"Everyone, join forces and kill it! None of us can take that beast on alone!"

In a dense forest, a massive tiger-shaped demonic beast was hunting down the many people who had entered the secret realm.

It was called a tiger-shaped demonic beast because it was extraordinarily large, with a body six to seven meters long and four to five meters tall, exuding a thick demonic aura. It had a bizarre horn on its head, making it truly terrifying.

Encountering it at the Foundation Establishment stage would lead to severe injury, and even those at the Golden Core Realm couldn't withstand it for long before having to retreat.

The tiger-shaped demonic beast was furious. It had no idea why it suddenly ended up in this unfamiliar place, so different from its previous surroundings.

The strange environment, combined with the presence of numerous cultivators, made it feel threatened, unleashing its ferocity and attacking anyone it saw.

What infuriated it even more was that just as it was about to kill those cultivators, they would suddenly vanish before its eyes.

This inexplicable phenomenon made it even more fearful and enraged.

Helpless, the cultivators banded together to resist the beast.

In the end, the beast grew more ferocious, and they couldn't hold it back, forcing them to scatter and flee.

Finding no one around, the beast could only roar skyward.

Such scenes were happening all over the secret realm.

Those at the Golden Core Realm were somewhat capable of defending themselves. For those at the Foundation Establishment stage, it was a disaster.

Of course, anyone who hadn't signed a life-and-death agreement would be inexplicably pulled out of the secret realm and appear at the Azurecloud Sect's gate when facing certain death.

This safety measure greatly reassured all the sects participating in the secret realm.

Some smaller sects were especially grateful to the Azurecloud Sect.

Zhang Yang was waiting by the lake, hoping to catch the fish demon within. Instead of any movement in the lake, a few people showed up.

"Found him!"

With a loud shout, three or four Golden Core cultivators suddenly attacked, all wielding treasure-grade magical treasures, along with spell techniques, enveloping Zhang Yang.

It can be hard to make great work when its stolen from bit.ly/3iBfjkV.

The sudden move left Zhang Yang momentarily stunned.

He hadn't found any heavenly materials or earthly treasures, yet someone was attacking him?

It seemed his spirit-grade tool had aroused quite a bit of greed!

He didn't even need to act, as a silver, shimmering armor emitted a dazzling light, blocking the treasure-grade tools and the spell techniques from the four Golden Core cultivators.

"Damn! A spirit-grade defensive armor!"

One of the Golden Core cultivators couldn't help but curse.

A spirit-grade defensive armor, even without Zhang Yang's intervention, was beyond what the four Golden Core cultivators could handle.

Even a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator would struggle to deal with it quickly.

"Retreat!"

Seeing the unfavorable situation, the four Golden Core cultivators turned and fled.

Seeing them trying to escape, Zhang Yang tossed out the Immortal-binding Rope: "I remember you four aren't under Azurecloud Sect's life-and-death protection, so since you've attacked me, don't think about running!"

"Another spirit-grade tool!"

The Golden Core cultivators exclaimed in shock, both excited and fearful.

Excited because if they could take down Zhang Yang, they could divide at least four spirit-grade tools.

Fearful because the spirit-grade tool was now hunting them.

With Zhang Yang's full effort, the Immortal-binding Rope suddenly extended, transforming into a large loop that ensnared the four Golden Core cultivators.

"Fly up!"

One of them shouted to fly upwards, but he himself ran downwards, hoping to escape while the rope captured the others.

Although the other three saw this, two still flew upwards, while another followed him to the ground.

No matter what, they needed at least one person to escape.

As long as they could report back to others, letting them know Zhang Yang had four spirit-grade tools, many Golden Core cultivators would surely join forces against him.

However, just as two flew upwards, the Celestial Net descended from the sky; on the ground, the loop of the Immortal-binding Rope tightened.

The four Golden Core cultivators turned pale, knowing that escape was impossible under the encirclement of two spirit-grade tools.

They could only hope Zhang Yang's spiritual power would soon be exhausted.

A Golden Core cultivator controlling one spirit-grade tool was already excessive; controlling two was unsustainable.

The Celestial Net automatically contracted, bundling two Golden Core cultivators along with their treasure-grade tools, who continued to resist and struggle.

Similarly, the two caught by the Immortal-binding Rope also struggled fiercely.

"Stop struggling, it's useless!"

Zhang Yang walked over, a sword appearing in his hand, swiftly breaking through the defenses of the two Golden Core cultivators caught by the rope, binding them tightly.

He used the same method to capture the two within the Celestial Net.

The four Golden Core cultivators were already terrified out of their wits.

Damn, another spirit-grade tool!

Zhang Yang put away the spirit-grade sword, sensing the state of his Golden Core, which still shone brightly, indicating his spiritual qi hadn't run dry.

He was quite satisfied, a testament to his years of Qi Refining and the hundreds of thousands of spirit stones he'd recently consumed.

Then, he sealed the four's dantians, retrieving the Celestial Net and Immortal-binding Rope.

"Names... actually, your names aren't that important. Just tell me which sect you're from." Zhang Yang looked at the four.

"What do you want?" one of the Golden Core cultivators asked nervously.

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow: "What do I want? Weren't you the ones who ambushed me?"

As he spoke, he deftly removed the spatial rings from their hands.

The four's expressions changed, hastily saying, "We only targeted you because of your spirit-grade tools. We realize our mistake now, please let us go."

"Mistake?" Zhang Yang chuckled lightly.

Caught by him and now admitting their mistake, expecting to be let go so easily?

That would be too lenient, wouldn't it?

Looking at the four, Zhang Yang gave a peculiar smile: "I'll let you go, but you have to stay by the lake for thirty days without moving. Then I'll release you."

The four were stunned, surprised at how agreeable he seemed.

They quickly nodded, willing to cooperate, hoping others would find them and unseal their dantians to rescue them.

Zhang Yang moved the four to the lakeside, with the Celestial Net quietly encircling them.

Then, he hid behind, observing.

The four captured Golden Core cultivators thought Zhang Yang had truly let them off, secretly rejoicing while mocking Zhang Yang for being foolish.

Seeing no sign of Zhang Yang, they assumed he had left, and began whispering among themselves: "We were too rash, we should have waited for others to join us. Five spirit-grade tools, this guy is truly enviable."

"When our people arrive, he's dead for sure. We won't give Azurecloud Sect any chance this time."

They openly discussed, especially emboldened by Zhang Yang's absence, becoming more brazen.

Suddenly, the lake's surface flashed red, and a crimson shadow rushed towards them.

The four, immobilized by Zhang Yang, could only scream in terror, watching helplessly as the red shadow approached.

Just as the red shadow was about to reach one of the Golden Core cultivators and swallow him, a silver giant net sprang from the ground, swiftly enveloping the red shadow.

"Heh, I've been waiting for you for so long, finally couldn't resist, huh? If you'd waited a bit longer, my spiritual power would have been exhausted, and I'd have had to retreat! Now, I've got you!" Zhang Yang leisurely emerged, looking at the creature struggling within the Celestial Net, exclaiming, "A koi?"