Investment Return System, Start by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple

Chapter 71: Abundant Harvest, Collapse of the Secret Realm

In the blink of an eye, four days had passed, and the secret realm was on its final day. The corpse puppets that were sent out to gather heavenly and earthly treasures also ceased their activities on this day, gradually returning to the stone caves.

"Great… These monsters are finally leaving!"

"Seize the last day and see if there are any treasures left. We can't afford to lose everything in this trip to the secret realm!"

"What the heck!? Is this still the Scarlet Cloud Secret Realm? When did I possibly get transported out of the secret realm?"

After four days of trembling in fear, nearly eighty to ninety percent of the cultivators had been looted by the corpse puppets. Only a few individuals who possessed concealment techniques were barely able to evade the clutches of the corpse puppets.

However, now that the corpse puppets were departing, everyone planned to make the most of the remaining time in the secret realm. To their dismay, they found the current state of the secret realm to be absolutely miserable!

Wherever they looked, not a single blade of grass could be seen!

Even the Yellow-Grade Inferior herbs that many cultivators had previously disregarded were now nowhere to be found!

"This… Sigh, forget it. Being alive is a blessing in itself!"

In the end, most cultivators could only console themselves with an excuse. At least those terrifying monsters hadn't killed them. That was already a significant relief.

Within the stone caves at this moment…

"Miss, all the corpse puppets sent out have returned. These five storage pouches contain herbs. These three storage pouches contain treasures. As for the miscellaneous spirit stones and ores, they're in these two storage pouches. Oh yes, there are two more storage pouches, both filled with spirit fluid."

After carefully categorizing the various heavenly and earthly treasures brought back by the corpse puppets, the person in coffin respectfully presented several storage pouches to the recently finished cultivating Leng Yanran.

"Hmm, not bad. After today, when the secret realm ends, I'll grant you your freedom. Consider it fulfilling the promise between us."

Leng Yanran put away the more than ten storage pouches in front of her. Adding these rewards to what she had previously obtained from the various geniuses and her accumulation from the person in coffin, her gains this time were astonishing. The storage pouches were all spacious enough to accommodate ten cubic meters each, making her haul incredibly abundant.

"With such a bountiful harvest this time, my master will surely be delighted!"

As Leng Yanran thought about being able to end this secret realm soon and return to her master, a sweet smile couldn't help but appear on her face.

"Hiss… This miss can actually smile?"

The person in coffin on the side seemed to have witnessed something incredibly astonishing, muttering to himself. Since he first met Leng Yanran, he had never seen her smile. He had assumed she was a cold and stern female demon, but who would have thought she could smile too?

Well, whatever. No need to dwell on it. After all, after today, he would regain the strength of a Boundless Realm expert and leave the secret realm, becoming a powerful force in his own right!

Limitless glory was waiting for him to enjoy!

In front of the Scarlet Cloud Immortal Palace, the transmission of knowledge from Scarlet Cloud Immortal gradually ceased.

The remnants of his soul, which had once been solid, had now become like a candle in the wind. It appeared as if it could disperse at any moment.

"Disciple thanks Master for transmitting the knowledge. Rest assured, Master. In the future, if I succeed in cultivation, I will definitely slay those scoundrels who plotted against you one by one!"

Li Shenruo, who had already incorporated the Immortal-Grade technique into her sea of consciousness, only needed to go back and contemplate it carefully. It wouldn't take long for her to start practicing!

"You having this determination fills me with great satisfaction. Very well, since you've found the successor, this remnant soul of mine is useless. I'll lend you a hand once again."

After Scarlet Cloud Immortal finished speaking, he didn't wait for Li Shenruo to respond. He placed his palm on her head, channeling the remaining spiritual power of this remnant soul into her body!

Eventually, the remnant soul dissipated, leaving only Li Shenruo sitting cross-legged on the square.

"Disciple... Thank you, Master!"

Seeing this, Li Shenruo didn't dare to delay. Despite feeling emotional, she quickly assimilated the spiritual power that Scarlet Cloud had infused into her body. As long as she absorbed it, she could break through to the Unity Realm!

In this secret realm, apart from Leng Yanran, who had the greatest gains, Li Shenruo's harvest was also remarkable. Not only did she obtain the inheritance of an Immortal-Grade technique and a Rank Six Formation Master, but she also gained a Heaven-Grade treasure and the final burst of spiritual energy from Scarlet Cloud Immortal, which allowed her to break through to the Unity Realm!

Half an hour later, Li Shenruo's aura began to continuously rise!

"Break through!"

With a low shout, the bottleneck of the Ninth Layer of the Profound Sky Realm completely dissipated. Li Shenruo's aura had already reached the Unity Realm!

Before she could even feel happy about it, the entire secret realm began to shake violently!

"Boom—"

The ground also began to crack and fissure, revealing bottomless chasms. Even the sky alternated between brightness and darkness, making the entire secret realm extremely unstable!

"What's going on!?"

Li Shenruo was a bit bewildered. Even if someone had broken through to the Unity Realm within the secret realm, it shouldn't have caused the realm to collapse! Thankfully, there was a teleportation array to leave the secret realm, and there was one located on the square of the Scarlet Cloud Immortal Palace.

As the secret realm started collapsing, the teleportation array lit up at the right moment. Li Shenruo didn't dare to hesitate any longer and quickly entered the array to leave.

"What's happening? How could the secret realm be collapsing? Even if the secret realm is about to close, it shouldn't collapse!"

"Don't worry about that now. Escaping for our lives is what's important. If we don't run now, it'll be too late!"

Many cultivators within the secret realm were frightened by the sudden turn of events and rushed toward the nearest teleportation array.

Apart from the central square, the other four directions also had teleportation arrays to exit the secret realm. Scarlet Cloud had taken thorough consideration of this.

"Hmm? Let's go!"

Leng Yanran also sensed the anomaly in the secret realm. However, she didn't need to panic. There was a teleportation array located not far from the cave entrance she was at.

Without hesitation, carrying over twenty storage pouches containing her harvest, she quickly left, giving a signal to the person in coffin before flying away. Seeing this, the person in coffin promptly ordered all the corpse puppets to leave with them.

With the accumulated corpse puppets from these years, even in the outside world, the person in coffin could establish a formidable force. At the very least, dominating the Northern Domain would be a piece of cake.

Moments later, all the prodigies within the secret realm had left through the teleportation arrays. Finally, the secret realm couldn't bear the strain any longer.

"Boom!"

The entire small space collapsed completely, vanishing from the world.

"Hum—"

A radiance burst forth, and the people within the secret realm returned to the entrance. Each of them felt as though they had just narrowly escaped death, panting heavily.

On various mountaintops, elders and sect masters from different forces who had been waiting outside couldn't help but look over.

"Hiss, why does it look like they've just escaped a disaster?"