Chapter 408

Chapter 408: Traveling Together

"Hand over half of the items in your storage bags, and I will let you pass to the middle layer of the secret realm. Otherwise, you can go back from where you came!"

The Heaven Demon Sect cultivator spoke, his gaze cold as he looked at the crowd ahead.

If it weren’t for the large number of cultivators gathered, he would have considered calling a few fellow disciples to handle the others here directly.

Upon hearing the Heaven Demon Sect cultivator’s words, Ji Yang couldn’t help but click his tongue.

To demand half of their storage bags’ contents was no wonder these cultivators reacted so strongly.

What they had painstakingly acquired in the lower layer of the secret realm, asking them to give up half was undoubtedly more painful than killing them.

However, to reach the middle layer of the secret realm, they had to pass through this entrance, unless they wished to stay in the lower layer.

But opportunities in the lower layer of the secret realm were few, as most of the cultivators who had entered before had already explored these areas.

The remaining unexplored areas were extremely dangerous, making them hard to approach.

Listening to the Heaven Demon Sect cultivator’s domineering and uncompromising words, the cultivators present displayed displeasure, yet felt too weak to resist.

"Hmph! If we don’t go, then we don’t go!"

One person in the crowd voiced their dissatisfaction before turning to leave.

The Mid Void Refinement stage cultivator from the Heaven Demon Sect didn’t say much in response, treating the departure with indifference.

But after this person left, a Void Refinement stage cultivator from the Heaven Demon Sect secretly concealed himself and followed after.

Ji Yang shook his head slightly as he noticed all of this.

The cultivator who just left was merely a Spirit Transformation Stage cultivator; under the gaze of the Heaven Demon Sect, he likely wouldn’t escape a tragic fate.

This person’s departure indicated he had something precious on him that he didn’t want to part with.

The Heaven Demon Sect’s presence here seemed to demand benefits, but in reality, they were also silently picking their targets.

Their intention was clear: they didn’t want to let anyone go.

Ji Yang sighed to himself.

Seeing one person leave, the other cultivators also fell into contemplation.

Soon, several more made their decisions, turning to leave, opting not to go to the middle layer of the secret realm.

These disciples were also targeted by the Heaven Demon Sect, who secretly sent a few individuals to follow them.

As for the remaining cultivators, they were still pondering their choices.

After a moment of hesitation, a disciple from the He Huan Sect chose to open his storage bag, revealing the spiritual plants, spiritual beast materials, and personal treasures he had gathered during this journey in the secret realm.

With a reluctant expression, a disciple from the Heaven Demon Sect quickly took half of the valuable items. After raiding the storage bag, the Heaven Demon Sect disciple then pulled out a magical artifact to check whether the He Huan Sect disciple had any other spatial items.

Confirming there were none left, the Heaven Demon Sect disciple waved his hand and said, "You can go now."

Watching the loss of half of the hard-earned items, the He Huan Sect disciple felt heartbroken.

Yet, seeing the cultivators ahead opening the Formation, he walked decisively toward the exit, instantly disappearing from sight.

Faced with different choices from both sides, some cultivators frowned but soon made their decisions; many opted to sacrifice half of their storage bag’s contents to venture to the middle layer of the secret realm in search of new opportunities.

Another group of cultivators, after careful consideration, chose to stay in the lower layer of the secret realm.

These cultivators were not very strong and did not want to give up the hard-earned items they had collected.

Rather than going to the middle layer of the secret realm in search of unknown opportunities, they preferred to spend their time in the lower layer.

The Heaven Demon Sect cultivators did not interfere much with the choices of those present, and they did not send anyone to pursue the cultivators who left later.

Ji Yang, noticing this, pondered for a moment and then shook his head.

They were indeed selecting carefully.

Those who left immediately without hesitation certainly had some valuable items on them.

In contrast, those who left after some thought were much less likely to possess anything precious; otherwise, they wouldn’t have hesitated.

It was clear that the Heaven Demon Sect was not prepared to trouble the second group of cultivators.

While it appeared they were stepping back safely, they had actually become targets for others.

The Cultivation World was truly dangerous.

Before long, the departing cultivators almost all left.

As for Ji Yang, he naturally remained with the group that stayed behind.

Although many Heaven Demon Sect cultivators had left, three Void Refinement stage cultivators still remained in this place: two were at the Mid Void Refinement stage, and one was at the Early Void Refinement stage.

Not to mention, they had even set up Formations to prevent cultivators from forcing their way into the entrance to the middle layer of the secret realm.

It was indeed quite secure.

Since his identity had not been discovered, Ji Yang had no intention to force his way in.

With the time he could spend fighting these people, he would rather take the opportunity to go mining and search for spiritual plants.

To prepare for the Heaven Demon Sect disciples checking his storage bag, Ji Yang had intentionally placed a few spiritual plants and some secret silver ore inside his storage bag.

Although it wasn’t much, it was certainly suitable for his identity as a Golden Core stage cultivator.

Most cultivators chose to head to the middle layer of the secret realm in search of opportunities, and they even needed to line up.

Ji Yang stood in the middle of the crowd.

While waiting, a sudden voice came from behind him:

“Fellow Daoist, are you also going to the middle layer of the secret realm?”

Ji Yang turned back in surprise; the speaker was a young man behind him, at the Middle Stage of Yuan Ying.

Ji Yang turned around, and the young man smiled and clasped his fists:

“I am Fan Chang from Wind Thunder Pavilion!”

Hearing the young man introduce himself, Ji Yang smiled and nodded.

Wind Thunder Pavilion was a large sect, but not very well-known in the Cultivation World.

Seeing Ji Yang nod and remain in line, the young man spoke again:

“Fellow Daoist, at your current level, it might be better not to go to the middle layer. While the spiritual energy from the heavens and earth is denser there, it is also much more dangerous. Even many Void Refinement stage cultivators have lost their lives in the middle layer.”

Listening to the young man’s kind warning, Ji Yang replied with a smile:

“It’s alright; I will only stay in one place to cultivate.”

“Fellow Daoist, you don’t understand; the danger level in the middle layer is extremely high. Even if you remain in one spot, you are still very likely to encounter danger.”

“Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist.”

Seeing that his advice had no effect, the young man shook his head regretfully, looking at Ji Yang as if he were looking at a corpse.

After some contemplation, the young man spoke again:

“The middle layer of the secret realm is dangerous. How about we team up together? It would be good to look out for one another.”

Ji Yang glanced at the young man in surprise; when a stranger offers to team up, the underlying implication is undoubtedly:

“Fellow Daoist, I see you have some nice items; why not share a little with me?”

However, after looking into the young man’s eyes, which were filled with kindness and sincerity, Ji Yang felt that he probably genuinely wanted to partner with him.

Ji Yang couldn’t help but sigh in his heart at the existence of such cultivators in the Cultivation World, but still shook his head to decline:

“Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist, but I prefer to act alone.”

“Alright then.”

The rejected young man stopped persuading him but continued to share stories about his gains in the secret realm, drawing curious glances from many cultivators.