The first to discover Yao Kaidong's disappearance were the disciples of Immortal Sword Peak.
After listening to Ling Wushuang, Cang Xing, and Su Lin finish explaining what exactly happened on the second level, everyone planned to discuss their next course of action together.
Lin Shimeng naturally needed to gather the other two captains of Tianyuan Sect. When they went to look for Yao Kaidong, they discovered Yao Kaidong was already gone.
"Where is Yao Kaidong?"
Lin Shimeng asked the disciples of Immortal Sword Peak.
"Senior Sister Lin, you can tell me anything as well."
Liu Xueyue, the Holy Maiden of Immortal Sword Peak, responded. She knew Yao Kaidong had left, but she didn't ask and didn't want to get involved.
"Could it be that he went to chase Qin Xiao?"
Lin Shimeng realized this at this moment and questioned Liu Xueyue.
"Senior Sister Lin, I don't know what you're talking about. Senior Brother said he had some insights and went to a quiet place to stabilize his cultivation."
Liu Xueyue naturally wouldn't admit it and just made up an excuse.
"Junior Sister Lin, what's wrong?"
At this moment, Ling Wushuang walked over. Seeing Lin Shimeng somewhat angry, he asked.
Although they belonged to different factions, they were still of the same generation. To get along better, they all addressed each other as senior brother and junior sister.
"It's nothing. Let's discuss what to do with the remaining time."
Lin Shimeng didn't technique it out clearly. First, there was no evidence, and second, she didn't want outsiders to know about the sect's internal conflicts.
Meanwhile, on Tianyuan Sect's Immortal Sword Peak, Yao Tiansheng looked incredulously at the already broken Soul Tablet before him.
"This can't be. My son is at the peak of the Golden Core stage and has a Low Grade Dharma Treasure for protection. How could he perish? This can't be."
Yao Tiansheng couldn't believe his precious son had died and immediately roared in anger.
"Great Elder, something bad happened! Senior Brother Li's Soul Tablet in the Disciple Hall has shattered."
At this moment, an Inner Disciple guarding the disciple Soul Tablets hurriedly came to report.
"Who is it? Whoever dares to kill my son, my Immortal Sword Peak will search to the ends of the earth to find you."
Yao Tiansheng now accepted the news of his son's death. After all, even Li Cheng's Soul Tablet had shattered, indicating they had encountered a powerful enemy.
"Investigate immediately the cultivation levels of everyone who entered the secret realm this time."
Although Yao Tiansheng was already furious beyond measure, he still had to investigate first. Moreover, he needed to find the Grand Elder. If the opposing force was too powerful, only the Grand Elder could intervene.
"Disciple obeys."
The reporting disciple quickly replied and then retreated.
Yao Tiansheng didn't linger either and went to find the Grand Elder.
At the same time, the Immortal Dao Merchant Association, Pure Yang Sect, and Mysterious Yin Sect also experienced great shock. Nearly a hundred disciples' Soul Tablets had shattered.
As for why the Mysterious Yin Sect also suffered such heavy losses, that could be credited to it having taken many small forces as subordinates. Those subordinates' entry spots were mostly taken by it, never expecting this would instead cause similarly huge losses this time.
Meanwhile, the first level of the secret realm had discussed and come up with a plan: gather all disciples' Spirit Stones and set up a massive Spiritual Qi Array. This way, everyone could also cultivate and wouldn't waste the remaining time.
Although Ling Wushuang proposed this, he also knew that sharing the Spirit Stone consumption equally would naturally be opposed by some, since cultivation differences were obvious. So he stipulated: for the four stages of Foundation Establishment, it would be one hundred Spirit Stones, three hundred Spirit Stones, five hundred Spirit Stones, and one thousand Spirit Stones respectively.
For the four stages of the Golden Core, it would be ten thousand Spirit Stones, thirty thousand Spirit Stones, fifty thousand Spirit Stones, and one hundred thousand Spirit Stones respectively.
For the Nascent Soul stage, there were only the four of them. Lin Shimeng at the early Nascent Soul stage would contribute one million Spirit Stones. Cang Xing and Su Lin would each contribute three million Spirit Stones. Ling Wushuang would be responsible for all the rest.
Although they had all reached the Nascent Soul stage, they wouldn't carry so many Spirit Stones on them. They could only collect all available Spirit Stones first and distribute them proportionally. Those who contributed extra Spirit Stones would receive compensation after leaving, and those who contributed insufficiently would have to make up the difference after leaving.
Only then did they barely reach a consensus. After all, some people indeed had many Spirit Stones but were unwilling to contribute them, while those with higher cultivation might not necessarily have that many Spirit Stones on them.
Fortunately, with Ling Wushuang as guarantor, everyone agreed. After all, the Immortal Dao Merchant Association's only thing not lacking was Spirit Stones, and it wouldn't covet their little bit. If anyone else had proposed this, it probably wouldn't have succeeded.
Setting up the array was simple. With so many people, there were always those skilled in formations, and it wasn't a particularly complex formation, so it was completed quickly.
Afterwards, everyone busied themselves within the array. Some cultivated, some exchanged ideas. With so many people gathered together, pooling their wisdom, many benefited greatly.
Days passed. Qin Xiao and his companion, and Yao Kaidong and his companion, did not return. Lin Shimeng's mind couldn't calm down. No matter which of these four perished, it would be a loss for the sect.
Her only thought now was that Qin Xiao had hidden, while Yao Kaidong and Li Cheng kept searching but couldn't find him, which was why these people hadn't returned.
During this time, Ling Wushuang didn't cultivate either but regulated the injuries he sustained earlier. The reason he proposed this Spiritual Qi Array wasn't that he wanted to take much advantage, but to leave a good reputation for the Immortal Dao Merchant Association. Suppressing Others with Power and Winning People Over with Virtue naturally yielded different results.
Lin Shimeng and the other two had the same idea. After all, as leading forces of Qingzhou, they needed to display the demeanor of major sects at this time.
Cang Xing's severed arm was slowly recovering. Who knows what miraculous Spirit Pill this kid used that could actually restore an arm? However, although the arm's shape had been restored, the Meridians within were still blocked. To fully recover would still require much time.
Su Lin wore a worried expression. He didn't know how to explain to the sect after leaving. Of the hundred disciples, except for him, the entire army was annihilated.
"Time is about up. Disciple, stop cultivating."
Qin Xiao calculated that a month was almost over and told Yun Man to stop cultivating.
"Master, this disciple didn't break through to the middle Nascent Soul stage."
Yun Man said with a face full of shame.
"Not bad. The Nascent Soul stage is definitely different from before. If you improved that fast too, that would be incredible. Would others even have a chance to live?"
Qin Xiao patted Yun Man's head to comfort her.
Although he didn't know how much Yun Man had improved, Qin Xiao's own gains were not small. Since he couldn't absorb external Spiritual Qi, being in this secret realm was no different from being outside. He had completely stabilized at the Body Refinement Third Layer and had considerable growth.
"Disciple, your master has improved somewhat again, and it's time for tempering again. While there's still a bit of time, help your master refine his body."
Qin Xiao only felt his body was full of incompletely absorbed Spirit Liquid and needed to be tempered.
"Master improved again? Then how much strength should I use this time?"
Hearing Qin Xiao wanted to refine his body, Yun Man's worried frown immediately disappeared, and she excitedly raised her fist.
"Um, first don't use Spiritual Qi. Try with full strength. Your master will assess the feeling, then adjust the intensity."
Qin Xiao didn't know how much force he could withstand now, but since he could withstand so much at the Body Refinement Second Layer before, now at the Body Refinement Third Layer, he should be able to try full strength.
"Disciple understands."
After saying this, Yun Man quickly stepped to Qin Xiao's side and, with lightning speed, gave Qin Xiao a full-strength punch.
"Bang!"
A sound of hard object impact came. Qin Xiao only retreated a few steps but didn't fall.
"A bit painful."
Qin Xiao rubbed his stomach, still able to feel this punch indeed held nothing back.
"Master, how much exactly did you improve?"
Yun Man also felt something different. Her fist still felt somewhat numb, as if she had punched Mysterious Iron.
"This intensity is good, but if you add another twenty percent Spiritual Qi, that should be about right. Your master can still endure."
Qin Xiao estimated and told Yun Man to add a bit more force. This twenty percent Spiritual Qi was the maximum force he calculated he could withstand at his limit. Because Qin Xiao knew that body refinement played with limits; otherwise, he wouldn't have been beaten paralyzed before coming to the secret realm.
Then came a round of furious beating. Who knows how long it lasted until the secret realm began to shake. Time was up. Only then did Yun Man stop. Qin Xiao was still beaten paralyzed, unable to move at all.
Afterwards, everyone was transmitted out.