"Those two are brothers from a collateral branch of the Sun Family. The one controlling the Yin Soul Ghost Skull, the one who looks neither human nor ghost, is Sun Xiao. His cultivation is at the Qi Cultivation Eleventh Layer, and he’s skilled at manipulating Resentful Ghosts and Spirits. His methods are bizarre and impossible to defend against."

"The one behind him who looks like a corpse is Sun Hong. He’s a Body Refining Cultivator, his cultivation is probably at the Late Stage of Body Refining. I heard he cultivates an Evil Technique where he nourishes a corpse with his own body, turning himself into a vile Zombie. Ordinary Magical Artifacts can barely harm him..."

Chang Hongyi muttered, glancing at Chu Mu from time to time with obvious curiosity in her eyes.

"Alright, Chu understands."

Chu Mu gently stroked Wangcai’s soft fur. As he watched the two men charge over menacingly, a flicker of doubt appeared in his eyes.

’These Sun Family Brothers, and Chang Hongyi as well... their cultivation levels seem a bit low...’

’With the resources of the Longevity Sect and the major Clans, couldn’t they have assembled a group of Cultivators at Qi Cultivation Perfection?’

"You’re Chu Mu?"

Just as Chu Mu was pondering this, a cry of surprise echoed from the sky, and the two menacing figures came to a sudden halt.

The two men slowly descended, their gazes on Chu Mu now filled with gravity and... apprehension.

After a moment, Sun Xiao slowly spoke, "Fellow Daoist Chu, do you intend to interfere in this matter with the woman?"

Chu Mu raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

But he also understood. ’The prize is tempting, but you need the strength to claim it.’

’And these two before me are still lacking.’

"Chu and Miss Hongyi are old acquaintances."

Chu Mu spoke unhurriedly and said no more after that single sentence.

Standing behind Chu Mu, Chang Hongyi’s pale, pretty face was visibly tense.

At his words, the Sun Family Brothers glanced at each other, clearly communicating through Divine Sense. Chu Mu didn’t interrupt, simply stroking Wangcai and silently watching them.

He was not a bloodthirsty person. If he could achieve his goal without a fight, it would be a happy outcome for all.

"Since she is an old friend of Fellow Daoist Chu, then my brother and I have been presumptuous."

Sun Xiao cupped his fist, acting nonchalant as he turned to leave.

"Wait."

At that moment, Chu Mu suddenly called out to them.

The Sun Family Brothers stopped instinctively, their wariness obvious.

Chu Mu pointed to himself and smiled without speaking.

Seeing this, Sun Xiao was momentarily confused, but he quickly understood. The two brothers made a Dao Heart Oath one after the other before finally taking their leave.

This time, Chu Mu didn’t stop them, simply watching in silence as they departed.

Only after they had vanished from sight did Chu Mu turn to the hesitant Chang Hongyi beside him.

"Those two Sun Family Brothers are not good people. Fellow Daoist Chu, for you to let them leave just like that..."

"Be careful they don’t try any dirty tricks..."

Chang Hongyi was clearly worried.

"Come to think of it, Chu is the one who’s really not good, isn’t he?"

"According to the Longevity Sect, Chu is an evil cultivator that everyone wants to see dead!"

Chu Mu chuckled and shook his head, unconcerned.

The young woman frowned, looking stunned. She wanted to argue but found she had no grounds to do so.

"Chu has fulfilled his promise. Now, it’s time to see your sincerity, Miss Hongyi."

Chu Mu looked at Chang Hongyi, his smile gone.

Seeing his expression, Chang Hongyi took the hint. With a flick of her hand, she produced two Jade Scrolls and handed them over.

"This is the information on the Secret Realm that my Sect provides to disciples entering."

"And this... is some information that I... compiled myself."

Then, Chang Hongyi quickly added, "You can copy the information, but the Jade Scrolls are mine. You can’t take them."

"After all these years, you really haven’t changed a bit, Miss Hongyi."

Chu Mu chuckled, took out a blank Jade Scroll, and with a flick of his finger, a ray of light connected the three scrolls. A moment later, the light vanished.

After returning her two Jade Scrolls, Chu Mu seemed to think of something. He looked intently at Chang Hongyi, confirming it once more: her cultivation was clearly at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.

He immediately asked, "Doesn’t your Longevity Sect have any cultivation requirements for disciples entering the Secret Realm?"

Chang Hongyi blinked, then smiled, revealing a canine tooth. "Fellow Daoist Chu, you’re asking how I could enter this Secret Realm with my cultivation only at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, aren’t you?"

Chu Mu nodded. He was genuinely confused.

’A Secret Realm is an incredibly rare resource. The Longevity Sect and the major powers expended immense resources just to force open a temporary passage.’

’Even if the Secret Realm has its own cultivation restrictions, sending in a group of Cultivators at Qi Cultivation Perfection would surely be far more effective than sending those at the ninth or tenth layer, right?’

"Fellow Daoist Chu, you probably don’t know how long this Secret Realm has been around, do you?"

Chang Hongyi said, counting on her fingers, "From the first signs of its existence until now, this Secret Realm has been around for over a decade..."

"What’s more, I heard within the Sect that the Sect had already sensed the Secret Realm’s existence before the mysterious great fog even appeared."

"Seven years ago, the Sect and the major Clans joined forces to open a temporary passage into the Secret Realm."

"The temporary passage has many limitations, of course. It can only be opened once a year, and it consumes a massive amount of resources..."

"But over the past seven years, batch after batch of Cultivators have been sent in, not to mention those who used Secret Realm tokens that the Sect gathered."

"And it’s not just Cultivators from our Sect who enter. There are also the major Clans, and some Loose Cultivators who find their own way in..."

"With so many people in this Secret Realm, where treasures are everywhere, do you really think they’d all get along peacefully, Fellow Daoist Chu?"

A glint appeared in Chu Mu’s eyes; he was beginning to understand.

’The relationship between the Longevity Sect and the major Clans is already as incompatible as fire and water.’

’For them to work together just to open a temporary passage was likely the absolute limit of their cooperation.’