Before leaving, Lin Ye extracted the Mad Crocodile's beast core as well.
A high-tier Second-Rank core.
In the early stages, it could be used to refine Second-Grade pills.
Not long after Lin Ye left…
another group arrived to investigate the area.
They moved cautiously, scanning the surroundings.
"I heard that Mad Crocodile once swallowed a Spirit-Gathering Ring years ago," one of them said quietly. "If we kill it, we get the ring. But I wonder if someone already got there first…"
"The Mad Crocodile is Second-Rank peak," another replied. "No one in this batch of disciples has reached Earth Transformation Realm, but there's always the chance other sects are cooperating—top elites working together."
They continued forward, talking as they walked.
Their robes were unfamiliar, but their gear was distinctive.
These were disciples of Heaven Axe Gate, one of the major sects within the Wind-Thunder River domain.
Each of them carried three axes:
A heavy axe resting on the shoulder.
Two lighter hatchets crossed on their backs.
They wore vine-woven armor, giving them the look of hardened soldiers rather than elegant cultivators.
It wasn't flashy…
but it was extremely effective for survival.
"I heard Earthfire Sect's top two core disciples—Wang Tie and Chen Jun—joined forces. Together they can even fight an Earth Transformation Realm expert."
"Wang Tie's heavy shield and Chen Jun's fast saber… both are monsters. Together they're even worse."
"Wind-Thunder Mystic Sect's Xu Ming isn't weak either. That guy's sword is fast, and he's vicious… but against our heavy axes, they wouldn't dare get close."
There were five of them.
All Heaven Axe Gate core disciples.
All Qi Sea Realm.
If they fought together, they could sweep through most of Dragon Void Cave.
Even if Wang Tie and Chen Jun saw them, they'd give them space.
Suddenly, one of them stopped.
"Senior Brother… there's blood energy ahead."
The five immediately formed a battle formation.
Weapons ready.
As they approached, their expressions changed.
"Wait… this is…"
Two corpses lay on the ground.
Beside one was a massive heavy shield.
The other still gripped a curved saber in his hand.
The robes…
were Earthfire Sect.
A sharp inhale ran through the group.
"Holy—!"
"That's Wang Tie and Chen Jun!"
"Earthfire Sect's rank one and rank two core disciples!"
The five checked the wounds.
Their scalps went numb.
Both were killed with a single blow.
No extra cuts.
No struggle.
Just instant death.
The attacker's cultivation…
had to be terrifying.
"Is there an Earth Transformation Realm expert in here?!"
But that was impossible.
Dragon Void Cave's seal kept Earth Transformation Realm cultivators out.
No matter how you disguised yourself, you couldn't enter.
Unless…
someone broke through on-site.
But among core disciples, those capable of touching that realm were rare.
Extremely rare.
One disciple ran forward to scout the pool.
His voice trembled as he shouted back.
"S-Senior Brother… the Mad Crocodile…"
"What? Did it attack you?" the leader snapped.
"N-no…"
"It… it was cut into pieces…"
The entire group rushed forward.
When they saw the shredded remains of the beast…
their faces went pale.
"Who…"
"Who could do this…?"
Earthfire Sect's two strongest core disciples.
And the Mad Crocodile.
All dead.
All killed cleanly.
One strike each.
The Heaven Axe Gate leader's voice turned grim.
"If we encounter this person…"
"Do not provoke them."
He didn't doubt it for a second—
even all five of them together wouldn't be a match.
This was beyond terrifying.
Back at the cave—
Liu Qingyu's aura surged wildly.
The pill Lin Ye gave her…
was stronger than she could've imagined.
It was better than eating ten Wind Spirit Fruits.
She had broken through to Spirit Spring Realm Ninth Layer peak.
Just one step away from stepping into Qi Sea Realm.
One step away from becoming a core disciple.
If she reached Qi Sea Realm, everything in her life would change:
Her monthly resources.
Her status in the sect.
The permissions she could access.
All of it.
With her talent, reaching this level would've taken at least a year.
Yet Lin Ye's pill had pushed her here in one night.
Liu Qingyu opened her eyes, heart pounding.
"Senior Brother Lin Ye…"
"He's… not human."
Even Jade Blossom Pills couldn't produce a breakthrough this insane.
Then she looked around.
"Wait… where is he?"
Lin Ye wasn't in the cave.
She frowned in confusion.
At that moment, Lin Ye returned from the distance.
"Senior Brother Lin Ye! Where did you go?" Liu Qingyu hurried forward.
"None of your business," Lin Ye replied calmly.
She wanted to tell him she broke through.
She wanted to share the good news.
But his response was cold enough to freeze her words in her throat.
Then Lin Ye asked:
"Where's the exit?"
His memory was still blurry—he couldn't remember the exact path.
And since he had a ready-made guide—
he might as well use her.
If he hadn't needed someone to lead the way…
he wouldn't have kept a burden around in the first place.
"This way, Senior Brother Lin Ye."
Liu Qingyu nodded quickly.
She had already learned that Lin Ye was simply… like this.
Cold.
Distant.
Almost like a hermit who didn't belong among mortals.
(Though yesterday, she'd been convinced he was a lunatic who ruined treasures on purpose.)
On the way, Lin Ye had taken a quick look around Dragon Void Cave.
There wasn't much left worth hunting.
Maybe there were treasures deeper inside…
but they didn't have time to search everything.
After leaving, he could refine pills faster, gain resources, and restore his cultivation.
Still—
he was very curious about the inheritance relic Elder Lin left behind.
So many people wanted Lin Ye dead…
which meant that relic was extremely valuable.
Liu Qingyu led the way.
With her cultivation improved, her steps became lighter, her movements smoother.
If she encountered those three Earthfire Sect scum again…
she was confident she could kill them herself now.
As they passed a cavern opening, Liu Qingyu suddenly shivered.
"S-so cold…"
"Stop," Lin Ye snapped.
She froze instantly.
Ahead, a thick scent of blood drifted through the trees.
And beneath it…
a powerful aura.
Hidden.
Waiting.
Lin Ye's eyes narrowed.
Not far away stood a stone grave marker.
No words were carved into it.
Only a single bloody handprint.
And behind the marker, the grave itself had been dug open.
Whatever was buried inside…
had escaped.
"So much Blood-Asura aura…"
Lin Ye's heart raced.
His Blood Sea stirred in response, rippling like something awakening.
"There's a blood-asura treasure on it."
WHOOSH!
A shadow burst out of the forest—fast, savage, in a pure killing pounce.
Lin Ye kicked Liu Qingyu backward without hesitation.
She yelped and fell face-first into the underbrush.
CLANG!
Lin Ye raised his cold-iron sword.
A pair of claws slammed into it, sparks exploding from the impact.
The creature twisted midair and stomped down violently with both feet—
but Lin Ye had already stepped forward, slipping into its blind spot.
His left palm swung out.
"Luo Sheng Palm!"
A strange seal-like aura condensed in his palm.
His strike landed against the creature's legs—
before it could fully release its force.
BOOM!
The beast was blasted backward.
Lin Ye's arm trembled from the recoil.
He frowned.
"…Earth Transformation Realm?"
The creature landed and wrapped itself around a tree trunk like a serpent.
It wasn't injured.
Its crimson eyes locked onto Lin Ye, fangs bared, killing intent thick enough to suffocate.
Only then did Lin Ye see—
around its neck hung a necklace made of bone and red gemstones.
And that was what had stirred his Blood Sea.
Behind him, Liu Qingyu lifted her head, face drained of color.
She stared at the creature's twisted, feral face—
and horror seized her entire body.
"N-no…"
"It's the Blood Monkey…"
Her voice was shaking.
The Blood Monkey.
The most terrifying "forbidden zone killer" inside Dragon Void Cave.
A Third-Rank Earth Transformation Realm beast.
Anyone who met it…
died.
Over the years, only one senior disciple ever escaped—
and he came back broken.
Mad.
His cultivation ruined.
A living corpse.
Liu Qingyu could barely breathe.
The pressure of death crushed down on her.
Her face went paper-white.
And then—
Lin Ye stepped forward.
One step.
Then another.
His body shot out like an arrow—
charging straight at the Blood Monkey.