.
He had successfully navigated the recent events, and now it was up to Lin Xuan and the others to fight for their lives in the secret realm.
Of course, Lin Xuan would be the one to survive.
Just then, Li Siyi arrived.
She smiled sweetly, but her intentions seemed dubious. "Are you free lately?"
"What do you need?"
Su Luo sensed something was off and decided to ask for clarification before committing.
"Remember how you owed me a favor from the rookie competition? I think it's best to settle it sooner rather than later. How about you accompany me somewhere, and we'll call it even?"
"Where to?"
"I've been feeling stuck in my cultivation lately, so I want to go somewhere to clear my mind. You don't have anything going on, do you?"
"You're feeling stuck? Shouldn't you be consulting your master about that?"
"Sigh, some things can't be solved by my master. If I keep going like this, I'm afraid I might develop a heart demon."
"Is it really that serious?"
"Yes, so please, do this for me."
"Alright, I suppose it's fine."
Su Luo thought about it and decided it wasn't a big deal. If it was just a trip to relax, he could manage.
After all, Li Siyi had conceded during the rookie competition, saving him a lot of trouble.
Fine, he’d consider it repaying the favor.
In truth, Li Siyi's cultivation had been progressing smoothly. With the Moonlight Pendant's acceleration and her natural talent, her cultivation speed far surpassed others.
Moreover, with Nangong Xiyun's guidance, her techniques had improved by leaps and bounds.
Her progress was so rapid that even she couldn't believe it. Recently, she had successfully broken through to the mid Foundation Establishment stage, making her a prodigy in the cultivation world.
After all, in the world of cultivation, strength was everything.
But humans are never satisfied. When Li Siyi read Su Luo's journal entry:
["The speed is twenty times faster than usual..."]
Her eyes nearly popped out of her head. Even the Moonlight Pendant couldn't provide such an absurd boost.
What would it feel like to cultivate at that speed? Like flying?
Once she knew about it, how could she resist?
However, this time was different. In the past, she could figure out the general location, but now she needed Qin San to know the exact spot. She couldn't go alone.
After much deliberation, Li Siyi decided she couldn't pass up this opportunity.
So, she resolved to join the expedition.
Since she and Lin Xuan were still fellow disciples, she figured she could use Lin Xuan to convince Qin San to bring her along.
She also decided to drag Su Luo with her, as Xiao Yu had been hanging around Su Luo a lot lately, and Su Luo hadn't been involved in any significant events.
Having him idle was a recipe for trouble.
Better to bring him along.
...
One day in the cultivation world, Qin San proposed an expedition to explore a secret realm. He had recently received information about an ancient powerhouse's hidden realm.
Investigating it might yield valuable treasures.
The other three members of the Four Talents had no objections. They had always operated this way, forming teams for expeditions without question.
However, Han Ying'er thought of Lin Xuan and invited him along, claiming it would be a good experience for him.
At first, Qin San refused, but Han Ying'er pleaded, and he eventually agreed.
Although he worried that Lin Xuan might interfere with his plans, he dismissed the concern, thinking Lin Xuan was no match for him.
If Lin Xuan got in his way this time, he wouldn't hold back.
When Lin Xuan received Han Ying'er's invitation, he hesitated but ultimately accepted.
After learning about Qin San's suspicious behavior, he had immediately begun investigating, but it proved difficult.
Qin San was nothing like the small fry he had dealt with before. He was extremely cautious, and Lin Xuan had nearly been discovered multiple times while observing him from afar.
Qin San hadn't left a single trace of evidence.
Lin Xuan even began to wonder if Su Luo had been mistaken.
Still, he decided to continue his investigation, as someone who could infiltrate to this level in the demonic path must be formidable.
Han Ying'er's invitation provided the perfect opportunity to observe Qin San up close.
However, going on an expedition would significantly increase the danger, especially with a potential threat nearby.
Lin Xuan was naturally concerned for his safety, but he took comfort in the fact that the other three members of the Four Talents were at the Golden Core stage.
Moreover, Elder Yan assured him that he would intervene if necessary.
After all this time, Elder Yan had regained some of his strength, enough to deal with Qin San.
With this reassurance, Lin Xuan felt much safer.
What Lin Xuan didn't expect was that Li Siyi also wanted to join the expedition, and she even brought Su Luo along.
This puzzled him. What were they planning?
Li Siyi claimed it was to clear her mind, but Lin Xuan remained skeptical.
In any case, the decision ultimately rested with Qin San, who was the unofficial leader of the Four Talents. Most decisions were made by him.
"This is getting risky. Bringing Lin Xuan alone is already a burden, and now there are two more. No, I can't agree to this," Qin San refused.
Han Ying'er wasn't pleased.
"What's there to fear? With the four of us, we can easily protect them. Besides, the secret realm is just a rumor. If it turns out to be false, we can treat it as a fun trip. More people mean more fun."
"I said no, and that's final."
Qin San almost laughed in frustration. This was a secret realm he had discovered long ago. He knew exactly what was inside.
This expedition was crucial to his plans, and bringing so many people was not part of it.
"If they don't go, then I won't go either."
Qin San: "..."
"Fine."
Qin San relented. Han Ying'er was the most important person for this mission. The others were just extras. If she didn't go, the whole plan would fall apart.
Thus, the expedition group grew from five to seven.
However, unbeknownst to them, someone else was following them.
Nangong Xiyun.
She had been keeping an eye on Su Luo. The revelation about Qin San's true identity had shocked her, as Qin San was highly regarded within the sect.
If not for Su Luo, she might not have known until it was too late.
This piqued her interest, and she wanted to see how Qin San's story would end.
The Heavenly Demon Sect had an infamous reputation among the demonic factions.
Half of the notorious demonic figures in the cultivation world came from the Heavenly Demon Sect, which explained why it was so despised by the righteous sects.
Moreover, Nangong Xiyun's disfigurement had been caused by a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect.
Of course, once she regained her strength, the first thing she did was reduce that person to ashes with a single strike of her sword.
Not even a speck of dust remained.