At close range, Liu Ruyan seemed to carry a faint fragrance, making one almost intoxicated upon inhaling.

But in Lu Ye's sense of smell... it was an undeniable scent of seduction.

Shifting his position subtly without showing any change in expression, Lu Ye said, "It's getting late, Miss Ruyan."

With a somewhat resentful glance at Lu Ye's face, Liu Ruyan said, "Young Master Lu, do you not believe what Ruyan said? Ruyan has even shared such information with you, which shows my sincerity."

After pondering for a moment, Liu Ruyan bit her lip and said, "In that case, I'll show more sincerity. I know how to quickly enter the peak Martial Arts Grandmaster Secret Realm, so why not accompany me this time, Young Master Lu?"

She refused to believe that anyone could resist the allure of the hidden treasure.

Admittedly, Liu Ruyan's words indeed piqued Lu Ye's curiosity a bit.

"But I came here with friends. Can we go together?" Lu Ye feigned hesitation, "Wouldn't it be dangerous?"

Going together...

Chen Lingxiang did not hide his strength, the strength of the Innate Realm Third Layer was apparent to Liu Ruyan.

"Alright, your friend is in the Innate Realm, which can increase our chances," Liu Ruyan nodded.

An Innate Third Layer wouldn't cause much trouble in the face of her Innate Seventh Layer. Anyway, if there is a real reward, it wouldn't escape her sight.

However, agreeing so quickly might cause Lu Ye and his friend to become suspicious, after all, from appearances she's just a Postnatal Ninth Layer, so why dare to agree to hunt for treasure together with one in the Innate Realm?

Then, Liu Ruyan's tone shifted slightly, "However... your friend is stronger than me, and seeking treasures requires teamwork. The Grandmaster's secret realm has many traps. Don't think of making a move on me; Ruyan... is not an easy target."

Lu Ye smiled faintly; an old fox at the Innate Seventh Layer is indeed not an easy prey, planning to make a meal out of him.

"Miss Ruyan, we are good people."

"Hehe... Ruyan also thinks that Young Master Lu doesn't seem like a bad person..." Liu Ruyan wanted to reach out and touch Lu Ye's chest.

Lu Ye subtly avoided it: "We have to continue our journey tomorrow, Miss Ruyan, you should return first."

Liu Ruyan was secretly surprised, this Lu Ye, who seemed so full of youthful vigor, actually had quite some self-restraint.

"No rush, there's plenty of time; can a cooked duck fly away?"

With this thought flicking through her mind, Liu Ruyan cast a coquettish glance at Lu Ye, removed the barrier, and turned back to her tent.

...

Early the next morning.

Chen Bufan had just stepped out of his tent when he was informed of a message that shocked him greatly.

"Miss Ruyan, you're saying you're not going to Black Valley Town?" Chen Bufan was dumbfounded, wasn't it agreed to go to Black Valley Town together?

What happened overnight to make you change your plans halfway?

That delicious roasted fish I gave away last night… was it all in vain?!

Liu Ruyan coldly said, "I'm not interested in Black Valley Town, I never said I would go there."

Chen Bufan: "..."

Indeed, Liu Ruyan never explicitly said where she was heading, but over the past days traveling together, Chen Bufan naturally assumed their destination was the same.

Clearing his throat, Lu Ye said, "Brother Chen, Miss Ruyan happened to have matters to attend to, she can't go to Black Valley Town with you... Maybe next time."

Chen Bufan was even more bewildered at this; it was clearly him who came first, even gifting an item, so how does it seem like Miss Ruyan and Young Master Lu got so familiar suddenly?

A moment later, Chen Bufan watched in confusion as the three left.

"Wait... how did I suddenly become an outsider?"

Elsewhere.

Following Liu Ruyan, Lu Ye took advantage of a brief moment when Liu Ruyan was away to whisper, "This Liu Ruyan is also headed to that Secret Realm; she might also know a quick entrance method, and she's an Innate Seventh Layer Fox Demon, be cautious."

A cascade of revelations left Chen Lingxiang utterly dumbfounded.

Pretending to be a Postnatal Ninth Layer when she's an Innate Seventh Layer?!

And moreover a deeply hidden Fox Demon?

Staring at his own openly displayed strength of the Innate Third Layer, Chen Lingxiang felt... that the world outside was indeed full of tricks.

Two days later, the trio had entered a range of continuous mountains.

During this time, Liu Ruyan visited Lu Ye nightly, trying to take things further, but Lu Ye consistently diverted the conversation nonchalantly.

"I want to see how long you can hold out!" Liu Ruyan's face clouded.

Once inside the Grandmaster Secret Realm, things wouldn't be up to Lu Ye any longer!

Despite the gloomy thoughts, a smile still graced Liu Ruyan's face as she said, "Soon, just over that mountain lies the place of the hidden treasure."

Moments later, as they approached a massive valley, Liu Ruyan's expression also grew serious.

"This place may appear ordinary, but it's set with a large Trapping Array, and inside are Chain Killing Arrays. One careless step could lead to death."

"From here on, follow me closely, and make sure you don't tread wrong."

Saying this, Liu Ruyan stepped forward and was gradually obscured, indeed protected by an array.

Array...

Upon seeing this, Lu Ye immediately opened a slit in the Myriad Dao Pavilion, allowing Xiao Ling inside to sense whether the path was correct.

After all, Lu Ye indeed didn't understand arrays. Liu Ruyan seemed to know a bit, without Xiao Ling's assistance, he could be led astray without realizing.

Xiao Ling quickly sent feedback; the path Liu Ruyan was leading them was indeed correct.

"She knows the right way, could she be an Array Master too?" Lu Ye pondered this possibility.

After a while, as Liu Ruyan led the way, beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and she let out a sigh of relief after stepping out the last step.

The array was extremely dangerous; a misstep could mean death, even for someone of her Innate Seventh Layer strength.

Looking at the two who emerged safely behind her, Liu Ruyan pointed to the valley cave in front and said, "Now you should believe I am sincere, right?"

Inside a valley, at its center, there was a huge Array Plate placed.

Further back was a heavy stone gate blocking the cave entrance.

Liu Ruyan continued, "Going further requires the 'keys' left by that peak Grandmaster of the past. Gathering four keys unlocks the entrance safely; with fewer, the arrays will activate, but their power will be somewhat reduced."

"Unfortunately, I only have one key in hand."

As she spoke, Liu Ruyan took out a token.

Lu Ye glanced at it and quickly recognized that it was indeed similar to the token Chen Lingxiang had and likely originated from the same source.

After a moment of thought, Lu Ye gave a look to Chen Lingxiang, who quickly produced his token.

"I happen to have one too."

Liu Ruyan was taken aback, then said thoughtfully, "So, our goals are truly aligned."

However, though she felt something was off inside.

Liu Ruyan was confident that even if their goal was also the hidden treasure, her Innate Seventh Layer status should be enough to easily suppress Lu Ye and Chen Lingxiang.

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