Beast Taming Clan: I Have a Jade Book Chapter 1017 - 708: Tier-3 Secret Realm, Top-Grade Spirit Stones

Quivering spatial distortions materialized, accompanied by several spectral apparitions. A hidden portal, sealed by intricate Arrays, was faintly discernible.

The entrance to a Secret Realm, fortified by powerful formations!

This spectacle astonished the observers.

"The Array! It's actually here!"

"At least a Tier Two Secret Realm, boasting a Natural Concealment Array!" Xu Changkong exclaimed with evident delight.

Wan Chengjie remained silent but promptly produced a Jade Talisman, launching it skyward. This was no ordinary artifact; it was a Ten Thousand Li Talisman, a Sound Transmission Jade Talisman renowned for its extraordinary range.

Without pause, Wan Chengjie began deploying Array Banners, meticulously encircling the vicinity. He then positioned three complete Array Discs and initiated the activation of a Talisman Treasure.

"Everyone, bring your abilities to bear. Immense merit awaits us!" Wan Chengjie announced after completing his preparations.

As a cultivator at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, he harbored concerns about any lingering Purple Mansion cultivators from the Zhang and Jia Families, necessitating the swift establishment of defensive Arrays.

He had even devised contingency plans for a strategic withdrawal.

Further investigation into the realm was not his immediate priority.

Any Secret Realm of Tier Two or higher classification guaranteed significant merit for their quartet, even in the absence of cultivators from the Zhang and Jia Families.

Unnecessary risks were to be avoided.

The others clearly shared this sentiment; Xu Changkong and Jiang Yuwei each deployed their own sets of Array Discs, fortifying their position.

Secretly, they each embedded several Spirit Talismans near the Array Foundations, prepared to activate the formations remotely should the need arise.

With Xu Changkong at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment and Jiang Yuwei at the Middle Stage, their combined strength, augmented by the Arrays, was formidable.

Especially with Wan Chengjie continuously channeling power into the Talisman Treasure, even a careless Purple Mansion cultivator might falter!

Meanwhile, Wan Chengming swiftly recalled the Void Spirit Insect. With the Secret Realm's location pinpointed, the insect's continued surveillance was deemed unnecessary, as prolonged probing risked attracting unwanted attention.

Without the support of the Ye Family, they were hesitant to act with excessive boldness.

...

Within the enigmatic Secret Realm, the expanse was equally vast and boundless.

Beneath a peculiar mountain mine, the area shimmered with a resplendent crystalline glow, as if countless stars were embedded within its rocky façade.

Presently, over twenty cultivators were diligently engaged in mining operations.

Even for a body cultivator at the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation, the task was arduous, demanding immense effort akin to mortal laborers sweating profusely.

Zhang Yucheng stood before the ore vein, his gaze fixed on the deepest recesses of the mine, captivated by the palpable surge of Spiritual Energy.

This was no mere Low-grade or Middle-grade Spirit Stone Ore; it was an Upper-grade Spirit Stone Ore. The recent surge in the Zhang Family's power was attributable to this very resource, explaining Zhang Taiji's cultivation to the Golden Core Peak.

Crucially, this Upper-grade Spirit Stone Vein was evolving, progressing towards becoming a Top-Grade Spirit Stone Vein.

This represented the Zhang Family's most significant fortune.

Currently, a Top-Grade Spirit Stone was being nurtured within, its maturation imminent.

This was the primary reason the Zhang Family was reluctant to abandon this location.

A solitary Upper-grade Spirit Stone theoretically equated to ten thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones. A single Top-Grade Spirit Stone, theoretically, was worth a million Low-grade Spirit Stones.

In practice, an Upper-grade Spirit Stone could sometimes command a price exceeding eleven thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.

However, concerning Top-Grade Spirit Stones, to his recollection, no successful transaction had ever been recorded.

It wasn't a matter of affordability, but rather a complete absence of willingness to exchange.

The pure Spiritual Energy within Upper-grade Spirit Stones could significantly assist Purple Mansion cultivators in achieving the Golden Core stage.

Simultaneously, only Golden Core cultivators could fully absorb their essence without impediment.

Top-Grade Spirit Stones, conversely, aided Golden Core cultivators in their breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, and even some Nascent Soul cultivators utilized them during their breakthroughs to enhance their success rates.

Such Spirit Stones were indeed exceptionally rare Spiritual Objects.

Discussions of monetary value were rendered meaningless.

Consequently, the sheer abundance of Spiritual Energy only amplified his internal conflict and reluctance to depart.

Yet, after prolonged deliberation, the remaining elders of the Zhang Family saw no alternative but to consider extracting a portion of the Upper-grade Spirit Stones before executing a strategic withdrawal.

A contingent of cultivators, having secured certain talents, made their departure from the Secret Realm, setting their sights on the Celestial Departure Grassland.

Concurrently, another group elected to remain within the confines of the Secret Realm, their objective being the successful maturation of the Top-Grade Spirit Stone.

It was understood that Secret Realms and Mini Worlds possessed no capacity for relocation; lingering within them for extended periods invited the high probability of discovery.

Following a thorough examination of the ore vein, Zhang Yucheng produced a mirror from his person.

Although it was merely a Top-Grade Spiritual Artifact, this particular item was recognized as a Child and Mother Mirror.

The Child Mirror had been deliberately concealed within the Desert Sea of East Flame Valley, while its counterpart, the Mother Mirror, remained in his possession.

As the corresponding Spirit Technique was invoked upon the mirror, it began to emanate a distinct Spiritual Aura. In the subsequent moment, his pupils constricted sharply, and his breathing quickened discernibly.

Acting with haste, he then enacted the Spirit Technique to suppress the mirror’s emanations. Burdened by the anxiety of potential detection, he promptly deployed a Spirit Talisman, propelling himself at great speed towards two specific locations.

Simultaneously, he made a rapid trajectory towards the designated entrance of the Secret Realm.

Before long, he arrived at the imposing palace gate, where several cultivators were observed to be in a state of anxious anticipation within.

"Did I not explicitly instruct you to eliminate that Zhang Yuan? How has this location become exposed!" Zhang Yongtai voiced his displeasure, his counteneance darkening ominously.

It was evident that intelligence from beyond the Secret Realm had already reached his ears.

"Uncle Yongtai..." Zhang Yucheng found himself momentarily overcome with a sense of grievance. He had, in fact, succeeded in dispatching Zhang Yuan.

However, he was acutely aware that Zhang Yongtai's current fury was at its peak, and that admitting guilt at this precise juncture would be profoundly unwise, risking the provocation of his escalating temper.

"We shall make our break for it!" Zhang Yongtai commanded decisively.

"Ensure the miners are directed to retrieve the partially formed Top-Grade Spirit Stone. Although its efficacy will be diminished, it must not fall into the hands of the Ye Family!" Zhang Yongtai further elaborated.

Consequently, Zhang Yucheng swiftly dispatched the necessary transmissions.

After the passage of several dozen breaths, the contingent of twenty cultivators embarked upon a Tier Three Spiritual Ship, ascending into the sky.

"What precisely is transpiring here!" Another elder aboard the ship expressed similar indignation.

"Regardless of whether their blunders inadvertently led to this outcome, they are currently positioned outside, necessitating our concerted effort to break through their defenses. While the Yuanling Oasis may not be in immediate proximity, should Purple Mansion cultivators hasten their arrival, a mere three to four hours would prove more than sufficient!" Zhang Yongtai responded, his expression equally grim.

Despite his understandable fury, the elder had no alternative but to signify his agreement with a nod.

Without further delay, the assembled contingent of over thirty individuals moved in unison towards the Secret Realm’s egress point.

With the issuance of three distinct decrees, the entrance manifested as an aperture approximately one foot in height.

The more than thirty individuals surged forth in a unified exodus.

...

Traversing the desolate desert expanse, a Tier Three Top-Grade Spiritual Ship was observed to be making swift progress towards East Flame Valley.

At this juncture, Ye Haicheng held a Blood Disc, diligently reviewing a compilation of records detailing the Ye Family’s auction outcomes.

The potential significance of East Flame Valley was assessed as substantial.

Yet, what genuinely caught him entirely by surprise was the revelation that Wan Chengjie of the Wan Family had already reached East Flame Valley and successfully pinpointed the location of the Secret Realm.

The classification of a Secret Realm starting at Tier Two strongly suggested the considerable possibility of it being a Tier Three Secret Realm.

Such a realm could very well harbor cultivators of the Purple Mansion realm from the Zhang Family.

This critical factor was precisely the reason behind Ye Haicheng’s palpable sense of urgency.

Should cultivators of the Purple Mansion realm manage to evade pursuit and reach the Celestial Departure Grassland, even the formidable Ye Family would encounter immense difficulty in their retrieval. This was particularly true given their concurrent obligations to retrain the Demon King of the Hundred Thousand Mountains and the newly established forces within Hidden Valley and Hidden Peak.

At that very moment, Ye Haicheng felt a sudden and distinct illumination emanating from the Wan Blood Disc held within his grasp!

Its luminescence intensified considerably, accompanied by a surge of potent Blood Qi ascending towards the heavens.

This phenomenon unequivocally signaled the presence of a significant number of bloodline cultivators belonging to the Zhang Family.

This development caused Ye Haicheng to become instantly alert and tense. He hastily affixed an additional Spirit Talisman to the Spiritual Ship, intent on further augmenting its already considerable speed!