As soon as Qin Yi’s words fell, a wave of murmurs rippled through the sealed chamber.

  Several people nodded thoughtfully, clearly agreeing with his reasoning. Without another word, they scattered, beginning to search every corner of the tomb under the faint glow emanating from the stone walls.

  However, more of them remained where they stood, their eyes fixed on Qin Yi with open suspicion.

  “Why should we listen to you?”

  A sharp-voiced cultivator scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest, his tone full of disdain.

  “You’re just a Qi Refining disciple the weakest among us. What gives you the right to issue orders?”

  “Yeah,” another snapped immediately, his words brimming with hostility.

  A woman dressed in a pale cyan robe said nothing at all, but her frosty gaze never left Qin Yi’s face.

  Qin Yi had already anticipated such a reaction.

  This expedition into the secret realm included cultivators from both righteous and demonic sects—a mix of wolves and dragons.

  Among the demonic sects, arrogance and violence were commonplace; while the righteous path cultivators’ hostility toward the demonic ones was just as natural.

  Faced with this chorus of dissent, Qin Yi showed no anger. He simply smiled faintly and said calmly,

  “I’m merely offering a suggestion. You’re free to ignore it if you wish. In fact, if anyone wants to go ahead and try destroying one of the orbs on that lock, I won’t object.”

  He paused, his gaze sweeping slowly across each of them.

  “But before you act, think carefully—will the others allow you to?”

  His words silenced them immediately.

  Indeed no one dared to test the lock recklessly.

  They all knew the rule: only two attempts were allowed. Fail twice, and the chance would be lost forever.

  No one wanted to gamble their lives on sheer luck.

  Even the demonic cultivators who prided themselves on recklessness despised such uncertainty.

  And if anyone did try, the rest would surely stop them.

  After a long silence, even those who had been the loudest turned away and joined the search.

  They might still resent Qin Yi, but none were foolish enough to risk everything out of pride.

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  After all, in this strange chamber where everyone’s spiritual power had been drained, they were all equals now mere mortals.

  In that sense, Qin Yi, once the weakest among them, now stood on even ground.

  And more than that… he still had a hidden trump card.

  Silently, he slipped a hand into his robe, his fingers brushing against the familiar texture of his talisman papers.

  But the moment he drew them out, his brows furrowed sharply.

  The glowing runes that once shimmered across the talismans had vanished completely. Now, they were nothing more than plain, lifeless scraps of paper.

  Their spiritual energy just like his own had been sucked dry by the mysterious formation.

  Qin Yi let out a long breath, accepting the fact quietly.

  This secret realm was far stranger than he had expected. Since entering, too many unpredictable things had happened.

  Perhaps… everything had been part of the secret realm master’s design.

  But there was no time to dwell on shock. All he could do was adapt fast and search for whatever advantage remained.

  “Damn it! There’s nothing here!”

  A rough, booming voice echoed through the chamber, interrupting his thoughts.

  Qin Yi turned to see the brawny disciple from Blood Feast Valley sweating, covered in dust, clearly frustrated.

  The man pointed an accusing finger at him.

  “Hey! You’re the one who said there might be clues in this chamber! I’ve turned the place upside down, and there’s not even a hair to be found! Were you lying to us? And look at you you haven’t even lifted a finger! Are you playing with us?”

  Qin Yi blinked. For some reason, he found something oddly familiar in the man’s manner.

  He shook off the thought and replied evenly,

  “Clues wouldn’t be so easy to find. Otherwise, this chamber wouldn’t be filled with bones. If you’ve found nothing, it may be because the clue is well hidden… or because you’ve already seen it without realizing it.”

  He paused, his eyes steady.

  “Of course, you could also believe there are no clues at all. In that case you’re welcome to gamble on that forty-percent chance of success… if everyone else agrees.”

  The chamber fell still once more.

  Dozens of eyes turned toward them, tension thickening in the air.

  Then, a voice spoke up a smooth, calm tone breaking the silence.

  “Let’s keep looking. Maybe we’ll find something soon. Don’t forget we only have two chances. If we make a mistake, we’ll be trapped here forever. Since the lock doesn’t seem time-limited, it’s better to take our time.”

  Hearing that, Qin Yi turned and froze for a brief moment.

  The voice belonged to none other than Feng Wuya, the arrogant, sharp-tongued cultivator he had met before.

  Yet now, he was… mediating?

  Why was Feng Wuya suddenly restraining himself and even speaking up on Qin Yi’s behalf?

  Qin Yi couldn’t quite understand.

  But thanks to that timely intervention, the tension eased.

  The brawny man only snorted heavily and sat on the floor with a scowl, refusing to continue searching. Clearly, he was still dissatisfied but lacked a better plan.

  Seeing that, Qin Yi’s eyes gleamed slightly—he had already begun to form a new strategy.

  Clapping his hands lightly, he drew everyone’s attention once again.

  “Everyone, stop for a moment. I believe we’ve searched the room thoroughly, yet found nothing. That likely means our approach was wrong from the start. We need to change our perspective.”

  All eyes turned to him again dozens of gazes pressing down like a tangible weight.

  Even Qin Yi, composed as he was, felt a flicker of pressure.

  After all, these were cultivators who, until recently, had possessed power far beyond his own.

  Their eyes were those of wolves staring at prey.

  Taking a quiet breath, Qin Yi steadied himself and spoke solemnly:

  “Let’s start by identifying ourselves righteous or demonic, and the paths we each cultivate.”

  “We’re not the only ones who entered the secret realm. Where are the others? Why were we placed together? I don’t believe it’s coincidence. Somewhere in this arrangement… lies the clue to unlocking that seal.”

  He looked around once more. No one objected.

  So he nodded slightly and began.

  “I’ll start. My name is Qin Yi of the Great Dao Demonic Sect, Blood Feast Valley.”

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