Ye Guan was stupefied as well. He also didn’t expect that a secret realm in Nanshan Mountain would spur the top three clans into action. However, this also meant that there was something strange with the secret realm.

Ye Guan turned to look at the Nanshan Mountain Range. The Ye Clan had told him that the secret realm was far from ordinary, and the Ye Clan was right. 

If it were an ordinary secret realm, it wouldn’t have attracted the attention of the top three clans of Nanzhou.

All of a sudden, ten powerful auras came rushing from the horizon. Everyone looked up and saw ten powerful cultivators soaring through the clouds before landing directly on the mountain range. 

Ye Guan’s expression turned heavy as he stared at those ten cultivators. Ye Guan presumed that the least powerful among them was an All-Truth Realm cultivator, and it was all because they could take flight.

A hunchbacked elder at the helm was in the legendary Divine Path Realm. 

A Divine Path Realm cultivator! It was Ye Guan’s first time making contact with such a powerful cultivator. He was both shocked and excited to meet such a strong cultivator. 

Ye Guan was a Truth Realm cultivator, but he reckoned that it wouldn’t be difficult for him to kill an All-Truth Realm cultivator. 

He was excited to test his sword against an All-Truth Realm cultivator, but he wasn’t dumb enough to do that without justification, not to mention directly challenging a Divine Path Realm cultivator to a fight. 

In addition, if the other party discovered that he had a sword dao inheritance, then the top three clans of Nanzhou would no longer focus on the secret realm but on him.

The top three clans had laid claim to the secret realm, so the nearby cultivators dispersed and left the Nanshan Mountain Range. Staying here was akin to seeking their own deaths. 

If an ordinary clan had laid claim to the secret realm, everyone wouldn’t give up so easily, but the top three clans had laid claim to the secret realm. Apart from Guanxuan Academy, the top three clans had eyes and ears everywhere. 

They were also extremely influential. 

Ye Guan glanced at the secret realm. To be honest, he felt a bit indignant to just give up an opportunity. However, he was well aware of his capabilities.

He couldn’t go against the top three clans. Therefore, he could only give up. With that in mind, Ye Guan decisively turned around to leave.

It’s okay to be ambitious, but I must be strong enough to fulfill it.

Ye Guan suddenly felt something. He looked up and saw a grand carriage in front of him. The curtains were pulled open, and Nalan Jia stuck her head out from within the carriage. She smiled at Ye Guan and said, “Come in!”

Ye Guan was astonished. He stood rooted and speechless.

Nalan Jia giggled and said, “What are you doing? Don’t you want to take a look at the secret realm?”

At that, Ye Guan recovered from his reverie. 

He chuckled and exclaimed, “Yes, I do want to take a look!”

Ye Guan jumped into the carriage and saw the young woman wearing a sky-blue dress staring at him with great interest. 

Nalan Jia sat next to the young woman with a smile. She looked at Ye Guan and said to the young woman, “Let me introduce him to you; he’s my fiance, Ye Guan.”

The young woman stared deeply at Ye Guan. 

She nodded lightly and acknowledged. “He’s talented.”

Nalan Jia grinned and said to Ye Guan, “She’s Nan Qingyue, the oldest daughter of the Nan Family.”

Ye Guan bowed slightly. “Lady Nan, it’s an honor to meet you.”

Nan Qingyue laughed and said, “Have a seat.”

Ye Guan nodded and sat in front of the two ladies. He looked around and realized that the carriage’s space was massive. There was a screen behind the two ladies, and behind the screen was a circular tub.

Nan Qingyue suddenly asked, “Young Lord Ye, are you a Truth Realm cultivator?”

Ye Guan nodded and replied, “Yes!”

Nan Qingyue nodded slightly, but she didn’t say anything afterward.

A seventeen-year-old Truth Realm cultivator was unheard of in Ancient Desolate City, and he could be considered a talented individual throughout Nanzhou. 

However, there was nothing special about him in the eyes of the top three clans.

After all, the top three clans had made contact with countless geniuses from the world beyond Nanzhou throughout their many years of existence.

Nan Qingyue stared alternatingly between Nalan Jia and Ye Guan, but she didn’t say anything. 

The carriage came to a halt. 

“We’re here!” exclaimed Nan Qingyue before walking out of the carriage. 

Ye Guan and Nalan Jia walked out after her. 

Ye Guan looked around as he walked down the carriage, and he found that they were surrounded by more than a hundred powerful cultivators. The least powerful cultivators among the group of cultivators here were Truth Realm cultivators.

Ye Guan started to feel doubtful about what was going on. Just what was inside the secret realm that the top three clans would go this far?

He looked into the distance and saw a huge abyss. The mountains around the abyss were in disarray, and purple gas kept on flowing out of the abyss.

Ye Guan was stupefied upon seeing the purple gas. He couldn’t help but think that rather than purple spiritual crystals, the secret realm might contain a spiritual vein instead.

In Nanzhou, there were spiritual mines, spiritual veins, dragon veins, earth veins, sky veins, and celestial veins.

Spiritual mines could only produce a few ordinary spiritual crystals. 

Spiritual veins were great sources of spiritual energy, and they would transform the ground above it into a cultivation ground. In addition, a newly discovered spiritual vein meant that its spiritual crystals were untouched, so those who were capable enough of monopolizing it would profit significantly from it.

The purple gas from the abyss meant that there was at least one purple spiritual vein in it, and the thickness of the gas hinted that it was most likely a pure-grade purple crystal vein.

Ye Guan finally realized why the top three clans decided to establish an alliance and mobilize together to take over this secret realm.

Meanwhile, a young man approached the ladies. The young man was wearing a robe that looked as white as snow, and he was holding a fan. The young man was smiling as he walked over to the ladies.

Nan Qingyue smiled slightly upon seeing the young man. “Young Lord Zheng Lin!”

“Lady Nan, I didn’t expect you to be here so soon!” Zheng Lin remarked with a smile. He made a sidelong glance at Nalan Jia and asked, “Who is this lady?”

Nalan Jia grinned and replied, “My name is Nalan Jia.”

“Oh, Lady Nalan!” Zheng Lin was taken aback. “Lady Nalan? Are you perhaps the owner of the Holy Spirit Physique, which is one of the Three Great Divine Physiques?”

Nalan Jia chuckled, but she didn’t say anything in response.

“It’s my honor to meet you!” said Zheng Lin with a wide smile. He finally turned to look at Ye Guan and asked, “Who is he?”

Nalan Jia replied, “He’s my fiancé, Ye Guan!"

Fiancé?! Zheng Lin froze. He looked deeply at Ye Guan and muttered, “Ye Guan? Ye Clan? Are you perhaps from the Ye Clan of the North?”

Ye Guan shook his head and replied, “I’m from the Ye Clan of Ancient Desolate City!”

Ancient Desolate City? Zheng Lin blinked a few times. He then smiled without anything. As far as he could remember, Ancient Desolate City was just a tiny city.

Meanwhile, another young woman appeared. She was wearing a long, green robe, and her wavy hair fell past her shoulders. She was holding a jade green flute, and the light in her eyes couldn’t be more colder.

However, Nan Qingyue smiled upon seeing the young woman. 

“Lady Si Qing!” she exclaimed.

Si Qing calmly said, “It seems like everyone is already here. Let us set out then!”

Nan Qingyue nodded in agreement. “Let’s go!”

With that, they headed in the direction of the abyss. However, none of the powerful cultivators from the top three clans followed after them.

On the way, Nan Qingyue, Si Qing and Zheng Lin chatted and laughed with each other, causing Ye Guan and Nalan Jia to feel left out. 

However, Nan Qingyue soon pulled Nalan Jia into their conversation, leaving Ye Guan to stare at the scenery by himself.

Ye Guan didn’t really mind their attitude toward him. He was well aware that the people of this world would have their own social circle of various sizes, and he simply happened to be physically present in someone else’s social circle. 

He didn’t care if other people held no interest in him, and he felt no need to try hard and join a social circle that wouldn’t welcome him. In addition, his goal was to explore the secret realm.

All of a sudden, Little Pagoda’s voice rang in his head. “I can feel a familiar aura.”

Ye Guan’s brows furrowed. “A familiar aura? Master Pagoda, what do you mean?”

After a few moments of silence, Little Pagoda replied, “No, it’s nothing…”

Ye Guan shook his head and smiled to himself. 

Master Pagoda really knew how to appear enigmatic.

Ye Guan ended up lagging behind the others. 

Nan Qingyue noticed that, and she boisterously laughed. “Little Jia, I don’t think he’s good enough. I don’t think he’s the one.”

Nalan Jia stared deeply at Nan Qingyue. 

Nan Qingyue remained calm and explained, “The fact that he’s from Ancient Desolate City isn’t the issue here. The issue is that he’s ordinary at best when compared to the cultivators outside Nanzhou!

“Furthermore, his family background is too inferior and has doomed him to mediocrity for the rest of his life! Don’t get me wrong; I’m simply trying to say that the Ye Clan of Ancient Desolate City couldn’t possibly provide him with ample cultivation resources…

”One’s family background matters a lot in our generation. Without a great family to pave the way for you, you’ll eventually reach your limits, no matter how hard you try.” 

Nalan Jia was slightly taken aback as she asked, “Qingyue, do you really think that he’s inferior compared to me?”

Nan Qingyue looked back at Ye Guan, who was lagging behind. She chuckled and said, “I think he’s not that bright, emotionally, I mean. If I were him, I would have put down my pride and made friends with us instead of being arrogant…

”Come to think of it, people like him are dime a dozen. There are many people like him who are arrogant enough to think that they aren’t inferior to others. He has no idea that sucking up to us means that he’ll have a decent future at the very least.”

Nan Qingyue shook her head and continued. “I’m not saying this because I want him to suck up to me. I’m just trying to say that he had a great opportunity to climb up to the heavens, but he chose not to take it!”

Nalan Jia chuckled and said, “If he had tried to suck up to you the moment he met you, then I would have had to admit that I had judged him wrongly!”

Nan Qingyue frowned.

Nalan Jia turned around and jogged over to Ye Guan. She smiled and said, “Qingyue is a schoolmate. We’re acquaintances because she’s Tutor Yang’s student. I invited you here because you’re interested in the secret realm. I didn’t expect that you’ll be humiliated…”

There was no way she would miss how Ye Guan was intentionally shunned. She was also well aware of her social circle tendencies, but it couldn’t be helped—the young masters and ladies of great and rich clans were extremely pragmatic. 

“I—” Ye Guan started. 

However, Nan Qingyue’s shout interrupted him. “A spiritual vein!”

Ye Guan and Nalan Jia simultaneously looked at Nan Qingyue. 

Nan Qingyue was holding a compass, and the compass needle was rotating rapidly. 

Zheng Lin’s eyes next to her were burning with excitement. Si Qing looked shaken as well.

“Let’s go down and take a look!” Nan Qingyue exclaimed and immediately jumped into the abyss. Si Qing and Zheng Lin jumped after her. 

Nalan Jia looked at Ye Guan and asked, “Shall we go and take a look as well?”

Ye Guan nodded, and the two of them jumped into the abyss as well.

Ye Guan wasn’t sure how long they had been falling until their feet made contact with solid ground. 

Upon landing, Ye Guan saw a giant cave in the distance. There was a towering tree next to the cave, and the tree had numerous crimson fruits hanging from its branches.

Nan Qingyue’s eyes became filled with desire upon seeing the fruits. “Those are Fire Spiritual Fruits! Consume one of them, and you’ll obtain ten years' worth of Profound Energy!”

Needless to say, the Fire Spiritual Fruits were precious treasures, and one of them would be worth at least a hundred thousand ordinary-grade spiritual crystals! 

Zheng Lin was excited as he stood next to Nan Qingyue. 

Si Qing was calm; her expression was as placid as usual.

The three of them looked at each other. Nan Qingyue waved her sleeve, and a wave of energy burst out of her. The Fire Spiritual Fruits fell from the tree, and a gust of wind brought the fruits over to them. 

Nan Qingyue split the Fire Spiritual Fruits into three portions, and each of them got twelve fruits. 

Nan Qingyue walked over to Nalan Jia and opened her palm, offering two Fire Spiritual Fruits to her. She smiled and said, “Little Jia, take these. They’ll be helpful to you as well.”

“Thank you!” Nalan Jia replied with a grin. She didn’t stand on ceremony as she took the two fruits from Nan Qingyue.

Zheng Lin walked over to Nalan Jia as well. He offered two Fire Spiritual Fruits to her with a smile. “Lady Nalan! These are my tokens of sincerity, please accept them!”

However, Nalan Jia shook her head and politely refused. “No, thanks, but I appreciate the gesture!”

Zheng Lin stiffened and grimaced. “Lady Nalan, are you afraid that Young Lord Ye will misunderstand?” 

He looked at Ye Guan and continued. “I believe that Young Lord Ye’s mind isn’t so narrow for him to be offended by a polite gesture. Of course, pardon me for being straightforward, but I don’t really care about what Young Lord Ye thinks.”

With that, he smiled confidently and offered the fruits to Nalan Jia once more. This time, he offered her five Fire Spiritual Fruits rather than just two! 

Zheng Lin was confident. He truly believed that Nalan Jia wouldn’t be able to resist the temptation of five Spiritual Fruits. In his opinion, there was one surefire way to win over a woman’s heart—money!

And if that was not enough, then there was another way—more money!

Nan Qingyue made a sidelong glance at Ye Guan and smiled cheekily.

Nalan Jia’s brows furrowed. This was no longer a ploy targeting Ye Guan; they were trying to humiliate her as well. Before she could lash out; however, Ye Guan pulled on her arm with a smile and said, “Little Jia, someone is kind enough to offer you some good stuff, so you should accept the gesture. We don’t want the people here to think that I’m narrow-minded.” 

Nalan Jia glanced at Ye Guan and immediately understood what Ye Guan was trying to tell her with that smile of his. She accepted Zheng Lin’s offer and took the five Fire Spiritual fruits from him.

However, Ye Guan immediately took the Fire Spiritual Fruits from Nalan Jia’s palm and boldly took a bite out of one of the fruits. 

He looked at Zheng Lin and grinned. “This tastes really good!” 

Zheng Lin’s face turned ugly.

“Are you mad?” Ye Guan blinked and taunted him. ”Come on, don’t be mad! The angrier you are, the happier I will be…”

He took another bite, rendering everyone speechless.