484 - Rebirth of a Star: Another Day, Another Drama

Chapter 484: Preparing to Leave the Secret Realm A grand hunt for the Fu family disciples quickly commenced within the secret realm. The allure of obtaining a heavenly-grade elixir for each head was too lucrative to pass up. Although the Fu family was formidable, not everyone feared them, particularly the lone wanderers who didn’t care if the Fu family bore grudges against them. These solitary cultivators simply went into seclusion somewhere if needed. As a result, the Fu family members in the realm found themselves surrounded by many with predatory intentions. Before they could even grasp the situation, they were swiftly decapitated, leading to a new wave of competition. Initially, only peripheral members of the Fu family were killed. These individuals, possessing noteworthy talents, had been cultivated for their potential, but compared to the direct lineage, their status was much lower. Hence, their heads were only exchanged for basic heavenly-grade elixirs. Ye Linglong was aware that it was natural to target the weaker first. She didn’t expect the direct lineage to fall immediately. However, there would ultimately come a day when all the peripheral ones would be gone, and she’d claim all their heads. As more Fu family members perished, the remaining ones panicked. Despite having valuable items and lifesaving measures, they were outnumbered, and no tactic was beyond use against them: poisoning, assassination, seduction... It was relentless. The remaining direct descendants of the Fu family hurried to the exit of the secret realm, intending to leave. Although the realm was full of treasures, none were as precious as their lives. Yet, those waiting to exchange heads for elixirs were unwilling to let them depart. If the Fu family left, how would they get their elixirs? Before the Fu family disciples could approach the exit, they were blocked, leading to a grand battle. Although the direct descendants were formidable, they were outnumbered and soon defeated, most losing their heads on the spot. Only a few managed to escape, though not outside the realm—pursuit had already begun. Their deaths were inevitable, and their heads would eventually grace Ye Linglong’s wooden hut. Soon, the heads of the deceased direct descendants were delivered to Ye Linglong, for which she exchanged her elixirs. She immediately began refining more batches of pills. During this period, the sky above her wooden hut was almost constantly showing signs of pill tribulation as she refined one batch after another. With Ye Linglong’s current alchemy skills, she could produce five pills per batch, outpacing the death rate of the Fu family. Her consistent success also proved her worth as a heavenly-grade alchemist to the surrounding cultivators. The idea of befriending such an alchemist spurred them to hunt Fu family members even faster. Outside the Secret Realm Fu Changming was rejected by the consciousness of the secret realm and expelled, causing him to spurt a mouthful of blood. It worsened his existing injuries, but he managed a smile. He had seen the life-and-death grass destroyed just before he was ousted. Now, Baili Ming and Ye Linglong must be in despair, he thought. “Patriarch! Are you alright?” The Fu family outside hurried over when they saw Fu Changming bleeding, expressing their concern. He waved them off, indicating he was fine, and instructed them to guard the area. He then sought out a newly erected hut to heal, waiting for the secret realm to close. The moment Baili Ming and his daughter exited, they would face their doom, or so he thought. With this in mind, he sat cross-legged to heal. However, before two days passed, Fu Changming awoke from his healing trance, eyes blood-red and face twisted with rage. “Dead! They're all dead! My family's direct descendants in the secret realm are all dead. Who did this? Who!" His furious roar echoed throughout the surroundings. As the direct descendants were from his lineage, Fu Changming had left soul marks on them as insurance for revenge should anything happen. But now, even those marks had vanished, indicating their deaths—every one of them! He sought to identify the culprits through the last images of the soul marks, suspecting Ye Linglong and Baili Ming, but was confused by the chaos in the images. The culprits were different people, some unrecognizable to him. Since when did the Fu family have so many enemies? “Someone come!” Fu Changming called out. A Fu family member promptly entered. “What happened in there? Why are all my family’s direct descendants dead?” Fu Changming's voice emerged like a growl, weighed down with darkness. The subordinate trembled slightly, fear evident in his eyes, but quickly recounted the report from inside. “You’re saying Baili family’s father and daughter exchanged heavenly-grade elixirs for the heads of my Fu family!?” “Unbelievable! Baili Ming! Ye Linglong, the day you leave the secret realm will be your last!” Fu Changming’s rage was unknown to Ye Linglong, who was faring quite well. Without her lift a finger, most Fu family members in the realm had been killed off. After trading all the heads, she acquired rare alchemical herbs with the remaining elixirs. Everyone in the secret realm was essentially working for Ye Linglong, their arduously acquired treasures ultimately ending in her possession. Yet they willingly complied, content with their side of the bargain. Time flew by, and the closing of the secret realm was near. Everyone headed to the exit to leave, not wanting to miss the departure window. Ye Linglong and Baili Ming gathered their spoils and proceeded to the exit. Upon arrival, Ye Linglong noticed Fu Changming standing at the exit, his face dark, eyes black as coal fixed sternly on her. “Ye Linglong! You indeed have impressive means! I underestimated you. But today, stay inside as a burial for my family!”