CHAPTER 65: IMMORTAL SECRET REALM IV

Xiao Rou stared at him, still processing what she had just witnessed. "I know you’re good," she said slowly, "but you just killed an enemy two realms above your beast... with a single slash. That easily."

Her words weren’t an exaggeration—there had been no struggle, no drawn-out exchange. Just a flicker of movement and the battle was over.

Tian Lei only gave a faint shrug, as if the feat meant nothing. "I told you," he said, slipping the token into his pouch, "it was my target."

That casual tone sent a small chill down Xiao Rou’s spine. She realized then that he wasn’t just confident—he was certain. Whatever strength he was hiding, it went far beyond what she had assumed.

"Let’s just move," Tian Lei said, turning away from the beast’s fading motes. "We have to find another one."

Xiao Rou jogged to catch up. "Another Fifth Stage Spirit-Warrior Realm beast?" she asked, half incredulous.

He gave a faint smile. "If we’re lucky, maybe stronger."

She almost tripped over her own feet. Stronger? Most cultivators would be praying not to even see something like the Scorpius, yet here he was treating it like a warm-up round.

They moved quickly through the trial grounds, Tian Lei’s eyes scanning the terrain with calculated precision. The air here was heavy, each breath carrying the faint metallic tang of spirit beast essence. In the distance, a guttural roar rolled through the warped forest, shaking the brittle, twisted leaves overhead.

Tian Lei’s steps slowed. "Found one," he murmured.

Meeting his other teammates was just a secondary reason.

Deep down, Tian Lei still believed in relying on himself more than anyone else. The true reason he had come toward Xiao Rou’s area was simple—he was hunting. He had already exhausted the beasts in the region where he had first spawned within the Realm trial grounds, their tokens safely stored away in his ring.

Now, he needed more prey. Stronger prey.

His gaze swept over the warped terrain like a predator searching for the faintest sign of movement. Even as Xiao Rou thought he had come to check on her safety, his mind was already mapping possible hunting routes and danger zones.

Somewhere in the distance, another roar echoed—lower, heavier than the last. His eyes narrowed, a faint spark of anticipation glinting in them.

Without another word, Tian Lei adjusted the sword at his waist and began walking toward the source of the roar.

Xiao Rou quickened her pace to follow. "Wait—you’re going after that? You just fought a Fifth Stage Spirit-Warrior Realm beast, and now you want to—"

"Exactly," he cut in, tone calm but laced with intent. "That wasn’t enough."

They moved quickly, weaving between jagged rocks and warped tree roots that twisted like the claws of some buried giant. The air grew thicker, heavier with spirit pressure the closer they came.

Finally, the foliage broke, revealing a clearing drenched in sickly green light. At its center stood a hulking creature—scaled like black iron, with four burning eyes and twin horns that crackled faintly with spiritual energy. It was easily two realms above the Scorpius they had faced.

Xiao Rou’s breath caught. "That’s... a Seventh Stage Spirit-Warrior Realm beast..."

Tian Lei’s lips curved slightly. "Perfect."

The Seventh Stage Spirit-Warrior Realm beast snarled, its four burning eyes locking on them like a predator savoring its prey. The ground trembled beneath its bulk, the earth cracking under each step.

Tian Lei’s gaze swept the treeline. A faint shimmer in the shadows—subtle, but enough for him to catch it. More presences. Strong ones. They were being watched.

"There are others... hiding," he said quietly, his voice almost casual despite the tension in the air.

Xiao Rou’s eyes widened. "Other beasts?"

"Not just beasts." His lips curled into a faint smile. Good. That means this will be worth the effort.

He turned to her, his tone suddenly firm. "Stay here for now. Don’t move unless I tell you."

Before she could protest, Tian Lei bent his knees and leapt from the ridge, dropping into the clearing with a fluid motion. Dust and leaves swirled in his wake as his boots hit the cracked earth.

The beast reacted instantly, bellowing a roar that split the air, charging with surprising speed for something so massive. Tian Lei met it head-on, drawing his blade in a single motion—steel meeting scale in a ringing clash.

The impact rattled his arm. Hn... tougher than I thought. He slid back a step, the ground tearing under his boots. The beast lashed out with a claw, and he pivoted, narrowly avoiding the strike, the wind of its swipe slicing through a nearby boulder like paper.

From the corner of his eye, he caught faint movement—shadows shifting at the edge of the clearing. Whoever was watching... was waiting.

Tch. That means I can’t end this too fast.

The beast swung its tail in a blur, forcing Tian Lei to raise his sword to block. The impact threw him back several meters, his boots digging trenches in the soil. A thin line of blood trickled from his lip, and instead of frowning, he grinned.

"Alright then," he murmured, rolling his shoulder. "Let’s make this interesting."

The beast lunged again, its massive frame blotting out the treeline. Tian Lei met its charge with a sidestep, blade flashing to deflect the sweeping claws. Sparks burst from the impact, and the ground split where the beast’s strength landed.

He let his movements drag—just enough to make it look like he was pushing himself. A slip here, a stagger there. To the hidden eyes around them, it would seem the fight was neck-and-neck. In truth, his breathing hadn’t even quickened.

The beast roared, twisting its body to bring its tail around for another bone-crushing strike. Tian Lei caught it on the flat of his blade, the force shoving him back several paces. His boots gouged deep furrows into the dirt, but his grin never faltered.

"You’re really giving it your all, huh?" he murmured under his breath, eyes narrowing.

It reared back, maw opening wide as a searing red glow built in its throat—a breath attack. The hidden observers stirred, the faint ripples of their killing intent brushing against his senses.

Tian Lei exhaled slowly. "Enough."

In the instant before the beast could release its attack, he stepped forward. One step... and the world seemed to shiver. His blade traced a simple, almost lazy arc—yet the edge passed through scale, bone, and sinew as if they were air.

The beast’s roar cut short. Its massive head slid from its neck in eerie silence, body following a moment later as both dissolved into motes of light.

A single trial token clinked onto the ground. Tian Lei stooped, picking it up with the same calm air as if he’d merely plucked a pebble from the road.

Xiao Rou dropped down beside him, brushing the dust off her clothes. "So you finally put in some effort, huh?" she teased, though her lips curved with relief.

Tian Lei’s eyes narrowed slightly as he glanced at her. "Didn’t I tell you not to move from there?" He was about to press the point when a mocking voice cut through the air.

"Hahaha, boys, we’re in luck! Not only can we kill him, but we’ve also got a beauty to... enjoy before she dies."

Five young men emerged from the underbrush, their steps leisurely but their eyes gleaming with cruelty. Each wore the same style of sect robes—recognizable at a glance to anyone who knew the more notorious factions. The leader smirked, giving Xiao Rou a slow, appraising look.

"Shame to waste such a fine prize on the battlefield."

They were still smirking when Tian Lei’s aura shifted. The subtle killing intent that rolled off him was like ice laced with molten steel, threaded with a pressure that carried the unmistakable pride of a dragon.

Xiao Rou froze in place, unable to move despite the fact the killing intent wasn’t even directed at her. For the five men, however, it was like standing before an executioner with the blade already resting on their necks. Their bodies stiffened; one even broke into a cold sweat, his knees trembling.

The leader tried to bark a warning, forcing his voice steady. "Don’t! We’re from the—"

"I know exactly what sect you’re from," Tian Lei interrupted, his tone flat as tempered steel. "So here’s your choice—give me all your spirit rings, or die here."

There was no bluster, no theatrics—just certainty. And that certainty was more terrifying than any threat.

For a long moment, none of them moved. Then, as if the weight of the heavens pressed on their shoulders, they fumbled for their storage rings. No one spoke. No one dared.

One by one, they tossed their spatial rings onto the ground before him.

Tian Lei bent down, picked them up, and gave a single curt nod. "Scram."

They didn’t even exchange glances. The five turned and bolted through the forest, their robes flaring behind them as they vanished from sight.

Only then did Tian Lei slip the rings into his own sleeve, his expression unreadable.