Then, that is...

    When ZHANG Long and Long Wing dance saw that tunnel straight up into the sky's empty crack, I couldn't help but exclaim. Even Chen Mo, who had already heard something, stood dumbfounded in place.

    The crack seemed to have been split open by a single sword, as if it had cleaved through the entire space, and it was emitting faint light from both sides. At its core, however, lay a deep blackness, like an abyss.

    There was a faint, chilling atmosphere within the abyss, and just looking at it made one shiver uncontrollably.

    In front of Chen Mo and the others, the people of Ling Tian Xing who arrived first all suddenly stopped three li away from the crack and did not continue forward.

    "The third trial is ahead, and the secret treasure left by that sword god of the Holy Sword Sect is within that crack. Fellow adventurers, if we can enter, that treasure will be ours."

    Standing at the front of the crowd, Ling Tian Xing, dressed in a black robe, spoke in a hoarse voice.

    Lin Hao chuckled and his eyes were full of anticipation.

    Xue Xing rolled his throat, and his emotions were overflowing, but the more such moments, the clearer his mind became. He didn't rush forward immediately.

    Wang Zhao smiled and said: "Since the secret treasure is in front of us, why don't you go, Mr. Ling? Is there any danger in front of you?"

    "There is definitely danger; otherwise, the Holy Sword Sect wouldn't have sent us here. Therefore, I suggest that we go together, resolve the crisis, and then divide the treasure among us. What do you say?"

    Ling Tian Xing turned around, and his voice was full of seriousness.

    Wang Zhao smiled and said nothing.

    "As far as I know, everyone who can enter this secret realm is from the Holy Sword Sect. If that's the case, how did you accurately know there's danger ahead, Mr. Ling? Could it be that you've been in here before?"

    Chen Mo led Zhang Long and Long Fei Yue to move forward slowly, with a smile, and asked a question.

    Ling Tian Xing suddenly stopped, and the rest of the people were all curious about him.

    "I have an old grudge with the Holy Sword Sect..."

    "Is it that you have an old grudge with the Holy Sword Sect, or are you actually a member of the Holy Sword Sect?"

    Before Ling Tian Xing could finish his sentence, Chen Mo interrupted him directly.

    Suddenly, Chen Mo sensed a gaze filled with killing intent. The expression beneath the black robe of Ling Tian Xing was indistinguishable, but the fists clenched under his sleeve were enough to prove his current mood.

    "Why did you rush up so quickly when we were at the waterfall? Are you trying to avoid something or hide something?"

    "Xu Wansheng asked us to help him up, and to reduce our strength is your plan, isn't it?"

    Ling Tian Xing's clenched fist suddenly relaxed, and his hoarse voice was laced with indifference, "I don't understand what you're talking about."

    "You don't understand, but I think others must understand."

    Chen Mo grinned and said, "You're in such a hurry to come up here, it's because you don't want us to see your sword, right? Even though you try to hide it, I still saw something. Your sword is probably called Huangu Cilun..."

    Whoosh—

    As soon as this was said, all eyes fell on the black-clad Ling Tian Xing, and their faces were filled with shock.

    Wang Zhao suddenly burst out into a cold laugh, "If my memory serves, Huangu Cilun is the legendary sword of the Holy Sword Sect, said to have been forged during the ancient times and later become the sword of that sword god. After his death, it has been passed down to this day..."

    "This sword, the Holy Sword Sect will never pass on to an outsider. Even within the sect, not everyone can use it. Over a thousand years, there have only been two people who could: one is the sword god Li Zhengyi from a thousand years ago, and the other is the current Supreme Elder of the Holy Sword Sect, Xu Zhen."

    Suddenly, there were a few more burning glances among the people, waiting for Ling Tian Xing's answer.

    Ling Tian Xing sighed deeply, and suddenly, a sword appeared in his hand, a deep red glow emanating from its core. A chilling sword aura faintly emanated from the blade.

    Not ordinary individuals could enter this secret realm. Upon seeing the long sword in Ling Tian Xing's hand, everyone instantly recognized it as the legendary sword of the Holy Sword Sect, Huangu Cilun.

    The black hood was removed, revealing a white-haired old face.

    "Haha, truly, I never thought that I had been so careful and yet still be discovered by you."

    Xu Zhen, who had assumed the alias 'Ling Tian Xing', finally revealed his identity. He forced a grotesque smile on his face, his eyes sharp as an eagle, and stared intently at Chen Mo.

    He couldn't understand why he had moved so quickly, and a general second-class cultivator shouldn't have been able to notice it. However, Chen Mo had actually seen it.

    Curiosity made Xu Zhen want to ask Chen Mo, but he saw that the latter smiled slightly and said, "I didn't find it, and what I said just now was just me making things up. You ran so fast, how could I have seen your sword... Hehe, I only guessed your identity and then wanted to test you."

    Chen Mo's smile was warm and sunny.

    Xu Zhen's smile was stiff and stuck.

    At this moment, time seemed to have stopped. No one spoke. Just a moment ago, Chen Mo had said it so confidently that everyone thought he really saw it and that's why he said so.

    But who would have thought that this bastard would just blurt it out without any reason.

    Mother West Skin, you're a worthless bastard plotting against me... Xu Zhen's lips twitched, and he felt like beating up Chen Mo the scoundrel.

    Taking a deep breath, Xu Zhen forcibly contained his anger and did not let it out. His smile was ugly as he said, "Let's talk about how to get through the third trial..."

    "Wait."

    A voice suddenly interrupted Xu Zhen. He frowned and turned his head, but it was not Chen Mo who spoke, but Wang Zhao.

    "Even though you, the Supreme Elder of the Holy Sword Sect, can't pass the third trial, I believe it must be extremely difficult and carry a risk to life. But... if the cost and reward are proportional, we can accept it. However, if they are not, then what?"

    Wang Zhao smiled and looked at Xu Zhen playfully. The meaning behind his words was self-explanatory.

    As a temporary ally, Xue Xing spoke up immediately to add, "If we succeed in going in and getting the secret treasure, we can take it from here since it's your territory of the Holy Sword Sect. Even if we can get the secret treasure, won't it be taken back by you anyway?"

    Long Fei Wu nodded repeatedly, "That's exactly what I think. We came here to seek our own benefits, not to be others' bridegrooms."

    Xu Zhen had already expected it and smiled and said, "Gentlemen, don't worry. With so many of you, even if I wanted to keep the secret treasure, I wouldn't be able to against you. If I had any other intentions, you all can work together to kill me."

    "Said in a good way"

    Chen Mo stepped forward, his face wearing a sarcastic smile, "Who doesn't know that your Holy Sword Sect has sword intent left by the sword god, even the strongest person in Youzhou, Liu Wu Xin, can't do anything about you. If you borrow that sword intent when we leave, I'm afraid no matter how many of us there are, we would end up buried here."