The secret realm of the highest level was full of hidden dangers. Xie Ziyou's cultivation was neither too high nor too low, so he had to be extremely cautious with every step he took. Along the way, he used his long sword to push away the colorful leaves and vines, skimming over the water traces as if he was treading on thin ice.

— — He also had to divert some of his energy to take care of Zhao Tuoyoupin Ruhao next to him.

This kid's level was really not good enough. It wasn't that he wasn't cautious enough, but that he didn't even reach the minimum level of being cautious. The monsters along the way also knew how to pick on the weak, so they all bypassed Xie Hengyi's group and rushed toward the two of them.

Xie Ziyou swung his sword, and a cold light flashed, cutting a fierce leech that jumped out of a shallow puddle in half.

The leech had been nourished by spiritual energy until it was fat and swollen, and its mouth was covered with dense spikes. After it was cut off, it still lay on the ground and writhed. Its bloody body curled up and moved toward Zhao Ruhao's feet.

Zhao Ruhao kicked it away, but the fierce leech still tore a small hole in the bottom of his shoe, revealing half of his little finger.

The teenager covered his foot, shocked and angry. "What's this!"

"It's your ancestor," Xie Ziyou said angrily. "You could have just dodged it. Why did you kick it?"

"Isn't it rubbing against my foot?"

Zhao Ruhao bent his toes and jumped on the ground with one foot, muttering a few words angrily.

There was a hole in his shoe, but he was reluctant to take it off — — he really couldn't take it off. There were too many dangerous creatures in the puddles along the way. If he walked barefoot on the water, it was almost like poking sweet food in the eyes of those creatures and provoking them by saying, "Why don't you come and eat me?"

After limping a few steps, the teenager seemed to remember something and suddenly asked, "Hey, how did you know that I was born in the year of the dragon?"

Xie Ziyou: "???"

What dragon?

"Jiao Long." Zhao Ruhao raised his chin. "The ancestor of that thing just now, didn't you mean that my ancestor was a Jiao Long?"

Xie Ziyou: "…"

This idiot!

Do you know what reproductive isolation is?

Xie Ziyou had so much to say that he almost wanted to tell Zhao Ruhao about the different evolutionary history of invertebrates and mammals. He wanted to prove that leeches had nothing to do with the Jiao Long. However, after staring at Zhao Ruhao for a long time, he felt that this man's pitiful brain capacity would not be able to store such advanced biological concepts.

Xie Ziyou could only stare angrily at Xie Heng, thinking that once this matter was over, Xie Heng would have to capture a few of Zhao Ruhao's ancestors and personally slaughter them.

Also, the guy in front of him was really a bastard!

It was so difficult for him to walk here, but he was leisurely strolling under the tree and chatting with girls?

Actually, Xie Heng had been wronged.

From the moment Xie Heng set foot on the first piece of land in the Secret Realm, his heart had been hanging behind him.

As he chatted with Xu Waner, from time to time, he would use the reflection of his sword or the reflection of the lake to observe the young man who was following closely behind him.

Pei Yunyin, who was standing guard at the side, had long noticed Xie Heng's abnormality. She even lowered her voice and teased him, saying, "Do you want me to knock the little guy out and throw him into the lake? Then you can be the hero and save the beauty. Take the opportunity to get close to her as soon as possible …"

Xie Heng blushed and covered her mouth.

At first, Xu Waner was very curious about the Secret Realm and asked them all sorts of questions.

However, not long after, Zhao Ruhao, who was hiding in the thatch, accidentally exposed his tracks. The girl also began to feel guilty and uneasy. She frowned and subconsciously turned her head to look back. However, halfway through, she suddenly became clear-headed and bit her lower lip and turned her head back.

One person chatted absentmindedly, and gradually, the two of them were talking about different things.

When they reached the lakeside, the calm water rippled gently.

Suddenly, a giant crab as tall as a man suddenly bounced up and opened its huge black claws. Under the sunlight, it shone with a faint cold light and smashed down on Zhao Ruhao's head!

At the same time, it was like a giant hammer hitting the ground. Thunder roared and the entire lake shook, setting off a huge water curtain several meters high. The river flowed backwards and set off thousands of raging waves.

This was not an ordinary lake. The water also carried a sharp Xuan force. It was like a heavy mountain, pressing down on Xie Ziyou's head!

Xie Ziyou narrowed his eyes slightly.

He pulled the long sword in his hand and in an instant, thousands of sword marks appeared. A dot of cold light spread from the tip of the sword and quickly expanded to cover the space between the two of them.

There was a faint dazzling white light between heaven and earth. At the same time, the young man's slender hand grabbed Zhao Ruhao's collar and pulled him back —

He narrowly avoided the crashing giant crab.

The water in the sky poured down like heavy rain, but it was blocked by the light of the sword and could not enter. Only a few drops of water aimed at the loopholes in the sword and splashed down silently. They moistened Xie Ziyou's smooth black hair, wetting the ends of his hair.

The strong wind blew the young man's brocade clothes. The stars and the moon woven with silver thread reflected the bright sunlight and floated behind him with the hem of his clothes.

Xie Ziyou supported the space and threw Zhao Ruhao behind him. He growled, "Why are you in a daze? Run!"

He also took advantage of the moment when the water curtain fell and the energy dissipated. He used his body movement technique and quickly floated away from the lake like a cloud of light fog.

Fortunately, the giant crab did not hit its target and quietly sank.

Seeing that the water surface was slowly calming down, Xie Ziyou let out a long breath. Only then did he feel a little exhausted.

In an instant, Fang Cai suddenly erupted. Xuan Li crazily rushed out of his body. At this moment, Xie Ziyou felt a tearing pain in his meridians. However, fortune and misfortune came hand in hand. After this, his cultivation would improve again.

Xie Ziyou swept away a few strands of black hair stuck to his cheeks. He tied up his scattered long hair and took the opportunity to sweep the area in front of him with his Yuguang.

Under the tree, the handsome young man was still standing casually. He turned his head and talked to the girl next to him.

There was a smile on his face and he turned a blind eye to the danger behind him.

Xie Ziyou gritted his teeth.

A strange feeling emerged in his heart. It was bitter and slightly sour.

However, he did not know that after the giant crab disappeared, Xie Heng's heart lightened. He let go of his hand that was holding the knife. Pei Yunyin curled her lips and let go of the spell she was holding. Xu Waner's hand fell from his chest. A protective amulet was stained with the girl's fragrant sweat and disappeared into her pink lapel. Cheng Shengbai's face was cold. His body swayed slightly and he took back his foot.

Xu Waner pretended to be relaxed. He turned his head and stuck out his tongue apologetically.

"I'm sorry, Big Brother Xie. I was distracted. Where were you just now?"

Xie Heng smiled awkwardly and said, "It's nothing. It's nothing."

The young man spoke casually, but his brain was already working hard. He was vexed and desperately tried to recall. What were we talking about just now?

Where were we?

After the attack of the giant crab, they quietly increased their vigilance.

When they passed by a lake again, Xu Waner couldn't help but tug at Cheng Shengbai's sleeve as she looked at the clear and crystalline surface of the lake under the sunlight.

She whispered, "Are there … crabs in this lake?"

"That's called a Demon Crab. It's not an ordinary crab."

Pei Yunyin, who was in front of them, turned her head and said, "It's born at the bottom of the lake. It has the ability to topple mountains and overturn seas. It's said that when it's just born, there's a devil inside every Demon Crab. It mainly grows by fighting with other devils of the same kind. Every time it devours the soul of a devil of the same kind, the devil in the crab's shell grows stronger."

Xu Waner listened for a long time in a daze. He was almost confused by Pei Yunyin's words.

She nervously pinched the corner of her skirt. After a moment of hesitation, she carefully said, "Then … can you beat it?"

Cheng Shengbai's cold eyebrows slightly wrinkled.

But before he could speak, Pei Yunyin answered first, "Of course we can. Even if there are ten of them, they're not necessarily a match for Xiao Bai and I. Right, Xiao Bai?"

"No, I can't beat ten of them."

"… Don't be so serious. Can you at least say seven or eight of them?!"

Pei Yunyin helplessly scratched his head and looked at Cheng Shengbai with a face full of hidden bitterness. Obviously, he was blaming his close friend for not giving him face.

But he immediately said, "We can beat them, but why do we have to do something so strenuous and unrewarding?"

Xu Waner choked. Her eyes drifted, and she imperceptibly leaned back slightly, but stopped abruptly.

Pei Yunyin playfully said, "Junior Sister Wan'er, are you worried that when the two boys behind us catch up, they'll be attacked by the Demon Crab in the water again?"

Xu Waner's pretty cheeks suddenly turned red. She repeatedly waved her hands, but her small lips opened and closed several times. She couldn't say anything.

"… It's not a strenuous and unrewarding task."

A clear voice suddenly came from the side. They turned their heads and found that it was Xie Heng.

The young man's expression was meticulous. He gestured very seriously to Pei Yunyin. "This crab lives in a lake full of spiritual energy all year round. It must be delicious and fat. No matter if it's steamed, fried, boiled, or stewed … it's an excellent choice."

"We're a little tired after walking for so long. Why don't we take a break here and catch a crab. I'll make soup for everyone. What do you think?"

"The Demon Crab is full of demonic energy. I'm afraid it won't be easy to deal with."

"Let's give it a try," Xie Heng said with a smile. "Someone has to be the first to eat the crab."

Pei Yunyin looked at Xie Heng suspiciously, trying to catch a clue from the young man's eyebrows and expression. However, Xie Heng's smile was impeccable. His eyes were clear, and there wasn't the slightest shyness in his eyes.

It was as if he really came here and saw that the sky was just right and the lake was fresh and plump. He was suddenly interested and wanted to catch a rare spiritual creature to try.

But it was a Demon Crab full of Demon Aura. Pei Yunyin thought, 'Has anyone ever tried to cook a Demon Crab?

Wouldn't it be a pot of dark cuisine that poisons others and oneself? '

However, the young man's eyes darted around. He glanced from the natural and unrestrained Xie Heng in front of him to Xie Ziyou, who fell far behind and raised his chin aggressively. Then, he saw Zhao Ruhao, who grabbed Xie Ziyou's sleeve and limped. He immediately understood.

He didn't expose the young man. He only smiled mockingly and patted Xie Heng's shoulder.

'This excuse is good and profound. Senior Brother supports you!'

…

Xie Ziyou grabbed the young man and gritted his teeth.

He had used up his Xuan Li and couldn't use his Body Movement to gracefully sweep across the low-lying areas. He could only step through the muddy puddles and try to use his remaining Xuan Qi to shake off the splashing muddy water so that the stains wouldn't get on his calves.

Zhao Ruhao didn't have this level of skill.

The young man's Xuan Li had long been used up. At this moment, he was relying on his willpower to hold on. He grabbed Xie Ziyou's sleeve and was dragged forward by Xie Ziyou, who scolded him.

Seeing Xie Hengyi and the others walking further and further away, Zhao Ruhao became impatient and couldn't help but urge, "Hey, can the two of us go faster?"

Xie Ziyou turned to glare at him and said angrily, "Can't the two of us go faster?"

"Hey," Zhao Ruhao said, "you go first. Help me leave some marks along the way. Hey, why are you dragging me?

I said you go first! "

Xie Ziyou was full of anger and grabbed Zhao Ruhao's forearm tightly.

He gritted his teeth and thought, 'What can this guy do if he stays?

If he turns around, he might be fed to the fish! '

Fortunately, after a while, the two of them were surprised to find that the group in front of them had stopped and were discussing something.

Their eyes lit up. They exerted force on their feet and chased after them.

But after just a few steps, they saw the ground in front of them shake. A giant crab leaped out of the lake. Its black pincers were sharper than the invincible Heavenly Weapons. Its huge body was like a small mountain. With a monstrous wave, it slammed toward the four people by the lake.

Sword light flashed.